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In one of the most shocking discoveries in the universe, scientists have found a galaxy with not one, not two, but three supermassive black holes. Typically, they are believed to exist at the centre of their home galaxy. Earlier this year, astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy announced that they had found a galaxy with a pair of supermassive black holes. That itself was a huge finding, and was the first time a pair had been seen in one galaxy. Now astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics have stumbled upon a galaxy with three supermassive black holes.&nbsp;Hannah Übler, lead author of the study, said, "This is the first evidence of three active black holes in a single galaxy in the distant universe." The findings were published in the journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics on August 12, 2026.<h2>Two of them will collide, the third is located on the fringes of the galaxy</h2>Two of these supermassive black holes are located at the heart of the galaxy, while the third one is sitting on the outskirts. The biggest one of them is equivalent to 80 million Suns and is one of the two at the centre. The second one near it is only 620 light-years away from it and has a solar mass of just 600,000. The third supermassive black hole is about 5,500 light-years from the centre and two million times the mass of our Sun. Surprisingly, the smallest is the hungriest of the three and on a merger course with the biggest one, which will happen in the next few hundred million years.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/extreme-orbit-of-a-star-moving-at-25-000-kmps-drags-into-spacetime-near-sagittarius-a-1787214140427">Extreme orbit of a star moving at 25,000 kmps drags into spacetime near Sagittarius A*</a>&nbsp;The galaxy is J0148-4214 and 12.5 billion light-years from us. This means what scientists on Earth are seeing existed only about 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang. What else is surprising is that none of them is quiet, and all three are accreting and consuming material. Almost every other black hole sitting at the centre of any galaxy, including the Milky Way, is relatively quiet.<h2>JWST helped identify three separate black holes</h2>The discovery was made by using the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRSpec instrument, which examined the galaxy’s spectral signature. It broke down the wavelengths of light, which allowed them to see hydrogen moving at high speed. In the absence of this tool, they would have spotted only one black hole. "The JWST data allowed us not only to identify the three black holes, but also to estimate their masses, accretion rates, and the stellar mass of the galaxy," Co-author Giovanni Mazzolari said.&nbsp;The researchers say these older black holes can reveal how the universe grew. Hannah added, the finding shows that the early universe was capable of bringing massive black holes together and creating a scenario where they could merge, a process scientists have long believed is how supermassive black holes form.

After finding a galaxy with two supermassive black holes, astronomers have now spotted a galaxy with three supermassive black holes. This is the first time such a discovery has been made, just like the pair that was seen earlier this year.

In one of the most shocking discoveries in the universe, scientists have found a galaxy with not one, not two, but three supermassive black holes. Typically, they are believed to exist at the centre of their home galaxy. Earlier this year, astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy announced that they had found a galaxy with a pair of supermassive black holes. That itself was a huge finding, and was the first time a pair had been seen in one galaxy. Now astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics have stumbled upon a galaxy with three supermassive black holes. Hannah Übler, lead author of the study, said, "This is the first evidence of three active black holes in a single galaxy in the distant universe." The findings were published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics on August 12, 2026. Two of them will collide, the third is located on the fringes of the galaxy Two of these supermassive black holes are located at the heart of the galaxy, while the third one is sitting on the outskirts. The biggest one of them is equivalent to 80 million Suns and is one of the two at the centre. The second one near it is only 620 light-years away from it and has a solar mass of just 600,000. The third supermassive black hole is about 5,500 light-years from the centre and two million times the mass of our Sun. Surprisingly, the smallest is the hungriest of the three and on a merger course with the biggest one, which will happen in the next few hundred million years. Also Read: Extreme orbit of a star moving at 25,000 kmps drags into spacetime near Sagittarius A* The galaxy is J0148-4214 and 12.5 billion light-years from us. This means what scientists on Earth are seeing existed only about 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang. What else is surprising is that none of them is quiet, and all three are accreting and consuming material. Almost every other black hole sitting at the centre of any galaxy, including the Milky Way, is relatively quiet. JWST helped identify three separate black holes The discovery was made by using the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRSpec instrument, which examined the galaxy’s spectral signature. It broke down the wavelengths of light, which allowed them to see hydrogen moving at high speed. In the absence of this tool, they would have spotted only one black hole. "The JWST data allowed us not only to identify the three black holes, but also to estimate their masses, accretion rates, and the stellar mass of the galaxy," Co-author Giovanni Mazzolari said. The researchers say these older black holes can reveal how the universe grew. Hannah added, the finding shows that the early universe was capable of bringing massive black holes together and creating a scenario where they could merge, a process scientists have long believed is how supermassive black holes form.

After finding a galaxy with two supermassive black holes, astronomers have now spotted a galaxy with three supermassive black holes. This is the first time such a discovery has been made, just like the pair that was seen earlier this year.

Universe delivers a banger as scientists find galaxy with 3 supermassive black holes

A team of Indian geologists has found our planet's earliest lifeforms that lived and died 3.5 billion years ago. Geologist Trisrota Chaudhuri of the Geological Survey of India and her team discovered the remnants of an ancient microbial community and directly dated the material for the first time. Chaudhuri said that, since well-preserved biological material and datable zircons were present in the same rock, an extremely rare occurrence, they were able to directly link the age of the rock and the evidence of life. Chaudhuri collaborated with scientists in Europe and the US for her analysis, and the study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.&nbsp;Finding the earliest organisms that inhabited Earth has proved to be extremely difficult since any signs of them have changed over billions of years. But sometimes conditions lead the traces of dead microbes to be preserved inside silica. They sit there as thin layers of carbon and are not affected even when the rock is bearing the brunt of heat and pressure, causing changes in it.<h2>The discovery was made near Jamshedpur in Jharkhand</h2>&nbsp; Chaudhuri and her team made the discovery at the Singhbhum Craton, one of Earth's oldest surviving blocks of continental crust. Some rocks in Singhbhum are 3.5 billion years old. A set of black-and-white patterns was embedded in the ancient rock near Bhitardari, Jamshedpur, in the state of Jharkhand. The researchers said that these bands are remnants of microbial mats, fossilised remains in which single-celled organisms resided. "&nbsp;<h2>Studying the carbon in the rock</h2> She said that the chemical signatures preserved in this rock suggest that life forms were already using sophisticated ways of turning carbon dioxide into organic matter 3.5 billion years ago. This carbonaceous layer could have come from non-biological processes, such as volcanism, or could belong to something that lived all those years ago. To determine exactly which argument was true, they used Raman spectroscopy. They used a laser to light up the carbon, enabling them to study its structure to learn about when it formed and the alterations it went through over the years.&nbsp;For it to be from an organism that was once alive, they had to establish that the carbon was indigenous to the rock and did not come from another geological event. The maximum temperature endured by the carbon was between 324 and 369 degrees Celsius, while the later veins of quartz had been heated at much higher temperatures. The cooler layers showed that the carbon was part of the original rock.&nbsp;<h2>Why the discovery matters</h2> To find the age of the material, researchers analysed eight zircon crystals. To know when the zircon was formed, scientists looked at the ratio of uranium to lead in a zircon sample. While four crystals had undergone several changes, the other four revealed the true age, dating them back to around 3.5 billion years ago. "What we find most remarkable is that our study again confirms that primitive life thrived in a chemically extreme world 3.5 billion years ago. These microorganisms lived alongside active volcanism, in an ocean rich in iron and silica," Chaudhuri told ScienceAlert. &nbsp;

A team of Indian geologists have discovered the earliest life forms fossilised in the rocks of Jharkhand. They are dated to be 3.5 billion years old and were found in the Singhbhum Craton, one of Earth's oldest surviving blocks of continental crust.

A team of Indian geologists has found our planet's earliest lifeforms that lived and died 3.5 billion years ago. Geologist Trisrota Chaudhuri of the Geological Survey of India and her team discovered the remnants of an ancient microbial community and directly dated the material for the first time. Chaudhuri said that, since well-preserved biological material and datable zircons were present in the same rock, an extremely rare occurrence, they were able to directly link the age of the rock and the evidence of life. Chaudhuri collaborated with scientists in Europe and the US for her analysis, and the study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Finding the earliest organisms that inhabited Earth has proved to be extremely difficult since any signs of them have changed over billions of years. But sometimes conditions lead the traces of dead microbes to be preserved inside silica. They sit there as thin layers of carbon and are not affected even when the rock is bearing the brunt of heat and pressure, causing changes in it. The discovery was made near Jamshedpur in Jharkhand Chaudhuri and her team made the discovery at the Singhbhum Craton, one of Earth's oldest surviving blocks of continental crust. Some rocks in Singhbhum are 3.5 billion years old. A set of black-and-white patterns was embedded in the ancient rock near Bhitardari, Jamshedpur, in the state of Jharkhand. The researchers said that these bands are remnants of microbial mats, fossilised remains in which single-celled organisms resided. " Studying the carbon in the rock She said that the chemical signatures preserved in this rock suggest that life forms were already using sophisticated ways of turning carbon dioxide into organic matter 3.5 billion years ago. This carbonaceous layer could have come from non-biological processes, such as volcanism, or could belong to something that lived all those years ago. To determine exactly which argument was true, they used Raman spectroscopy. They used a laser to light up the carbon, enabling them to study its structure to learn about when it formed and the alterations it went through over the years. For it to be from an organism that was once alive, they had to establish that the carbon was indigenous to the rock and did not come from another geological event. The maximum temperature endured by the carbon was between 324 and 369 degrees Celsius, while the later veins of quartz had been heated at much higher temperatures. The cooler layers showed that the carbon was part of the original rock. Why the discovery matters To find the age of the material, researchers analysed eight zircon crystals. To know when the zircon was formed, scientists looked at the ratio of uranium to lead in a zircon sample. While four crystals had undergone several changes, the other four revealed the true age, dating them back to around 3.5 billion years ago. "What we find most remarkable is that our study again confirms that primitive life thrived in a chemically extreme world 3.5 billion years ago. These microorganisms lived alongside active volcanism, in an ocean rich in iron and silica," Chaudhuri told ScienceAlert.

A team of Indian geologists have discovered the earliest life forms fossilised in the rocks of Jharkhand. They are dated to be 3.5 billion years old and were found in the Singhbhum Craton, one of Earth's oldest surviving blocks of continental crust.

Indian geologist finds 3.5bn-year-old evidence of life in the rocks of Jharkhand

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Aug 20) signed a memorandum aimed at dramatically expanding America's commercial space industry, setting a target of at least 1,000 space launches and re-entries every year by 2030.The proposed expansion would mark a major jump from the 178 launches recorded last year. That figure was already around 10 times higher than the number recorded in 2013, with Elon Musk's SpaceX accounting for much of the recent growth.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-announces-crushing-economic-campaign-against-iran-threatens-allies-with-tremendous-penalties-1787186991774">Trump announces ‘crushing’ economic campaign against Iran, threatens allies with ‘tremendous’ penalties</a><h2>Government land eyed for new launch sites</h2>The memorandum directs federal agencies to identify government-owned land that could be used for future commercial launch and re-entry sites.Trump has given officials 90 days to identify a new federal re-entry site. Agencies have also been instructed to designate priority airspace for key launch corridors and incorporate space transportation into broader air traffic control modernisation efforts.The administration wants government agencies to work more closely with private companies on space transportation infrastructure while speeding up permitting and environmental reviews.Officials have also been asked to ensure sufficient wireless spectrum is available for launch operations.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-s-debt-hits-a-staggering-40-trillion-is-the-us-heading-for-a-crisis-1787187559842">America's debt hits a staggering $40 trillion for the first time. Is the US heading for a crisis?</a><h2>Moon missions remain a priority</h2>The new policy also puts America's return to the Moon at the centre of the administration's space ambitions.Trump wants US astronauts back on the lunar surface by 2028, while directing NASA to support commercial transportation to the Moon and robotic missions to Mars.The administration also wants NASA to explore commercial options for eventually sending humans to Mars.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, described the policy as a "commercial-first approach".He said it would support having Americans on the Moon by 2028 and initial elements of a Moon base by 2030, alongside stronger launch capabilities for national security.Trump's latest space push comes after lawmakers put renewed emphasis on NASA's Artemis Moon programme, despite the president's earlier focus on Mars missions. The memorandum also directs federal agencies to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests to launch commercial foreign space vehicles from US territory.

Trump has set an extraordinary new target for America's space industry: 1,000 launches and re-entries every year by 2030. With the US recording just 178 launches last year, the White House is betting heavily on private companies to transform the country's space ambitions.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Aug 20) signed a memorandum aimed at dramatically expanding America's commercial space industry, setting a target of at least 1,000 space launches and re-entries every year by 2030. The proposed expansion would mark a major jump from the 178 launches recorded last year. That figure was already around 10 times higher than the number recorded in 2013, with Elon Musk's SpaceX accounting for much of the recent growth. Also read | Trump announces ‘crushing’ economic campaign against Iran, threatens allies with ‘tremendous’ penalties Government land eyed for new launch sites The memorandum directs federal agencies to identify government-owned land that could be used for future commercial launch and re-entry sites. Trump has given officials 90 days to identify a new federal re-entry site. Agencies have also been instructed to designate priority airspace for key launch corridors and incorporate space transportation into broader air traffic control modernisation efforts. The administration wants government agencies to work more closely with private companies on space transportation infrastructure while speeding up permitting and environmental reviews. Officials have also been asked to ensure sufficient wireless spectrum is available for launch operations. Also read | America's debt hits a staggering $40 trillion for the first time. Is the US heading for a crisis? Moon missions remain a priority The new policy also puts America's return to the Moon at the centre of the administration's space ambitions. Trump wants US astronauts back on the lunar surface by 2028, while directing NASA to support commercial transportation to the Moon and robotic missions to Mars. The administration also wants NASA to explore commercial options for eventually sending humans to Mars. Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, described the policy as a "commercial-first approach". He said it would support having Americans on the Moon by 2028 and initial elements of a Moon base by 2030, alongside stronger launch capabilities for national security. Trump's latest space push comes after lawmakers put renewed emphasis on NASA's Artemis Moon programme, despite the president's earlier focus on Mars missions. The memorandum also directs federal agencies to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests to launch commercial foreign space vehicles from US territory.

Trump has set an extraordinary new target for America's space industry: 1,000 launches and re-entries every year by 2030. With the US recording just 178 launches last year, the White House is betting heavily on private companies to transform the country's space ambitions.

