Tag: NASA

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected unusual red objects that may change how scientists understand the early universe. The faint dots, seen just 500 to 700 million years after the Big Bang, were first thought to be large galaxies, but new research suggests they may be a new type of object powered by black holes.

The objects stand out because of their brightness in red and near-infrared light, which Webb is designed to detect. This light has stretched as the universe expanded, a process known as redshift. Webb’s infrared instruments allow astronomers to see back to some of the earliest periods of cosmic history.

Initial studies suggested the dots were fully developed galaxies packed with stars. That theory soon ran into problems: the brightness was too intense for star clusters alone. A group of researchers now argues these are “black hole stars.” In this model, a massive black hole consumes gas while being surrounded by a cool outer shell, creating the appearance of a giant star.

Unlike ordinary stars, which shine from nuclear fusion, these objects are powered by accretion. Gas falling into the black hole heats up to millions of degrees at the center, but the outer layers remain just a few thousand degrees cooler. This cooler shell produces the red glow detected by Webb.

One striking case, nicknamed “The Cliff,” lies at a redshift of about 3. That means its light traveled nearly 12 billion years before reaching Earth. Webb’s spectrograph broke down the light into its wavelengths, revealing a dense object with the fingerprints of a black hole at its core.

Supermassive black holes sit at the centers of most galaxies today, often billions of times more massive than the Sun. How they grew so quickly in the early universe has remained unclear. Black hole stars may explain this by acting as seeds: black holes rapidly ballooning inside large gas envelopes before collapsing further. This idea echoes theories first suggested in 2008 about quasi-stars.

In the early universe, gas clouds collapsed under gravity. If a black hole formed at the center, it could feed rapidly while the outer shell trapped heat. Webb data shows signs of fast-moving gas, measured through broad emission lines, which suggests active black holes rather than simple star clusters.

The team used Webb’s NIRSpec instrument to capture detailed spectra from thousands of distant objects. More studies are planned to measure gas density and black hole strength. If confirmed, black hole stars could force revisions to current models of galaxy growth.

Astronomers say the findings matter because these objects may reveal how the first galaxies and black holes formed. They are too far away to image directly, but Webb’s sensitivity offers a way to study them indirectly. Researchers add that similar objects may still exist in dusty regions of nearby space, waiting to be found.

Source: A remarkable ruby: Absorption in dense gas, rather than evolved stars, drives the extreme Balmer break of a little red dot at z = 3.5

NASA is preparing to launch a new observatory designed to study the boundary that shields Earth from harmful cosmic radiation. The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) will lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 23 at 7:32 a.m. Eastern Time. Two smaller missions from NASA and NOAA will also fly with this mission.

The target of IMAP is the heliosphere, a vast bubble formed by the Sun’s constant stream of charged particles. This bubble blocks a large share of galactic cosmic rays (high-energy particles produced by exploding stars) that can damage both living tissue and spacecraft electronics. Scientists hope IMAP will show how the solar wind interacts with this outer boundary and how conditions change over time.

The spacecraft carries ten instruments, including detectors that can track energetic neutral atoms. These particles are created when solar wind collides with interstellar gas, and measuring them will allow researchers to build a three-dimensional picture of the heliosphere. The information is expected to improve models of space weather, much like how Earth-orbiting satellites have improved weather forecasts on our planet.

Two other spacecraft will launch alongside IMAP. The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, named after physicist George Carruthers, will study Earth’s outermost hydrogen layer, known as the geocorona. It will use ultraviolet cameras similar to those Carruthers developed for the Apollo program to measure how solar activity affects the region.

The second passenger, NOAA’s Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1), will position itself about one million miles toward the Sun at a spot known as Lagrange Point 1. From there, it will monitor solar flares and massive eruptions called coronal mass ejections. These events can cause geomagnetic storms strong enough to disrupt power grids and satellite systems on Earth.

Space weather missions are not new. NASA and the European Space Agency launched the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) in 1995, which has provided continuous monitoring of solar activity. SWFO-L1 builds on this legacy with upgraded coronagraphs that will give more accurate warnings of solar storms. Such alerts have already saved billions of dollars by helping satellite operators prepare for damaging events.

