Category: Science

A discovery has shed light on the early evolution of nervous systems in ecdysozoan animals, a group that includes insects, nematodes, and priapulid worms. Fossil evidence from the early Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation has revealed details of the ventral nerve cord structure in ancient organisms, providing key insights into the evolutionary history of this critical component […]

A peak resembling a man-made pyramid, situated in the snow-covered expanse of Antarctica, has captured widespread attention due to its striking symmetry. Located within the southern Ellsworth Mountains, this natural formation features four steep, symmetrical faces, drawing comparisons to ancient Egyptian pyramids. Rising approximately 4,150 feet (1,265 meters), the mountain has become a focal point […]

A Blue Moon, a term often associated with rarity, will next occur on May 31, 2026. This event refers to the second full moon within a single calendar month, a phenomenon that arises due to the lunar cycle of approximately 29.5 days. Typically, 12 full moons are observed annually; however, the slight mismatch between the […]

Unusually dry conditions have been persisting across Southern California, creating an environment prone to destructive wildfires. In early January 2025, multiple wind-driven fires swept through the Los Angeles region, destroying thousands of homes and other structures. The lack of sufficient rainfall, combined with warm and dry weather, has severely impacted soil moisture levels, leaving vegetation […]

A century-old mystery surrounding a skull discovered in Turkey has taken a surprising turn, with new evidence revealing that the remains belong to an 11-year-old boy, not Arsinoë IV, the half-sister of Cleopatra VII. The skull, unearthed in 1929 at the Octagon building in Ephesus, had long been speculated to be connected to Arsinoë, a […]

Operations for NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) spacecraft have been restored after a data outage caused by a flood at Stanford University. On November 26, 2024, a burst pipe damaged approximately 20 percent of the systems managing data from the spacecraft. Despite disruptions, the spacecraft continued normal operation, […]

Birds create an array of sounds to interact within their environment, which plays a crucial role in activities like attracting mates, deterring predators, and expressing themselves. While the variety in these vocalisations is widely acknowledged, the reasons behind their diversity have been less understood. Insights into this phenomenon have been drawn from a comprehensive global […]

Efforts to understand the mechanics of tornado formation have taken an innovative turn with the exploration of cosmic rays. These high-energy particles, generated by interactions between cosmic rays and Earth’s atmosphere, are being proposed as a tool to remotely measure atmospheric pressure changes within supercell thunderstorms. This method could shed light on the low-pressure regions […]

A celestial event will unfold on January 13, 2025, when the full moon will obscure Mars for nearly four hours. This phenomenon, known as a lunar occultation, will coincide with Mars reaching opposition, where it aligns directly opposite the Sun as viewed from Earth. During this period, Mars will appear at its brightest and closest […]

NASA is preparing to deploy the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) to the moon, aiming to provide groundbreaking observations of Earth’s magnetic field. Using advanced X-ray technology, LEXI will capture images of the magnetosphere’s movements, offering insights into how it reacts to solar wind. This mission seeks to enhance understanding of space weather, which […]

In a significant milestone for space exploration, the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, has been successfully launched into Earth’s orbit by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Designed to explore the feasibility of wood as a sustainable material in satellite construction, LignoSat aims to examine its performance under the harsh conditions of space. The satellite’s […]

Jupiter’s atmospheric composition has been called into question through observations made using an old technique by an amateur astronomer, Steve Hill. The findings have indicated that the planet’s iconic swirling clouds may not be composed of ammonia ice, as previously assumed. This revelation stems from data collected with commercial telescopes and spectral filters, presenting new […]

The launch of Blue Origin’s highly anticipated New Glenn rocket has been delayed due to adverse weather conditions. Initially planned for Friday, January 10, the liftoff was rescheduled to Sunday, January 12, at 1:00 a.m. EST (0600 GMT). This decision was taken because rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean could jeopardise the landing of the […]

Scientists have discovered a unique link between ferroelectric domain walls and superconductivity in two-dimensional van der Waals materials. This breakthrough, credited to research by Gaurav Chaudhary from the University of Cambridge and Ivar Martin from Argonne National Laboratory, sheds light on how specific structural features in these materials enable strong electron interactions. The findings are […]

