Today’s picks
1. The second may soon be redefined
The second is still defined by a caesium-133 transition, yet optical clocks—strontium lattices, ytterbium and aluminium ions—now outperform it by orders of magnitude. Metrologists may soon vote to redefine the unit, provided rival designs agree with one another and can run continuously. The choice will shape timekeeping, navigation and tests of fundamental physics, which is why this race is worth following closely.
2. Japan’s mission to Mars’s moons takes off
Japan has launched a mission to the moons of Mars, aiming to land on the larger one, collect surface samples and bring them back to Earth. Researchers hope the material will preserve traces of ancient life and reveal whether these moons are captured asteroids or debris from a giant impact on Mars. It is a rare attempt at sample return from a planetary moon, and worth following for what it may say about the Red Planet’s history and habitability.
3. Super Typhoon Champi sets the record for strongest storm of 2026
Super Typhoon Champi reached winds of 185 miles per hour, setting the record for the strongest storm of 2026. It is the highest windspeed recorded in any storm so far this year. The milestone highlights the intensity of extreme weather and merits attention to the cyclone’s track, impacts, and climate context.
4. Report pinpoints future exploration sites on the moon
Beyond building crewed outposts at the lunar south pole, where else should astronauts go? A new authoritative report offers suggestions and pinpoints potential future exploration sites on the moon. It is worth reading for insight into how lunar mission targets may be chosen and what comes next.