Science

On September 17, 2024, a fascinating asteroid named 2024 ON zipped past Earth, offering scientists a rare view of a snowman-shaped space rock. While the object was classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid due to its proximity to our planet, it posed no immediate threat and passed safely at a distance of 620,000 miles. Radar

Semi-aquatic lizards, such as the water anole (Anolis aquaticus), have a unique ability to stay submerged for extended periods by creating an air bubble around their snout. This behaviour, first observed in 2018, has now been confirmed in 18 other anole species. The air bubble helps the lizards breathe while underwater, enabling them to remain

In 1859, when Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, the Earth experienced one of the most powerful solar storms in recorded history. Telegraph systems across Europe and North America malfunctioned, sparking fires in some places. This event, later known as the Carrington event, was preceded by the first confirmed observation of a solar

An asteroid, about the size of a city bus, will soon become a “mini-moon” as it will get caught in Earth’s gravitational pull. Named 2024 PT5, this asteroid is expected to enter Earth’s orbit on September 29, 2024, and will stay until November 25. While the term “mini-moon” may sound peculiar, it is used by

The traditional view of black holes, as proposed by Karl Schwarzschild in 1916, suggests they consist of two main features: a singularity and an event horizon. This model faces challenges when combined with quantum mechanics, especially following Stephen Hawking’s discovery of Hawking radiation in the 1970s. According to this theory, black holes emit radiation due

Recent mathematical research has unveiled a fascinating new class of shapes known as “soft cells.” These shapes, characterised by their rounded corners and pointed tips, have been identified as prevalent throughout nature, from the intricate chambers of nautilus shells to the way seeds arrange themselves within plants. This groundbreaking work delves into the principles of

The life of a Roman gladiator was filled with violence and danger, but the notion that these fighters always battled to the death is somewhat exaggerated. Historical evidence shows that while fatalities did occur, they were not as commonplace as popular media suggests. Researcher Alfonso Manas from the University of California, Berkeley, told LiveScience that

Chinese scientists have made a major breakthrough in lunar exploration by analysing samples from the far side of the Moon, collected during the Chang’e-6 mission. The study, conducted by the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other leading institutions, has revealed significant differences in the composition of this unexplored region, marking

An international team of researchers, led by scientists from Stockholm University’s Department of Astronomy, has discovered a higher number of black holes in the early universe than was previously recorded. Using the NASA Hubble Space Telescope, this team found black holes among faint galaxies formed shortly after the Big Bang event. These findings may help

NASA‘s Europa Clipper mission is on track for its scheduled October 10 launch, aiming to explore Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. Scientists believe Europa could be one of the most promising places to find the conditions for life beyond Earth. The spacecraft will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometres) to study whether the moon’s icy

Chandrayaan-4 mission has received approval from the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday. This marks another significant milestone in India’s lunar exploration efforts. Unlike previous missions, Chandrayaan-4 will not only aim for a successful landing on the Moon but will also focus on returning to Earth. This mission will demonstrate critical

A recent excavation in Egypt has uncovered a 3,200-year-old military barracks containing a treasure trove of ancient artefacts, including a sword inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Ramesses II. This discovery sheds light on Egypt’s military operations during Ramesses II’s reign, a time when threats from the Libyans were growing. The barracks also contained storerooms

Earth will have a close encounter with the asteroid Apophis, also known as the “God of Destruction” on Friday, April 13, 2029. Named after the Egyptian deity of chaos, this massive asteroid will come within 19,000 miles (30,600 kilometres) of our planet, close enough to be visible to the naked eye. However, recent research suggests that

MIT physicists have put forward a theory that the wobble in Mars’ orbit could be caused by primordial black holes, which may constitute dark matter. According to the research, these tiny black holes formed after the Big Bang and could be passing through our solar system, affecting the orbit of planets like Mars. David Kaiser,

Astronomers have reportedly detected an extraordinary event – a deep space radio signal that took 8 billion years to reach Earth. The radio burst, named FRB 20220610A, is one of the most powerful and distant signals ever captured. Fast radio bursts (FRBs) like this are brief but incredibly strong, leaving scientists questioning their origins. The burst

Primordial black holes, formed shortly after the Big Bang, may pass through our solar system every decade, according to recent research. These black holes, much smaller and lighter than typical ones, could cause minor gravitational disruptions that scientists could detect. Researchers suggest that tracking these disruptions may help understand dark matter, an elusive substance believed

Cosmology stands at a potential turning point, with the NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) poised to address longstanding issues in the field. For years, the standard cosmological model has been the gold standard, explaining the universe’s composition as 68 percent dark energy, 27 percent dark matter, and 5 percent ordinary matter. This model has

New research from the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA‘s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission reveals that Mars sheds water more quickly when it is closest to the Sun. These seasonal changes are tied to the planet’s orbit, where the increased solar heating during perihelion accelerates the escape of hydrogen atoms from Mars’ atmosphere.

The rise of conspiracy theories on the internet has become a major concern, with some theories leading to significant harm and misinformation. A recent study from MIT Sloan School of Management and Cornell University suggests that AI chatbots could be a powerful tool in combating these false beliefs. The study, published in Science, shows that

A recent study has highlighted the potential of metformin, a commonly used diabetes medication, in slowing the ageing process in monkeys. Published in Cell on 12 September, the research shows that daily doses of metformin can preserve cognitive function and delay the ageing effects on various tissues, particularly the brain. This study brings forward the