Science

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will make a close approach to Venus on Wednesday, marking the spacecraft’s seventh and final flyby of the planet. This manoeuvre will set the probe on a course for its historic plunge toward the sun, bringing it within 3.8 million miles of our star’s surface — closer than any human-made object

India is setting its sights on the moon once more as it is aiming to launch the ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission in 2028. This upcoming mission, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), seeks to return samples from the moon’s south pole. The mission plans to retrieve 3 kilograms of lunar material from areas believed

India has delayed its inaugural astronaut mission under the Gaganyaan programme to 2026, pushing the timeline a year beyond the original schedule. The decision, announced by S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), reflects a commitment to safety in light of recent aerospace industry setbacks. According to Somanath, India’s first manned mission

Researchers at the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, led by Professor Shaofeng Liu, have shed light on the mysterious transformation of the North China Craton (NCC). This research, published in Nature Geoscience, presents a breakthrough model that explains the processes behind the craton’s gradual erosion, which began in the Mesozoic era. Using detailed mantle-flow

The Hang Son Doong cave in Vietnam, located in Quang Binh Province within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park currently holds the title as the largest known cave in the world. With dimensions exceeding three miles (5 km) in length and 660 feet (200 m) in height, this natural wonder could house 15 Great Pyramids of

A study led by atmospheric scientists at Colorado State University reveals that western boundary currents, powerful ocean currents along coastlines, have a greater impact on local climate variability than previously recognised. Researchers James Larson, David Thompson and James Hurrell shared their findings in Nature. They showed how these currents influence temperature and atmospheric patterns in

NASA’s Perseverance rover which is positioned in the Jezero Crater on Mars, recently observed a remarkable celestial event as the moon Phobos drifted across the Sun. Captured on September 30, this moment offered a rare glimpse into Mars’ sky, where the unique “googly eye” effect of the eclipse unfolded for the rover’s Mastcam-Z camera. The

South Korea’s space agency announced plans on Friday to launch a solar coronagraph to the International Space Station (ISS) in a collaborative mission with NASA. Developed as part of the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX), this instrument is set to observe and gather data on the Sun’s corona and the solar wind as well as the

An unprecedented nine-day tsunami following a significant rockslide in Greenland’s Dickson Fjord was recently recorded by the international Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, a collaborative mission by NASA and France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES). The event, which took place in September 2023, saw a unique pattern of seismic waves resonate around the

ESA’s Proba-3 mission, designed to create solar eclipses in space to study the Sun’s corona, has officially left European soil and is en route to its launch site in India. This dual-spacecraft mission departed from Redwire Space’s facility in Kruibeke, Belgium, to travel to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre near Chennai, where the final launch

Earth recently captured a small asteroid known as 2024 PT5, temporarily transforming it into a second moon. This rare event was confirmed by astronomers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Complutense University of Madrid, offering a glimpse into these elusive “mini-moons” that Earth occasionally holds within its orbit. However, Earth’s newly acquired companion is

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC—James) recently conducted a survey revealing a worrying knowledge gap about pancreatic cancer in adults under 50. Although pancreatic cancer is increasingly diagnosed in younger people, the survey found that over half of respondents did not recognise its

In an unprecedented find for Hong Kong, scientists have uncovered the city’s first-ever dinosaur fossils on Port Island. Preliminary analysis suggests that the bones likely belonged to a large Cretaceous-era dinosaur, an era dating back 145 to 66 million years. Officials have stated that further studies are necessary to determine the specific species, marking an

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission is set to provide unprecedented insight into the Moon’s hidden water. Built by Lockheed Martin and managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this small satellite aims to locate, measure, and understand water on the lunar surface. Launching next year, the Trailblazer will play a pivotal role in discovering the forms and

A study from the University of North Carolina reveals a potential link between early-life sleep disruptions and autism risk. The research shows that when young children miss out on sleep, it could affect their brain development, which might increase the likelihood of neurodevelopmental issues. For infants and young children, sleep is critical. It’s during sleep

Researchers at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a highly innovative drug delivery solution: a  grain-sized magnetically-guided robot that is capable of delivering multiple drugs directly to precise areas within the body. This advancement, led by NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, could soon transform medical treatments by providing highly controlled and noninvasive

China is starting onn an ambitious plan to make its Tiangong space station better. They aim to increase the station’s operational capabilities. Tiangong, China’s orbital outpost, has been fully operational since November 2022, following the addition of the Mengtian science module. The space station, which features a three-module T-shape design, is currently functioning in low

Astronomers have identified a new organic molecule, 1-cyanopyrene in interstellar space. This finding provides insights into how carbon-rich compounds form and survive in these regions. Carbon is crucial for life on Earth and its presence in space has been a key area of research. Scientists believed that carbon-rich stars released small carbon molecules that could

Twins Matthew and Michael Youlden have developed a unique language called Umeri, spoken exclusively by them. The Youlden twins, originally from Manchester, UK, are known for their linguistic abilities, each fluent in 25 languages. However, Umeri holds a special place in their hearts. They first started creating the language as children, and it has grown

A team of Chinese biologists has discovered how a new tardigrade species, Hypsibius henanensis, that can survive extreme radiation exposure. The research highlights the unique mechanisms within this recently identified tardigrade from Henan Province. Known for their resilience in extreme conditions, tardigrades are able to endure environments that would prove fatal for most other organisms—even