Science 99
SpaceX's latest Starship rocket prototype just exploded during an engine test
SpaceX's previous Starship prototypes burst during fuel-tank testing, but the fourth prototype exploded during an operation to test-fire its engine.
Want a mask with your Big Mac? Alberta handing out masks at drive-thrus
EDMONTON - Alberta is planning to distribute 20 million non-medical masks for free at hundreds of drive-thru fast-food restaurants.Health Minister Tyler Sha
Mergers between galaxies trigger activity in their core
Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) play a major role in galaxy evolution. Astronomers from SRON and RuG have now used a record-setting sample of galaxies to confirm that galaxy mergers have a positive effect ...
Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Struck Earth at ‘Deadliest Possible Angle,’ New Research Suggests
When the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs hit Earth, it struck at an angle that maximised its destructive potential, according to new computer simulations of the catastrophic event.
Solar probe to pass through comet's tail for 'bonus science'
The European Space Agency says its Solar Orbiter will unexpectedly pass through the tail of a comet in the coming days.
The eagle has been landed on! Cheeky black drongo bird appears to touch down on the back of a flying eagle owl
This is the moment a black drongo appears to touch down on the back of an Indian eagle owl. The birds fly mere inches away from each other before the drongo prepares for landing.
Here’s what to expect as SpaceX launches its first human crew to space
What you need to know about the first orbital launch from the US in a decade.
Solitons from new fibre laser could improve eye surgery
Short and powerful pulses are held together by high-order dispersion
Researchers create active material out of microscopic spinning particles
At the atomic level, a glass of water and a spoonful of crystalline salt couldn't look more different. Water atoms move around freely and randomly, while salt crystals are locked in place in a lattice. ...
Evidence found of Kuroshio current strengthening due to intensifying tropical cyclones
A team of researchers from the Ocean University of China and Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, the Second Institute of Oceanography, the Southern Marine Science and Engineering ...
World’s deepest octopus, complete with Dumbo ears, captured on film 4 miles below the surface
(CNN) — The deepest known sighting of an octopus has been captured on film, more than a mile deeper than the previous reliable sighting. The observations of...
Biophysicists reveal molecular mechanism behind light-driven sodium pumping
An international research team has for the first time obtained the structure of the light-sensitive sodium-pumping KR2 protein in its active state.
IND-SAT: Study in India entrance test postponed till July
The exam is a 90-minute online proctored test with multiple-choice questions. It is conducted in English and has the verbal ability, quant, logical reasoning as sub-sections with 40, 25, and 25 marks each.
Climate could cause abrupt British vegetation changes
Climate change could cause abrupt shifts in the amount of vegetation growing in parts of Great Britain, new research shows.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about an incredibly well-preserved horned lark ( Eremophila alpestris ), like the one pictured, that lived 46,000 years ago.
Algorithm quickly simulates a roll of loaded dice
The fast and efficient generation of random numbers has long been an important challenge. For centuries, games of chance have relied on the roll of a die, the flip of a coin, or the shuffling of cards ...
Scientists Simulate Unmanned Aircraft Striking, Deflecting Asteroid From Earth
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have come up with a novel way to deflect asteroids from Earth by having unmanned vehicles collide with the threatening...
SpaceX's Prototype Starship Exploded In Giant Fireball Mid-Testing
SpaceX's Starship prototype exploded in a ball of fire during testing on Friday, one day before the company is due to jointly launch the first crewed mission from U.S. soil in nearly a decade.
The Planet's Forests Are Becoming Younger And Shorter As Climate Change Bites
The world’s forests are dramatically changing. A destructive cocktail of deforestation and climate change are leading to younger and shorter forests across
Space Funerals: Celestis And Aura Flights Will Send The Ashes Of Your Loved Ones In Space
People can now send their loved ones' ashes across space. Aura And Celestis Flights offers space funerals.
A tight squeeze! Developers are building tiny flats the size of a disabled PARKING SPACE - as they cram a kitchen, bathroom and bed into just 180 square feet
Developers have brushed off criticism over their 182-square foot apartments and insist the micro-homes in Cambridge are 'a perfectly reasonable size'.
Podcast: Why do people think 5G makes them sick?
