Patrick Pester is the trending news writer at Live Science. His work has appeared on other science websites, such as BBC Science Focus and Scientific American. Patrick retrained as a journalist after spending his early career working in zoos and wildlife conservation. He was awarded the Master's Excellence Scholarship to study at Cardiff University where he completed a master's degree in international journalism. He also has a second master's degree in biodiversity, evolution and conservation in action from Middlesex University London. When he isn't writing news, Patrick investigates the sale of human remains.
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SpaceX prepares to launch next-generation Starship, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever builtStarship V3's maiden spaceflight is scheduled for next week as SpaceX prepares to launch the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Eruption blows hole in sun's atmosphere, unleashing solar flare and potentially triggering northern lightsThe sun has erupted with a moderate M5.7 solar flare and a coronal mass ejection that could trigger a northern lights display.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Once-in-a-century 'super' El Niño in the cards as ocean temperatures reach near record highs in AprilClimate scientists have revealed that last month's sea surface temperatures were the second-warmest for any April on record, reflecting the emergence of El Niño.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Microplastics absorb heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming — as if they weren't bad enoughClimate scientists have discovered that microplastics and nanoplastics are helping to drive global warming by absorbing sunlight and radiation in the atmosphere.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'Food insecurity is no longer just about low-income countries': Environmental economist explains how climate change is pushing agricultural systems to the brinkINTERVIEW As a U.N. report warns that extreme temperature swings are disrupting crops and endangering agricultural workers, we spoke with environmental economist Shouro Dasgupta about farming in an overheating world.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Scientists spot object beyond Pluto with an atmosphere that shouldn't existObservations suggest there's a small, icy object with an atmosphere beyond Pluto, challenging assumptions about which bodies can sustain atmospheres.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Artemis moon landing could face long delay while NASA waits for next-generation spacesuitsDelays in next-generation spacesuits could push back Artemis moon landings to 2031, an audit by the NASA Office of Inspector General claims.
By Patrick Pester Published
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73 moon landings? NASA's 'Moon Base User's Guide' reveals the agency's 'most ambitious space project' will be fraught with challengesNASA has released a 'Moon Base User's Guide' that reveals the major gaps the agency and its partners must fill in to land and live on the moon.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'Welcome home, Integrity': Artemis II crew return to Earth after 'bullseye landing' caps historic moon missionLive Blog The Artemis II crew have safely landed in the Pacific Ocean after a historic flight around the moon. Take a look back at our live blog's launch coverage from the hours and seconds until splashdown.
By Ben Turner Last updated
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There are 'reasons to be confident' about faulty Artemis II heat shield ahead of 25,000 mph reentry, space expert Ed Macaulay saysNASA's Artemis II heat shield is about to face its ultimate test as the Orion crew prepares for reentry. Physics and data science lecturer Ed Macaulay tells Live Science reasons to be confident ahead of today's historic splashdown.
By Patrick Pester Published
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There's an issue with the Artemis II heat shield, but NASA isn't worried. Here's why.The Artemis II astronauts are about to fall to Earth at the fastest speed humans have ever travelled inside a spacecraft with a compromised heat shield. But NASA remains confident they will be safe.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'We go for all of humanity': Artemis II rocket lifts off to the moon — look back at our live coverageLive Blog The Artemis II crew have left Earth and are bound for the moon. Take a look back at our live blog's launch coverage from the days, hours and seconds until takeoff.
By Ben Turner Last updated
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Artemis II blasts off: Humans are on their way back to the moonNASA's Artemis II rocket has taken off in a historic launch on Florida's Space Coast, sending humans back to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Astronauts can face 'nearly lethal doses' of solar radiation — so why launch Artemis II during the sun's peak of activity? Space scientist Patricia Reiff explains.NASA's Artemis II flight around the moon will expose astronauts to space weather. Space scientist Patricia Reiff tells Live Science how solar flares and radiation will impact the lunar mission.
By Patrick Pester Published
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How to watch NASA's historic Artemis II launch for the moonNASA's Artemis II mission is set to take four astronauts on a record-breaking spaceflight around the moon, bringing humans farther into space than ever before. Here's how to watch it.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'We are getting very, very close': NASA makes final Artemis II preparations as expectation grows for Wednesday launchNASA's Artemis II crew is ready to fly around the moon, with promising weather forecasts for a Wednesday launch.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA announces 'near‑impossible' space plans, including $20B moon base and humanity's first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraftNASA's Gateway lunar space station won't launch next year in new changes to the Artemis program, which include ramping up development of a $20 billion moon base and a nuclear-powered 'Freedom' spacecraft.
By Patrick Pester Published
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All 5 'letters' of DNA found on an asteroid speeding through our solar system. What do they tell us about the origins of life?JAXA samples reveal that asteroid Ryugu has a complete set of nucleobases, the building blocks of DNA, suggesting these ingredients of life may be common in the solar system.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Artemis II: NASA is preparing for a return to the moon, but why is it going back?NASA's Artemis II mission is sending humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. Here are the reasons why the U.S. wants to return.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'Super El Niño' could push global temperatures to unprecedented highs, forecasters sayA "super El Niño" could emerge by the end of the 2026 hurricane season, with forecasters predicting that the ongoing La Niña is about to finish.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'Interstellar messenger' 3I/ATLAS could be nearly as old as the universe itself, James Webb telescope observations revealThe comet formed in a cold and distant part of the early Milky Way up to 12 billion years ago, potentially putting it just under 2 billion years the age of the universe.
By Patrick Pester Published
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1,300-pound spacecraft will crash to Earth today following intense solar activity, NASA warnsNASA's Van Allen Probe A is falling to Earth much sooner than expected, though the spacecraft's reentry poses a low risk to humans.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA fixes Artemis II rocket for April launch to take astronauts around moonNASA's Artemis II is on track to shoot for the moon in April after engineers fixed the helium issue that grounded the mission's rocket last month.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Birds are declining faster and faster in 3 US hotspots, new study findsResearchers have revealed that North American birds are declining at an accelerating rate in three regional hotspots associated with intense agriculture.
By Patrick Pester Published
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