NASA has chosen SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket for the Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon, Titan. Scheduled for 2028, this $3.35 billion project will send a nuclear-powered octocopter to explore Titan's habitability. Dragonfly will autonomously examine the moon's icy and dune-filled terrains for three years, analyzing its atmosphere and potential for exotic life.
Russia successfully launched the Soyuz-2.1a rocket, placing the Kondor-FKA2 radar satellite into orbit from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The satellite, with advanced radar technology, is capable of all-weather, round-the-clock Earth observation, and its mission includes mapping, environmental monitoring, and guiding vessels through ice-covered routes. The Kondor series continues to advance with more launches scheduled.
A photo taken by Dennis Diggins of alleged UFO lights over Capitol Hill has sparked online debates. Experts attribute the lights to lens flares, not extraterrestrial activity. The sighting coincides with recent US government hearings on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). Despite the Pentagon dismissing UFOs as misidentified objects, the fascination and confusion around UFOs persist.
NASA has captured satellite images of hot lava from Iceland's recent volcanic eruption. The eruption, which began on November 20, has led to lava flows reaching the Blue Lagoon spa and the town of Grindavík, prompting evacuations. Experts warn that such eruptions could continue for decades.
Astronomers have discovered TIDYE-1b, the youngest known transiting planet, estimated to be a mere three million years old. Detected using NASA's TESS telescope, this 'super-Earth' or 'sub-Neptune' orbits its star every nine days. Its tilted orbit allowed observation despite the presence of a protoplanetary disc, offering insights into early planet formation.
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her crew have shared their Thanksgiving plans from the International Space Station. Currently on an extended mission, Sunita and her fellow astronauts will enjoy a space-adapted feast of smoked turkey, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and apples with spice. This continues a decades-long tradition of astronauts celebrating the holiday in orbit, fostering camaraderie and maintaining traditions while far from home.
A Nasa survey unearthed Camp Century, a hidden Cold War-era US military base beneath Greenland's ice. Built in the 1960s for Project Iceworm, the base was intended to house nuclear missiles aimed at the Soviet Union. Abandoned in 1967, its rediscovery raises concerns about thawing ice exposing hazardous materials.
Spanish scientists have developed a groundbreaking formula using the gravitational bending of light to pinpoint celestial objects, including potentially dangerous asteroids. This enhances asteroid orbit prediction and planetary defence systems like Nasa's DART.
A Russian supply ship brought food and equipment to the International Space Station. Cosmonauts detected a strange smell. They closed a hatch and turned on air purifiers. The odor went away quickly. The crew accessed the supplies. NASA said there was no danger.
A strange odor and droplets greeted cosmonauts aboard the ISS upon opening the newly arrived Progress MS-29 cargo spacecraft. Commander Sunita Williams led a swift response, sealing off the module and initiating air purification. Although air quality returned to normal within a day and operations continued, the cause of the smell remains under investigation.
An engine combustion test for Japan's Epsilon S rocket was suspended after a fire erupted at the Tanegashima Space Center. The incident is under investigation. The Epsilon S, a next-generation small rocket, was scheduled for its debut flight by March but has faced previous delays, including an engine test failure 16 months ago.
A new UN report reveals that approximately 140 women and girls were killed daily by partners or family members in 2023, totaling around 51,100 victims globally. The home remains the most dangerous place for women, with Africa experiencing the highest number of such killings.
Scientists have found evidence of hot water on Mars dating back 4.45 billion years, the earliest yet. A zircon grain in the 'Black Beauty' meteorite suggests the presence of hydrothermal systems during Mars' pre-Noachian period, potentially indicating early habitability.
Two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, are stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunctioning spacecraft. Their eight-day mission has turned into a much longer stay, forcing them to rely on a limited food supply and recycled urine for drinking water until a SpaceX rescue mission in February 2025.
Astronomers have captured the first detailed images of a star beyond our Milky Way galaxy on the verge of a supernova. The star, WOH G64, is surrounded by an egg-shaped cocoon of gas and dust, indicating it is shedding its outer layers. This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the final stages of a star's life cycle before it explodes.
