Artemis II Crew Home: New Photos, Heat Shield Cleared
NASA released new post-splashdown images of the Artemis II crew and Rise mascot this week, and addressed social media speculation about the Orion heat shield.
11 min read
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Priya Anand
Science & Education Writer
Boston, MAB.S. Biology, Boston University
Priya Anand covers science and education for A News Time, translating dense academic research into stories that general readers can actually engage with. She got her start in editorial at a Boston-based science publication before contributing pieces to EdSurge on the education technology beat. Her biology background from Boston University gives her the vocabulary to read primary research papers directly rather than relying solely on press releases -- a distinction that shows in her reporting.
At A News Time, Priya covers space exploration, climate science, biotech breakthroughs, and the rapidly shifting landscape of online learning and workforce development. She believes the gap between what researchers discover and what the public understands is one of the most fixable problems in modern media.
Current Coverage
Priya is currently covering NASA's Artemis program updates, new findings in GLP-1 drug research, and the growing debate around AI's role in medical diagnosis. On the education beat she is tracking how community colleges are repositioning as workforce pipelines and the ongoing federal student loan policy shifts.
Areas of Expertise
Space explorationClimate scienceBiotechEducation technologyCareer trendsResearch translation
Fun Fact
Priya owns a telescope she has carried across three apartments and still uses it on clear nights despite Boston's notoriously disappointing skies. She has photographed Jupiter twice and considers both attempts partially successful.
Written by Priya Anand (91)
China CRISPR Therapy Cures Five Beta Thalassemia Patients
A base-editing therapy developed by CorrectSequence Therapeutics freed five transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia patients from regular blood transfusions, per Nature.
12 min read
FutureFit AI Lands Achieve Partners Deal as Tech Layoffs Mount
Toronto-based FutureFit AI raised strategic capital from Achieve Partners on April 13 to scale career-navigation tools as AI layoffs reshape labor.
18 min read
After Artemis II: NASA's Tight Road to a 2028 Moon Landing
With Artemis II crew safely home, NASA now has 26 months to prove Starship, spacesuits, and heat shields are ready for a crewed Moon landing in 2028.
14 min read
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026: AI and Workforce Learning Dominate 140-Entry Global Shortlist
The EdTech Innovation Hub's Innovation Awards 2026 shortlist spans 28 countries and 140 global entries, with AI-powered learning tools and workforce upskilling platforms dominating the finalists. Real-world impact at scale, not product features, drives the judging criteria.
11 min read
Junin Builds One of Buenos Aires Province's Largest Solar Parks
The municipality of Junin in Buenos Aires province is building a $20 million, 20-megawatt solar park across 50 hectares with 42,000-plus panels. The project, contracted to Genneia, will power more than 10,000 homes and prevent 17,500 tonnes of CO2 annually.
11 min read
Emperor Penguins Added to Endangered Species List as Antarctic Ice Collapses
The IUCN has uplisted the emperor penguin to Endangered, projecting the global population will halve by the 2080s as Antarctic sea ice loss driven by climate change destroys critical breeding habitat.
11 min read
Artemis II Complete: A Historic Return From the Moon
NASA's Artemis II crew splashed down April 10, 2026, completing the first crewed lunar mission since 1972 and breaking the human deep-space distance record.
15 min read
Philippines Opens All College Classes to 100% Online
The Philippines' CHED gave all higher education institutions full flexibility to go fully online on April 6, 2026, lifting blended learning caps amid the national fuel crisis.
16 min read
The Universe Is Expanding Too Fast and Scientists Still Can't Explain It
A major international collaboration has pinned the Hubble constant at 73.50 km/s/Mpc with better than 1% precision, confirming the Hubble tension is real and cannot be explained by measurement error. Cosmology may need new physics.
12 min read
Boeing's SLS Moon Rocket Faces Uncertain Future Under Trump's NASA
Days after the Space Launch System propelled Artemis II around the Moon, the Trump administration issued a request for commercial alternatives and a White House budget proposal cast serious doubt on the rocket's future.
