Scientists in Switzerland are cryogenically freezing human feces in a Microbiota Vault, aiming to safeguard microbial diversity for future generations. This initiative addresses the alarming decline in gut microbes due to modern lifestyles, which is linked to increased health issues. The vault seeks to preserve these microbes for potential medical and ecological restoration applications.
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The joint NASA-ISRO mission, NISAR, is set to launch, revolutionizing Earth observation with its advanced radar technology. Scanning the planet every 12 days, it will detect subtle changes, aiding in flood warnings, coastal erosion monitoring, and disaster response. This collaboration, fifty years after the SITE project, marks a significant advancement in Indo-US space cooperation, providing invaluable data to scientists worldwide.
NASA and SpaceX have postponed the Crew-11 launch to the ISS due to adverse weather in Florida, rescheduling for August 1, 2025. This mission, carrying astronauts from the US, Japan, and Russia, will be the first NASA SpaceX launch broadcast on Netflix. The six-month mission will focus on microgravity research and ISS operations, continuing NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme.
A viral rumour about total darkness on August 2, 2025, is creating panic. NASA clarifies no such event is scheduled. The rumour is a confusion with the August 2, 2027, total solar eclipse. This eclipse will be visible across Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. It is expected to last over six minutes.
NASA and ISRO are set to launch the NISAR satellite on July 30, 2025, aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket. This collaborative mission will employ advanced radar technology to monitor Earth's environmental changes, including land deformation, glacier movement, and ecosystem health. NISAR's data will benefit global climate research, disaster management, and agricultural planning.
Elon Musk says orbital refuelling is a hurdle for Starship. Two Starships will dock in space for fuel transfer. This is important for missions to Mars. Musk wants a reusable heat shield. He aims to cut spaceflight costs. The next Starship launch is in August. SpaceX wants to reshape space travel. Political tensions are rising for SpaceX.
Asteroid 2025 OL1, about the size of a small plane, will safely pass Earth on July 30, 2025, at a distance of 1.29 million kilometers. NASA assures it poses no threat, but the event underscores the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects. ISRO is collaborating with global agencies to enhance detection and deflection capabilities, focusing on potential threats like asteroid Apophis.
NASA faces significant upheaval as nearly 20% of its workforce departs following funding cuts under the Trump administration's downsizing plan. The Deferred Resignation Program, intended to streamline the agency, sparks widespread protests and concerns over a critical loss of expertise. With mission readiness threatened and leadership in question, the future of U.S. space exploration hangs in the balance.
Germany explores bio-robotics for defence. Cyborg cockroaches are the new surveillance bots. Swarm Biotactics develops these insect-based robots. They carry cameras and sensors for real-time data. These robots can operate individually or in swarms. The aim is to gather intelligence from enemy areas. This reduces risk to human soldiers. Germany is embracing innovative military technology.
Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere are gearing up for a partial solar eclipse on September 21, 2025. While India won't witness this event, viewers in New Zealand, eastern Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Antarctica will enjoy a crescent Sun. The eclipse, lasting over four hours, offers unique opportunities for scientific study and photography.
The theory of quantum mechanics has transformed daily life since being proposed a century ago, yet how it works remains a mystery -- and physicists are deeply divided about what is actually going on, a survey in the journal Nature said Wednesday. More than 1,100 of them responded to a survey conducted by the leading scientific journal Nature.