Photo: pixologic/Depositphotos

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 53 million U.S. adults have arthritis, and that number is expected to increase as people live longer. This incurable condition affects the joints and the tissues around them. As such, managing symptoms is key to reducing pain and improving the quality of life for patients. One of the latest efforts in the crusade against this condition comes from Stanford University, where scientists found a way to regrow aging cartilage, raising hopes for arthritis treatments.

The team, led by Helen Blau, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology, and Nidhi Bhutani, PhD, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, tested an injection that blocks the activity of a gerozyme, a protein involved in aging, known as 15-PGDH. This targets the cause of osteoarthritis, the most common kind of arthritis, in which the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down as we grow old.

The animal-tested treatment blocked the function of 15-PGDH with a small molecule, resulting in an increase in old mice’s muscle mass and endurance, reversing the naturally occurring cartilage loss in the knee joints of animals. It was also tested on samples of human tissue from knee replacement surgeries, where it also responded by making new, functional cartilage. The scientists also found that the injection also prevented the development of arthritis after knee injuries, such as ACL tears.

“Millions of people suffer from joint pain and swelling as they age,” Bhutani told Stanford Medicine. “It is a huge unmet medical need. Until now, there has been no drug that directly treats the cause of cartilage loss. But this gerozyme inhibitor causes a dramatic regeneration of cartilage beyond that reported in response to any other drug or intervention.”

“This is a new way of regenerating adult tissue, and it has significant clinical promise for treating arthritis due to aging or injury,” Blau added. “We were looking for stem cells, but they are clearly not involved. It’s very exciting.”

Now, it is reported than an oral version of the treatment is in clinical trials. With some luck, it will become a reliable resource in treating age-related muscle weakness that affects so many people.

Sources: Inhibiting a master regulator of aging regenerates joint cartilage in mice

Related Articles:

Scientists Visualize the Complex, Dynamic World Inside a Human Cell

Scientists Are Developing a First-Of-Its-Kind Pill To Help Dogs Live Longer

Innovative Exoskeleton Designed To Help Injured and Disabled Dogs Walk Again

New Study Suggests Alzheimer’s Disease Could Be Slowed by Walking 5,000 Steps a Day

READ: Scientists at Stanford Find a Way To Regrow Aging Knee Cartilage and Prevent Arthritis

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by PRIOR (@prior)

The age-old question of how to live longer is one that Sir David Attenborough seems to have an answer for. On May 8, Attenborough turned 100 years old—a rare and inspiring milestone. Throughout his life, he has given audiences an unparalleled view into the natural world, and now he has also offered insight into what may have contributed to his remarkable longevity.

There are countless old wives’ tales about how to live longer, many dating back thousands of years. Humanity has long looked to nature for clues to longevity. In the modern age, however, science has helped us better understand why some people become centenarians while others do not, though the mystery of aging is still not fully understood.

According to Harvard Medical School, “25% of the variation in human life span is determined by genetics,” while the remaining 75% is influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. The term “biohacking” refers to practices people adopt in hopes of extending their lives. These can include familiar habits like regular exercise and a balanced diet, as well as more extreme measures such as cold plunges, stem cell therapies, and extensive supplement regimens.

Attenborough, however, has credited much of his mental well-being to his lifelong connection with nature. In a statement to Butterfly Conservation, he said, “Spending time with nature offers us all precious breathing space away from the stresses and strains of modern life. It enables us to experience joy and wonder, to slow down, and to appreciate the wildlife that lives side by side with us.”

Science supports the idea that mental well-being plays an important role in healthy aging. Researchers have found that higher levels of happiness are associated with longer life expectancy. For someone like Attenborough, whose dedication to his work has spanned decades and far exceeded the typical bounds of a career, that sense of purpose may be especially significant.

In 2021, Attenborough narrated a 10-minute virtual reality meditation for BBC Sounds that let viewers into his mindfulness practice. Additionally, during an episode of Call of the Wild in a conversation with podcast host Cel Spellman, Attenborough described a simple exercise that anyone can try.

