Science

A super-Earth has been confirmed in the habitable zone of a nearby star, raising possibilities for future studies on potentially life-supporting planets. The discovery follows over two decades of observations and has been credited to a team of international researchers. Initially detected two years ago, the planet, named HD 20794 d, is situated 20 light

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has dismissed reports suggesting issues in its maiden space docking mission, SpaDeX. On February 8, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, V Narayanan, clarified that no technical faults had been encountered in the docking process. He stated that the mission was progressing systematically and that further experiments were

Human remains discovered in a cave in Poland have provided evidence of cannibalism among ancient European groups, with bones showing distinct cut marks and fractures. The findings suggest that the bodies of the deceased were systematically butchered, with brains and other soft tissues extracted shortly after death. The remains, dating back 18,000 years, belong to

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.

Efforts to develop nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) for future space missions have taken a significant step forward. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), in collaboration with NASA, has conducted tests on nuclear reactor fuel designed for space travel. The trials, held at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, assessed the fuel’s ability to withstand extreme

A key milestone in India’s space technology development has been reached with the successful vacuum ignition test of the CE20 cryogenic engine. Conducted on February 7 at the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, the test simulated real space conditions for engine restart. The CE20 engine, designed for the upper

Greek authorities have responded to an intensifying earthquake swarm near Santorini by closing schools and deploying emergency teams. The tremors, which began last week, have been growing in frequency and magnitude, raising concerns over potential stronger quakes in the region. While experts have ruled out immediate volcanic activity, the situation remains unpredictable due to the

Two colossal canyons on the moon, both deeper than the Grand Canyon, were formed in under ten minutes by surges of high-speed rock debris, as per reports. These valleys, named Vallis Schrödinger and Vallis Planck, extend for 270 kilometres and 280 kilometres, respectively, with depths of up to 3.5 kilometres. Comparatively, the Grand Canyon reaches

NASA is inviting U.S. companies to collaborate on the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), a mission initially halted due to budget constraints. Designed to search for water ice near the lunar south pole, VIPER was originally planned as a $450 million project. The agency had cancelled the mission in July 2024, citing cost-saving measures.

Tiny plastic particles have been found in human brain tissue, raising concerns over their impact on health. Scientists have detected a significant increase in microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the brain over the past decades. The particles, commonly present in air, water, and food, have now been identified within human tissue, challenging previous assumptions about

A 7,000-year-old femur bone belonging to an antelope, discovered in a South African cave, has revealed the earliest confirmed use of a multi-component arrow poison. Three modified bone arrowheads were found embedded within the marrow cavity, and a recent scientific analysis has identified a mixture of plant-based toxins. This discovery provides new insight into the

Polar bears rely on their thick fur and blubber to survive in the Arctic, but recent research has revealed that their fur also plays a crucial role in preventing ice accumulation. Unlike other cold-weather animals, which rely on structural adaptations in feathers or fur, polar bears benefit from a natural oil that stops ice from

A compact neutrino detector has successfully identified antineutrinos at a nuclear power plant, marking a significant advancement in particle physics. Unlike conventional detectors that require massive infrastructure, this device weighs less than three kilograms. Despite its size, it effectively detected antineutrinos emitted from a nuclear reactor in Leibstadt, Switzerland. The experiment, which lasted 119 days,

The presence of organic molecules on the dwarf planet Ceres has been reassessed using AI analysis of data gathered by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft. Scientists have mapped regions rich in these compounds to determine whether they originated within Ceres or were delivered from external sources. Previously, it was believed that cryovolcanic activity on Ceres transported these

NASA and its international collaborators have finalised the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft no earlier than spring 2025. The mission, departing from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will see four astronauts spending up to 14 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The

New research examining data from two major cosmic surveys indicates that the universe may have evolved in a way that is more complex than previously thought. A team led by Joshua Kim and Mathew Madhavacheril at the University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, analysed data from the Atacama Cosmology

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 new research study has examined the mathematical principles governing creativity and innovation, shedding light on how novel ideas emerge. By analysing data across different domains, researchers have identified patterns that could refine the understanding of how individuals and societies generate new concepts. The study investigates two types of novelty—discovering an entirely new element and