JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata participating in a ham radio session. Credit: NASA. Being a microgravity laboratory in orbit, the International Space Station accommodates experiments across diverse scientific domains. Additionally, it serves as a platform for educational initiatives designed to foster global interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among young individuals. The objective of...
Radiant Snares of the Predatory Fungus Arthrobotrys Oligospora. Credit: Hung-Che Lin CC-BY 4.0 Think fungi can't be carnivorous? Think again. Arthrobotrys oligospora, a worm-eating species of fungus discovered in 1850, has proven capable of sensing, trapping, and consuming small animals, shedding light on the molecular changes facilitating predatory behavior. Worms on the Menu While A. oligospora isn't the...
Hot spot detections. The maximum, unsaturated 4.8 μm (M-band) spectral radiances from 266 hot spots identified in Juno JIRAM data obtained from March 2017 to July 2022, using data from orbits PJ5 to PJ43 grouped by order of magnitude. The larger the symbol, the greater the 4.8 μm spectral radiance. This is an equal-area Mollweide projection...
Credit: BGR A team of European astronomers, including researchers from KU Leuven's Institute of Astronomy, utilized the James Webb Space Telescope for recent observations on the atmosphere of the nearby exoplanet WASP-107b. Peering deep into its cloudy atmosphere, they identified water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and even silicate sand clouds. These elements exist within a dynamic...
Psyche Probe's Deep Space Optical Communications Sets Record for Distant Laser Data Transmission. Credit: ProleR/Shutterstock In a groundbreaking achievement, a deep space experiment conducted aboard NASA's Psyche spacecraft has successfully transmitted a laser message to Earth from a location surpassing the Moon's distance for the first time. The achievement by the Deep Space Optical Communications...
The intended duration of Starship's second test flight was approximately 90 minutes, with the plan for it to conclude by splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawai'i. Credit: SpaceX via X On Saturday morning, SpaceX's Starship rocket embarked on its second test flight, soaring into the sky from Starbase in Texas. However, the triumph...
Credit: Unsplash When utilized correctly, COVID-19 lateral flow tests demonstrate high accuracy and specificity. However, the introduction of acidic fluids can lead to the antibodies in the tests clumping, potentially resulting in a false positive indication. Viral TikTok clips depicting adolescents manipulating rapid COVID-19 tests by inserting sodas and other acidic solutions into the test inlets...
A visual representation capturing the formidable burst of gamma rays, stemming from an explosion in the remote cosmos, which reached Earth on October 9 of the previous year. Last year witnessed an extraordinary celestial event as Earth encountered the brightest flash of light ever recorded in the night sky, unsettling the upper atmosphere in an...
In a static image, Erasmus appears indistinguishable from any typical comet. However, as time progressed, its tail revealed a lively wag, reminiscent of an animated and spirited puppy. Credit: NASA. Renowned astronomer David H. Levy once likened comets to cats, asserting, "They both have tails and do precisely what they want." With his extensive experience...
NASA has been the primary force in Martian research, utilizing instruments such as Hubble to capture images. However, the emergence of a formidable competitor has the potential to alter the landscape. Credit: NASA. A year ago, the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) quietly unveiled plans for a significant space exploration initiative, Tianwen-3, to bring back...