11 min read
Trump's EPA Repeals the Endangerment Finding, Gutting Federal Climate Law
The Trump administration has repealed the 2009 EPA endangerment finding that underpins all federal greenhouse gas regulation under the Clean Air Act. At least 24 states have filed suit, calling it the most sweeping environmental rollback in US history.
11 min read
Champlain College Launches Flex 30 Career-First Model
Champlain College will enroll all incoming four-year students into a new Flex 30 model giving each undergraduate a full year's worth of flexible credits for co-ops, internships, and double majors.
8 min read
Singapore Launches Dedicated AI and Cybersecurity Job Portal for Tech Grads
Singapore's IMDA launched the Tech Elevation and Career Hub (TECH) on April 10, 2026, aggregating 800 entry-level AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics roles for university undergraduates. The portal expands the TIP Alliance program amid AI disruption reshaping entry-level tech work.
10 min read
SpaceX Launches Second Cygnus XL: 5 Tons of Supplies to ISS
Northrop Grumman's CRS-24 mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9 on April 11, delivering over 5 tons of food, science equipment, and spare parts to the International Space Station.
10 min read
ASU Method Cracks Protein Motion, Speeds Drug Design
Arizona State's Matthias Heyden has built a simulation method that pulls out the slow vibrations governing how proteins change shape, compressing weeks of compute into one overnight run.
9 min read
Artemis II Orion Capsule Splashes Down off San Diego
Four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego at 5:07 PM PT on April 10, 2026, ending the 10-day Artemis II mission and becoming the first crew to return from lunar distance since Apollo 17 in 1972.
13 min read
Blue-Collar Jobs Have Plateaued. Young Workers Need a New Map.
Blue-collar employment has plateaued after years of growth, narrowing options for young workers. Oracle's $29.7M CFO hire during mass layoffs signals AI restructuring, while D.C.'s new Talent Capital board offers a workforce transition template.
15 min read
Scientists Spot Fresh 22-Meter Crater Scarring the Moon
NASA's LROC team identified a fresh 22-meter-wide crater formed between 2009 and 2012, revealing the Moon is still actively changing and what that means for future astronaut missions.
11 min read
Colleges Cut Hundreds of Jobs and Programs in March 2026 Crisis
From the New School's $48M deficit to Princeton laying off staff despite a $36B endowment, March 2026 produced a wave of higher education cuts spanning programs, faculty, and administrative staff.
14 min read
India Withdraws COP33 Hosting Bid as Energy Crisis Fractures Climate Leadership
India has pulled its bid to host COP33, citing domestic energy pressures that Carbon Brief describes as potentially the worst energy crisis in the country's modern history. The retreat signals a fracturing of the developing-nation climate leadership consensus India helped build at COP26 and COP28.
11 min read
Trump's Higher Education Crackdown, One Year In
From Harvard's $2.2 billion grant freeze to 300-plus visa revocations, a comprehensive look at the Trump administration's multi-front assault on American universities and what comes next.
16 min read
World's Oldest Octopus Fossil Was Never an Octopus
Synchrotron imaging reveals Pohlsepia mazonensis, the 300-million-year-old specimen with a Guinness World Record, was actually a nautiloid, rewriting cephalopod evolutionary history.
14 min read
Decision Education Is the Most Undertaught Career Skill in the AI Economy
New workforce data from the Burning Glass Institute shows 41 percent of US job postings require decision-making skills, rising to 68 percent in technical fields, with a 23 percent wage premium attached. Schools are not systematically teaching it.
11 min read
Higher Ed's Demographic Cliff Arrives: Hundreds of Jobs and Programs Cut
The New School, Portland State, Syracuse, and UNT each face deficits near $45-48M. Seven universities cut hundreds of jobs and up to 84+ programs in March 2026 as falling enrollment, federal policy fallout, and the long-predicted demographic cliff converge.
