Trending tickers: Amazon, Stellantis, Bitcoin, Rio Tinto  Yahoo Finance UK

Super Bowl 60: Players trending toward more targets  PFF

11 Best Trader Joe’s Groceries Trending in February  Eat This Not That

Vikings' Rough Offseason Gets Even Worse While Lions Trending Up  Detroit Jock City

Intel: SEC teams trending for former TCU QB commit Jerry Meyer  On3

1. Google is expanding AirDrop support to more Android devices ‘very soon’  theverge.com
2. Google just confirmed what Android fans have been praying to hear about AirDrop sharing  Android Authority
3. Google hints at big AirDrop expansion for Android "very soon"  Ars Technica
4. Google's Quick Share Finally Brings Cross-Platform File Transfer to Windows and Android Users  WebProNews
5. Google will soon offer AirDrop support on more Android devices  Engadget

1. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Date: New Leaks, Disappointing News  Forbes
2. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: New Leak Delivers Disappointing News  Forbes
3. Hey Samsung, you better have something special for the Galaxy S26 launch as TechRadar readers aren’t hyped  TechRadar
4. Which Would You Prefer, S Pen or Magnets?  Droid Life
5. Galaxy S26 vs S25 battery specs and charging: What the leaks reveal  SamMobile

1. New iPhone launching this month with four key changes: report  9to5Mac
2. Apple's iPhone 17E Is Near and It Needs More Than MagSafe  CNET
3. The iPhone 17e might launch in mere weeks  Macworld
4. iPhone 17e and iPad 12: New Features and Release Date Rumors Surface  MacRumors
5. iPhone 17e Reportedly Set to Launch This Month With 4 Major Upgrades  PCMag

1. Sony confirms WF-1000XM6 release date in first official teaser  Notebookcheck
2. Sony WF-1000XM6 leak reveals a practical redesign, but I need to see a wow feature  androidcentral.com
3. Sony just confirmed the launch of its new premium earbuds  PhoneArena
4. Sony confirms launch date for its redesigned XM6 flagship earbuds  Android Authority
5. Sony tries to hype up WF-1000XM6 in ominous teaser, confirms Feb 12 launch  9to5Google

1. NASA astronauts can now bring their phones with them on their mission to the moon  TechCrunch
2. NASA will finally allow astronauts to bring their iPhones to space  Ars Technica
3. Apple heads to moon after NASA chief approves iPhones for upcoming missions  Seeking Alpha
4. Smartphones cleared for launch as NASA loosens the rulebook  theregister.com
5. NASA Is Making a Big Change, and It Will Transform How Astronauts Capture Their Journeys  inc.com

This Feb. 4, 2026, image from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captures a strong solar flare erupting from the star. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy that can, along with other types of solar eruptions, can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The flare pictured was classified as an X4.2 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

SDO measures the Sun’s properties and solar activity to help us better understand the Sun’s magnetic changes. By studying flares and how they affect our planet and nearby space, SDO helps us to better prepare for and deal with these potential disruptions.

Image credit: NASA/SDO

The boreal forest—the world’s largest terrestrial biome—is warming faster than any other forest type. To understand the changing dynamics of boreal forests, Feng et al., 2026 analyzed the biome from 1985 to 2020, leveraging the longest and highest-resolution satellite record of calibrated tree cover to date. The study, published in February in Biogeosciences with four co-authors from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, confirms a northward shift in boreal forest cover over the past four decades. Landsat imagery played a central role in this study: the researchers applied machine learning to process 224,026 scenes collected by Landsats 4, 5, 7, and 8 to create annual, 30-meter resolution maps of tree cover across the entire boreal biome. They downscaled and extended calibrated MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields data to 30-meter resolution, creating a 36-year time series (1984-2020) that provided unprecedented spatial detail for tracking forest changes.

The analysis revealed that boreal forests both grew in size and moved northward. The forests expanded by 0.844 million km² (a 12% increase) and shifted northward by 0.29° mean latitude, with gains concentrated between 64-68°N. Their work also showcased the capacity of new growth to act as a carbon sink. Young boreal forests (up to 36 years) hold an estimated 1.1-5.9 petagrams of carbon (Pg C) with potential to sequester an additional 2.3-3.8 Pg C if allowed to mature. Landsat’s long time series of highly calibrated data allows researchers to study how ecosystems shift over decades, a crucial insight into our changing world. 

A potent winter storm in late January 2026 left much of North Carolina dealing with significant snow accumulations. Though the state is no stranger to snow, such widespread coverage is unusual.

This image, acquired on February 2 with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite, reveals a nearly continuous blanket of white stretching from mountain cities in the west to beachfront towns in the east. According to the North Carolina State Climate Office, measurable snow fell in all 100 counties for the first time in more than a decade.

Snowfall in North Carolina typically requires cold air funneled in from the north to combine with moisture supplied by a low-pressure system. During the January 31 weekend event, Arctic air from earlier in the week lingered across the state as a storm approached along a near-shore track, setting the stage for widespread snow.

Snow totals exceeded a foot in some of the state’s western, mountainous regions, following several years without significant snowfall events, though some locations such as Asheville saw smaller amounts. The storm even pushed south into Greenville, South Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the downtown area saw about 5 inches (13 centimeters) by the evening of January 31, according to the National Weather Service.

In the Piedmont region, the hilly central part of the state, Charlotte received nearly a foot of snow—the most since 2004—while Raleigh saw a lighter accumulation of 2.8 inches, according to the state climate center.

Even coastal parts of the state traded brown sandy beaches for a blanket of white, with more than a foot reported in parts of Carteret County. Beaufort, a mainland town in the southern Outer Banks area, experienced heavy blowing snow. Slightly inland, Greenville received 14 inches, an amount not seen since a large storm in March 1980.