The practice is straightforward: sit somewhere in nature, remain still and quiet, and wait for 10 minutes without impatience. According to Attenborough, something fascinating almost always reveals itself when people observe the natural world without distraction. He specifically described doing this in a woodland setting, where patience is often rewarded with small but extraordinary moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.

As Attenborough rings in his second century of life, his greatest lesson may be that longevity can be found in bringing a sense of curiosity, awe, and purpose into each moment. His focus on appreciating the beauty of the natural world could be the secret to living a longer and more fulfilling life.

Sir David Attenborough recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Sydney Morning Herald (@sydneymorningherald)

Hitting a milestone birthday has left many people wondering what the secret is behind his longevity.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by British Vogue (@britishvogue)

The beloved naturalist credits much of his mental well-being to his lifelong connection with nature.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by People Magazine (@people)

As Attenborough rings in his second century of life, his greatest lesson may be that longevity can be found in bringing a sense of curiosity, awe, and purpose into each moment.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BBC (@bbc)

Related Articles:

Here’s How the Beloved Sir David Attenborough Celebrated His 100th Birthday

100-Year-Old Sir David Attenborough’s Dietary Recommendation for Longevity of Life

Sir David Attenborough Is Turning 100 With a Celebration of His Genre-Defining Work

Remembering Sir David Attenborough’s Predictions for 2030 and Onwards Ahead of His 100th Birthday

READ: David Attenborough Shares His Secret to Longevity That Anyone Can Do

NASA celebrated Hubble’s 36th anniversary with a new image of the Trifid Nebula, a star-forming region it first captured in 1997. The telescope leveraged almost its full operational lifetime to show us changes in the nebula on human time scales with an improved camera. (Photo: NASA, ESA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale)

Last month, on April 24, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope marked an exciting milestone: its 36th anniversary. To celebrate, the telescope once again set its sights on the Trifid Nebula, a star-forming region located about 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. Hubble had captured the area 29 years earlier, in 1997, but its newest photograph of Trifid offers an even more mesmerizing glimpse into the iconic nebula.

The anniversary image depicts a small portion of Trifid, peppered with rust-colored dust trails, shimmering stars, and an enormous bubble formed by powerful winds. At the center of the scene is what NASA describes as the “head” and “undulating body” of a cloud of gas and dust. The bulbous form resembles a “marine sea lemon or sea slug” gliding through the cosmos, and is complete with two “horns” that reveal critical information not just about the nebula, but stars as a whole. The cloud’s left horn is part of a plasma jet known as Herbig-Haro 399, which is periodically launched by a young protostar ejecting excess matter. By comparing the 1997 and 2026 pictures, scientists can deepen their understanding of the protostar, the speed of its jet, and how it interacts with the greater environment, especially in terms of the amount of energy it dispenses into its surrounding regions.

By contrast, the head’s right horn bears a darker, more triangular appearance. Embedded at its tip is another young star, which, upon closer inspection, appears in the image as a faint red dot with a tiny jet. A green arc enshrines the star, possibly suggesting the presence of a circumstellar disk. A rotating cloud of gas, dust, rocky or icy fragments, and larger objects orbiting a star, circumstellar disks orbit stars and, when circling the youngest of stars, these disks serve as cocoons in which planets may eventually form.

Aside from these astronomical observations, the Trifid photograph also holds clues within its “prismatic sea of color,” as NASA claims. Based on its color palette alone, the composition is naturally divided into two halves, with its top-left corner vibrating with a deep blue hue, while its bottom-right corner is shrouded in total darkness. This pitch black is the result of dense patches of dust, where stars may very well be forming (though perhaps not in Trifid’s star-forming region). The blue tint, on the other hand, is caused by ionized gas, cleared away by ultraviolet light emitted by massive stars. The image illustrates this effect beautifully—at the top of the “sea slug’s” head, a bright yellow glow seems to be streaming upward.

“This is an example of ultraviolet light plowing into the dark brown dust, stripping and dismantling the gas and dust,” NASA explains. “Many ridges and slopes of dark brown material will remain for a few million years, as the stars’ ultraviolet light slowly eats away at the gas.”