Trump wants US astronauts back on the lunar surface by 2028; signs 'commercial-first' executive order on space launches

Delhi's pollution is not Delhi's alone; only about 28 per cent of NCR PM2.5 is estimated to come from local sources. A new Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) report argues that roughly one-third of pollutants come from other Indo-Gangetic Plain states, and another third from neighbouring countries. It argues that coordinated action on household fuel use, industry, transport, waste and farm burning could cut PM2.5 levels more effectively than isolated city-level measures. It claims that pollution could not be solved by individual cities acting alone; states across the region must coordinate their policies.The study, “Beyond State Boundaries: Quantifying Interstate Air Pollution Transport and Sectoral Solutions in the Indo-Gangetic Plain”, identifies residential emissions, including the use of solid fuels for cooking and heating, as the largest local contributor, followed by industry, natural and agricultural sources, transport and open burning.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tarique-rahman-india-visit-brics-summit-slim-bangladesh-1787245636793">‘Slim’ chances of Tarique Rahman’s India visit for BRICS Summit without ‘dignified invitation’</a>The report says that winter air pollution is driven by a combination of emissions and meteorological conditions such as low wind speeds, shallow boundary layers and temperature inversions, which trap pollutants closer to the ground. Crop-residue burning sharply worsens post-monsoon air quality, but a 50 per cent cut in Punjab and Haryana burning delivers about a 5 per cent PM2.5 reduction in Punjab during October-November.CSTEP argues that isolated action by one city, state or sector will produce limited gains. In its combined modelling scenario- 50 per cent cuts in residential, transport, energy, industrial and agricultural-waste-burning emissions, plus a 90 per cent reduction in waste emissions-annual PM2.5 levels fell by about 23 per cent in the NCR, from 67.9 to 52.3 µg per cubic meter. In Punjab, they fell by about 20 per cent, from 77.8 to 62.2 µg per cubic meter.The report recommends an airshed-based approach for the wider Indo-Gangetic Plain. This would involve establishing a Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), shared regional pollution-reduction targets, aligned enforcement timelines, a common approved-fuel list, coordinated policies on vehicle scrappage and electric vehicles, stronger industrial monitoring, satellite-based tracking of fires, and a high-resolution national emissions inventory.&nbsp;

A CSTEP study says only about 28 per cent of NCR PM2.5 comes from local sources, highlighting the need for coordinated pollution control across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Delhi's pollution is not Delhi's alone; only about 28 per cent of NCR PM2.5 is estimated to come from local sources. A new Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) report argues that roughly one-third of pollutants come from other Indo-Gangetic Plain states, and another third from neighbouring countries. It argues that coordinated action on household fuel use, industry, transport, waste and farm burning could cut PM2.5 levels more effectively than isolated city-level measures. It claims that pollution could not be solved by individual cities acting alone; states across the region must coordinate their policies. The study, “Beyond State Boundaries: Quantifying Interstate Air Pollution Transport and Sectoral Solutions in the Indo-Gangetic Plain”, identifies residential emissions, including the use of solid fuels for cooking and heating, as the largest local contributor, followed by industry, natural and agricultural sources, transport and open burning. Also Read: ‘Slim’ chances of Tarique Rahman’s India visit for BRICS Summit without ‘dignified invitation’ The report says that winter air pollution is driven by a combination of emissions and meteorological conditions such as low wind speeds, shallow boundary layers and temperature inversions, which trap pollutants closer to the ground. Crop-residue burning sharply worsens post-monsoon air quality, but a 50 per cent cut in Punjab and Haryana burning delivers about a 5 per cent PM2.5 reduction in Punjab during October-November. CSTEP argues that isolated action by one city, state or sector will produce limited gains. In its combined modelling scenario- 50 per cent cuts in residential, transport, energy, industrial and agricultural-waste-burning emissions, plus a 90 per cent reduction in waste emissions-annual PM2.5 levels fell by about 23 per cent in the NCR, from 67.9 to 52.3 µg per cubic meter. In Punjab, they fell by about 20 per cent, from 77.8 to 62.2 µg per cubic meter. The report recommends an airshed-based approach for the wider Indo-Gangetic Plain. This would involve establishing a Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), shared regional pollution-reduction targets, aligned enforcement timelines, a common approved-fuel list, coordinated policies on vehicle scrappage and electric vehicles, stronger industrial monitoring, satellite-based tracking of fires, and a high-resolution national emissions inventory.

A CSTEP study says only about 28 per cent of NCR PM2.5 comes from local sources, highlighting the need for coordinated pollution control across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Delhi pollution not a city-only problem: 72% of NCR PM2.5 linked to sources beyond local emissions, study finds

Elon Musk’s Starlink has reportedly renewed its push to enter India’s satellite communications market, submitting a fresh application to the Indian space regulator for its next-generation satellite constellation.According to the Economic Times, the application seeks authorisation for Starlink’s Gen 2 constellation, which would operate in low Earth orbit at altitudes ranging from 340 to 615 km. The system could bring newer capabilities to India, including direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, potentially allowing compatible smartphones to connect with satellites without relying entirely on conventional mobile networks.Starlink’s latest move comes as India prepares to expand its satellite communications framework and considers regulations for emerging technologies. The company had previously applied for approval for a constellation of around 30,000 satellites, but the application was rejected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) over certain technical features and spectrum bands.“The company has recently applied to get authorisation for its Gen 2 constellation... at an altitude of 340-615 km in low earth orbit (LEO),” a person familiar with the matter told The Economic Times.IN-SPACe approved Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation in July 2025. The first-generation network consists of 4,408 satellites and is designed to provide conventional broadband services.The fresh application could strengthen Starlink’s position as India weighs the introduction of D2D services. The Economic Times had earlier reported that Starlink would need to submit a new application for Gen 2 approval.SpaceX plans to eventually deploy about 42,000 satellites under Gen 2, although the latest Indian application seeks authorisation for nearly 30,000.Starlink is not alone in eyeing the Indian market. Reliance Jio has proposed a 1,600-satellite constellation, while Amazon Leo and Eutelsat OneWeb are also seeking opportunities in the country.However, commercial satellite services are yet to begin for major non-geostationary satellite operators, with security clearances and spectrum allocation still pending.The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has already issued recommendations on satellite spectrum pricing, while consultations on D2D services are underway. Any rollout will also face scrutiny over national security, spectrum use and potential misuse of satellite infrastructure.

Starlink has reapplied for India approval of its Gen 2 satellite network, seeking to offer advanced services including direct-to-device connectivity as New Delhi weighs satcom rules.

Elon Musk’s Starlink has reportedly renewed its push to enter India’s satellite communications market, submitting a fresh application to the Indian space regulator for its next-generation satellite constellation. According to the Economic Times, the application seeks authorisation for Starlink’s Gen 2 constellation, which would operate in low Earth orbit at altitudes ranging from 340 to 615 km. The system could bring newer capabilities to India, including direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, potentially allowing compatible smartphones to connect with satellites without relying entirely on conventional mobile networks. Starlink’s latest move comes as India prepares to expand its satellite communications framework and considers regulations for emerging technologies. The company had previously applied for approval for a constellation of around 30,000 satellites, but the application was rejected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) over certain technical features and spectrum bands. “The company has recently applied to get authorisation for its Gen 2 constellation... at an altitude of 340-615 km in low earth orbit (LEO),” a person familiar with the matter told The Economic Times. IN-SPACe approved Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation in July 2025. The first-generation network consists of 4,408 satellites and is designed to provide conventional broadband services. The fresh application could strengthen Starlink’s position as India weighs the introduction of D2D services. The Economic Times had earlier reported that Starlink would need to submit a new application for Gen 2 approval. SpaceX plans to eventually deploy about 42,000 satellites under Gen 2, although the latest Indian application seeks authorisation for nearly 30,000. Starlink is not alone in eyeing the Indian market. Reliance Jio has proposed a 1,600-satellite constellation, while Amazon Leo and Eutelsat OneWeb are also seeking opportunities in the country. However, commercial satellite services are yet to begin for major non-geostationary satellite operators, with security clearances and spectrum allocation still pending. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has already issued recommendations on satellite spectrum pricing, while consultations on D2D services are underway. Any rollout will also face scrutiny over national security, spectrum use and potential misuse of satellite infrastructure.

Starlink has reapplied for India approval of its Gen 2 satellite network, seeking to offer advanced services including direct-to-device connectivity as New Delhi weighs satcom rules.

Starlink coming to India? Elon Musk’s satellite giant makes fresh India push

Astronomers have detected a fast-moving star near the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, which is moving at a whopping 25,000 kilometres per second, which is 8.5 per cent of the speed of light. The discovery by the <a href="https://www.mpe.mpg.de/8222492/news20260819">Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics</a> has been described in a paper published in Nature. S301 completes one orbit around Sagittarius A* in 8.7 years. It touches the top velocity when it moves closer to the black hole. At its closest point, the distance between Sagittarius A* and this star is the same as the distance between the Sun and Saturn.&nbsp;The study further states that S301's trajectory suggests it was possibly part of a binary system at some point, but the black hole tore them apart, capturing one in a tight orbit and sending the other hurtling into deep space. Finding this lost star could strengthen the theory.<h2>Star becomes a probe to study the black hole&nbsp;</h2>For now, the GRAVITY+ collaboration is using this star as a probe to study the supermassive black hole. They think that using it can help answer some questions about it, such as its spin. It is also an opportunity to test the theory that black holes have no "hair".Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/milky-way-ate-a-galaxy-containing-stars-equal-to-500-million-suns-12-billion-years-ago-1787063887138">Milky Way ate a galaxy containing stars equal to 500 million suns 12 billion years ago</a>&nbsp;Black holes emit no light, which makes it extremely hard to study them. Stars and other bodies that approach the galactic centre are the only means to shed some light on the nature of this cosmic dark element. Astrophysicist Felix Mang of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany, who was part of the team that studied the star, told ScienceAlert that the star is a probe "with which we can gauge the spinning spacetime curvature around this massive black hole is just really cool."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-blames-dark-matter-at-centre-of-milky-way-for-mass-extinctions-on-earth-1785246607054">Scientist finds a pattern to Earth's mass extinctions, and it's hiding in deep space</a>&nbsp;S301 has an elongated orbit which sends it into extreme depths of the black hole's gravity well. As it does this, it accelerates wildly, reaching speeds of more than 25,000 kilometres per second. As black holes spin, spacetime gets dragged towards their centre. S301, in its journey, dips so near the black hole that it enters this very fabric of spacetime. This creates frame-dragging, or the Lense-Thirring effect. This can help scientists learn about the spin of Sagittarius A*.<h2>Falling into the dragging spacetime around black hole</h2>As S301 approaches the closest point, falling into the stretching spacetime slightly changes its orbit. Comparing the altered orbit with its original orbit can help calculate how our supermassive black hole spins. This brings us closer to understanding the no-hair theorem, according to which, if we know the mass and spin of an uncharged black hole, it can predict every other detail about its gravitational field.&nbsp;The wait to see the star reach pericentre, its closest point to the black hole, isn't long. This is set to happen towards the end of 2031. At this point, the effect of spin on its orbit will be strongest. Scientists are hoping to confirm the black hole's spin within the next decade. They are also hoping to find more stars like S301 for quicker results. &nbsp;

A star moving at more than 25,000 km per second around Sagittarius A*, our supermassive black hole, is turning into a special probe to study the galactic centre. S301 was once a binary, but the black hole likely threw away its companion.  

Astronomers have detected a fast-moving star near the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, which is moving at a whopping 25,000 kilometres per second, which is 8.5 per cent of the speed of light. The discovery by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics has been described in a paper published in Nature. S301 completes one orbit around Sagittarius A* in 8.7 years. It touches the top velocity when it moves closer to the black hole. At its closest point, the distance between Sagittarius A* and this star is the same as the distance between the Sun and Saturn. The study further states that S301's trajectory suggests it was possibly part of a binary system at some point, but the black hole tore them apart, capturing one in a tight orbit and sending the other hurtling into deep space. Finding this lost star could strengthen the theory. Star becomes a probe to study the black hole For now, the GRAVITY+ collaboration is using this star as a probe to study the supermassive black hole. They think that using it can help answer some questions about it, such as its spin. It is also an opportunity to test the theory that black holes have no "hair". Also Read: Milky Way ate a galaxy containing stars equal to 500 million suns 12 billion years ago Black holes emit no light, which makes it extremely hard to study them. Stars and other bodies that approach the galactic centre are the only means to shed some light on the nature of this cosmic dark element. Astrophysicist Felix Mang of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany, who was part of the team that studied the star, told ScienceAlert that the star is a probe "with which we can gauge the spinning spacetime curvature around this massive black hole is just really cool." Also Read: Scientist finds a pattern to Earth's mass extinctions, and it's hiding in deep space S301 has an elongated orbit which sends it into extreme depths of the black hole's gravity well. As it does this, it accelerates wildly, reaching speeds of more than 25,000 kilometres per second. As black holes spin, spacetime gets dragged towards their centre. S301, in its journey, dips so near the black hole that it enters this very fabric of spacetime. This creates frame-dragging, or the Lense-Thirring effect. This can help scientists learn about the spin of Sagittarius A*. Falling into the dragging spacetime around black hole As S301 approaches the closest point, falling into the stretching spacetime slightly changes its orbit. Comparing the altered orbit with its original orbit can help calculate how our supermassive black hole spins. This brings us closer to understanding the no-hair theorem, according to which, if we know the mass and spin of an uncharged black hole, it can predict every other detail about its gravitational field. The wait to see the star reach pericentre, its closest point to the black hole, isn't long. This is set to happen towards the end of 2031. At this point, the effect of spin on its orbit will be strongest. Scientists are hoping to confirm the black hole's spin within the next decade. They are also hoping to find more stars like S301 for quicker results.

A star moving at more than 25,000 km per second around Sagittarius A*, our supermassive black hole, is turning into a special probe to study the galactic centre. S301 was once a binary, but the black hole likely threw away its companion. &nbsp;

Extreme orbit of a star moving at 25,000 kmps drags into spacetime near Sagittarius A*

The Swift observatory will crash later this year, NASA has confirmed, as the LINK mission sent to save it nearly a month ago is facing problems in orbit. The quest to save the 22-year-old-telescope was called off on Wednesday, ending Swift's journey of watching the most powerful explosions, gamma-ray bursts, in the universe. The commercial robotic repair vehicle was built by Katalyst Space for $30 million to help salvage the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. LINK was supposed to grab it and carry it to a higher orbit. However, a few weeks after being launched on July 3, it went into an uncontrollable spin.&nbsp;NASA tried to fix the problem from Earth, slowing down the spin, but ultimately couldn't save it as pointing and positioning persisted. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement, "This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting." NASA has not confirmed the exact data Swift will fall down.&nbsp;In a joint statement, Katalyst and NASA said, "Following continued monitoring and assessment of the LINK spacecraft, Katalyst Space and NASA together have concluded that ​due to ongoing attitude control issues, the mission will not include the capture ​and boost of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/swift-and-link-spacecraft-captured-behind-each-other-video-1786966222732">NASA's falling telescope and its saviour spacecraft captured behind each other - Video</a><h2>Why was Swift falling?</h2> Swift was launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts in space. But recently, its low Earth orbit began to rapidly decay. It started dragging down because of solar storms and faced an imminent end before early 2027. It was located at 600 km above the surface of Earth, but then dropped to around 360 km, with much of the drag occurring in the last two years. NASA had the choice to either let it go or try to save the telescope. This had to be done before it fell to 300 kilometres, else it would become unsavable.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-launches-link-to-catch-swift-observatory-in-space-1783079815337">NASA launches LINK to catch 22-year-old Swift observatory in space - Details</a><h2>Making LINK to save Swift</h2> Katalyst was awarded the project and the company "designed, built, tested, and integrated a robotic spacecraft" in just eight months. But it did not work as expected. Two of LINK’s three reaction wheels have failed, and it has been spinning uncontrollably. A flight software update was expected to help. On August 10, NASA said that the "new attitude control algorithms are designed to maintain LINK’s stability using the spacecraft’s remaining actuators." &nbsp;

A NASA observatory is set to crash in the coming weeks after the mission sent to save it was declared a failure on Wednesday. Swift has been dragging down for months because of a decaying orbit. Saviour mission LINK has been spinning and no fix has worked.

The Swift observatory will crash later this year, NASA has confirmed, as the LINK mission sent to save it nearly a month ago is facing problems in orbit. The quest to save the 22-year-old-telescope was called off on Wednesday, ending Swift's journey of watching the most powerful explosions, gamma-ray bursts, in the universe. The commercial robotic repair vehicle was built by Katalyst Space for $30 million to help salvage the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. LINK was supposed to grab it and carry it to a higher orbit. However, a few weeks after being launched on July 3, it went into an uncontrollable spin. NASA tried to fix the problem from Earth, slowing down the spin, but ultimately couldn't save it as pointing and positioning persisted. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement, "This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting." NASA has not confirmed the exact data Swift will fall down. In a joint statement, Katalyst and NASA said, "Following continued monitoring and assessment of the LINK spacecraft, Katalyst Space and NASA together have concluded that due to ongoing attitude control issues, the mission will not include the capture and boost of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory." Also Read: NASA's falling telescope and its saviour spacecraft captured behind each other - Video Why was Swift falling? Swift was launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts in space. But recently, its low Earth orbit began to rapidly decay. It started dragging down because of solar storms and faced an imminent end before early 2027. It was located at 600 km above the surface of Earth, but then dropped to around 360 km, with much of the drag occurring in the last two years. NASA had the choice to either let it go or try to save the telescope. This had to be done before it fell to 300 kilometres, else it would become unsavable. Also Read: NASA launches LINK to catch 22-year-old Swift observatory in space - Details Making LINK to save Swift Katalyst was awarded the project and the company "designed, built, tested, and integrated a robotic spacecraft" in just eight months. But it did not work as expected. Two of LINK’s three reaction wheels have failed, and it has been spinning uncontrollably. A flight software update was expected to help. On August 10, NASA said that the "new attitude control algorithms are designed to maintain LINK’s stability using the spacecraft’s remaining actuators."

