The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to become the world's largest visible- and infrared-light telescope, is taking shape at its construction site atop Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert. Managed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the ELT is expected to revolutionize astronomical research upon its completion, targeted for 2028. The telescope's dome, which spans an impressive 305 feet in diameter and rises 263 feet in height, has made significant progr

On Thursday, SpaceX's latest Starship prototype experienced a catastrophic failure in space, eight minutes after launching from South Texas. The spacecraft, which was carrying mock satellites as its test payload, lost communication with SpaceX mission control, signaling an anomaly in its upper stage. This led to a total loss of the spacecraft, marking a significant setback for the company's Mars ambitions. The failure had an unexpected impact on air traffic. At least 20 comm

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most advanced telescope ever built, has provided a groundbreaking view of the universe by revealing detailed 3D maps of interstellar dust and gas. Recently, it captured the infrared glow of this cosmic material, showing delicate patterns that resemble wood grain. This discovery marks the first time scientists have been able to map the interstellar medium in such detail. The findings offer a fresh perspective on star formation and galaxy evo

Introduction to Rujm el-Hiri: Rujm el-Hiri is an ancient basalt rock structure located in the Golan Heights, approximately 16 kilometers east of the Sea of Galilee. This monument, also referred to as the "Stonehenge of the East," has fascinated scientists for years due to its unusual shifting over time. The structure, built nearly 5,000 years ago, has moved t

NASA is preparing to launch the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) to the moon to gather groundbreaking data on Earth’s magnetosphere. LEXI will capture high-resolution images of the magnetosphere's movements, offering crucial insights into how it reacts to solar wind and space weather conditions. This mission is designed to enhance our understanding of space weather, which impacts satellites, electronics, and infrastructure on Earth. The LEXI instrument wi

Blue Origin's long-awaited New Glenn rocket is preparing for its inaugural launch on Sunday, signaling a major step forward for Jeff Bezos’ space company and a potential challenge to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Standing 30 stories tall, New Glenn represents a significant multibillion-dollar effort by Blue Origin to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and capture a share of the growing satellite constellation launch market. If successful, New Glenn will also enable the deployment of A

A significant new discovery in the field of astronomy has revealed that the supernova remnant G278.94+1.35, now named Diprotodon, is much closer and larger than previously thought. Initially believed to be around 8,800 light years away, new research has shown that it is actually located approximately 3,300 light years from Earth. The remnant, which is the result of a massive stellar explosion, spans around 189 by 182 light years in size, a significant reduction from earlier estimates of over

Overview of ISRO's START 2025 Program: ISRO Chairman S Somanath delivered a keynote speech at the launch of the Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START 2025) program, emphasizing the role of space science beyond the excitement of becoming astronomers. He explained that space science involves rigorous and time-consuming work that requires years of persistent effort and expertise. He shared that this year’s program will involve 20,000 students from more than 560

Renowned rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert V. Narayanan is set to take over as the next Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), succeeding S. Somanath. His appointment comes at a pivotal time for India's space sector, which is undergoing significant reforms, with numerous ambitious projects on the horizon, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight, Chandrayaan-4, and the development of India’s own space station.

Australian scientists have pioneered a potential new method for controlling tropical disease spread by genetically engineering mosquitoes with toxic semen. The "toxic male technique" works by breeding mosquitoes that express venomous proteins in their semen, which kills female mosquitoes after mating. Since only female mosquitoes bite and spread diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, this method targets them while leaving beneficial species unharmed. The method was fir

On January 6, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched its first Starlink mission of the year from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket carried 24 new Starlink satellites into orbit, adding to SpaceX’s expansive satellite network aimed at providing high-speed internet across the globe. This launch highlights SpaceX's ongoing efforts to improve connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas. The Falcon 9's first stage completed a flaw

A groundbreaking new theory suggests that Pluto's moon Charon may have been captured in a "kiss and capture" scenario billions of years ago, offering a fresh perspective on the formation of planetary systems. Led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton at the U of A Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, this study challenges long-standing models of moon formation. Instead of the traditional collision model, the researchers propose that Pluto and Charon had a brief, icy encounter, wh

A new infrared photodiode, developed using Germanium, offers a 35% increase in responsivity at a 1.55 µm wavelength, which is widely used in telecommunications. Unlike traditional Indium Gallium Arsenide sensors, this Germanium-based photodiode achieves exceptional performance in infrared light detection, making it a promising solution for various applications, including self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, and telecommunications. This breakthrough is made possible through

The number of sunrises seen by the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is determined by the station’s rapid orbiting of Earth. As of January 1, 2025, U.S. astronaut Sunita Williams, currently stationed on the ISS, is set to witness 16 sunrises as the world enters the New Year. Williams, the commander of the “Expedition 72” mission, is joined by her fellow flight engineers: Alexey Ovchini

India is gearing up to launch a massive American communications satellite that will enable phone calls using direct connectivity from space. This innovative approach to satellite telephony is a first for India, which has previously only launched small satellites made by American entities.   The satellite, operated by AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based company, will allow users to make voice calls u

Tonight, skywatchers will be treated to a rare and exciting astronomical event: a black moon, which is the second new moon to occur in December. While blue moons, or two full moons in a month, are relatively well-known, black moons are much rarer and are often misunderstood. A black moon occurs when the second new moon of the month takes place, and the new moon’s natural invisibility is further enhanced. As a result, this phenomenon makes it difficult to spot with the naked eye, but it

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): ISRO is preparing for a major milestone as it plans the 100th launch from the Sriharikota spaceport, scheduled for January. This milestone will be achieved with a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) mission, according to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. The 99th launch from Sriharikota took place on Monday, with the successful PSLV-C60

A new study conducted by University College London (UCL) has revealed that smoking has a more significant impact on life expectancy than previously believed. The study, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, found that each cigarette smoked reduces a person’s life by an average of 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. These findings are higher than earlier estimates, which suggested that each cigarette took around 11 minutes off a person’s life. This mea

What Is a Black Moon and How to Experience This Rare Phenomenon? Skywatchers are in for a treat as 2024 concludes with a rare astronomical event called the "black moon." This fascinating term refers to the second new moon occurring within a single calendar month. While not officially recognized in astronomy, the phenomenon has gained popularity among amateur astronomers and stargazers over the years. According to the US Naval Observatory, the black moon will oc

A groundbreaking study has uncovered notable differences in the nut-cracking abilities of chimpanzees within the same group, shedding new light on their cognitive and motor skills. Researchers analyzed extensive video footage of wild chimpanzees from Bossou, Guinea, where they observed 3,882 instances of chimps attempting to crack open nuts using stones as tools. The study found varying levels of efficiency among individuals, indicating differences in cognitive abilities and physical dexterit