Category: Science

Rocket Lab has delayed the launch of its “IOT 4 You and Me” mission to prevent any potential collision with existing satellites and the International Space Station. The mission, set to deploy five Internet of Things (IoT) satellites was put on hold to ensure a safe trajectory for the rocket. A revised launch schedule is […]

Researchers have introduced an advanced method for labeling proteins in intact tissues, addressing a longstanding challenge in biological research. The technique, designed to ensure even distribution of antibodies across entire organs, has been demonstrated across multiple tissue types. This approach could significantly improve the accuracy of cellular studies by preserving tissue structure while enabling more […]

A 7,000-year-old femur bone belonging to an antelope, discovered in a South African cave, has revealed the earliest confirmed use of a multi-component arrow poison. Three modified bone arrowheads were found embedded within the marrow cavity, and a recent scientific analysis has identified a mixture of plant-based toxins. This discovery provides new insight into the […]

A spectacular celestial event is set to unfold in February 2025, as five of the brightest planets—Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Saturn—become visible together in the evening sky. The alignment will peak on February 24, when Mercury and Saturn will appear closest to each other, creating a striking visual near the horizon. Skywatchers with a […]

The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7 in mid-January has sparked discussions among experts about its potential environmental impact. The upper stage of the rocket, which weighed approximately 85 tons without fuel, exploded at an altitude of around 90 miles (146 kilometres). Fragments of the disintegrated spacecraft were reported to have fallen over the Caribbean. […]

A recent breakthrough in spintronic technology has demonstrated how phase-tunable synchronisation can be achieved in spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs). These nanoscale devices generate high-frequency microwave signals by converting direct current into spin wave auto-oscillations. The ability to control synchronisation between SHNOs is expected to improve applications in telecommunications, neuromorphic computing, and optimisation hardware. The study, […]

A newly identified fungus that infects and manipulates spiders has been discovered in Northern Ireland. Found in a former Victorian gunpowder store on the grounds of a ruined Irish castle, this fungus takes control of cave spiders, leading them out of their usual hiding spots before killing them and using their bodies to release spores. […]

For the first time, researchers have successfully controlled and observed Kelvin waves in superfluid helium-4, marking a significant step in understanding energy dissipation in quantum systems. The study has provided a controlled method to excite these helical waves, which had previously only been observed in unpredictable conditions. The research opens new possibilities for studying quantised […]

Efforts to improve the efficiency of kesterite-based solar cells have shown progress, with researchers achieving a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.4 percent. A new approach using hydrogen annealing has been applied to enhance carrier collection in Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) solar cells. This technique involves heating the material in a hydrogen-rich environment, which redistributes key […]

Polar bears rely on their thick fur and blubber to survive in the Arctic, but recent research has revealed that their fur also plays a crucial role in preventing ice accumulation. Unlike other cold-weather animals, which rely on structural adaptations in feathers or fur, polar bears benefit from a natural oil that stops ice from […]

A compact neutrino detector has successfully identified antineutrinos at a nuclear power plant, marking a significant advancement in particle physics. Unlike conventional detectors that require massive infrastructure, this device weighs less than three kilograms. Despite its size, it effectively detected antineutrinos emitted from a nuclear reactor in Leibstadt, Switzerland. The experiment, which lasted 119 days, […]

Baboons in their natural habitat have been observed looking at their reflections in mirrors but failing to recognise themselves. Despite reacting to a visible dot on their arms or legs, the primates showed little to no response when a laser dot was projected onto their faces while they were in front of a mirror. The […]

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported an issue with its NVS-02 navigation satellite, launched on January 29 aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket. While the satellite successfully reached orbit and established communication with ground control, a technical malfunction prevented further orbit-raising manoeuvres. The problem was traced to the non-opening of the oxidiser valves, which are […]

A supernova has been captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in the constellation Gemini. The stellar explosion, visible as a bright blue dot, was detected in the hazy outer disk of a galaxy that lies approximately 600 million light-years away. The image, which also includes several distant galaxies and foreground stars, was taken nearly […]

