NASA's Artemis II mission advances lunar race with China, while scientists make breakthroughs in dinosaur behavior, ancient giant octopuses, and fungal contamination risks for Mars exploration.

NASA's Artemis II crew broke astronaut distance records during their mission, with former Apollo astronaut Fred Haise graciously passing his historic benchmark to the newer generation as the US accelerates its crewed lunar program.

The world's two superpowers are ramping up preparations for crewed lunar landings nearly six decades after the first moon walk, with China and the US competing intensely in what experts call a critical race back to the moon.

Scientists believe that early bird skulls hold crucial clues to understanding the inner lives and behavior of long-extinct dinosaurs, with researchers suggesting that T-rex was likely far more intelligent than previously depicted in popular culture.

Study of fossilized beaks reveals that giant kraken-like octopuses from 100 million years ago could reach up to 19 meters in length and used powerful beaks to crunch through the bones of their prey.

NASA researchers identified a hardy fungus species capable of surviving extreme radiation, intense heat, and simulated Martian soil conditions, posing new challenges for planetary protection protocols designed to keep Mars pristine from Earth contamination.

Evidence of careful planning and teamwork by Neanderthals emerges from analysis of an ancient elephant bone skeleton, long dismissed as unimportant, suggesting our extinct cousins were sophisticated hunters capable of coordinated kills.

Scientists made a breakthrough in solving the mystery of volcanic lightning by discovering that fine carbon coating on silica particles in volcanic updrafts causes electrical charges, explaining the spectacular display phenomenon.

A mysterious golden blob retrieved from the deep ocean near Alaska in 2023 has been identified as part of an anemone species, solving a scientific puzzle that baffled researchers who initially struggled to classify the strange, shiny discovery.

Renowned polar cameraman Doug Allan, who captured iconic footage for David Attenborough's films of penguins, polar bears and other cold-weather creatures while enduring extreme environmental conditions, has died at age 74.

Researchers identified a previously unknown species of bacteria found in patients with noma, a neglected tropical disease that causes deadly disfiguration in children, potentially unlocking new treatment pathways for the condition.