Science center

NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia has converted a Boeing 777 into an airborne laboratory for scientific research. The aircraft is being reconfigured to carry instruments and experiments for atmospheric and aeronautics studies. The conversion highlights NASA's growing use of large commercial jets as research platforms, and locals are following the project closely given the center's prominent role in the region.

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara will take part in three of the National Science Foundation's Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, the university announced. The multi-institution institutes are part of the NSF's effort to advance quantum science and technology, and UCSB's involvement underscores its standing as a leading center for quantum research.

Stephanie Striegel serves as the SETI Institute's Lead Operations Engineer for the Science Processing Operations Center at NASA's Ames Research Center. Her work supports NASA's TESS mission, which scans the sky for planets beyond our solar system, enabling the detection and study of exoplanets. The profile is drawing attention as part of coverage of the scientists and engineers behind NASA's planet-hunting efforts.

Dr. Chris Morrison of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge has been awarded a grant of up to $2 million from the National Institutes of Health. The funding will support research into how the brain detects dietary protein restriction, work that could shed light on appetite regulation and the health effects of low-protein diets. The award was announced via a science news release.

The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University is marking its tenth anniversary and is broadening its reach into engineering. Founded to help scientists communicate more clearly with the public, the center now plans to bring its communication training methods to engineers as well. The anniversary highlights its decade of work improving how researchers explain science.

Leaders from the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate visited the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The visit focused on strengthening partnerships between government, academia and industry on security research and innovation. The university announced the meeting, which highlights NCITE's role as a DHS-backed hub for counterterrorism research.

The California Science Center in Los Angeles will begin taking advance reservations on October 21, 2026 for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the new permanent home of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The announcement gives visitors their first chance to plan visits to the exhibit, where Endeavour will be displayed upright in launch configuration.

The University of New Mexico's College of Population Health has earned seven-year accreditation covering all of its degree programs, the maximum term typically awarded. The announcement, made through the university's Health Sciences Center newsroom, signals that the college's public health education offerings have met rigorous external quality standards through the full review cycle, strengthening its standing among graduate public health programs in the region.

Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, has partnered with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) to establish the Ibn Battuta Center for Science Diplomacy. The new center, named after the famed Moroccan traveler, aims to connect scientific research with diplomatic practice across the Islamic world and beyond, strengthening cooperation between academia and international institutions.

NASA's Langley Research Center has carried out its first pressure sensitive paint tests on a model wing, with the wing visibly lighting up under testing. The technique allows researchers to measure surface pressure across an aircraft model in detail, supporting aerodynamics and aviation research. The striking glowing imagery has drawn attention from space and aviation enthusiasts.

The Murmil Education Center in El Dorado held its second STEM night, an event focused on science, technology, engineering and math education for the local community. The gathering gave students and families a chance to engage with hands-on learning activities, and it marks the center's continued effort to expand STEM programming in the area following the success of its first event.

The Sitka Sound Science Center in Alaska has welcomed a new scientist in residence whose work focuses on landslides. The appointment brings landslide research and expertise to the community, which sits in steep, landslide-prone terrain in Southeast Alaska. The center says the residency will support local science education and research tied to the region's geological hazards.

World Space Week 2026 is being searched across multiple countries, including Indonesia, Japan, India and the United States. In Jakarta, events such as astronomy learning sessions are being held to mark the occasion, with the theme of space science education taking center stage. The annual celebration runs in early October worldwide.

The California Science Center in Los Angeles has launched reservations for its new expansion, set to debut in November. The addition centers on the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which will be displayed in a new gallery as part of the museum's growing campus. Visitors can now book ahead to see the exhibit when it opens.

The St. Louis Science Center held a family-friendly fossil festival, inviting children and adults to explore paleontology through hands-on activities. The local event, covered by KSDK, offered visitors a chance to learn about prehistoric life in an educational setting. Families in the St. Louis area turned out for the weekend programming.

Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland is running an innovative program that trains young people, according to a report by Local News Matters. The initiative is described as giving youth a foothold in space science education, though further details about the program's structure, participants and goals were not provided in the available coverage.

A new BlueTech accelerator has been launched to bring water-technology startups to a freshwater research center. The program aims to connect early-stage companies with research facilities and expertise in freshwater science. Details about the center's location, funding partners, and the startups involved have not yet been reported.

Artist Michele Banks, known as Artologica, has opened a solo exhibition of new physics-inspired work at Harmony Hall Arts Center in Maryland. The show, presented through the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is on view now, with a public reception titled Forces of Nature scheduled for October 11. The announcement is drawing attention from art and science communities.

Science City, the science center in Kansas City, is running an 'After Hours' program offering evening events for adult visitors beyond regular daytime hours. The series gives grown-ups a chance to explore exhibits, take part in hands-on activities and enjoy the venue without school groups and families, part of a wider trend of museums hosting nightlife-style science events.

Roy S. Herbst, director of Dartmouth Cancer Center, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in American medicine and health. The announcement was made by Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, which welcomed the recognition of Herbst's leadership in cancer research and patient care. Election to the academy is reserved for individuals judged to have made outstanding contributions to the medical sciences.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center has held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building, which the institution describes as a milestone for healthcare education in Tennessee. The facility is intended to support interdisciplinary medical training across the state.