Guided learning lets “untrainable” neural networks realize their potential
Even networks long considered “untrainable” can learn effectively with a bit of a helping hand. Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have shown that a brief period of alignment between neural networks, a method they call...
A SpaceX Starlink satellite is tumbling and falling out of space after partial breakup in orbit
One of SpaceX's Starlink broadband internet satellites suffered an anomaly in orbit on Wednesday (Dec. 17) and is now plunging toward Earth. The mishap led to a loss of communication with the Starlink spacecraft, which was orbiting at an altitude of 260 miles (418...
Trump signs sweeping executive order aimed at ‘ensuring American space superiority’
The United States has some new marching orders in the final frontier. On Thursday (Dec. 18), President Donald Trump issued an executive order entitled "Ensuring American Space Superiority." Dominance off Earth is vital to the nation's security and prosperity,...
How did interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS capture our imagination in 2025?
It came from outer space. Interstellar space, to be precise. From somewhere beyond the influence of our sun, possibly from one of our Milky Way galaxy's most ancient stars, one that formed long before our own sun and solar system. We may never know for sure....
Farewell, comet 3I/ATLAS! Interstellar visitor heads for the outer solar system after its closest approach to Earth
On Friday (Dec. 19), the interstellar invader, comet 3I/ATLAS, made its closest approach to Earth, coming to within 168 million miles (270 million kilometers) of our planet at 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT). Following this close approach and the opportunity it offers to...
Blue Origin launches 1st wheelchair user to space and back (video)
Aerospace engineer Michi Benthaus made spaceflight history on Saturday morning (Dec. 20). Blue Origin launched Benthaus and her five crewmates on a suborbital spaceflight from the company's West Texas launch site on Saturday, lifting off at 9:15 a.m. EST (1415 GMT;...
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is rapidly moving away from us. Can we ‘intercept’ it before it leaves us forever?
We've watched it speed through the solar system using the most powerful telescopes in human history. We've studied its light with probes whipping around the sun and robots marooned on Mars. Countless eyes watched it make its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19 — and...
‘Unprecedented’ protoplanet collision spotted in ‘Eye of Sauron’ star system just 25 light-years from Earth
Astronomers hoping to observe a planet around a nearby star have witnessed a much rarer "unprecedented celestial event," the team said: The violent aftermath of not one, but two collisions between the rocky building blocks of planets. Over the past two decades,...
Best running shoes for supination 2025: Find the perfect fit for your feet
With the holiday season approaching and spring marathon training cycles kicking into gear, many runners are undoubtedly eyeing new footwear. While the market is ripe with options, it's crucial to resist the temptation of selecting shoes based purely on aesthetics....
What’s the fastest a human can grow?
It's a familiar scenario for many: A teenager's jeans, once a perfect fit in autumn, often become high-waters by winter. This remarkable adolescent growth spurt commonly sees young people adding 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 centimeters) to their height in just one year....
AI is solving ‘impossible’ math problems. Can it best the world’s top mathematicians?
In October 2024, Facebook parent company Meta reportedly achieved a monumental scientific feat, announcing it had solved a complex mathematical problem that had baffled experts for a century and was widely considered 'impossible'. In this scenario, the solutions...