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Space & Planetary

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 12-Jun-2026 20:16 ET (13-Jun-2026 00:16 GMT/UTC)

Blood test to give insights into a person’s infection history

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Grant and Award Announcement

Which infections have you already come into contact with? In the future, a simple blood test may be all you need to answer that question. Researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen intend to investigate the sensors the immune system uses to identify pathogens. The project is to receive approximately 1.5 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) over the next four years.

An unusual dust storm on Mars reveals how the red planet lost some of its water

Tohoku University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

We may be closer to unravelling the mystery of how the dry, arid Mars used to be covered in water from new research that focuses on an unexpected event (a powerful dust storm) at an unexpected time (Northern Hemisphere summer).

Journal: Communications Earth & Environment

Reproduction in space, an environment hostile to human biology

Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Peer-Reviewed Publication

As commercial spaceflight draws ever closer and time spent in space continues to extend, the question of reproductive health beyond the bounds of planet Earth is no longer theoretical but now ‘urgently practical,’ according to a new peer-reviewed study by an international multidisciplinary team of human reproduction, bioethics, and aerospace researchers.

Journal: Reproductive BioMedicine Online

Porto Summit drives critical cooperation on submarine cable resilience

International Telecommunication Union
Reports and Proceedings

Governments, industry representatives and international organizations representing over 70 countries at the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit 2026 reaffirmed today the need to strengthen support for the subsea cables at the heart of global digital communications.

Alice Shapley wins 2026 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics

American Institute of Physics
Grant and Award Announcement

The Heineman Foundation, AIP, and AAS are pleased to announce Alice Shapley as the winner of the 2026 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics. Shapley was selected for her “landmark observational campaigns and creative techniques that redefined the forefront of the field of galaxy formation and evolution.” The award will be presented at the 249th AAS Meeting, Jan. 10-14, 2027, and Shapley will receive a certificate and a $10,000 award.

Big Earth Data researchers set a new global standard for earth data grids

Big Earth Data
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Earth observation data underpin climate science, disaster response, and environmental policy, yet inconsistent grid definitions often limit their accuracy and reuse. Researchers now present a unified, axis-based grid model that resolves long-standing ambiguities in how spatial and temporal data are represented. The new framework modernizes international standards, enabling precise, interoperable data cubes across disciplines. This advance could significantly improve how Earth data are shared, analyzed, and trusted worldwide.

Journal: Big Earth Data

NTU Singapore unveils locally designed and built eVTOL aircraft at Singapore Airshow 2026

Nanyang Technological University
Business Announcement

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has unveiled Singapore’s first locally designed and built full-sized aircraft, an advanced electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology demonstrator. This eight-metre wingspan homegrown aircraft prototype, developed over more than three years by researchers and engineers from NTU Singapore, marks a significant milestone in Singapore’s aerospace research capabilities.

Eight lift rotors powered by NTU-designed electric motors are mounted on the wings to enable vertical take-off and landing from any confined space. Once airborne, the proprotor at the back quietly propels the aircraft forward, allowing it to fly like a normal airplane. It was unveiled today at the Singapore Airshow 2026 by NTU Vice President (Industry) Professor Lam Khin Yong, together with other industry partners.

AES Andes announces cancellation of INNA, the industrial complex planned near Paranal

ESO
Business Announcement

AES Andes announced that it will step back from the megaproject INNA, planned to be located near the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Paranal Observatory. ESO welcomes this announcement and expects that the project will be withdrawn from Chile's Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) soon, which would formally confirm INNA is not going ahead.

Dr. Ben Thacker named SwRI chief operating officer

Southwest Research Institute
Business Announcement

SAN ANTONIO — February 2, 2026 — Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) Board of Directors has named Dr. Ben Thacker, P.E., chief operating officer (COO). Thacker previously served as the vice president of SwRI’s Mechanical Engineering Division.

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