has to address moving forward in terms of public health.
The one word I would use to describe how 2025 has shaped public health is “deterioration.” The rollback of evidence-based interventions and the politicization of health decisions have led to a decline in overall public health outcomes.
Looking ahead to 2026, I am concerned about the long-term impacts of these changes. Will we continue to see a rise in preventable diseases? Will public trust in science and experts be restored? These are important questions that need to be addressed in order to protect the health and well-being of all Americans.
As we reflect on the events of 2025 and look towards the future, it is clear that science and public health are at a critical juncture. It is more important than ever to support evidence-based research and policies in order to ensure the health and safety of our communities. Thank you for joining us for this special edition of Science Quickly. I’m Kendra Pierre-Louis, in for Rachel Feltman. I’m a space and physics editor at Scientific American, and I have to say that 2025 has been a pretty eventful year in terms of space exploration and discoveries. One of the biggest stories this year has been the continued advancements in private space travel. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic have made significant progress in their efforts to make space travel more accessible to the general public.
SpaceX, in particular, has been making headlines with its ambitious plans to send humans to Mars. The company successfully launched its Starship spacecraft on multiple test flights this year, bringing us one step closer to realizing Elon Musk’s vision of a human colony on the Red Planet. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have also been making strides in their efforts to offer suborbital space tourism flights, with both companies conducting successful crewed test flights this year.
In terms of scientific discoveries, 2025 has been a landmark year for space exploration. One of the most exciting discoveries was the detection of water vapor in the atmosphere of an exoplanet located in a distant star system. This finding has raised hopes that water, and potentially life, may exist elsewhere in the universe.
Another major achievement this year was the successful launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful space telescope ever built. The telescope is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the universe, allowing us to peer further back in time than ever before and study the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets.
Looking ahead to 2026, there are several key developments to watch in the world of space exploration. One of the most anticipated events is the launch of the Artemis program, NASA’s ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there. The first crewed mission is scheduled to launch in 2026, with the goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface by the end of the decade.
Another exciting development to watch is the continued growth of the commercial space industry. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are expected to make further advances in their efforts to commercialize space travel, with the potential for more space tourism flights and private missions to the Moon and beyond.
Overall, 2025 has been a year of tremendous progress and excitement in the field of space exploration. As we look ahead to 2026, it’s clear that we are on the cusp of a new era of space exploration, with unprecedented opportunities to unlock the mysteries of the universe and expand the boundaries of human knowledge. 2025 was a groundbreaking year for science and space exploration, with significant discoveries and advancements that have shaped our understanding of the universe. As the senior desk editor covering physical sciences at Scientific American, my favorite topics are space and physics, so I have been closely following the latest developments in these fields.
One of the most exciting space stories of the year was the discovery made by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) that suggests dark energy, the mysterious force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe, may be evolving over time. This revelation has caused a stir in the scientific community, challenging existing models and theories about dark energy. The idea that dark energy could be changing and becoming weaker or slower has forced researchers to rethink their understanding of the universe and come up with new explanations for this phenomenon.
The year 2025 has been a mix of progress and setbacks in space exploration. While we are making incredible strides in our ability to explore the cosmos and search for extraterrestrial life, there have been challenges facing organizations like NASA. Budget cuts and political uncertainty have led to layoffs, work stoppages, and delays in important space science projects. Despite these obstacles, there are still exciting developments on the horizon, such as the Artemis II mission that aims to return humans to lunar orbit and the launch of projects like NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Looking ahead to 2026, I anticipate more disruption in the space industry, with projects like SpaceX’s Starship continuing testing and the race to return humans to the moon heating up. Scientific breakthroughs like the cure for sickle cell disease using gene therapy offer hope for the future of medical science. As we continue to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe, it is important to stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in science and space exploration.
For more updates on the latest scientific advancements and space news, be sure to follow Scientific American for in-depth coverage and analysis. Stay tuned for more exciting discoveries and breakthroughs in the coming year.