19 min read
Artemis II Breaks Apollo 13 Distance Record at 252,755 Miles
On April 7, 2026, the Artemis II crew surpassed Apollo 13's 54-year crewed distance record, reaching 252,755 miles from Earth on a free-return lunar trajectory and photographing the Moon's south pole.
15 min read
FDA Approves Kresladi: First Gene Therapy for Rare Immune Disorder
Rocket Pharma's Kresladi received FDA accelerated approval on March 26, 2026, as the first gene therapy for Severe LAD-I, an immune disorder that is fatal in most untreated infants.
10 min read
Gen Z Leads a 66% Surge in Self-Taught Job Skills
An Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey found 66% of Gen Z workers teach themselves job skills online, triple the rate of boomers. Despite 74% of hiring managers believing self-taught skills are credible, 53% still prefer formal education, creating a complex credential landscape.
10 min read
SpaceX Files $1.75T IPO: The Largest Public Offering in History
SpaceX filed confidentially for an IPO at a $1.75 trillion valuation on April 1, 2026, targeting a June NASDAQ listing that would raise $75 billion in the largest public offering ever.
10 min read
Artemis II Crew Completes First Crewed Lunar Flyby Since 1972
On April 6, 2026, four astronauts passed within 6,400 miles of the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17, with Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen each making history.
9 min read
Physicists Discover Friction That Requires No Contact
University of Konstanz researchers demonstrated friction between non-touching objects driven by competing magnetic orders, challenging Amontons' 300-year-old friction laws and opening the door to frictional metamaterials.
10 min read
42% of College Students Say AI Changed How They Think About Their Major
Lumina Foundation-Gallup's 2026 study of 14,000+ students finds 42% of bachelor's students influenced by AI in their major choice, 16% have already switched. Among two-year students, 56% are reconsidering their field of study.
10 min read
Jeffrey Gordon Wins 2026 Gabbay Award for Microbiome Research
Washington University's Dr. Jeffrey Gordon received the $25,000 Gabbay Award for 30 years of microbiome science, including MDCF trials in Bangladesh showing measurable improvements in malnourished children.
10 min read
Psychology Grad Degrees Have Negative ROI in 2026. Here's the Data.
Yale economist Joseph Altonji finds psychology master's degrees returning -8% ROI and clinical psychology -5% in 2026. Medicine returns 173%, law 41%. AI eliminating entry-level roles in adjacent fields is accelerating the negative returns.
11 min read
1.5 Million Credentials, 69% Worthless: Brookings Maps the Nondegree Credential Market
Brookings Institution research finds 69% of nondegree credentials offer minimal value. Pell Grants now fund short-term programs with no accountability mechanism. AI credentials grow 2x faster but quality is uneven.
11 min read
Remote Work in 2026: 15 Fields Growing Fast, 55% of Workers Want Hybrid
FlexJobs found 15 career fields with 19%+ growth in fully remote postings in 2025. Robert Half data: 24% of new job postings are hybrid, 11% fully remote. Only 16% of workers want a fully in-office job.
11 min read
LinkedIn Skills on the Rise 2026: AI Development Tools Lead Eight Fast-Growing Clusters
LinkedIn's 2026 skills report tracked 8 fast-growing clusters using acquisition growth and hiring success simultaneously. AI dev tools lead with prompt engineering, LangChain, RAG, and vector databases.
12 min read
110 New Species Found in Australia's Deep Coral Sea
CSIRO-led marine scientists confirmed over 110 new-to-science fish and invertebrate species in the Coral Sea Marine Park, with the final count expected to exceed 200 after full DNA analysis.
10 min read
Student Loan Forgiveness in 2026: What the SAVE Plan Ruling Means for Borrowers
A February 2026 court ruling dissolved the SAVE plan injunction, potentially accelerating IDR forgiveness for millions. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated ICR and PAYE by 2028. Key deadlines borrowers must know now.