A NASA observatory is set to crash in the coming weeks after the mission sent to save it was declared a failure on Wednesday. Swift has been dragging down for months because of a decaying orbit. Saviour mission LINK has been spinning and no fix has worked.

Swift telescope set to crash on Earth as NASA declares saviour mission LINK has failed

NASA’s plan for a long-term human presence on the Moon is moving beyond brief astronaut visits, with India now potentially playing a role in the effort. The agency is developing a Moon Base near the lunar South Pole, where Chandrayaan-3 has given India valuable experience. The outpost is envisioned as a place where astronauts can live, conduct research and test technologies for deeper-space missions.<h2>What is the real objective of the Moon Base?</h2>The Moon Base is not simply about putting a permanent building on the lunar surface. It is intended to test whether humans can live and work for extended periods away from Earth, while developing systems for power, transportation, communications, resource extraction and construction.NASA is already working with commercial partners on cargo landers, rovers and other infrastructure, with some lunar deliveries targeted for 2028. The technologies being developed include systems to generate and store power, extract water and oxygen from local resources, and build landing pads and other infrastructure.<h2>Why is the lunar South Pole important?</h2>The lunar South Pole is valuable because some permanently shadowed craters are extremely cold and may preserve water ice and other volatiles. Water could become one of the most important resources for a future settlement – for drinking, life support and potentially producing hydrogen and oxygen for fuel.The region also contains areas that receive relatively prolonged sunlight, creating opportunities for solar power, while nearby shadowed regions could harbour ice. India has already contributed important knowledge about this difficult environment.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/gaganyaan-the-mission-that-could-change-how-the-world-sees-india-s-space-ambitions-1783690204848">Gaganyaan: The mission that could change how the world sees India’s space ambitions</a><h2>How does Chandrayaan-3 strengthen India’s position?</h2>Chandrayaan-3 gave ISRO something far more valuable than a successful landing: first-hand experience of operating in the lunar South Polar region.Vikram landed on August 23, 2023, and Pragyan conducted in-situ studies of the terrain. Its instruments measured temperature, seismic activity, plasma conditions and the elemental composition of lunar soil. ISRO says the rover travelled about 101 metres.More recently, ChaSTE data have helped scientists understand the thermal behaviour of the polar regolith, information relevant to future habitat and resource planning.<h2>What could ISRO’s role be – and what could India gain?</h2>NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme during the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru on August 5-6. The two sides also agreed to advance discussions on scientific data sharing.India’s exact role has not yet been announced. But ISRO’s experience could make it a useful partner in robotic exploration, lunar science, landing technologies, surface mobility and resource mapping. Participation could also give Indian scientists and industry access to a much larger international lunar programme while strengthening India’s position in the emerging lunar economy.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-russia-ukraine-war-is-reshaping-energy-flows-food-prices-defence-spending-and-india-s-strategy-wion-decodes-1783337395169">How Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping energy flows, food prices, defence spending and India’s strategy | WION Decodes</a><h2>Could the Moon become a resource hub and Mars launchpad?</h2>The Moon could potentially become a resource hub and Mars launchpad – but that remains a long-term possibility, not an immediate reality.If water ice can be extracted economically, it could support life-support systems and produce propellant. Lunar resources could eventually reduce the need to transport everything from Earth. The Moon’s lower gravity could also make it attractive for launching spacecraft deeper into the solar system.That is why NASA describes the Moon Base as more than a destination. It is a test bed for technologies and operations needed for Mars. The lunar South Pole could ultimately become humanity’s first sustained foothold beyond Earth – and India now has an opportunity to help shape what that foothold becomes. &nbsp;

NASA’s Moon Base plan is opening a new chapter in lunar exploration, with India’s Chandrayaan-3 experience giving ISRO a potential role in the race to establish a long-term presence on the Moon.

NASA’s plan for a long-term human presence on the Moon is moving beyond brief astronaut visits, with India now potentially playing a role in the effort. The agency is developing a Moon Base near the lunar South Pole, where Chandrayaan-3 has given India valuable experience. The outpost is envisioned as a place where astronauts can live, conduct research and test technologies for deeper-space missions. What is the real objective of the Moon Base? The Moon Base is not simply about putting a permanent building on the lunar surface. It is intended to test whether humans can live and work for extended periods away from Earth, while developing systems for power, transportation, communications, resource extraction and construction. NASA is already working with commercial partners on cargo landers, rovers and other infrastructure, with some lunar deliveries targeted for 2028. The technologies being developed include systems to generate and store power, extract water and oxygen from local resources, and build landing pads and other infrastructure. Why is the lunar South Pole important? The lunar South Pole is valuable because some permanently shadowed craters are extremely cold and may preserve water ice and other volatiles. Water could become one of the most important resources for a future settlement – for drinking, life support and potentially producing hydrogen and oxygen for fuel. The region also contains areas that receive relatively prolonged sunlight, creating opportunities for solar power, while nearby shadowed regions could harbour ice. India has already contributed important knowledge about this difficult environment. Also read | Gaganyaan: The mission that could change how the world sees India’s space ambitions How does Chandrayaan-3 strengthen India’s position? Chandrayaan-3 gave ISRO something far more valuable than a successful landing: first-hand experience of operating in the lunar South Polar region. Vikram landed on August 23, 2023, and Pragyan conducted in-situ studies of the terrain. Its instruments measured temperature, seismic activity, plasma conditions and the elemental composition of lunar soil. ISRO says the rover travelled about 101 metres. More recently, ChaSTE data have helped scientists understand the thermal behaviour of the polar regolith, information relevant to future habitat and resource planning. What could ISRO’s role be – and what could India gain? NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme during the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru on August 5-6. The two sides also agreed to advance discussions on scientific data sharing. India’s exact role has not yet been announced. But ISRO’s experience could make it a useful partner in robotic exploration, lunar science, landing technologies, surface mobility and resource mapping. Participation could also give Indian scientists and industry access to a much larger international lunar programme while strengthening India’s position in the emerging lunar economy. Also read | How Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping energy flows, food prices, defence spending and India’s strategy | WION Decodes Could the Moon become a resource hub and Mars launchpad? The Moon could potentially become a resource hub and Mars launchpad – but that remains a long-term possibility, not an immediate reality. If water ice can be extracted economically, it could support life-support systems and produce propellant. Lunar resources could eventually reduce the need to transport everything from Earth. The Moon’s lower gravity could also make it attractive for launching spacecraft deeper into the solar system. That is why NASA describes the Moon Base as more than a destination. It is a test bed for technologies and operations needed for Mars. The lunar South Pole could ultimately become humanity’s first sustained foothold beyond Earth – and India now has an opportunity to help shape what that foothold becomes.

NASA’s Moon Base plan is opening a new chapter in lunar exploration, with India’s Chandrayaan-3 experience giving ISRO a potential role in the race to establish a long-term presence on the Moon.

NASA’s Moon Base: How Chandrayaan-3 could give India an edge in the lunar race

If you have ever opened Instagram for “just five minutes” and found yourself scrolling much longer, a new brain study offers a possible explanation. Researchers found that short videos people enjoyed were linked to reduced activity in two brain regions involved in cognitive control.The study, published in NeuroImage, involved 56 young adults. Researchers used functional MRI (fMRI) to watch brain activity while participants freely viewed short videos. They also used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine chemicals including glutamate and GABA. The finding does not mean Reels or Shorts switch off the brain, nor does it prove that short videos cause permanent brain damage.&nbsp;<h2>What happens to the brain while watching?</h2>The researchers focused on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).These areas are part of the brain's cognitive control network. They are involved in functions such as monitoring behaviour, managing attention and deciding when to change what we are doing.When participants watched videos they liked and watched until the end, activity in both regions fell significantly compared with less-preferred videos that participants stopped early. The researchers described this as deactivation of the cognitive control network. Interestingly, communication between the dACC and dlPFC became stronger while people watched videos, particularly preferred ones. The study also found that people with higher resting levels of glutamate in the dACC showed less suppression of activity in these regions.&nbsp;<h2>Does this explain endless scrolling?</h2>Possibly, but researchers are not saying the study proves that. The idea is that highly engaging videos may reduce activity in brain systems involved in monitoring and controlling behaviour while attention becomes focused on the content.&nbsp;That could help explain why stopping can feel difficult once someone becomes absorbed in a stream of entertaining clips. But the study was conducted in a controlled setting and does not establish that the effect continues after people stop watching.&nbsp;<h2>Other studies have raised similar questions</h2>The findings add to growing research into how rapid short-video consumption affects cognition. A 2025 study by Nicholas Barton and Michael Smyth found that participants exposed to unlimited context-switching between short videos performed worse on a prospective-memory task afterwards. Prospective memory is the ability to remember something you intend to do later. A separate study published in Behavioral Sciences in June 2026 involved 106 students in one experiment and 64 in another. It found that prolonged short-video viewing reduced prospective-memory accuracy, although the effect depended on the attentional demands of the task.&nbsp;Together, the research suggests that how we consume short-form video may matter, particularly when viewing involves rapid switching and prolonged engagement.But there is an important distinction: none of these studies shows that watching Reels, Shorts or TikTok causes permanent brain damage.The latest research instead provides another clue about why highly engaging short videos can capture attention so effectively and why “just one more” can be surprisingly difficult to resist.

A study of 56 young adults found that brain regions involved in attention and self-control became less active while participants watched short videos they enjoyed. Researchers say the findings may help explain why highly engaging clips can be difficult to stop watching.


If you have ever opened Instagram for “just five minutes” and found yourself scrolling much longer, a new brain study offers a possible explanation. Researchers found that short videos people enjoyed were linked to reduced activity in two brain regions involved in cognitive control. The study, published in NeuroImage, involved 56 young adults. Researchers used functional MRI (fMRI) to watch brain activity while participants freely viewed short videos. They also used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine chemicals including glutamate and GABA. The finding does not mean Reels or Shorts switch off the brain, nor does it prove that short videos cause permanent brain damage. What happens to the brain while watching? The researchers focused on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). These areas are part of the brain's cognitive control network. They are involved in functions such as monitoring behaviour, managing attention and deciding when to change what we are doing. When participants watched videos they liked and watched until the end, activity in both regions fell significantly compared with less-preferred videos that participants stopped early. The researchers described this as deactivation of the cognitive control network. Interestingly, communication between the dACC and dlPFC became stronger while people watched videos, particularly preferred ones. The study also found that people with higher resting levels of glutamate in the dACC showed less suppression of activity in these regions. Does this explain endless scrolling? Possibly, but researchers are not saying the study proves that. The idea is that highly engaging videos may reduce activity in brain systems involved in monitoring and controlling behaviour while attention becomes focused on the content. That could help explain why stopping can feel difficult once someone becomes absorbed in a stream of entertaining clips. But the study was conducted in a controlled setting and does not establish that the effect continues after people stop watching. Other studies have raised similar questions The findings add to growing research into how rapid short-video consumption affects cognition. A 2025 study by Nicholas Barton and Michael Smyth found that participants exposed to unlimited context-switching between short videos performed worse on a prospective-memory task afterwards. Prospective memory is the ability to remember something you intend to do later. A separate study published in Behavioral Sciences in June 2026 involved 106 students in one experiment and 64 in another. It found that prolonged short-video viewing reduced prospective-memory accuracy, although the effect depended on the attentional demands of the task. Together, the research suggests that how we consume short-form video may matter, particularly when viewing involves rapid switching and prolonged engagement. But there is an important distinction: none of these studies shows that watching Reels, Shorts or TikTok causes permanent brain damage. The latest research instead provides another clue about why highly engaging short videos can capture attention so effectively and why “just one more” can be surprisingly difficult to resist.

A study of 56 young adults found that brain regions involved in attention and self-control became less active while participants watched short videos they enjoyed. Researchers say the findings may help explain why highly engaging clips can be difficult to stop watching.

Watching Reels may switch down parts of the brain linked to focus, study finds

China has taken a major step forward in its push to build a reusable commercial space industry after startup LandSpace successfully landed the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket on Wednesday (Aug 18). The achievement puts LandSpace in a small group of private companies to have successfully recovered an orbital-class rocket booster, alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin. For China, the milestone marks progress in an area where the United States has built a significant lead.Why this matters: The ability to recover and fly boosters again is seen as crucial to lowering launch costs and making frequent satellite launches commercially viable.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/want-to-survive-the-apocalypse-this-swiss-firm-is-making-end-of-the-world-bunkers-for-billionaires-1787038088615">Want to survive the apocalypse? This Swiss firm is making end-of-the world bunkers for billionaires</a><h2>Second attempt ends in successful landing</h2>The 66.1-metre Zhuque-3 lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwestern China.Its nine-engine first stage separated after the launch and travelled back to a landing site in Gansu province, around 390 kilometres southeast of the launch pad, according to Chinese state media.The successful landing came on LandSpace's second attempt. The company's first reusable rocket attempt in December 2025 reached orbit but failed to complete the controlled landing.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">China launched the reusable rocket Zhuque-3 on Wednesday morning, achieving its first recovery of a rocket&#39;s first stage on land. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Zhuque?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zhuque</a>-3 <a href="https://t.co/Sut9LgOoYs">pic.twitter.com/Sut9LgOoYs</a>&mdash; China Xinhua News (@XHNews) <a href="https://x.com/XHNews/status/2089871742068310332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">MISSION SUCCESS | ZhuQue-3 Y2 Reusable Launch Vehicle Achieved Full Success in Orbital Insertion and First-Stage Recovery On August 19, 2026, at 07:35 (UTC+8), the ZhuQue-3 (ZQ-3) Y2 reusable launch vehicle lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone.… <a href="https://t.co/fshijOxgtc">pic.twitter.com/fshijOxgtc</a>&mdash; LandSpace (@LandSpace_Tech) <a href="https://x.com/LandSpace_Tech/status/2089877715331809546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>China's answer to Falcon 9</h2>LandSpace has positioned Zhuque-3 as a Chinese competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9. The rocket uses a stainless-steel structure, which the company says can withstand higher temperatures and could reduce manufacturing costs compared with the aluminium-lithium alloy used in Falcon 9.It is powered by methane and liquid oxygen, a combination LandSpace says burns more cleanly than Falcon 9's liquid oxygen and kerosene system.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a>For a one-time launch, Zhuque-3 can carry up to 14.2 tonnes into low Earth orbit, compared with 22.8 tonnes for Falcon 9, according to LandSpace. The company wants the Zhuque-3 booster to eventually be reused as many as 20 times.<h2>LandSpace eyes rapid reuse</h2>The next challenge is to prove that recovering a rocket can become a repeatable commercial operation. LandSpace says it plans to fly a recovered first-stage booster again within six months. That would be an important test of whether China can move beyond individual demonstration flights towards high-frequency launches.SpaceX has already made booster reuse routine, launching Falcon 9 rockets roughly three times a week and flying recovered boosters repeatedly.LandSpace is also seeking to raise 7.5 billion yuan, or about $1.11 billion, through a planned listing on Shanghai's STAR Market. Its updated prospectus says the company is targeting profitability by 2029.<h2>China steps closer to the reusable launch market</h2>Wednesday's landing was China's fourth attempt at recovering an orbital-class booster. The country has also been testing different recovery approaches. In July, China successfully demonstrated a net-based system for catching an experimental booster on a floating platform. &nbsp;&nbsp;

China's private space race has taken a major leap. LandSpace has successfully landed the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket, moving the country closer to routine reusable launches and putting a new challenger into the race with SpaceX.

China has taken a major step forward in its push to build a reusable commercial space industry after startup LandSpace successfully landed the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket on Wednesday (Aug 18). The achievement puts LandSpace in a small group of private companies to have successfully recovered an orbital-class rocket booster, alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin. For China, the milestone marks progress in an area where the United States has built a significant lead. Why this matters: The ability to recover and fly boosters again is seen as crucial to lowering launch costs and making frequent satellite launches commercially viable. Also read | Want to survive the apocalypse? This Swiss firm is making end-of-the world bunkers for billionaires Second attempt ends in successful landing The 66.1-metre Zhuque-3 lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwestern China. Its nine-engine first stage separated after the launch and travelled back to a landing site in Gansu province, around 390 kilometres southeast of the launch pad, according to Chinese state media. The successful landing came on LandSpace's second attempt. The company's first reusable rocket attempt in December 2025 reached orbit but failed to complete the controlled landing.