NASA will begin live coverage of the launch at 6:40 a.m. Eastern on NASA+ and other platforms. The agency is also hosting news briefings on September 21 and 22, where experts will explain the science goals and answer questions submitted online with the hashtag #AskNASA.

After launch, all three spacecraft will travel to Lagrange Point 1. From this vantage point, IMAP will continue the work started by the Voyager probes, which first crossed into interstellar space decades ago and found a turbulent boundary where the solar wind meets the galaxy beyond.

Understanding the heliosphere is not only a matter of curiosity. As human spaceflight moves beyond low Earth orbit, astronauts will face higher levels of radiation without the protection of Earth’s magnetic field. Data from IMAP and its rideshare partners could help design safer shielding for deep-space travel while improving forecasts that protect satellites, airlines, and power systems back on Earth.

NASA has tightened restrictions on Chinese nationals working under US visas, cutting off access to its projects, facilities, and data systems as of September 5, Bloomberg reported. The change affects graduate students, contractors, and researchers at American universities who had previously been able to contribute to agency work.

Officials say the decision is aimed at strengthening security, but it underscores the growing competition between the United States and China in space.

Bethany Stevens, a NASA spokesperson, confirmed the shift, explaining that it extends existing rules to cover physical and cybersecurity protections. While US law has long blocked the agency from hiring Chinese citizens directly, this move applies to visa holders who are not formally tied to the Chinese government.

The timing reflects wider tensions between Washington and Beijing. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has described the rivalry as a “second space race,” warning that the US must not fall behind China’s rapidly advancing space program.

His remarks recall the Wolf Amendment, passed in 2011, which prohibits bilateral cooperation between NASA and Chinese entities without congressional approval. That measure was intended to prevent technology transfer and address human rights concerns, but it also pushed China to develop its own space program independently.

Since then, China has made major gains. Its Tiangong space station has been continuously crewed, and its Chang’e missions have returned samples from the Moon, including material from the far side in 2024. The country plans to send astronauts to the lunar surface by 2030 while also preparing a robotic Mars sample return for 2028. Both could rival or outpace NASA’s own goals.

By comparison, NASA’s Artemis program has faced delays and rising costs. The uncrewed Artemis I test launched in 2022, but the first crewed lunar mission, Artemis II, is now scheduled for 2026. Artemis III, targeting a landing at the Moon’s south pole, is unlikely before 2027.

The new restrictions may also affect international scientific collaboration. Areas such as planetary science and astrophysics often rely on open data sharing across borders. US researchers have previously worked with Chinese samples, including those from the Chang’e-5 mission, after clearance procedures.

Stricter barriers risk limiting such cooperation, and critics argue that excluding Chinese scientists weakens the overall pace of discovery.

Opponents of the Wolf Amendment say it has had the opposite effect of what was intended, driving China to operate entirely on its own. They warn that nationality-based restrictions in space science could leave gaps in global monitoring, such as asteroid tracking, which depends on contributions from multiple nations.

The decision also comes as US space policy shifts under broader political debates. Proposals under former president Donald Trump targeted cuts to Earth science programs, including climate monitoring satellites, in favor of deep-space exploration. Budget uncertainties have also placed projects like the joint US-European Mars Sample Return mission under review.

For now, NASA continues to work with Europe, Japan, and Canada on Artemis, while keeping China at arm’s length. Officials argue that tighter controls are needed to safeguard US leadership in space, but critics point out that long-term progress could benefit more from cooperation. With China pressing ahead on plans for reusable rockets and a lunar base, the divide between the two powers shows little sign of narrowing.

NASA has announced the four volunteers who will spend more than a year inside a Mars simulation habitat in Houston. Starting October 19, 2025, the group will live for 378 days in Mars Dune Alpha, a 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed structure at Johnson Space Center. The mission, known as CHAPEA, is designed to mimic the isolation, resource limits, and daily challenges astronauts will face on future missions to Mars.

The habitat will test how humans handle long-duration stays in confined conditions. Crew members will face restricted supplies, equipment failures, and communication delays of up to 20 minutes each way. NASA will track how they respond mentally and physically while living in a Mars-like setting.

