The folks over at Flight point to a new animated video of Northrop Grumman’s Oblique Flying Wing X-plane. The DARPA-funded project is to design and build a tailless, supersonic aircraft that could eventually be a bomber, a surveillance asset or perform other missions. It’s supposed to fly in 2010; let’s hope the real thing is as incredible looking as the animation here.
What to Know About China’s Top-Secret Spaceplane
This week, the Pentagon released a full-resolution image of the vehicle, the capabilities of which remain rather mysterious.
Stephen Clark, Ars Technica
Cat-Like Whiskers Help Tiny Drones Fly in the Dark
Researchers took lessons from nocturnal animals to help rescue drones overcome a key challenge: flying in the dark.
Ritsuko Kawai
A Tesla Flying Car? I Don’t Know, Man
The Federal Aviation Administration will likely have thoughts about the Tesla Roadster 2’s ability to leave the ground.
Aarian Marshall
Humans Watched This Supernova Explode Nearly a Millennium Ago. Now You Can See It in High Definition
The new image isn’t just stunning—it may also provide clues about how this star survived its own explosion.
Jorge Garay
The Tesla Roadster 2 Is Here—and It Flies
The automaker unveiled its next luxury sports car at an event in Texas. It has thrusters on it that can send it airborne.
Aarian Marshall
Cool, Cool, Cool, Palmer Luckey and Ben Lamm Made a Genetically Modified Military Dog Startup
Warhound came out of stealth on Wednesday with $200 million in funding and a mission to create “elite working dogs” equipped with "advanced body armor."
Kate Knibbs
Astronomers Discover a Possible New Dwarf Planet in Our Solar System
Lying beyond Pluto, 2026 ED138 could be as large as 1,500 kilometers in diameter. Astronomers are still working to confirm whether it meets the criteria for a dwarf planet.
Jorge Garay
Japan Is Attempting an Audacious Mission to Sample a Martian Moon
JAXA is leading an international mission to reach Mars’ Phobos moon and bring soil back to Earth. If successful, it could unlock new clues about the history of the solar system.
Jenna Ahart
NASA’s Oldest Martian Spacecraft Have Been Running for Decades. Here’s How
Two orbiters have long outlasted their expected lifespans and completely reshaped our understanding of the Red Planet, all while operating 140 million miles from Earth.
Meghan Bartels
The ‘Exotic Physics’ Behind a Mysterious 1,000-Mile Cloud on Mars
The cloud has baffled astronomers since its discovery in 2018. Now, a new study offers a possible cause for its appearance.
Tereza Ondráčková
Astronomers Confirm Discovery of the Youngest Known Exoplanet Ever
Under 1 million years old, “Elias 2-24b” is now the youngest exoplanet ever observed, and it may force researchers to reevaluate theories about how planets are formed.
Teruyuki Hayakawa
This Leaf Blower Can Tackle Fall Cleanup and Halloween Shenanigans
Our top Ego pick is discounted, and our resident leaf blower expert demonstrates how to make a TP cannon.
Kat Merck