Science

NASA is preparing to showcase new imagery of the interstellar comet 3I ATLAS, offering the public a closer look at one of the rarest visitors to our solar system. The comet, which was discovered by the ATLAS observatory earlier this year, is only the third confirmed object to enter our solar system from elsewhere in…

Most people imagine a world without cockroaches as a cleaner, calmer place. No sudden scurrying in the kitchen, no unwelcome surprises under the sink and no pests invading food storage. But although the idea sounds appealing at first, the reality is far more complicated. Cockroaches have survived for millions of years because they fill ecological…

Interstellar objects moving through the Solar System represent a rare but scientifically valuable population of visitors that originate beyond the Sun’s gravitational reach. Their potential to collide with Earth, although extremely low in absolute terms, has attracted renewed attention as astronomers refine models that predict their paths, entry points and likely impact characteristics. Advances in…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for one of its most intensive periods of activity, with seven additional launches planned before the close of the current financial year. While India’s first human spaceflight is still scheduled for 2027, the organisation is pushing forward with rapid expansion across science, technology, and industry, according…

Most people have experienced the moment when a few seconds of a song begin looping endlessly in the mind. Scientists call this an earworm, a term derived from the German word Ohrwurm, meaning a musical itch. The name was introduced in 1979 by psychiatrist Cornelius Eckert, and it describes a brief segment of music, usually…

Olkiluoto island on the western coast of Finland used to be just an energy hub for the country bordering Russia. But with the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it became strategically important as Helsinki decided it could no longer rely on Russian energy.Up until then, the country had been receiving…

If you have ever listened to a song and suddenly felt a shiver glide across your arms or tiny bumps rise on your skin, you have experienced one of the strangest and most fascinating responses the human body creates. When music gives you goosebumps, it feels both emotional and physical, almost like your body is…

California-based aerospace startup TransAstra is developing a revolutionary inflatable device known as the Capture Bag. Designed in various sizes, this device aims to capture asteroids for mining purposes, as well as collect human-made space debris. Artist impressions illustrate how the bag could envelop small rocks or house-sized boulders in orbit, opening new possibilities for space…

The cosmos is not a tranquil place, and the space weather of distant stars is beginning to reveal its dramatic influence on orbiting planets. Among the most energetic phenomena in stellar environments are coronal mass ejections, massive expulsions of magnetised plasma capable of reshaping planetary atmospheres and magnetic fields. While the Sun has provided a…

Long before modern breeds like huskies, pugs or German shepherds existed, dogs were already journeying across continents with groups of humans. New research published in Science shows that dogs were not only living alongside people more than 10,000 years ago, but they were also far more varied in shape and size than we once imagined….

The first full-colour photograph of Earth marked a turning point in how humanity understood its planet, shifting the view from fragmented satellite snapshots to a vivid global portrait. During the late 1960s, NASA was expanding its experimental satellite programme, exploring how colour imaging could enhance weather forecasting and planetary observation. This period saw rapid innovation…

Axial Seamount is a remarkable underwater volcano situated off the coast of Oregon, drawing intense interest from the global scientific community. Recognised as the most active submarine volcano in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, Axial Seamount provides researchers with a rare opportunity to study submarine volcanism, tectonic activity, and potential geological hazards. Its eruptions can significantly…

The great cosmic joke of spicy food is that it was never meant for us to enjoy. Nature designed the chilli as a tiny red “do not touch” sign, and humans, being the only species that sees a warning label as a personal challenge, took one bite and said, “Interesting… let’s build an entire cuisine…

CAPE CANAVERAL: Intense solar storms responsible for breathtaking auroras across the US delayed the launch of Blue Origin’s big new rocket Wednesday.Already grounded by poor weather, the New Glenn rocket was poised to blast off in the afternoon with two Mars orbiters for Nasa from Florida. But five hours before the targeted liftoff, it was…

Scientists have discovered that humans may possess a previously unknown sense, a kind of “remote touch” that allows us to detect objects hidden beneath surfaces or buried in sand, without ever physically touching them. The finding, which challenges long-held assumptions about the limits of human perception, suggests that our sense of touch is far more…

The future of astronaut meals may soon involve a surprising ingredient: insects. As NASA plans longer missions to the Moon and Mars, researchers are exploring food sources that are compact, nutritious and sustainable. According to a NASA study on aquatic invertebrate protein sources for long-duration space travel, insects such as mealworms and crickets could provide…

Astronomers have detected the first-ever radio signal from the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, marking a milestone in the study of visitors from beyond our solar system. The finding, made using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope, confirms that the mysterious object is a natural comet, not an alien probe as some had speculated. Scientists say the discovery…

On a November night when most of the world was busy doomscrolling, the heavens scrolled back. Curtains of pink and green light unfurled above the plains, over mountains and strip malls, over the tired suburbs of Tennessee and the endless highways of New Mexico. For a brief moment, even Alabama looked like Iceland. The northern…

Woodpeckers are remarkable examples of natural engineering, capable of delivering rapid, powerful pecks to drill into trees, find insects, and communicate, all without causing self-injury. Although it seems as if they simply strike with their heads, a study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology shows a far more intricate system at work. The bird…