From Sunken Submarines to Lunar Missions and Bald Eagles: Science Stories with Joe Johnson

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Decades-Old Soviet Submarine Still Leaking Radioactive Material

The Soviet nuclear submarine Komsomolets, which sank in 1989 after a catastrophic fire, continues to leak radioactive material into the Norwegian Sea. Carrying two nuclear reactors and torpedoes with nuclear warheads, the wreck rests over a mile deep in the Barents Sea, one of the world’s most productive fisheries.

Recent monitoring detects plutonium, uranium, strontium-90, and cesium-137 venting from the submarine. While radiation levels drop sharply with distance, authorities are keeping a close eye on local seafood. Recovery is considered too dangerous—the wreck could break apart if lifted—so monitoring remains the safest option.

Artemis II: Humanity Returns to the Moon

NASA is gearing up for Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. Launching from Kennedy Space Center with four astronauts, including a Canadian crew member, the mission will loop behind the Moon and return to Earth over 10 days.

The spacecraft will test critical systems, from life support to spacecraft maneuvering, paving the way for future lunar landings and Moon base construction. Artemis II uses the Space Launch System (SLS), a super heavy-lift rocket reusing space shuttle engines and solid rocket boosters, blending proven technology with modern upgrades.

A New Eaglet in Southwestern Pennsylvania

Closer to home, bald eagles Irvin and Stella have welcomed a new eaglet, tentatively named USS 9, near the US Steel plant on the Monongahela River. Cameras streaming live footage allow eagle enthusiasts to watch feeding, nest building, and fledging practice in real time.

Volunteer programs in the area offer opportunities to observe eagles in person, providing both education and conservancy information.

Image: This photo provided by NASA shows NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, from left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, in a group photograph as they visit NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Monday, March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)