NASA’s new direction: Science is on the chopping block

💥 A historic pivot leaves the future of discovery in question.

with Ethan Siegel • August 23, 2025

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Greetings readers,

One of the things I'm honored to do, wherever I can, is to fill your hearts and minds with the wonders of the Universe. Whether that's considering a question you might have wondered about but couldn't answer, showing you something remarkable from the most obscure corners of reality, or explaining something that you've already heard of in a novel and more comprehensive way, I always strive to delight and inform. However, I’m fully aware that there's a darker side to what I do: I expose inconvenient, even unpalatable truths that affect us all. After all, my greatest loyalty will never be to any single person, way of thinking, or ideology, but rather to the truth of factual reality itself.

That's why even though I'm excited to share with you a series of wonderful images from DarkSky International's 2025 "Capture the Dark" photo contest, explain the science behind LASIK, answer the question of whether zero-point energy can power the world, and look under the hood of quantum physics and ask whether there might be some hidden variables underpinning our reality, I couldn't lead with anything other than the biggest story facing my personal world in 2025: the needless destruction of my entire field (of physics and astronomy) in the United States. In an unprecedented, beyond-the-pale move, the new NASA acting administrator declared that all of the priorities of NASA, including conducting fundamental science and educating the public, would be eliminated. Instead, Sean Duffy said, “All of the science that we do is going to be directed towards exploration," which isn't just egregious, but is in direct violation of NASA's charter itself.

As riled up as I get about that kind of mortgaging of our collective future, however, I can't help but be drawn back to the frontiers of what's known and to keep sharing them with you. There's a whole Universe out there to explore. Don't you want to know more about it tomorrow than we know today? I certainly do, and I'll be back here next week, telling more stories here on Starts With A Bang!

All the best,
Ethan

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DESTRUCTIVE AMBITIONS

NASA chief to defy agency’s charter, terminating science

NASA’s 1958 charter’s top priority was “the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space.” Success meant a mix of different initiatives that fell into four different scientific disciplines: Earth science, astrophysics, planetary science, and heliophysics. However, a recent announcement from NASA’s acting chief declared to abandon initiatives that go against the agency’s charter. Will anyone act to save the heart of NASA?

WAKING UP: DEEPER TRANSFORMATION BEGINS HERE.

Observe your mind with fresh eyes

There’s a world of innovation happening in mind science right now, so if you’re looking to go deeper into awareness and meaning, this is a great moment. The Waking Up app blends meditation, philosophy, and neuroscience to provide a practice structure that helps you start your journey toward a more profound transformation — and to discover life’s greater purpose.

QUANTUM WEIRDNESS

Are hidden variables real, and can they save quantum physics?

Ever since the first experiments started to reveal the quantum nature of the Universe, people have wondered if indeterminism is fundamental or just a measure of our ignorance. The latter, favored by minds as brilliant as Einstein, leads one to consider the possibility of hidden variables: that something we can’t quite perceive determines our reality. While we have identified some, there may be more out there that we haven’t identified or measured. Either way, they can’t get rid of quantum weirdness.

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ASK ETHAN

Ask Ethan: Can “zero-point energy” power the world?

Throughout history, “free energy” has been a scammer’s game, such as perpetual motion. But with zero-point energy, is it possible? Could that be the ultimate solution to our energy needs? Science has something to say about that.

If you have a burning question about the Universe,
email startswithabang@gmail.com!

WORTH A LOOK

The science behind LASIK

Imperfect vision compels many people to wear corrective lenses to see correctly, which has inspired this week’s article to take a look at the science behind LASIK. It is a breakthrough medical intervention that, for some people, helps them live lives free of glasses or contact lenses, yet still see perfectly. Here’s a look at how it all works.

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FANTASTIC IMAGES

See the best night sky images from Capture the Dark 2025

Here on Earth, a dark, pristine night sky is a natural resource that’s scarcer than ever in our modern era of light pollution and satellite megaconstellations. However, it is still a wonder to behold wherever you can find it. Dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Earth’s natural night conditions, DarkSky International is celebrating the conclusion of its fifth annual Capture the Dark photo contest. Take a look at this visual feast!

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Ethan Siegel, Ph.D., is an award-winning theoretical astrophysicist who's been writing Starts With a Bang since 2008. You can follow him on Twitter @StartsWithABang.

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