Science

Russia’s ambitious plans to expand its scientific research infrastructure have encountered significant delays, reportedly due to international trade sanctions and budget constraints. These setbacks, announced by officials last month, impact three critical projects aimed at advancing research into molecular structures and materials. These projects include a new synchrotron light source, modernisation of an existing facility,

In an intriguing development for Mars exploration, China’s Zhurong rover has uncovered geological features suggesting that a vast ocean may have once covered part of the Martian surface. The discovery, published on Thursday, November 7 2024, in the journal Nature, offers a fresh perspective on the long-debated theory that an ancient ocean occupied up to

A study has shown that the well-preserved fossil of a nodosaur, a plant-eating dinosaur, could withstand the force of a high-speed car crash. The fossil, discovered in Alberta, Canada, belongs to Borealopelta markmitchelli , a species that lived around 110 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. This fossil is one of the best-preserved

Russia successfully launched a record-setting 53 satellites into space on November 4, 2024, achieving a major milestone in satellite deployment. This launch, managed by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, included a combination of domestic and international satellites. A Soyuz-2.1b rocket with a Fregat upper stage was used for the mission, lifting off from the Vostochny

A powerful X2.3-class solar flare erupted from sunspot AR 3883 on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 8:40 a.m. ET (1340 UTC). This marks the strongest flare released by this sunspot region so far. The flare, which is among the most intense solar events, was accompanied by high levels of ultraviolet radiation, leading to shortwave radio

Recent findings published in Scientific Reports reveal that cats can connect words and images significantly faster than human toddlers. Research led by Dr. Saho Takagi and her team at Azabu University, Japan, found that adult cats formed associations between visual cues and spoken words in a fraction of the time it took young children. The

A monumental predator-prey event in Norway’s coastal waters has captured scientists’ attention. It marks the largest observed marine feeding spectacle and highlighting significant dynamics in the food chain. Leading the research, Professor Nicholas Makris from MIT’s Department of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering, alongside his team, witnessed this unprecedented event where vast shoals of cod pursued

Deep Blue Aerospace, a Chinese company based in Jiangsu, has announced plans to enter the burgeoning space tourism market. The company aims to start launching paying customers into suborbital space by 2027. Tickets for these exclusive journeys will be priced at approximately 1.5 million RMB, equivalent to about $210,000. Deep Blue says this experience will

China has built the world’s most powerful resistive magnet, achieving a magnetic field strength of 42.02 tesla. The milestone was reached on 22 September at the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF), part of the Chinese Academy of Science’s Hefei Institutes of Physical Science. This achievement just surpasses the previous record of 41.4 tesla, set

Artificial intelligence is showing promise in helping people with opposing views find common ground. A new tool developed by Google DeepMind uses AI to mediate discussions and synthesise viewpoints into balanced summaries. In recent trials, participants favoured the AI-generated summaries over those created by human mediators, suggesting that AI could be an effective mediator for

Injecting diamond dust into the atmosphere could potentially cool the planet by 1.6ºC, according to a recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters. Led by Sandro Vattioni, a climate scientist at ETH Zürich, the research explores whether diamonds, as opposed to commonly used materials like sulfur, could offer a safer and more effective method for

China has revealed ambitious plans to build a lunar space station and explore the possibility of habitable planets as part of its long-term space programme. On Tuesday, China’s space authorities announced a comprehensive development plan that will run from 2024 to 2050, with the intention of launching a manned lunar mission in the near future. This

A new study has demonstrated the successful use of radioactive ion beams to treat tumors in mice. This innovative approach, published on arXiv.org, represents a significant step forward in cancer therapy. Researchers can monitor the precise location of the treatment in real time. First Successful Treatment Using Radioactive Ion Beams This research marks the inaugural

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

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

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has embarked on significant exploratory trials in the Andaman Sea using the Varaha-3, a specialised seabed mining machine. These trials, which took place at a depth of 1,193 metres, are part of India’s broader initiative to explore and harness ocean resources responsibly. The Geological Survey of India previously surveyed

Scientists have recently uncovered a rare geological event occurring beneath the Central Anatolian Plateau in Türkiye. This phenomenon, known as “crustal dripping,” has been shaping the Konya Basin, sparking intrigue among geologists. Satellite imagery and detailed geological data have played a significant role in revealing the intricate process behind this event. The Process Behind Crustal

NASA scientists have determined that Earth will capture a second moon on Sunday, 29th September 2024. This small asteroid, named 2024 PT5, typically orbits the sun as part of the Arjuna asteroid belt. Unlike our long-term lunar companion, which has orbited Earth for over 4 billion years, this temporary second moon will only stay with