Category: Science

An experiment conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia has revealed the limited potential of mealworms in addressing plastic pollution. The study, published in Biology Letters on December 4, estimated that 100 mealworms would take approximately 138 days, or 4.5 months, to consume a single disposable face mask made from polypropylene. The findings […]

A decline in rice quality across East Asia has been attributed to climate warming, according to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters. The research, led by Dr Xianfeng Liu of Shaanxi Normal University in China, highlights the vulnerability of rice—a dietary staple for billions—to rising temperatures. Using 35 years of data from Japan and […]

A recent study published in The Astronomical Journal has revealed the discovery of a fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system, an already remarkable planetary system known for hosting three ultra-low-density “super-puff” planets. This discovery was made by a research team led by Dr Jessica Libby-Roberts, a postdoctoral fellow at Penn State’s Centre for Exoplanets and […]

NASA is advancing technologies for autonomous spacecraft designed to explore “ocean worlds,” such as Europa and Enceladus, two of the most promising candidates for extraterrestrial life. According to a NASA report, the Ocean Worlds Lander Autonomy Testbed (OWLAT) and Ocean Worlds Autonomy Testbed for Exploration, Research, and Simulation (OceanWATERS) are key initiatives for enhancing robotic […]

Archaeologists have uncovered gold and silver jewellery at a burial site near Sevastopol, Crimea, believed to have been used by an elite society between the fourth and sixth centuries. The site, Almalyk-dere necropolis, located on the Mangup plateau approximately 16 kilometres east of Sevastopol, has been the focus of excavations led by researchers from the […]

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified five potential galaxies that may date back to approximately 200 million years after the Big Bang, placing them among the earliest ever observed. Located roughly 13.6 billion light-years from Earth, these galaxies could provide crucial insights into the universe’s infancy if validated through further research. The findings, […]

Archaeologists have unearthed 5,000-year-old clay bowls at the Shakhi Kora site in northeastern Iraq, which could signify one of the earliest forms of government organisation, according to a study published in Antiquity. The site, located southwest of Kalar in the Kurdistan region, dates to the fifth millennium B.C. Researchers have suggested these bowls might have […]

A new hypothesis suggests that dark matter, one of the universe’s greatest mysteries, may have originated in a separate event known as a “Dark Big Bang.” The idea was initially proposed in 2023 by Katherine Freese, Director of the Texas Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, and Martin Wolfgang Winkler, University of Texas. The theory […]

A small asteroid, approximately 27 inches in diameter, was identified on a collision trajectory with Earth on December 4 2024. Discovered by astronomers at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, this asteroid, temporarily labelled C0WEPC5, entered Earth’s atmosphere around 11:15 a.m. ET and created a harmless fireball over northern Siberia. The European Space Agency […]

A groundbreaking mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) involving two satellites designed to create artificial eclipses is scheduled for launch on December 04, 2024. The Proba-3 formation-flying mission will be carried into orbit aboard India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C59) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The liftoff is expected 4:08 PM (IST). Live […]

A study published in Science Advances has identified a significant anomaly to Vagn Walfrid Ekman’s widely-accepted theory on wind-driven ocean currents. Conducted by a team of researchers from NOAA, the Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services and the University of Zagreb, the study focused on the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. Data […]

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has scheduled the launch of the PSLV-C59 rocket carrying the Proba-3 spacecraft for December 4, 2024, at 4:08 PM IST, as per reports. The mission, a dedicated commercial venture of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), will take off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. […]

A new ancient human species, Homo juluensis, has been identified by researchers, marking a significant step in understanding human evolution in the Middle Pleistocene epoch. According to findings published in PaleoAnthropology in May 2024, the discovery is based on fossil evidence unearthed in China, with specimens dating between 220,000 and 100,000 years ago. The species, […]

Polar bears in Alaska are encountering a growing number of pathogens due to warming climates, as revealed in a study published in PLOS ONE on October 23. The research indicated that pathogens previously unable to survive in Arctic conditions are now persisting in these environments. This is believed to be a consequence of the rapid […]