To date, Hubble has taken more than 1.7 million observations and almost 29,000 astronomers have published peer-reviewed science papers featuring Hubble data. In that way, this anniversary image isn’t simply a testament to Hubble’s evolving capabilities. It’s also a celebration of its enduring importance.

To learn more about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit NASA’s website.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 36th anniversary by capturing a stunning new photograph of the Trifid Nebula, located 5,000 light years away in the constellation Sagittarius.

NASA: Website | Instagram

All images via NASA’s press office.

Sources: NASA’s Hubble Dazzles With Young Stars in Trifid Nebula; The Day of the Trifid Nebula; Hubble turns 36 with a dazzling Trifid Nebula portrait; Hubble Telescope celebrates 36th anniversary with gorgeous new image of famous Trifid Nebula

Related Articles:

NASA Releases Over 12,000 Unseen Images From the Artemis II Mission

Marvel at NASA’s Artemis II Mission Launch by Watching It in Extreme Slow Motion

Timelapse by NASA Reveals How a Supernova Remnant Has Grown Over 25 Years

READ: Hubble Space Telescope Celebrates 36th Anniversary With Stunning Image of Trifid Nebula

Photo: JaySi/Depositphotos

Running is one of the most common workouts that most people are able to do. There’s no need for fancy equipment; all you need are some comfortable clothes and shoes. With some practice, you may even become an endurance runner, traversing long distances with relative ease. This may sound daunting but there’s some scientific proof that we’re all built for it which may encourage you to do it. A study has found that humans being at one of the best mammals when it comes to endurance running.

Bruce Winterhalder, professor emeritus at the UC Davis Department of Anthropology and Graduate Group in Ecology, and paleoanthropologist Eugène Morin, of Trent University, teamed up to study how we fare when it comes to endurance running, based on the endurance pursuit hypothesis, first proposed by biologist David Carrier in 1984. This premise implies that endurance running traits in humans evolved to allow us to run down large game animals through persistence hunting.

To support this, Winterhalder and Morin mixed mathematical modeling with a thorough ethnohistoric investigation of first-hand accounts of endurance pursuits. The latter was only possible thanks to a recent digitization of accounts by the likes of explorers, missionaries and officials between 1527 through the early 20th century. “We have software that allows us to search for information that dwarfs what we could do if we were trying to read through all the possible sources ourselves,” Winterhalder told UC Davis.

Aided by this technology, the pair found 391 accounts of hunts from 272 locations around the world that matched endurance pursuit tactics. Despite taking place in different sociological and geographical contexts, they share similar characteristics. First, a hunter finds a prey, followed by a pursuit in which the animal outdistances the hunters. However, the prey then gets tired and stops to recover, which allows the hunters to catch up with them. The cycle then repeats until the animal is exhausted and captured.

Then, the pair turned to the mathematical models to analyze increasing velocity during game pursuits, comparing return rates to other methods, like stalking. “We found that in contexts like high heat or a substrate that impedes the animal, such as crusted snow, the net return rate of food acquisition from endurance pursuits can match or exceed that of other methods of prey acquisition. The chance of pursuit failure appears to diminish, and exhausted prey are safer to approach. For early humans without ballistic weaponry, these are significant advantages,” Winterhalder said.

The researchers also noted the prevalence of team efforts in these hunting episodes, like those done by relay or having one member climb a hill to tell the others where the prey went. Ultimately, they hope this unique connection between sports and science inspires others to look deeper into what’s behind the world of running. “To run long distances, to have an evolved gait that’s uniquely imbued with stamina is unusual in the animal world,” Winterhalder said. “If that inspires you to go for a run, great.”

