Science

Pipes designed to enable one-way liquid flow without the use of valves have been developed, drawing inspiration from the intestinal structure of sharks. Tesearchers at the University of Washington have created tubes featuring an internal helix, which mimics the corkscrew-shaped intestines found in sharks. This design may pave the way for more durable fluid transport

India’s space programme achieved a significant milestone on December 18, 2024, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) began assembling the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC). This marks the commencement of the Gaganyaan-G1 launch campaign, the first uncrewed mission under the ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. The assembly

New research on PDS 70b, a forming exoplanet located approximately 400 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus, suggests that prevailing models of planet formation may require revision. According to a study published in Astrophysical Journal Letters, astronomers found a mismatch between the chemical composition of the planet’s atmosphere and the surrounding protoplanetary disk from which

NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who embarked on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024, will now extend their stay on the International Space Station (ISS) until March 2025. The return, initially set for February, has been postponed due to a delay in SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission, NASA confirmed on December 17. The decision was

The discovery of 4,000-year-old human remains at Charterhouse Warren in Somerset has unveiled a harrowing chapter of British prehistory. The analysis of over 3,000 bone fragments belonging to at least 37 individuals, ranging from newborns to adults, has indicated an unprecedented level of violence. The findings, published in Antiquity, revealed evidence of scalping, decapitation, defleshing,

New research has drawn inspiration from Deinococcus radiodurans, a bacterium capable of withstanding extreme radiation levels, to create a potential antioxidant that may protect humans from ionising radiation. Known as “Conan the Bacterium,” this microbe has been studied for its extraordinary resistance to radiation doses far beyond what humans can endure. In a study published

NASA’s retired InSight Mars lander was recently spotted by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in an image taken on October 23, 2024, using its High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. The image shows dust build-up on the lander’s solar panels, which now match the reddish-brown colour of the Martian surface. Reports suggest this observation continues

Astronomers have identified a significant population of previously undetected asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, according to research published on December 9, 2024, in Nature. This discovery was made through analysis of archival images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Among these asteroids, some have been found on trajectories that could

An ancient silver amulet, discovered in a third-century grave near Frankfurt, Germany, is being hailed as a groundbreaking find that reshapes perspectives on the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. According to a study published by the Leibniz Center for Archaeology (LEIZA) on December 11, the artefact, dated between AD 230 and 270, contains

Underground saltwater intrusion is expected to severely affect three out of every four coastal regions globally by the year 2100, according to findings published in Geophysical Research Letters. The research, a collaboration between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the U.S. Department of Defense, highlights significant risks to freshwater resources in coastal aquifers due to

A humpback whale has undertaken an extraordinary migration spanning over 8,000 miles and three oceans, breaking records for the longest documented journey between breeding grounds. This exceptional voyage, reported in Royal Society Open Science, is believed to be influenced by changing oceanic conditions or evolving mating strategies, as suggested by researchers. According to Professor Darren

A galaxy nicknamed the Firefly Sparkle has been detected by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, marking a significant discovery. According to research published in Nature on December 11, this galaxy existed approximately 600 million years after the Big Bang and has a mass similar to the Milky Way at a comparable stage of development. The

Recent research, published in Nature, has raised questions about the volcanic processes occurring on Jupiter’s moon Io, particularly regarding the absence of a global magma ocean beneath its surface. Data collected by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, combined with historical information from the Galileo mission, suggest that Io’s interior is more solid than previously believed. This revelation

A major glacial lake outburst flood, among the largest ever recorded, has been documented in East Greenland, releasing more than 3,000 billion litres of meltwater, as per reports. The event, observed by researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute, took place between September 23 and October 11 and was caused by the sudden

A decade of observations from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled significant changes in the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, as per reports. These findings, gathered as part of NASA’s Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) programme, were presented at the American Geophysical Union’s December meeting in Washington, D.C. The OPAL initiative has tracked

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is expected to make a record-breaking flyby of the sun on December 24, as reported during the Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). The spacecraft, approximately the size of a small car, will approach within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometres) of the sun’s surface, travelling at an unprecedented

New research has indicated a strong connection between warm, sunny days on Mars and the occurrence of dust storms, with nearly 78 percent of storms preceded by increased solar heating, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Washington, D.C. The study, led by Heshani Pieris and Paul

Indian researchers have analysed a significant solar event using data from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) onboard the Aditya-L1 mission, as per reports. As India’s first solar observation mission, Aditya-L1 observed a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on July 16, 2024, providing valuable insights into the Sun’s dynamic outer atmosphere. This event, characterised by a

A significant discovery has been made in Jerusalem by a team led by Dr. Azriel Yechezkel from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Researchers have identified 50 cave pearls within the Joweizeh Spring Tunnel, a historic waterway near Jerusalem’s Old City. Among the findings, 14 pearls contained pottery fragments, and two included plaster remains, marking the

A chamber believed to have hosted ritual gatherings as early as 37,000 years ago has been uncovered in the depths of Manot Cave in northern Israel. Archaeologists estimate the space, illuminated by torchlight during ceremonies, could accommodate up to 100 individuals. The findings, led by Omry Barzilai from the University of Haifa, suggest ritualistic activities