Science

Scientists have long been fascinated by the potential of DNA for data storage, which offers a compact and efficient alternative to traditional digital storage methods. Recent advancements at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have taken this concept further, drawing inspiration from the film Jurassic Park. In this film, scientists extract dinosaur DNA preserved in

The Taurid Meteoroid Complex, once feared for possibly hiding large, civilisation-destroying asteroids, has been found to be less threatening than originally believed. Quanzhi Ye, an astronomer at the University of Maryland, and his team conducted an extensive survey using the Zwicky Transient Facility at California’s Palomar Observatory. Their findings suggest the risk of being struck

On October 13, 2024, SpaceX launched its Starship vehicle from South Texas. This mission is particularly notable for successfully capturing its Super Heavy booster at the launch site, marking a significant achievement in aerospace technology. The successful launch and recovery illustrate SpaceX’s commitment to advancing reusable rocket technology, which is vital for reducing costs and

Recent research indicates that individuals with type A blood may have a higher likelihood of experiencing a stroke before the age of 60 compared to those with different blood types. Blood types are determined by specific chemicals found on the surfaces of red blood cells, with the main types being A, B, AB, and O.

In recent years, injectable medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have emerged as powerful tools for weight loss and managing blood sugar levels. These drugs, which act as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have garnered significant attention, leading to soaring sales and becoming billion-dollar products. However, their high costs, typically ranging from £800 to £1,000 per month,

Blue Origin‘s latest attempt to launch its second human-rated New Shepard rocket, designated NS-27, has been delayed due to a GPS malfunction. Originally scheduled for liftoff on October 13th at 9:27 AM EDT (6:57 PM GMT), the mission was intended to send a newly developed rocket-capsule combination into suborbital space. This setback follows a previous cancellation

NASA Europa Clipper mission, aiming to explore the icy moon Europa, one of Jupiter’s most intriguing satellites. Scientists believe that underneath this icy surface lies a vast ocean, which could provide the necessary conditions for life as we know it. The Europa Clipper spacecraft will undertake 49 flybys of Europa, using advanced instruments to study its

Recent advancements in quantum computing have revealed that Google’s 67-qubit Sycamore processor can outperform the fastest classical supercomputers. This breakthrough, detailed in a study published in Nature on October 9, 2024, indicates a new phase in quantum computation known as the “weak noise phase.” Understanding the Weak Noise Phase The research, spearheaded by Alexis Morvan

The comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known as C/2023 A3, has become a stunning sight for observers in the Northern Hemisphere since October 11, 2024. After a long journey that began tens of thousands of years ago, this celestial body has recently passed near the Sun and is now making its way back towards Earth. It cane

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has announced the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2024, recognising the significant contributions of three remarkable scientists. David Baker from the University of Washington and Howard Hughes Medical Institute has been awarded one half of the prize for his pioneering work in computational protein design. The other half is

New research has uncovered how the brain organises daily experiences into meaningful segments, much like scenes in a film. While we perceive life as a continuous flow, our brains automatically break memories into distinct moments. Scientists have long debated whether these boundaries are set by environmental changes or if they are determined by personal interpretation.

A powerful solar storm is predicted to reach Earth on Thursday, 10th October, according to forecasters from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The storm could generate stunning auroras and affect radio communications, power grids, and satellites. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC) has issued a G4-class geomagnetic storm warning, the second-highest level

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and New Horizons spacecraft have joined forces to observe Uranus, a planet known for its mysterious atmosphere. Hubble, from its position in low-Earth orbit, captured detailed images of Uranus‘ atmosphere, including clouds and storms, while New Horizons, located 6.5 billion miles away, observed the planet as a small dot. These combined

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick recently shared a breathtaking timelapse video featuring vivid red and green auroras from space. The mesmerising footage was captured aboard the Dragon Endeavor spacecraft on 8 October, as it orbited the Earth. These natural light displays, known as auroras, occur due to solar activity interacting with Earth’s atmosphere, creating stunning visuals

Hurricane Milton, which intensified from a tropical storm on Sunday to a Category 5 hurricane by Monday, is a prime example of how quickly hurricanes can escalate. With sustained winds reaching 180 mph (298 km/h), Milton weakened slightly before potentially making landfall on the Florida coast around 9th or 10th October 2024. This leads to

On 7th October 2024, an active sunspot, AR 3842, fired an X2.1-class solar flare, causing temporary radio blackouts across parts of North and South America and over the Pacific Ocean. This event followed another powerful flare from the same sunspot just days earlier. On 3rd October, AR 3842 unleashed the strongest solar flare of Solar

A recent discussion among experts highlights a critical gap in the United States’ capacity for in-space rescues. As human spaceflight missions become more common, the absence of a dedicated “space rescue service” raises concerns about the safety of astronauts in distress. The historical lessons from missions like Apollo and the space shuttle seem to have

In the next few weeks, NASA will embark on a significant mission to Europa, the fourth-largest moon of Jupiter. Named Europa Clipper, this spacecraft is designed to search for potential signs of life. While Mars is often the focal point in the quest for life beyond Earth, Europa presents a promising alternative due to its

An unexpected discovery concerning gene regulation has earned Victor Ambros from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and Gary Ruvkun from Harvard Medical School the 2024 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. The duo’s research identified small RNA segments, known as microRNAs, which play a significant role in regulating protein production in the body.

NASA‘s Curiosity rover, currently exploring Gale Crater on Mars, has revealed critical insights into the planet’s ancient climate. The research uncovers how Mars transformed from a potentially habitable environment, abundant in liquid water, to the cold, arid landscape we see today. An artist’s concept illustrates early Mars, where liquid water may have existed in river