Fossilised Footprints Reveal Hominin Coexistence in Ancient Kenya Around 1.5 million years ago, individuals from two human evolutionary species, Paranthropus boisei and Homo erectus, left footprints on a muddy lakeshore in northern Kenya. These intersecting ancient footprints, discovered at Koobi Fora, mark the first concrete evidence of these species sharing the same landscape. Their coexistence raises questions about their interactions and potential competition for resources. The Two Species: Distinctions in Anatomy and Behaviour Paranthropus boisei, a more distant relative of modern humans, lived from about 2.3 to 1.2 million years ago. This species stood approximately 137 cm (4 feet 6…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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Climate Change Threatens China’s Potato Yields: A Race Against Time In a research facility in northwest Beijing, molecular biologist Li Jieping and his team are investigating how rising temperatures threaten potato production in China. Their findings reveal alarming insights into how climate change could impact food security in the coming decades. Shrinking Potatoes: A Sign of Trouble Li’s team harvested a cluster of seven potatoes, one as small as a quail’s egg, grown under simulated high-temperature conditions. Weighing just 136 grammes, these potatoes were less than half the size of a typical Chinese variety, which often exceeds the size of…
Fire Halts Japan’s Epsilon S Rocket Engine Test Combustion Test Disrupted by Fire at Tanegashima Space Centre Japan’s space agency (JAXA) suspended a critical engine combustion test for its Epsilon S rocket after a fire broke out at the Tanegashima Space Centre on Tuesday, November 26. The blaze erupted 49 seconds after ignition, prompting immediate action to stop the test. Public broadcaster NHK reported a visible explosion and flames shortly after the test commenced. JAXA confirmed there were no injuries or damage beyond the test facility. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in developing Japan’s next-generation small rocket series. Epsilon S:…
UN Climate Summit Faces Stalemate Over Climate Finance Agreement The United Nations climate body unveiled fresh proposals on Thursday for determining the financial contributions richer nations should provide to poorer countries for tackling climate change. The updated negotiating text emerged at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, just two days before the event’s scheduled conclusion. Despite being a central focus of the summit, reaching an agreement on climate finance has been slow. The latest draft arrived several hours late and revealed significant gaps on critical issues such as how much funding is needed, what qualifies as contributions, and who will…
SpaceX Starship Launch: Progress in Spaceflight Despite Booster Landing Mishap SpaceX successfully launched its massive Starship rocket system from Boca Chica, Texas, on Tuesday. The launch showcased advancements in spaceflight capabilities but was marked by a failed booster recovery attempt. The event, observed by US President-elect Donald Trump, highlighted SpaceX’s ambitious goals and its growing role in space exploration. Starship’s Test Flight: Achievements and Challenges The 400-foot (122-metre) Starship system lifted off at 4 p.m. CT (2200 GMT). Its 233-foot-tall (71-metre-tall) Super Heavy booster detached from the second stage, Starship, at an altitude of approximately 40 miles (62 kilometres). While…
European Space Agency Boosts Funding for Launch Vehicle Startups The European Space Agency (ESA) is injecting additional funds into four launch vehicle startups to aid the development and testing of their rockets. Through its “Boost!” programme, ESA has extended contracts worth €44.22 million ($46.7 million) to HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Orbex, and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA). Supporting ESA Launch Ambitions These funds aim to bolster Europe’s emerging space industry as companies prepare for their inaugural launches. “Europe’s emerging commercial launch service providers are pushing towards their first launches,” said Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA’s director of space transportation. “We are very interested to…
Sixth Starship Flight Test Scheduled for November 19 SpaceX is gearing up for the sixth flight test of its Starship spacecraft, targeting a launch on Tuesday, November 19. The 30-minute launch window will open at 4:00 p.m. CT, with a live webcast starting 30 minutes before liftoff. Viewers can watch the broadcast on SpaceX’s social media platforms and the new X TV app. As with all developmental testing, the timeline remains dynamic and subject to change. Key Objectives for the Sixth Test The sixth flight test will build on the breakthroughs from the fifth, aiming to expand both the booster…
Airbus CEO Raises Anti-Trust Concerns Over SpaceX’s Dominance in Space Industry Elon Musk’s SpaceX has revolutionised the space industry with its low-cost, reusable rockets and a rapidly expanding Starlink satellite constellation. However, this dominance would raise anti-trust concerns if SpaceX operated in Europe, said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. Speaking at an aerospace event, Faury noted that SpaceX’s concentrated business model contrasts sharply with Europe’s more distributed approach to aerospace and space operations. SpaceX’s Competitive Edge: A Contrast to Europe’s Aerospace Model SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has significantly lowered launch costs by introducing reusable technology, a move that allowed SpaceX to…
Toxic Smog Covers Northern India, Severely Reducing Visibility Northern India was blanketed by thick smog on Thursday, reducing visibility drastically in several areas. The smog resulted from a combination of high pollution levels, high humidity, low wind speeds, and a drop in temperature, according to local officials. Severe Pollution in Lahore and New Delhi Lahore, in neighbouring Pakistan, ranked as the most polluted city globally, a common occurrence each winter in the region. The severe air quality is intensified by dust, emissions, and smoke from fires illegally set in the Indian farming states of Punjab and Haryana. In New Delhi,…
Federal Support for Semiconductor Manufacturing The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Wednesday a commitment of up to $18.2 million to Akash Systems to advance semiconductor manufacturing in West Oakland, California. This funding is part of the $52.7 billion semiconductor subsidy program aimed at revitalising chip manufacturing within the U.S. The subsidy will help Akash Systems, a California-based semiconductor company, construct a 40,000-square-foot cleanroom dedicated to advanced semiconductor production. The grant will be combined with funding from Akash, venture capital firms, and private investors, amounting to a $121 million project to scale the production of Diamond Cooling substrates and related systems.…
