Coating satellites with super-black paint Vantablack could help fight light pollution crisis

The US just hit a new milestone in spaceflight—American companies blasted off 21 commercial missions in June 2025, the busiest month on record. The FAA confirmed the surge, signaling how private space ventures are ramping up their game.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about bragging rights. More launches mean cheaper, faster access to space as companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others compete and innovate. It’s a sign the industry is maturing, with satellites, research, and maybe even tourism becoming routine. For everyday folks, that could mean better internet, new tech, and a front-row seat to humanity’s next big leap.

The new Jurassic World Rebirth film is storming into theaters, and Live Science sat down with paleontologist Steve Brusatte, who served as the movie’s scientific advisor, to get his take. Brusatte shares his excitement, admitting that even as an expert, the film’s dinosaur scenes still gave him that awe-struck, "what if this were real?" feeling. He also dishes on balancing scientific accuracy with Hollywood spectacle—because, let’s be honest, nobody wants a T. rex that’s too realistic if it ruins the fun.

Editor’s Note: Big-budget dinosaur movies are a summer staple, but having a real paleontologist weigh in adds a fun layer of credibility (and a bit of nerd credibility too). Brusatte’s enthusiasm reminds us that even scientists can geek out over Hollywood magic—while quietly forgiving a few inaccuracies for the sake of a good thrill. It’s a lighthearted peek behind the scenes of how blockbusters try—or don’t try—to get the science right.

A group of everyday astronomy enthusiasts—not professional scientists—just helped spot an incredibly rare cosmic explosion called a kilonova, where two super-dense neutron stars collide. One participant was so thrilled they screamed upon learning they’d be credited as a co-author on the official research paper.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a win for science; it’s proof that regular people can make groundbreaking discoveries. Kilonovas are fleeting, violent events that create heavy elements like gold, so catching one is a big deal. Plus, it shows how crowdsourcing can push astronomy forward—imagine what else might be out there, waiting for sharp-eyed volunteers to find it.

If you’ve ever wondered why some people suffer from headaches or neck pain due to a condition called Chiari malformation, scientists might have found a clue—and it goes back tens of thousands of years. Turns out, people with this condition have skull shapes resembling those of Neanderthals, hinting that some of us may have inherited this trait from our ancient cousins.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a quirky fact—it’s a glimpse into how our distant relatives’ DNA still affects us today. Understanding this link could help researchers develop better treatments for Chiari malformation, while also shedding light on how interbreeding with Neanderthals shaped modern humans in ways we’re only just beginning to understand.

NASA's Curiosity rover has snapped some intriguing new photos of Mars' surface, this time focusing on strange, web-like ridges dubbed "boxwork patterns." From a distance, these formations look like delicate spiderwebs etched into the rusty Martian soil, offering scientists fresh clues about the planet's geological past.

Editor’s Note: These eerie, intricate patterns aren't just a cool photo op—they could help researchers piece together how wind, water, or even ancient volcanic activity shaped Mars over billions of years. Every new snapshot from Curiosity adds another puzzle piece to our understanding of the Red Planet, reminding us just how weird and wonderful the cosmos can be.