Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore completed a record-setting 5.5-hour spacewalk outside the ISS, adding to Williams' impressive achievements. The spacewalk included the removal of a radio frequency antenna and collecting surface material samples. Nasa is collaborating with SpaceX to bring them back to Earth after technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft left them stranded.
NASA's latest asteroid sample from Bennu reveals amino acids and nucleobases, essential for life, sparking questions about extraterrestrial existence. These findings suggest life's building blocks are more widespread in the solar system than previously believed. This groundbreaking discovery challenges our understanding of life's origins and whether Earth is unique in hosting life.
2024 PT5, initially identified as a near-Earth asteroid, is believed to be a lunar fragment due to its unique orbit and mineral composition matching lunar rocks. Researchers propose it could have been ejected from the Moon thousands of years ago, marking a significant discovery that may help unearth more lunar history.
A GSLV rocket successfully launched the NVS-02 navigation satellite, marking ISRO's 100th mission. This mission was the first under ISRO Chairman V Narayanan's leadership. The rocket, equipped with an indigenous cryogenic stage, lifted off from the second launch pad at 6.23 am on Wednesday, following the success of its predecessor, GSLV-F12.
After seven months on the ISS, astronaut Sunita Williams has forgotten how to walk due to extended weightlessness. Originally a short mission, delays stretched her stay, impacting her physically and emotionally as she maintains family connections. This raises concerns about long-term space travel's effects and challenges in ensuring crew safety and rotations.
Republican Congressman Tim Burchett has sparked debate by suggesting that alien life might be hiding in Earth's oceans. Citing a briefing about an enormous, fast-moving underwater object, Burchett speculates about underwater alien bases. While the existence of extraterrestrial life remains unconfirmed, Washington's UFO controversy continues to blur the line between science and speculation.
Daksh Malik, a young boy from Noida, India, recently discovered an asteroid through the International Asteroid Discovery Project, earning official recognition from NASA. This discovery highlights the potential for citizen scientists to contribute significantly to astronomy. Malik will have the honor of naming the asteroid once NASA's verification process is complete.
The magnetic north pole has shifted over 400 km from Canada towards Russia in the past century due to changes in Earth's molten core. Scientists use the World Magnetic Model to monitor this movement, which affects navigation systems and protects against solar radiation. The pole's drift speed has varied significantly, requiring regular model updates.
The CIA now believes the COVID-19 virus most likely originated from a Wuhan laboratory, based on an assessment with 'low confidence.' The conclusion points to a lab-related incident rather than natural origins, despite a lack of new intelligence and cooperation from Chinese authorities.
The CIA has shifted its stance on the origin of Covid-19, suggesting a lab leak is more likely than a natural origin based on existing intelligence. This assessment follows John Ratcliffe's appointment as CIA director and reflects new analysis ordered by his predecessor.
Scientists have detected faint magnetic signals from Earth's ocean tides using ESA's Swarm satellites. These signals, caused by seawater flowing through Earth's magnetic field, offer new insights into the planet's inner workings. The Swarm mission has been extended due to its significant contributions, and it will continue to explore these phenomena until at least 2030.
When obese children receive weight-loss treatment, the effects last throughout their lives, and their risk of significant health problems and premature death decreases as they enter young adulthood. However, this is not true for depression and anxiety, according to a Karolinska Institutet study.
Isro is working on enhancing the precision of its automated satellite docking. After a successful initial docking on January 16, the agency plans additional docking attempts, focusing on shorter separations and fuel-efficient maneuvers. Results will inform future missions like Chandrayaan-4 and India’s space station. The data and simulations are being reviewed for subsequent trials.
DRDO has achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing an active cooled combustor of a scramjet engine on ground for 120 seconds. This development is crucial for next-generation hypersonic missiles, which travel faster than Mach 5. The successful ground test demonstrated ignition and stable combustion, marking progress in India's hypersonic technology initiatives.
