Whooo's there? James Webb telescope spots 'Cosmic Owl,' super-rare structure formed from colliding ring galaxies

A high-profile New Zealand space mission hit a major snag when MethaneSat—a satellite designed to track greenhouse gas emissions—failed just before local scientists were set to take control. The NZ$29 million project, which had significant government backing, was poised to deliver crucial climate data and scientific returns. For lead researcher Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, the loss was a gut punch, leaving the team reeling from both the scientific and financial setback.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a technical hiccup—it’s a blow to New Zealand’s growing ambitions in space research and climate science. The satellite was a key tool in the fight against methane emissions, and its failure wastes years of effort and taxpayer money. For a small nation trying to carve out a niche in space, setbacks like this sting extra hard.

Ivar Giaever, a pioneering physicist who won the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work in quantum tunneling—a discovery that revolutionized electronics and superconductivity—has passed away at 96. His research laid the foundation for modern technologies like MRI machines and quantum computing. Giaever was known for his sharp wit and later controversial climate skepticism, but his scientific legacy remains towering.

Amazon’s Prime Day is here, and Popular Science’s editors have handpicked 19 of their favorite products—from gadgets to home essentials—that are now on sale at steep discounts. If you’ve been eyeing upgrades or need some new gear, this is a solid chance to snag them for less.

Editor’s Note: Prime Day is basically Black Friday in July, and these curated picks cut through the noise of endless deals. Whether you trust the editors’ taste or just want a shortcut to worthwhile discounts, this list could save you time (and money) on stuff that’s actually good.

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a stunning cosmic spectacle—two ring galaxies smashing into each other in a rare formation nicknamed the "Cosmic Owl." Located billions of light-years away, this collision isn’t just a pretty sight; scientists say it’s a goldmine for understanding how galaxies grow and change over time.

Editor’s Note: Galaxies colliding isn’t new, but ring galaxies are unusual, and seeing two of them interact is like stumbling upon a cosmic unicorn. The JWST’s sharp eyes give astronomers a front-row seat to study how these massive structures evolve, which helps piece together the bigger story of our universe. Plus, who doesn’t love a space discovery with a whimsical nickname?

Scientists are on the verge of approving a genetically modified herpes virus as a groundbreaking treatment for advanced melanoma. In clinical trials, the virus successfully shrank tumors in about a third of patients who had run out of other options. This isn’t science fiction—it’s a real, potentially life-saving therapy that harnesses a virus we usually think of as harmful and turns it into a weapon against cancer.

Editor’s Note: Imagine repurposing a virus known for causing cold sores into a cancer-fighting tool. If approved, this treatment could offer hope to people with aggressive melanoma who’ve exhausted conventional therapies. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected solutions—like using one disease to fight another—can lead to major leaps in medicine. This isn’t just about melanoma; it could pave the way for more viral therapies targeting other cancers. Pretty wild, right?