Read the latest positive news, breakthroughs, and inspiring stories about citizen science, curated daily by BrightWire.
The University of Scranton just scored nearly $5.5 million from NASA to bring space weather science into schools, libraries, and communities nationwide. This five-year project will turn amateur radio enthusiasts into citizen scientists while teaching students to track real-time solar activity.
Hundreds of beachgoers will spend their Saturday making New Jersey's coastline cleaner while collecting data that shapes environmental policy. This annual event proves you don't need a PhD to make a real difference in ocean conservation.
Scientists believe the Milky Way contains over 10 million black holes, but we've only found 70. Now anyone with a computer can help discover the rest.
NASA is inviting everyone—from students to space enthusiasts—to help solve real space exploration challenges during a global two-day hackathon this November. No coding experience required.
A naturalist's quirky hobby of lying on docks to photograph marine life has sparked a worldwide citizen science movement. Thousands now contribute to scientific research simply by peeking under their local piers.
A product manager in Spain teamed up with AI to find a potential Earth-sized planet hiding in NASA's public archives. His discovery shows how everyday people can now make real astronomical breakthroughs from their own homes.
Those plants you've been pulling from your garden might be the most valuable ones there. An eight-year UK study reveals that common ivy, hogweed, and bramble are pollinating insects' favorite feeding spots.
Researchers across the continent are attaching tiny transmitters to migrating Monarch butterflies to unlock the secrets of their incredible 3,000-mile journey to Mexico. This groundbreaking tracking project could help save these beloved pollinators for future generations.
Citizen scientists tracking pollution on London's Thames River found half as many flushed wet wipes after a massive cleanup removed a 180-ton "Wet Wipe Island." Their decade of data helped push the UK government to ban plastic wet wipes by 2027.
Researchers across North America are attaching tiny transmitters to Monarch butterflies to map their incredible journey to Mexico. The tracking effort will reveal new details about where these iconic butterflies rest and what obstacles they face during their epic migration.
Scientists just found two new species of snails in Montenegro that can seal themselves inside their shells like closing a door. The millimeter-sized creatures also have eyes on the sides of their heads instead of on stalks, making them uniquely different from nearly all other snails.
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A casual vacation photo from Colombia helped scientists identify one of the world's largest waterlily species. The chance discovery shows how social media can unlock scientific breakthroughs.