Geoff Brumfiel

The mission will land, take a sample and return to Earth. It's the first such sample-return mission in more than 40 years, and it will tell scientists about the age of the moon and planets.

Four astronauts are flying to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Dragon crew capsule. The mission is the first of what NASA hopes are many.

NASA has announced the discovery of water in a sunlit crater on the moon. The water is likely trapped inside of little glass beads and may one day be useful for astronauts visiting the surface.

More hospitalized patients are surviving than early in the pandemic. Improved treatments make a big difference, but so does flattening the curve to keep hospitals from overfilling, researchers say.

The prize goes to Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez. Ghez says she hopes it will inspire young people, and particularly women, to pursue careers in science.

The mission took place this past weekend, shrouded in secrecy, but some clues are emerging about what China sent into space, and why.

Dr. Scott Atlas is a radiologist from Stanford with some unorthodox ideas about managing the pandemic. The White House says his thinking is just what's needed, but scientists aren't so sure.

NPR's White House and science correspondents discuss President Trump's new top coronavirus adviser, Scott Atlas, and his approach to dealing with the pandemic.

75 years ago this weekend, the U.S. killed tens of thousands when it dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. It was a mission marked by arbitrary decisions, technical problems, and bad weather.

The massive explosion leveled the city's port and scattered debris across a road thousands of feet away. The blast killed at least 100 people and injured thousands more.

A growing number of researchers think until there's an effective vaccine, the coronavirus will simply persist in the population, causing illness indefinitely. Better to squelch the spread instead.

As the pandemic drags on, researchers are increasingly doubtful that so-called "herd immunity" can be reached without a vaccine. Many now believe COVID-19 may be around forever.

NPR's Geoff Brumfiel has been passing the time in part by looking for bugs with his two kids. Recently, they came across an ant that was actually a wasp that leads a relatively solitary life.

The celestial visitor should be visible just after sunset for anyone who wants to see it. Bring along the binoculars for an even better view.

An incident last week at an Iranian nuclear facility appears to be sabotage. A look at the chief suspects and what the impact could be on Iran's nuclear ambitions.

NPR's Geoff Brumfiel has been passing the time in part by looking for bugs with his two kids. While wandering in the woods, they found a millipede. It can be poisonous but also makes a great pet.

NPR's Geoff Brumfiel has been stuck at home with his two small kids since March. They have been passing the time in part by looking for bugs. Recently, they have found a water strider.

After an aborted launch attempt to the International Space Station on Wednesday, the weather cleared and the launch went ahead on Saturday.

With astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken strapped inside the capsule and the countdown narrowing, poor weather conditions forced an abort. The next opportunity to try will be on Saturday.

Later this week, NASA and SpaceX will launch the first rocket carrying astronauts from U.S. soil since the end of the space shuttle era. But COVID-19 has forced some changes to their plans.