The universe's most extreme dead stars can form from vampire white dwarfs — and scientists finally know how

space.com Sep 16, 2026

The universe’s most extreme dead stars can form from vampire white dwarfs — and scientists finally know how

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 16, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

A recent study by ETH Zurich researchers has mapped the precise conditions under which a white dwarf can collapse into a neutron star through accretion‑induced collapse (AIC). The process requires a white dwarf composed of oxygen, neon, and magnesium, which are denser and more massive than typical carbon‑oxygen white dwarfs. The star must accrete material from a companion at a rate that brings it close to the Chandrasekhar limit without exceeding it, preventing a Type Ia supernova. AIC events are expected to be faint, rapid, and eject little matter, distinguishing them from ordinary supernovae.

💡 Why It Matters

· The discovery clarifies a long‑standing gap in stellar evolution theory, showing that a subset of white dwarfs can become neutron stars without a massive progenitor.
· This insight refines models of compact‑object populations and informs searches for faint, rapid transients in the cosmos.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket-landing team gets 1st-ever Neil Armstrong Space Prize

The inaugural Neil Armstrong Space Prize was awarded to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 landing team at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., on September 15. The prize, created by Purdue University, honors the engineers who made reusable first‑stage landings a reality, a breakthrough that has lowered launch costs and expanded spaceflight capabilities. Five key team members—Blackmore, Diez, Edwards, Kuwata, and Velázquez—were recognized for their role in achieving the first vertical touchdown in 2015 and subsequent widespread reuse of the booster.

💡 The award underscores how mastering reusable rocket landings reshaped the economics of space travel, setting a new industry standard that competitors now follow.

space.com · Sep 16

Space weather caused a 16-minute train delay in 1848: ‘Our research has…

A team led by Professor Jim Wild re‑examined a 19th‑century train delay that had been cited as the first solar‑storm disruption of technology. By cross‑checking railway timetables, newspapers, and geomagnetic records, they found the Exeter train incident actually occurred on 18 October 1848, not 1841, and that the earliest recorded electrical disturbance was a 1847 Midland Railway event. The study underscores how early electrical infrastructure was vulnerable to space weather and demonstrates the value of archival research in reconstructing historic geomagnetic storms.

💡 The corrected chronology shows that space‑weather impacts on critical systems date back to the 1840s, revealing a long‑standing hazard that modern power grids and satellites still face.

space.com · Sep 16

Russia launching 3 tons of cargo to the space station today: Watch…

Russia will launch the Progress 96 cargo spacecraft on a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur at 9:33 a.m. EDT (1333 GMT) to deliver approximately 3 tons of food, propellant, and supplies to the International Space Station. The freighter is expected to dock two days later and remain attached for about five months before returning as debris over the Pacific. Progress 94 had recently departed the ISS to make room. The ISS crew includes NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos astronauts.

💡 The launch sustains the ISS’s continuous resupply chain, ensuring crew survival and research continuity in orbit.

techcrunch.com · Sep 16

SpaceX will try to put Starship in orbit for the first time…

SpaceX is set to launch its 14th Starship test flight on September 22, aiming to place the vehicle’s upper stage into Earth orbit for the first time. The 75‑minute launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. CT. The mission will deploy 26 third‑generation Starlink V3 satellites, marking the first Starship flight that could generate revenue for the company’s launch division. Successful orbit insertion would validate Starship’s reusability and support SpaceX’s plan to retire Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

💡 Achieving orbit would prove Starship’s core capability, enabling the company to shift its launch fleet and meet the high‑frequency cadence promised during its IPO.

newsable.asianetnews.com · Sep 16

LUNR Stock Inches Higher After-Hours — Intuitive Machines Hits Another SiriusXM Milestone

Intuitive Machines (LUNR) completed the handover of its SXM‑11 geostationary communications satellite to SiriusXM after successful in‑orbit testing. Launched on June 28 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, SXM‑11 is now fully operational and has entered service for SiriusXM. The milestone marks the 13th spacecraft built jointly by the two companies over more than two decades. SiriusXM’s chief product officer confirmed that work is already underway on the next satellite in the series, while Intuitive’s president highlighted the partnership’s commitment to mission success. LUNR shares rose 0.22 % in after‑hours trading.

💡 The handover confirms Intuitive Machines’ reliability as a satellite builder, reinforcing SiriusXM’s expanding satellite network and potentially boosting the company’s market position in the growing satellite‑communications sector.

space.com · Sep 16

Where will the US Space Academy be based? NASA wants class to…

NASA has issued a request for information to identify a U.S. state to host the new United States Space Academy, a non‑military institution aimed at training scientists, engineers, astronauts, and warfighters. The agency seeks proposals by October 26, 2026, with the first class of 300 students slated to begin in 2028. A temporary campus will serve the initial cohort, while a permanent facility—complete with academic, residential, and recreational buildings—is targeted for operational status by 2031. The academy’s establishment follows President Trump’s executive order and reflects NASA’s commitment to sustaining American leadership in space.

💡 The academy will fill a critical talent gap in high‑tech space fields, ensuring a pipeline of qualified professionals to support national security and commercial space ambitions. Its rapid launch underscores the urgency of maintaining U.S. competitiveness in an increasingly crowded orbital arena.