March 16, 2025

NASA Analysis Shows Unexpected Amount of Sea Level Rise in 2024 (Source: NASA)
Last year’s increase was due to an unusual amount of ocean warming, combined with meltwater from land-based ice such as glaciers. Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, mostly because of ocean water expanding as it warms, or thermal expansion. According to a NASA-led analysis, last year’s rate of rise was 0.23 inches per year, compared to the expected rate of 0.17 inches per year. Editor's Note: I expect this might be the last such update from NASA under the current administration. (3/13)

'Poppy Seeds' and 'Leopard Spots' on Mars Could Hint at Ancient Microbial Life (Source: Space.com)
An arrowhead-shaped rock on Mars sporting features that may hint at ancient microbial activity on the Red Planet has left scientists puzzled. Earlier this week, scientists involved with the discovery presented their findings publicly for the first time this week at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Texas, detailing the rock's chemical signatures and structures that continue to offer tantalizing hints of ancient Martian microbial life. (3/14)

Big Shifts at Relativity, Including Possible Move to Texas (Source: Ars Technica)
As he consolidates control over Relativity Space, new owner and chief executive Eric Schmidt is planning significant changes at the launch company, including a likely move to Texas. Schmidt's recent acquisition of the California-based company, which has largely evolved away from its 3D-printing origins to becoming a more conventional rocket developer, has solved Relativity's primary need.

The company has been in a cash crunch for months, and being acquired by one of the 50 wealthiest people on the planet provides financial stability. One source said Schmidt has made a "mega" investment in Relativity. It is likely to be at least $1 billion. Schmidt is also taking an active hand in operations. The company faces several major challenges as it seeks to bring the Terran R rocket to market, particularly in logistics. The total shipping cost to get a first stage to Florida and a barge back to Long Beach was at one point estimated to be as high as $3.45 million.

Terran R is a large launch vehicle, essentially the bigger cousin to the Falcon 9 rocket. Terran R's 17 feet, 9 inch diameter exceeds the Falcon 9's 12-foot diameter—which makes it too large to move across the country by highway. Relativity may move a significant portion of its Terran R manufacturing to Texas,  just east of Houston, with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico. This would ease shipping costs and logistics. (3/14)

Musk Says First Mission to Mars Will Launch Next Year (Source: BBC)
Elon Musk has said his Starship rocket will head to Mars by the end of next year, as the company investigates several recent explosions in flight tests. Human landings could begin as early as 2029 if initial missions go well, though "2031 was more likely", he added. (3/15)

Astronomers Crack the Case of a Mysterious Deep Space Radio Signal (Source: Space.com)
Astronomers have cracked the case of a mysterious repeating radio signal that has been a mystery since it was uncovered last year. The team tracked the signal back to a strange binary system containing a dead star or "white dwarf" and a red dwarf stellar companion. The radio pulse repeats every 2 hours and was first detected a decade ago. It came from the direction of the Big Dipper. This new research indicates that the cause of this repeating radio signal is the magnetic fields of the white dwarf and its red dwarf stellar companion slamming together in this tight binary. (3/12)

Mauna Loa Observatory’s Lease May End Because of NOAA Cuts (Source: New York Times)
On the flanks of the largest active volcano on Earth, the Mauna Loa Observatory tracks the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are warming the planet, and has been doing so since 1958. But the office in Hilo, Hawaii, that manages the world-famous site could close in August, according to a copy of an internal federal document. (3/14)