Asteroid 2003 MH4, a large space rock about three football fields in length, will make a close approach to Earth around May 24, 2025. While not an immediate threat, its size and speed have prompted NASA to closely monitor its trajectory. This event highlights the importance of ongoing planetary defense efforts and the need for vigilance in tracking near-Earth objects.
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Researchers propose a lunar space elevator using existing materials, potentially revolutionizing space travel within decades. Anchored on the moon and extending to Earth's orbit, this "spaceline" could drastically cut mission costs and fuel needs. It would also enable a sustainable human presence in space, facilitating lunar bases and interplanetary missions.
Space advocates, including those from Mississippi's Stennis Space Center and Louisiana's Michoud Assembly Facility, rallied in Washington, D.C., to protect NASA programs amid proposed budget cuts. They emphasized the importance of continued funding for the Artemis program, which is vital for America's space ambitions and supports thousands of jobs in the Gulf Coast region.
Chinese scientists have engineered a laser-based imaging system capable of reading millimetre-sized text from 1.4 kilometres away, overcoming atmospheric distortion through active intensity interferometry. This breakthrough, achieving a 14-fold resolution improvement, could revolutionise archaeology, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection. Researchers are now focused on enhancing usability and integrating AI for real-time image rendering.
Researchers in the United States and Japan have discovered the genetic basis for ginger cats' orange fur. The ARHGAP36 gene is responsible for this unique coloration. A missing DNA segment in this gene causes lighter pigments. This explains why most ginger cats are male due to X chromosome genetics. Professor Hiroyuki Sasaki led the research, funded by cat enthusiasts.
ISRO Chairman Dr. N. Narayanan declared 2025 as 'Gaganyaan Year,' highlighting India's ambitious human spaceflight program. The uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, featuring the Vyommitra robot, is set for December 2025, paving the way for a manned mission in early 2027. ISRO is also advancing lunar exploration with Chandrayaan-4, aiming to return lunar samples, and Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative mission with Japan.
Astronaut Nichole Ayers, aboard the International Space Station, captured a stunning display of the Northern Lights over North America. While photographing severe storms, Ayers unexpectedly witnessed the vibrant green and purple aurora, triggered by heightened geomagnetic activity. The NOAA reported a Kp index of 6, enhancing visibility from space and Earth.
A vibrant blue poison dart frog, *Ranitomeya aetherea*, has been identified as a new species in the western Amazon. Discovered near the Juruá River, this frog boasts striking copper highlights on its limbs and distinctive pale blue stripes. Its unique call patterns and specific habitat preferences make it a significant find, highlighting the vulnerability of such species to environmental changes.
The deep ocean, covering most of Earth, remains largely unexplored, with only 0.001% visually studied. It regulates climate, harbors unique ecosystems, and holds potential resources. However, human activities like climate change, pollution, and overfishing threaten this vital environment before its true value is understood, necessitating urgent conservation efforts and sustainable practices.
NASA and SpaceX have rescheduled the undocking of the Dragon cargo capsule from the ISS to May 23 due to adverse weather. Part of the CRS-32 mission, the Dragon will return scientific experiments and supplies to Earth. The mission delivered 6,700 pounds of cargo to the ISS. NASA will livestream the undocking, but the splashdown will not be webcast.
A recent Virginia Tech study reveals that the Pacific Northwest faces a heightened risk of catastrophic flooding and mega-tsunamis, potentially reaching 1,000 feet. The Cascadia Subduction Zone's inactivity since 1700, coupled with climate change, intensifies the threat. Coastal land subsidence and rising sea levels could overwhelm communities, impacting thousands and vital infrastructure.