- Why some astronomers are excited about the search for alien lifeby Regina G. Barber on January 22, 2025 at 8:00 am
Around the turn of the century, 3.8 million people banded together in a real-time search for aliens — with screensavers. It was a big moment in a century-long concerted search for extraterrestrial intelligence. So far, alien life hasn't been found. But for people like astronomer James Davenport, that doesn't mean the hunt is worthless — or should be given up. No, according to James, the search is only getting more exciting as new technology opens up a whole new landscape of possibilities. So today on the show: The evolving hunt for alien life.Want more space content? Let your opinion be heard by dropping us a line at [email protected]! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
- It's America's 'Manifest Destiny' to plant a flag on Mars, Trump saysby Jonathan Lambert on January 20, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Trump says Americans should look to the stars, by sending astronauts to Mars.
- Air traffic controllers rush to divert aircraft after Elon Musk's rocket explodesby Geoff Brumfiel on January 17, 2025 at 9:27 pm
Debris streaking across the Caribbean appeared to cause confusion and delays.
- A parade of planets will be visible to the naked eye all monthby Juliana Kim on January 17, 2025 at 9:02 pm
All month, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars will appear to line up and be bright enough to see without a telescope or binoculars — with them, you can see Uranus and Neptune, too.
- SpaceX launches its Starship rocket on latest test flight but spacecraft is destroyedby The Associated Press on January 17, 2025 at 12:04 am
After launching on Thursday, the Starship rocket caught the booster back at the pad but lost contact with the ascending spacecraft as engines went out. Officials for Elon Musk's company confirmed that the spacecraft was destroyed.
- Canadian man's home security camera captures the sight and sound of a meteorite strikeby Chandelis Duster on January 16, 2025 at 9:29 pm
Joe Velaidum's home security camera captured the instant a meteorite smashed against his home's brick walkway. The video is thought to be the first recorded sound of a meteorite's direct impact.
- Bezos and Musk launching massive rockets in billionaires' space raceby Geoff Brumfiel on January 16, 2025 at 8:51 am
Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are launching two of the world's largest rockets into orbit within days of each other. Some see these as efforts to build their legacies and promote their visions for humanity.
- Jeff Bezos' New Glenn rocket reaches orbit on first test flightby The Associated Press on January 16, 2025 at 7:23 am
Named after the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket blasted off from Florida, soaring from the same pad used to launch NASA's Mariner and Pioneer spacecraft a half-century ago.
- 2 private lunar landers head toward the moon in a roundabout journeyby The Associated Press on January 15, 2025 at 7:11 am
In a two-for-one moonshot, SpaceX launched a pair of lunar landers Wednesday for U.S. and Japanese companies looking to jumpstart business on Earth's dusty sidekick.
- James Webb Space Telescope's 'little red dots' come into focusby Nell Greenfieldboyce on January 14, 2025 at 5:56 pm
A cosmic object spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope has flummoxed astronomers. Now, a research team has studied hundreds of these "little red dots" and found clues about their identity.