Craig Sechler

Follow the dramatic story of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope--the most complex machine ever launched into space--in hopes of peering deeper back in time than ever before and answering some of astronomy's biggest questions.

Join scientists and citizens alike as they observe the first total solar eclipse to traverse the US mainland in over a generation. Discover the storied history of eclipse science and follow current, cutting edge research into the solar corona.

Five centuries ago, the Age of Exploration and Europe's imperial colonization of far-off lands was launched by a revolution in ship design that made long-distance ocean voyages practical. But exactly how this momentous innovation happened eludes historians. Now, the excavation of a rare intact wreck discovered off the coast of Sweden offers vital new clues to a maritime mystery.

Dive into the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. How can scientists better predict these storms, and what does the 2017 season tell us about the likelihood of similar storms in the future?

Follow along as NASA launches the Mars 2020 Mission, perhaps the most ambitious hunt yet for signs of ancient life on Mars. In February 2021, the spacecraft blazes into the Martian atmosphere at some 12,000 miles per hour and lowers the Perseverance Rover into the rocky Jezero Crater, home to a dried-up river delta scientists think could have harbored life. Perseverance will comb the area for signs of life and collect samples for possible return to...

If spacecraft OSIRIS-REx can grab a piece of an asteroid and bring it to Earth, scientists could gain insight into our planet's origins—and even how to defend against rogue asteroids. But NASA only gets three shots at collecting a sample.

Who says you need brains to be smart? Extremely primitive life-forms called slime molds can navigate mazes, choose between foods, and create efficient networks—no brain required. New research on these organisms, which are neither plant nor animal, could help reveal the fundamental rules underlying all decision making.

How do you stop a contagious killer microbe? Scientists around the globe are racing to uncover the secrets of the coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic--and using revolutionary techniques to develop lifesaving treatments and vaccines.