Chinese Lunar Probe Discovers Molecular Water in Moon Soil Chinese scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the soil samples brought back by their lunar probe: water in its molecular form, H2O, along with minerals. This marks the first time molecular water has been found in physical samples from the moon, particularly from a region previously thought incapable of supporting water in this form. A Historic Find on the Moon The discovery of water on the moon is not entirely new. NASA and Indian spacecraft have previously detected what they believed to be water on the moon’s surface. Additionally, Chinese…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Mission: A New Chapter in Space Exploration In February 2025, four crew members will embark on a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. This mission continues the collaboration between NASA and SpaceX under the Commercial Crew Program, marking the 10th crew rotation to the station. Meet the Crew Commander Anne McClain NASA astronaut Anne McClain, a US Army colonel, is set for her second spaceflight. Selected by NASA in 2013, McClain has an impressive background in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, international security, and strategic studies. With over 2,300…
Valencia Laboratory Battles Mosquito-Borne Diseases with Innovative Technique A laboratory in Spain is taking a novel approach to combat the spread of dengue fever and other diseases. The lab, located in Valencia, is breeding and sterilising thousands of tiger mosquitoes in an effort to curb their population. As climate change facilitates the spread of this invasive species across Europe, the initiative aims to reduce the incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses. Innovative Sterilisation Process The Biological Pest Control Centre, funded by the regional government, uses an electron accelerator to sterilise approximately 45,000 male mosquitoes weekly. These sterilised males are then released to…
NASA’s DART Mission Reveals Insights into Binary Asteroid Systems In 2022, NASA’s DART mission conducted a significant planetary defence test by colliding with the asteroid Dimorphos. Before impact, DART captured high-resolution images of Dimorphos and its larger companion, Didymos. These images have provided valuable information about the formation and history of these two asteroids and binary asteroid systems in general. Formation and History of Didymos and Dimorphos The analysis of Didymos and Dimorphos revealed crucial insights into their formation. Scientists believe Didymos formed about 12.5 million years ago, likely originating in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It…
Future Engineers Flock to Lilium Jet at Farnborough Airshow Germany’s Lilium Jet is captivating young engineers and students, sparked by the curiosity of a five-year-old boy. Lilium Jet Attracts Young Minds The futuristic flying taxi is among the high-tech projects showcased at the Farnborough Airshow. The event has highlighted the aerospace industry’s urgent need for skilled recruits. “We hadn’t planned to open the cabin today, but a five-year-old boy asked why he couldn’t board since it takes off vertically. Since then, we’ve had a steady queue of visitors,” said Alex Jordan, head of talent acquisition. While a career in aviation…
European Regulators Intensify Scrutiny of Big Tech European regulators have significantly increased their scrutiny of major technology companies in recent years, launching numerous probes and imposing fines for various alleged antitrust violations and non-compliance with new regulations. Here’s a summary of some key actions taken by European watchdogs against big technology firms: European Union (EU) Apple July 11: Apple agreed to open its tap-and-go mobile payments system to competitors, settling an EU antitrust probe. Ongoing: Faces three investigations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for its business practices. March: Fined 1.84 billion euros ($1.97 billion) for antitrust violations following a…
NASA Selects SpaceX for NOAA’s JPSS-4 Mission Launch On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA selects SpaceX to provide launch services for the JPSS-4 mission. This mission is part of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program, a collaborative effort between NASA and NOAA. The program started with the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership and continues to expand with the JPSS-4 satellite. Contract Details The contract awarded to SpaceX is a firm fixed price agreement valued at approximately $112.7 million. This cost covers launch services and other mission-related expenses. The JPSS-4 mission is scheduled to launch in…
AI and Space Exploration: Advancements with NASA’s Perseverance Rover Some scientists dream of exploring planets with “smart” spacecraft that know exactly what data to look for, where to find it, and how to analyse it. Although making that dream a reality will take time, advances made with NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover offer promising steps in that direction. For almost three years, the rover mission has been testing a form of artificial intelligence (AI) that seeks out minerals in the Red Planet’s rocks. This marks the first time AI has been used on Mars to make autonomous decisions based on real-time…
Extreme Weather Found on Nearest Brown Dwarfs Researchers have discovered extreme weather on the two closest brown dwarfs using the James Webb Space Telescope. These celestial bodies, larger than planets but smaller than stars, exhibit incredibly harsh conditions. Detailed Examination with James Webb Space Telescope The James Webb Space Telescope provided an in-depth examination of the atmospheric conditions on a pair of brown dwarfs. Located six light-years from Earth, these brown dwarfs orbit each other closely. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, equivalent to 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion kilometres). The telescope’s data offered a three-dimensional…
Bats Exhibit Complex Social Memory, New Research Reveals Researchers in Israel have discovered that bats can remember intricate social structures. They can identify friends and foes and recall their exact locations. This groundbreaking study, led by Professor Nachum Ulanovsky at the Weizmann Institute of Science, explores how bats encode social information in their brains. The Study’s Methodology Professor Ulanovsky and his team created a bat colony in the lab to mimic a natural cave environment. They used Egyptian fruit bats fitted with miniature wireless-electrophysiology backpacks to record brain activity during flight. Each bat was tagged and barcoded, allowing the researchers…