10 min read
The 2026 Job Market Is Uneven: Skills-Based Hiring Is Reshaping Who Gets In
JP Morgan forecasts unemployment peaking at 4.5%. But 85% of employers now use skills-based hiring, digital skills command 40-65% wage premiums, and removing degree filters expands qualified pools by 19x.
11 min read
Artemis II Crewed Moon Launch Set for April 1, 2026
NASA's Artemis II, the first crewed flight around the Moon since Apollo, is set for a 6:24 p.m. ET launch window on April 1 carrying four astronauts on a 10-day mission.
8 min read
AI Is Building Data Centers. The Workers Who Build Them Can't Be Found.
Randstad analysis of 50M job postings finds robotics technician demand up 107%, HVAC engineers 67%, construction 30% since 2022. Data center electricians are earning up to $280K. The trades workforce shortage is acute.
11 min read
OECD: GenAI Boosts Student Outputs But Not Learning Without Pedagogical Intent
The OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026 found GenAI improves what students produce but not what they learn unless deployed with explicit pedagogical intent. ITS-powered tutors showed 9-point gains for low performers.
12 min read
Space Coast Shattered Its Own Launch Record in 2025
Florida's Space Coast set an all-time record of 109 orbital launches in 2025, up from 93 in 2024, with Artemis II and multiple Starlink missions packing the week of March 30, 2026.
8 min read
How Scientists Are Racing to Save Federal Climate Data
The Trump administration has removed hundreds of federal climate datasets, deleted the National Climate Assessments, and shut down NOAA's climate.gov. Scientists are racing to rescue what remains.
9 min read
The Most Valuable IT Certifications for 2026
From AWS Solutions Architect to CISSP and Kubernetes, these IT certifications command the highest salaries and strongest demand in the 2026 job market.
14 min read
New Portrait Reveals the Oldest Recorded Supernova in History
Fresh imaging of RCW 86, the remnant of a supernova Chinese astronomers recorded as a guest star in AD 185, reveals new details about the oldest documented stellar explosion.
13 min read
Poor Nations Face 10 Times More Climate Heat Deaths Than Rich
Climate Impact Lab projects poor countries will suffer 10 times more heat-related deaths than wealthy ones by 2050, with Sahel nations facing mortality rates surpassing current malaria death tolls.
9 min read
Records Shatter as Summer Heat Hits US Southwest in March
A record-breaking March heat wave brings summer-like temperatures to the US Southwest, as scientists warn climate change is pushing dangerous heat earlier into the calendar year.
14 min read
College Tuition Hikes of 3% or More Common for Fall 2026
While Stanford and UConn freeze tuition, most colleges announce 3 to 6.5 percent hikes for fall 2026, though net tuition after financial aid has actually decreased over the past decade.
12 min read
AI-Written Science Paper Passes Peer Review for First Time
The AI Scientist system from UBC wrote a machine learning paper without human involvement and had it accepted at an ICLR workshop, producing the result in 15 hours at a cost of around $140.
9 min read
AWS vs Azure vs GCP Certifications Compared for 2026
A comprehensive comparison of AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud certifications for 2026, covering salaries, exam costs, career paths, and which platform fits your goals.
13 min read
Biotech Startup Turns Chicken Eggs Into Drug Factories
A biotech company is testing a novel approach to produce pharmaceutical drugs inside chicken eggs, building on decades of egg-based vaccine manufacturing to slash production costs.
13 min read
Scientists Discover Oldest Known Recordings of Whale Songs
Researchers on Cape Cod uncover the oldest known recordings of whale sounds in archival collections, offering new insights into how cetacean communication has evolved over decades.
13 min read
Hybrid Work Reshapes Entry-Level Jobs in 2026
Entry-level roles in 2026 will be 50 percent hybrid, 43 percent in-person, and just 6 percent fully remote, reshaping how new graduates enter the workforce.
12 min read
How Getting a Professional Certification Actually Changes Your Career in 2026
Salary data from CompTIA, PMI, and AWS shows certification premiums of 10 to 33 percent, but the ROI depends heavily on which credential, which market, and whether the field is already saturated.
