Science

Satellites equipped with solar sails may soon improve early warnings for space weather events that could disrupt technological infrastructure on Earth. These sails, which harness light from the sun for propulsion, are being explored as a cost-effective alternative to traditional propulsion systems. Scientists believe this advancement could enhance monitoring of solar activity and provide earlier

China has officially announced the names for its next-generation lunar spacesuit and crewed moon rover, both essential for its planned human moon landing before 2030. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) revealed that the spacesuit will be called “Wangyu,” meaning “gazing into the cosmos,” while the rover has been named “Tansuo,” which translates to “explore.”

Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have provided insights into the rapid star formation within the Phoenix galaxy cluster, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists for years. The cluster, located 5.8 billion light-years from Earth, contains a supermassive black hole of roughly 10 billion solar masses, which typically suppresses star formation by heating surrounding

The Moon’s surface continues to undergo changes, as indicated by newly identified wrinkle ridges on its far side. Recent findings suggest that the Moon is still cooling and contracting, resulting in surface deformations that may have implications for future lunar missions. The discovery of 266 wrinkle ridges, all estimated to have formed within the past

The world’s most powerful supercomputer, El Capitan, has been officially launched at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California. Built at a cost of $600 million, the system has been designed to manage highly classified national security tasks. The primary objective of the supercomputer is to ensure the security and reliability of the U.S.

Google aims to release commercial quantum computing applications within five years, Google’s head of quantum told Reuters on Wednesday, in a challenge to Nvidia’s predictions of a 20-year wait. “We’re optimistic that within five years we’ll see real-world applications that are possible only on quantum computers,” founder and lead of Google Quantum AI Hartmut Neven

A study has found that small muscles in the human ear flex when an individual tries to focus on a particular sound in a noisy environment. These muscles, which were once crucial for movement in ancestral species, no longer play a significant role in modern human hearing. However, their activation suggests an evolutionary remnant of

Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have successfully produced oxygen and rocket fuel through artificial photosynthesis. This development could play a crucial role in China’s future lunar base by enabling resource generation on-site reducing the need for supplies from Earth. Conducted by the Shenzhou-19 crew, the experiment utilised water and carbon dioxide to create

The pace of ocean warming has intensified significantly over the past four decades, with recent data highlighting a quadrupling of heat absorption rates. This shift points to an acceleration in climate change, as oceans act as the planet’s primary heat sink. Researchers warn that if fossil fuel dependency continues, warming is expected to increase at

A near-Earth object recently classified as an asteroid has been identified as Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, which was launched into space in 2018 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The object was mistakenly listed as a new near-Earth asteroid by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center (MPC) on January 2, before the classification was

A solar storm originating from a coronal mass ejection (CME) is predicted to hit Earth between January 24 and January 25, potentially triggering auroras visible across northern regions of the United States. States like Michigan and Maine are expected to experience minor geomagnetic storm activity as electrically charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s

The mystery surrounding the Hubble tension has intensified following new findings indicating that the Coma Cluster of galaxies is 38 million light-years closer than predicted by standard cosmological models. The Hubble tension refers to a persistent discrepancy between the universe’s expansion rate as measured in the modern era and the rate predicted based on observations

China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), referred to as the “artificial sun,” has achieved a new milestone in nuclear fusion research. The reactor maintained a continuous loop of plasma for 1,066 seconds, surpassing its previous record of 403 seconds. This breakthrough, reported on January 20, 2025, represents a significant step towards realising nuclear fusion as

Finland has officially become the 53rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining the international framework aimed at promoting responsible and peaceful space exploration. The agreement was signed on January 21, 2025, during the Winter Satellite Workshop in Espoo, Finland. This milestone underscores the Nordic nation’s commitment to advancing its role in collaborative lunar exploration

Earth’s atmosphere, particularly its upper layers, remains one of the least understood regions of the planet. Despite extensive research on the lower atmosphere, scientists have struggled to collect reliable data on the mesosphere and higher regions. This atmospheric layer, which sits between the stratosphere and space, has earned the moniker “ignorosphere” due to its inaccessibility.

A system of two massive stars in the Milky Way, Wolf-Rayet 140, has been closely studied, revealing the formation and outward expansion of carbon-rich dust shells. Data from the James Webb Space Telescope has shown 17 concentric shells expanding at regular intervals, moving outward at a speed of approximately 1 percent of the speed of

A breakthrough in materials science has unveiled that carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers can be fully recycled without losing their original properties, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional materials like metals, polymers, and carbon fibers. This advancement is seen as a critical step toward reducing environmental impact in manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics.

On January 2, China tested five new rocket engines, advancing its ambitious space exploration programmes. The tests, carried out by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), took place at two locations: Beijing and Laiyuan County in Hebei Province. The engines, designed for various stages and purposes, underwent rigorous trials to evaluate their performance.

A discovery has shed light on the early evolution of nervous systems in ecdysozoan animals, a group that includes insects, nematodes, and priapulid worms. Fossil evidence from the early Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation has revealed details of the ventral nerve cord structure in ancient organisms, providing key insights into the evolutionary history of this critical component

A century-old mystery surrounding a skull discovered in Turkey has taken a surprising turn, with new evidence revealing that the remains belong to an 11-year-old boy, not Arsinoë IV, the half-sister of Cleopatra VII. The skull, unearthed in 1929 at the Octagon building in Ephesus, had long been speculated to be connected to Arsinoë, a