planets

SpaceX has launched its enormous Starship into orbit for the first time, successfully delivering the newest and most advanced Starlink satellites yet. However, flight controllers brought the spacecraft back to Earth early on Monday rather than completing six full laps around the planet as planned. The milestone flight is being closely watched as a major step for the rocket programme.

The Vatican has formally described the destruction of the environment as an 'ecological sin', a move championed by Pope Francis as part of his push to make climate protection a moral and religious duty. The framing, promoted through France 24's 'Down to Earth' programme, has drawn attention to how the Catholic Church is seeking to mobilise its global followers around environmental responsibility and the ethics of caring for the planet.

New reporting highlights that emissions already released by the world's biggest polluters will continue driving global warming for decades, even if new pollution stops. The findings underline the long-lasting effect of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the lag between emissions cuts and temperature stabilization. Commenters are stressing the urgency of holding major emitters accountable and the limits of near-term climate action.

Astronomers report detecting radio waves that may originate from an exoplanet, potentially the first such detection ever made. If confirmed, the signal would suggest the distant planet has a magnetic field, a property never directly observed on a world outside our solar system. The finding is drawing attention from space and astronomy enthusiasts following coverage by major science outlets, with researchers emphasising that further observations are needed to verify the origin of the emission.

Researchers have reported detecting a direct radio signal from a planet outside the solar system for the first time. The announcement is being widely shared as a potential milestone in the study of exoplanets, since radio emissions have previously been observed mainly from stars and other cosmic objects rather than from planets themselves. Details about which planet was involved and how the signal was confirmed have not yet been widely reported.

Attention is turning to COP31, the upcoming UN climate summit to be hosted in Türkiye, with a widespread call that 'it is time to change our planet.' The message is drawing millions of engagements globally, reflecting public pressure on world leaders ahead of the talks. Commenters are framing the summit as a decisive moment for stronger climate action and emissions commitments.

New research indicates Mercury is contracting more quickly than previously estimated. The smallest planet in the solar system has been cooling and shrinking for billions of years, causing its crust to buckle and form cliffs and ridges. The revised findings suggest this process is still active and accelerating relative to earlier models, prompting scientists to rethink how rocky planets cool over time.

New laboratory experiments suggest that key biological compounds can form in clouds as acidic as Venus's, challenging the long-held assumption that the planet's sulfuric acid atmosphere is too hostile for complex chemistry. The findings, reported by Gizmodo, renew debate over whether Venus's clouds could be more hospitable than believed, and energize discussion about future missions and the search for life there.

An American spy satellite dating from the Cold War era has broken apart or exploded in orbit above Earth, and the cause remains unknown. The incident raises questions about growing amounts of space debris and the reliability of aging military hardware still circling the planet decades after launch. Experts are watching for possible collision risks to other satellites.

A new report suggests scientists may have misinterpreted evidence dating back some two billion years, with potential implications for how Earth's early history is understood. The finding is drawing attention in science media, as re-evaluating such ancient clues could reshape assumptions about the planet's past conditions and evolution.

Environmental experts are warning that plastic pollution in the deep ocean may be interfering with the bioluminescent organisms that live there. Pollution particles could block or mimic the light signals deep sea species rely on for feeding, mating and defence, potentially disrupting entire ecosystems in one of the planet's least explored environments.

New coverage warns that Earth's magnetic poles could be heading toward another reversal, an event where the planet's north and south magnetic poles swap places. Reports focus on what such a flip could mean for climate, navigation systems, satellite operations and the shielding that protects Earth from solar radiation, though scientists note reversals happen gradually over thousands of years.

New research reported by ScienceDaily suggests Earth's day does not last exactly 24 hours, with the explanation possibly found deep inside the planet. The finding points to internal planetary processes influencing the length of the day, adding to scientists' understanding of Earth's rotation and inner dynamics. Researchers say the deep interior may hold the key to small variations in day length.

A spacecraft built to explore icy moons where life could exist is flying close by Earth, using the planet's gravity to adjust its course. The maneuver is part of a long journey toward the outer solar system, where scientists hope to study oceans beneath the moons' surfaces. The flyby has drawn attention as a milestone in the search for conditions suitable for life beyond our planet.

