On 9 July 2025, leading scientists and experts in Earth observation will gather in Prague, Czechia, for a pivotal moment in Earth science – to delve into and debate the strengths of the two finalist candidate satellite missions, CAIRT and WIVERN, as they compete to be selected as ESA’s eleventh Earth Explorer.

Washington DC (UPI) Jul 3, 2025
On the eve of the 249th anniversary of American independence, NASA on Tuesday showcased a patriotic image of Old Glory as seen from hundreds of millions of miles away. A plaque bearing the United States flag is on an aluminum plate at the base of the mast, or "head," of NASA's Perseverance rover on the Red Planet. An image of the flag was taken on June 28 by the WATSON (Wide Angl

Washington DC (UPI) Jul 3, 2025
NASA discovered the third interstellar comet through a survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile. The interstellar comet first observed on Tuesday by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Alert System telescope, or ATLAS, has been officially named 3I/ATLAS. A series of "pre-discovery" observations dating back to June 14 from three ATLAS Telescopes globally and the Zwicky Transient Faci

Washington DC (UPI) Jul 2, 2025
The Australian aerospace firm Gilmour Space has again delayed the launch of its Eris 1 rocket, the country's first orbital rocket. Gilmour Space said Wednesday that it was standing down from a planned launch of what would be the first test flight of the rocket. "We've made the tough call to postpone this week's launch," the company said in a statement. It said the pause would giv

Paris (AFP) July 2, 2025
When French astronaut Sophie Adenot arrives at the International Space Station in 2026, she will dine on French gastronomical classics such as lobster bisque, foie gras and onion soup prepared especially for her by a chef with 10 Michelin stars. Parsnip and haddock veloute, chicken with tonka beans and creamy polenta, and a chocolate cream with hazelnut cazette flower will also be on the men

Paris (AFP) July 3, 2025
Astronomers on Wednesday confirmed the discovery of an interstellar object racing through our Solar System - only the third ever spotted, though scientists suspect many more may slip past unnoticed. The visitor from the stars, designated 3I/Atlas, is likely the largest yet detected, and has been classified as a comet, or cosmic snowball. "It looks kind of fuzzy," Peter Veres, an astrono

Paris (AFP) July 2, 2025
Why is Mars barren and uninhabitable, while life has always thrived here on our relatively similar planet Earth? A discovery made by a NASA rover has offered a clue for this mystery, new research said Wednesday, suggesting that while rivers once sporadically flowed on Mars, it was doomed to mostly be a desert planet. Mars is thought to currently have all the necessary ingredients for li

Week in images: 30 June - 4 July 2025

Discover our week through the lens

Image: Earth from Space: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Using data from ESA’s SMOS satellite, scientists have revealed a surprising shift in the Southern Ocean – surface waters around Antarctica are growing saltier, even as sea ice is diminishing rapidly. This finding defies the norm because melting ice typically freshens ocean surface water.

The implications are far-reaching as changes in this remote region can disrupt global ocean currents, affect climate patterns, and alter ecosystems far beyond the Antarctic.