Category: Science

The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has verified a decades-old mystery regarding planet formation in the early universe. According to The Astrophysical Journal, findings indicate that planet-forming disks around stars endured far longer than previously theorised, even in environments with minimal heavy elements. Reportedly, in 2003, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope observed the presence of […]

Jared Isaacman, billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut, has been nominated by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next NASA administrator, as per several reports. Isaacman, who was born in Union, New Jersey, in February 1983, amassed his fortune by founding the payment-processing company Shift4 Payments at the age of 16. His nomination was […]

A significant advancement in antenna design, with implications for 6th generation (6G) networks, has been reported by researchers from the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). A study, published in Nature Communications, describes a new metasurface antenna capable of generating and controlling multiple frequency components simultaneously through software, potentially revolutionising wireless communication systems. Led by […]

Permafrost, a frozen layer of soil rich in organic matter, lies beneath 15 percent of the northern hemisphere and is facing significant degradation due to rising global temperatures. According to findings published in Earth’s Future, researchers predict extensive thawing of permafrost by the end of this century. This thawing, influenced by the intensifying greenhouse effect, […]

The last meteor shower of 2024, the Ursids, will peak during the night of December 21 to 22, coinciding with the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This annual event is expected to display around 10 meteors per hour at its peak, based on information from EarthSky.org. Although not as prolific as the Geminids earlier […]

Two 16th-century cannons discovered at an archaeological site in Arizona are thought to be the oldest firearms found in the United States, according to a study. The weapons, identified as hackbuts or hook guns, were abandoned by Spanish forces at the site of San Geronimo III in 1541. This settlement, also referred to as Suya, […]

The massive iceberg A23a, regarded as the largest and oldest in the world, has resumed its northward drift after being trapped in a rotating water column near the South Orkney Islands for several months. According to reports, this iceberg, weighing approximately one trillion tonnes and spanning an area twice the size of Greater London, had […]

Astronomers have identified a significant population of previously undetected asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, according to research published on December 9, 2024, in Nature. This discovery was made through analysis of archival images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Among these asteroids, some have been found on trajectories that could […]

The telescope and scientific instruments for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope have been successfully integrated at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The integration marks a significant step in the mission’s development, as the payload will soon be connected to the spacecraft. According to NASA officials, this milestone ensures the observatory is […]

An ancient silver amulet, discovered in a third-century grave near Frankfurt, Germany, is being hailed as a groundbreaking find that reshapes perspectives on the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. According to a study published by the Leibniz Center for Archaeology (LEIZA) on December 11, the artefact, dated between AD 230 and 270, contains […]

The USS Zumwalt, a stealth destroyer from the United States Navy, is undergoing upgrades to accommodate experimental hypersonic missiles under the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) programme. These missiles, capable of speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, represent a significant advancement in non-nuclear warfare. According to reports, the enhanced capabilities will allow for precise […]

A puzzling dark spot has been observed on Saturn’s icy moon, Enceladus, raising questions about the moon’s geological activity. The discovery, discussed during the 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in Washington, D.C., has captured the attention of researchers. According to reports, the spot, roughly a kilometre in size, was detected in images captured during […]

The spiral galaxy NGC 5643, situated approximately 40 million light-years away in the constellation Lupus, has been brought into focus through the lens of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. According to reports, the galaxy’s symmetrical structure, known as a “grand design spiral,” is characterised by its prominent, well-defined spiral arms, which are outlined by young, […]

China’s space programme is on track to achieve a significant milestone by becoming the first to bring Martian rock samples to Earth by 2031. As per reports, the mission, named Tianwen-3, is being led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and aims to surpass the Mars Sample Return efforts planned by NASA and the […]

After a demanding ascent spanning several months, NASA’s Perseverance rover has successfully reached the top of Jezero Crater’s rim, as confirmed during a media briefing held on December 12 at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting in Washington. The climb covered a vertical rise of 500 metres and involved navigating steep grades of 20 percent. […]

