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

The tomb of Thutmose II, an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled around 3,500 years ago, has been uncovered west of the Valley of the Kings. This discovery marks the first time in a century that the burial site of a pharaoh has been found, as confirmed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The tomb,

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,

A metal detector search for World War II relics in a forested area of Poland has led to the discovery of a much older artifact—a broken sword believed to be nearly 2,000 years old. Found in the Jura region of southern Poland, the sword was intentionally shattered into three pieces and is thought to have

Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed missing cooling gas in the Phoenix Cluster, a galaxy cluster located 5.8 billion light-years away. The discovery provides insights into how stars form despite the presence of a supermassive black hole at its core. Researchers have confirmed that the cluster contains the largest known reservoir

Recent analysis of Iron Age artifacts from Poland has revealed the presence of meteoric iron in several ornaments, according to reports. The discovery was made at two archaeological sites, Częstochowa-Raków and Częstochowa-Mirów, both linked to the Lusatian Culture and dated between 750 and 600 BCE. A total of 26 iron artefacts, including bracelets, ankle rings,

New research suggests that Earth’s inner core may not be as solid as previously believed. Scientists studying seismic waveforms have discovered structural changes in the core, which challenge long-held assumptions about its composition. This discovery emerged while researchers were examining the inner core’s slowing rotation. The seismic data, gathered from multiple earthquakes over three decades,

The emission properties of three long-period pulsars have been observed through the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). Detailed findings of the study highlight various pulsar emission behaviours, including null phases, asymmetric emissions, and microstructure pulses. The research, conducted as part of the Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey (CRAFTS), aimed to deepen the understanding of