Science

NASA’s latest infrared space telescope, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), is set for launch on 28th February. The mission, valued at $488 million, will take off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Designed to scan the entire sky in

The origins of dog domestication have been a topic of debate among scientists, with theories suggesting various evolutionary processes led to the transformation of wolves into the domestic dogs seen today. A new study has indicated that early wolves may have chosen to stay near humans due to the availability of food scraps, potentially leading

A contract has been awarded by NASA to SpaceX for the launch of its Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor spacecraft, which is intended to identify asteroids and comets that could pose a threat to Earth. The mission is set to launch no earlier than September 2027 from Florida’s Space Coast using a Falcon 9 rocket. The

Our environment continues to grapple with plastic pollution, with microplastics infiltrating the air, food, and water. Scientists are actively seeking methods to break down this persistent material. A new development has identified bacteria in wastewater that can degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic widely used in packaging and textiles. The discovery has raised hopes of

An elliptical galaxy located 88 million light-years from Earth has been observed displaying unusual characteristics, with astronomers identifying it as a cosmic predator. The latest images captured by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) indicate that the galaxy, designated NGC 3640, has a history of consuming smaller galaxies and may

A decline in global ocean evaporation has been identified over the past decade, despite rising sea surface temperatures. This shift challenges established climate models, which have long linked higher temperatures to increased evaporation. The unexpected trend was observed through satellite data analysis, revealing that evaporation rates started decreasing after 2008. Researchers suggest that changing atmospheric

Extreme rainfall in Arabia was five times more intense 400 years ago, as indicated by recent climate reconstructions. The data suggests that the region, currently defined by arid desert, once had significantly higher precipitation levels, resembling a lush savannah. The findings highlight the necessity for improved climate preparedness as urbanisation expands in the region. Study

The United States Space Force has unveiled a never-before-seen image of its X-37B space plane in orbit. The photograph, released on February 20, was captured by an onboard camera as the vehicle conducted experiments above the African continent. Visible in the image are one of the space plane’s solar panels on the left side and

detected, leaving astronomers searching for answers. The sudden burst of energy was identified while analysing archival data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, revealing a cosmic event that occurred more than 20 years ago. The flash, designated XRT 200515, originated from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, situated approximately 160,000

The likelihood of intelligent life emerging elsewhere in the universe may not be as improbable as previously believed, as suggested by recent research. A new model proposes that the development of life on Earth was not dictated by a sequence of rare, chance events but was instead influenced by evolving geobiological conditions. It has been

A celestial event of rare significance is set to unfold as seven planets align in the sky, creating a phenomenon that will not be witnessed again until 2040. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear along the ecliptic, the Sun’s apparent path across the sky. While they will not form a perfect

A significant advancement in India’s space technology has been achieved with the development of a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest globally for solid propellant production. Designed and manufactured through a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), this new equipment is expected to enhance efficiency and

Concerns regarding asteroid 2024 YR4 have diminished, as NASA has revised the probability of its impact on Earth in 2032 from 1 in 32 to 1 in 360. The asteroid, which has an estimated diameter of 55 meters, was initially considered the most hazardous object on NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) Sentry

The next suborbital space tourism mission by Blue Origin, known as NS-30, is set to take place at an undisclosed date. This will be the 30th launch of the company’s New Shepard rocket and its 10th crewed mission. The flight will take off from Blue Origin’s West Texas facility, carrying six individuals on a brief

A bright fireball streaked across the European sky on February 19, as debris from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made an uncontrolled reentry. Reports from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland confirmed sightings of the object as it burned up in the atmosphere before fragments crashed to the ground. Social media users in Lincolnshire, England,

Breakthrough in AI-Driven Genome Design A new artificial intelligence model has been introduced, marking a significant advancement in biological research. Developed using a dataset of 128,000 genomes covering various life forms, this AI can generate entire chromosomes and small genomes from scratch. Researchers claim it has the potential to interpret non-coding gene variants associated with