Sci/Tech

Spokane has one last chance for grace from a state program that penalizes the city’s solid waste emissions unlike anywhere else in Washington. Without action from the state, the city could be forced to shell out millions annually because of the carbon emissions from its energy-generating trash incinerator.

With plans to launch the massive Starship from Florida next year, SpaceX defended its commitment to airspace safety after a Wall Street Journal article claimed an explosive mission in early 2025 was a greater danger to some flights than previously reported.

Splish-splash. Could the water-loving mallard be any merrier this time of year?

“Dr. Christmas Tree” is a weighty title to bestow on someone.

NASA has lost contact with its MAVEN spacecraft that has been orbiting Mars for more than a decade.

Dr. Universe: Why do we have fingerprints? – Kaylen, 11, North Carolina

Maggots may be the key to more accurately determining when people died, according to Florida researchers, pointing to the genetic makeup of larvae.

The Bennu asteroid, a space rock not too far from Earth that is rich in carbon, continues to be a trove of information for scientists keen to learn about how life may have begun in our solar system.

Dear Dr. Universe: Can humans live in space for a month? – Maya, 11, Seattle

It’s the bird with bloomers.

Three Chinese astronauts were stuck aboard the Tiangong space station this month when their return craft sustained damage. They eventually made it home on the vehicle that brought up their replacements - leaving the next trio of astronauts in the same predicament. They are far from alone: Russian and U.S. spacefarers have also been delayed in space in recent years, for months at a time.

Is art uniquely human?

Dear Dr. Universe: What’s the hardest math equation in the world? – James, 6, Washington state

If you head into your backyard this weekend and set up your telescope, the giant planet Saturn will be there for you to see.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is powerful, but Jeff Bezos’ rocket company wants more. After completing a successful second mission of New Glenn, including a launch from Cape Canaveral and landing and the return of its first-stage booster, Blue Origin announced upgrades coming to the heavy-lift rocket as soon as mission No. 3.

Dear Dr. Universe: Why did they invent paper? – Sofia, 9, Florida

Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin space company successfully launched and landed its New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon, marking a major technical breakthrough for the company as it works to catch up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Researchers in Australia have discovered a native bee species with tiny “devil-like horns.”

Blue Origin’s heavy lift New Glenn became the first commercial rocket to make it to orbit on its first try back in January. Jeff Bezos’ company is looking to repeat the feat while also nailing a return landing of its booster, something that didn’t come to fruition the first go-around.