China's private space race has taken a major leap. LandSpace has successfully landed the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket, moving the country closer to routine reusable launches and putting a new challenger into the race with SpaceX.

China lands reusable rocket booster, closes gap with SpaceX and Blue Origin

The Milky Way cannibalised a smaller galaxy 12 billion years ago, just two years after the Big Bang. This earliest known merger pushes the Milky Way’s earliest known major merger back by 1.8 billion years. A new study, published in Nature Astronomy and led by astronomer Davide Massari from the Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory of Bologna, Italy, talks about how the study of exceptionally precise ages of very dense clusters of stars helped answer a few questions about this merger - the timing, how massive this galaxy was, and its evolution before it joined the Milky Way.&nbsp;The galaxy absorbed by the Milky Way has been named "LKH" (Low-energy-Kraken-Heracles). Even though we are calling it small, it wasn't. The stars in it had a combined mass of 500 million Suns, nearly one-quarter of the total mass of the entire Milky Way at that time.&nbsp;Before this galaxy, the Gaia–Sausage–Enceladus, or GSE, a substantial galaxy, was found to have merged with the Milky Way around 10 billion years ago. Way before this, smaller galaxies were merging with the Milky Way, and instead of being small, they were major building blocks for its evolution.<h2>Odd formations in inner regions of Milky Way</h2>The team used the Hubble and Gaia space telescopes and found "foreign" globular star clusters in the inner regions of our galaxy. These clusters weren't the same as those that formed in the Milky Way in its earliest time. They were also different from the Gaia–Sausage–Enceladus merger. The latest event identified occurred about 1.8 billion years before GSE.<h2>Why this finding matters</h2>The finding challenges the idea that the Milky Way developed completely on its own during its earliest years. Instead, we now know that several mergers occurred and our galaxy grew significantly by "cannibalising" smaller galaxies. This brought stars and fresh gas for new bursts of star formation. The discovery is significant since reconstructing these ancient events helps us understand how the Milky Way evolved into its current structure and how it ultimately provided the environment for the birth of our solar system. &nbsp;

Scientists have discovered that the Milky Way collided with a smaller galaxy containing stars equivalent to 500 million suns just two billion years after the Big Bang. This finding shows that our galaxy did not grow in isolation. 

The Milky Way cannibalised a smaller galaxy 12 billion years ago, just two years after the Big Bang. This earliest known merger pushes the Milky Way’s earliest known major merger back by 1.8 billion years. A new study, published in Nature Astronomy and led by astronomer Davide Massari from the Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory of Bologna, Italy, talks about how the study of exceptionally precise ages of very dense clusters of stars helped answer a few questions about this merger - the timing, how massive this galaxy was, and its evolution before it joined the Milky Way. The galaxy absorbed by the Milky Way has been named "LKH" (Low-energy-Kraken-Heracles). Even though we are calling it small, it wasn't. The stars in it had a combined mass of 500 million Suns, nearly one-quarter of the total mass of the entire Milky Way at that time. Before this galaxy, the Gaia–Sausage–Enceladus, or GSE, a substantial galaxy, was found to have merged with the Milky Way around 10 billion years ago. Way before this, smaller galaxies were merging with the Milky Way, and instead of being small, they were major building blocks for its evolution. Odd formations in inner regions of Milky Way The team used the Hubble and Gaia space telescopes and found "foreign" globular star clusters in the inner regions of our galaxy. These clusters weren't the same as those that formed in the Milky Way in its earliest time. They were also different from the Gaia–Sausage–Enceladus merger. The latest event identified occurred about 1.8 billion years before GSE. Why this finding matters The finding challenges the idea that the Milky Way developed completely on its own during its earliest years. Instead, we now know that several mergers occurred and our galaxy grew significantly by "cannibalising" smaller galaxies. This brought stars and fresh gas for new bursts of star formation. The discovery is significant since reconstructing these ancient events helps us understand how the Milky Way evolved into its current structure and how it ultimately provided the environment for the birth of our solar system.

Scientists have discovered that the Milky Way collided with a smaller galaxy containing stars equivalent to 500 million suns just two billion years after the Big Bang. This finding shows that our galaxy did not grow in isolation.&nbsp;

Milky Way ate a galaxy containing stars equal to 500 million suns 12 billion years ago

Physicists have evidence that a glueball, an exotic subatomic state that was first predicted nearly 50 years ago, could be real. It is composed entirely of force-carrier particles, rather than ordinary matter. The discovery was made by scientists at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II (BEPCII). According to quantum chromodynamics, quarks and gluons interact to create the ordinary matter around us. Quarks are the fundamental building blocks that make up protons and neutrons, while gluons are the massless "glue" particles of the strong force and hold quarks together.&nbsp;Decades ago, scientists hypothesised "glueballs", gluons that bind to each other without any quarks, effectively creating a particle made purely out of force. Physicists at BEPCII have found that a known particle called X(2370) is dominated by one of these elusive states. Researchers explained in a statement that a glueball is the only type of particle in nature composed entirely of force mediators.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/beyond-solid-liquid-gas-scientists-find-new-state-of-matter-where-two-exotic-materials-meet-1786861678342">Beyond solid, liquid, gas: Scientists find new state of matter where two exotic materials meet</a><h2>High-energy collisions</h2>The international team of scientists analysed high-energy collisions that yielded the&nbsp;X(2370), first detected in 2011. They went through billions of particle decay events and measured the particle's mass, spin-parity, and decay pathways. BEPCII, a particle accelerator and collider that smashes electrons into their antimatter counterparts, called positrons, was used to study the complex physics.&nbsp;Jin Shan, a particle physicist at Nanjing University and one of the research team's leaders, noted that the glueball they found is an "unprecedented form of matter." Shan told South China Morning Post that the discovery "not only enables the theory describing strong interactions to pass its most rigorous test, but also vastly expands the boundaries of our understanding of the physical world."&nbsp;The J/ψ (J/psi) meson, a subatomic particle caused by high-energy collisions, is formed when particles crash together at nearly the speed of light. It decays almost instantly, and this event provides "one of the best avenues to search for glueballs". A few years back, scientists analysed 10 billion meson decay events and measured the X(2370) particle's mass and spin parity and found complete agreement between their experimental values and predictions.<h2>A single flavour nature</h2>In the latest analysis, they have found "the most important characteristic of a glueball." They confirmed its "flavour-singlet" nature—meaning it decays without showing a preference for any specific type (flavour) of quark. The team said more particle smashing is needed to further confirm and constrain the properties of the exotic glueball. &nbsp;

Scientists at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II have found a particle that is made purely of force. The glueball was first hypothesised nearly 50 years ago, and physicists may have found the first strong evidence to show that it exists.

Physicists have evidence that a glueball, an exotic subatomic state that was first predicted nearly 50 years ago, could be real. It is composed entirely of force-carrier particles, rather than ordinary matter. The discovery was made by scientists at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II (BEPCII). According to quantum chromodynamics, quarks and gluons interact to create the ordinary matter around us. Quarks are the fundamental building blocks that make up protons and neutrons, while gluons are the massless "glue" particles of the strong force and hold quarks together. Decades ago, scientists hypothesised "glueballs", gluons that bind to each other without any quarks, effectively creating a particle made purely out of force. Physicists at BEPCII have found that a known particle called X(2370) is dominated by one of these elusive states. Researchers explained in a statement that a glueball is the only type of particle in nature composed entirely of force mediators. Also Read: Beyond solid, liquid, gas: Scientists find new state of matter where two exotic materials meet High-energy collisions The international team of scientists analysed high-energy collisions that yielded the X(2370), first detected in 2011. They went through billions of particle decay events and measured the particle's mass, spin-parity, and decay pathways. BEPCII, a particle accelerator and collider that smashes electrons into their antimatter counterparts, called positrons, was used to study the complex physics. Jin Shan, a particle physicist at Nanjing University and one of the research team's leaders, noted that the glueball they found is an "unprecedented form of matter." Shan told South China Morning Post that the discovery "not only enables the theory describing strong interactions to pass its most rigorous test, but also vastly expands the boundaries of our understanding of the physical world." The J/ψ (J/psi) meson, a subatomic particle caused by high-energy collisions, is formed when particles crash together at nearly the speed of light. It decays almost instantly, and this event provides "one of the best avenues to search for glueballs". A few years back, scientists analysed 10 billion meson decay events and measured the X(2370) particle's mass and spin parity and found complete agreement between their experimental values and predictions. A single flavour nature In the latest analysis, they have found "the most important characteristic of a glueball." They confirmed its "flavour-singlet" nature—meaning it decays without showing a preference for any specific type (flavour) of quark. The team said more particle smashing is needed to further confirm and constrain the properties of the exotic glueball.

Scientists at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II have found a particle that is made purely of force. The glueball was first hypothesised nearly 50 years ago, and physicists may have found the first strong evidence to show that it exists.

50-year-mystery solved: Physicists find rare 'glueball' particle with no matter and pure force

With the advent of time in the drone age, electronic warfare has become considerably more capable than public commentary typically acknowledges. Along with electronic warfare, armour, fortifications, missile defences, electronic warfare and deception have preserved combat power by preserving the force’s freedom to act. This has not only prepared soldiers for potential war, but has also given the military a purpose: to preserve freedom of action through manoeuvrability and to fight in a way that imposes their will. For over a hundred years, different nation always planned and built their militaries with quantity, equipping foot soldiers with body armour so that they could keep fighting even under direct engagement. Later, after armour got technically advanced, equipment to launch in the air or on land was fitted with heavier plating and active defence systems to keep moving while taking fire. In addition, Naval vessels were designed with multiple layers of missile defence so they could function in hostile waters. Now, all the war from face-to-face or without human presence in the armour's launcher, it has shifted to drone technology, reshaping the modern battlefield. Defence industry leaders noted that electronic warfare has moved from a supporting function to a core pillar of national security. In India, the push for indigenous technology has become central to staying ahead of the threat. The rise of cheap, commercially available drone technology has fundamentally altered the calculus of conflict. Capabilities that once demanded expensive missile systems or manned aircraft can now be replicated with a few thousand dollars of off-the-shelf hardware, giving smaller forces and non-state actors access to surveillance, precision-strike, and electronic-warfare capabilities once reserved for major militaries. Industry estimates peg the global military drone market to reach $80–90 billion in annual revenue by 2030.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-exclusive-how-energy-productivity-can-power-india-s-next-phase-of-industrial-growth-1786784297557">WION Exclusive: How can energy productivity power India’s next phase of industrial growth</a><h3>Experts on the rise of drone technology</h3>Reacting to the drone capabilities, "Amardeep Singh, Founder &amp; CEO, Armory," The nature of modern conflict has changed, and the proliferation of drones is at the centre of that shift. What used to require expensive missiles or manned aircraft can now be achieved with a few thousand dollars’ worth of commercial hardware. Today's battlefield is defined by intelligent, low-cost, and highly adaptable unmanned systems capable of surveillance, targeting, precision strikes, and electronic warfare. The global military drone market is projected to generate annual revenues of USD 80-90 billion by 2030. As drones become more sophisticated through frequency-hopping communication, encrypted data links, GPS-denied navigation, and increasingly autonomous flight modes that do not rely on a live signal to the operator at all, counter-drone technologies must evolve even faster to catch up with it all. A hostile drone can go from being detected to causing damage in under a minute. Electronic Warfare systems have to detect, classify, and respond within that same narrow window, putting enormous pressure on the speed of decision-making architecture." "Addressing these evolving threats requires complete ownership of the technology stack rather than dependence on imported subsystems. By designing, developing, and manufacturing our counter-drone systems entirely in Bharat, we, at Armoury, have built the agility to rapidly prototype, test, and deploy new capabilities based on real-time operational feedback. Our flagship system, SURGE, progressed from concept to a fully operational counter-drone platform in just six months, while our AI-driven operating architecture, Samaritan OS, enables autonomous threat detection, analysis, and precision response. As India strengthens its defence capabilities, building sovereign electronic warfare technologies will be essential not only for safeguarding military assets and critical infrastructure but also for positioning the country as a global leader in next-generation defence systems. The future of drone defence will belong to nations that can innovate faster than the threats they face," Singh added. Venkatesh Sai, Founder &amp; CTO of ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies, echoed the sentiment about the drones, considering them more valuable and more dangerous after they grow more autonomous and widely accessible. He stated that modern defence forces can no longer rely on simply detecting an incoming drone; they need the ability to identify, track, analyse, and respond in real time. He noted that electronic warfare allows forces to monitor the electromagnetic spectrum and disrupt hostile signals without depending solely on conventional weapons, allowing them to skip unnecessary escalation. Venkatesh Sai said, "The advanced evolution of drone technology has transformed the way nations approach security and modern warfare. Drones have become more intelligent, autonomous, and widely available, making them valuable assets on one hand and potential threats on the other. As this landscape continues to evolve, electronic warfare has become one of the most critical capabilities for ensuring mission success and national security. In today's operational environment, it is no longer enough to simply detect an incoming drone. Defence forces must be able to identify, track, analyse, and respond to threats quickly and accurately. Electronic warfare provides that capability by enabling forces to monitor the electromagnetic spectrum, disrupt hostile communications, and counter drone threats without relying solely on conventional weapons. This not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces the risk of unnecessary escalation." "At Zuppa, we believe that the future of defence lies in building intelligent, secure, and resilient technologies that can adapt to changing battlefield conditions. As drone systems become more advanced, it is equally important to develop electronic warfare solutions that are agile, reliable, and capable of protecting critical assets in real time. Innovation in this space will play a defining role in strengthening defence preparedness. India has made significant progress in developing indigenous defence technologies, and electronic warfare will remain a key focus area as the country advances towards greater self-reliance. Building homegrown capabilities in this domain will not only strengthen national security but also position India as a global technology leader in next-generation defence solutions. The future battlefield will be shaped by information, speed, and technological superiority. Electronic warfare is no longer a supporting capability; now it has become a strategic necessity. By investing in innovation and indigenous technologies today, we can build a safer, stronger, and more secure tomorrow," he added.&nbsp;

The rise of cheap, commercially available drone technology has fundamentally altered the calculus of conflict. Capabilities that once demanded expensive missile systems or manned aircraft can now be replicated with a few thousand dollars of off-the-shelf hardware.