In this episode of the Engadget Podcast, we explore why some people think 5G (and lots of other wireless tech) makes them sick. Omer van den Bergh, a tenured professor of Health Psychology, breaks down his research for us,.
NASA And SpaceX Are About To Retry Their Historic Astronaut Launch. Here's How To Watch.
After weather conditions postponed the scheduled launch for Wednesday, NASA and SpaceX's historic launch to send two astronauts to the International Space
SpaceX's big launch aims to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station — a 21-year-old laboratory orbiting 250 miles above the Earth
This will be the first time since 2011 that an American-made spacecraft has launched people from US soil to the space station.
Take 2 for SpaceX's first astronaut launch with more storms
SpaceX pressed ahead with its second attempt to launch astronauts for NASA -- a historic first for a private company -- but more stormy weather threatened more delays.
China reveals plan for ‘Heavenly Palace’ space station to rival ISS
China has outlined plans to build an orbiting science lab by 2023. The “Heavenly Palace” station will house six people and serve as a test bed for experiments on astronomy, technology and
NASA revives "worm" logo and debuts SpaceX spacesuits
NASA will use the Danne & Blackburn-designed "worm" logo for the first time since 1992 when the Demo-2 flight to the International Space Station launches tomorrow.
Tectonic plates are a lot older than we thought
Earth's underground network of tectonic plates was in place more than 4 billion years ago—about a billion years earlier than scientists had thought.
Solar probe to pass through comet's tail for 'bonus science'
The European Space Agency said Friday that its Solar Orbiter probe will pass through the tail of a comet in the coming days and scientists plan to switch on its instruments early to conduct some 'bonus science.'
Newly Discovered Pygmy Seahorse Species Is the Size of a Fingernail
This tiny creature is the first of its kind discovered near the continent of Africa
A non-destructive method of analysing molecules in cells
When investigating how tumors grow, or how pharmaceuticals affect different types of cells, researchers have to understand how molecules within a cell react—and interact. This is possible with modern ...
We'll All Be Renting a Local Airbnb This Summer
Yes, people are itching to travel, but their first holidays are likely to be close to home.
Ancient Mass Extinction Tied To Ozone Loss, Warming Climate
Iwastheone shares a report from Science Magazine: The end of the Devonian period, 359 million years ago, was an eventful time: Fish were inching out of the ocean, and fernlike forests were advancing on land. The world was recovering from a mass extinction 12 million years earlier, but the climate w...
Michigan State University Network Breached In Ransomware Attack
Netwalker ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operators have reportedly breached Michigan State University's network, threatening to leak private files to the public if they don't pay a ransom in time. BleepingComputer reports: A countdown timer on the attacker's website shows that the university has ab...
Exact time Starlink satellites will fly over Merseyside this weekend
There's still a chance to catch the elusive satellites
COVID-19 Update: Virus Found in Bats is 'Closest Relative' of SARS-CoV-2; 6 Feet Not Enough to Avoid COVID-19, Experts Say
Experts discovered a new virus in bats that is currently the closest relative of SARS-CoV-2. Medical experts claimed that 6 feet is not far enough to avoid contracting the novel coronavirus.
Two-Mile-Borris' Blackcastle Farm sausages for Aldi from this Sunday
The amazing 1% fat beef sausages will be on sale from this Sunday for a week as part of Aldi Grow project
SpaceX gets FAA approval for Starship flight tests
SpaceX has received an FAA license allowing the company to carry out suborbital flight tests of its Starship next-generation launch vehicle.
Satellite images show mid-May activity at Chinese base
Satellite images analysed by India Today's Open Source Intelligence Team (OSINT) show movement of large vehicles at the Chinese post in Aksai Chin, the part of Ladakh region occupied by Beijing since the 1962 conflict with India.
Antarctic ice sheets retreated at a faster rate in the past, study suggests
Scientists analysed wave-like ridges on the Antarctic seafloor
Two New Asian Giant Hornet Sightings in Pacific Northwest
The sightings, both of individual dead hornets, expand the area currently being patrolled by scientists hoping to track and eradicate the invasive insect
Storms threaten more delays as SpaceX prepares for new space attempt
Saturday’s rescheduled departure would be the first time astronauts have been launched from Cape Canaveral since 2011.
