space

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, a research initiative to run machine learning infrastructure on solar-powered satellite constellations in orbit. The idea is to use uninterrupted sunlight in space to power AI data centers without Earth's land and energy constraints. Commenters are debating feasibility, launch costs, thermal management and whether orbital compute could scale.

The UK military is reportedly jamming satellites belonging to other nations as a defensive measure, according to information given to the BBC. The disclosure sheds light on Britain's use of electronic warfare in orbit, an area normally kept secret, and is likely to raise questions about the rules and risks of interference with foreign space assets.

An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites, using their sinking altitudes as a kind of 'planetary barometer' to gauge density changes in the upper atmosphere. Because satellite drag responds to solar activity and atmospheric heating, the constellation's thousands of spacecraft could double as a global measuring network. The approach highlights ongoing tension between the megaconstellation and observational astronomy.

DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, roughly 36,000 kilometers above Earth. The program, detailed by IEEE Spectrum, would extend the lives of expensive communications and military satellites that currently cannot be fixed once deployed. Interest is focused on the engineering challenges of robotic repair at such extreme distances and its implications for space operations.

Two NASA astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans before them are moving into new roles within the space agency. The pair set the distance record during their mission, and NASA is now assigning them to fresh positions. Details of their exact new duties have not yet been made public.

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, a plan to test its AI chips in space for the first time. The initiative points to the company exploring whether orbiting hardware could support future AI computing, as demand for processing power strains terrestrial data centres. The announcement has drawn attention across tech and semiconductor coverage worldwide.

Content creators are increasingly taking equity stakes in startups instead of relying on traditional brand sponsorship deals. The shift reflects a growing view among influencers that ownership in early-stage companies offers better long-term returns than one-off paid promotions. Commenters in the creator economy space see it as a sign the industry is maturing, with creators acting more like investors and business partners than advertisers.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed an exotic spiral galaxy that appears to be rotating in two directions at the same time. The unusual finding has drawn attention from space enthusiasts and science outlets, with Mashable among those covering the observation and its implications for how such galaxies can form and evolve.

The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas, once described as a "crown jewel" of American protected spaces, is running out of time, according to reporting by Gaige Davila for the Texas Observer. A last-ditch lawsuit is attempting to slow border wall construction through the refuge until Congress can intervene, as advocates warn the refuge's habitats and wildlife are at risk.

Google is preparing to test its AI chips in space, according to a report by The Brussels Times. The project would see the company's custom semiconductor hardware evaluated in orbital conditions rather than solely in terrestrial data centres. Further details on timing, partners or the specific chips involved have not been disclosed, and there has been no independent confirmation of the programme's scope so far.

DW News examines whether India's growing space startup sector can transform the country into a leading global space power. The report looks at how private companies are building on the achievements of the Indian Space Research Organisation, which has gained international attention for low-cost missions such as its lunar and Mars explorations. Discussion centres on whether entrepreneurial ventures can sustain and expand India's ambitions in satellite launches and deep space exploration.

Pakistani authorities have instructed hospitals to free up bed space in preparation for what officials are calling a potential 'mass casualty incident'. The order comes amid tensions surrounding the detention of sisters of former prime minister Imran Khan, who were held ahead of planned protests. Commenters are reading the directive as a sign the government is bracing for large-scale unrest, with the military and Khan's supporters on a collision course.

The EU's space commissioner is making higher European launch rates a priority, pressing for more frequent launches from European soil and stronger autonomous access to space. The push reflects concern that Europe lags the US and China in launch cadence and depends on foreign providers. Industry observers are watching for concrete measures to support Arianespace and newer European launch firms.

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has launched Cosign, a curated professional network aimed at the startup community. The platform is designed to connect founders, investors and operators through invite-based, vetted membership rather than open sign-ups. The move puts a16z in competition with established professional networks and reflects growing investor interest in private, high-trust communities for deal flow and founder support.