17 min read
AI Tutors, Adaptive Platforms, and the K-12 EdTech Landscape in 2026
From Khanmigo to Carnegie Learning, AI-powered adaptive tools are reshaping K-12 classrooms in 2026, but districts are installing guardrails as the research on learning outcomes remains mixed.
17 min read
Mars Dust Storms Are Blasting the Planet's Water Into Space
An international study finds localized Mars dust storms push water vapor to 10 times normal levels in the atmosphere, revealing a new mechanism for the planet's ancient water loss.
12 min read
80% of Workers Need AI Upskilling by 2027
With 80 percent of the workforce needing AI upskilling by 2027 and one in ten job postings now requiring AI skills, the gap between training and capability grows wider.
11 min read
AI Skills Gap in 2026: Why Training Alone Is Not Enough
Enterprise data reveals the AI skills gap persists in 2026 despite widespread training programs, as implementation and real-world application lag behind course completion.
11 min read
College Enrollment Rises Even as Confidence Falls
College enrollment has risen for three straight years despite record-low confidence in higher education, with data showing strong economic returns and falling net tuition.
13 min read
Earth Faces Unexplained Surge of Fireballs in Early 2026
The American Meteor Society reports fireball activity with sonic booms every three days since January, with 79% of mass sightings producing sonic booms in a historic outlier.
13 min read
The Most Valuable Professional Skills of 2026, According to Employer Data
Employer surveys from NACE, WEF, and LinkedIn converge on a clear 2026 picture: AI literacy and durable human skills like complex problem-solving command the biggest salary premiums.
14 min read
Scientists Identify Immune Cell State Behind Long COVID
Helmholtz researchers discover a distinct molecular state in CD14+ monocytes called LC-Mo that correlates with fatigue and respiratory symptoms in Long COVID patients.
12 min read
NASA Announces SR-1 Freedom Nuclear Rocket for Mars by 2028
NASA unveiled SR-1 Freedom, a nuclear-electric spacecraft launching before end of 2028 that repurposes canceled Gateway hardware with a uranium fission reactor for the first US deep-space nuclear mission.
8 min read
Flight to Quality: Why Employers Are Getting More Selective Again in 2026
After a brief experiment dropping degree requirements, major employers are reinstating credential screens in 2026 as a tighter labor market shifts bargaining power back to hiring managers.
16 min read
Monster 2026 Job Market: Where the Jobs Actually Are
Monster's 2026 Job Market Outlook identifies 20 high-growth roles with healthcare, skilled trades, and logistics leading demand while office and admin roles decline.
14 min read
17 UK Biotech Startups Shaping the Industry in 2026
From Oxford spinouts to Cambridge genomics firms, 17 UK biotech startups are driving innovation in drug development, diagnostics, and precision medicine across Europe's most vibrant biotech hub.
12 min read
Bipartisan Commission Calls for National AI Workforce Strategy Starting in K-12
The Bipartisan Policy Center's 2026 report recommends a unified national talent strategy to address AI-driven labor disruption, with K-12 education identified as the critical but underused lever.
14 min read
Superintendents Say Schools Must Prepare Students for Jobs of the Future
District leaders at the AASA National Conference in Nashville are building career-connected learning programs that align K-12 coursework to local workforce needs before graduation.
13 min readLinkedIn Names the 8 Fastest-Growing Skills for 2026
LinkedIn's 2026 Skills on the Rise report identifies AI engineering, stakeholder communications, and 6 other fast-growing skill categories reshaping U.S. hiring.
15 min read
EU Launches Plan to Climate-Proof Its Protected Nature Sites
The European Commission adopts new guidance to help Member States adapt the Natura 2000 network of 27,000 protected areas against accelerating climate change impacts.
12 min read
US Economy Loses 92,000 Jobs in February 2026
The US economy unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February 2026 as unemployment rose to 4.4 percent, with healthcare losing 28,000 jobs for the first time in over a year.
