SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded during a test. The issue was a fuel reaction in an engine. The company made fixes, including better insulation. The Federal Aviation Administration approved the changes. A new test flight is set for May 27. This flight will reuse a Super Heavy booster. SpaceX aims to use Starship for Moon and Mars missions.
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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.
A major solar storm is approaching Earth. NASA and other agencies issued warnings. This storm may cause radio blackouts and GPS issues. Vivid auroras are expected. The Sun's activity is increasing. Scientists are monitoring sunspot regions. The storm might affect power grids and satellites. The UK and Ireland could see Northern Lights. People should prepare for communication disruptions.
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.
Recent intense solar flares, originating from sunspot AR4087, have triggered global concerns about potential space weather impacts. A FEMA-led drill simulating a solar superstorm exposed critical preparedness gaps across agencies. Recommendations from SWORM emphasize enhanced monitoring, interagency cooperation, and public education to bolster resilience against future solar events, safeguarding essential infrastructure and national security.
Scientists have engineered innovative contact lenses that grant humans the ability to see in the dark by converting infrared light into visible images. These nanoparticle-infused lenses offer potential applications in rescue operations, security, and medicine, eliminating the need for bulky, powered goggles.
Scientists have made a surprising discovery: penguin droppings in Antarctica may contribute to cooling the continent. Ammonia released from penguin guano combines with compounds from phytoplankton, boosting the formation of cloud-seeding aerosols. These aerosols then create low-lying clouds that reflect sunlight, potentially offsetting some warming effects, highlighting the intricate link between ecosystems and climate.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire 23andMe for $256 million following its bankruptcy filing due to declining demand and a significant data breach in 2023. The acquisition excludes Lemonaid Health, which will be shut down. Regeneron pledges to uphold privacy commitments and legal safeguards for the genetic data of 15 million users, with a court-appointed overseer monitoring data use.
New research challenges the long-held belief that asteroid Vesta is a protoplanet. Scientists at Michigan State University suggest Vesta is a fragment of a larger, extinct planet shattered in a massive collision 4.5 billion years ago. Gravity data from NASA's Dawn mission reveals no metal-rich core, contradicting earlier assumptions and redefining planetary evolution.
In a global scientific race, US and Japan are exploring the universe's existence mystery. The US-led Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) in South Dakota and Japan's Hyper-Kamiokande are constructing detectors to study neutrinos. These elusive particles may explain why matter exists despite the theoretical annihilation with antimatter after the Big Bang.
A large asteroid, 2003 MH4, will pass by Earth on May 24. It is about the size of the Eiffel Tower. The asteroid will travel at 30,060 kilometers per hour. NASA considers this a close encounter. Continuous monitoring of near-Earth objects is important. Even small gravitational changes can alter an asteroid's path.