Strawberry Moon Eclipse 2020: Timing, where to watch and all you need to know
A lunar eclipse only occurs during a Full Moon. The Earth, Moon and the Sun form a straight line during the lunar eclipse, with the Earth partially or completely hiding the Moon from the Sun.
Explore the history and future of America in space with Fox Nation
As the world awaits the launch of NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station, Fox Nation is giving its subscribers access to an extensive library of shows that explore America's history and future in space.
Storms threaten more delays as SpaceX prepares for new space attempt
Saturday’s rescheduled departure would be the first time astronauts have been launched from Cape Canaveral since 2011.
Autonomous robot chef moves into the kitchen, powered by AI
During the span of the hustle and bustle that many people encounter on a day-to-day basis in their lives, people tend to have activities outside of work that allow them to alleviate the stress from the monotony of life. From catching the new movie at the cinema, attending a sporting event of a favorite team, […]
Storms threaten more delays as SpaceX prepares for new space attempt
Saturday’s rescheduled departure would be the first time astronauts have been launched from Cape Canaveral since 2011.
Power generation raised at Moolamattom
Aim is to reduce Idukki water level
Astronomers share video of black hole outburst
May 29 (UPI) -- Scientists with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory released a new video Friday showing a pair of jets exploding from a black hole located 10,000 light-years from Earth. Chandra recorded the jets approaching speeds of nearly 80 percent the speed of light.
No Decision On Next Launch Attempt For Historic SpaceX Crewed Mission
A final decision on a launch attempt for SpaceX's milestone mission to the International Space Center on Saturday afternoon will take place after assessing the weather that morning, NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said Friday.
The science behind the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch tomorrow
On Saturday, two NASA astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will make history by traveling to the International Space Station (ISS) in a privately funded spacecraft, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, and Crew Dragon capsule.
Paper-thin gallium oxide transistor handles more than 8,000 volts
People love their electric cars. But not so much the bulky batteries and related power systems that take up precious cargo space.
Watch: SpaceX prototype Starship rocket just exploded in a big fireball
SpaceX’s Starship SN4 prototype launch vehicle just exploded in a huge fireball during a static fire test in Boca Chica, Texas. While the Starship spacecraft is still early in development, th…
SpaceX loses another Starship prototype in massive explosion
The fourth Starship is no more
Team cracks the case of the universe’s ‘missing matter’
Researchers have solved a decades-old mystery of "missing matter"—material long predicted to exist in the universe but never detected—until now.
Fresh Antimatter Study Will Help Search for Dark Matter
The ALICE collaboration has presented new results on the production rates of antideuterons based on data collected at the highest collision energy delivered so far at the Large Hadron Collider.
Researchers discover new high-pressure material and solve a periodic table puzzle
In the periodic table of elements there is one golden rule for carbon, oxygen, and other light elements. Under high pressures they have similar structures to heavier elements in the same group of elements. Only nitrogen always seemed unwilling to toe the line. However, high-pressure researchers have actually disproved this special status.
Israeli Scientists Find Traces of Cannabis and Frankincense on 2,700-Year-Old Altars
Israeli researchers have analyzed organic residues from two altars of the 8th century BC shrine at the Biblical fortress of Arad and found that one of them contained frankincense that was mixed with animal fat for evaporation; on the other altar, cannabis substance was mixed with animal dung to enable its mild heating.
Nanosatellite with global mission tested for space
ESA's largest antenna test facility remains operational despite the COVID-19 pandemic, performing pre-flight testing for the latest satellite in a constellation to serve the internet of things.
New Evidence Suggests Some Jurassic Theropod Dinosaurs were Cannibals
An analysis of the fossilized vertebrate remains from the Jurassic Mygatt-Moore Quarry in Colorado has revealed the bones of a theropod dinosaur called Allosaurus that bear tooth marks made by this and other large-bodied carnivorous dinosaurs.
ALERT: Temps to crash by 15 degrees in June so enjoy it while you can!
Temperatures are set to plunge by 10 degrees Celsius as June will turn chilly compared to the Mediterranean-style conditions we're enjoying at the moment. Thursday was the hottest day of th...
