Science

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the Caucasus Mountains where an ancient Bronze Age settlement, Dmanisis Gora, has been mapped using drone technology. This site, believed to be over 3,000 years old, reveals new insights into the evolution of large-scale settlements during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Spanning an area far

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) mission which was scheduled for Thursday, after the satellites drifted more than expected during a manoeuvre, ISRO said in a statement on Wednesday. This is the second time that the docking experiment has been postponed.It was originally scheduled for January 7. In

The highly anticipated debut launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket has been scheduled for January 10, 2025. The heavy-lift rocket, designed for both commercial and government missions, will take off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A launch window of three hours, beginning at 1 a.m. EST, has been announced. The rocket’s inaugural

New research has revealed that spiders use specialised hairs on their legs to detect airborne scents, offering fresh insights into the sensory abilities of these arachnids. This discovery has resolved a long-standing question about how spiders, which lack antennae like insects, can identify odours such as pheromones. Male spiders were observed using olfactory hairs, known

A 2,300-year-old marble statuette discovered in Alexandria, Egypt, has offered new insights into how dwarves were perceived during the Ptolemaic period (332–150 B.C.). Depicting a muscular, nude dwarf in motion, the 4-inch sculpture reflects a combination of Egyptian and Greek artistic traditions. Despite missing its arms, legs, and part of the head, the craftsmanship of

The surface temperature of the moon experiences extreme variations, making it one of the harshest environments in the solar system. During lunar daylight, temperatures can soar to over 100 degrees Celsius, while in darkness, they can plummet to minus 100 degrees Celsius. These fluctuations are caused by the absence of an atmosphere, which on Earth

The ancient Rujm el-Hiri site, situated in the Golan Heights and often referred to as the “Wheel of Ghosts,” has been re-evaluated, with its long-standing identification as an astronomical observatory coming under scrutiny. Researchers have determined that geodynamic changes over millions of years have altered the site’s orientation, raising questions about its original purpose. These

Blue Origin is gearing up for the inaugural launch of its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket, marking a significant step forward for the company in the competitive space industry. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an alert indicating that the launch window will open on Monday, January 6, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

A novel crystal-based technology has been identified as a potential solution for sustainable cooling systems. Current refrigeration and air conditioning devices rely on liquid-based systems to absorb heat through evaporation and condensation. While effective, these fluids contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions when leaked, intensifying global warming. Efforts to counteract this environmental impact have led

The study of the Sun and its influence on the solar system is expected to make significant strides in 2025. The year will bring new developments driven by an active solar cycle, upcoming spacecraft missions, and a strategic roadmap for the next decade. Researchers are focused on unlocking key mysteries of the sun, whose activity

The first confirmed case of a female burial with weapons from the 10th century in the Carpathian Basin, Hungary, has been uncovered. Skeletal remains and grave goods, including weaponry, were identified at the Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld cemetery. This discovery, described by experts, challenges prior assumptions about societal roles during the Hungarian Conquest period, a time marked by

India’s premier space research organisation, ISRO, is reportedly gearing up for an ambitious year, marking a series of groundbreaking developments in space exploration and technology. The agenda includes critical experiments like the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex), advancements in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program and the maiden launch of a privately constructed PSLV. These projects signify

Supermassive black holes are believed to exist at the centre of most galaxies, including our Milky Way. However, in certain cases, two such black holes are thought to orbit one another, forming binary systems. These gravitationally bound pairs could provide significant insights into the dynamics of galaxy formation and the behaviour of space-time. Detecting them,

Human remains from the period following Roman rule in Britain are being studied with a groundbreaking DNA analysis technique. Researchers aim to unravel mysteries surrounding the transition to Anglo-Saxon dominance and understand how populations interacted during this time. The method promises to reveal genetic changes spanning just a few hundred years, offering insights into migration

The possibility of retrieving memories from a deceased person’s brain is being explored by neuroscientists, though the process is considered highly complex and technically challenging. Efforts to understand memory storage in the brain have made significant progress, with scientists identifying engrams — physical traces of memories formed by groups of neurons. These discoveries have sparked

A significant biodiversity survey conducted in Peru’s Alto Mayo region has led to the discovery of at least 27 new species, including a striking ‘blob-headed’ bristlemouth armored catfish from the genus Chaetostoma. The research, carried out in 2022, highlighted the region’s ecological importance, spanning approximately 780,700 hectares in the San Martín department. The survey documented

A new material with stretchable, flexible, and recyclable properties has been created by researchers using a 3D printing technique. It is said that the material, made from thermoplastic elastomers, allows objects to possess customisable stiffness and flexibility. The technique combines cost-effectiveness with scalability, making it suitable for industrial use. These advancements are expected to pave

An international team of astronomers has studied a nearby galaxy cluster merger, offering new insights into the processes of galactic collisions. Observations of CIZA J0107.7+5408, a post-core passage binary cluster merger, were carried out using the Very Large Array (VLA). These findings have shed light on the intricate dynamics of merging galaxy clusters, which are

Frogs around the world are being severely impacted by the chytrid fungus, which has led to population declines in over 500 species and the presumed extinction of approximately 90 species. This invasive pathogen is disrupting ecosystems and causing significant biodiversity loss. Innovative methods to combat this threat have emerged, focusing on providing frogs with heated

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) inaugural space docking mission has been launched aboard an indigenous PSLV-C60 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. The mission, termed the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), is designed to establish India as the fourth nation to achieve this advanced technological capability. Two spacecraft, weighing approximately 220 kg