Meet Dozens of Gecko Species at a Tiny Brooklyn Zoo

Two Chinese astronauts spent a grueling 8-hour stint outside the Tiangong space station on May 22, bolting on new debris shields to protect the orbital outpost from potential collisions with space junk. The mission, captured on video, marks another step in China’s steady expansion of its space capabilities.

What This Mean: Space debris is a growing headache for everyone up there—tiny fragments can cause massive damage at orbital speeds. By upgrading Tiangong’s defenses, China isn’t just safeguarding its own astronauts; it’s contributing (indirectly) to safer operations for all spacefaring nations. Plus, it’s a reminder that China’s space program is methodically ticking off milestones, from station assembly to long-term crewed missions.

Forecasters are predicting a particularly active hurricane season this year, but they're worried that budget cuts under the Trump administration—specifically to research programs—could weaken the ability to track and prepare for these storms. Essentially, we might be flying blind when it comes to predicting where and how hard hurricanes will hit.

What This Mean: Hurricanes aren’t just destructive—they’re expensive, deadly, and getting worse with climate change. If we slash funding for the science that helps us anticipate them, we’re setting ourselves up for bigger disasters. This isn’t just about weather forecasts; it’s about whether communities get enough warning to evacuate or shore up defenses. And with a "busy season" looming, that’s a terrifying gamble.

STEM education researchers are reeling after significant funding cuts, which one expert described as a "gut punch." These cuts threaten critical research and programs aimed at improving science, technology, engineering, and math education—key areas for future workforce development. Without adequate funding, progress in closing equity gaps and fostering innovation could stall.

Communities ravaged by recent tornadoes and floods are stuck in limbo, waiting for federal disaster aid as the Trump administration drags its feet on approving FEMA assistance. Local leaders are pleading for help, but the slow response is leaving victims without critical resources.

What This Mean: When disasters hit, timely federal aid can mean the difference between recovery and chaos. Delays here aren’t just bureaucratic—they’re leaving real people in dangerous, unstable conditions. It raises questions about why the process is moving so slowly and who’s being left behind.

Virgin Galactic says it’s still aiming to relaunch commercial spaceflights in 2026 with its next-gen "Delta-class" spacecraft, keeping its timeline intact despite past delays.

What This Mean: For space travel enthusiasts and investors, this is a sign that Virgin Galactic hasn’t given up on its ambitions—even after years of setbacks. If they pull it off, it could mean more regular, accessible trips to the edge of space (for those who can afford it, at least). But given the company’s history, skepticism is fair until those planes actually take off.