The volunteers will perform tasks similar to what astronauts would do on Mars. They will conduct simulated spacewalks in a sand-filled outdoor area built to resemble Martian terrain. The team will also grow crops, operate robots, and maintain systems for water and medical support. These activities help NASA measure how well humans can manage life support and science duties far from Earth.

The crew includes four primary members. Commander Ross Elder is an Air Force test pilot with combat flying experience in jets such as the F-35. He also has training in artificial intelligence and engineering. Medical officer Ellen Ellis, a Space Force colonel, has managed satellite programs and studied disaster response.

Science officer Matthew Montgomery, an engineer, works with robotics and agricultural systems for private companies. Flight engineer James Spicer has aerospace industry experience building spacecraft and satellite networks.

Two alternates are on standby in case of crew changes. Marine pilot Emily Phillips, trained in computer science, has flown F/A-18 Hornets. UK-based pilot Laura Marie has logged more than 2,800 flight hours and works as a mentor for new aviators.

Mars Dune Alpha’s design reflects the harsh environment astronauts would encounter on Mars, where temperatures plunge to -80°F, radiation levels are high, and the atmosphere lacks oxygen. By recreating these challenges on Earth, NASA can better prepare for human missions that could begin in the 2030s. The agency has previously tested similar concepts in Hawaii at the HI-SEAS habitat.

The first CHAPEA mission ended in July 2024, providing data on sleep, diet, and teamwork under stress. The second mission will expand that research by monitoring muscle and bone changes in simulated low-gravity conditions. The findings will inform the design of spacesuits, habitats, and medical protocols for future crews.

NASA says testing on Earth reduces the risk of surprises once humans land on Mars. With rovers already confirming the presence of water ice and searching for past signs of life, preparing astronauts for the physical and psychological demands of a Mars stay is a key step toward making such missions possible.

Scientists have found that a rare bacterium, Tersicoccus phoenicis, can survive inside NASA’s spacecraft assembly clean rooms by entering a dormant state, raising questions about how well current sterilization methods protect missions to Mars, Europa, and beyond.

The discovery comes from new research led by the University of Houston, which studied how the microbe withstands environments designed to be nearly lifeless.

Clean rooms are essential for building spacecraft that search for signs of life. NASA enforces strict planetary protection rules to prevent Earth microbes from contaminating other worlds, a standard put in place after lessons from the Viking missions in the 1970s.

Workers disinfect surfaces with chemicals, UV light, and filtered air. Yet T. phoenicis has repeatedly been detected in these facilities, including at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and a launch site in French Guiana.

Unlike many tough bacteria, T. phoenicis does not form protective spores. Instead, it shuts down activity when nutrients run out, staying alive but almost impossible to grow under normal lab conditions. In experiments, researchers starved the bacterium in nutrient-poor solutions.

Within days, the number of colonies visible on plates dropped by more than seven orders of magnitude, but cell numbers stayed the same under a microscope, proving the microbes had entered dormancy rather than died. To simulate the dry surfaces of clean rooms, the team also dehydrated the cells. After two days without water, few could grow back on their own.

However, when researchers added a protein known as resuscitation-promoting factor, borrowed from a related bacterium, the dormant microbes “woke up” faster and resumed growth. This protein shortened recovery times from more than 50 hours to about 31 in some cases.

The study also noted that T. phoenicis carries stress-related genes similar to those seen in pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is known for lying dormant inside the human body. In laboratory tests, the bacteria tended to clump together during dormancy, creating unusual stop-and-start growth patterns until the added protein restored normal behavior.

Researchers warn that standard checks, which rely heavily on spore counts and DNA testing, may overlook these hard-to-detect dormant cells. If such microbes survive sterilization and ride along on spacecraft, they could complicate life-detection experiments or even seed new environments with Earth organisms.

Beyond space science, the findings may also apply to medicine and food safety. Many bacteria survive harsh conditions, antibiotics, or disinfectants by entering a similar dormant state. Better understanding this process could improve sterilization practices in hospitals and factories.

The team plans further tests on other microbes that persist in clean rooms. With Mars sample return projects and human missions under development, scientists say detecting and managing these hidden survivors will be more important than ever.

Source: Tersicoccus phoenicis (Actinobacteria), a spacecraft clean room isolate, exhibits dormancy