Technologies

A Dead Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon, and Scientists Can’t Wait

Our natural satellite has never experienced space junk quite like this before.

The strange story of a hunk of space junk on a collision course with the moon comes to an explosive end Friday, and astronomers are excited to view the fallout.

An old rocket booster once thought to be the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9, but now believed to be from the Chinese Chang’e 5-T1 mission (although China denies this), will slam into the moon’s far side at over 5,000 miles per hour.

Bill Gray, an amateur astronomer and software developer in Maine, first noticed the terminal trajectory. His software picked up the impact in an orbital model and Gray worked with observatories around the world to gather additional data and increase his confidence in the prediction.

Gray believes he misidentified the booster as a Falcon 9 years ago. He and other researchers have since confirmed it to be the Chinese rocket part instead.

“I am astounded that we can tell the difference between the two rocket body options — SpaceX versus Chinese — and confirm which one will impact the moon with the data we have,” Adam Battle, a planetary science graduate student at the University of Arizona said in a statement in February. “The differences we see are primarily due to type of paint used by SpaceX and the Chinese.”

In a blog post, Gray wrote that “with all the data, we’ve got a certain impact at March 4 12:25:58 Universal Time (4:25 a.m. PT).” Jonathan McDowell, a leading watcher of orbit and everything near Earth in space, confirmed the prediction.

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The rocket will crash into the lunar surface in a crater named Hertzsprung that’s a little larger than the state of Iowa. The location is remote enough that the impact doesn’t pose any threat to the Apollo mission or other space program landing sites.

“The upcoming rocket impact will provide a fortuitous experiment that could reveal a lot about how natural collisions pummel and scour planetary surfaces,” University of Colorado Boulder planetary scientist Paul Hayne writes for The Conversation. “A deeper understanding of impact physics will go a long way in helping researchers interpret the barren landscape of the Moon and also the effects impacts have on Earth and other planets.”

Hayne expects the impact will obliterate the rocket instantly and create a white flash that could be visible if any spacecraft were in place with a vantage point. That doesn’t seem likely, however. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter won’t be in a position to start taking photos of the impact site until mid-March.

“It will be the moon’s newest archaeological site,” writes space archaeologist Alice Gorman. “We’ll learn something about the geology of the location from the color differences and distribution of the ejected material. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the moon’s mysterious far side.”

Besides adding a new feature to the dark side of the moon, there’s some concern it could also introduce tiny hitchhikers to our natural satellite.

“So I’m not bothered by one more crater being made on the moon,” David Rothery, professor of planetary geosciences at the UK’s Open University, wrote in The Conversation. “It already has something like half a billion craters that are 10 meters or more in diameter. What we should worry about is contaminating the moon with living microbes, or molecules that could in the future be mistaken as evidence of former life on the moon.”

The European Space Agency issued a statement last month raising its concern that not enough is being done to track space junk, as NASA and others hope to establish a permanent presence on the moon.

“The upcoming lunar impact illustrates well the need for a comprehensive regulatory regime in space, not only for the economically crucial orbits around Earth but also applying to the moon,” said Holger Krag, head of ESA’s space safety program.

This won’t be the first time a spacecraft has slammed into the moon, although Gray thinks it might be the first time it’s happening unintentionally. As recently as 2009, NASA slammed its Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (Lcross) into the surface in a search for water (it found some).

“In essence, this is a ‘free’ Lcross,” Gray says. “Except we probably won’t see the impact.”

Technologies

Trump administration advances $24.3 billion fighter jet deal to Saudi Arabia as Houthis escalate attacks

The deal comes as Iran-backed Houthis escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia and seek control of the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has approved the potential $24.3 billion sale of nearly 50 F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia in what is seen as a major boost for the kingdom as it faces intensifying attacks from the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

The package, which was announced on Thursday, includes the sale of 48 of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jets, the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft, and 49 Pratt & Whitney engines and other parts.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region,” the State Department said in a statement.

The announcement comes as the Houthis have recently ramped up attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia and launched a lightning ground offensive to exercise control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically vital oil choke point.

The Trump administration said the proposed deal would help improve Riyadh’s capability to deter current and future threats but would “not alter the military balance in the region” — referring to a longstanding U.S. policy that Israel must maintain a military advantage over potential rivals in the Middle East.

Congress has 30 days to scrutinize or attempt to block the deal, and some lawmakers have already raised concerns.

Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. said the U.S. should not move ahead with the deal at a time “when our own intelligence community is warning that it could put the crown jewels of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party.”

In a statement on social media, Krishnamoorthi added: “We must not sell our most advanced fighter jet anywhere the CCP may be able to get its hands on the technology inside it.”

Congress has previously questioned arms deals with Riyadh following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Kohsoggi, a high-profile critic of the kingdom.

In May last year, Trump had praised Saudi Arabia and its leaders after the White House announced a commitment for the kingdom to invest $600 billion in a series of deals with the U.S.

Among the agreements was a nearly $142 billion defense sales deal, which the White House said at the time would provide “state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms.”

Trump, who has a close relationship with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had welcomed the crown prince to the White House in November.

Technologies

Now that the Fed raised rates, where to score the best yields on your cash

From money market funds to Treasury bills, where experts are stashing their cash — and some of the yields they’re finding.

Investors should soon see better yields on their cash now that the Federal Reserve has hiked interest rates. The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to increase the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point, to a target range of 3.75% to 4%, on Wednesday. It was the first hike since July 2023. “The good news is you may see a little bit more [yield] on your high-yield savings accounts. You may see a little bit more on your CD [certificate of deposit] now,” said certified financial planner Marguerita Cheng , CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth and a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council. That said, there are some nuances — and varying yields available. In addition to high-yield savings and CDs, investors can stash cash in money market funds and Treasury bills. High-yield savings accounts and CDs are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, while Treasurys are backed by the U.S. government. “It really comes down to: What’s the purpose for the cash [and] how soon do you need it,” Cheng said. “There are a lot of options depending on what your purpose is, your time horizon and your tax bracket.” Also bear in mind that while the income from cash-equivalent investments may seem attractive, inflation can eat away at your return. Chris Gunster, head of fixed income at Fidelis Capital, likes to keep his clients’ cash balances at a minimum. “It’s all about inflation. It’s what you earn after inflation and after taxes. If inflation continues to rise faster than the yields that you’re earning on money market funds, you’re not doing so well,” he said. Here are different options for your cash. T-bills T-bills, securities with a maturity of one year or less, react to the Fed’s rate moves, Gunster pointed out. The most recent yield on bills already issued largely priced in Wednesday’s rate hike ahead of the move. Investors can buy bills on TreasuryDirect.gov in maturities from four to 52 weeks. While any earnings are subject to federal taxes, the income is exempt from state and local taxes. There are also exchange-traded funds focused on bills, such as the iShares 0-3 month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) and the SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL). High-yield savings accounts The annual percentage yields in high-yield savings accounts are also typically tied to the federal funds rate, although other factors could weigh in, such as the bank’s deposit demand. Individual institutions make the call on their rates. “Updates from bank management teams this week (not a single bank meaningfully changed their net interest income guidance) and from our meetings suggest that deposit competition is intense, but deposit promotions may have already priced in several additional rate hikes,” Bank of America Securities analyst Ebrahim Poonawala said in a note Tuesday. The high-yield rates are variable, which means investors can’t lock in income when the Fed hikes. Money market funds Money market funds follow the fed funds rate. However, they won’t immediately respond to the central bank’s decision, so investors won’t be able to participate in higher rates as quickly as if they were in T-bills, Gunster said. That said, he prefers money market funds for his clients’ cash. The current annualized seven-day yield on the Crane 100 list of the largest taxable money market funds is 3.79%, as of Tuesday. “Money market funds are easy to do. You will get the increased rate, and even so, with yields where they are, it’s not a bad investment right now,” he said. For those in the highest tax bracket, Gunster believes large, high-quality municipal money market funds are the place to be. The short-term debt held in the funds is issued by state and local governments and the income is exempt from federal income taxes. CD ladders Investors can lock in rates in a certificate of deposit, which means the money stays put for the stated time. Early withdrawals are subject to penalty. The rates are set by the banks, just like those for high-yield savings accounts. A good way to manage CDs is to own several, at varying maturities, known as a ladder, Cheng said. “I don’t want people to tie all their money up for a year,” she said. “You could build a CD ladder with terms as short as six months, or seven months, nine months, and stagger it.” Floating rate assets For those who want to take the search for income a step further, floating-rate funds can be a good idea, Cheng said. That includes funds containing bank loans and collateralized loan obligations. CLOs are pools of floating-rate loans to businesses. Their payouts fluctuate in tandem with shifting short-term interest rates. “I’m not saying that this is a cash replacement … but it’s a good way to ease into having your cash work a little bit harder,” Cheng said. “If you don’t need the income, reinvest. If you need the income, it is taxable, but it does pay a little bit more because it’s always resetting.”

