Where Are All These Meteors Coming From?

NEW: In March, fireball after fireball coursed through the skies of North America and Europe—a time lacking in major meteor showers.

So where the heck are all these space rocks coming from?

I investigated this meteor mystery in my latest for @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/s...

NASA is building the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft. How will it work? The agency wants to fly it to Mars by the end of 2028. Experts say that’s … ambitious.

NEW: In a surprise announcement, NASA said it will launch the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft to Mars in 2028. If it works, it could win them the race to the Red Planet.

Here’s an inside look on how it’ll work, @technologyreview.com www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/14/1...

😬

Risk of 'megaquake' in Japan higher after powerful earthquake strikes After a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck of the coast of Japan, setting off tsunami warnings, there's an elevated risk of a “megaquake” following in its wake

NEW: After today's magnitude 7.7 quake off the Pacific coast of Japan, the country has issued a 'megaquake advisory', suggesting there's a 10x greater risk of a magnitude 8.0+ quake in the coming days.

I break down what this means for @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/risk...

Risk of 'megaquake' in Japan higher after powerful earthquake strikes After a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck of the coast of Japan, setting off tsunami warnings, there's an elevated risk of a “megaquake” following in its wake

NEW: After today's magnitude 7.7 quake off the Pacific coast of Japan, the country has issued a 'megaquake advisory', suggesting there's a 10x greater risk of a magnitude 8.0+ quake in the coming days.

I break down what this means for @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/risk...

Japan tsunami alerts downgraded following powerful earthquake off northern coast – follow latest People in affected areas are still urged to evacuate after quake registering 7.7 magnitude

Seismologists! I have a couple of very brief questions to ask you about today’s earthquake offshore from Japan. If you’re around take a quick call, let me know. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

NASA is building the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft. How will it work? The agency wants to fly it to Mars by the end of 2028. Experts say that’s … ambitious.

NEW: In a surprise announcement, NASA said it will launch the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft to Mars in 2028. If it works, it could win them the race to the Red Planet.

Here’s an inside look on how it’ll work, @technologyreview.com www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/14/1...

After Two Failed Space Missions, Can a Scrappy Startup Finally Land on an Asteroid and Change Spaceflight? These mavericks are dead-set on mining asteroids.

NEW: Can we mine asteroids to transform the world economy? The thrillseekers at @astroforge.bsky.social think so—and this year, their do-or-die mission to chase down an asteroid will launch.

Will they triumph?

For PopMech, I visited their HQ to find out. www.popularmechanics.com/space/a70295...

NEW: Should all go well, the crew of Artemis II will splashdown in the Pacific Ocean today. So: what’s next?

In short: a moon base, built by astronauts and self-driving rovers, with robots scouting out benighted craters for hidden water.

Me, for NatGeo: www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

random fish in the Pacific Ocean: wow what a nice day I’ve had, nothing could possibly ruin this wonderful day for me, not even something crazy like a metal creature falling from the heavens and bonking me on the head

humanity:

👌

Absolutely loved watching this. Phew!

Now that's a beautiful sight

NEW: Should all go well, the crew of Artemis II will splashdown in the Pacific Ocean today. So: what’s next?

In short: a moon base, built by astronauts and self-driving rovers, with robots scouting out benighted craters for hidden water.

Me, for NatGeo: www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

Hey @longreads.com - check out this story, The Asteroid Whisperers: it’s about the bold new attempt to make the sci-fi-sounding concept of mining asteroids a reality, and the do-or-die mission launching later this year to hunt down a metallic orb in the night sky. :)

Artemis II Is Carrying A Revolutionary Organ Experiment While out in deep space, the Artemis II astronauts are showered by intense radiation — not just from our Sun, but from the rest of the cosmos. While they won’t be put in lethal danger, it will have a ...

NEW: Artemis II's launch is exciting for many reasons. Here's a weird one: aboard the spacecraft are USB-sized "organ chips"—living pieces of the astronauts' bone marrow that will test how each of them reacts to dangerous cosmic radiation. 🤯

Me @supercluster.com www.supercluster.com/editorial/ar...

NASA’s Artemis era may finally solve three major moon mysteries If NASA’s ambitious lunar exploration plans succeed, scientists will cover the moon with sensors—and find answers to several long-standing questions about the inner solar system

NEW: During the Artemis era, scientists are set to solve several major mysteries about both the Moon and Earth.

That's the thing about the Moon: it's a silent library of ancient books written in volcanic ink. Now we get to read 'em.

@sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...

At the Heart of Artemis II is Rise, the Fluffy Astronaut This little mascot, which is freely floating about along with the rest of the Artemis crew, is arguably one of the least essential components of NASA’s 10-day lunar slingshot. But it is easily the mos...

