Mount Etna Erupts in Sicily, Sending Hikers Scrambling for Cover

Axiom Mission-4’s upcoming crewed spaceflight will have an adorable companion—a plush baby swan named "Joy" that will float around the cabin as a zero-gravity indicator. The swan, described in multiple languages (including Polish and Hungarian), is a charming nod to the international crew onboard this commercial mission.

Editor’s Note: Zero-g indicators like "Joy" aren’t just cute—they’re a fun, functional tradition in spaceflight, signaling when microgravity kicks in. This story highlights how even serious missions embrace whimsy, making space more relatable (and Instagram-worthy) for the public. Plus, it’s a subtle reminder of the growing role of private space travel in uniting global teams. Who doesn’t love a plush space mascot?

Scientists have uncovered traces of a mysterious Indigenous group in Colombia that vanished around 2,000 years ago, thanks to ancient DNA analysis. This previously unknown lineage of hunter-gatherers adds a fresh piece to the puzzle of early human history in the Americas—showing just how much we’re still learning about the people who lived here long before us.

Editor’s Note: This discovery isn’t just about filling gaps in history—it’s a reminder of how many stories from the past remain untold. Every time we uncover a lost culture like this, it reshapes our understanding of human migration, survival, and diversity in the ancient Americas. For Indigenous communities today, these findings can also help reclaim erased histories.

Astronomers have spotted the most powerful explosions in the universe since the Big Bang—events so rare they’re called "extreme nuclear transients," occurring 10 million times less frequently than a typical supernova. These cosmic blasts are rewriting what we know about the limits of energy release in the universe.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another space discovery—it’s a glimpse into the most violent, high-energy phenomena the cosmos has to offer. Understanding these explosions could reveal new physics or even reshape our ideas about how the universe evolves. Plus, it’s a reminder that there’s still so much out there we don’t know.

A private lunar lander named Resilience, built by Japanese company ispace, is set to touch down on the moon this week. While you won’t be able to spot the spacecraft itself from Earth, its landing site—Mare Frigoris, a vast lunar plain—will be visible through telescopes. This marks another step in the growing push for commercial moon missions.

Editor’s Note: Landing on the moon is still a big deal, especially when it’s not just government agencies like NASA doing it. ispace’s mission shows how private companies are stepping into space exploration, opening up new possibilities for lunar research and even future resource mining. If successful, this could pave the way for more accessible, business-driven space ventures. Plus, knowing where to look on the moon adds a fun stargazing angle for space enthusiasts.

A sharp-eyed college student at West Virginia University just made a breakthrough that even the inventor of LSD couldn’t pull off—they tracked down a rare psychedelic fungus with compounds eerily similar to the famous hallucinogen. It’s the kind of discovery that bridges old-school drug lore and modern science.

Editor’s Note: Psychedelics are having a moment in research, with scientists exploring their potential for mental health treatments. This fungus—once just a rumor among chemists—could open new doors for understanding how these mind-bending compounds work in nature. Plus, it’s a reminder that big discoveries don’t always come from labs with billion-dollar budgets; sometimes, they start with a curious student and a bit of luck.