With the advent of time in the drone age, electronic warfare has become considerably more capable than public commentary typically acknowledges. Along with electronic warfare, armour, fortifications, missile defences, electronic warfare and deception have preserved combat power by preserving the force’s freedom to act. This has not only prepared soldiers for potential war, but has also given the military a purpose: to preserve freedom of action through manoeuvrability and to fight in a way that imposes their will. For over a hundred years, different nation always planned and built their militaries with quantity, equipping foot soldiers with body armour so that they could keep fighting even under direct engagement. Later, after armour got technically advanced, equipment to launch in the air or on land was fitted with heavier plating and active defence systems to keep moving while taking fire. In addition, Naval vessels were designed with multiple layers of missile defence so they could function in hostile waters. Now, all the war from face-to-face or without human presence in the armour's launcher, it has shifted to drone technology, reshaping the modern battlefield. Defence industry leaders noted that electronic warfare has moved from a supporting function to a core pillar of national security. In India, the push for indigenous technology has become central to staying ahead of the threat. The rise of cheap, commercially available drone technology has fundamentally altered the calculus of conflict. Capabilities that once demanded expensive missile systems or manned aircraft can now be replicated with a few thousand dollars of off-the-shelf hardware, giving smaller forces and non-state actors access to surveillance, precision-strike, and electronic-warfare capabilities once reserved for major militaries. Industry estimates peg the global military drone market to reach $80–90 billion in annual revenue by 2030. Also read: WION Exclusive: How can energy productivity power India’s next phase of industrial growth Experts on the rise of drone technology Reacting to the drone capabilities, "Amardeep Singh, Founder & CEO, Armory," The nature of modern conflict has changed, and the proliferation of drones is at the centre of that shift. What used to require expensive missiles or manned aircraft can now be achieved with a few thousand dollars’ worth of commercial hardware. Today's battlefield is defined by intelligent, low-cost, and highly adaptable unmanned systems capable of surveillance, targeting, precision strikes, and electronic warfare. The global military drone market is projected to generate annual revenues of USD 80-90 billion by 2030. As drones become more sophisticated through frequency-hopping communication, encrypted data links, GPS-denied navigation, and increasingly autonomous flight modes that do not rely on a live signal to the operator at all, counter-drone technologies must evolve even faster to catch up with it all. A hostile drone can go from being detected to causing damage in under a minute. Electronic Warfare systems have to detect, classify, and respond within that same narrow window, putting enormous pressure on the speed of decision-making architecture." "Addressing these evolving threats requires complete ownership of the technology stack rather than dependence on imported subsystems. By designing, developing, and manufacturing our counter-drone systems entirely in Bharat, we, at Armoury, have built the agility to rapidly prototype, test, and deploy new capabilities based on real-time operational feedback. Our flagship system, SURGE, progressed from concept to a fully operational counter-drone platform in just six months, while our AI-driven operating architecture, Samaritan OS, enables autonomous threat detection, analysis, and precision response. As India strengthens its defence capabilities, building sovereign electronic warfare technologies will be essential not only for safeguarding military assets and critical infrastructure but also for positioning the country as a global leader in next-generation defence systems. The future of drone defence will belong to nations that can innovate faster than the threats they face," Singh added. Venkatesh Sai, Founder & CTO of ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies, echoed the sentiment about the drones, considering them more valuable and more dangerous after they grow more autonomous and widely accessible. He stated that modern defence forces can no longer rely on simply detecting an incoming drone; they need the ability to identify, track, analyse, and respond in real time. He noted that electronic warfare allows forces to monitor the electromagnetic spectrum and disrupt hostile signals without depending solely on conventional weapons, allowing them to skip unnecessary escalation. Venkatesh Sai said, "The advanced evolution of drone technology has transformed the way nations approach security and modern warfare. Drones have become more intelligent, autonomous, and widely available, making them valuable assets on one hand and potential threats on the other. As this landscape continues to evolve, electronic warfare has become one of the most critical capabilities for ensuring mission success and national security. In today's operational environment, it is no longer enough to simply detect an incoming drone. Defence forces must be able to identify, track, analyse, and respond to threats quickly and accurately. Electronic warfare provides that capability by enabling forces to monitor the electromagnetic spectrum, disrupt hostile communications, and counter drone threats without relying solely on conventional weapons. This not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces the risk of unnecessary escalation." "At Zuppa, we believe that the future of defence lies in building intelligent, secure, and resilient technologies that can adapt to changing battlefield conditions. As drone systems become more advanced, it is equally important to develop electronic warfare solutions that are agile, reliable, and capable of protecting critical assets in real time. Innovation in this space will play a defining role in strengthening defence preparedness. India has made significant progress in developing indigenous defence technologies, and electronic warfare will remain a key focus area as the country advances towards greater self-reliance. Building homegrown capabilities in this domain will not only strengthen national security but also position India as a global technology leader in next-generation defence solutions. The future battlefield will be shaped by information, speed, and technological superiority. Electronic warfare is no longer a supporting capability; now it has become a strategic necessity. By investing in innovation and indigenous technologies today, we can build a safer, stronger, and more secure tomorrow," he added.

The rise of cheap, commercially available drone technology has fundamentally altered the calculus of conflict. Capabilities that once demanded expensive missile systems or manned aircraft can now be replicated with a few thousand dollars of off-the-shelf hardware.

The growing importance of electronic warfare in the drone age: WION Exclusive

The Swift Observatory and NASA's LINK spacecraft, sent to save it, have been captured moving in space, revealing an occurrence scientists had been waiting for with bated breath. LINK was launched into low-Earth orbit in July this year to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. This telescope has been watching the most powerful explosions - &nbsp;gamma-ray bursts - in space for nearly 22 years. But now it is dragging down as its orbit has started decaying. Instead of letting a perfectly good observatory crash onto Earth, NASA decided to save it.&nbsp;The space agency had earlier said that the chances of the telescope crashing by June 2026 stood at 50 per cent, which hasn't happened. There is a 90 per cent probability of it happening before 2027. The commercial robotic repair vehicle built by Katalyst Space is supposed to grab the telescope and move it higher. If it fails, Swift could crash later this year, putting on a fiery display.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-launches-link-to-catch-swift-observatory-in-space-1783079815337">NASA launches LINK to catch 22-year-old Swift observatory in space - Details</a><h2>Problems with LINK spacecraft</h2>But LINK has been sent to save the day. After being launched on July 3, LINK has been facing issues. Two of LINK’s three reaction wheels have failed, and it has been spinning uncontrollably, causing the communication to break. NASA uploaded a flight software update to fix the issue and said on August 10 that the “new attitude control algorithms are designed to maintain LINK’s stability using the spacecraft’s remaining actuators.”<h2>Watch LINK and Swift in same orbit</h2>

Things seem to be fine, as seen in a video captured by amateur astronomers in Puerto Rico with the Sociedad de Astronomía del Caribe. A video shows LINK and Swift in the same, or probably a similar, trajectory, with LINK about a minute ahead of Swift. While there is still hope to salvage the observatory, if it drops below roughly 300 km, then it would be impossible to save it. This is expected to happen in October.&nbsp;

Astronomers have captured a video of LINK and the Swift observatory moving in the same orbit in space. The robotic repair vehicle is supposed to catch Swift and move it to a higher orbit; otherwise, it will definitely crash.   

The Swift Observatory and NASA's LINK spacecraft, sent to save it, have been captured moving in space, revealing an occurrence scientists had been waiting for with bated breath. LINK was launched into low-Earth orbit in July this year to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. This telescope has been watching the most powerful explosions - gamma-ray bursts - in space for nearly 22 years. But now it is dragging down as its orbit has started decaying. Instead of letting a perfectly good observatory crash onto Earth, NASA decided to save it. The space agency had earlier said that the chances of the telescope crashing by June 2026 stood at 50 per cent, which hasn't happened. There is a 90 per cent probability of it happening before 2027. The commercial robotic repair vehicle built by Katalyst Space is supposed to grab the telescope and move it higher. If it fails, Swift could crash later this year, putting on a fiery display. Also Read: NASA launches LINK to catch 22-year-old Swift observatory in space - Details Problems with LINK spacecraft But LINK has been sent to save the day. After being launched on July 3, LINK has been facing issues. Two of LINK’s three reaction wheels have failed, and it has been spinning uncontrollably, causing the communication to break. NASA uploaded a flight software update to fix the issue and said on August 10 that the “new attitude control algorithms are designed to maintain LINK’s stability using the spacecraft’s remaining actuators.” Watch LINK and Swift in same orbit

Astronomers have captured a video of LINK and the Swift observatory moving in the same orbit in space. The robotic repair vehicle is supposed to catch Swift and move it to a higher orbit; otherwise, it will definitely crash. &nbsp;&nbsp;

NASA's falling telescope and its saviour spacecraft captured behind each other - Video

Scientists at the University of Cambridge say they have resolved a long-standing puzzle in obesity research: how both activating and blocking the same brain receptor can reduce food intake and body weight. The study found that the answer lies not simply in whether the receptor is switched on or off, but in where it is located in the brain. The findings were published in Nature Metabolism under the title “Distinct brain regions mediate regulation of food intake in response to GIPR agonism or antagonism”. The study was led by Dr Jo Edward Lewis and colleagues at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Metabolic Science.<h2>The GIPR paradox</h2>The receptor at the centre of this discovery is the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR), which is involved in regulating appetite, metabolism and blood sugar. GIPR is an important target in the development of obesity medicines. Drugs such as tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, activate GIPR alongside the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. Other experimental medicines take the opposite approach by blocking GIPR. MariTide, currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, combines GIPR antagonism with GLP-1 receptor activation. The apparent contradiction has puzzled researchers for years. Why should both stimulating and blocking the same receptor contribute to weight loss?<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/weight-loss-drugs-fuel-protein-rich-whey-craving-demand-for-protein-rich-whey-explodes-1778001291434/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/weight-loss-drugs-fuel-protein-rich-whey-craving-demand-for-protein-rich-whey-explodes-1778001291434/embed</a><h2>It is the brain region that determines the outcome</h2>Cambridge researchers used genetically engineered mice in which GIPR could be selectively removed from particular regions of the brain. One group lacked GIPR in the brainstem, while another lacked the receptor in the hypothalamus. A control group retained normal GIPR expression. The researchers then examined responses to GIPR agonists and antagonists, as well as GLP-1 medicines used alone and in combination. The experiments revealed two distinct mechanisms. When GIPR is activated in the brainstem, it suppresses appetite, reducing food consumption and body weight. Blocking GIPR in the hypothalamus, on the other hand, strengthens the brain’s response to signals indicating that the body is full.In the hypothalamus, GIPR appears to act as a brake on satiety signalling. Blocking the receptor releases that brake, allowing fullness signals to become more powerful and reducing food intake through a different pathway.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/beyond-the-scale-the-hard-truth-about-fitness-nobody-talks-about-1781351991790">Beyond the scale: The hard truth about fitness nobody talks about</a>&nbsp;The researchers monitored food intake, body weight, fat mass, blood-sugar control and brain activity throughout the study. Their findings suggest that the same receptor can influence weight loss through different neural circuits depending on its location in the brain.<h2>What the discovery means for future combination drugs</h2>The researchers also found evidence that GIPR blockade could enhance the effects of medicines targeting the amylin receptor. This raises the possibility of combining different hormone pathways to produce stronger weight-loss effects. The findings could help researchers develop more precise obesity treatments that target specific brain circuits rather than treating GIPR as a single, uniform switch.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/next-weight-loss-breakthrough-astrazeneca-tests-a-daily-pill-1780986473092">Next weight-loss breakthrough? AstraZeneca tests a daily pill - Elecoglipron</a>&nbsp;“Understanding which brain circuits respond to these medications – and how they do so – could help us design better drugs that produce more weight loss with fewer side effects, and which might work in combination with other obesity medicines to even greater effect,” Lewis said.The study was funded by the UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome. As the research was conducted in mice, the findings do not yet establish that the same mechanisms will operate identically in humans. However, the work provides a framework for developing the next generation of obesity medicines and reinforces the central role of the brain in regulating body weight.

Cambridge scientists found why activating and blocking a brain receptor can both cause weight loss. The drugs act on different brain regions, revealing new pathways for more effective obesity treatments.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge say they have resolved a long-standing puzzle in obesity research: how both activating and blocking the same brain receptor can reduce food intake and body weight. The study found that the answer lies not simply in whether the receptor is switched on or off, but in where it is located in the brain. The findings were published in Nature Metabolism under the title “Distinct brain regions mediate regulation of food intake in response to GIPR agonism or antagonism”. The study was led by Dr Jo Edward Lewis and colleagues at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Metabolic Science. The GIPR paradox The receptor at the centre of this discovery is the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR), which is involved in regulating appetite, metabolism and blood sugar. GIPR is an important target in the development of obesity medicines. Drugs such as tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, activate GIPR alongside the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. Other experimental medicines take the opposite approach by blocking GIPR. MariTide, currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, combines GIPR antagonism with GLP-1 receptor activation. The apparent contradiction has puzzled researchers for years. Why should both stimulating and blocking the same receptor contribute to weight loss? https://www.wionews.com/videos/weight-loss-drugs-fuel-protein-rich-whey-craving-demand-for-protein-rich-whey-explodes-1778001291434/embed It is the brain region that determines the outcome Cambridge researchers used genetically engineered mice in which GIPR could be selectively removed from particular regions of the brain. One group lacked GIPR in the brainstem, while another lacked the receptor in the hypothalamus. A control group retained normal GIPR expression. The researchers then examined responses to GIPR agonists and antagonists, as well as GLP-1 medicines used alone and in combination. The experiments revealed two distinct mechanisms. When GIPR is activated in the brainstem, it suppresses appetite, reducing food consumption and body weight. Blocking GIPR in the hypothalamus, on the other hand, strengthens the brain’s response to signals indicating that the body is full. In the hypothalamus, GIPR appears to act as a brake on satiety signalling. Blocking the receptor releases that brake, allowing fullness signals to become more powerful and reducing food intake through a different pathway. Also read: Beyond the scale: The hard truth about fitness nobody talks about The researchers monitored food intake, body weight, fat mass, blood-sugar control and brain activity throughout the study. Their findings suggest that the same receptor can influence weight loss through different neural circuits depending on its location in the brain. What the discovery means for future combination drugs The researchers also found evidence that GIPR blockade could enhance the effects of medicines targeting the amylin receptor. This raises the possibility of combining different hormone pathways to produce stronger weight-loss effects. The findings could help researchers develop more precise obesity treatments that target specific brain circuits rather than treating GIPR as a single, uniform switch. Also read: Next weight-loss breakthrough? AstraZeneca tests a daily pill - Elecoglipron “Understanding which brain circuits respond to these medications – and how they do so – could help us design better drugs that produce more weight loss with fewer side effects, and which might work in combination with other obesity medicines to even greater effect,” Lewis said. The study was funded by the UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome. As the research was conducted in mice, the findings do not yet establish that the same mechanisms will operate identically in humans. However, the work provides a framework for developing the next generation of obesity medicines and reinforces the central role of the brain in regulating body weight.

Cambridge scientists found why activating and blocking a brain receptor can both cause weight loss. The drugs act on different brain regions, revealing new pathways for more effective obesity treatments.

Scientists solve brain “switch” mystery behind weight loss in possible game changer for obesity drugs

Physicists at Rutgers University have discovered a quantum state that doesn't fit into solid, liquid, gas, or plasma states. According to a report in Science Advances, the finding emerged not from a single material but from the boundary where two unusual compounds meet. The study involved combining Eu₂Ir₂O₇ with Dy₂Ti₂O₇. Where Eu₂Ir₂O₇ act as a Weyl semimetal, where electrical conduction occurs through Weyl fermions, an exotic type of particle-like electronic excitation, while Dy₂Ti₂O₇ acts as a magnetic insulator known as spin ice, in which magnetic moments arrange themselves in a pattern similar to how hydrogen atoms form ice. Both compounds are magnetic pyrochlores and have been studied extensively on their own; however, they had never been examined together until this study, done by first author Tsung-Chi Wu, who completed his doctorate at Rutgers in June.<h3>Kondo coupling</h3>The researchers recorded a sixfold pattern in the electrical conductivity of the material at extremely low temperatures and high magnetic fields, with the effect of weakening along six specific directions. They considered the phenomenon to be Kondo coupling, noting that the shift of the magnetic state of the spin ice alters how electrons spread within the Weyl semimetal's surface, also identified as Fermi-arc states. As the magnetic field advances further, that sixfold pattern also collapses into a twofold one, calling it a rotational symmetry breaking, pointing to a many-body state driven by interactions among large numbers of particles as compared to individual ones. Building the atoms-thick heterostructure required a specially designed instrument, the Q-DiP (Quantum Phenomena Discovery Platform), which was developed by Chakhalian's team following four years of prior experimentation. The bulk of the recent measurements were conducted at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida, where extremely low temperatures and powerful magnetic fields enabled the observations to be made. Meanwhile, Jedediah Pixley's theoretical group, which included postdoctoral researcher Yueqing Chang, spent over two years developing models to interpret the experimental findings. The results indicate that interfaces between different materials can give rise to physics not observed in either material individually—a principle that researchers believe could pave the way for new methods of controlling electronic and magnetic properties.

The researchers recorded a sixfold pattern in the electrical conductivity of the material at extremely low temperatures and high magnetic fields, with the effect of weakening along six specific directions.

