Science

Patients suffering from chronic pain have limited treatment options, often relying on medications like opioids that come with harmful side effects and high addiction risks. A new study in mice, published in Current Biology journal, suggests a new way to use the placebo effect for treating chronic pain. By activating specific neurons in the brain

In 2006, a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome began decimating bat populations across New England. Over the following decade, the loss of these bats, essential for controlling insect populations, led to significant consequences for agriculture and human health, according to a new study. With fewer bats around to consume insects, farmers resorted to increased use

NASA is offering digital content creators the chance to witness the launch of the Europa Clipper spacecraft, a mission aimed at exploring Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. This mission will help scientists determine if the moon has the potential to support life, with research suggesting an ocean beneath its frozen crust. The spacecraft, equipped with nine

On September 4, a small asteroid named 2024 RW1 burned up in the atmosphere above Luzon Island, Philippines. As per the Catalina Sky Survey, the asteroid, roughly 1 metre in diameter, posed no threat as it entered the atmosphere at a speed of 17.6 kilometres per second. NASA confirmed that these events happen every two

In Siberia, a massive crater emerged explosively in the tundra, sending ice and rock hundreds of feet away and creating a large circular scar. This event marked the 17th crater discovered in the Yamal and Gyda peninsulas since 2013, attracting significant scientific interest. The craters are believed to be linked to climate change, with modern

August saw the highest number of sunspots in nearly 23 years, according to recent data. With an average of 215.5 daily sunspots, this marks a significant increase from the forecasted number, which was less than half of the actual count. The latest figures suggest that the sun’s solar maximum, a phase of heightened activity in

Saturn’s rings, one of the most unique features of our solar system, are set to become nearly invisible in March 2025. This rare phenomenon will occur due to Saturn’s unique axial tilt, which will align the rings edge-on with Earth’s line of sight. The result is a brief period where these majestic rings will be

Indian researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) in Mohali, led by Dr. Bhanu Prakash, have developed a new technique to address chromium contamination in wastewater. This technique employs sunlight as a catalyst in combination with microfluidic technology to convert toxic hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] into the less harmful trivalent chromium [Cr(III)]. This

A recent advancement in quantum communication technology has seen scientists develop an exceptionally bright light source capable of generating quantum-entangled photons. This innovation holds significant promise for the future of secure and high-speed quantum communications. Published on 24 July in the journal eLight, the study reveals how combining existing technologies has led to the creation

The immune system found in humans and all other complex life forms might have evolved from an ancient species of microbes known as Asgard archaea, as per new research. These microbes, believed to have emerged around 2 billion years ago, have provided insight into the origins of vital proteins that help organisms fend off viruses.

Tensions between Brazil and Elon Musk’s business empire ratcheted up further as the country’s telecoms regulator threatened to sanction his satellite broadband company Starlink hours after its top court stood behind a controversial decision to ban social network X from the country. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also backed the top court’s Judge

Glaciers have long served as nature’s deep freezers, preserving the physical characteristics of past climates and the genetic blueprints of ancient life forms, including viruses. As the planet’s climate continues to shift, scientists are increasingly looking to these frozen archives to understand how pathogens have historically responded to environmental changes. By studying viral genomes extracted

NASA has announced that Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which is currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS), will return to Earth without astronauts on board. The undocking is scheduled for September 6, 2024, at 6:04 p.m. EDT, with the capsule expected to land in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico, six hours later. This mission

Extreme heat waves are not only a growing threat to humans but also to vital pollinators like bumble bees. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals that heat waves can significantly impair bumble bees’ ability to detect the scents of flowers they depend on for food. This discovery raises

For the first time, scientists have successfully detected and measured an invisible electric field enveloping Earth. This field, known as the ambipolar field, was first theorised over 60 years ago and its discovery marks a significant advancement in our understanding of Earth’s atmospheric dynamics. Glyn Collinson, an astronomer at NASA‘s Goddard Space Flight Center, and

NASA has announced that astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will be launching on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than Tuesday, September 24, 2024. This update comes after changes to the mission’s crew composition. Originally, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were also part of

In 2023, scientists discovered subtle ripples in the fabric of spacetime, known as gravitational waves, originating from pulsar timing arrays. These low-frequency waves were initially thought to be the result of a phase transition that occurred shortly after the Big Bang. However, new research has cast doubt on this explanation, suggesting that our understanding of

For the first time in history, a NASA-funded researcher will accompany their experiment on a commercial suborbital rocket. This milestone will take place aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket system, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than Thursday, August 29. The experiment, developed by a team from the University of Florida in Gainesville,

A significant portion of the Atlantic Ocean near the equator experienced a rapid and unprecedented cooling over the summer months, leaving scientists puzzled about the cause. While the temperatures in the area have started to climb back to normal levels, the reasons behind this sudden drop remain unclear. The cold patch, which appeared in early

Researchers from IIT Guwahati and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have made a surprising discovery that could reshape our understanding of X-ray pulsars. They found that the X-rays emitted by Swift J0243.6+6124, the first known Galactic Ultraluminous X-ray Pulsar, exhibit an unexpectedly low level of polarization. This pulsar, which is located within our galaxy,