A researcher says shortcut could cut Mars travel time in more than half
A researcher says he found a possible shortcut to Mars that would shorten a roundtrip to Earth's planetary neighbor to as little as 153 days.
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NASA tests record 120-kilowatt lithium thruster for Mars travel
Record-setting test: NASA fired a lithium-fed MPD thruster at 120 kW, the highest power electric propulsion test in U.S. history. Mars mission potential: The technology could shorten Mars travel times ...
A researcher may have found a shortcut to Mars as NASA eyes red planet
A researcher says he found a possible shortcut to Mars that would halve the time it takes to travel to the planet and back to less than a year.
Dublin’s Lios gets renewed €2m ESA contract for its acoustic tech
Dublin start-up Lios is renewing its contract with the ESA for a second time to deploy its sound technology for space travel.
European Network of U-space Stakeholders Meeting in Luxembourg
The next meeting of European Network of U-Space Stakeholders will take place on 10 June 2026 at the EUROCONTROL Aviation Learning Centre (ALC) in Luxembourg. The event is organised by the Support Cell (comprising the European Commission/DG MOVE, EUROCONTROL, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency ...
Asteroid Apophis will skim past Earth in 2029, and a new joint mission plans to watch every change
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to ...
Sarah Parcak: Archaeology from space
In this short talk, TED Fellow Sarah Parcak introduces the field of "space archaeology" -- using satellite images to search for clues to the lost sites of past civilizations.
Olafur Eliasson: Playing with space and light
In the spectacular large-scale projects he's famous for (such as "Waterfalls" in New York harbor), Olafur Eliasson creates art from a palette of space, distance, color and light. This idea-packed talk begins with an experiment in the nature of perception.
Fabio Pacucci: Yes, scientists are actually building an elevator to space
Sending rockets into space requires sacrificing expensive equipment, burning massive amounts of fuel, and risking potential catastrophe. So in the space race of the 21st century, some engineers are abandoning rockets for something more exciting: elevators. What would it take to build such a structure? Fabio Pacucci explores the physics behind mo...
Antony Gormley: Sculpted space, within and without
Legendary sculptor Antony Gormley riffs on space and the human form. His works explore the interior space we feel within our own bodies -- and the exterior space we feel around us, knowing that we are just dots in space and time.
Phnam Bagley: Gourmet food for the final frontier
What does an in-flight meal look like when you're traveling to Mars? Designer Phnam Bagley envisions a future where astronauts have nourishing, flavorful food reminiscent of home -- a giant leap from their current staple of "goop-in-a-bag." Learn more about her team's gourmet creations for galactic travel and how these innovations can improve li...
Dr. Matt J. Carlson: Free falling in outer space
If you were to orbit the Earth, you'd experience the feeling of free fall, not unlike what your stomach feels before a big dive on a roller coaster. With a little help from Sir Isaac Newton, Matt J. Carlson explains the basic forces acting on an astronaut and why you probably shouldn't try this one at home. [Directed by Josh Harris, narrated by ...
Hilde Stenuit: How new drugs could come from space
Space exploration is more than studying stars or landing on Mars; it’s also a new testing ground for cutting-edge solutions to Earth’s greatest problems. High above Earth’s surface, researchers are using orbital microgravity to conduct exciting new science. Astrophysicist Hilde Stenuit explains how microgravity allows scientists to bypass Earthl...
Angelo Vermeulen: How to go to space, without having to go to space
"We will start inhabiting outer space," says Angelo Vermeulen, crew commander of a NASA-funded Mars simulation. "It might take 50 years or it might take 500 years, but it's going to happen." In this charming talk, the TED Senior Fellow describes some of his official work to make sure humans are prepared for life in deep space ... and shares a fa...
Jeff Steers: Who won the space race?
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik and, with it, an international space race. The United States and the Soviet Union rushed to declare dominance of space for 18 years, until the two countries agreed to a more collaborative model. The real winner? Science. Jeff Steers describes the history -- and the benefits -- o...
Bridget Seegers: Plankton, space, Earth and us
Why would a spacefaring organization like NASA be looking down at the ocean's microscopic ecosystem? Bridget Seegers of NASA's Ocean Ecology Lab explains why, delving into the ways plankton serve as a barometer for Earth's health while influencing everything from human health to our food supply.
Frans von der Dunk: The importance of space lawyers
Who's liable if a passenger is injured on the first spacecraft to take tourists off-planet? For that matter, what's the legal definition of a spacecraft? Professor of space law Frans von der Dunk deploys lawyer jokes and policy critiques to illustrate how the world is woefully unprepared for the legal implications of space travel.
TED Radio Hour: The Power of Spaces
How do spaces shape the human experience? In what ways do our rooms, homes and buildings give us meaning and purpose? In this segment, architect Michael Murphy joins host Manoush Zomorodi to explore the power of the spaces we make and inhabit. To listen to the whole episode, find TED Radio Hour wherever you're listening to this. And explore the ...
Paul Rucker: "Giving Space"
Tune into TED Fellow and multidisciplinary artist Paul Rucker's eerie, textured cello piece "Giving Space: Reflecting on the Past Few Years."
Megan McArthur: A NASA astronaut's lessons on fear, confidence and preparing for spaceflight
How does an astronaut prepare physically and mentally to launch into space? NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, who traveled to the International Space Station in April 2021 as part of the SpaceX Crew-2 mission, shares stellar life lessons on how to cultivate the resolve to do incredible things through preparation -- and a dash of bravery. A rare gli...