Science

The remains of a young pregnant woman, who lived approximately 1,200 years ago during the Manteño period in Ecuador, have been unearthed by archaeologists. Her grave contained a striking combination of artifacts and evidence of violent death, which has led researchers to suspect ritual sacrifice. The discovery was made at the Buen Suceso site, where

A significant discovery has been made in the field of astronomy, with 19 new quasars, including strongly-lensed, dual, and projected types, identified through analysis of data from the DESI Legacy Surveys photometry catalog. This breakthrough highlights the potential of quasar observations in furthering our understanding of the universe. These objects, known for their extreme luminosity

Astronauts returning from extended space missions are reported to experience significant changes in eye health, linked to prolonged exposure to microgravity. Researchers have identified that the altered blood flow and pressure conditions in space can lead to vision problems. These changes are primarily associated with a condition termed spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), affecting around 70

For the first time, astronomers have directly observed a supermassive black hole ejecting a jet of plasma traveling at one-third the speed of light. This rare phenomenon, located 270 million light-years away in the constellation Draco, centers around the black hole at the heart of galaxy 1ES 1927+654, which holds a mass 1.4 billion times

The bright protostar T Tauri, situated 471 light-years away in the Taurus constellation, is expected to vanish from view for decades. This dimming phenomenon, triggered by a thick disk of gas and dust surrounding its companion stars, could last up to a century. Astronomers have been observing this system, comprising three growing stars, for decades

Researchers have achieved a milestone in quantum computing by integrating 1,024 silicon-based quantum dots with digital and analog on-chip electronics, all operating at cryogenic temperatures below 1 Kelvin. This innovation is expected to advance the development of scalable quantum computing systems, which have long faced challenges in balancing scalability, performance, and energy efficiency. The integration

India’s journey toward human space exploration marked a critical step with the dispatch of the Crew Module for the first uncrewed mission under the Gaganyaan project. The module, integrated with a liquid propulsion system at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Bengaluru, has been sent to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This

A new category of magnetism, identified as “altermagnetism,” has been discovered, potentially unlocking new advancements in superconducting materials and magnetic memory devices. This development, made by researchers using advanced imaging techniques, highlights how altermagnetism bridges the gap between two previously established types of magnetism. This breakthrough could lead to faster and more secure data storage

A groundbreaking discovery in graphene research has unveiled a new class of quantum states in a precisely engineered structure. Scientists from the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University of Washington, and Johns Hopkins University identified topological electronic crystals in a twisted bilayer–trilayer graphene system. The structure was created by stacking two-dimensional graphene layers with

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

Evidence of hominin activity has been discovered in Romania, dating back approximately 1.95 million years, significantly altering the timeline of human presence in Europe. Fossil remains, found at the Grăunceanu site in the Olteț River Valley, have provided the earliest known proof of hominin activity in the region. This discovery indicates that early humans reached

SpaceX marked a significant achievement during the launch of 27 Starlink satellites from California on January 21, 2025. The mission, conducted from Vandenberg Space Force Base, witnessed the Falcon 9 rocket completing a successful return of its first stage to a drone ship positioned at sea. This marked the 400th orbital-class rocket landing for the

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

Recent seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander could provide answers to a 50-year-old puzzle concerning Mars’ unique structure. The planet is divided into the northern lowlands and southern highlands, separated by significant differences in elevation and crust thickness. This phenomenon, referred to as the “Martian dichotomy,” has perplexed scientists for decades. Clues from seismic activity

A paralysed individual, aged 69, has successfully piloted a virtual drone using a brain-computer interface (BCI) that interprets neural signals. This innovative achievement has enabled the participant to navigate a video-game obstacle course by imagining specific finger movements. The breakthrough device, which bridges brain activity and real-time control, demonstrates potential applications for assisting those with

Two young stars have been captured in a new image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, located in the Orion Nebula, a well-known region for star formation. The stars, named HOPS 150 and HOPS 153, are situated approximately 1,300 light-years from Earth. The Orion Nebula is considered the closest massive star-forming region to Earth and

A rare and exceptionally well-preserved Corinthian helmet, believed to have been used by Greek hoplite warriors, is set to go under the hammer later this month in London. Crafted from bronze and dating back to between 500 and 450 B.C., the helmet showcases the artistry of ancient Greek warfare. Such helmets, designed to cover most

A novel transparent conducting polymer, n-doped poly(benzodifurandione) (n-PBDF), has been developed by researchers at Purdue University, showing potential for advancing electrochromic displays. Designed to meet the increasing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable technologies, the polymer enables displays with low energy requirements, bistability, and full-colour capabilities. This innovation marks a step towards displays that operate using

Direct soil carbon measurement techniques are being explored as a method to improve accuracy in carbon credit markets, especially in agriculture. Measuring stored soil carbon rather than relying on predictive models can provide solid data on the effectiveness of climate-smart agricultural practices. It is believed that this method will enhance the reliability of carbon credits,

A significant revelation about the dietary habits of early human ancestors suggests a strong reliance on plant-based foods rather than meat consumption. Evidence from fossilised teeth of Australopithecus africanus has provided a clearer picture of their dietary preferences. These findings, based on the chemical composition of tooth enamel, indicate that this early bipedal species, existing