SCIENCE

NASA, SpaceX to Bring Astronauts Back From ISS as Planned

NASA confirmed on Wednesday that it remains committed to its plan, announced last year, to collaborate with SpaceX in bringing two astronauts back from the International Space Station (ISS) “as soon as practical.” This statement followed President Donald Trump’s remarks the previous day, in which he expressed a desire for a faster return of the crew. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were already set to return aboard a SpaceX capsule in March, following a delay from their initial February

Stargazing Delight: Six Planets to Align for a Stunning Night Sky Show

Stargazers are in for a spectacular sight this month as six planets align in the night sky. This phenomenon, known as a planetary parade, promises a captivating experience for both casual observers and astronomy enthusiasts. While the planets won’t form a perfect line, their simultaneous presence in the same part of the sky will undoubtedly be a breathtaking display. The celestial event can be observed on January 21 and January 25, with the latter offering the best view. On January

27 New Species, Including Amphibious Mouse, Found in Peru’s Amazon

Conservation International, an environmental group, announced the discovery of an “amphibious mouse” with partially webbed feet that feeds on aquatic insects, one of 27 new species uncovered during a 2022 expedition to Peru’s Amazon. Among the other discoveries were a spiny mouse, a squirrel, eight species of fish, three amphibians, and ten types of butterflies. The research team explored the Alto Mayo protected area, including forest regions, Indigenous territories, and local villages. The group documented over 2,000 animal and plant

Orbit Overload: 14,000 Satellites and 120 Million Debris Pieces Surround Earth

The growing number of satellites and accumulation of space debris risk rendering low Earth orbit unusable unless nations and companies collaborate to share critical data for managing this increasingly congested region, experts and industry leaders warn. In late October, a United Nations panel on space traffic coordination emphasized the urgent need for action, recommending the creation of a comprehensive shared database of orbital objects and an international framework for tracking and managing them. Space-faring nations and companies are deploying prominent

New Findings Raise Questions About Einstein’s Space-Time Theory

For more than a century, Einstein’s general theory of relativity has been a cornerstone of modern physics, offering the most comprehensive explanation of gravity on cosmic scales. This framework became especially significant following the 1998 discovery of the Universe’s accelerated expansion. However, this revelation has posed a major challenge to the theory. Astronomers have uncovered phenomena that conflict with some of Einstein’s predictions, particularly the observation that the Universe is not just expanding faster but is doing so in a

Mini-Moon Leaves Earth Soon, Next Appearance in 2055

Earth is set to temporarily host a “mini-moon” as the 33-foot-wide asteroid 2024 PT5 gets caught in its gravitational pull. From September 29 to November 25, the asteroid will orbit our planet, providing astronomers with a unique opportunity to study its size, shape, and composition. These observations will enhance our understanding of near-Earth asteroids and inform future research on similar objects. The findings were recently outlined in the non-peer-reviewed Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society. 2024 PT5 was first

Earth-Like Planet Discovery Offers Hope for Humanity’s Survival

A team of astronomers has uncovered an Earth-like planet orbiting a star located 4,000 light years away from the solar system, potentially offering insights into our distant future. The rocky planet, about the same mass as Earth, revolves around a white dwarf in the constellation Sagittarius. As our Sun enters its final stages, this planetary system offers the best hope that humans can avoid being engulfed by its red giant phase. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and elsewhere

New Study Suggests Life May Exist on Saturn’s Moon Titan

The search for extraterrestrial life is advancing, and scientists may have a promising new candidate. A recent study focuses on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, revealing it possesses both the building blocks of life and a potential energy source to sustain them. Researchers examined data from NASA’s Cassini mission, which had detected a massive plume of ice grains and water vapor emanating from Titan’s icy crust, along with carbon in the form of methane gas. Notably, the plume contained high levels

Artemis III: NASA Discloses Moon Landing Location for Astronauts

NASA has pinpointed nine possible landing sites near the lunar South Pole for its upcoming Artemis III mission. This development represents a major milestone toward the first crewed Moon landing in more than 50 years. As part of its preparations for this historic mission, set to launch in 2026, the space agency will carry out additional scientific and engineering assessments of these locations. The NASA cross-agency site assessment team looked at several regions across the lunar surface to find locations

Mars Unveils a Mysterious Formation Resembling a Human Face

Mars, Earth’s closest neighbor, has long captivated human imagination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life just a short rocket journey away. Such life, however, has never been discovered. However, since NASA and other space agencies started employing robotic technology to examine the Red Planet’s surface and skies, pictures of odd formations and features have continued to excite scientists’ and space enthusiasts’ curiosity and inspire fear and optimism. One such example was a mile-wide hill or mesa in the Cydonia region

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