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.
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A recent 8.8-magnitude earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, forcing cruise ships into emergency mode. While deep ocean waters offer relative safety, ships near coastlines face significant risks. Some ships evacuated ports immediately, leaving passengers behind, highlighting the difficult decisions made during natural disasters and the importance of passenger awareness.
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.
A recent study reveals a growing trend among teenagers using AI for companionship, advice, and emotional support, raising concerns about its impact on social development and mental health. Teens are increasingly turning to platforms like ChatGPT for personal guidance, sometimes even over real-life interactions.
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.
Brain scans in your 40s might reveal lifespan. Duke University research shows brain structure changes indicate biological aging. The DunedinPACE tool analyzes these changes. It helps predict cognitive decline and diseases. Early detection enables preventative care. This promotes longer, healthier lives. Brain imaging could become a routine health assessment. It helps in slowing age-related decline.
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 groundbreaking study reveals the alarming presence of 27 million tons of nanoplastics in the North Atlantic Ocean, posing significant threats to marine ecosystems and human health. These microscopic particles, originating from plastic breakdown and other sources, infiltrate the food chain and can penetrate tissues. Experts emphasize the urgent need to prevent further plastic pollution to mitigate this pervasive threat.
In March 2025, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, marking the strongest seismic event in over a century. A nearby CCTV camera captured the fault's rupture in real time, revealing a 2.5-meter ground slip in just 1.3 seconds. This unprecedented footage offers scientists a unique opportunity to study earthquake mechanics and improve future predictions.
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.
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.