Researchers have used laser technology to uncover vivid details of 1,200-year-old tattoos on Peruvian mummies, revealing insights into ancient tattooing practices. These tattoos, created with cactus needles or animal bones, reflect the artistry and significance of the craft. Similar discoveries, like Ötzi the Iceman's therapeutic tattoos, suggest that ancient body art had practical, ritualistic, and personal roles.
Grey matter volume in the brain decreases by about 5% during pregnancy but partially recovers postpartum, particularly in the default mode network. This study, involving MRI scans of nearly 180 first-time mothers, links these changes to fluctuating estrogen levels and highlights the link between grey matter recovery and mother-infant bonding.
Elon Musk reflects on SpaceX's journey from its early days in 2002 to significant milestones in 2024, including the success of recent Starship test flights. Despite occasional setbacks, the company's progress continues to inspire fans and the wider space exploration community.
Scientists at the University of Stuttgart have succeeded in controlling the structure and function of biological membranes with the help of 'DNA origami'. It will help in facilitating the transportation of large therapeutic loads into cells. It now paves a new way for the targeted administration of medication and other therapeutic inventions
Like many other young people, Amelie feels that the Covid-19 pandemic -- and its procession of lockdowns and restrictions -- marked a "turning point" for her mental health. "I came face to face with everything I had been repressing -- and it triggered an enormous depression," the French university student, who was 19 years old when the pandemic broke out in 2020, told AFP. Five years later, Amelie is still receiving treatment for her mental health.
Isro successfully demonstrated the restart capability of its Vikas liquid engine, crucial for future reusable rocket stages, by firing it for 60 seconds, shutting it off for 120 seconds, and restarting for 7 seconds. This test, conducted at the Isro Propulsion Complex, is part of ongoing efforts to reduce space mission costs.
SpaceX's Starship, designed for future interplanetary missions, suffered a catastrophic failure on January 16, 2025, during its seventh test flight. The rocket exploded just minutes after liftoff from South Texas. Initial investigations revealed an oxygen/fuel leak above the engine firewall, causing pressure buildup and leading to the rocket’s destruction. Although the mission ended in disaster, SpaceX successfully recovered the Super Heavy booster using its "chopsticks" mechanism. Despite the setback, the company remains committed to improving the spacecraft for future missions, aiming to revolutionize space travel.
Astronomers have detected the most ancient blazar ever observed, originating from the early universe and emitting a beam of energy directly at Earth. This discovery, involving the blazar J0410-0139, offers insights into the formation of early supermassive black holes and suggests the presence of many other similar cosmic entities from that era.
SpaceX's latest Starship rocket test ended with the spacecraft's destruction despite a successful booster catch using 'chopsticks' at the pad. Communication with the spacecraft was lost 8 1/2 minutes into the mission after engine failures. Elon Musk announced improved versions are ready for future launches.
Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, from Cape Canaveral. The rocket carried a prototype satellite, with plans for future missions including lunar exploration. Bezos emphasized collaboration in the space industry. The launch represents a significant step in reducing space access costs, competing with major players like SpaceX.
Neurons in the hippocampus have been identified to form food-related memories that shape eating behavior and contribute to diet-induced obesity, a study in Nature Metabolism reveals. Researchers suggest targeting these hippocampal memory circuits could help address overeating and obesity, especially in modern environments filled with food cues.
NASA rescheduled the return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore originally set for February 2025 to late March 2025 due to delays in the launch of SpaceX's Crew 10 mission. Technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft also contributed to the delay. Despite the extended stay, Crew 9 continues to perform critical tasks on the ISS.
SpaceX successfully launched two spacecraft, Blue Ghost and Resilience landers, on a mission to the Moon from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The mission aims to advance lunar exploration with experiments on subsurface drilling, sample collection, and radiation-tolerant computing. The Blue Ghost lander will operate for 14 Earth days after its 45-day journey.
Three Indian space startups, Digantara, Pixxel, and XDLINX Spacelabs, are set for satellite launches via SpaceX’s Transporter-12 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Pixxel will deploy satellites for its Firefly constellation, providing advanced hyper-spectral imaging. Digantara's satellite aims to enhance space traffic management. XDLINX will launch satellites developed for US-based Almagest Space Corporation.
