Sharmila Kuthunur
Sharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X @skuthunur.
Latest articles by Sharmila Kuthunur
NASA confirms summer 2023 was Earth's hottest on record
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
2023 summer was Earth's hottest since global record-keeping of temperatures began in 1880, NASA announced Thursday (Sept. 14).
Stunning James Webb Space Telescope image shows young star blasting supersonic jets
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured stunning jets blasting out of a protostar, shedding light on the makeup of very young, sun-like stars.
'Lightning' on Venus is actually meteors burning up in planet's atmosphere, study says
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Tiny meteors burning up in Venus' atmosphere cause light flashes that have long been interpreted as lightning bolts, according to new research.
NASA's Lucy asteroid-hopping probe captures 1st snapshot of space rock 'Dinky' (photo)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's Lucy spacecraft just sent home an impressive glimpse of the smallest asteroid target on its 12-year agenda to study intriguing space rocks.
Virgin Galactic just launched 2 million-year-old fossils of human ancestors to space on tourist flight
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
In a tribute to humankind's quest to explore the cosmos, two fossilized bones of ancient humans flew into space for the first time aboard Virgin Galactic's third commercial spaceflight on Sept. 8.
Hitchhiking microbes on ISS cargo ships can make astronauts sick. Scientists have a solution
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A specific lubricant seems to be a promising solution to mitigate microbial biofilms onboard ISS.
India's Chandrayaan-3 robotic moon explorers don't have heaters. Can they survive the frigid lunar night?
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander and rover are facing their first lunar night. Their chances of waking up at dawn whittle down to luck.
NASA's mighty SLS megarocket for Artemis moonshots 'unaffordable' for sustained exploration, audit finds
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA needs to be more transparent about the costs and schedules for its Space Launch System moon rocket, a newly released audit has found.
How helicopters on Mars could find hidden magnetism in planet's crust
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Originally designed for a simple technology demonstration, Ingenuity has far exceeded its initial one-month, five-flight mission.
This black hole is devouring a dying star — but it only feasts once a month
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The frequency at which a star is being shredded by a black hole in a nearby galaxy offers clues into the poorly understood field of partial tidal disruption events.
Could an 'Earth-like' planet be hiding in our solar system's outer reaches?
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A hypothetical Kuiper Belt Planet adds to the list of possibly undiscovered worlds in our solar system. Also on that list? Planet Nine.
Astronauts on ISS can face muscle loss in microgravity — a new ESA experiment may help
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The European Space Agency (ESA) is exploring the idea of treating muscle loss in astronauts with brief electrical impulses.
Galaxy shapes can help identify wrinkles in space caused by the Big Bang
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A new method to detect Baryon Acoustic Oscillations in the universe could help measure cosmic distances more accurately.
Watch Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover adorably avoid a lunar crater (video)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan moon rover was rerouted after it encountered a crater while exploring its new home.
NASA's exoplanet hunter TESS spots warm Jupiter with longest known year
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Astronomers using NASA's exoplanet-hunting TESS satellite have found a "warm" Jupiter with the longest period ever seen with an alien world.
Clues to spotting life on Mars are right here on Earth
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Search for life on Mars could be aided by investigating ancient fossils here on Earth.
India to name Chandrayaan-3's moon landing site 'Shiv Shakti Point'
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Chandrayaan-3's landing site near the moon's south pole will be named Shiv Shakti Point, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday (Aug. 26).
Pragyan, Vikram, Vikas: How did India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission get its names?
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
As India steadily establishes its roots in space exploration, Sanskrit, whose use sharply declined after the 13th century, seems to be once again coming into the limelight.
Landslides on Mars suggest water once surrounded Olympus Mons, tallest volcano in the solar system
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A wrinkled patch of land near the volcano's northern region likely formed when blisteringly hot lava oozed out of the summit millions of years ago, hitting water ice at the mountain's base.
What's next for India's Chandrayaan-3 mission on the moon?
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission landed near the moon's south pole on Wednesday (Aug. 23). Its expected lifetime is one lunar day, or two Earth weeks, until the sun sets on the moon.
India on the moon! Chandrayaan-3 becomes 1st probe to land near lunar south pole
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
India landed its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the moon's south pole today (Aug. 23), making history for the nation and for lunar exploration in general.
Artemis 4 astronauts will be 1st crew to use NASA's moon-orbiting Gateway in 2028
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The first Artemis mission to make use of NASA's moon-orbiting Gateway will be Artemis 4 in 2028, agency officials confirmed this month.
India prepping to launch 1st sun-studying spacecraft next month
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
India is gearing up for its first-ever mission to study the sun, Aditya-L1, which is expected to launch in early September.