Sources: Ethnography and ethnohistory support the efficiency of hunting through endurance running in humans; Humans are Born to Run: Hunting by Endurance Pursuit is Widespread Among Humans, New Work Shows

Related Articles:

Scientists Say 30 Minutes of This Type of Exercise Is the Best Way To Improve Sleep

Study Reveals That Exercise Can Be “Better Than a Drug” in Cancer Recovery

Study Reveals How Exercising Only on the Weekends Affects the Human Body

New Study Suggests Alzheimer’s Disease Could Be Slowed by Walking 5,000 Steps a Day

READ: Study Finds Humans Are Among the Top Mammals for Endurance Running

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A Life On Our Planet (@davidattenborough)

Legendary broadcaster, natural historian, and writer Sir David Attenborough turned 100 on May 8, 2026. His eight-decade-long career has kept him traveling the world, exploring nature, and inspiring generations to care for the planet. But his passion for conservation isn’t the only thing that’s kept him healthy and motivated. According to the centenarian himself, one of the secrets to longevity is also following a mostly plant-based diet.

“I have certainly changed my diet,” Attenborough said in 2017. “Not in a great sort of dramatic way. But I don’t think I’ve eaten red meat for months.” He later added in 2020, “I do eat cheese, I have to say, and I eat fish. But by and large, I’ve become much more vegetarian over the past few years than I thought I would ever be.”

In a 2023 episode of Planet Earth III titled Human, Attenborough spoke out about the environmental impact of animal agriculture and encouraged people to adopt a more plant-based way of eating. “If we shift away from eating meat and dairy and move towards a plant-based diet, then the sun’s energy goes directly into growing our food,” he explained. “And because that’s so much more efficient, we could still produce enough to feed us, but do so using a quarter of the land.”

In his book, A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future, Attenborough also reflected on humanity’s impact on the natural world and argued that moving toward a more plant-based future, while challenging, could have major benefits for the planet.

But Attenborough isn’t the only one to champion a mostly plant-based diet—many scientists and medical experts support it too. Research has linked reducing red meat intake with lower cancer risk, healthier cholesterol levels, and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

“Eating more than 18 ounces of red meat weekly can increase your cancer risk,” the American Institute of Cancer Research warns. “If you eat red meat, limit the consumption to no more than three portions a week or about 12-18 ounces (cooked). Eat little, if any, processed meat.”

If you want to live to 100 like Attenborough, you could swap out red meat for things like fish, chicken, nuts, beans, and lentils. Even simple, nutrient-rich options like tofu, tempeh, lentils, and mushrooms are great alternatives, as they give you plenty of protein and fiber, without the high levels of saturated fat.

Attenborough also credits his longevity to staying physically active and spending time in nature—two more habits that are also widely supported by scientific research.

On his birthday, Attenborough received thousands of well-wishes from around the world via a BBC tribute on Instagram. One person wrote, “Please let this man live forever,” while another commented, “Aren’t we lucky we’ve had him for 100 years so far!?”

Sir David Attenborough turned 100 on May 8, 2026, after an 80-year career spent exploring and championing the natural world.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BBC Earth (@bbcearth)

He credits a mostly plant-based diet as one of the secrets to his long and healthy life.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A Life On Our Planet (@davidattenborough)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A Life On Our Planet (@davidattenborough)

David Attenborough: Instagram

Source: Limit Consumption of Red and Processed Meat

Related Articles:

Remembering Sir David Attenborough’s Predictions for 2030 and Onwards Ahead of His 100th Birthday

Sir David Attenborough Is Turning 100 With a Celebration of His Genre-Defining Work

Woman Who Lived to 116 Credited These Two Things She Ate Every Day as the Secret to Her Longevity

Study Finds Plant-Based Diets Protect Against Digestive Cancers

READ: 100-Year-Old Sir David Attenborough’s Dietary Recommendation for Longevity of Life

We were lucky to follow the Artemis II mission live, getting real-time updates of the astronauts as they flew around the moon. And thanks to the advanced tech that surrounded the mission, NASA was able to share some high-res images taken by the astronauts before they even returned to Earth. These included Earthset, a solar eclipse from their perspective, and detailed images of the dark side of the moon.

Now, NASA has released an additional 12,000 images spanning the whole mission. While the original batch will surely go down in history, these are more candid, showing the human side of the mission. They evoke how the astronauts spent most of their time above; documenting the experience for us, devoting their time for the greater good, and making us part of the trip.

