Science

A system of two massive stars in the Milky Way, Wolf-Rayet 140, has been closely studied, revealing the formation and outward expansion of carbon-rich dust shells. Data from the James Webb Space Telescope has shown 17 concentric shells expanding at regular intervals, moving outward at a speed of approximately 1 percent of the speed of

A breakthrough in materials science has unveiled that carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers can be fully recycled without losing their original properties, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional materials like metals, polymers, and carbon fibers. This advancement is seen as a critical step toward reducing environmental impact in manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics.

On January 2, China tested five new rocket engines, advancing its ambitious space exploration programmes. The tests, carried out by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), took place at two locations: Beijing and Laiyuan County in Hebei Province. The engines, designed for various stages and purposes, underwent rigorous trials to evaluate their performance.

A discovery has shed light on the early evolution of nervous systems in ecdysozoan animals, a group that includes insects, nematodes, and priapulid worms. Fossil evidence from the early Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation has revealed details of the ventral nerve cord structure in ancient organisms, providing key insights into the evolutionary history of this critical component

A century-old mystery surrounding a skull discovered in Turkey has taken a surprising turn, with new evidence revealing that the remains belong to an 11-year-old boy, not Arsinoë IV, the half-sister of Cleopatra VII. The skull, unearthed in 1929 at the Octagon building in Ephesus, had long been speculated to be connected to Arsinoë, a

In a significant milestone for space exploration, the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, has been successfully launched into Earth’s orbit by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Designed to explore the feasibility of wood as a sustainable material in satellite construction, LignoSat aims to examine its performance under the harsh conditions of space. The satellite’s

Solar activity is expected to maintain elevated levels throughout 2025, marking a significant phase in Solar Cycle 25. As this cycle continues to progress, heightened solar phenomena, including solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and geomagnetic storms, are anticipated to impact various sectors. While no total solar eclipses will occur during the year, partial eclipses

In a study published in IEEE Access on October 15, researchers have highlighted the potential of using skin conductance to detect human emotions. The study examined how variations in sweat levels, which alter the skin’s ability to conduct electricity, could provide insights into emotional states. According to the findings, these physiological responses, triggered by emotions

Efforts to improve data centre efficiency have led mathematicians at Virginia Tech to develop a novel method of data storage and retrieval. According to reports, the researchers have utilised algebraic geometry to tackle issues arising from high energy consumption in data centres, which is impacting global climate goals. This breakthrough was detailed in IEEE BITS,

The Denmark Strait cataract, situated in the underwater channel between Iceland and Greenland, holds the distinction of being the largest waterfall on Earth. This submarine cascade drops an astonishing 11,500 feet (3,500 metres) from its summit to the ocean floor. With a vertical fall measuring 6,600 feet (2,000 metres), it towers over Angel Falls, the

Fossilised plant remains unearthed near the now-abandoned town of Rainbow, Utah, have defied classification. The plant, named Othniophyton elongatum, was initially discovered in 1969, but recent analysis has shown it is unrelated to any known plant families, living or extinct. The fossil, dating back around 47 million years, was preserved in the Green River Formation,

Jared Isaacman, billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut, has been nominated by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next NASA administrator, as per several reports. Isaacman, who was born in Union, New Jersey, in February 1983, amassed his fortune by founding the payment-processing company Shift4 Payments at the age of 16. His nomination was

The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has verified a decades-old mystery regarding planet formation in the early universe. According to The Astrophysical Journal, findings indicate that planet-forming disks around stars endured far longer than previously theorised, even in environments with minimal heavy elements. Reportedly, in 2003, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope observed the presence of

The massive iceberg A23a, regarded as the largest and oldest in the world, has resumed its northward drift after being trapped in a rotating water column near the South Orkney Islands for several months. According to reports, this iceberg, weighing approximately one trillion tonnes and spanning an area twice the size of Greater London, had

China’s space programme is on track to achieve a significant milestone by becoming the first to bring Martian rock samples to Earth by 2031. As per reports, the mission, named Tianwen-3, is being led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and aims to surpass the Mars Sample Return efforts planned by NASA and the

A study conducted by the Comparative Cognition Lab at the University of California, San Diego, has shed light on dogs’ potential to communicate through soundboards. The research, published in Scientific Reports, evaluated data from 152 dogs over a span of 21 months. It found that dogs, trained to use these devices, were capable of forming

A recent study published in Nature has detailed a major achievement by Google’s Quantum AI team. Their latest quantum processor, named “Willow,” solved a computational problem in five minutes that would have taken the world’s most advanced supercomputer an estimated 10 septillion years. This achievement marks significant progress in overcoming one of the greatest challenges

Google on Monday said that it has overcome a key challenge in quantum computing with a new generation of chip, solving a computing problem in five minutes that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe. Like other tech giants such as Microsoft and International Business Machines, Alphabet’s Google is

A team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, has unveiled a framework aimed at advancing the real-world capabilities of quadruped robots equipped with manipulators. As outlined in their study, published on the arXiv preprint server, the framework, named WildLMa, seeks to improve robots’ ability to perform loco-manipulation tasks in dynamic and unstructured

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida has revealed plans for a revamped attraction called The Gantry at LC-39, set to open in early 2025, as per reports. The reimagined observation tower, which was previously used for launch viewing, will now offer an interactive experience, including a simulated rocket engine test. Visitors will have