NASA announces plan to test nuclear rocket engine for possible Mars mission

NASA says they are testing the rocket engine with a plan to have an in-space demonstration by 2027. This technology could help astronauts travel to and from planets faster.

NASA's Virginia rocket launch expected to be visible across DC area; lift off scheduled for Tuesday

UPDATE: NASA has canceled the Electron rocket launch scheduled for Monday, Jan. 23 due to unfavorable weather conditions. The launch has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Nearly two-thirds of coral reef sharks threatened with extinction from overfishing as main cause, study finds

The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that 59% of the 134 coral-reef associated shark and ray species are being threatened with extinction, making them the most threatened groups found on coral reefs alongside marine mammals.

Dinosaur fossils unearthed in Chile may give insight into deadly asteroid strike

The new fossils are from birds and killer dinosaurs, such as the megaraptor, and provide clues about their life before — and after — the fatal asteroid strike.

Massive seal running amok in Australia town

A large seal was captured on video running through a small town in Australia this month. 

First Native American woman in space steps out on spacewalk

Nicole Mann, a Marine colonel and test pilot, rocketed into orbit last fall with SpaceX, becoming the first Native American woman in space. She is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California.

Watch: Drone video captures the world’s largest hatching of baby turtles

Between mid-December and early January, millions of baby river turtles emerged from the sandy beaches of the Amazon’s Guaporé/Inténez River.

Polar bear emerged unseen from Alaska snowstorm to kill woman, baby

As the attack unfolded outside a school, the principal ordered a lockdown and closed the blinds so the children couldn’t see what was happening outside the entrance.

Watch: Boston Dynamics robot shows off eerily human-like moves in new video

The robot helps a construction worker in a simulated site get his tool bag before pulling off an impressive parkour-style flip as the cherry on top.

Flashes of light may help scientists predict when solar flares may explode from the sun

Researchers used data collected from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory to identify small signals of the sun’s atmosphere that will help to identify which regions on the sun were more likely to produce solar flares.

‘The Last of Us’ zombie fungal parasite is real and causes ants to commit suicide

If you thought fictional zombies walking around on film were scary, the condition that turns creatures into mindless eating machines actually exists in nature.

Missing clouded leopard found safe at Dallas Zoo; criminal investigation ongoing

A clouded leopard that went missing from its Dallas Zoo exhibit has been found safe on zoo grounds after police say someone intentionally created a tear in its enclosure.

Miss America inspires young girls to enter STEM, be 'powerful women'

The newly crowned Miss America makes her first appearance at the 10th Annual Girls Empowered by Math and Science Conference in Kenosha on Thursday morning, Jan. 12.

WATCH: Giant python crosses road in Florida Everglades

A video of a gigantic Burmese python crossing a road in the Florida Everglades is stunning viewers – but many think the person taking the video should’ve run it over.