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Technologies

Warren Buffett stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway: ‘Father Time always wins’

Buffett’s son, Howard, will replace him as chairman as dictated by a long-standing succession plan, Berkshire said.

Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the sprawling conglomerate worth $1 trillion that he has led since 1965. The 96-year-old legendary investor announced the move in a letter to shareholders Friday.

Buffett will become chairman emeritus, effective immediately, while remaining a director on the board, the company said in a separate announcement. His son, Howard Buffett, will replace him as chairman as dictated by a long-standing succession plan, Berkshire said. Susan Decker will continue as lead independent director.

“Father Time always wins,” wrote Buffett. “He has, however, been generous with me. He has given me the opportunity to see Berkshire reach a point where I am more confident than ever about what lies ahead.”

His decision comes a little more than nine months after Greg Abel, 64, took over as CEO while Buffett retained the chairmanship. Buffett first announced his exit as CEO at Berkshire’s annual meeting in May 2025, shocking the crowd of thousands at the time despite his advanced age.

“The culture Warren built and the values he championed will remain at the heart of Berkshire, and Howard will be their guardian,” said Abel in the company release.

“Greg runs the company; Howard will guard its culture and values – both worth more than anything on our balance sheet,” wrote Buffett. “Think of Howard as a policy the shareholders own and hope never to claim against.”

Buffett’s legacy in building the Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire is unapparelled in corporate America, taking over a failed New England textiles mill at the tender age of 34 and transforming it over the next six decades into a financial and industrial juggernaut with $44.5 billion in operating earnings last year and nearly 400,000 employees. Berkshire under Buffett’s tenure posted a 19.7% compounded annual return to shareholders, nearly double the return of the S&P 500.

Active chairman

As chairman this year, Buffett remained active within the company. Abel told CNBC in March that Buffett was still coming into the Omaha office every day and the CEO still frequently consulted with him.

In May, Buffett attended the company’s celebrated annual meeting, making some brief remarks from his seat and giving an interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick. It was the first “Woodstock for Capitalists” — as the meeting came to be known — not presided over by Buffett, but instead by Abel.

In July, Buffett revealed to CNBC’s that he was the driving force behind Berkshire’s recent big investment in Alphabet. The Google parent is now Berkshire’s third biggest stock holding behind Apple and American Express after a $10 billion private stock purchase in June.

In that same interview, Buffett noted that he had broken his leg a few weeks ago but was recovering.

Buffett acknowledged his growing limitations because of his age as he was getting ready to hand the reins over to Abel last year. In a Thanksgiving letter to shareholders, he wrote, “To my surprise, I generally feel good. Though I move slowly and read with increasing difficulty, I am at the office five days a week.”

In the Friday letter, Buffett joked about it.

“Recently, I celebrated my 96th birthday with family and friends, including one of my great-grandchildren, who had just turned one. He’s moving a bit faster than I am these days,” he wrote.

Berkshire’s 2026 underperformance

Berkshire shares have struggled this year and Buffett’s exit as chairman raises the stakes for Abel further to perform. The stock is up just 1% in 2026 as the S&P 500 has rallied more than 11%. Rising oil prices and investors’ preference for higher growth parts of the market are partly to blame, but shareholders are also waiting to see whether the new CEO can be as adept as Buffett in deploying the firm’s sizable capital.

For now, investors would likely be happy with Abel using some more of the company’s $365.5 billion cash hoard to buy back more Berkshire shares. He has begun to do just that, stepping up repurchases to $4.5 billion in the second quarter.

Berkshire’s largest shareholder praised the job done by Abel so far in his Friday letter: “My expectations for him were sky high from the start, and he has exceeded them.”

“The company is in excellent hands, and I look forward to remaining a shareholder alongside you,” Buffett said in closing.

When reached for comment by CNBC, Abel said: “Warren described in his letter today how his role at Berkshire has been ‘the best job in the world.’ He gave me an extraordinary responsibility – the best job in American business – and then the latitude to lead in a manner consistent with Berkshire’s culture and values. I look forward to continuing to work alongside Warren, with Howard serving as Chairman and Sue as Lead Independent Director, and I am grateful for that opportunity.”