While the amount of images may seem unimaginable, many are bursts of images that are almost identical to each other, or taken a few seconds before the camera focused on the desired subject, resulting in blurry images. Still, there’s something powerful in the more imperfect shots, as they candidly capture the kind of images anyone would take during their travels. (Ultimately, the astronauts were similar to tourists; instead of traveling to an exotic location on Earth, they took a trip to the moon.) In these photos, you can see the astronauts’ reflections, the edge of a window, or even a slightly out-of-focus image showing the view of the stars from the ship.

The Artemis II crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen—took these images with a Nikon D5 SLR, Nikon Z9 mirrorless, and iPhone 17 cameras they brought on board. They also forwent individual credits, with the images being attributed to the whole group.

You can check out the images on the Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth website, but beware that between the number of pictures and the people who want to browse them, the site can be slow. That’s why we’ve gathered a selection of some of the most memorable images, which you can check out below. While you’re at it, make sure to revisit the first images NASA shared from Artemis II.

Check out some of the best images of NASA’s newly released images taken by astronauts of the Artemis II mission.

This new batch includes 12,000 previously unseen pictures.

The images capture candid shots taken by the astronauts during the flyby.

The photos include equipment from inside the spacecraft and reflections seen on the windows.

NASA: Website | Instagram

All images via NASA.

Related Articles:

How NASA’s Artemis II Mission Made History After a Successful Splashdown Back to Earth

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Name Newly Discovered Moon Crater After Astronaut’s Late Wife, Carroll

NASA Shares Breathtaking Images From the Artemis II Lunar Flyby

People Are Sharing Proof Their Pets Watched Artemis II—and NASA Is Responding

READ: NASA Releases Over 12,000 Unseen Images From the Artemis II Mission

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cell Signaling Technology (@cell_signaling_technology)

At roughly 0.05 millimeters (less than 0.002 inches) across, a human cell is no larger than a speck of dust, but it contains a staggering level of complexity. Within this microscopic world are around 60 billion proteins, 2 trillion lipid molecules, 5 trillion sugars and amino acids, and around 60 billion RNA molecules, all working together to sustain life.

To help people better understand what’s going on inside a human cell, scientific animators Evan Ingersoll and Gael McGill (of Digizyme) created a digitally rendered model of a eukaryotic cell. While not a literal depiction of a single real cell, the striking visualization, developed between 2009 and 2015, reveals how countless molecules interact within a bustling, densely interconnected system. It also highlights just how remarkable cells are, like tiny universes full of constant activity and complex processes.

The interactive image was created for Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., and was inspired by the work of David Goodsell, a professor of computational biology at Scripps Research Institute, who is widely recognized for his vibrant watercolor paintings of cells and viruses. Alongside some artistic interpretation, portions of the image were digitally rendered using datasets gathered through scientific methods.

“This 3D rendering of a eukaryotic cell is modeled using X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and cryo-electron microscopy datasets for all of its molecular actors,” explains McGill. “It is an attempt to recapitulate the myriad pathways involved in signal transduction, protein synthesis, endocytosis, vesicular transport, cell-cell adhesion, apoptosis, and other processes.”

Although some online are calling it “the most detailed image of a human cell ever captured” Evan Ingersoll and Gael McGill emphasize that it’s really an educational tool. Elements of the cell have been simplified, and in some cases “squashed together,” to help viewers better understand what happens inside it.

“Imagine getting a group of friends into a selfie; they wouldn’t ordinarily be that close, but it makes a better picture,” Ingersoll explains. “Also, it’s not a picture of a particular cell; it’s a backdrop to explore as many pathways as possible, so for example this one cell has both breast cancer and Alzheimer’s.”

The interactive version of the render shows each cell component in greater detail, and allows you to hover over certain areas to learn what they are. Check it out on the Cell Signaling Technology, Inc website.

