More than 60,000 African penguins vanished from two of South Africa’s most important breeding islands in less than a decade, and scientists say they now understand why. A study published in the journal Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology has revealed that the collapse of sardine stocks triggered an unprecedented wave of starvation, wiping out more…
Observing the universe has always depended on dark skies, long exposures, and instruments designed to capture signals that are often barely distinguishable from background noise. This delicate balance is beginning to shift as satellite megaconstellations expand across low Earth orbit, increasing both in number and operational complexity. These networks support global communication services, navigation systems,…
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, has recently captured striking new observations of Comet 3I/ATLAS. In November 2025, the spacecraft employed five of its scientific instruments to study the comet, collecting crucial information about its activity, structure, and composition. These measurements are helping scientists understand the behaviour and characteristics of this interstellar visitor. Alongside…
Source: Discover Magazine Recent genetic research has uncovered that ancient humans in southern Africa lived in near-total isolation for almost 100,000 years. This long period of separation led to the development of unique genetic traits that are strikingly different from those found in modern populations. The study, which sequenced genomes from 28 ancient individuals, demonstrates…
Mars Express mission has uncovered a remarkable geological formation on Mars that resembles a butterfly. Situated in the Idaeus Fossae region, this unusual crater has intrigued scientists across the globe, providing valuable insights into the planet’s complex geological history. The butterfly shape was formed by a shallow-angle impact, which caused debris to be ejected in…
The earliest stages of the universe are often envisioned as chaotic, filled with young galaxies that lacked order or recognisable structure. Yet recent high resolution imaging from the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a galaxy that appears far more mature than expected for its epoch, offering a rare glimpse into the complexity of cosmic…
A small, rarely discussed bacterium has begun reshaping how scientists think about sterility in high security environments. Tersicoccus phoenicis was first detected in spacecraft assembly clean rooms that were engineered to be almost completely free of biological life. These facilities enforce strict contamination controls because any surviving microbe has the potential to hitch a ride…
A major new genetic study has resolved one of archaeology’s longest-running debates, confirming that modern humans first reached Australia around 60,000 years ago. The findings align with archaeological discoveries and long-held Aboriginal oral histories that point to a deep human presence on the continent far earlier than some genetic models had previously suggested.Researchers analysed nearly…
A UBC Okanagan study uses Gödel’s incompleteness theorem to argue simulations fail because the universe contains truths no algorithm can generate/ Image: The Truman Show screengrab For years, the idea that we might be living inside a giant cosmic computer has been one of the internet’s favourite existential spirals. A kind of upgraded Truman Show:…
The Geminids meteor shower is widely regarded as one of the brightest and most dependable annual celestial events. Every December, it transforms the night sky into a spectacular display of streaking lights, captivating stargazers around the world. In 2025, viewing conditions are especially favourable, with minimal moonlight during the peak nights, ensuring darker skies and…
Fossils from Venezuela reveal anacondas reached their enormous size 12.4 million years ago and have barely changed since then/ Image: YT Anacondas have long dominated the South American waterways, with modern researchers recognising around five distinct species within the genus Eunectes (literally “good swimmer”). The green anacondas , the largest of the group, still hold…
As Russian president Vladimir Putin begins his three-day visit to India on Thursday, the Russian space agency Roscosmos has suggested that both countries are set to elevate cooperation in the space sector. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov told Russian newspaper Izvestia that an announcement on space cooperation would be made as soon as “literally the day…
The asteroid Bennu is providing scientists with critical insights into the early solar system and the origins of life. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission successfully returned pristine samples to Earth, enabling unprecedented analysis. Recent studies published in Nature Geosciences and Nature Astronomy highlight three groundbreaking discoveries. Researchers identified sugars essential for life, including ribose and glucose, which…
BENGALURU: Biomoneta has become the first Indian healthtech company to receive US-FDA 510(k) Class II clearance for a medical air-cleaning device, marking a key milestone in its efforts to expand into the US healthcare market.“The clearance covers the Biomoneta Avata Rx Medical Recirculating Air Cleaner, which is built on the company’s patented ZeBox technology. Unlike…
Source: NASA Earth Observatory In the remote reaches of southeastern Libya, the Sahara Desert holds formations that are both enigmatic and visually captivating. Among the most striking are the concentric rings of Jabal Arkanū, rising sharply from the otherwise flat desert plains. Their circular ridges, spanning kilometres across the landscape, have long intrigued explorers and…
Scientist proposes consciousness is universal, not biological and death may not end it/ representational image If you ask a neuroscientist what happens to your mind when you die, the usual answer is blunt: your brain shuts down, and with it your thoughts, memories and sense of self. Consciousness, in that view, is something the brain…
Imagine watching the Moon from Earth and knowing that your name is physically travelling around it on a real spacecraft. A tiny piece of your identity traveling through deep space, circling our closest celestial neighbour, and returning home after a historic journey. NASA has opened this extraordinary opportunity for people worldwide through the upcoming Artemis…
The first day of December 2025 has brought a striking surge in solar activity, prompting renewed scientific attention to the relationship between the Sun’s magnetic behaviour and the technological systems that depend on stable conditions in near-Earth space. An unexpected X2-class flare erupted during the early hours of the morning, offering a reminder of how…
Life often finds surprising ways to adapt, even in places where survival seems impossible. Inside the abandoned ruins of Chernobyl’s destroyed nuclear reactor, scientists discovered a strange black fungus that not only survives extreme radiation but appears to grow toward it and possibly use it for energy. Scientists working with NASA’s space biology teams and…
Source: Scientific American The European Space Agency is moving ahead with one of its most ambitious missions yet. It is planning a dedicated journey to Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus, a world believed to hold a vast ocean beneath its frozen crust. This mission, set for launch in the 2040s, will use both an orbiter and…
