SpaceX successfully launched the Sentinel-6B ocean-monitoring satellite on November 17, 2025, marking its 500th orbital mission using a reused Falcon 9 booster. Sentinel-6B will extend more than 40 years of continuous sea-level measurement, delivering high-precision global ocean data as part of Europe’s Copernicus climate program. Equipped with advanced radar and microwave instruments, the satellite can detect sea-level changes within roughly one inch. Its mission will help track rising oceans, refine climate models, and strengthen long-term environmental monitoring.
Astronomers analyzing Gaia and TESS data have discovered that the famed Pleiades is only the bright center of a much larger stellar complex containing over 3,000 stars. Spanning 2,000 light-years, this vast family reveals how young clusters form, travel, and disperse across the galaxy.
Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope have captured a rare early look at supernova SN 2024ggi, just one day after its discovery. The blast shockwave appeared olive-shaped—not spherical—revealing surprising asymmetry in the explosion. Recorded with the FORS2 instrument, the data shows the shock-breakout phase in unprecedented detail. The discovery challenges existing models and offers new clues into how massive stars die and how their final moments unfold.
As lunar exploration surges, scientists warn that the Moon’s limited stable orbits are growing crowded. Georgia Tech simulations suggest that with about 50 satellites, each may need several collision-avoidance maneuvers per year. Even now, orbiters like Chandrayaan-2 require frequent course corrections. With Artemis and private missions incoming, agencies are developing tracking systems—from NASA’s conjunction monitoring to U.S. cislunar sensors and ESA’s LEMO observatory—aimed at preventing dangerous orbital crashes.
India has officially greenlit Chandrayaan-4, a 2028 lunar sample-return mission set to bring home 3 kg of Moon soil. The mission involves five spacecraft docking in Earth orbit before heading to the lunar surface. ISRO is also moving ahead with its Bharatiya Antariksh Station, with the first module planned for 2028 and full completion targeted for 2035.
Researchers at the University of Houston find boron arsenide conducts heat better than diamond, reshaping thermal management in electronics.
Astronomers detected the first coronal mass ejection from a distant star, revealing that powerful stellar eruptions may strip atmospheres from nearby planets, affecting exoplanet habitability and the search for life.
In November 2025, China’s Galactic Energy suffered a setback when its Ceres-1 rocket failed to reach orbit, losing three satellites launched from Jiuquan. The premature engine cutoff ended the mission early. Despite the failure, the company has pledged improvements to enhance the reliability and performance of future commercial launches.
Blue Origin has postponed the launch of NASA’s twin ESCAPADE Mars probes due to bad weather and new FAA restrictions on daytime launches during the U.S. government shutdown. The mission, now targeting Nov. 12, will study how solar wind stripped away Mars’s atmosphere. Blue Origin is seeking an FAA exemption to proceed with the launch.
Astronomers captured the first moments of a nearby supernova, revealing an asymmetric, olive-shaped blast. In massive stars, core collapse after fuel exhaustion creates a shock wave. Early observations of future supernova surveys will be able to sample diversity in stellar explosions as well as the properties of broad breaks due to asymmetric shocks, which probe the first few hours of massive star death.
A major solar storm in mid-November 2025 dazzled Earth with vivid auroras but forced astronauts on the ISS to take radiation precautions. Russian cosmonauts sheltered in the station’s heavily protected Destiny lab, while other crew members stayed in shielded quarters as controllers limited access to higher-risk modules during the event.
Astronomers discovered GJ 251 c, a super-Earth 20 light-years away. Its location in the habitable zone and rocky composition make it a top candidate for future searches for life beyond our solar system. The team, led by Suvrath Mahadevan and Corey Beard, said this discovery provides a clock for one of the best candidates to search for life's atmospheric signs in 5–10 years using future 30-metre telescopes.
Astronomers using JWST may have discovered Population III stars in cluster LAP1-B, offering new insights into early galaxy formation and the universe’s first luminous objects. JWST observations suggest Population III stars may have formed 13 billion years ago, helping trace early galaxies. These stars might be building blocks for larger galaxies as well, making it possible for astronomers to know more about the structure and evolution of the universe's first cosmic systems.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn successfully launched NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars on November 13, 2025, marking its second flight and its first ocean booster landing on the ship Jacklyn. The mission deploys twin satellites built by Rocket Lab to study how the solar wind strips Mars’ atmosphere during a 22-month journey to the Red Planet.
A large-scale AI analysis of more than two million Mars orbiter images shows that the planet’s dark slope streaks form through seasonal dust avalanches, not flowing briny water. The results settle a long-running debate, revealing that wind-driven dust activity shapes Mars’ surface and offering new insights into the planet’s climate past and exploration future.