The presence of organic molecules on the dwarf planet Ceres has been reassessed using AI analysis of data gathered by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft. Scientists have mapped regions rich in these compounds to determine whether they originated within Ceres or were delivered from external sources. Previously, it was believed that cryovolcanic activity on Ceres transported these […]

NASA and its international collaborators have finalised the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft no earlier than spring 2025. The mission, departing from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will see four astronauts spending up to 14 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The […]

Blacktip reef sharks in French Polynesia are experiencing adverse effects on their health due to frequent exposure to low-quality food scraps from tourists. Reports indicate that these sharks, commonly found in the waters around Mo’orea, are being fed everything from frozen squid to human leftovers. This feeding practice has led to significant changes in their […]

Distant supermassive black holes, far larger than expected, have been detected in the early universe. Observations using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) indicate that these black holes hold a mass nearly 10 percent of their host galaxy’s stellar mass, a stark contrast to the 0.01 percent ratio observed in modern galaxies. This anomaly has […]

New research examining data from two major cosmic surveys indicates that the universe may have evolved in a way that is more complex than previously thought. A team led by Joshua Kim and Mathew Madhavacheril at the University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, analysed data from the Atacama Cosmology […]

Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have successfully produced oxygen and rocket fuel through artificial photosynthesis. This development could play a crucial role in China’s future lunar base by enabling resource generation on-site reducing the need for supplies from Earth. Conducted by the Shenzhou-19 crew, the experiment utilised water and carbon dioxide to create […]

Ripples in spacetime, known as gravitational waves, are being used to determine the ancestry of black holes. These waves, first theorised by Albert Einstein, are offering insights into how black holes form and evolve. Scientists have uncovered that the spin of a black hole can indicate whether it originated from repeated mergers in densely packed […]

The pace of ocean warming has intensified significantly over the past four decades, with recent data highlighting a quadrupling of heat absorption rates. This shift points to an acceleration in climate change, as oceans act as the planet’s primary heat sink. Researchers warn that if fossil fuel dependency continues, warming is expected to increase at […]

A near-Earth object recently classified as an asteroid has been identified as Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, which was launched into space in 2018 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The object was mistakenly listed as a new near-Earth asteroid by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center (MPC) on January 2, before the classification was […]

A new research study has examined the mathematical principles governing creativity and innovation, shedding light on how novel ideas emerge. By analysing data across different domains, researchers have identified patterns that could refine the understanding of how individuals and societies generate new concepts. The study investigates two types of novelty—discovering an entirely new element and […]

A team of researchers has observed an ultra-diffuse galaxy, FCC 224, uncovering an unusual system of globular clusters. The galaxy, located in the Fornax cluster approximately 65 million light-years away, has been found to host luminous and overmassive globular clusters. The study, conducted using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and supported by spectroscopic data from […]

A recent analysis of lunar surface features has challenged long-standing assumptions about the moon’s geological dormancy. Findings indicate that small ridges on the far side of the moon may have formed within the last 200 million years, suggesting that tectonic processes are still at play. The study’s conclusions point to ongoing activity beneath the lunar […]

A newly detected asteroid, named 2024 YR4, has been observed by NASA scientists, carrying a 1.2 percent probability of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032. The asteroid, estimated to be around 55 metres in diameter, has been tracked since its discovery on December 27, 2024, through the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. While the […]

US President Donald Trump has reached out to SpaceX founder Elon Musk for assistance in facilitating the return of two American astronauts—Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore—who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024. The astronauts, who originally planned for a 10-day mission, have remained in space due to technical difficulties with […]

Mysterious icy objects thousands of light years away have been identified, leaving astronomers uncertain about their nature. The discovery was made through observations spanning several years, with initial detections dating back to data collected between 2006 and 2011. Recent findings have only deepened the mystery, with researchers noting that the objects are not consistent with […]

Pale white streaks have been observed weaving through the northern lights, presenting a new atmospheric puzzle. These eerie glows have been captured alongside traditional red and green auroras, but experts suggest they are not auroras themselves. Instead, they may share similarities with the purplish phenomenon known as Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE). Scientists remain […]