Natural rock formations known as the Marble Caves are situated along the shores of General Carrera Lake in Chile’s Aysén Region. These caverns, accessible only by water, are famed for their ethereal blue interiors caused by light reflecting off glacial waters onto their mineral-rich walls. Geologists estimate that the caves began forming 10,000 to 15,000 […]

According to multiple reports, Earth’s orbital environment is under increasing strain due to a growing accumulation of debris. Experts at the 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in Washington, D.C., highlighted the urgent need for global action to prevent a potential “tragedy of the commons” scenario in space, as reported. As per sources, Dan Baker, […]

Astrobiologists are exploring innovative frameworks to study extraterrestrial life, focusing on how complex systems evolve in the universe, as per reports. With only Earth as a reference for biology, understanding life forms that might differ entirely from terrestrial organisms remains a significant challenge. Recent reports highlight that scientists are working to establish universal principles for […]

A detailed plan outlining NASA’s Mars exploration strategy for the next two decades has been released. According to the report, titled Expanding the Horizons of Mars Science: A Plan for a Sustainable Science Program at Mars — Mars Exploration Program 2024-2044, prepared for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, a series of transformative shifts in approach will […]

Underground saltwater intrusion is expected to severely affect three out of every four coastal regions globally by the year 2100, according to findings published in Geophysical Research Letters. The research, a collaboration between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the U.S. Department of Defense, highlights significant risks to freshwater resources in coastal aquifers due to […]

The lifespan of lithium metal batteries has been significantly extended by researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). A study published in Advanced Materials details the development of an eco-friendly protective layer, resulting in a 750 percent increase in the lifespan of lithium metal anodes. According to the research, water served […]

A resurgence of the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), a flesh-eating parasite that primarily targets livestock but can also infect humans, has prompted warnings from U.S. officials. The parasite, native to South America and the Caribbean, was thought to be largely eradicated in the U.S. and Central America through sterilisation programmes in the mid-20th century. […]

A humpback whale has undertaken an extraordinary migration spanning over 8,000 miles and three oceans, breaking records for the longest documented journey between breeding grounds. This exceptional voyage, reported in Royal Society Open Science, is believed to be influenced by changing oceanic conditions or evolving mating strategies, as suggested by researchers. According to Professor Darren […]

A galaxy nicknamed the Firefly Sparkle has been detected by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, marking a significant discovery. According to research published in Nature on December 11, this galaxy existed approximately 600 million years after the Big Bang and has a mass similar to the Milky Way at a comparable stage of development. The […]

Recent research, published in Nature, has raised questions about the volcanic processes occurring on Jupiter’s moon Io, particularly regarding the absence of a global magma ocean beneath its surface. Data collected by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, combined with historical information from the Galileo mission, suggest that Io’s interior is more solid than previously believed. This revelation […]

The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, initially deployed by NASA to test the feasibility of powered flight on Mars, has been repurposed as a weather station following a crash that ended its flying capabilities, as per reports. According to updates shared during the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Washington, D.C., the helicopter […]

A major glacial lake outburst flood, among the largest ever recorded, has been documented in East Greenland, releasing more than 3,000 billion litres of meltwater, as per reports. The event, observed by researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute, took place between September 23 and October 11 and was caused by the sudden […]

A decade of observations from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled significant changes in the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, as per reports. These findings, gathered as part of NASA’s Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) programme, were presented at the American Geophysical Union’s December meeting in Washington, D.C. The OPAL initiative has tracked […]

Research indicates that Earth’s solid inner core, a metal sphere encased within the molten outer core, could be undergoing changes in both rotation and surface structure. Studies involving seismic waves from earthquakes have revealed that the core’s rotation may have slowed, paused or even reversed relative to Earth’s surface approximately 15 years ago. New findings […]

Over the past three months, vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 has been detected in wastewater across multiple European countries, raising concerns among public health experts. According to reports, samples from Spain, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Finland have tested positive for the virus. Despite no reported cases of paralysis, health authorities remain on high alert. […]