Researchers using basic satellite equipment intercepted thousands of unencrypted transmissions from space, exposing sensitive data such as corporate communications, text messages, and even government links. The study highlights major security flaws in satellite networks used worldwide. Experts warn the findings reveal how easily hackers could exploit these vulnerabilities without advanced tools.
India achieved a major step toward its first human spaceflight as ISRO successfully tested the Gaganyaan capsule’s parachute system. Dropped from a 2.5 km altitude, the 7.2-tonne dummy module deployed its 10 chutes flawlessly, ensuring a safe descent even under off-nominal conditions. This success validates a key safety system for crewed missions, moving India closer to launching astronauts aboard Gaganyaan by 2027 after further uncrewed test flights.
On Nov. 11, 2025, the Sun erupted with an X5.1-class flare, disrupting shortwave communications across Africa and Europe. The flare’s X-rays and UV radiation ionized Earth’s upper atmosphere, causing R3-level radio blackouts. NOAA warned that a coronal mass ejection could reach Earth on Nov. 12, potentially triggering strong geomagnetic storms and vivid auroras.
Lab experiments show planets can generate water during formation, not just via comets. This suggests habitable conditions may be widespread in the galaxy, expanding possibilities for life-friendly exoplanets.
NASA’s ESCAPADE mission will launch twin mini-satellites, Blue and Gold, to Mars aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn. The probes will study how solar wind stripped away Mars’s atmosphere and water, helping scientists understand the Red Planet’s lost climate and its transformation into the dry world we see today.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has detected phosphine (PH₃) in the atmosphere of the ancient brown dwarf Wolf 1130C, about 54 light-years away in Cygnus. This marks the first confirmed detection of a phosphorus-bearing gas in such a metal-poor object. The finding surprises astronomers, as phosphine was previously undetected in similar brown dwarfs, challenging existing models of phosphorus chemistry and hinting at unknown atmospheric or stellar processes at work.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch was postponed on November 9, 2025, because of heavy clouds at Cape Canaveral. The rocket was carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE orbiters to study Mars’s atmosphere. The delay came a day before the FAA’s new daytime launch ban during a federal shutdown. The next attempt is scheduled for November 12.
Peking University engineers built a three-layer microfluidic cooling device that manages 3,000 W/cm² heat flux with just 0.9 W/cm² pumping power. Using manifold, microjet, and microchannel layers, it dissipates heat efficiently, promising a leap toward cooler, smaller, and more power-efficient chip designs.
Scientists have solved why the Moon’s dust cloud is uneven: heat. Using computer models, researchers found that meteor impacts on the Moon’s sunlit surface fling 6–8% more dust into space than on the cold night side, creating a lopsided halo. NASA warns this dust could threaten future landers and astronauts.
China’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission achieved a new milestone by photographing interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, the third such object ever recorded. This breakthrough highlights China’s growing strength in planetary science, deep-space imaging, and interstellar observation, offering scientists an unprecedented look at materials beyond our solar syste
On November 6, 2025, SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites under mission Group 11-14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The Falcon 9’s first-stage booster landed safely on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You.” This launch expanded Starlink’s broadband constellation to about 8,800 satellites, pushing global internet coverage closer to reality.
Antarctica is approaching irreversible climate thresholds, scientists warn. Rapid melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, record-low sea ice, and collapsing ocean systems could raise global sea levels by over 3 m. These interconnected changes threaten coastal cities and ecosystems, urging immediate emission cuts to prevent cascading global consequences.
China’s CNSA made history by alerting NASA to a possible satellite collision—marking the first instance of Beijing warning Washington in orbit. With Earth’s orbits growing crowded from megaconstellations like Starlink and Guowang, the event signals a new phase of cooperation in global space traffic control and shared responsibility for orbital safety.
Researchers have identified oxygen trapping in high-sodium cathodes as the main cause of voltage decay. Using EPR spectroscopy, the team uncovered structural changes and trapped O2 accumulation, providing guidance for designing more stable sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage.
Researchers at Chung-Ang University have developed a dual-level engineering strategy combining porous carbon nanofibers and cobalt single-atom catalysts. The design enhances redox reactions, reduces material loss, and improves the lifespan of lithium–sulfur batteries, offering major benefits for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
A new theory suggests dark matter and dark energy may not exist. Physicist Rajendra Gupta’s model proposes that the universe’s forces weaken over time, naturally explaining cosmic expansion and galactic motion without unseen matter or energy.
Astronomers using Keck Observatory have imaged the dusty disk around HD 34282, a young star about 400 light-years away, revealing bright clumps and a 40 AU gap—clear signs of planet formation. The system provides a rare glimpse into early planetary birth, helping refine models of how gas and dust evolve into new worlds.
New models suggest mini-Neptunes—planets smaller than Neptune with thick gas envelopes—may have solid rocky surfaces instead of molten magma. Data from NASA’s JWST revealed high-pressure atmospheres capable of compressing molten rock into solid crusts. This discovery challenges earlier assumptions and offers key insights into exoplanet composition and planetary formation theories.