Edwin Hubble, a renowned astronomer, revolutionized our understanding of the universe. He proved the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way and discovered that the universe is expanding. His groundbreaking work, including the Hubble Classification Scheme and Hubble's Law, laid the foundation for modern cosmology and continues to inspire exploration through the Hubble Space Telescope.
Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump showcased their alliance during Trump's visit to SpaceX's facility. Despite a Starship rocket booster failing to return to the launchpad, the event underscored their deepening relationship. Musk's influence within Trump's circle is evident through his advisory roles and presence at key events. This alliance carries significant implications for American politics, governance, and space exploration.
SpaceX achieved a global milestone by launching three Falcon 9 rockets in 20 hours, including one carrying India's advanced communication satellite, GSAT-20. This marked SpaceX's 112th, 113th, and 114th launches of the year. The GSAT-20, weighing 4,700kg, was launched from Cape Canaveral and will significantly enhance India's broadband connectivity.
India turned to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to launch its GSAT-N2 communication satellite due to the heavier payload exceeding the capabilities of ISRO's current launch vehicles, said ex-Isro chiefs. While Isro is working on enhancing its launch capacity, the 4,700 kg satellite required a more powerful rocket, highlighting the need for increased capabilities to handle future heavy payloads.
A recent study using NASA and German satellite data reveals a concerning decline in Earth's freshwater resources since 2014. Researchers discovered a 290 cubic mile reduction in freshwater storage, attributing it to climate change, extreme weather, and increased groundwater reliance. This depletion, evident in severe droughts worldwide, poses significant threats to global water security and highlights a potential future of water scarcity.
Scientists aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy have discovered a large underwater volcano approximately 1,600 meters beneath the surface off the coast of Alaska. The team, including experts from NOAA, detected a potential gas plume rising from the volcanic formation. While the discovery is significant, experts believe the volcano poses no immediate threat to nearby ecosystems or human activities due to its considerable depth.
Scientists have discovered a new species of penguin from fossils found in New Zealand. The penguin, named Pakudyptes hakataramea, lived around 24 million years ago. This small penguin, only about a foot tall, had a unique blend of ancient and modern features. Researchers believe that studying its fossils will help us understand how penguins evolved their distinctive wings for swimming.
NASA is developing the Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline (L-SPoP) to revolutionize lunar exploration. This innovative pipeline will transport oxygen extracted from lunar resources to support human missions under the Artemis program. By utilizing in-situ materials and robotic construction, L-SPoP aims to reduce costs, risks, and reliance on Earth-based supplies, paving the way for a sustainable lunar presence.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered three massive galaxies, dubbed "red monsters," that challenge current theories of galaxy formation. These galaxies, formed just one billion years after the Big Bang, are far larger and more evolved than expected, suggesting that galaxies may have formed much faster in the early universe than previously thought.
Zoologist Professor Tim Coulson suggests that octopuses, with their remarkable intelligence and adaptability, could potentially become Earth's dominant species if humans were to disappear. Their advanced cognition and problem-solving skills hint at a future where they might develop complex societies, though their lack of physical adaptation for land poses a challenge.
Humanity's exploration of outer space continues to unveil astonishing discoveries that challenge our understanding of the cosmos. From the immense size of the universe, with more stars than grains of sand on Earth, to the bizarre phenomena like cold welding and the existence of a gigantic reservoir of water vapor, space remains a realm of endless wonder and mystery.
The Pentagon's latest UFO report reveals 757 unexplained aerial phenomena sightings in the past year, including a near-collision between a commercial airliner and a cylindrical object off the coast of New York. While many sightings were later identified as ordinary objects, a significant number remain unexplained. Despite investigations, no evidence of extraterrestrial activity has been found.
A new study reveals that extreme weather events, fueled by climate change, are accelerating nitrate contamination of groundwater. Heavy rains following droughts can drive nitrates from fertilizers over 30 feet into the ground in mere days. This rapid percolation poses a significant threat to drinking water, particularly in regions heavily reliant on agricultural fertilizers.
