Technology

For the first time, astronomers have spotted a phenomenon known as the “glory effect” on a planet beyond our solar system. This effect, which manifests as colorful, rainbow-like concentric rings, occurs under specific conditions and has been observed on Earth and once on Venus. The European Space Agency’s CHEOPS Exoplanet Characterization Satellite, alongside contributions from other ESA and NASA missions, …

Researchers at Arizona State University have made a significant breakthrough in the study of Antarctica’s wildlife, discovering 13 new papillomaviruses in Antarctic seals, as reported in the journal Virology. Papillomaviruses are tiny DNA viruses that target the epithelial cells of both humans and animals. With several hundred variants identified in humans, these viruses are categorized based on their cancer-causing potential. …

Scientists in Antarctica have encountered a distressing phenomenon: the death of hundreds, potentially thousands, of Adelie penguins, with the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus suspected as the cause. Federation University Australia disclosed that a scientific team found over 532 deceased penguins last month on Heroina Island, with signs pointing to a much larger death toll from an unidentified disease. Initial …

In a groundbreaking outdoor experiment, scientists tested a new technology designed to cool the Earth by enhancing cloud reflectivity and bouncing sunlight back into space. This first-of-its-kind test took place on a decommissioned aircraft carrier in San Francisco Bay, showcasing a device similar to a snow cannon that sprayed a cloud of salt aerosol particles into the sky. The purpose …

Scientists are now suggesting that Mars might have been hospitable to life for a significantly longer period than previously believed, potentially extending into millions of additional years. In the distant past, Mars was home to vast bodies of water, including oceans, lakes, and rivers, reminiscent of early Earth’s landscapes during the solar system’s early years. The consensus has been that …

On the first of April, Tennessee’s House of Representatives approved legislation aimed at halting geoengineering efforts, which involve deliberate alterations to the Earth’s atmosphere to combat climate change. This legislation addresses a range of geoengineering practices, from theoretical concepts like solar radiation management and cloud seeding, designed to cool the planet, to more speculative and unproven ideas. The debate surrounding …

In a groundbreaking achievement, South Korean researchers have set a new global benchmark by maintaining a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius in a nuclear fusion experiment, a temperature that is seven times that of the sun’s core. This endeavor aims to mimic the fusion reactions that power the sun and stars, combining atoms to release vast amounts of energy. …

Researchers are delving deeper into the history of Denisovans, an ancient human group whose DNA reveals their expansive journey from the Tibetan plateau to distant locales such as the Philippines and Laos, and possibly northern China over 100,000 years ago. Denisovans, who coexisted with modern humans (Homo sapiens) and Neanderthals tens of thousands of years ago, are mostly known through …