In the largest genomic mapping of Africa's elephants, an international team of researchers shows that elephant history is defined by the ability to move across large distances and exchange genes throughout the African continent. But as the elephants’ living space is becoming increasingly patchy, the study documents the visible genetic consequences of isolation – and points to approaches that help to incorporate genomics into current and future elephant conservation.

New Curtin University-led research has used a radio telescope that spans the Earth to snap images that measure the immense power of jets from black holes, confirming scientists’ theories of how black holes help shape the structure of the Universe.

From lazy ripples to towering breakers, the mechanics of ocean waves should vary widely from one planet to another, according to a model developed by scientists at MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

In a new study, University of Washington researchers show that an Earth-sized planet likely needs at least 20 to 50% of the water in Earth’s oceans to maintain a critical natural cycle that keeps water on the surface. These new parameters could exclude many exoplanets in the so-called habitable zone.

Astronomers are puzzled by the existence of extremely massive black holes—up to a billion times the mass of the Sun—forming less than a billion years after the Big Bang, far earlier than current theories predict. Standard models of black hole growth cannot explain how they became so large so quickly. New research suggests that energy from decaying dark matter may have altered early galaxies’ chemistry, allowing some to collapse directly into massive black holes instead of forming stars.

To strengthen collaboration with industry, while enhancing warfighter readiness and lethality, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) — to include the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and ONR’s international arm, ONR Global — will host an exhibit at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition, April 20-22, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Astronomers at The University of New Mexico have recently published new research confirming three bodies orbiting the dynamic exoplanet system TOI-201. They include a super-earth (TOI-201 d), a warm Jupiter (TOI-201 b) and a brown dwarf (TOI-201 c). Ismael Mireles, a PhD candidate in the UNM Department of Physics and Astronomy advised by Professor Diana Dragomir, led the research. The paper titled, “Uncovering the Rapidly Evolving Orbits of the Dynamic TOI-201 System” is published in Science Advances.

As the demand for constructing lunar and Martian bases continues to rise, lava tubes—with their unique advantages such as natural shielding from cosmic radiation, thermally stable conditions, and ready-to-use subsurface living spaces—have become a core consideration for deep space exploration and the selection of long-term extraterrestrial base sites. Compared to traditional methods relying solely on surface rovers or single-sensor orbital identification, future scientific exploration of lunar and Martian lava tubes requires a systematic approach to address key questions: "Where are they?", "What do they look like?", "How do we explore them?", and "How do we use them?" This necessitates the establishment of a comprehensive, multi-dimensional detection system.

Recently, a study published in the journal Space: Science & Technology focused on the Jingpo Lake lava tube as a typical terrestrial analog site. Led by China University of Geosciences (Beijing) in collaboration with domestic and international research teams, including the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Heilongjiang Second Surveying and Mapping Engineering Institute; Peking University; Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chengdu University of Technology; and the University of Padova, Italy, a comprehensive five-year scientific investigation was conducted. Leveraging the Jingpo Lake lava tube network in Heilongjiang Province and taking advantage of the environmental conditions during winter when liquid water is absent—thereby simulating lunar lava tube exploration scenarios—this study carried out multi-sensor, integrated ground-air-space surveys. For the first time, an integrated ground-air-space exploration scheme for lava tubes was proposed. This scheme integrates multi-source detection technologies, including spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR), UAV-based close-range photogrammetry, airborne LiDAR, in-tube GeoSLAM, hyperspectral LiDAR, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). A multi-platform, multi-scale collaborative survey of the Jingpo Lake lava tube area was conducted, establishing a complete technical chain from surface skylight identification and subsurface void detection to the precise acquisition of in-tube geometric and spectral information. This work provides a robust terrestrial analog validation foundation and technical reference for future comprehensive lunar lava tube exploration.