To help people better understand what’s going on inside a human cell, scientific animators Evan Ingersoll and Gael McGill (of Digizyme) created a digitally rendered model of a eukaryotic cell.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Biology Of The Universe (@biologyoftheuniverse)

While not a literal depiction of a single real cell, the striking visualization reveals how countless molecules interact within a bustling, densely interconnected system.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Luca Foresti (@luca.foresti)

Digizyme: Website

Sources: Cell Signaling Technology, Cellular landscape; ‘Human cell’ image isn't what it seems when put under the microscope

Related Articles:

Google and Harvard Team Up to Make the Most Detailed Map of Human Brain Ever

Scientists Have Completed Mapping the Last 8% Of the Human Genome

Psychiatrist Hand-Knits an Anatomically Correct Replica of the Human Brain

Photographer Zooms Into a Single Honeycomb Cell Using a Macro Lens to Reveal Its Microscopic Patterns

READ: Scientists Visualize the Complex, Dynamic World Inside a Human Cell

In the stillness of the American Southwest, sandstone arches frame the cosmos while the night sky stretches into apparent infinity. Against this vast backdrop, spiraling cones of light rise from the earth like apparitions. At first glance, they resemble ephemeral land art. They appear precise, luminous, and almost impossibly geometric. However, these radiant forms are not traditional sculptures. Instead, they visualize one of the most profound ideas in modern physics: the nature of spacetime.

To achieve this, physicist and fine art photographer Elliot McGucken translates the abstract mathematics of Einstein’s theory of relativity into something visible. Specifically, he programs drones to fly spiraling paths for long-exposure photographs. As the camera records their motion, the drones leave continuous trails of light. In this way, he quite literally writes with light, echoing the original meaning of photography.

More broadly, the project draws from ideas developed by Albert Einstein and mathematician Hermann Minkowski. In 1908, Minkowski introduced the concept of spacetime, uniting three dimensions of space with one dimension of time. Within this framework, the “light cone” describes how light moves through spacetime and how events relate to one another. In particular, it distinguishes which events can influence each other and which cannot, based on the constant speed of light.

At the same time, McGucken situates his work within a broader scientific lineage centered on light itself. Both relativity and quantum mechanics emerged from attempts to understand how light behaves. Max Planck’s work on energy quantization and Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect reshaped modern physics, revealing that light can behave as both a wave and a particle. McGucken’s images do not simply depict light; they reflect its central role in shaping our understanding of reality.

Visually, the images do more than illustrate theory. Instead, they place it within the natural world. For example, McGucken captures these scenes in remote deserts in Utah and along the coast of California. In each setting, glowing cones appear suspended over rock formations and open landscapes. As a result, the compositions merge observation with artistic intention. In this context, he echoes Rembrandt van Rijn’s advice to “choose only one master: Nature.” Similarly, Einstein encouraged careful observation of the natural world as a path toward understanding.

Equally important is the process behind the images. Each photograph relies on long exposure, often lasting several minutes. During that time, a drone follows a carefully programmed spiral path. Meanwhile, the system depends on Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Notably, GPS systems must account for relativistic effects predicted by Einstein’s theories in order to remain accurate. Therefore, the method itself reinforces the concept. Relativity does not remain abstract but instead operates within everyday technology.

McGucken’s approach also reflects the physics of light in a more classical sense. The behavior of light captured in photography can be traced to principles such as wave propagation, first described by Christiaan Huygens. These ideas help explain reflection, refraction, and image formation through lenses. By working directly with light over time, McGucken engages both the physical properties of light and its conceptual significance.

His work bridges art and science, connecting mathematical theory with visual experience. In doing so, McGucken follows a lineage that includes photographers such as Ansel Adams, who emphasized clarity, intention, and emotional depth in landscape photography. Here, however, the subject extends beyond the landscape to include the structure of reality itself.

The images also invite philosophical reflection. By placing precise geometric forms within vast natural settings, they suggest a relationship between human knowledge and the natural world. In fact, Minkowski expressed this shift clearly when he argued that space and time must be understood together as a unified whole. Consequently, his insight remains central to modern physics.