Indian scholars and students will gain unprecedented access to nearly 13,000 scientific journals under a monumental agreement announced by the Indian government. Starting January 1, 2025, the One Nation One Subscription scheme will provide an estimated 18 million students, faculty and researchers with free access to leading paywalled journals through a unified platform. According to […]

Astronomers continue to monitor the Corona Borealis constellation for a rare celestial event — the expected eruption of T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), as per sources. This binary star system, home to a white dwarf and a red giant, is predicted to produce a nova, briefly illuminating the night sky with a brightness comparable to […]

Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station are conducting a groundbreaking experiment involving fruit flies to explore the effects of microgravity and sub-magnetic fields on living organisms, according to reports. The experiment, part of the crew’s six-month mission, is being conducted by the Shenzhou 19 astronauts who arrived at the station on October 29. The […]

he world’s second-fastest supercomputer, Frontier, has successfully carried out the most extensive simulation of the universe ever created, as per reports. The project, led by Salman Habib, Director of the Computational Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory, was undertaken to test models of cosmological hydrodynamics. The simulation was developed using the Hardware/Hybrid Accelerated Cosmology Code […]

A new perspective of the Sombrero Galaxy (M104) has been provided by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), capturing its unique mid-infrared structure for the first time. Shared on November 25, 2024, the image highlights the spiral galaxy located 30 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation, as per reports. Astronomers have described the findings […]

A new study published in Science Advances by Jens Müller and Nicolas Grube from the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics at ETH Zurich has highlighted the growing depths of ocean acidification. Using a 3D model of the world’s oceans, the researchers examined how carbon emissions since the industrial age have impacted marine chemistry. The […]

Timekeeping, a cornerstone of modern technology and daily life, is poised to achieve unprecedented accuracy due to groundbreaking research in atomic and nuclear clocks. Essential for global positioning systems (GPS), telecommunications and financial networks, the definition of a “second” has evolved over centuries. The latest innovations could lead to a redefinition of the second, enhancing […]

Researchers at Kiel University, through a study published in Open Archaeology, have introduced a fresh method to analyse archaeological findings. By linking ancient societal structures with modern human development metrics, they have provided a new lens to examine prehistoric mega settlements. Their approach connects archaeological categories to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), paving […]

Efforts to conserve California’s iconic Joshua trees, threatened by wildfires, human development and climate change, have been outlined in a comprehensive plan released by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as per sources. The 294-page draft document proposes measures to mitigate the impacts of these threats and ensure the species’ survival amid rising temperatures […]

Efforts to shield Earth from asteroid impacts have advanced, but significant gaps remain in planetary defence systems. Robin George Andrews’ book How to Kill an Asteroid delves into the complexities of safeguarding the planet from potentially catastrophic asteroid collisions, as per a report. According to the book, the key strategy involves deflecting asteroids from their […]

Blood types, a critical factor in transfusion medicine, have been studied extensively since the early 20th century. The ABO blood group system, established by Austrian immunologist Dr. Karl Landsteiner in 1901, introduced the understanding of four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. These discoveries, which earned Landsteiner the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physiology […]

Efforts to establish a lunar time standard have been initiated as part of preparations for increased international presence on the Moon under NASA’s Artemis programme. According to reports, the White House in April 2024 called for the creation of a unified lunar time system, essential for future missions and potential human bases. The core challenge […]

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a next-generation observatory by NASA, has reached a pivotal stage with the delivery of its Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The assembly, designed and constructed by L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York, forms the “eye” of the telescope and is expected to […]

S Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), emphasised the significance of adopting an economic model similar to that used by Elon Musk in space exploration. As per several reports, Somanath made the revelation at the Huddle Global 2024 event hosted by the Kerala government. The reports highlights that Somanath believes that Musk’s […]

The first phase of astronaut training for India’s Gaganyaan mission, a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA, has been successfully completed. ISRO announced this milestone in an official statment, which confirmed that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the primary crew member, and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, the backup crew member, […]

A dramatic flow of lava from an active fissure near Iceland’s Blue Lagoon was captured by NASA’s satellites, highlighting the ongoing volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The images, taken by Landsat 9 and Suomi NPP satellites, were released on November 27, showing the intensity of the eruption that began on November 20. The infrared […]