Study Reveals Why Large Groups of Humans Are Hopeless in a Crisis
Humans are social animals and that's usually a good thing. But while there might be safety in numbers under some circumstances, new psychological research suggests human connection isn't always a good thing.
The Recipe for Efficient Protein Synthesis
Scientists have studied more than 30 thousand variants of genetic sequences encoding two fluorescent proteins in order to determine which characteristics of mRNA can increase the efficiency of translation.
Simulating dead bodies could help calculate an accurate time of death
Forensic scientists currently use basic temperature measurements to determine time of death, but a 3D simulation of the entire body could give much more accurate estimates
Distance from Brightest Stars Is Key to Preserving Primordial Discs
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope was used to conduct a three-year study of the crowded, massive and young star cluster Westerlund 2. The research found that the material encircling stars near the cluster's centre is mysteriously devoid of the large, dense clouds of dust that would be expected to become planets in a few million years.
Managers weigh weather odds in deciding next Crew Dragon launch attempt
Mission managers are weighing a motley mix of weather models, safety criteria and astronaut workload considerations as they decide when SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft might have the best chance to launch from the Kennedy Space Center.
Study: Women with Neanderthal Progesterone Gene Have Higher Fertility
Almost one in three women with European descent inherited a genetic variant of the progesterone receptor called V660L from Neanderthals.
In Planet Formation, It's Location, Location, Location
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope are finding that planets have a tough time forming in the rough-and-tumble central region of the massive, crowded star cluster Westerlund 2. Located 20,000 light-years away, Westerlund 2 is a unique laboratory to study stellar evolutionary processes because it's relatively nearby, quite young, and contains a large stellar population.
Interstellar Visitor May Be One of Rarest Objects In Universe
A team of scientists think the interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua might actually be a hydrogen iceberg. The unusual idea could explain its stranger properties.
Mergers between galaxies trigger activity in their core
Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) play a major role in galaxy evolution. Astronomers from the University of Groningen and Netherlands Institute for Space Research have now used a record-sized sample of galaxies to confirm that galaxy mergers have a positive effect on igniting AGNs.
NASA's AIM Spots First Arctic Noctilucent Clouds of the Season
Ice-blue clouds are drifting high above the Arctic, which means the Northern Hemisphere's noctilucent cloud season is here.
IIT Roorkee to conduct research for identifying antiviral to tackle COVID-19
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee will conduct research on the identification of antiviral to treat COVID-19.
Scientists develop method to help epidemiologists map spread of COVID-19
Scientists have developed a method they believe will help epidemiologists more efficiently predict the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their new study outlines a solution to the SIR epidemic model, which is commonly used to predict how many people are susceptible to, infected by, and recovered from viral epidemics.
Ask Ethan: How Are Mega-Constellations Of Satellites Changing The Night Sky?
It's not just about SpaceX and Starlink. What we're deciding today will have a global impact for years and decades to come.
Climate could cause abrupt British vegetation changes
Climate change could cause abrupt shifts in the amount of vegetation growing in parts of Great Britain, new research shows.
Ferritin heavy chain protein shows promise as a potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccine or antiviral
A new study published on the online preprint server bioRxiv in May 2020 reports the construction and testing of a new ferritin-based antigen-bearing protein that has biological activity towards the ACE2 receptor. This could indicate its potential for development as a vaccine or antiviral.
Chinese CDC Now Says The Wuhan Wet Market Wasn't The Origin of The Virus
Experts still don't know where the new coronavirus came from.
Active material created out of microscopic spinning particles
Researchers have created a new kind of self-healing active material out of 'microspinners,' which self-assemble under a magnetic field to form a lattice.
SpaceX Starship test vehicle explodes moments after test-firing
A full-size prototype of SpaceX’s Starship violently exploded in South Texas moments after a test-firing of its Raptor engine Friday, dealing a setback to the company’s next-generation reusable rocket program.
Marine Biologists Discover New Species of Red Alga
A team of marine biologists from China and the United Kingdom has revised the taxonomy of Pyropia, a large genus of red alga (seaweed) in the family Bangiaceae, and described a new species and four new genera.