Physicists at Rutgers University have discovered a quantum state that doesn't fit into solid, liquid, gas, or plasma states. According to a report in Science Advances, the finding emerged not from a single material but from the boundary where two unusual compounds meet. The study involved combining Eu₂Ir₂O₇ with Dy₂Ti₂O₇. Where Eu₂Ir₂O₇ act as a Weyl semimetal, where electrical conduction occurs through Weyl fermions, an exotic type of particle-like electronic excitation, while Dy₂Ti₂O₇ acts as a magnetic insulator known as spin ice, in which magnetic moments arrange themselves in a pattern similar to how hydrogen atoms form ice. Both compounds are magnetic pyrochlores and have been studied extensively on their own; however, they had never been examined together until this study, done by first author Tsung-Chi Wu, who completed his doctorate at Rutgers in June. Kondo coupling The researchers recorded a sixfold pattern in the electrical conductivity of the material at extremely low temperatures and high magnetic fields, with the effect of weakening along six specific directions. They considered the phenomenon to be Kondo coupling, noting that the shift of the magnetic state of the spin ice alters how electrons spread within the Weyl semimetal's surface, also identified as Fermi-arc states. As the magnetic field advances further, that sixfold pattern also collapses into a twofold one, calling it a rotational symmetry breaking, pointing to a many-body state driven by interactions among large numbers of particles as compared to individual ones. Building the atoms-thick heterostructure required a specially designed instrument, the Q-DiP (Quantum Phenomena Discovery Platform), which was developed by Chakhalian's team following four years of prior experimentation. The bulk of the recent measurements were conducted at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida, where extremely low temperatures and powerful magnetic fields enabled the observations to be made. Meanwhile, Jedediah Pixley's theoretical group, which included postdoctoral researcher Yueqing Chang, spent over two years developing models to interpret the experimental findings. The results indicate that interfaces between different materials can give rise to physics not observed in either material individually—a principle that researchers believe could pave the way for new methods of controlling electronic and magnetic properties.

The researchers recorded a sixfold pattern in the electrical conductivity of the material at extremely low temperatures and high magnetic fields, with the effect of weakening along six specific directions.

Beyond solid, liquid, gas: Scientists find new state of matter where two exotic materials meet

Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a low-cost catalyst to produce hydrogen from water, to support India's National Green Hydrogen Mission and the wider shift towards cleaner energy. At the moment, nearly 90–95 per cent of the hydrogen generated from natural gas and coal releases greenhouse gases in the process. But producing hydrogen from water through electrolysis provides a cleaner alternative; however, it requires efficient catalysts.&nbsp;The most efficient catalysts for water splitting typically depend on rare and costly noble metals, making them impractical for large-scale hydrogen production. To address this, the IIT-Guwahati team turned to a low-cost, easily available nickel salt combined with an anthracene-based organic molecule. Basically, hydrogen is considered an important clean-energy fuel. It is used for energy generation, which produces water as the main by-product. Hydrogen is also utilised in fuel cells and several industries, including fertiliser production. Meanwhile, most of the hydrogen production comes from fossil fuels. The study led by Akshai Kumar, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at IIT-Guwahati, has explained that the team synthesised a coordination polymer catalyst through a simple, room-temperature process using ultrasonic waves. This resulted in an extended network structure where nickel atoms are linked by organic molecules. The researchers noted that this arrangement offers a high density of active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction, while also enabling efficient electron movement through the material.<h3>88 per cent of electrical energy effectively utilised</h3>The researchers discovered that nearly 88 per cent of the electrical energy supplied was effectively utilised to split water and pointed out that minimising energy wastage is important for building practical hydrogen-production systems. Additionally, the catalyst demonstrated stability over long-term operation, a quality that could prove significant for future large-scale applications. Kalishankar Bhattacharyya, assistant professor at IIT-Guwahati, confirmed that the study indicated a synergistic effect between nickel and the anthracene-based framework, making the components improve the performance of the other. Researchers have also used chemical analysis and modelling to understand the behaviour of the catalyst. Their findings also indicated that nickel atoms form a three-dimensional network with the anthracene component. The findings have been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, with the study co-authored by Kumar, Bhattacharyya, and research scholars Niharika Tanwar, Jumana Ishrat and Khadimul Islam. The team believes this affordable and durable material could help advance efforts toward making hydrogen production from water more efficient and scalable.

Hydrogen is used for energy generation, which produces water as the main by-product. It is also utilised in fuel cells and several industries, including fertiliser production. Meanwhile, most of the hydrogen production comes from fossil fuels.

Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a low-cost catalyst to produce hydrogen from water, to support India's National Green Hydrogen Mission and the wider shift towards cleaner energy. At the moment, nearly 90–95 per cent of the hydrogen generated from natural gas and coal releases greenhouse gases in the process. But producing hydrogen from water through electrolysis provides a cleaner alternative; however, it requires efficient catalysts. The most efficient catalysts for water splitting typically depend on rare and costly noble metals, making them impractical for large-scale hydrogen production. To address this, the IIT-Guwahati team turned to a low-cost, easily available nickel salt combined with an anthracene-based organic molecule. Basically, hydrogen is considered an important clean-energy fuel. It is used for energy generation, which produces water as the main by-product. Hydrogen is also utilised in fuel cells and several industries, including fertiliser production. Meanwhile, most of the hydrogen production comes from fossil fuels. The study led by Akshai Kumar, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at IIT-Guwahati, has explained that the team synthesised a coordination polymer catalyst through a simple, room-temperature process using ultrasonic waves. This resulted in an extended network structure where nickel atoms are linked by organic molecules. The researchers noted that this arrangement offers a high density of active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction, while also enabling efficient electron movement through the material. 88 per cent of electrical energy effectively utilised The researchers discovered that nearly 88 per cent of the electrical energy supplied was effectively utilised to split water and pointed out that minimising energy wastage is important for building practical hydrogen-production systems. Additionally, the catalyst demonstrated stability over long-term operation, a quality that could prove significant for future large-scale applications. Kalishankar Bhattacharyya, assistant professor at IIT-Guwahati, confirmed that the study indicated a synergistic effect between nickel and the anthracene-based framework, making the components improve the performance of the other. Researchers have also used chemical analysis and modelling to understand the behaviour of the catalyst. Their findings also indicated that nickel atoms form a three-dimensional network with the anthracene component. The findings have been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, with the study co-authored by Kumar, Bhattacharyya, and research scholars Niharika Tanwar, Jumana Ishrat and Khadimul Islam. The team believes this affordable and durable material could help advance efforts toward making hydrogen production from water more efficient and scalable.

Hydrogen is used for energy generation, which produces water as the main by-product. It is also utilised in fuel cells and several industries, including fertiliser production. Meanwhile, most of the hydrogen production comes from fossil fuels.

Researchers from IIT-Guwahati develop low-cost catalyst to produce cleaner hydrogen from water

Physicist Enrico Fermi posed the big question in 1950: "Where is everybody?" This led to the rise of the Fermi Paradox. If the observable universe is filled with hundreds of billions of galaxies, with even more stars, billions of Earth-like planets orbiting habitable zones around their stars in the Milky Way alone, there is a high statistical probability of extraterrestrial life being present in the universe. However, despite looking for signs of life for decades, humans have had no luck. Why haven't we found alien life yet?&nbsp;Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, <a href="https://avi-loeb.medium.com/">Avi Loeb</a> says we just haven't looked enough. "We haven't scoured much of the universe. Even within the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, our best telescope can only detect the reflection of sunlight from interstellar objects that are bigger than our largest rocket, Starship," he told WION.&nbsp;Scientists have tried to solve the Fermi Paradox with several hypotheses over the years.&nbsp;Life is hard Complex intelligent life requires a set of conditions - the planet should have plate tectonics, a magnetic field, a large moon and a gas giant like Jupiter to keep asteroids away from us. Besides, biological challenges, such as the transition from single-celled to multicellular life, are a major hurdle for life to evolve. Earth happens to be the rare exception that made it through.&nbsp;Self-destruction Second, it is possible that a technologically advanced civilisation self-destructed through either nuclear weapons, climate change, or artificial intelligence even before they reached the stage of interstellar travel. Asteroids, gamma rays, and supernovae could have also wiped out life before they could expand their footprint in the universe.&nbsp;They don't want to be found Third, aliens might not want to reach out at all. They might know about us and are probably just looking at us. There is also a theory that alien life is silent to prevent a threat from a possibly predatory civilisation. However, even if they have sent a signal to Earth, it would be light-years before they reach us. "Even if there&nbsp;are residents in our cosmic neighbourhood, none of them may be calling us, or they may be using more advanced communication techniques," Loeb says.<h2>Then, how should we search for alien life?</h2> Huge telescopes on Earth and in space are looking for signals that could have originated from an advanced civilisation elsewhere in the universe. But nothing has even been found. Loeb says searching for radio communication signals is like waiting for a phone call. He suggests that a better way is to look for artefacts and equipment belonging to them floating near Earth, just like we have the Voyager probes billions of kilometres away.&nbsp;"Interstellar probes, like Voyager, will remain bound by gravity to the Milky Way and may arrive in our backyard," Loeb says. He has been working on this through the <a href="https://galileo.hsites.harvard.edu/">Galileo Project</a>, which focuses on technosignatures in physical space.<h2>What happens when we find proof of extraterrestrial life?</h2> Loeb says signals are something we don't need to worry about since they take tens of thousands of years to cross the Milky Way. But if we find a “visitor to our backyard requires prompt response. The nature of this response will depend on the intent and technological capabilities of the visitor.”<h2>Could intelligent life be present under impenetrable ice without ever developing space travel or radios?</h2> This is another theory floated by scientists. They believe that places like Europa and Enceladus, which have subsurface oceans, could be harbouring life several kilometres deep inside ice. Loeb agrees that life in the universe might be most common under surface ice. Such life might be living without even the concept of space travel.&nbsp;So what is the answer to "Where is everybody?" Loeb says the most convincing hypothesis is that everyone is right here.&nbsp;

Humans have been searching for alien life for a long time, yet have never found any signs. Newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Avi Loeb sheds light on how to search for extraterrestrials and what humans are getting wrong.

Physicist Enrico Fermi posed the big question in 1950: "Where is everybody?" This led to the rise of the Fermi Paradox. If the observable universe is filled with hundreds of billions of galaxies, with even more stars, billions of Earth-like planets orbiting habitable zones around their stars in the Milky Way alone, there is a high statistical probability of extraterrestrial life being present in the universe. However, despite looking for signs of life for decades, humans have had no luck. Why haven't we found alien life yet? Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Avi Loeb says we just haven't looked enough. "We haven't scoured much of the universe. Even within the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, our best telescope can only detect the reflection of sunlight from interstellar objects that are bigger than our largest rocket, Starship," he told WION. Scientists have tried to solve the Fermi Paradox with several hypotheses over the years. Life is hard Complex intelligent life requires a set of conditions - the planet should have plate tectonics, a magnetic field, a large moon and a gas giant like Jupiter to keep asteroids away from us. Besides, biological challenges, such as the transition from single-celled to multicellular life, are a major hurdle for life to evolve. Earth happens to be the rare exception that made it through. Self-destruction Second, it is possible that a technologically advanced civilisation self-destructed through either nuclear weapons, climate change, or artificial intelligence even before they reached the stage of interstellar travel. Asteroids, gamma rays, and supernovae could have also wiped out life before they could expand their footprint in the universe. They don't want to be found Third, aliens might not want to reach out at all. They might know about us and are probably just looking at us. There is also a theory that alien life is silent to prevent a threat from a possibly predatory civilisation. However, even if they have sent a signal to Earth, it would be light-years before they reach us. "Even if there are residents in our cosmic neighbourhood, none of them may be calling us, or they may be using more advanced communication techniques," Loeb says. Then, how should we search for alien life? Huge telescopes on Earth and in space are looking for signals that could have originated from an advanced civilisation elsewhere in the universe. But nothing has even been found. Loeb says searching for radio communication signals is like waiting for a phone call. He suggests that a better way is to look for artefacts and equipment belonging to them floating near Earth, just like we have the Voyager probes billions of kilometres away. "Interstellar probes, like Voyager, will remain bound by gravity to the Milky Way and may arrive in our backyard," Loeb says. He has been working on this through the Galileo Project, which focuses on technosignatures in physical space. What happens when we find proof of extraterrestrial life? Loeb says signals are something we don't need to worry about since they take tens of thousands of years to cross the Milky Way. But if we find a “visitor to our backyard requires prompt response. The nature of this response will depend on the intent and technological capabilities of the visitor.” Could intelligent life be present under impenetrable ice without ever developing space travel or radios? This is another theory floated by scientists. They believe that places like Europa and Enceladus, which have subsurface oceans, could be harbouring life several kilometres deep inside ice. Loeb agrees that life in the universe might be most common under surface ice. Such life might be living without even the concept of space travel. So what is the answer to "Where is everybody?" Loeb says the most convincing hypothesis is that everyone is right here.

Humans have been searching for alien life for a long time, yet have never found any signs. Newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Avi Loeb sheds light on how to search for extraterrestrials and what humans are getting wrong.

Why we are searching for alien life all wrong, according to White House UAP Council Chair Avi Loeb

A new study has challenged the belief of how the earliest known bird may have learned to fly, offering a fresh explanation for one of evolution’s most enduring puzzles. According to the research ‘Hop, hop and away: On the take-off of Archaeopteryx using a multiple leaping mechanism’, published in the journal Developmental Biology, this bird may not have launched into the air with a dramatic flap of its wings. Instead, it probably got airborne through a series of powerful jumps. Scientists have argue Archaeopteryx relied heavily on its legs to build enough speed for flight before its wings took over.The findings challenge the long-held idea that the ancient bird could have taken off in a single wing-powered leap. Researchers examined the take-off mechanics of living birds, including crows, magpies, gulls and finches, and applied those biomechanical models to Archaeopteryx, which lived around 150 million years ago.The findings of the study revealed that a mid-sized, 400 g Archaeopteryx could have achieved a sustainable flight speed of 7 metres per second (16 mph) with three bipedal leaps, or with two bipedal leaps with a downward flap between jumps.The team concluded that the animal’s hindlimbs generated most of the force needed for take-off, while the wings became important only after it had already accelerated. The researchers said Archaeopteryx lacked a keeled sternum and had limited shoulder mobility, making the powerful wing strokes used by modern birds impossible.The study proposes two likely launch sequences: leap, leap, leap followed by sustained flapping, or leap, flap, leap followed by more flapping. It also suggests that this multi-leap strategy may represent an intermediate stage in the evolution of bird flight.The paper notes that many modern birds still use multiple hops during take-off in low-stress situations, indicating that the behaviour may have deep evolutionary roots.By showing that repeated jumps could generate the minimum speed needed for flight, the researchers argue that Archaeopteryx may have bridged the gap between ground-running dinosaurs and the fully powered flight seen in modern birds. &nbsp;

A new study suggests Archaeopteryx likely took off with two or three powerful leg-driven leaps before flapping into sustained flight, offering fresh clues about the evolution of bird flight.

A new study has challenged the belief of how the earliest known bird may have learned to fly, offering a fresh explanation for one of evolution’s most enduring puzzles. According to the research ‘Hop, hop and away: On the take-off of Archaeopteryx using a multiple leaping mechanism’, published in the journal Developmental Biology, this bird may not have launched into the air with a dramatic flap of its wings. Instead, it probably got airborne through a series of powerful jumps. Scientists have argue Archaeopteryx relied heavily on its legs to build enough speed for flight before its wings took over. The findings challenge the long-held idea that the ancient bird could have taken off in a single wing-powered leap. Researchers examined the take-off mechanics of living birds, including crows, magpies, gulls and finches, and applied those biomechanical models to Archaeopteryx, which lived around 150 million years ago. The findings of the study revealed that a mid-sized, 400 g Archaeopteryx could have achieved a sustainable flight speed of 7 metres per second (16 mph) with three bipedal leaps, or with two bipedal leaps with a downward flap between jumps. The team concluded that the animal’s hindlimbs generated most of the force needed for take-off, while the wings became important only after it had already accelerated. The researchers said Archaeopteryx lacked a keeled sternum and had limited shoulder mobility, making the powerful wing strokes used by modern birds impossible. The study proposes two likely launch sequences: leap, leap, leap followed by sustained flapping, or leap, flap, leap followed by more flapping. It also suggests that this multi-leap strategy may represent an intermediate stage in the evolution of bird flight. The paper notes that many modern birds still use multiple hops during take-off in low-stress situations, indicating that the behaviour may have deep evolutionary roots. By showing that repeated jumps could generate the minimum speed needed for flight, the researchers argue that Archaeopteryx may have bridged the gap between ground-running dinosaurs and the fully powered flight seen in modern birds.