Though appearing serene from space, the storm posed real hazards on the ground. Dangerous road conditions snarled traffic and caused collisions, according to local news reports, while coastal areas saw high winds and waves. Overwash on Highway 12 in the Outer Banks coated parts of the road in standing water and sand, while several homes along the shore of Hatteras Island collapsed into the sea.  

NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kathryn Hansen.

References & Resources

• The Charlotte Observer (2026, January 31) I-85 north of Charlotte reopens after 100+ vehicles stuck from collision and snow. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• Island Free Press (2026, February 1) Ocean overwash reported Sunday morning on Hatteras, Ocracoke Islands. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• National Weather Service Charleston SC (2026, February 1) January 31 – February 1, 2026 Winter Storm. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC (2026, February 1) Total Snowfall Reports Through Noon. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• The New York Times (2026, February 1) A ‘Historic’ Snowfall Hits the Carolinas. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• North Carolina State Climate Office Large-Scale Winter Patterns. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• North Carolina State Climate Office (2026, February 2) Rapid Reaction: A Statewide Snowstorm for the Ages. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• The Washington Post (2026, February 1) ‘Historic storm’ delivers biggest snowfall in decades for North Carolina. Accessed February 5, 2026.

Two next-generation satellite missions announced Thursday will help NASA better understand Earth and improve capabilities to foresee environmental events and mitigate disasters.

“NASA uses the unique vantage point of space to study our home planet to deliver life-saving data into the hands of disaster response and decision-makers every day for the benefit of all, while also informing future exploration across our solar system,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “By understanding Earth’s surface topography, ecosystems and atmosphere, while also enabling longer range weather forecasting, these missions will help us better study the extreme environments beyond our home planet to ensure the safety of astronauts and spacecraft as we return to the Moon with the Artemis campaign and journey onward to Mars and beyond.”

These two missions were selected for continued development as part of NASA’s Earth System Explorers Program, which conducts principal investigator-led Earth science missions based on key priorities laid out by the science community and national needs. The program is designed to enable high-quality Earth system science investigations to focus on previously identified key targeted observables.

The STRIVE (Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-resolved light Explorer) mission will provide daily, near-global, high-resolution measurements of temperature, a variety of Earth’s atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere – at a much higher spatial density than any previous mission. It also will measure vertical profiles of ozone and trace gasses needed to understand the recovery of the ozone layer. The data collected from STRIVE would support longer-range weather forecasts, an important tool in protecting coastal communities, where nearly half the world’s population lives. The mission is led by Lyatt Jaeglé at the University of Washington in Seattle.

The EDGE (Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer) mission will observe the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and the surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. The mission will provide an advancement beyond the measurements currently recorded from space by NASA’s ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2) and GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation). The data collected by EDGE will measure conditions affecting land and sea transportation corridors, terrain, and other areas of commercial interest. The mission is led by Helen Amanda Fricker at the University of California San Diego.

The selected missions will advance to the next phase of development. Each mission will be subject to confirmation review in 2027, which will assess the progress of the missions and the availability of funds. If confirmed, the total estimated cost of each mission, not including launch, will not exceed $355 million with a mission launch date of no earlier than 2030.

For more information about the Earth System Explorers Program, visit:

https://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/2023ESE

-end-

Liz Vlock
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
elizabeth.a.vlock@nasa.gov

What does a welder do?

A welder uses tools that join two or more parts through forces such as heat or pressure. Metals are the materials most commonly used in welding, but it’s also possible to weld thermoplastics or wood. Welders use their hands, skills, and problem-solving abilities to create something new.

At NASA, welders use different types of welding processes to assemble spacecraft and rocket components. Welders also put their expertise to work on equipment and facilities that make space exploration possible, such as launch pads, fuel tanks, propellant lines, and buildings where rockets are assembled.

What are the different types of welding?

Welding can be done in many different ways. Here are some of the types of welding used at NASA:

• Arc Welding: Uses electricity to melt metals and fuse them together. There are many types of arc welding, including TIG and MIG welding, described below.
• Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding: Uses a protective gas like argon or helium to keep the metal from reacting with air. TIG welding doesn’t leave behind splatter or residue, giving a clean, precise weld.
• Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding: While not as clean and precise as TIG welding, is used for fast, strong welds on thicker materials, like sheet metal.
• Laser Welding: Enables welders to create tiny, perfect joints for delicate components.
• Ultrasonic Welding: Uses sound and friction to create a solid-state bond between layers of metal.

How can I become a welder?

After graduating from high school, there are a couple of pathways to choose from. You can pursue an associate’s degree in welding, typically a two-year program available through community colleges and technical schools. Another option is to obtain a certificate from a vocational school or trade school. An apprenticeship during or after this training is often the next step toward a career as a professional welder.

How can I start preparing today to become a welder?

Taking a welding class at your high school or local college is a great way to find out whether it’s a skill you enjoy. Research welding degrees and programs at colleges and schools to determine which one(s) fit your needs and interest. It’s also a good idea to research job vacancies to learn what employers are looking for. Finally, seek out opportunities for hands-on experience to help you practice and improve your welding skills.

Advice from other NASA welders

• “Building your knowledge in math and science is always a helpful tool, as you’ll need to understand measurements, geometry, and materials.” – Spencer Wells, engineering technician, Kennedy Space Center
• “One of the best ways to set yourself up as a welder is by attending a vocational school for welding, and then working in an apprentice/internship to gain work experience and training.” – Enricque Lee, tool and die apprentice, NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Additional Resources

• Occupational Outlook for Welders: Pay, Education, Job Outlook, and More (From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• NASA Careers
• Career Spotlight: Engineer
• Career Spotlight: Scientist
• Career Spotlight: Technologist
• Career Spotlight: Mathematician

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