NASA Science

That's one big baby!

New science from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope suggests some supermassive black holes are born big, rather than forming gradually within a galaxy - possible evidence for kinds of black holes that have been theorized but never before observed.

Imagine this: You’re a doctor treating two patients with the exact medical problem. You prescribe the same medication, but each patient responds differently. One improves quickly. The other doesn’t.

Why?
Because each body is unique. Precision health is about understanding how your body – not the “average” person’s – responds to stress, illness, and treatment.

NASA is helping advance personalized medicine by studying how individual cells behave in extreme environments. In deep space, factors like radiation and microgravity reveal differences in our biology that we might not be able to see on Earth.

That’s why NASA’s AVATAR investigation on Artemis II used tiny organ chips made from each astronaut's own cells. When these chips travelled around the Moon, they may not have reacted the same way, even though they were all exposed to identical environments.

This kind of research could help future astronauts get personalized medical kits tailored to their own biology. And the same insight may also help doctors here on Earth give people treatments designed specifically for them.

Explore more: https://go.nasa.gov/4a0HZLN

Think about how much space technology has already changed everyday life … like GPS in your phone or the cameras that inspired smartphone imaging. NASA’s work in precision health could be the next big leap.

But what is precision health?

Instead of “one‑size‑fits‑all” medicine, precision health looks at how each person’s body responds differently. Space is the perfect place to study this. The extreme conditions, like microgravity and radiation, reveal differences in our cells that we might not be able to see in a regular lab.

NASA’s AVATAR experiment sent tiny “organ chips,” each personalized for an individual astronaut, around the Moon on Artemis II. Even in the same environment, each chip could react differently to space stressors.

That’s powerful information.

What we learn from studying the human body in deep space could help doctors on Earth create more personalized treatments, helping people get care tailored to their biology.

Explore more: https://go.nasa.gov/49sai5E

Interns on 3! 1, 2, 3, INTERNS! 🙌

Ready to put your hand in & join the NASA internship squad? Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. EDT TONIGHT! 🕛

Apply: https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/

If you’re seeing this… this is your sign.

Before they were the Artemis II lunar science team, they were college students with big dreams... just like you.

Now it’s your turn.

Take the next giant leap in your future by applying for an internship, where students work on real NASA projects, build technical and professional skills, and learn directly from NASA mentors. Your path to discovery starts here.

⏳ Deadline: Friday, May 22
🔗 https://go.nasa.gov/4381GxD

Four astronauts returned from Artemis II, but they weren't alone.

AVATAR organ chips made from each astronaut's cells traveled with them around the Moon, to study how deep space affects human health. Scientists are now analyzing cellular changes to the organ chips caused by radiation and microgravity, comparing flight chips to ground controls.

This data could help us create personalized medical kits for future astronauts, and advance treatments here on Earth: https://go.nasa.gov/4wFlDJz

Space weather just got a new watchful eye! 🛰️👀

On May 14, AEPEX CubeSat reached its target orbit after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

AEPEX now orbits Earth, studying how high-energy particles from Earth’s radiation belts rain down into our upper atmosphere. Right now, it's really hard to monitor this over large areas of our planet. AEPEX will image the X-rays produced during these events so scientists can map the activity.

Better maps mean better space weather forecasts, which help protect our radio communications, satellites, and everyday technology down here on Earth.

More: go.nasa.gov/4tDxmpb