Science

The technical setbacks with Boeing’s Starliner mission highlight ongoing challenges for the aerospace company, particularly in regaining trust and stability. Boeing’s Starliner was launched with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. It was the spacecraft’s first human-crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The engine malfunctions and a helium leak were detected soon after

NASA’s Perseverance rover which is positioned in the Jezero Crater on Mars, recently observed a remarkable celestial event as the moon Phobos drifted across the Sun. Captured on September 30, this moment offered a rare glimpse into Mars’ sky, where the unique “googly eye” effect of the eclipse unfolded for the rover’s Mastcam-Z camera. The

South Korea’s space agency announced plans on Friday to launch a solar coronagraph to the International Space Station (ISS) in a collaborative mission with NASA. Developed as part of the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX), this instrument is set to observe and gather data on the Sun’s corona and the solar wind as well as the

An unprecedented nine-day tsunami following a significant rockslide in Greenland’s Dickson Fjord was recently recorded by the international Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, a collaborative mission by NASA and France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES). The event, which took place in September 2023, saw a unique pattern of seismic waves resonate around the

ESA’s Proba-3 mission, designed to create solar eclipses in space to study the Sun’s corona, has officially left European soil and is en route to its launch site in India. This dual-spacecraft mission departed from Redwire Space’s facility in Kruibeke, Belgium, to travel to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre near Chennai, where the final launch

Earth recently captured a small asteroid known as 2024 PT5, temporarily transforming it into a second moon. This rare event was confirmed by astronomers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Complutense University of Madrid, offering a glimpse into these elusive “mini-moons” that Earth occasionally holds within its orbit. However, Earth’s newly acquired companion is

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC—James) recently conducted a survey revealing a worrying knowledge gap about pancreatic cancer in adults under 50. Although pancreatic cancer is increasingly diagnosed in younger people, the survey found that over half of respondents did not recognise its

In an unprecedented find for Hong Kong, scientists have uncovered the city’s first-ever dinosaur fossils on Port Island. Preliminary analysis suggests that the bones likely belonged to a large Cretaceous-era dinosaur, an era dating back 145 to 66 million years. Officials have stated that further studies are necessary to determine the specific species, marking an

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission is set to provide unprecedented insight into the Moon’s hidden water. Built by Lockheed Martin and managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this small satellite aims to locate, measure, and understand water on the lunar surface. Launching next year, the Trailblazer will play a pivotal role in discovering the forms and

A study from the University of North Carolina reveals a potential link between early-life sleep disruptions and autism risk. The research shows that when young children miss out on sleep, it could affect their brain development, which might increase the likelihood of neurodevelopmental issues. For infants and young children, sleep is critical. It’s during sleep

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover has provided a nighttime image of the Malgosa Crest abrasion patch located at “Serpentine Rapids.” This image was captured using the SHERLOC WATSON camera on the rover’s robotic arm. The abrasion patch, measuring 5 centimetres in diameter, features a notable green spot, approximately 2 millimetres wide. The image was taken on

China is starting onn an ambitious plan to make its Tiangong space station better. They aim to increase the station’s operational capabilities. Tiangong, China’s orbital outpost, has been fully operational since November 2022, following the addition of the Mengtian science module. The space station, which features a three-module T-shape design, is currently functioning in low

Astronomers have identified a new organic molecule, 1-cyanopyrene in interstellar space. This finding provides insights into how carbon-rich compounds form and survive in these regions. Carbon is crucial for life on Earth and its presence in space has been a key area of research. Scientists believed that carbon-rich stars released small carbon molecules that could

Twins Matthew and Michael Youlden have developed a unique language called Umeri, spoken exclusively by them. The Youlden twins, originally from Manchester, UK, are known for their linguistic abilities, each fluent in 25 languages. However, Umeri holds a special place in their hearts. They first started creating the language as children, and it has grown

China has set a new world benchmark with the development of a powerful 42-tesla resistive magnet. The country has broken the previous 41.4-tesla record maintained by the United States since 2017. The breakthrough was achieved on September 22 by the High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, affiliated with the Chinese

The European Space Agency (ESA) is currently in discussions with SpaceX about the possibility of the American aerospace giant joining an international initiative to tackle the ever-growing issue of space debris. ESA has been actively working to address the escalating risks posed by orbital junk, which threatens both operational satellites and future space missions. ESA

For over a century, the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition has fascinated the world. Now, thanks to detailed 3D scans and underwater images, a new chapter unfolds with a closer look at Endurance, the ship that sank during the 1914 journey. First located in 2022 under the frozen Weddell Sea, this iconic