Astronomers from Yonsei University and DESI data analyses indicate dark energy, long believed constant, may be weakening. Corrected supernova results hint that cosmic acceleration is slowing—a possible “cosmic slowdown.” If true, this could help resolve the Hubble tension and redefine how the universe’s expansion and ultimate fate are understood.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS defied expectations during its 2025 solar flyby, brightening far faster than predicted. Observatories worldwide recorded a blue coma rich in exotic gases, suggesting unique chemistry from another star system. Scientists are investigating whether its unusual composition or speed caused the outburst, marking a new interstellar mystery.
Researchers have created a new fiber that surpasses Kevlar in bullet-stopping power while being much thinner. Made by aligning advanced aramid chains with carbon nanotubes, the material absorbs over twice as much energy as previous record-holding fibers. The breakthrough could lead to lighter, stronger armor for military, law enforcement and personal safety uses.
Researchers at the University of Warsaw and Emory University discovered that quantum entanglement between atoms enhances superradiant light bursts. The study reveals how interatomic forces and entanglement boost collective photon emission, providing new design rules for quantum batteries, sensors, and communication systems that can charge or respond much faster.
Scientists recreated cosmic plasma beams at CERN to study why certain gamma rays vanish in space. The results showed the beams remain stable, suggesting ancient intergalactic magnetic fields, not beam collapse, hide the signals. The discovery provides new insight into cosmic jets and the universe’s earliest magnetic traces.
A new silicon carbide-based motor drive for hybrid aircraft engines reduces size and weight while improving efficiency. Tested in a Cessna 337, the inverter allows lighter, more compact electric systems, offering better energy use and cabin space. This innovation could accelerate hybrid aircraft adoption and provide valuable hands-on experience for student engineers.
The Southern Taurid meteor shower peaks overnight on November 4–5, 2025, bringing a rare “swarm year” filled with bright fireballs from Comet Encke’s debris. Skywatchers can expect slow, glowing meteors—some as bright as fireballs—despite interference from the nearly full Moon. Experts predict up to 10 visible Taurid meteors per hour under dark, clear skies.
Japanese astronomers using ALMA data have found the universe was about twice as hot 7 billion years ago, with a temperature of 5.13 K compared to today’s 2.7 K. The finding aligns perfectly with Big Bang predictions that the Universe cools as it expands, providing the most precise mid-epoch measurement yet and reinforcing confidence in standard cosmology.
A new study shows dark matter falls into cosmic gravity wells much like ordinary matter, narrowing one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries. Researchers say any unknown force acting on dark matter must be very weak, though future missions could detect smaller effects. The findings bring scientists closer to understanding how the universe’s unseen mass behaves.
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has brightened far faster than expected during its solar approach, surprising researchers. Scientists say the unusual surge may point to rare chemical traits from another star system. Further observations in 2025 may reveal why this cosmic visitor behaves differently from typical comets in our solar neighbourhood.
NASA will retire the ISS in 2030, sending it to Point Nemo, a remote Pacific zone known as the spacecraft cemetery. Most of the station will burn up during reentry, with remaining debris falling harmlessly into the sea. The controlled descent aims to avoid past mishaps and reflects a new era of commercial space stations.
A South Australian man’s car windshield was struck and melted by a mysterious object, prompting an investigation by the South Australian Museum. If confirmed as a meteorite, it would be the first known instance of one hitting a moving vehicle. Experts say only lab analyses can determine whether it was a rock or space debris.
Using ALMA, Keio University scientists measured a 5.13 K cosmic background temperature from 7 billion years ago—matching Big Bang predictions of universal cooling. This precise reading, based on quasar absorption data, is the most accurate at that epoch and offers strong confirmation of how the Universe’s temperature decreases over time.
Thousands of unexplained sky flashes captured in 1950s Palomar Observatory photos are being reanalysed. Scientists suspect they may have resulted from sunlight reflecting off early satellites or atmospheric changes after nuclear tests, which increased flash rates by up to 68%. Still, photographic artifacts remain a possible explanation.
A recent study by researchers from Heriot-Watt University has confirmed the presence of a massive crater beneath the Atlantic. The evidence supports the findings and the impact that was caused by a 66-million-year-old asteroid.
Jared K. Lepora, a 16-year-old student, built a robotic hand from LEGO MINDSTORMS that performs lifelike grasping using only two motors. Featuring a differential gearbox for adaptive motion, his design highlights how creativity and accessible materials can make advanced robotics education affordable worldwide.
In a breakthrough study, scientists merged data from Japan’s T2K and the U.S. NOvA neutrino experiments to explore why matter exists in the universe. The findings improve measurements of neutrino behavior and may help reveal whether these particles break symmetry with antimatter, offering vital clues to how the universe survived after the Big Bang.
