Astronaut makes 'space kimchi fried rice' in orbit as crew starts packing for trip home | On the ISS this week July 21-25, 2025

NASA is facing a major brain drain, with close to 4,000 employees—over 20% of its workforce—opting to leave under a Trump-era "deferred resignation" program. While the exact reasons for the departures aren’t spelled out here, it’s a significant hit to an agency already stretched thin on ambitious projects like Artemis and Mars exploration.

Editor’s Note: Losing this many experienced people isn’t just about empty desks—it could slow down critical missions, delay research, and even weaken NASA’s ability to innovate. For a agency that relies on deep expertise, this kind of exodus raises real questions about how smoothly things will run in the years ahead. Whether it’s due to policy clashes, morale issues, or something else, the fallout could ripple through space exploration for a long time.

This week’s science roundup serves up two standout stories: the surprising ecological comeback of trees in Yellowstone thanks to wolves, and the discovery of the largest interstellar object ever detected. It’s a mix of nature’s resilience and cosmic wonder—perfect for weekend reading.

Editor’s Note: The Yellowstone story is a reminder that rewilding can have cascading benefits, even decades later. Meanwhile, the interstellar object fuels curiosity about what else might be drifting through our cosmic neighborhood. Both stories highlight how science keeps revealing unexpected connections—whether on Earth or light-years away.

The James Webb Space Telescope is blowing our minds with its stunning snapshots of the universe’s farthest corners—but how does it pull off such cosmic magic? This piece breaks down the tech behind Webb’s superpowers, from its massive gold-plated mirrors to its ultra-sensitive infrared cameras, all while chilling a million miles from home.

Editor’s Note: Understanding Webb’s mechanics isn’t just nerdy fun—it’s a glimpse into how we’re rewriting the rules of astronomy. These insights help us decode the universe’s oldest mysteries, from newborn galaxies to potential alien worlds, making Webb way more than a fancy camera in space.

A massive solar-powered drone, with a wingspan even bigger than a Boeing 747, could soon be cruising the skies for months at a time without needing to land. Developed by Skydweller Aero, this high-tech aircraft is designed for long-haul maritime surveillance, potentially revolutionizing how we monitor vast ocean areas.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another drone—it’s a game-changer for persistent aerial missions. Unlike fuel-dependent aircraft, this solar-powered giant could stay airborne indefinitely, making it ideal for everything from tracking illegal fishing to disaster response. It’s a big leap toward cleaner, more efficient surveillance tech, and it hints at a future where drones handle tasks too demanding (or too dull) for crewed flights.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, has rolled out to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, gearing up for its July 31 mission to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. Fresh photos show the sleek spacecraft in position, marking another step in NASA’s partnership with private companies to keep space travel humming.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another rocket on the pad—it’s a sign of how routine crewed spaceflight is becoming, thanks to SpaceX’s reusable tech. With NASA leaning on private partners like this, missions to the ISS are more frequent and cost-effective, paving the way for even bigger leaps, like trips to the Moon and Mars. For space fans, it’s a reassuring glimpse of the future unfolding on schedule.