Growing evidence that minority ethnic groups in England may be at higher risk of COVID-19
Evidence available to date suggests that minority ethnic groups in England, particularly black and south Asian people, may be at increased risk of testing positive for Covid-19, compared to people from white British backgrounds, according to a new study.
Scientists develop method to help epidemiologists map spread of COVID-19
Rochester Institute of Technology scientists have developed a method they believe will help epidemiologists more efficiently predict the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their new study, published in ...
Puffy 'cotton ball' clouds are a rocket launch's most common nightmare. Here's why they delayed SpaceX's historic flight.
SpaceX and NASA delayed their historic astronaut launch on Wednesday after puffy clouds rolled in. They're the biggest threats to a rocket launch.
Russia sparks space race with the US by announcing plans for an orbital station
The plans revealed by the Kremlin will start after the International Space Station is scrapped in around 2030 and will allow it to launch “far-out” missions to the moon and Mars
Dinosaur-killing asteroid created massive magma chamber that lasted millions of years, study shows
The asteroid that slammed into Earth some 66 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs also produced a gigantic pool of magma many times larger than the crater at the center of Yellowstone National Park, new research reveals.
Jets Blasted To 80% The Speed Of Light From A Black Hole Caught On Film
Jets blasted outwards from a stellar-mass black hole at 80 percent the speed of light have been caught on film by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. MAXI J1
France's tourism industry asks itself: can we save summer?
PARIS/NICE, France (Reuters) - Serge Coeroli has given the shelves behind the bar of his Paris restaurant a new lick of paint, in anticipation of customers returning now that lockdown rules in France are easing.
Take 2 for SpaceX's 1st astronaut launch with more storms
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX pressed ahead with its second attempt to launch astronauts for NASA — a historic first for a private company — but more stormy weather threatened more delays.
Research explores the impact of invasive grasses on South Texas landscapes
Scientists writing for the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management say several exotic grass species once grown in South Texas for livestock forage and erosion control have expanded from the areas ...
NASA-SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch has just a 50 percent chance of liftoff for Saturday and could be moved to Sunday if weather does not improve
NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for the second attempt at launching Falcon 9 Saturday There is only a 50 percent probability it will happen, but officials said it could be moved to Sunday.
Warmer nights but rainy days to come in Queensland this winter
The weather bureau's winter outlook suggests the state will experience wetter than average conditions.
Nanoscope received NIH grant to advance ultrafast laser-based gene delivery to the retina
The Nanoscope team has developed Multi-Characteristic Opsins to sensitize cells toward low level of white light so that vision is improved at ambient room light.
Warmer nights but rainy days to come in Queensland this winter
The weather bureau's winter outlook suggests the state will experience wetter than average conditions.
Warmer nights but rainy days to come in Queensland this winter
The weather bureau's winter outlook suggests the state will experience wetter than average conditions.
RIT scientists develop method to help epidemiologists map spread of COVID-19
Rochester Institute of Technology scientists have developed a method they believe will help epidemiologists more efficiently predict the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their new study, published in Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, outlines a solution to the SIR epidemic model, which is commonly used to predict how many people are susceptible to, infected by, and recovered from viral epidemics.
Research explores the impact of invasive grasses on South Texas landscapes
Scientists writing for the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management say several exotic grass species once grown in South Texas for livestock forage and erosion control have expanded from the areas where they were planted and have become invasive. They now are reducing the region's biodiversity and the habitats available for wildlife.
New model predicts the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic
This week in the journal Frontiers, researchers describe a single function that accurately describes all existing available data on active COVID-19 cases and deaths -- and predicts forthcoming peaks.
Limits on evolution revealed by statistical physics
What is and is not possible for natural evolution may be explained using models and calculations from theoretical physics, say researchers in Japan. To explain this the limits of evolution, researchers simplified the natural world to fit idealized physics models and searched for any mathematical structure within biological complexity.
Double storm activity over Arabian Sea picks up, depression likely to form near India coast
The India Meteorological Department is currently tracking two cyclonic disturbances over the Arabian Sea. The first one is near the African coast while the second one is expected to form opposite the Indian coast