A newly identified form of cartilage, distinct from the three commonly recognised types, has been described by scientists. This tissue, termed “lipocartilage,” stands out due to its unique composition. Unlike typical cartilage, which features thick fibre matrices, lipocartilage contains balloon-like cells filled with oils. These cells are uniform and closely packed, forming a springy yet […]

Another significant mission was undertaken by SpaceX on January 9, with the deployment of a new set of spy satellites for the United States government. A Falcon 9 rocket carried the NROL-153 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, lifting off at 10:53 p.m. EST. This launch marked the seventh instalment of the National […]

A remarkable discovery has been made in Lithuania’s Vilnius Cathedral, where 16th-century royal burial regalia were recovered after being concealed for nearly a century. The artefacts, including crowns, rings, chains, a sceptre, and coffin plaques, had been hidden in a crypt at the start of World War II. These treasures, once belonging to significant figures […]

A breakthrough in auroral research has been made through artificial intelligence, aiding scientists in the classification and study of northern lights. Over 700 million images of auroral phenomena have been sorted and labelled, paving the way for better forecasting of geomagnetic storms that can disrupt critical communication and security systems on Earth. The categorisation stems […]

A significant discovery involving a supernova remnant in the Milky Way, identified as G278.94+1.35, has been made by a team of international astronomers. This structure, resulting from a massive stellar explosion, was initially thought to be approximately 8,800 light years away. New findings have revised this distance to about 3,300 light years, making it closer […]

A collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has resulted in the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, which is set to launch in a few months. This mission, designed to track and monitor Earth’s dynamic surface, will use synthetic aperture radar technology to measure changes in land and ice formations. Capable […]

Velvet ants, despite their name, are not ants but parasitic wasps known for their painful stings. These insects, often called “cow killers” due to the intensity of their sting, possess a potent venom capable of acting on different molecular targets depending on the species they encounter. Their defensive mechanisms, which include venom, warning colours, tough […]

A bacterial parasite has been observed to influence plant cell behaviour in a way that enhances its own transmission through sap-feeding insects. This adaptation alters plant responses. It was observed that it attracts female insects to males already present, which promotes the parasite’s survival. The discovery highlights a unique interaction among plants, bacteria, and insects, […]

A breakthrough experiment has showcased the ability of chloroplasts, essential for photosynthesis in plants, to function inside animal cells. Red algal chloroplasts were introduced into cells derived from Chinese hamster ovaries (Cricetulus griseus), where they remained active for 48 hours, converting light into energy. This achievement represents a step forward in efforts to recreate the […]

SpaceX is set to launch its Starship rocket for its seventh flight test on January 13, with liftoff planned at 5 p.m. EST from the Starbase facility in South Texas. The 400-foot-tall reusable rocket has been designed to support missions to the Moon and Mars. Reportedly, for the first time, the mission aims to deploy […]

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the Caucasus Mountains where an ancient Bronze Age settlement, Dmanisis Gora, has been mapped using drone technology. This site, believed to be over 3,000 years old, reveals new insights into the evolution of large-scale settlements during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Spanning an area far […]

Evidence has emerged pointing to a significant role played by an ancient geographic hotspot in shaping the Great Lakes. Researchers have linked the formation of these massive water bodies to a hotspot that interacted with the Earth’s lithosphere millions of years ago. While the lakes are commonly attributed to glacial activity during the Ice Age, […]

Raging wildfires in Los Angeles County have scorched over 13,000 acres, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate as powerful Santa Ana winds continue to fuel the blazes. Four fires—the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, a blaze in Sylmar and another in the Sepulveda Basin—have collectively caused widespread destruction. […]

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has delayed its ambitious Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) for the second time. Initially scheduled for Tuesday and rescheduled for Thursday, the experiment was halted once again on Wednesday. Officials cited an excessive drift between the mission satellites during manoeuvres as the reason for the postponement. The new date for […]

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) mission which was scheduled for Thursday, after the satellites drifted more than expected during a manoeuvre, ISRO said in a statement on Wednesday. This is the second time that the docking experiment has been postponed.It was originally scheduled for January 7. In […]

The highly anticipated debut launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket has been scheduled for January 10, 2025. The heavy-lift rocket, designed for both commercial and government missions, will take off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A launch window of three hours, beginning at 1 a.m. EST, has been announced. The rocket’s inaugural […]