Science News: Earth, Moon, and Beyond

Today's science roundup covers dramatic changes on Earth, a milestone in lunar exploration, and an ambitious spacecraft heading toward a metal world.

Rust-Colored Streams Appear Across Alaska's Brooks Range

Scientists are observing orange-colored streams appearing in hundreds of watersheds across Alaska's Brooks Range, a phenomenon linked to thawing permafrost releasing iron-rich sediments into waterways. Read more: Wild, Scenic, and Increasingly Rusty

NASA Artemis II Team Photographs Moon from Historic Distance

A NASA mission controller has revealed how the Artemis II team successfully photographed the Moon from 250,000 miles away during their historic lunar flyby, describing how the distant perspective made the Moon appear unexpectedly different. Read more: 'The moon looked wrong': Artemis II mission controller reveals how NASA took historic lunar flyby photos from 250,000 miles away - Live Science

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Gains Speed with Mars Gravity Assist

NASA's Psyche spacecraft performed a gravity assist maneuver around Mars, passing within 2,864 miles of the planet and gaining 1,000 MPH without using onboard propellant, advancing its journey toward a metal-rich asteroid. Read more: NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Passed Within 2,864 Miles of Mars, Gained 1,000 MPH Without Using Onboard Propellant, and Is Now Headed for a Metal World That May Be an Early Planet's Exposed Core - 19FortyFive