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
This shoebox-sized gadget will make sure astronauts breathe safely on NASA's Artemis moon missions
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A multimillion-dollar laser air monitoring system onboard upcoming Artemis missions is expected to help protect astronaut health.
Wildfire smoke is warming the planet more than previously thought, scientists say
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A new kind of particle in wildfire smoke has shown to have the potential to warm the planet far more than previously thought, underscoring the need to update current climate models.
Scientists are using NASA satellite data to text Bangladeshi farmers water-saving strategies
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A new technology uses satellite data to provide farming advice to Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani farmers.
Boomerang meteorite may be the 1st space rock to leave Earth and return
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Scientists are puzzled by an unusual rock that might've once launched from our planet into space before coming back home in one safe piece.
India launches historic Chandrayaan-3 moon rover to land at the lunar south pole
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission launched today (July 14), kicking off the nation's second attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon.
India's ready to launch its Chandrayaan-3 moon-landing mission on July 14. Here's what to expect
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Chandrayaan-3 will be India's third mission to the moon and the country's second attempt at soft-landing a robotic craft on Earth's nearest neighbor.
Yes, solar storms are increasing, but don't lose sleep over an 'internet apocalypse.'
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Unfounded claims about a major solar storm in 2025 triggering widespread internet blackouts have been circulating online.
James Webb Space Telescope will help Euclid spacecraft investigate dark energy and dark matter
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is expected to complement a part of the Euclid spacecraft's mission to unveil the nature of dark energy.
The gravitational wave background of the universe has been heard for the 1st time
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
In a historic first, astronomers have detected low-frequency gravitational waves using a galaxy-sized antenna of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way.
Listen to the eerie sounds of distant galaxies in breathtaking NASA video
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA has produced sounds from telescope data on five galaxies in Stephan's Quintet, a binary star system called R Aquarii, and a giant galaxy known as Messier 104.
The loneliest monster black holes may also be the hungriest
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Solitary supermassive black holes lurking in less populated areas of the universe munch on material more commonly than their more crowded counterparts, a new study reports.
Light pollution poses serious threat to astronomy, skywatching and more, study says
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Astronomers are once again ringing alarm bells about rising light pollution destroying pristine night skies. This time, though, their worries extend beyond their core discipline.
Saturn's moon Enceladus has all the ingredients for life in its icy oceans. But is life there?
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
For the first time, phosphorus — the rarest of six elements upon which life as we know it depends — has been found in a tiny ocean-bearing moon in our solar system.
Strange radio emissions from a feeding star puzzle astronomers
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Astronomers studying the fastest and most dramatic nova ever recorded continue to find more puzzles than answers, most recently in the form of unexpected radio emissions.
Friendless 'hot Jupiter' exoplanets may not be so lonely after all
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
How hot Jupiters form and evolve is one of the oldest questions in exoplanet research.
A chaotic star is inching toward a violent death as astronomers watch in real-time
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Astronomers using the Keck Observatory have spotted a rare type of star evolving into a supernova right before their eyes.
James Webb Space Telescope discovers 717 ancient galaxies that flooded the universe with 1st light
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered hundreds of galaxies that existed when the universe was less than 600 million years old.
This new tool 'cleans' annoying satellite trails from Hubble telescope photos
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Scientists have developed a new tool that can keep Hubble Space Telescope photos free of the bright streaks caused by fast-moving satellites.
Gravitational waves may come from 'cocoons' of debris around dying stars (video)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Astronomers have created the first model for how debris around exploding stars could emit gravitational waves powerful enough to be detected by instruments on Earth.
Loud launches: Researchers study how rocket noise affects endangered wildlife
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A new study will monitor the short- and long-term impacts of rocket launches on endangered wildlife near California's Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Should future Mars missions have all-female crews?
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Statistics show that women are better astronauts than men, but gender diversity is key to a successful Mars mission, experts say.
See the Full Strawberry Moon of June share the sky with Mars and a half Venus tonight
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
June's Strawberry moon rises tonight (June 3) and is joined by Jupiter, Mars and a half Venus in the night sky.
See Mars buzz the dense stars of the Beehive Cluster tonight
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Mars will be appear to be in the midst of the densely-packed stars of the Beehive Cluster tonight, offering a chance for skywatchers to observe two fascinating objects at once.
NASA's Kepler telescope discovered 2 mini-Neptune exoplanets just before dying
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Astronomers discovered two mini-Neptunes and a third potential exoplanet in the final data sent home by NASA's Kepler space telescope just before it was decommissioned in late 2018.