Solar Orbiter

A new study argues the solar system is far more fragile than commonly assumed and will eventually be completely destroyed, with planetary orbits described as terminally unstable. Readers are debating the findings, with some skeptical about long-term predictions and others highlighting that instability is expected on vast timescales.

The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter mission has tracked the origin of mysterious magnetic switchbacks, sudden zig-zag deviations in the solar wind's magnetic field that have puzzled scientists for decades. The finding offers new insight into how the Sun's magnetic field behaves as it streams outward into the solar system.

A long, strange cloud stretching off Mars's Arsia Mons volcano has puzzled scientists since it was spotted recurring each Martian morning. New analysis indicates the cloud cannot be explained by dust alone, deepening the mystery around how it forms and endures. Researchers continue to study the phenomenon using data from Mars orbiters, and the finding is drawing attention from space enthusiasts and planetary scientists alike.

The idea of placing data centers in orbit is drawing attention as a way to meet surging computing and energy demands. Proponents argue space-based compute could tap continuous solar power and radiate heat more easily, easing pressure on strained terrestrial power grids. Critics point to launch costs, maintenance and radiation challenges. The topic sits at the intersection of the space economy and AI infrastructure policy.

Redwire, the Florida-based space infrastructure company, is providing solar arrays for another commercial space station module, strengthening its position in the emerging market for privately operated orbital stations. The announcement highlights the company's growing role in supplying power systems as aerospace firms develop successors to the International Space Station.

Google's Project Suncatcher proposes running AI chips in space, with satellites orbiting Earth to harness continuous solar power for large-scale computing. The idea is pitched as a potential breakthrough that could reshape how AI infrastructure is built, easing energy and cooling limits on the ground. Commentators and educators are breaking down the technical ambitions and challenges, from launch costs to radiation and heat management.

New reporting from IFLScience suggests the solar system could be doomed after all, with the Sun identified as the cause. The claim points to the Sun's long-term evolution, which can destabilize planetary orbits as it changes over billions of years, ultimately threatening the planets' survival.

EarthSky has published a guided tour of the solar system's strangest moons, highlighting the most unusual satellites orbiting the planets. The piece walks readers through moons known for their odd shapes, wild orbits, extreme surfaces and other peculiar traits that set them apart from more familiar bodies like our own Moon. It offers a quick, accessible astronomy roundup for curious readers.

Elon Musk has floated a SpaceX moonshot to build AI computing infrastructure in orbit, using satellites with solar power to handle data-center workloads. Commentators argue the idea will not uproot neocloud companies, the firms offering cloud GPU capacity for AI, citing the immense cost, engineering hurdles and timescales of orbital data centers compared with fast-growing terrestrial GPU cloud providers.