NASA’s Crew-8 Begins Return to Earth After Weather Delays NASA’s Crew-8 mission is finally on its way back to Earth after the SpaceX Dragon capsule undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) early Thursday morning. The capsule, carrying NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, began its descent following weeks of weather-related delays. https://youtu.be/NbLj4yrHIps Delays Due to Severe Weather The crew’s return had been postponed multiple times, with the first delay occurring on October 7 due to Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that struck Florida. Unfavourable weather conditions around the splashdown…
Author: Aditya Lenka
The Hidden Allies of Plants: Role of Fungi in Pest Protection When looking at a single plant, it may seem like you’re holding just one organism. However, each plant actually hosts a complex network of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. For example, a dahlia shoot may harbor 20 to 30 species, both on its surface (epiphytes) and within (endophytes). If the plant is attached to its roots, this number can double due to the presence of more species, especially mycorrhizal types, which form crucial symbiotic relationships. How Fungi Protect Plants from Insects Endophytes and mycorrhizal fungi play a key role…
Functional Mushrooms: The Future of Health Food Functional mushrooms are quickly gaining popularity in the health food industry. Varieties like Cordyceps, Reishi, and Lion’s Mane provide benefits beyond basic nutrition. Rich in bioactive compounds, these mushrooms actively support long-term well-being as people increasingly seek natural health remedies. Cordyceps: Boosting Energy and Endurance Cordyceps, traditionally harvested in the mountains of Tibet and Nepal, has enhanced energy levels for centuries. It increases oxygen use and improves stamina, making it a favorite among athletes. Research shows that Cordyceps strengthens lung function, boosts the immune system, and may even slow aging. As a result,…
Ancient Meteorite Impact: A Catastrophe That Boosted Early Life The asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs is infamous. However, a much larger meteorite—up to 200 times bigger—hit Earth 3.26 billion years ago, triggering even more widespread destruction. Surprisingly, new research reveals that this cataclysmic event may have actually played a role in supporting early life on Earth. A Massive Impact with Unexpected Benefits Scientists have studied ancient rocks in the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa, where evidence of this massive impact has been preserved. The meteorite, a carbonaceous chondrite rich…
Bitcoin Hits Three-Month High as Dollar Strengthens Ahead of US Election Bitcoin reached its highest value in three months during early trading in Asia on Monday. Meanwhile, the US dollar continued to rise, as global markets braced for the upcoming US presidential election in two weeks. Trump’s Election Prospects Boost Dollar and Bitcoin As polls increasingly suggest a potential win for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November 5 election, the US dollar has seen a boost. Trump’s proposed policies on tariffs and taxes are anticipated to keep US interest rates elevated, which could weaken the currencies of America’s…
Spirit AeroSystems Furloughs 700 Workers Amid Boeing Strike Spirit AeroSystems announced on Friday that it will furlough 700 employees for 21 days as the ongoing strike at Boeing, which began in mid-September, continues to strain the supplier’s finances and inventory capacity. The furloughs, first reported by Reuters, will impact workers involved in Boeing’s 767 and 777 widebody jet programs, which have been halted due to the strike by over 33,000 U.S. factory workers. The decision comes as Spirit Aero faces a growing backlog of fuselages with no space for additional storage. Spirit CEO Pat Shanahan acknowledged the toll on affected…
Ananth Technologies Hands Over Satellites to ISRO for Space Docking Experiment Hyderabad-based Ananth Technologies (ATL) delivered two 400 kg class satellites to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday. These satellites will play a crucial role in ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment, which is scheduled for later this year. The mission is seen as a significant step towards future Indian space initiatives, such as the country’s Indian space station and the Chandrayaan-4 mission, aimed at retrieving lunar samples. The satellites will be launched aboard the PSLV-C60 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) mission, planned for December 2024. The PSLV rocket for this…
US Eases Export Restrictions Under Biden Administration US eases export restrictions on US commercial space companies, allowing them to ship satellite and spacecraft-related items to allies and partners more easily. This move by the Biden administration is intended to support the growing space industry while protecting national security and foreign policy interests. US space companies, including SpaceX and defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, and Boeing, stand to benefit from the updated regulations. These changes were announced on Thursday and published in the Federal Register. Supporting Innovation and International Collaboration Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves highlighted the advantages…
Airbus Plans to Cut 2,500 Jobs in Defence and Space Division Airbus AIR.PA is planning to reduce up to 2,500 jobs in its Defence and Space division. This move, which has not yet been officially announced, was confirmed by two individuals familiar with the situation. The job cuts represent about 7% of the workforce in this unit. Airbus aims to complete the process by mid-2026, although the company has declined to comment on the matter. Reasons Behind the Job Cuts at Airbus The decision to cut jobs follows financial struggles in Airbus’ space systems business. Notably, the OneSat satellite programme…
India’s Government Opts for Administrative Spectrum Allocation for Satellite Broadband India’s government announced it will allocate spectrum for satellite broadband through administrative means, not via auction. This decision came just hours after Elon Musk criticised the auction route, which was being pushed by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance. The dispute revolves around the method for assigning satellite spectrum, a market expected to grow by 36% annually and reach $1.9 billion by 2030. A Battle Over Spectrum Allocation Elon Musk’s Starlink advocates for the administrative allotment of satellite spectrum, aligning with global trends. In contrast, Reliance, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, calls for…