Daily Recap

Daily Recap: Science — 18 August 2026

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Blake Poster
3 min read
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Science news is split between the hazards of Earth and the ambitions of space. A deadly earthquake in Indonesia and fresh tremors in Spain show how quickly disasters can upend lives, while a landmark spacewalk and new scrutiny of astronaut health underline both the progress and t...

Science news is split between the hazards of Earth and the ambitions of space. A deadly earthquake in Indonesia and fresh tremors in Spain show how quickly disasters can upend lives, while a landmark spacewalk and new scrutiny of astronaut health underline both the progress and the risks of human activity beyond the planet.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits eastern Indonesia, killing at least dozens of people, injuring hundreds, and damaging thousands of homes. Thousands of residents on Flores remain displaced in the aftermath, many without stable shelter, as concern grows over the longer-term impact on children and other vulnerable survivors.

French astronaut Sophie Adenot becomes the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. She carries out the excursion on August 18 alongside American astronaut Anil Menon, marking a national milestone in human spaceflight and adding to the station’s continuing program of orbital operations.

A run of earthquakes shakes Granada in southern Spain, injuring three people and causing damage to buildings and cars. Authorities temporarily close the Alhambra and restrict access as tremors continue, underscoring how even moderate seismic activity can disrupt daily life and affect major historic sites.

An Australian cardiologist is examining how space travel may contribute to cardiovascular risk among astronauts, focusing on a recurring health problem seen in past crews. The work is driven by evidence that the same issue is linked to about 43 per cent of deaths in the group studied, raising concerns for longer missions.

A SpaceX Starship rocket is being towed toward Christmas Island after landing in the Indian Ocean, creating an unusual recovery scene for local residents. The voyage highlights a different phase of the company’s test program, with the vehicle transported by sea rather than returning under its own power.

Live coverage: SpaceX to send Starlink satellites to orbit with Tuesday night launch from California
Spaceflight Now
Stephen A Smith goes off on national Black journalists organization after 'personal hit job' against him
Fox News
Cruise ships with the worst CDC sanitation scores revealed, see which vessels failed inspection
Fox News
Watch LIVE: Astronaut Anil Menon begins spacewalk, set to fly on robotic arm
India Today
Astronaut Anil Menon to conduct second spacewalk in 10 days today
India Today
NASA’s LRO Images Falcon 9 Crater on Moon, Learns New Details
NASA News

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Blake Poster

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