Scientists have developed a patch capable of tackling bacteria on the skin using mild electric pulses, which could help reduce infections if the bacteria were to enter the bloodstream. Known as the Bioelectronic Localized Antimicrobial Stimulation Therapy (BLAST) patch, this device emits a harmless electrical current designed to target specific skin bacteria that pose infection

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has unveiled the first images from its groundbreaking space-based telescope, the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-1), which has captured a vivid solar storm. Positioned on NOAA’s latest satellite, GOES-19, this new tool is the first operational coronagraph in space designed to actively monitor the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. Revolutionising

A study has brought attention to the nebula known as Pa 30. This Nebula was formed after a supernova that was seen from Earth in 1181. At the center of this nebula is a white dwarf, often referred to as a “zombie star,” which continues to shine with impressive heat and light long after its

A study has now given us a glimpse into the genetics of modern roses, revealing how human intervention shaped their development over time. Roses have been cherished for centuries as ornamental plants, but much of their genetic background has remained unclear. Researchers now know how roses from Eastern and Western species combined. This research has

Scientists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have gotten the evidence that traumatic brain injuries (TBI) could heighten the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This study had involved both animal models and human brain tissue. It sheds light on how TBIs may trigger harmful protein build-ups in the brain, leading to cognitive issues

When Dr. Sarah Chen first examined the unusual footprints in South Korea’s Jinju Formation, she knew she’d stumbled onto something extraordinary. “These weren’t your typical dinosaur tracks,” says Chen, lead researcher at the International Institute of Paleontology. “The spacing was unlike anything we’d seen before.” The footprints, belonging to the newly studied Dromaeosauriformipes rarus, tell

Astronomers have uncovered something surprising while looking 13 billion years into the past using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). They’ve spotted supermassive black hole-powered quasars that appear to be hanging out in isolation. This is odd because, according to current theories, black holes need to be surrounded by a lot of material to grow

A discovery from Australia’s Nilpena Ediacara National Park has revealed the oldest known asymmetrical animal, Quaestio simpsonorum. This creature, which lived around 555 million years ago, resembles a small marine vacuum cleaner, gliding across the ocean floor and feasting on tiny algae and bacteria. What sets Quaestio apart is a backward question-mark-shaped protrusion on its

Earth is continuously bombarded by meteorites, with many burning up in our atmosphere before reaching the surface. Significant impacts can occur, leading to potential consequences for life on our planet. It has established with research that the majority of meteorites that land on Earth originate from the asteroid belt, a region located between Mars and

Climate change poses a significant threat to the oyamel fir forests in central Mexico, the crucial winter habitat for millions of migrating monarch butterflies. Recent research indicates that these forests may vanish by 2090. To counter this, scientists have initiated an experiment to cultivate new oyamel fir trees (Abies religiosa) in locations outside their native

The Greater Short-Horned Lizard, scientifically known as Phrynosoma hernandesi, is a remarkable reptile found across North and Central America. This unique lizard has earned the nickname “horny toad” due to its flattened body shape and distinctive spiky horns, which give it an appearance more akin to amphibians than traditional reptiles. Typically measuring around 6 inches

Recent research has led to a new understanding of our galaxy’s position within the universe. A fresh study suggests that the Milky Way may reside in a much larger “basin of attraction” than previously assumed. This discovery challenges what we know about our galactic surroundings, revealing that the supercluster which houses the Milky Way could

A new humanoid robot from China has set a record by running at a top speed of just over 8 miles per hour (3.6 metres per second). This makes it the fastest bipedal robot to date, although this feat was only achieved with the help of a pair of specially added trainers. Known as STAR1,

Standing desks have become a popular alternative for office workers looking to break up long hours of sitting. However, a study led by the University of Sydney raises concerns about their effectiveness in improving heart health. The research, which involved more than 80,000 adults in the UK, suggests that standing for extended periods may not

Injecting diamond dust into the atmosphere could potentially cool the planet by 1.6ºC, according to a recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters. Led by Sandro Vattioni, a climate scientist at ETH Zürich, the research explores whether diamonds, as opposed to commonly used materials like sulfur, could offer a safer and more effective method for

A recent breakthrough by researchers at the German Primate Center, led by Andres Agudelo-Toro, a scientist in the Neurobiology Laboratory, has significantly advanced the field of brain-computer interfaces. The study, conducted with rhesus monkeys, has resulted in a training protocol that enables precise control of prosthetic hands purely through brain signals. This novel approach focuses