Developers have put forward plans for a large new settlement on land south of Cambridge, including 4,000 homes alongside schools, shops and a riverside country park. The scheme is one of the bigger housing proposals in the area, where pressure for new homes around the city continues to grow. Local reaction is likely to focus on infrastructure, green space and the scale of the build.

Legal AI startup Intelligent AF has launched and simultaneously acquired TechnoCat, a move it says will help it build a so-called fluency ecosystem. The company is positioning itself in the crowded legal technology space, where startups are racing to apply artificial intelligence to legal work. Details on funding, valuation, or the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed at launch.

Scientists are studying whether a nuclear explosion could be used to deflect a large asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The idea, long confined to Hollywood plots like Armageddon, is being taken seriously as a last-resort planetary defence option, with researchers testing models of how a nuclear blast could nudge or break up an incoming space rock.

Apple Music is set to open a new concert venue at Battersea Power Station in London. The venue would give the tech giant a physical space for live performances and events, adding to the landmark building's growing mix of shops, offices and entertainment. Details on capacity and opening date were not immediately given, and reaction is still forming.

The U.S. government has seized a 54-pound Martian meteorite that was sold at auction last year, asserting that the space rock belongs to America. The case, reported by the New York Times and tied to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, raises questions over who has legal ownership of meteorites found on Earth and whether private sales of such rare objects can stand. The seizure has drawn attention for its unusual mix of science, property law and government power.

SpaceX carried out a launch from California on behalf of the US Space Force, with details of the payload kept secret as part of a classified military mission. The liftoff drew attention for its national security implications and for SpaceX's growing role in military space operations, with photos and video of the launch circulating widely.

The US Air Force has issued a formal directive requiring every Airman and Guardian to update their religious affiliation records to bring them in line with Department of Defense standards. The order affects all personnel across the Air Force and Space Force. The full scope of the change and how the updated data will be used has not been detailed in the reporting so far.

The New York Times is taking a closer look at the growing volume of political content circulating across online platforms. The report explores how political messaging increasingly dominates digital spaces and what that shift means for audiences, campaigns and public debate. The story is drawing attention as Americans follow political news heading into the next election cycle.

The US Air Force secretary has acknowledged that the United States possesses weapons in space, a rare official confirmation of American offensive capabilities in orbit. The statement is drawing attention because US officials have historically avoided detailing space-based weaponry, and it lands amid growing concerns over military competition in orbit with rivals such as China and Russia.

A new report examines how cross-border digital identity can be harmonised across European healthcare systems through the MyHealth@EU architecture, the EU's framework for exchanging patient health data between member states. The discussion centres on interoperability of electronic health records, patient identification across borders, and how a shared digital identity could let citizens access treatment and records anywhere in the EU.

The U.S. Space Force has scheduled on-orbit servicing missions for 2027 with Astroscale U.S. and Starfish Space. The missions would mark a step toward routine in-space refueling, repair and satellite maintenance, an emerging commercial capability the military sees as key to keeping spacecraft operating longer and making space assets more resilient.

A Quanta Magazine article explaining the holographic principle in physics is being discussed on Hacker News. The idea is that gravity in a volume of space can be described by information encoded on that volume's boundary, as in the AdS/CFT correspondence, suggesting three-dimensional reality may emerge from lower-dimensional information. Commenters on the post are debating what this implies about the fundamental nature of space, time and whether reality is a projection.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission can single-handedly approve massive spaceflight projects, such as large satellite constellations, that could permanently alter the view of the night sky for everyone on Earth. Space law experts note that despite public outcry over these projects, the FCC holds largely unrivalled authority over such approvals, with few other regulatory avenues available to challenge them.

SpaceX carried out a launch for the U.S. Space Force from California, with details of the mission's payload and purpose kept largely under wraps. The classified nature of the assignment has drawn attention, with coverage focusing on the growing role of commercial launch providers in national security space operations and speculation about what the mysterious mission involves.