Mars Ocean Discovery, Black Hole Torus, and Artemis 2 Moon Rocket Rollout

Jan 19, 2026

New Evidence Points to an Ancient Ocean on Mars

A new study suggests that Mars may have once possessed an ocean at least as large as Earth's Arctic Ocean. Researchers identified geological formations resembling fan deltas in the Valles Marineris canyon system that formed approximately 3.37 billion years ago. These findings indicate that stable surface water may have existed on a planetary scale for longer periods than previously believed. This discovery provides a new line of evidence to constrain the location and elevation of ancient Martian shorelines.

James Webb Telescope Captures Sharpest View of Black Hole's Dusty Disk

The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the clearest view yet of the immediate surroundings of a supermassive black hole in the Circinus galaxy. Observations reveal that the intense infrared glow in active galaxies originates from a dense disk of gas and dust feeding the black hole rather than powerful outflows. Using a high-contrast mode, researchers were able to isolate the hot dust and map small-scale structures normally hidden from view. This breakthrough challenges decades-old models and helps scientists understand how supermassive black holes grow and influence their host galaxies.

NASA's Artemis 2 Moon Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad

NASA successfully rolled out its towering Artemis 2 Space Launch System rocket to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on January 17. The 322-foot-tall rocket and Orion spacecraft completed the four-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building in approximately 11.5 hours. This milestone marks a critical step toward the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years, currently targeted for February. Engineers will now begin preparing the vehicle for a wet dress rehearsal to test fueling operations and countdown procedures.

Mysterious Iron Bar Discovered in the Famous Ring Nebula

Astronomers using the WEAVE instrument have discovered a previously unknown structure of ionized iron atoms in the center of the iconic Ring Nebula. The discovery was made possible by capturing a continuous spectrum across the entire nebula, revealing details that were hidden from previous observations. The origin of this iron bar remains a mystery, with theories ranging from stellar ejection processes to the vaporization of an orbiting rocky planet. This finding demonstrates the advanced capabilities of new astronomical instruments to uncover surprises in well-studied cosmic objects. Researchers plan follow-up studies to determine if similar structures exist in other planetary nebulae.

First Ocean Robot Collects Data Inside a Category 5 Hurricane

Startup Oshen has successfully deployed autonomous micro-robots that survived and collected data within a Category 5 hurricane. The company's C-Star robots are designed to be cheap, mass-deployable, and capable of surviving harsh ocean conditions for up to 100 days. During the 2025 hurricane season, three of these robots weathered Hurricane Humberto, providing unprecedented data from the heart of the storm. This technology addresses a critical gap in oceanographic data, which is essential for accurate weather forecasting and maritime safety. Oshen is now expanding its operations with contracts from government organizations for both weather and defense applications.

SpaceX Launches 29 Starlink Satellites in Record-Breaking Flight

SpaceX successfully launched 29 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on January 18. The mission utilized a Falcon 9 booster that completed its 24th successful flight, setting a new record for rocket reuse. Following the launch, the first-stage booster performed a precise landing on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean. This launch brings the total number of active Starlink satellites to over 9,500, further expanding global internet coverage. The mission represents SpaceX's eighth launch of 2026 as the company continues its rapid pace of orbital deployments.

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