13 min read
Solar Cells Hit 130% Efficiency in Singlet Fission First
Researchers at Kyushu University achieve 130% quantum yield using a molybdenum spin-flip emitter to harvest multiplied energy from singlet fission, exceeding the traditional solar efficiency limit.
13 min read
Newsweek Ranks America's Top Online Colleges for 2026
Newsweek and Statista release 2026 rankings of America's top online colleges and learning providers, with Coursera named leading career-focused platform.
13 min read
Top Biotech Companies Face Market Cap Losses Heading Into 2026
The 25 largest public biotech companies lost market capitalization for the second time in three years, even as GLP-1 drugs and gene therapies reshape the industry pipeline.
12 min read
WEF Reskilling Revolution Reaches 850 Million People
The World Economic Forum's Reskilling Revolution initiative reaches 856 million people globally, with 25 tech companies pledging to support 120 million workers by 2030.
11 min read
UN Warns Earth's Climate Is More Out of Balance Than Ever
The World Meteorological Organization reports the hottest 11 years on record from 2015 to 2025, with a new energy imbalance indicator showing accelerating planetary warming.
12 min read
Anthropic Report Reveals Growing AI Skills Gap in 2026
Anthropic's 2026 Economic Index reveals a 10 percent performance gap between experienced AI users and newcomers, raising concerns about workforce inequality.
13 min read
US Marks 40 Years Since Man First Walked on the Moon
The Apollo 11 anniversary continues to resonate as NASA's Artemis program brings lunar exploration back into the present tense, connecting 1969's achievement to 2026's ambitions.
14 min read
Larry Fink Calls AI Disruption a 'Crisis' for the Class of 2026
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warned at the firm's 2026 Infrastructure Summit that recent college graduates could face the highest unemployment rate in years as AI displaces entry-level white-collar roles, even without a recession. He backed the warning with a $100 million skilled-trades training commitment.
10 min read
Why Should You Become a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse practitioners earn a median salary of $126,260 with 40 percent job growth projected through 2032, driven by primary care physician shortages and expanding scope of practice laws.
14 min read
10 Ways to Boost Your Nursing Career
From specialty certifications to advanced degrees, mentorship, and leadership roles, these ten strategies help nurses accelerate their career trajectory and earning potential.
12 min read
Facts About Learning Disabilities Every Parent and Educator Should Know
One in five children has a learning disability, yet many go undiagnosed for years. Understanding the types, signs, and support systems is the first step toward effective intervention.
13 min read
Opportunities to Become a Social Media Manager
Social media management has evolved from a marketing side role into a specialized career with salaries ranging from $50,000 to $90,000 and growing demand across industries.
12 min read
5 Homeschooling Tips for Your 5-Year-Old Kid
Play-based learning, consistent routines, socialization opportunities, and age-appropriate curriculum choices form the foundation of effective kindergarten-age homeschooling.
15 min read
What Is the Future of Book Publishing?
Print sales remain resilient while audiobooks and AI-generated content reshape the publishing landscape. Independent authors now capture a growing share of the market through direct-to-reader platforms.
11 min read
9 Steps Educators Can Take to Strengthen Their Mentoring Skills
Effective mentoring in education requires active listening, structured feedback, cultural competency, and consistent follow-through. These nine evidence-based practices help teachers become better mentors.
12 min read
How to Develop Greener Classrooms
Sustainable classroom design, energy-efficient lighting, indoor plants, recycling programs, and digital-first materials are practical steps schools are taking to reduce environmental impact.
11 min read
How Can Teachers Use Social Media to Promote Student Engagement?
From class hashtags to collaborative research projects, teachers are finding evidence-based ways to use social media platforms as engagement tools rather than distractions.
11 min read
Does an MBA Guarantee a Job?
MBA employment rates remain high at top-ranked programs but vary significantly by school tier, specialization, and timing. The degree opens doors but guarantees nothing without the right strategy.
10 min read