The Pentagon and intelligence officials released their yearly report on UFO sightings, now called UAPs. They investigated over 750 new reports but found no proof of alien life. However, 21 cases remain unexplained, often involving strange shapes like orbs and triangles seen near military areas. While some could be drones, experts are baffled and continue to investigate.
A team of researchers from National Geographic's Pristine Seas team have discovered the world's largest coral colony in the Solomon Islands. The colony, which is larger than a blue whale and estimated to be centuries old, was found in October 2024 and is a testament to the resilience of marine life in the face of climate change.
November's night sky will be illuminated by the Beaver Moon, the final supermoon of 2024. This full moon, appearing larger and brighter than usual, peaks on November 15th. The name originates from beavers' active preparations for winter during this time. Alongside the supermoon, skywatchers can also observe the Pleiades star cluster.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have partnered to establish a new Centre of Excellence for Fluid and Thermal Sciences. With an initial investment of Rs 1.84 crore from ISRO, the Centre will focus on crucial research areas such as spacecraft thermal management and combustion instability in hybrid rockets.
Nasa has successfully integrated the Roman Coronagraph Instrument onto the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This milestone brings the mission one step closer to directly observing exoplanets by blocking the glare from their host stars.
A growing chorus insists that artificial intelligence is inevitable and those who resist it risk being left behind. However, a closer look reveals a more nuanced reality. While AI holds promise in fields like medicine, its impact on productivity and education remains unclear, and its role in autonomous weapons raises serious ethical concerns.
Scientists have mapped how aging happens across different organs in mice, finding common patterns of tissue damage and loss of cell identity. The study, published in Cell, used advanced imaging to create detailed maps of nine organs, revealing areas more prone to aging.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is poised to make history by casting her vote in the upcoming US presidential election from the International Space Station (ISS), approximately 400 km above Earth. Following a process similar to absentee voting, Williams will submit her ballot electronically via NASA's secure communication network.
Russia launched a Soyuz rocket carrying two Ionosfera-M satellites for space weather monitoring and 53 smaller satellites, including two from Iran. This launch marks Iran's first private sector venture into space and highlights growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran amidst Western accusations of Iranian drone supplies to Russia for the Ukraine conflict.
India's first analog space mission begins in Leh, Ladakh with ISRO simulating life in interplanetary habitats. This month-long mission involves a self-sustaining habitat, crucial for India's future lunar and Mars missions. The challenging high-altitude environment provides valuable data for testing life support systems, aiming to advance India's space exploration capabilities.
Archaeologists from Egypt and the US discovered 11 sealed burials from the Middle Kingdom near Luxor, including coffins of men, women, and children. Significant findings include an amethyst necklace and ancient mirrors. This aligns with Egypt's efforts to revive tourism, showcasing its historical treasures amid economic challenges. The Grand Egyptian Museum also unveiled new exhibition halls recently.
NASA has re-established contact with 47-year-old Voyager 1 after years of silence. The spacecraft's fault protection system shut down its radio transmitter, sparking investigations into the cause. Commands and data exchanges between the spacecraft and NASA take nearly two days, with engineers working to restore normal operations.
NASA celebrated Diwali with a stunning Hubble image of the Omega Nebula, paralleling the festival's theme of light. Astronaut Sunita Williams shared festive greetings from the ISS. Tech leaders Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook also extended wishes, emphasizing unity and hope. These gestures highlight Diwali's universal appeal across different sectors and boundaries.
NASA's Perseverance Rover captured a rare solar eclipse by Phobos, enhancing our understanding of Mars and its moons. The Rover's ongoing research, including the discovery of organic molecules in the 'Cheyava Falls' rock sample, could indicate past microbial life on Mars. These findings are crucial for future Martian exploration and understanding the planet's geological history.
India's first analogue space mission, initiated by ISRO and partners, simulates interplanetary habitat in Leh. Led by Aaka Space Studio, this project uses advanced technologies to study human adaptation in Mars-like conditions, aiming to contribute to sustainable human habitats for future space exploration. Findings will support global space habitation advancements.