Science Highlights

From lunar nuclear ambitions to breakthroughs in liver disease research and revelations about the universe's first stars, today's science news spans cosmic frontiers and human health.

Superpowers Race to Put Nuclear Reactors on the Moon - The New York Times

Major spacefaring nations are accelerating efforts to deploy nuclear reactors on the lunar surface, driven by ambitions for sustained human presence and resource utilization under NASA's Artemis program and comparable initiatives. Read more: Superpowers Race to Put Nuclear Reactors on the Moon - The New York Times

This protective enzyme could help stop fatty liver disease from getting worse

Researchers have identified an enzyme called UBE2N that appears to help liver cells clear damaged mitochondria and break down fat, potentially preventing the progression from simple fatty liver disease to the more severe condition known as MASH. Read more: This protective enzyme could help stop fatty liver disease from getting worse

Powerful simulations reveal how the first stars changed the universe

Scientists are using powerful supercomputer simulations called MEGATRON to model how the universe's first stars emerged from darkness and seeded the cosmos with heavy elements, potentially connecting James Webb Space Telescope observations of early galaxies with chemical signatures found in ancient stars today. Read more: Powerful simulations reveal how the first stars changed the universe

GAO: NASA has no single cost estimate for Moon-to-Mars program - Carolina Coast Online

The Government Accountability Office has found that NASA does not currently maintain a single, comprehensive cost estimate for its Moon-to-Mars program, raising questions about budget transparency and long-term program planning for the agency's human spaceflight ambitions. Read more: GAO: NASA has no single cost estimate for Moon-to-Mars program - Carolina Coast Online