A new study suggests Archaeopteryx likely took off with two or three powerful leg-driven leaps before flapping into sustained flight, offering fresh clues about the evolution of bird flight.

How did the first bird take flight? Scientists may have finally solved the mystery

Michigan lake sturgeon, often described as “living dinosaurs”, may live far longer than previously believed, with some females potentially reaching an age of more than 400 years, according to a new study by researchers and wildlife officials in Michigan and Wisconsin. The study found that some female lake sturgeon could live for as long as 427 years after analysing data from five populations across the Great Lakes.&nbsp;The estimated lifespan is significantly higher than previous scientific estimates, which had placed the maximum age of lake sturgeon at around 150 years. The findings also put the fish among the longest-lived vertebrates known to science. Greenland sharks currently hold the record, with some estimated to live for up to 512 years.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a>&nbsp;The researchers did not find or capture a lake sturgeon that was 427 years old. Instead, they reached the estimate by analysing 44 years of data collected from five different lake sturgeon populations.&nbsp;Researchers captured and measured the fish, determined their sex, marked them and released them. The process was repeated over subsequent years, allowing scientists to track the growth of individual fish that had previously been captured. Unlike humans, fish continue to grow throughout their lives, meaning their size can provide clues about their age and growth patterns.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sharks-turned-into-storm-trackers-to-predict-hurricane-intensity-know-how-scientists-are-using-it-1786263816676">Scientists turns sharks into storm trackers to predict hurricane intensity</a>&nbsp;Lake sturgeon are among the largest freshwater fish in North America. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, they can weigh between 200 and 300 pounds. The species has existed for around 150 million years and has remained relatively unchanged over that period, contributing to its reputation as a “living dinosaur”.&nbsp;The new findings suggest that the species may have an extraordinary lifespan that has been underestimated for decades, while also highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring of lake sturgeon populations across the Great Lakes.&nbsp;

A long-term Great Lakes study reveals female lake sturgeon—prehistoric "living dinosaurs"—may live up to 427 years, placing them among the world's longest-lived vertebrates alongside the Greenland shark.

Michigan lake sturgeon, often described as “living dinosaurs”, may live far longer than previously believed, with some females potentially reaching an age of more than 400 years, according to a new study by researchers and wildlife officials in Michigan and Wisconsin. The study found that some female lake sturgeon could live for as long as 427 years after analysing data from five populations across the Great Lakes. The estimated lifespan is significantly higher than previous scientific estimates, which had placed the maximum age of lake sturgeon at around 150 years. The findings also put the fish among the longest-lived vertebrates known to science. Greenland sharks currently hold the record, with some estimated to live for up to 512 years. Also read: Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside The researchers did not find or capture a lake sturgeon that was 427 years old. Instead, they reached the estimate by analysing 44 years of data collected from five different lake sturgeon populations. Researchers captured and measured the fish, determined their sex, marked them and released them. The process was repeated over subsequent years, allowing scientists to track the growth of individual fish that had previously been captured. Unlike humans, fish continue to grow throughout their lives, meaning their size can provide clues about their age and growth patterns. Also read: Scientists turns sharks into storm trackers to predict hurricane intensity Lake sturgeon are among the largest freshwater fish in North America. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, they can weigh between 200 and 300 pounds. The species has existed for around 150 million years and has remained relatively unchanged over that period, contributing to its reputation as a “living dinosaur”. The new findings suggest that the species may have an extraordinary lifespan that has been underestimated for decades, while also highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring of lake sturgeon populations across the Great Lakes.

A long-term Great Lakes study reveals female lake sturgeon—prehistoric "living dinosaurs"—may live up to 427 years, placing them among the world's longest-lived vertebrates alongside the Greenland shark.

‘Living dinosaurs’ could be 400 years old: Great Lakes fish may have astonishing lifespan

With just 5 months left in 2026, Baba Vanga's alleged predictions for the year have resurfaced. The blind Bulgarian mystic's followers claim that two of her major forecasts for the year have already come true and three more terrifying predictions are still waiting to unfold.The mystic, who died in 1996, is said to have predicted a series of natural disasters and the growing replacement of human workers by artificial intelligence. Believers have linked those claims to events that have taken place this year.But the predictions attributed to Vanga become far more dramatic from here. What horrors await humanity? Scroll down to find out.<h2>Two predictions followers say have come true already</h2>Before we move on to her predictions for the last months of 2026, let's look at which ones supposedly already came true. The first alleged prediction for 2026 concerns a wave of major natural disasters around the world. Followers have linked the claim to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar (which actually happened March 2025) and caused widespread destruction and thousands of deaths. They have also pointed to heatwaves and wildfires in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy, as well as floods across parts of Asia and severe storms in the US.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/built-to-outlive-us-all-earth-is-getting-an-indestructible-black-box-to-record-the-end-of-human-civilisation-1783747790087">Built to outlive us all: Earth is getting an indestructible ‘black box’ to record the end of human civilisation</a>The problem is that the prediction reportedly contains no clear details about when or where these disasters would occur. Earthquakes, floods, wildfires and storms also occur every year, making it possible to connect a vague forecast to a wide range of events.The second claim centres on artificial intelligence and the workplace. Followers say Vanga predicted that machines would begin replacing humans on a large scale. AI, however, had already been developing for decades. There is also no reliable record establishing when Vanga supposedly made this prediction or exactly what she said.<h2>Massive spaceship and alien contact in November?</h2>The most extraordinary of the remaining claims concerns extraterrestrial life. According to interpretations of Vanga's alleged prophecy, humanity could encounter aliens after a "massive spaceship" enters Earth's atmosphere.The prediction has reportedly been assigned a specific window in November, giving believers a date against which the claim could potentially be judged.Interest in such claims has grown amid the release of declassified US government material concerning unidentified anomalous phenomena. A cache of these UFO files was released on Friday (Aug 7).Notably, reports of unexplained objects do not amount to evidence of extraterrestrial spacecraft. An unidentified object can eventually turn out to be a drone, aircraft, balloon, satellite, atmospheric phenomenon or even a sensor error.<h2>World War 3 prediction</h2>Another alleged 2026 prediction is considerably darker: the outbreak of a third world war. Interpretations of the prophecy claim China would attempt to seize Taiwan while tensions between Russia and the US would escalate into direct conflict.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/was-the-mother-dolphin-mourning-viral-video-of-her-keeping-afloat-a-dead-calf-leads-to-discussion-on-animal-behaviour-watch-1785912636696">Was the mother dolphin 'mourning'? Viral video of her keeping afloat a dead calf leads to discussion on animal behaviour | WATCH</a>As of August 7, neither scenario has occurred. Taiwan remains self-governed, while Russia and the US have not entered into direct war.The war in Ukraine and broader tensions between major powers have nevertheless kept the prediction in circulation.<h2>Putin's exit before the end of 2026?</h2>The final major prediction attributed to Vanga concerns Russia. Followers claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin will lose power and be replaced by a new leader before the end of 2026.Putin has dominated Russian politics for more than 18 years across two periods as president. There is currently no public indication in the material provided that he is preparing to step aside.Speculation about his health and political future has circulated for years, particularly amid the war in Ukraine. But previous rumours have not resulted in his departure.<h2>What did Baba Vanga actually predict?</h2>Vanga was born Vangeliya Pandeva Dimitrova in 1911 and became famous as a blind Bulgarian mystic, clairvoyant and herbalist. According to accounts about her life, she lost her sight at the age of 12 after being caught in a tornado.Her alleged predictions have since been credited with foreseeing events including the September 11 attacks, the Chornobyl disaster, Princess Diana's death, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Brexit and the rise of ISIS.Supporters have even claimed that around 85 per cent of her predictions came true. That figure, however, has never been independently verified.With no written record of her prophecies, it remains impossible to establish reliably whether she made many of the predictions now attributed to her. For now, the 2026 claims remain exactly that: predictions attributed to Baba Vanga, rather than documented forecasts with proven origins.

With five months left in 2026, Baba Vanga's alleged predictions have resurfaced, with followers claiming two have already come true. Three more supposedly await humanity. What horrors can we expect next?

With just 5 months left in 2026, Baba Vanga's alleged predictions for the year have resurfaced. The blind Bulgarian mystic's followers claim that two of her major forecasts for the year have already come true and three more terrifying predictions are still waiting to unfold. The mystic, who died in 1996, is said to have predicted a series of natural disasters and the growing replacement of human workers by artificial intelligence. Believers have linked those claims to events that have taken place this year. But the predictions attributed to Vanga become far more dramatic from here. What horrors await humanity? Scroll down to find out. Two predictions followers say have come true already Before we move on to her predictions for the last months of 2026, let's look at which ones supposedly already came true. The first alleged prediction for 2026 concerns a wave of major natural disasters around the world. Followers have linked the claim to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar (which actually happened March 2025) and caused widespread destruction and thousands of deaths. They have also pointed to heatwaves and wildfires in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy, as well as floods across parts of Asia and severe storms in the US. Also read | Built to outlive us all: Earth is getting an indestructible ‘black box’ to record the end of human civilisation The problem is that the prediction reportedly contains no clear details about when or where these disasters would occur. Earthquakes, floods, wildfires and storms also occur every year, making it possible to connect a vague forecast to a wide range of events. The second claim centres on artificial intelligence and the workplace. Followers say Vanga predicted that machines would begin replacing humans on a large scale. AI, however, had already been developing for decades. There is also no reliable record establishing when Vanga supposedly made this prediction or exactly what she said. Massive spaceship and alien contact in November? The most extraordinary of the remaining claims concerns extraterrestrial life. According to interpretations of Vanga's alleged prophecy, humanity could encounter aliens after a "massive spaceship" enters Earth's atmosphere. The prediction has reportedly been assigned a specific window in November, giving believers a date against which the claim could potentially be judged. Interest in such claims has grown amid the release of declassified US government material concerning unidentified anomalous phenomena. A cache of these UFO files was released on Friday (Aug 7). Notably, reports of unexplained objects do not amount to evidence of extraterrestrial spacecraft. An unidentified object can eventually turn out to be a drone, aircraft, balloon, satellite, atmospheric phenomenon or even a sensor error. World War 3 prediction Another alleged 2026 prediction is considerably darker: the outbreak of a third world war. Interpretations of the prophecy claim China would attempt to seize Taiwan while tensions between Russia and the US would escalate into direct conflict. Also read | Was the mother dolphin 'mourning'? Viral video of her keeping afloat a dead calf leads to discussion on animal behaviour | WATCH As of August 7, neither scenario has occurred. Taiwan remains self-governed, while Russia and the US have not entered into direct war. The war in Ukraine and broader tensions between major powers have nevertheless kept the prediction in circulation. Putin's exit before the end of 2026? The final major prediction attributed to Vanga concerns Russia. Followers claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin will lose power and be replaced by a new leader before the end of 2026. Putin has dominated Russian politics for more than 18 years across two periods as president. There is currently no public indication in the material provided that he is preparing to step aside. Speculation about his health and political future has circulated for years, particularly amid the war in Ukraine. But previous rumours have not resulted in his departure. What did Baba Vanga actually predict? Vanga was born Vangeliya Pandeva Dimitrova in 1911 and became famous as a blind Bulgarian mystic, clairvoyant and herbalist. According to accounts about her life, she lost her sight at the age of 12 after being caught in a tornado. Her alleged predictions have since been credited with foreseeing events including the September 11 attacks, the Chornobyl disaster, Princess Diana's death, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Brexit and the rise of ISIS. Supporters have even claimed that around 85 per cent of her predictions came true. That figure, however, has never been independently verified. With no written record of her prophecies, it remains impossible to establish reliably whether she made many of the predictions now attributed to her. For now, the 2026 claims remain exactly that: predictions attributed to Baba Vanga, rather than documented forecasts with proven origins.

With five months left in 2026, Baba Vanga's alleged predictions have resurfaced, with followers claiming two have already come true. Three more supposedly await humanity. What horrors can we expect next?

The August 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse will be a unique event. Scientists are waiting with bated breath as it will reveal a one-of-a-kind structure of the Sun's corona (its outer atmosphere). This particular one has never been seen in the past, nor will it occur again in the future. The eclipse will capture a specific moment in Solar Cycle 25, which will be a reflection of the Sun's changing magnetic activity, sunspots and the numerous solar eruptions.&nbsp;The Sun's corona is normally invisible from Earth even though it stretches for millions of kilometres. But that's all you see during a total solar eclipse. When the Moon covers the photosphere fully, the corona emerges. This part of the Sun is not the same every time. It comprises extremely hot plasma that is shaped by the Sun's magnetic field. Since this field is constantly changing, the corona changes as well. The white, spiky tendrils visible during a total eclipse are a completely unique "snapshot" in time. Once totality ends, that exact visual layout is gone forever.<h2>What is special about the August 12 solar eclipse?</h2> At solar maximum, the sunspots produce a lot of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, while at solar minimum, none of this happens. During the latter, the corona appears more uniform and more symmetrical. During solar maximum, the sunspot regions turn into magnetic anchors and create spikes or streamers extending in different directions.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/aug-12-solar-eclipse-nasa-pilots-totality-will-last-nearly-3-minutes-1786348602534">Aug 12 solar eclipse: 'Eerie shadow' will cover two NASA pilots and totality will last 42 seconds more than usual</a>&nbsp;The 2026 eclipse falls somewhere between the two. The Solar Cycle 25 reached its peak in October 2024, according to NASA and NOAA. But the solar activity is only in declining mode and hasn't fully ebbed. So after two years, the Sun is cooling down, but it is still highly active. "The corona will still be far more active than during the 2017, 2019 and 2020 total solar eclipses, but much less so than 2024's," solar physicist Ryan French told Space.com.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/total-solar-eclipse-august-12-date-time-path-and-where-to-watch-live-full-visibility-guide-1786170949222">Total solar eclipse August 12: Date, time, path and where to watch Live - Full visibility guide</a>&nbsp;On August 12, astronomers can expect to see strong streamers extending far into space. They will be more symmetrical, with one side of the corona more active. A rare intermediate transition state will be visible to anyone looking, with complex magnetic spikes and streamer loops. &nbsp;It will offer a visual structure distinct from both the 2017 and 2020 eclipses and the 2024 eclipse. &nbsp;

The August 12 total solar eclipse will present a unique image of the Sun. Eclipse chasers will get to see a unique "snapshot" in time of the white tendrils that form the corona. With Solar Maximum already gone, what you'll see will be nothing less than special. 

The August 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse will be a unique event. Scientists are waiting with bated breath as it will reveal a one-of-a-kind structure of the Sun's corona (its outer atmosphere). This particular one has never been seen in the past, nor will it occur again in the future. The eclipse will capture a specific moment in Solar Cycle 25, which will be a reflection of the Sun's changing magnetic activity, sunspots and the numerous solar eruptions. The Sun's corona is normally invisible from Earth even though it stretches for millions of kilometres. But that's all you see during a total solar eclipse. When the Moon covers the photosphere fully, the corona emerges. This part of the Sun is not the same every time. It comprises extremely hot plasma that is shaped by the Sun's magnetic field. Since this field is constantly changing, the corona changes as well. The white, spiky tendrils visible during a total eclipse are a completely unique "snapshot" in time. Once totality ends, that exact visual layout is gone forever. What is special about the August 12 solar eclipse? At solar maximum, the sunspots produce a lot of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, while at solar minimum, none of this happens. During the latter, the corona appears more uniform and more symmetrical. During solar maximum, the sunspot regions turn into magnetic anchors and create spikes or streamers extending in different directions. Also Read: Aug 12 solar eclipse: 'Eerie shadow' will cover two NASA pilots and totality will last 42 seconds more than usual The 2026 eclipse falls somewhere between the two. The Solar Cycle 25 reached its peak in October 2024, according to NASA and NOAA. But the solar activity is only in declining mode and hasn't fully ebbed. So after two years, the Sun is cooling down, but it is still highly active. "The corona will still be far more active than during the 2017, 2019 and 2020 total solar eclipses, but much less so than 2024's," solar physicist Ryan French told Space.com. Also Read: Total solar eclipse August 12: Date, time, path and where to watch Live - Full visibility guide On August 12, astronomers can expect to see strong streamers extending far into space. They will be more symmetrical, with one side of the corona more active. A rare intermediate transition state will be visible to anyone looking, with complex magnetic spikes and streamer loops. It will offer a visual structure distinct from both the 2017 and 2020 eclipses and the 2024 eclipse.

