NASA warns building-sized asteroid 2022 YS5 set for close Earth flyby on July 17; here’s why scientists are on alert

Scientists have uncovered fresh clues that Mars, now a barren desert, might have been a far more dynamic world billions of years ago—complete with rainstorms. The research hints at a time when the Red Planet’s climate could have supported liquid water, raising intriguing questions about whether life ever existed there.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about ancient Martian weather—it’s another piece of the puzzle in understanding whether life could have emerged beyond Earth. If Mars really had rain, it adds weight to the idea that the planet was once habitable. That makes the search for past (or even present) microbial life there all the more compelling.

A jaw-dropping explosion on the sun blasted out a fiery trench stretching an insane 250,000 miles—long enough to wrap around Earth ten times. NASA caught the whole thing on video, showing the eruption flinging a massive cloud of solar material (called a coronal mass ejection, or CME) into space.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a cool space spectacle—it’s a reminder that the sun is a chaotic, dynamic beast. While this particular CME likely won’t cause havoc on Earth, big solar storms can mess with satellites, power grids, and even astronauts. Plus, it’s a stunning peek into how our star behaves when it’s throwing a tantrum.

Imagine a drone that never needs to land for fuel—because it runs entirely on sunlight. That’s the Skydweller, a massive solar-powered aircraft with a wingspan wider than a Boeing 747 but weighing 160 times less. It can stay airborne for a staggering 90 days straight, and researchers are already eyeing even longer flights. This isn’t just a tech demo; it’s a glimpse at the future of persistent aerial surveillance, communication relays, or even environmental monitoring without the carbon footprint.

Editor’s Note: Drones like the Skydweller could revolutionize industries that rely on long-endurance flights, from disaster response to military reconnaissance, all while cutting emissions. Solar-powered flight has been a dream for decades, but this brings it closer to real-world use—quietly proving that clean energy can push boundaries we once thought were impossible.

Oxford University Press is cutting ties with a China-backed science journal, Forensic Sciences Research, after repeated concerns that some of its research papers violated ethical guidelines—particularly around how DNA data was collected. This follows earlier controversies, including a retracted study on Uyghur genetics.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about one journal—it’s a flashpoint in the wider debate over research integrity, especially when state-backed science clashes with global ethical standards. The move raises questions about how academic publishers handle politically sensitive research and whether partnerships with government-affiliated institutions can compromise independent scrutiny. For researchers and readers, it’s a reminder that who funds and publishes science matters as much as the findings themselves.

A new study warns that the severe, decades-long drought gripping the Western U.S. may stick around for years—possibly even until 2030 or beyond. Researchers point to climate change and natural weather patterns as key drivers, with shrinking water supplies and worsening wildfires likely to continue.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a bad dry spell—it’s a long-term crisis with real consequences. Farmers, cities, and ecosystems are already straining under water shortages, and if the drought persists, it could reshape life in the West. The study adds urgency to debates over water use, conservation, and how to adapt to a hotter, drier future.