The Artemis program is meant to establish a permanent human presence on the MoonNASAThe Artemis II and III missions, which aim to return U.S. astronauts to the Moon, have been delayed once again. At a press briefing, NASA officials revealed that issues with the heat shield and life support systems would push back the...
Credit: PixabayBlack holes are usually detected light-years away, but a new study suggests they could also be found here on Earth, in the form of tiny tunnels carved through rocks or ancient buildings.Scientists theorize that primordial black holes formed shortly after the Big Bang, unlike regular black holes, which form from collapsing massive stars....
A zebrafish embryo. (Dr. Deodatta Gajbhiye)Fish embryos in many species can control their hatching timing, effectively selecting their own birthdays. A study from Hebrew University of Jerusalem has uncovered the chemical and biological processes enabling this precise control, showing how embryos align their hatching with optimal environmental conditions.Researchers focused on zebrafish (Danio rerio) and discovered...
Credit: PixabayAuthor John Steinbeck once remarked, "It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it."Countless individuals have credited their dreams with inspiring breakthroughs and innovations. Modern research into the science of sleep now provides evidence that supports these...
Each "sentinel mollusk" used in a molluSCAN-eye setup provides water quality readings 24 hours a day, 365 days a yearmolluSCANScientists have developed a commercial water-quality monitoring system, molluSCAN-eye, which uses live, electronically enhanced mollusks to detect pollution. Filter-feeding mollusks like oysters and mussels naturally respond to pollutants by altering how they open their shells,...
The RAVEN robot in flight, showing off its bird legs© 2024 EPFL/Alain Herzog (CC-BY-SA 4.0)While autonomous flying robots hold promising potential, their usefulness is limited if they cannot navigate uneven terrain after landing. However, an experimental bio-inspired robot overcomes this limitation by mimicking the raven's gait.Named RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for Multiple Environments), the...
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image LabAstrophysicists have detected the highest-energy electrons ever recorded, raining down on Earth from a mysterious nearby source. These cosmic rays carry trillions of times the energy of visible light, suggesting they originate from a powerful source relatively close to our solar system.Earth is constantly bombarded by cosmic radiation,...
Skeletal muscle fibers (multinucleated cells) with their nerve connections. (Ed Reschke/Stone/Getty Images)We all wish for a longer life—at least, I know I do—but what about ensuring that we enjoy good health during the time we have?Over the past century, human life expectancy has significantly increased for several reasons, particularly advances in sanitation, public health, nutrition,...
Credit: PixabayManmade noises, like vehicle traffic, can reduce the stress-relieving effects of natural soundscapes, according to a November 27, 2024, study in PLOS ONE by Paul Lintott and Lia Gilmour.Previous research shows natural sounds, such as birdsong, lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress. In contrast, human-made noises like traffic negatively affect health....
The almost complete skeleton of a young marine crocodile. (Ernesto Benavides/AFP)On Wednesday, paleontologists revealed the fossil of a young marine crocodile, estimated to be 10 to 12 million years old, uncovered in a Peruvian desert. The three-meter-long (nearly 10-foot) gharial, or fish-eating crocodile, was discovered in late 2023 in the Ocucaje Desert, about 350 kilometers...