For McGucken, this exploration is also deeply personal. “Landscape photography is not only about how far we travel to explore the world,” he says, “but how far we travel to explore within.” In this sense, his nighttime journeys through the desert parallel his investigations into physics. Both seek to understand the unseen structures that shape experience.

Ultimately, these light cone images operate on several levels. On one hand, physicists recognize a visualization of spacetime structure. On the other hand, artists encounter studies of form, light, and duration. Meanwhile, general viewers experience something more immediate: a sense of wonder.

Fine art photographer Elliot McGucken used drones to visualize the geometry of Einstein’s theory of relativity in the desert.

Rooted in the physics of light, the project connects Albert Einstein and Hermann Minkowski to contemporary long-exposure photography.

By merging science and nature into spectacular light cones in the sky, the images transform spacetime into a shared experience of wonder.

Elliot McGucken: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Elliot McGucken.

Related Articles:

Floating Installation Turns Climate Data Into Immersive Light Experience

DRIFT Lights up the Los Angeles Sky With Drones in Honor of LACMA’s New David Geffen Galleries

JWST Captures Possibly the Most Perfect Einstein Ring Galaxy Ever Seen

Albert Einstein’s Theory on Happiness Written on Hotel Stationery Sold for Nearly $2M

READ: Swirling Light Cone Photography Visualizes Einstein’s Theory of Relativity in the Desert

Photo: NASA

NASA has done it again. It had been over 50 years since the space agency sent a crew to the moon, but that changed with the successful Artemis II mission. Launched on April 1, 2026, it was the first human journey that went beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Over the course of 10 days, the four-person crew covered 694,481 miles before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego, on April 10, 2026.

The Artemis II mission had a record-breaking moment. On April 6, the crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—reached 248,655 miles from Earth, marking the farthest distance any human has ever traveled. (The previous record was held by Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970.)

The lunar flyby brought the crew to the far side of the moon, and the astronauts shot more than 7,000 images of the lunar surface, giving us greater insight into Earth’s satellite, including Earthset, Earthrise, ancient lava flows, impact craters, and surface features. They also photographed a solar eclipse from orbit, during which the moon fully eclipsed the sun for nearly 54 minutes, and captured stunning details of the corona, the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere.

Observing the physical aspects of the moon was just one part of the Artemis II mission. Orion, the spacecraft that took them to the moon, went through its first full in-flight evaluation, and the crew conducted scientific investigations like the AVATAR study, which looks at how human tissue responds to microgravity and deep-space radiation. This data will help inform longer space missions.

The public investment in the Artemis II mission was splashed all over social media, showing both stunning sights from space and letting us in on the connection formed by the crew members. It was clear from their interactions and the way they spoke and supported each other that they had deep mutual respect and care for one another. This was on full display during a particularly emotional moment during the mission, when they asked permission to name a crater after Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll, who died in 2020 from cancer.

“We lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie,” Hansen relayed to ground control, his voice breaking a bit. “It’s a bright spot on the moon and we would like to call it Carroll.”

Returning to Earth required the crew and the capsule to endure temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahreneight and speeds more than 30 times the speed of sound. There was a six-minute period during reentry when communications with NASA were unavailable, which was planned and fully anticipated. After being retrieved from the Pacific Ocean by the U.S. Navy, the crew made their way to Johnson Space Center in Houston, concluding an incredible journey.

Artemis III is slated to launch in 2027. The mission will stay in Earth’s orbit and test spacecraft designed to land humans on the moon in 2028.

NASA’s Artemis II mission made splashdown on April 10, 2026, capping a successful journey to the moon and back—the first time in over 50 years.

Photo: NASA

On April 6, the crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—reached 248,655 miles from Earth, marking the farthest distance any human has ever traveled.

Photo: NASA

The lunar flyby brought the crew to the far side of the moon, and the astronauts shot more than 7,000 images of the lunar surface, giving us greater insight into Earth’s satellite.

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

The public investment in the Artemis II mission was splashed all over social media, letting us in on the connection formed by the crew members. It was clear from their interactions and the way they spoke and supported each other that they had deep mutual respect and care for one another.