Scientists report the discovery of a so-called "fire amoeba", an organism said to survive at temperatures beyond what was thought to be life's upper limit. If confirmed, the find would force a rethink of the thermal boundaries of life on Earth, with implications for the search for life in extreme environments such as deep-sea vents and possibly other planets.

New research suggests magnetic fields may have played a key role in the formation of the solar system, potentially influencing how material in the early solar nebula collapsed and clumped into the sun and planets. The finding adds to ongoing debate among scientists about the physical processes that set planetary formation in motion more than 4.5 billion years ago.

Harvard scientists report detecting a radio signal apparently coming directly from a planet outside the solar system. If confirmed, it would be a rare example of a radio emission traced to an exoplanet, possibly generated by the planet's magnetic field interacting with its star. Astronomers say such detections could open a new way to study distant planets, though further observations are needed to verify the signal's origin.

The European Space Agency's JUICE spacecraft, bound for Jupiter, has completed another close passage of Earth. The flyby, highlighted by CNES, uses Earth's gravity to adjust the probe's trajectory toward the Jupiter system, where it will study the giant planet and its icy moons. Space observers are sharing details of the manoeuvre and its precision.

Venus (Shukra) is set to go retrograde in Libra on Sunday night, according to Indian astrology coverage. Reports note the planet's position will shift several times until 23 November, with horoscope forecasts for all 12 zodiac signs. Some outlets claim the retrograde phase will favour certain signs for 42 days, fulfilling wishes and big ambitions.

NPR examines whether humanity is prepared for the discovery of life beyond Earth. The piece explores how scientists searching for biosignatures on distant planets would confirm — and communicate — such a find, and what it would mean for society. It asks whether our scientific methods, institutions, and public discourse are equipped to handle evidence that could reshape humanity's understanding of its place in the universe.

British composer George Fenton has died at the age of 76. He was known for scores to films including The Fisher King, Groundhog Day and Dangerous Liaisons, and for landmark natural history series such as Planet Earth and Blue Planet. Fenton was one of Britain's most respected film and television composers, with a career spanning decades and numerous award nominations.

A widely viewed science explainer is claiming that something unusual is currently happening on Mars, though no specific discovery is detailed beyond the headline claim. The piece has drawn millions of likes, suggesting strong public interest in Martian anomalies and space exploration news. Without further specifics, it is unclear what exact phenomenon or finding the claim refers to.

Scientists have detected an unusual heat anomaly deep within Mars, and researchers are working to explain what could be generating it. The finding could point to unexpected geological activity or an unusual interior structure inside the planet, long thought to be geologically quiet. Researchers say more data is needed before conclusions can be drawn.

Researchers at the New York Botanical Garden have published a series of papers in the journal Plants, People, Planet arguing that growing threats to plant diversity are narrowing the options for building healthier, more resilient food systems. The papers explain why food plant diversity matters and set out a vision for collaboration between scientists, growers and communities to protect it. The warning highlights how the loss of crop varieties and wild relatives could undermine global food security.

French-language interest around the word 'planète' is being driven largely by coverage of the search for fossils on Mars. Reports focus on how scientists are looking for traces of ancient life in Martian rock, a question at the heart of current exploration of the red planet.

Spanish media report that astronomers have found evidence of a planet that appears to have formed after its host star died, built from material the star expelled during its death. Outlets including MARCA, ABC and El Debate describe it as a 'second-generation' or 'phoenix planet', a world that rose from the ashes of its dead star. If confirmed, it would be an unusual case of planetary formation around a stellar remnant.

Forecasters have issued a G2 geomagnetic storm watch after a powerful solar eruption sent charged material toward Earth. The disturbance is expected to reach the planet's magnetic field, potentially triggering displays of the northern lights visible across the northern United States. Moderate storm levels can also affect satellite operations and power grids at high latitudes.

Sky watchers are looking ahead to October 2026's night sky events, led by Saturn reaching opposition on the night of October 3–4, when the planet is closest and brightest and its rings are shown at their best. The date is drawing attention from astronomy enthusiasts planning observations of the ringed planet.

Scientists suggest fungi could be the answer to producing food on Mars, according to new research reported by ScienceDaily. Fungal species may help future Martian missions grow crops in harsh extraterrestrial conditions, potentially supporting long-term human settlement on the red planet.