ScientistPankaj

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Space & Physics: A new dwarf planet in our solar system?

October 29—This week, our top stories include the potential discovery of a new dwarf planet beyond Neptune, a NASA update on its Artemis III crewed lunar landing plans, and yet another batch of major, disruptive AI-generated math results—this time touching on topics of particle physics and computer science. All that and more is below!

Thoughts? Questions? Let me know via e-mail (lbillings@sciam.com), X or Bluesky.

—Lee Billings, Senior Editor, Physical Sciences

Top Stories

OpenAI just scooped mathematicians’ work on another million-dollar problem

Another bombshell result shows how artificial intelligence is fueling fierce competition at the frontiers of math and physics

Joseph Howlett

In the outer reaches of our solar system, beyond the orbit of Pluto, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has spotted 2026 ED138—a large, bright trans-Neptunian object that scientists have identified as a dwarf planet candidate.

Astronomers may have just discovered our solar system’s sixth dwarf planet

Located farther away from Earth than Pluto, the object was hidden in the light of the Milky Way’s stars

Adam Kovac

Immerse yourself in the newest space updates with a subscription to Scientific American. Get 90 days for just $1!

A large, tubelike, pointed spacecraft docked to a smaller canister spacecraft with four black wings.

NASA lays out a packed 14-day schedule for Artemis III

The mission, scheduled for the summer of 2027, will include be pivotal in deciding whether SpaceX or Blue Origin supplies the lunar lander for the first crewed trip to the lunar surface in decades

Adam Kovac

Illustration of a UAP in a plate glass window

Can the world’s religions survive the existence of aliens?

Finding alien life could shake some people to their very souls, but different religions can take very distinct approaches to the existence of extraterrestrial life

Adam Kovac

Dueling proofs from OpenAI and Anthropic astound scientists

The results resolve major problems in math, physics and computer science. But like other recent AI-generated “slop drops,” the releases are already controversial

Joseph Howlett, Peter Hall

Mathematicians find an infinite number of Ramanujan equations

Knots show how to generate infinitely many formulas of a kind developed by the visionary genius

Lyndie Chiou

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command reported a UAP that resembled a football-shaped body near Japan.

Strange triangular craft reported in new U.S. government UFO release

The latest batch of declassified files includes eyewitness sightings from earlier this year of a flying black triangle performing inexplicable aerial maneuvers

Adam Kovac

How did Mars get its moons? Japan’s MMX mission is about to find out

Although Phobos and Deimos may look like lumpy space potatoes, they’re actually moons of Mars. No one knows how they formed, but a newly launched spacecraft should soon offer answers

Phil Plait

What We're Reading

China’s top-secret spaceplane can’t hide in low-Earth orbit | Ars Technica
NASA’s Oldest Martian Spacecraft Have Been Running for Decades. Here’s How | WIRED
Send your name to Saturn’s moon, Titan, with Dragonfly | NASA

From the Archive

The Unsolvable Problem

After a years-long intellectual journey, three mathematicians have discovered that a problem of central importance in physics is impossible to solve—and that means other big questions may be undecidable, too

Toby S. Cubitt, David Pérez-García, Michael Wolf

Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters here.

Scientific American
1000 N West Street, Suite 1200
Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Support our mission, subscribe to Scientific American here

Unsubscribe | Preferences
Privacy Policy | Contact Us

13 terrifyingly beautiful space images for Halloween

SpaceX capsule delivers 'point to point' cargo for US Air Force | 13 terrifyingly beautiful space images for Halloween | China's secretive space plane caught on camera

Created for ceo.studentlike.spuniv@blogger.com | Web Version

October 29, 2026

Taking you out of this world, every day

The Launchpad

SpaceX capsule delivers 'point to point' cargo for US Air Force

Happy Thursday, space fans!

Starting off with some news from SpaceX and the military, the U.S. Air Force has recovered what was inside of SpaceX's mysterious Starfall capsule. In addition to sensors to collect data on how the capsule fell back through our atmosphere, the mission carried cargo for the Air Force including medical equipment and food rations. This was a small capsule, however this small delivery represents what could be possible with deliveries falling from space. Speaking of SpaceX, the company has fired up Starship's upper stage ahead of the vehicle's Flight 15 test launch which is approaching in the coming weeks. And last but not least, as we celebrate Hallo-week in the days leading up to Halloween, we have a spooky mystery spotted in our own solar system: a possible, new (to us) dwarf planet beyond Neptune.

Check out what's big in space below:

A new kind of mission

Here are some of the most spine-chilling space photos to scare your pants off this Halloween.

'Tis the season

Spaceflight

China's secretive space plane caught on camera

A U.S. military intelligence agency has released an incredible new photograph of China's secretive space plane, showing it docked to another spacecraft in orbit.

Caught on camera

SpaceX fires up Starship upper stage ahead of Flight 15

SpaceX just fired up all six engines on the Starship upper stage that will conduct the vehicle's 15th test flight, potentially keeping everything on track for a launch next month.

Watch for yourself!

Skywatching

Solar eclipse photos reveal giant hole in the sun

Solar eclipse photography provides a unique vista into the processes taking place in the sun's upper atmosphere.

An atmospheric mystery

When, where and how to see the November Beaver Moon

Your guide to November's full Beaver Moon, from peak times to skywatching highlights.

Mark your calendars

Science & Astronomy

Did astronomers find a new planet beyond Neptune?

The Vera Rubin Observatory has discovered a suspected dwarf planet beyond Neptune's orbit. If confirmed, it would be the sixth known dwarf planet in our solar system.

What is it?

Today in Space

The universe in the eye of a telescope

The Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) keeps its eye on the cosmos decades after being decommissioned.

A cosmic view

Entertainment

'Dungeon Crawler Carl' is getting a killer new comic book

'The fact that I get to work with some of the greatest creators and artists working today feels like a dream.'

Will you check it out?

Editor's Note

Editors Note

And that's it for our space update today.

Did you see the spooky space images we shared? It might be just the thing to get you in the zone for Halloween weekend, which is fast approaching. However nothing is scarier than an approaching deadline, and SpaceX is coming up on its next test flight for Starship. This 15th test flight will be a critical next step toward the vehicle being used in NASA's Artemis III mission ahead of future missions that will land on the moon. With this future landing being the first since Apollo, the pressure is on.

But for those not looking for Halloween scares, the night sky provides a perfect scenic, spooky view that won't make you jump out of your seat. Check out our skywatching guides to see what the moon might look like in your sky Halloween night and keep an eye out for Halloween fireballs. Is there extra luck in wishing on a shooting star on Halloween? Who's to say. To follow closely along and stay up to date with all things space, you can now get Space.com right in the palm of your hand with our new app available now on iOS and Android.

Ad astra, per aspera
Chelsea Gohd
Content Manager, Space.com