A rare 'ghost island' appeared and quickly disappeared in the Caspian Sea after the eruption of Kumani Bank mud volcano off Azerbaijan's coast. NASA satellites captured the event, showing the formation and erosion cycle from early 2023 to late 2024. This phenomenon highlights the dynamic nature of mud volcanoes and their impact on geology.
Blue Origin’s debut launch of its massive New Glenn rocket, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed due to ice buildup in critical systems. The company, founded by Jeff Bezos, is eyeing Tuesday for a second attempt, though poor weather may cause further delays. Named after astronaut John Glenn, this ambitious rocket aims to set new milestones in space exploration.
Neuroscientists are exploring the possibility of retrieving memories from a dead person's brain, but face significant challenges due to the complex nature of memory storage. Key difficulties include identifying specific neurons tied to memories and the dynamic, reconstructive nature of memory. However, current technology is not advanced enough for precise mapping and retrieval, making this concept currently unfeasible.
Blue Origin's first launch of the New Glenn rocket was delayed due to technical issues. The mission, crucial for competing against SpaceX, was halted just minutes before liftoff from Cape Canaveral. The partially reusable rocket aims to carry heavier payloads and has strategic significance for Nasa missions and Amazon’s satellite ventures. No new launch date has been announced yet.
Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin is set for its first orbital launch with the New Glenn rocket, aiming to challenge Elon Musk's SpaceX. The 320-feet tall rocket will attempt its maiden voyage from Cape Canaveral, with a Defense Department-funded prototype aboard for a six-hour test flight. Success would provide a significant alternative in the competitive space industry.
An ICMR report highlights that India sees roughly 15 lakh surgical site infection cases annually, with a higher incidence in orthopaedic procedures at 54.2%. A multicentric study found prolonged surgeries and combination procedures increase SSI risk. Post-discharge surveillance identified 66% of SSI cases.
A new study indicates that the gut microbiome composition can predict susceptibility to infections like Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli, and altering the diet can impact this. Researchers found that a diet rich in fiber boosts beneficial bacteria, which protect against these infections. This research suggests dietary changes may be an effective strategy to enhance gut health and prevent disease.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the ongoing challenges of dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplaces, and drones in combating drug trafficking at a regional conference. He emphasized the government's efforts in significantly increasing drug seizures, dismantling narco-terror networks, and the importance of technological solutions and joint efforts for ensuring national security.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) enhances its forecast accuracy by leveraging CubeSats, crowdsourcing, and IoT data, as well as traditional satellite data. IMD has launched a dedicated meteorological satellite and a high-power computing system, aiming for a 6 km resolution ensemble prediction system and research testbeds to improve understanding of weather dynamics.By Saturday evening, ISRO's SpaDeX satellites achieved a 230m distance from 1.5km. The space agency stated spacecraft health is normal and all sensors are being evaluated. The docking attempt has been postponed twice due to required validations and unexpected drifts. ISRO continues preparations for this complex process, aiming to achieve docking in space soon.India's first non-Isro biological space experiment, conducted by Amity University Mumbai, successfully demonstrates spinach tissue growth in zero gravity. The experiment, part of the PSLV-C60 mission, shows promising initial results, with implications for future space missions like the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
Recent research suggests that the Great Lakes originated from the Cape Verde hotspot under the ancient supercontinent Pangaea. This geological feature significantly influenced the region's formation millions of years ago, alongside glacial activity during the last ice age. Seismic anomalies in the area further support this connection, revealing a complex interplay of volcanic and glacial processes.
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing for her first spacewalk in 12 years as part of SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the ISS, aiming to repair the NICER X-ray telescope and upgrade the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. Williams' return is rescheduled for March 2025 due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner.
A spacecraft from the European and Japanese space agencies captured high-resolution images of Mercury's north pole, including permanently shadowed craters and volcanic plains. The BepiColombo mission, which launched in 2018, completed its final flyby, setting it on course to enter Mercury's orbit next year. The spacecraft, carrying two orbiters, aims to study Mercury's poles.