Science & Tech news · 3 November 2026
Astronomers Pinpoint the Real Night Sky Behind Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night'
South Korean researchers have identified the actual sky Van Gogh observed on 22 July 1889, overturning the long-held belief that 'The Starry Night' was purely imaginary.
Vera Rubin Observatory Spots Two Hidden Companions of the Milky Way
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has found two previously unknown Milky Way satellites — one most likely an ultra-faint dwarf galaxy and one a globular cluster — an early sign of the many faint objects researchers expect it to reveal over its decade-long survey.
Perseverance Rover Becomes the Farthest-Travelling Vehicle in Planetary History
NASA's Perseverance rover surpassed 28.10 miles (45.22 km) on Mars on 11 October, overtaking the record set by the Opportunity rover and doing so in just five and a half years compared to Opportunity's 14.
Japanese Engineer Powers 800 LEDs Using 1,500 Boxes of Soil
A Japanese engineer connected 1,500 boxes of soil together to generate enough electricity to light 800 LED bulbs, offering an unconventional proof-of-concept for soil-based power generation.
NASA Satellites Reveal a Skull-Like Ice and Rock Formation on Antarctica's Vega Island — and a Climate Warning
Landsat 9 imagery of Vega Island in Antarctica shows a striking skull-like formation created by ice, rock outcrops, and glacial moraines, while also documenting extensive bare-ice exposure in October 2026 that scientists say was partly due to above-average winter temperatures, compounded by limited snow accumulation, sublimation, and wind scouring.