Category: Science

A contract has been awarded by NASA to SpaceX for the launch of its Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor spacecraft, which is intended to identify asteroids and comets that could pose a threat to Earth. The mission is set to launch no earlier than September 2027 from Florida’s Space Coast using a Falcon 9 rocket. The […]

Prehistoric skulls with large iron nails driven through them have been examined, revealing variations in the ritual practices of Iron Age Spain. These severed heads were used for different purposes, either to honour ancestors within a community or to intimidate enemies. The findings, based on isotope analysis, suggest that some of these individuals were local […]

The asteroid once considered the most significant impact risk in recorded history has been reclassified as non-threatening. Newly gathered data has confirmed that asteroid 2024 YR4 now has no chance of colliding with Earth. The risk, which had previously been estimated at 1 in 32, has been reduced to effectively zero following additional observations conducted […]

Our environment continues to grapple with plastic pollution, with microplastics infiltrating the air, food, and water. Scientists are actively seeking methods to break down this persistent material. A new development has identified bacteria in wastewater that can degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic widely used in packaging and textiles. The discovery has raised hopes of […]

A striking image of the Tarantula Nebula has been captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, showcasing a vast cosmic landscape filled with swirling gas and dust. Situated around 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, this nebula is known as one of the most active star-forming regions in the universe. The image reveals […]

Greenland’s ice sheet is heading towards an irreversible tipping point that could lead to catastrophic consequences, as warned by climate scientists. The immense sheet has been losing ice at an unprecedented rate, with estimates indicating a loss of around 33 million tons per hour. A global temperature rise of just 2 degrees Celsius could trigger […]

An unexpected spiral structure has been identified at the edge of the solar system, potentially altering current understanding of the Oort Cloud. This discovery has emerged from a computational model developed using data from comets and gravitational influences. The Oort Cloud, a distant shell of icy bodies, has long remained an enigma due to its […]

An elliptical galaxy located 88 million light-years from Earth has been observed displaying unusual characteristics, with astronomers identifying it as a cosmic predator. The latest images captured by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) indicate that the galaxy, designated NGC 3640, has a history of consuming smaller galaxies and may […]

A decline in global ocean evaporation has been identified over the past decade, despite rising sea surface temperatures. This shift challenges established climate models, which have long linked higher temperatures to increased evaporation. The unexpected trend was observed through satellite data analysis, revealing that evaporation rates started decreasing after 2008. Researchers suggest that changing atmospheric […]

Extreme rainfall in Arabia was five times more intense 400 years ago, as indicated by recent climate reconstructions. The data suggests that the region, currently defined by arid desert, once had significantly higher precipitation levels, resembling a lush savannah. The findings highlight the necessity for improved climate preparedness as urbanisation expands in the region. Study […]

The United States Space Force has unveiled a never-before-seen image of its X-37B space plane in orbit. The photograph, released on February 20, was captured by an onboard camera as the vehicle conducted experiments above the African continent. Visible in the image are one of the space plane’s solar panels on the left side and […]

detected, leaving astronomers searching for answers. The sudden burst of energy was identified while analysing archival data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, revealing a cosmic event that occurred more than 20 years ago. The flash, designated XRT 200515, originated from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, situated approximately 160,000 […]

The likelihood of intelligent life emerging elsewhere in the universe may not be as improbable as previously believed, as suggested by recent research. A new model proposes that the development of life on Earth was not dictated by a sequence of rare, chance events but was instead influenced by evolving geobiological conditions. It has been […]

A celestial event of rare significance is set to unfold as seven planets align in the sky, creating a phenomenon that will not be witnessed again until 2040. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear along the ecliptic, the Sun’s apparent path across the sky. While they will not form a perfect […]

A significant shift has been observed in the potential threat posed by asteroid 2024 YR4. Initially raising concerns due to its size of approximately 55 meters and the potential to release 500 times more energy than the Hiroshima atomic bomb, the asteroid’s impact probability peaked at 3.1 percent before rapidly declining. Currently, NASA estimates the […]

