August 2025

A new NASA-led study reveals that Greenland’s melting glaciers are fueling life in the Arctic Ocean. Each summer, massive freshwater plumes from glaciers like Jakobshavn drag deep-sea nutrients upward, boosting phytoplankton growth by up to 40%. These microscopic organisms form the base of the marine food web and play a key role in carbon absorption. Using NASA’s ECCO-Darwin digital ocean model, researchers simulated the interaction of meltwater, currents, and marine biology. As melting accelerates, this biological boost could shift how oceans trap carbon, with global climate implications.

NASA is accelerating plans to deploy a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, according to interim head Sean Duffy. The reactor would ensure steady power through long lunar nights and help secure water-ice resources at the Moon’s south pole. China and Russia also aim for lunar reactors by the mid-2030s, sparking a geopolitical “moon race.” NASA is mandating key steps within 60 days, including appointing a reactor program manager. Despite ambitious goals, funding remains a hurdle, with NASA’s proposed 2026 budget at historic lows and cuts hitting science programs and staffing.