NEW: Have you noticed a little fluffy, smiling plushie floating around Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft? That’s Rise—something known as a zero-gravity indicator. And I think it might just be the mission’s heart and soul.

Here’s why.

Me @supercluster.com www.supercluster.com/editorial/wi...

SCIENCE FICTION MADE REAL

holy shit, #artemis

[alt text by NASA] The Moon, seen here backlit by the Sun during a solar eclipse on April 6, 2026, is photographed by one of the cameras on the Orion spacecraft’s solar array wings. Orion is visible in the foreground on the left. Earth is reflecting sunlight at the left edge of the Moon, which is slightly brighter than the rest of the disk. The bright spot visible just below the Moon’s bottom right edge is Saturn. Beyond that, the bright spot at the right edge of the image is Mars. Credit: NASA

Whoa 🤯

The Moon, in full eclipse, with the #Artemis II Orion spacecraft. Part of the Moon and spacecraft are lit by Earthshine, and both Saturn and Mars are visible to the lower right. Incredible. Details: images.nasa.gov/details/art0...

NASA’s Artemis era may finally solve three major moon mysteries If NASA’s ambitious lunar exploration plans succeed, scientists will cover the moon with sensors—and find answers to several long-standing questions about the inner solar system

NEW: During the Artemis era, scientists are set to solve several major mysteries about both the Moon and Earth.

That's the thing about the Moon: it's a silent library of ancient books written in volcanic ink. Now we get to read 'em.

@sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...

NASA’s Artemis era may finally solve three major moon mysteries If NASA’s ambitious lunar exploration plans succeed, scientists will cover the moon with sensors—and find answers to several long-standing questions about the inner solar system

Now on @sciam.bsky.social: As the Artemis era unfolds, lunar scientists are hopeful renewed in situ exploration could blow the lid off three major moon mysteries. By the incomparable @squigglyvolcano.bsky.social.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...

In 1968, when Apollo 8 captured “Earthrise”, it made space exploration feel extraordinary.

In 2026, “Earthset” has a different kind of power. If the Artemis program succeeds, this sort of image will feel *normal*. And that’s even more remarkable to me: space exploration becoming an everyday thing.

Artemis II Is Carrying A Revolutionary Organ Experiment While out in deep space, the Artemis II astronauts are showered by intense radiation — not just from our Sun, but from the rest of the cosmos. While they won’t be put in lethal danger, it will have a ...

NEW: Artemis II's launch is exciting for many reasons. Here's a weird one: aboard the spacecraft are USB-sized "organ chips"—living pieces of the astronauts' bone marrow that will test how each of them reacts to dangerous cosmic radiation. 🤯

Me @supercluster.com www.supercluster.com/editorial/ar...

Artemis II’s toilet is a moon mission milestone On their voyages to the moon, NASA’s astronauts are finally getting some creature comforts of terrestrial toilets—such as having a door and being able to pee and poop simultaneously

Now on @sciam.bsky.social: The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission will go boldly where no one has gone before—thanks to a fully functional toilet they'll take with them around the moon, a first for lunar spaceflight. Nice piece by @krcallaway.bsky.social.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/arte...

Jupiter’s weather forecast: cloudy with a chance of nukes The planet’s lightning storms can unleash the force of multiple nuclear weapons every minute

NEW: Jupiter is wreathed in storms, so it isn't surprising that it has epic lightning.

What *is* shocking is that each bolt may be 10,000 times more powerful than Earth's own, meaning these bolts unleash a nuke's worth of energy every few seconds. 🤯

Me @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

…yikes.

Jupiter’s weather forecast: cloudy with a chance of nukes The planet’s lightning storms can unleash the force of multiple nuclear weapons every minute

NEW: Jupiter is wreathed in storms, so it isn't surprising that it has epic lightning.

What *is* shocking is that each bolt may be 10,000 times more powerful than Earth's own, meaning these bolts unleash a nuke's worth of energy every few seconds. 🤯

Me @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

When Coupled Volcanoes Talk, These Researchers Listen | Quanta Magazine Around the world, volcanologists are following the path of magma as it travels between connected volcanoes, in an effort that could lead to improved eruption forecasts.

NEW: Volcanoes may look like standalone behemoths. But evidence is building that volcanoes can be “coupled”—by stealing magma from one another.

And our story starts in 1912, when the apocalypse paid a visit to Alaska…

Me @quantamagazine.bsky.social www.quantamagazine.org/when-coupled...

After Two Failed Space Missions, Can a Scrappy Startup Finally Land on an Asteroid and Change Spaceflight? These mavericks are dead-set on mining asteroids.

NEW: Can we mine asteroids to transform the world economy? The thrillseekers at @astroforge.bsky.social think so—and this year, their do-or-die mission to chase down an asteroid will launch.

Will they triumph?

For PopMech, I visited their HQ to find out. www.popularmechanics.com/space/a70295...