A humanoid robot with an anatomically accurate structure has gained widespread attention after a video showcasing its movements went viral. Designed by Clone Robotics, the prototype named ‘Protoclone’ has been built to mimic human musculoskeletal functions. The video, viewed millions of times, displays the robot’s limbs twitching as artificial muscles activate while it hangs from […]

The tomb of Thutmose II, an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled around 3,500 years ago, has been uncovered west of the Valley of the Kings. This discovery marks the first time in a century that the burial site of a pharaoh has been found, as confirmed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The tomb, […]

A distant galaxy that ceased star formation billions of years ago has been found emitting unusual radio signals, a phenomenon that has left astronomers searching for answers. Observations have revealed fast radio bursts (FRBs) originating from the outskirts of this long-dead galaxy, challenging current understanding of how these cosmic events occur. Typically associated with young, […]

A significant advancement in India’s space technology has been achieved with the development of a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest globally for solid propellant production. Designed and manufactured through a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), this new equipment is expected to enhance efficiency and […]

Concerns regarding asteroid 2024 YR4 have diminished, as NASA has revised the probability of its impact on Earth in 2032 from 1 in 32 to 1 in 360. The asteroid, which has an estimated diameter of 55 meters, was initially considered the most hazardous object on NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) Sentry […]

The next suborbital space tourism mission by Blue Origin, known as NS-30, is set to take place at an undisclosed date. This will be the 30th launch of the company’s New Shepard rocket and its 10th crewed mission. The flight will take off from Blue Origin’s West Texas facility, carrying six individuals on a brief […]

A bright fireball streaked across the European sky on February 19, as debris from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made an uncontrolled reentry. Reports from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland confirmed sightings of the object as it burned up in the atmosphere before fragments crashed to the ground. Social media users in Lincolnshire, England, […]

Breakthrough in AI-Driven Genome Design A new artificial intelligence model has been introduced, marking a significant advancement in biological research. Developed using a dataset of 128,000 genomes covering various life forms, this AI can generate entire chromosomes and small genomes from scratch. Researchers claim it has the potential to interpret non-coding gene variants associated with […]

A potential method to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere has been identified, involving a material that could be used in agriculture. This approach utilises specific minerals to accelerate the natural process of carbon mineralisation, a method that could significantly impact carbon removal efforts. Research suggests that by modifying certain minerals, CO2 can […]

A team of researchers has successfully created a synthetic diamond that exhibits greater hardness than its natural counterpart. The development involved scientists from multiple Chinese institutions collaborating with a researcher from Umeå University in Sweden. Their findings describe a process where graphite is subjected to extreme heat and pressure, resulting in the formation of a […]

A metal detector search for World War II relics in a forested area of Poland has led to the discovery of a much older artifact—a broken sword believed to be nearly 2,000 years old. Found in the Jura region of southern Poland, the sword was intentionally shattered into three pieces and is thought to have […]

A rise in microplastic contamination in human brain tissue has been reported, with findings indicating an increase over recent years. Concerns about potential health impacts have been raised, as microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in significant amounts. Research suggests that individuals with dementia had even higher concentrations, though the causation remains unclear. While the […]

A nearly 5,000-year-old fortress in southwestern Spain has revealed a surprising discovery—an isolated burial from the Roman era. The remains of a man, estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old, were found near the fortress’s outer wall, despite the site having been abandoned for over 2,500 years. The presence of a Roman military […]

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully completed an engine burn to lower its orbit around the Moon, as part of its preparations for a scheduled lunar landing. The lander, which entered lunar orbit last week after a four-day journey from Earth, has now been positioned at an altitude of 120 kilometers above the surface. […]

A new class of superconductors has been identified, demonstrating the ability to conduct electricity without resistance at a temperature of 45 kelvin (-228°C) and under normal atmospheric pressure. Research conducted at the Southern University of Science and Technology (Sustech) in Shenzhen, China, has led to this discovery in nickel oxide-based compounds. This advancement could significantly […]