Photo: NASA

Returning to Earth required the crew and the capsule to endure temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahreneight and speeds more than 30 times the speed of sound.

Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls

After being retrieved from the Pacific Ocean by the U.S. Navy, the crew made their way to Johnson Space Center in Houston, concluding an incredible journey.

Photo: NASA / James Blair

Photo: Helen Arase Vargas / NASA-JSC

Watch the emotional moment when crew member Hansen radioed Ground Control to ask permission to name a crater after Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll, who died in 2020 from cancer.

@abcnews “It's a bright spot on the moon. And we would like to call it Carroll.” In an emotional moment during Monday's historic lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew named a previously unseen lunar crater “Carroll” in memory of the late wife of Commander Reid Wiseman. #news #artemis ♬ original sound – ABC News

NASA: Website | Instagram

All images via NASA.

Related Articles:

Marvel at NASA’s Artemis II Mission Launch by Watching It in Extreme Slow Motion

Watch Artemis II Astronaut Deliver an Uplifting Easter Message From Outer Space

Meet the Four Astronauts Who Are Currently on Their Way to the Moon

NASA’s Artemis II Launches First Crewed Moon Mission in Decades

READ: How NASA’s Artemis II Mission Made History After a Successful Splashdown Back to Earth

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NASA Earth (@nasaearth)

“To the moon and back” is a popular way of saying “I love you,” but for the crew of NASA’s Artemis II, it was quite literally true. The four astronauts recently orbited the moon, and along the way, they honored one of their own by naming a newly discovered crater after Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.

The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—successfully completed their 10-day journey on Saturday April 11, becoming the first humans to travel to the moon and back since the Apollo era. During their mission, they sent several messages back to Earth from inside their Orion spacecraft.

After discovering “relatively fresh craters on the moon” the crew recorded a message proposing new names for two of them. The first, Integrity, is their tribute to the spacecraft that carried them. Hansen says in the clip, “If you were to look at Orientale on the far side and then draw a line straight up to Ohm on the far side, relatively in the middle is an unnamed crater and we would like to suggest it be called Integrity in the future.”

The second crater is especially meaningful and is in a “really neat” spot near the side of a boundary that makes it visible from Earth at certain times. Hansen explains that when their “close-knit astronaut family” first started planning their journey a number of years ago, they lost a loved one. He says, “ Her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reed, the mother of Katie and Ellie.” Hanson explains that they would like to name the second crater after her and described it as a “bright spot” on the moon on the same latitude of Ohm.

You can see Wiseman tearing up as Hansen speaks, and the two pull each other close in an embrace, before Koch and Glover move in for a group hug. The heartwarming video is just one example of how close the four astronauts became during their mission.

Wiseman’s biography on NASA’s website says, “Carroll dedicated her life to helping others as a newborn intensive care unit Registered Nurse. She is survived by their two children. Despite a long list of professional accolades, Reid considers his time as an only parent as his greatest challenge and the most rewarding phase of his life.”

Watch the video below and find out more about the Carroll crater here.

To mark the Artemis II mission, the crew named two newly discovered craters on the moon. One is dedicated to their spacecraft, Integrity, and the other is named after Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NASA Artemis (@nasaartemis)

The Carroll crater is described as a “bright spot” on the moon.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NASA (@nasa)

NASA Artemis: Instagram

Source: To commemorate the Artemis II mission, the astronauts announced their suggestion to rename certain features on the Moon to honor their Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, as well as commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll

Related Articles:

Watch Artemis II Astronaut Deliver an Uplifting Easter Message From Outer Space

NASA Shares Breathtaking Images From the Artemis II Lunar Flyby

Marvel at NASA’s Artemis II Mission Launch by Watching It in Extreme Slow Motion

Artemis II Astronauts Preparing for the Moon Say They’re “Ready for Every Scenario”

READ: NASA’s Artemis II Crew Name Newly Discovered Moon Crater After Astronaut’s Late Wife, Carroll