The August 12 total solar eclipse will present a unique image of the Sun. Eclipse chasers will get to see a unique "snapshot" in time of the white tendrils that form the corona. With Solar Maximum already gone, what you'll see will be nothing less than special.&nbsp;

Total solar eclipse 2026: One-of-a-kind structure will emerge during the rare event. Details

The totality of the August 12 Solar Eclipse will last for nearly three minutes for two people. For parts of the Earth witnessing totality, the entire duration will be 2 minutes 18 seconds. Two NASA aviators are set to chase the eclipse as they get on a research plane from Keflavik Airport in Iceland on Wednesday. They will fly north towards Greenland, then head south on a curving course 64km off the Icelandic coast.&nbsp;&nbsp;While flying at 50,000ft, the moon's shadow will start racing from behind, crossing the ocean at a speed of more than 3,200km/hr. When the majority of the sun is covered by the moon, the shadow will cover it.&nbsp;As their plane cruises at a speed of 740 km/hr along the path of the eclipse, they will be covered in darkness for nearly 3 minutes, as compared to 2 minutes 18 seconds on the ground. This will give them more time to study the sun in its eclipsed state.&nbsp;Describing the moment this happens in the air, Cary Klemm, a sensor equipment operator at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, told The Guardian, that in the aircraft, it’s very bright, with no clouds above. "Then all of a sudden, you’re hit with this slam of shadow," said Klemm, who has previously flown eclipse missions. He says you are surrounded by "a weird, eerie shadow", the temperature drops, and you feel the "need for more light from the instruments."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/total-solar-eclipse-august-12-date-time-path-and-where-to-watch-live-full-visibility-guide-1786170949222">Total solar eclipse August 12: Date, time, path and where to watch Live - Full visibility guide</a><h2>Aircraft used for chasing the eclipse</h2>The plane being used for the mission is a WB-57, which has four cameras. They will take several photos of the sun every second in different wavelengths of light. What they are expecting to capture are large, looping ribbons of plasma called prominences and magnetic explosions called nanoflares. A total solar eclipse is the only time when such features from the Sun can be viewed.&nbsp;Each nanoflare releases energy equivalent to thousands of atomic bombs. Observing them helps understand the reason why the corona, or outer atmosphere, measures more than 1,000,000C, while the surface is only 6,000C.&nbsp;The Total Solar Eclipse will cover the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of Spain and Portugal. It will be the first total solar eclipse to be visible from mainland Europe since 1999.&nbsp;

Total Solar Eclipse 2026: For two NASA pilots, the eclipse on August 12 will last nearly three minutes in totality. The eclipse chasers will be covered by a weird and eerie shadow, with the aircraft going dark suddenly, instantly cooling the interiors.

The totality of the August 12 Solar Eclipse will last for nearly three minutes for two people. For parts of the Earth witnessing totality, the entire duration will be 2 minutes 18 seconds. Two NASA aviators are set to chase the eclipse as they get on a research plane from Keflavik Airport in Iceland on Wednesday. They will fly north towards Greenland, then head south on a curving course 64km off the Icelandic coast. While flying at 50,000ft, the moon's shadow will start racing from behind, crossing the ocean at a speed of more than 3,200km/hr. When the majority of the sun is covered by the moon, the shadow will cover it. As their plane cruises at a speed of 740 km/hr along the path of the eclipse, they will be covered in darkness for nearly 3 minutes, as compared to 2 minutes 18 seconds on the ground. This will give them more time to study the sun in its eclipsed state. Describing the moment this happens in the air, Cary Klemm, a sensor equipment operator at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, told The Guardian, that in the aircraft, it’s very bright, with no clouds above. "Then all of a sudden, you’re hit with this slam of shadow," said Klemm, who has previously flown eclipse missions. He says you are surrounded by "a weird, eerie shadow", the temperature drops, and you feel the "need for more light from the instruments." Also Read: Total solar eclipse August 12: Date, time, path and where to watch Live - Full visibility guide Aircraft used for chasing the eclipse The plane being used for the mission is a WB-57, which has four cameras. They will take several photos of the sun every second in different wavelengths of light. What they are expecting to capture are large, looping ribbons of plasma called prominences and magnetic explosions called nanoflares. A total solar eclipse is the only time when such features from the Sun can be viewed. Each nanoflare releases energy equivalent to thousands of atomic bombs. Observing them helps understand the reason why the corona, or outer atmosphere, measures more than 1,000,000C, while the surface is only 6,000C. The Total Solar Eclipse will cover the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of Spain and Portugal. It will be the first total solar eclipse to be visible from mainland Europe since 1999.

Total Solar Eclipse 2026: For two NASA pilots, the eclipse on August 12 will last nearly three minutes in totality. The eclipse chasers will be covered by a weird and eerie shadow, with the aircraft going dark suddenly, instantly cooling the interiors.

Aug 12 solar eclipse: 'Eerie shadow' will cover two NASA pilots and totality will last 42 seconds more than usual

Researchers in the US have turned the killer shark into mobile near-real-time ocean-data observers using CTD tags to understand the potential intensity of a hurricane before it makes landfall. The testing is being done by researchers at the University of Delaware in order to measure ocean conditions to inform oceanographic, atmospheric and climate models. CTD tags are compact electronic devices that record ocean electrical conductivity, a measure closely linked to salinity, along with temperature and depth, as the marine animals carrying them swim and dive. "Animal-borne sensors have been used successfully by oceanographers for years, particularly on elephant seals in polar regions where scientific observations are scarce," said Aaron Carlisle, principal investigator ​and a professor in the university's School of Marine Science and Policy. Carlisle noted that sharks present a valuable new avenue for this kind of research, since they are plentiful, widely spread across the ocean, and more accessible than many protected marine mammals. Until now, shark tagging has mainly been used to track their movement patterns and habitat use.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a><h3>Hurricane research</h3>Researchers at the University of Delaware chose sharks capable of gathering data most relevant to hurricane research, prioritising species that surface frequently enough for their tags to relay information to satellites. Earlier studies identified shortfin mako sharks, blue sharks, smooth hammerheads, and juvenile great white sharks as promising candidates for such research in the North Atlantic. "We are really most interested in the heat content of the top layer of the ocean, which is known as the mixed layer," Carlisle said. "This is the part of the water column that really drives hurricane intensity — warmer mixed layer equals stronger hurricane — as it holds ​the heat that feeds hurricanes," Carlisle added. "The tags are attached to the dorsal fin. Then every time the shark fins (swims) at the surface, the tag can communicate and transmit data to the orbiting network of satellite receivers," Carlisle further added. Caroline Wiernicki, a University of Delaware doctoral candidate in marine science, stated that this process started in early May, when highly migratory species came closer to the coast from their winter habitats further out in the ​Atlantic. Wiernicki added that researchers moved 30 to 40 miles (50 to 65 km) offshore aboard a research vessel, deployed baited lines and waited, typically ‌two to three ⁠hours, for a shark to take the bait.&nbsp;

Aaron Carlisle, principal investigator ​and a professor in the university's School of Marine Science and Policy, noted that sharks present a valuable new avenue for this kind of research, since they are plentiful, widely spread across the ocean, and more accessible.

Researchers in the US have turned the killer shark into mobile near-real-time ocean-data observers using CTD tags to understand the potential intensity of a hurricane before it makes landfall. The testing is being done by researchers at the University of Delaware in order to measure ocean conditions to inform oceanographic, atmospheric and climate models. CTD tags are compact electronic devices that record ocean electrical conductivity, a measure closely linked to salinity, along with temperature and depth, as the marine animals carrying them swim and dive. "Animal-borne sensors have been used successfully by oceanographers for years, particularly on elephant seals in polar regions where scientific observations are scarce," said Aaron Carlisle, principal investigator and a professor in the university's School of Marine Science and Policy. Carlisle noted that sharks present a valuable new avenue for this kind of research, since they are plentiful, widely spread across the ocean, and more accessible than many protected marine mammals. Until now, shark tagging has mainly been used to track their movement patterns and habitat use. Also read: Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside Hurricane research Researchers at the University of Delaware chose sharks capable of gathering data most relevant to hurricane research, prioritising species that surface frequently enough for their tags to relay information to satellites. Earlier studies identified shortfin mako sharks, blue sharks, smooth hammerheads, and juvenile great white sharks as promising candidates for such research in the North Atlantic. "We are really most interested in the heat content of the top layer of the ocean, which is known as the mixed layer," Carlisle said. "This is the part of the water column that really drives hurricane intensity — warmer mixed layer equals stronger hurricane — as it holds the heat that feeds hurricanes," Carlisle added. "The tags are attached to the dorsal fin. Then every time the shark fins (swims) at the surface, the tag can communicate and transmit data to the orbiting network of satellite receivers," Carlisle further added. Caroline Wiernicki, a University of Delaware doctoral candidate in marine science, stated that this process started in early May, when highly migratory species came closer to the coast from their winter habitats further out in the Atlantic. Wiernicki added that researchers moved 30 to 40 miles (50 to 65 km) offshore aboard a research vessel, deployed baited lines and waited, typically ‌two to three ⁠hours, for a shark to take the bait.

Aaron Carlisle, principal investigator ​and a professor in the university's School of Marine Science and Policy, noted that sharks present a valuable new avenue for this kind of research, since they are plentiful, widely spread across the ocean, and more accessible.

Sharks turned into storm trackers to predict hurricane intensity: Know how scientists are using it

A discarded rocket stage of Elon Musk's SpaceX has slammed into the Moon at around 5,400 miles per hour, leaving behind a fresh crater on the lunar surface. Stunning visuals of the human-made crater have now been captured by a South Korean lunar spacecraft.The Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Danuri spacecraft flew over the impact site shortly after the Falcon 9 upper stage crashed into the lunar surface on Wednesday. The satellite made multiple passes over the area and captured images showing the terrain before and after the impact.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a><h2>Another human-made crater on the Moon</h2>Scientists estimate that the impact could have created a crater up to 27 metres wide and around five metres deep.The pictures reveal a noticeably darker patch on the Moon where the rocket struck, with dust and debris scattered across the surrounding surface.KARI said Danuri began observing the region around 30 minutes before the collision and conducted eight imaging sessions in total."Through this observation, changes in the terrain around the impact site and traces of ejecta spread were confirmed," the agency said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our team at <a href="https://x.com/iaa_csic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iaa_csic</a> has captured the impact on the Moon of the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket. We attach a preliminary video showing the evolution of the ejected material. The black area corresponds to the lunar disk <a href="https://x.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> <a href="https://x.com/JuanLuisRizos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JuanLuisRizos</a> <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> <a href="https://x.com/tiempobrasero?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tiempobrasero</a> <a href="https://x.com/A3Noticias?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@A3Noticias</a>… <a href="https://t.co/5Ry7hRdCeS">pic.twitter.com/5Ry7hRdCeS</a>&mdash; Jose Maria Madiedo (@jmmadiedo) <a href="https://x.com/jmmadiedo/status/2085344665562165293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What happened to the SpaceX rocket?</h2>The Falcon 9 launched from Florida in January 2025 carrying two private lunar landers, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience, into lunar orbit. The rocket's primary booster was designed to return safely to Earth. But the upper stage was left drifting in space after completing its mission.It was never supposed to hit the Moon. But a combination of lunar gravity and solar activity eventually pushed the roughly 4,000 to 4,500kg rocket stage onto a collision course with the lunar surface.Independent astronomers first noticed the unusual trajectory before it was confirmed by NASA's Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies.The rocket, measuring around 12 metres long, eventually hit the Moon at about 8,700 kmph. Researchers estimate the impact packed the force of roughly three tonnes of TNT.<h2>Satellite caught the Moon before and after the crash</h2>Danuri's observations have given scientists an unusually useful record of the impact. Because the spacecraft passed over the region shortly before the collision, researchers can compare the lunar surface before the rocket hit with the landscape after the crash.NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is also expected to observe the site during a later pass, providing another look at the crater and surrounding debris.Researchers in Spain also believe they captured footage of the impact indirectly. The actual flash was hidden behind the Moon's limb, but astronomers say they may have recorded the plume of dust and debris thrown into space by the collision. Watch the stunning visuals here:

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<h2>Why scientists are interested in the crash</h2>The accidental collision is more than a dramatic space event. Scientists see it as a rare opportunity to study how large objects behave when they strike the lunar surface.The Moon is regularly bombarded by meteoroids, but scientists often have little information about the exact size and mass of naturally occurring impactors. This time, they know the approximate mass, composition and trajectory of the object. That could allow researchers to study how the impact created a crater and how far material was thrown across the lunar surface.The Moon has been deliberately used for similar experiments before. In 2006, the European Space Agency intentionally crashed its SMART-1 spacecraft into the lunar surface to study the resulting impact.

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage has crashed into the Moon at around 5,400 mph, creating a fresh crater estimated to be up to 27 metres wide. South Korea's Danuri spacecraft captured the lunar surface before and after the impact.

A discarded rocket stage of Elon Musk's SpaceX has slammed into the Moon at around 5,400 miles per hour, leaving behind a fresh crater on the lunar surface. Stunning visuals of the human-made crater have now been captured by a South Korean lunar spacecraft. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Danuri spacecraft flew over the impact site shortly after the Falcon 9 upper stage crashed into the lunar surface on Wednesday. The satellite made multiple passes over the area and captured images showing the terrain before and after the impact. Also read | Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside Another human-made crater on the Moon Scientists estimate that the impact could have created a crater up to 27 metres wide and around five metres deep. The pictures reveal a noticeably darker patch on the Moon where the rocket struck, with dust and debris scattered across the surrounding surface. KARI said Danuri began observing the region around 30 minutes before the collision and conducted eight imaging sessions in total. "Through this observation, changes in the terrain around the impact site and traces of ejecta spread were confirmed," the agency said.

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage has crashed into the Moon at around 5,400 mph, creating a fresh crater estimated to be up to 27 metres wide. South Korea's Danuri spacecraft captured the lunar surface before and after the impact.

Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket crashes into Moon at 5,400 mph: South Korean satellite captures shocking 'before and after' images

Scientists have discovered a natural particle accelerator in the Milky Way blasting out protons with energies exceeding one quadrillion electron volts. These are some of the fastest-moving particles and the highest known energies in our galaxy. Humans have built colliders on Earth, but none even comes close to this cosmic accelerator. Named LHAASO J1912+1014u, it is located in the constellation Aquila. Astronomers think this object could provide clues to the origin of high-energy particles moving through space at almost the speed of light. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal.&nbsp;The particles emitted by this object carry energies thousands of times higher than the collision limits of Earth’s largest human-made particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). First spotted in 2024, it was classified as a supernova remnant. But then a stream of gamma-ray emissions was observed bursting from the object. They are generated when accelerated particles collide with surrounding gas. This led scientists to conclude that it was a natural cosmic accelerator that boosts protons up to petaelectronvolt (PeV) energies, also known as a PeVatron.<h2>Triple observations revealed it was not a supernova remnant</h2>Initially thought to be a supernova remnant, researchers combined data across multiple wavelengths using data from three different observatories - NASA's Fermi-LAT, Japan's FUGIN radio telescope, and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. This helped them rule out electrons as the source of the gamma-ray emissions and that they stemmed from accelerated protons.&nbsp;Tsunefumi Mizuno, associate professor at Hiroshima University’s Astrophysical Science Center and corresponding author of the study, said in a statement, "In this study, three arrows—Fermi-LAT GeV gamma-ray data, FUGIN radio data and Chandra X-ray data—are bundled together through a detailed multiwavelength modelling, revealing that our target, LHAASO J1912+1014u, is a cosmic-ray proton PeVatron."&nbsp;These findings can help explain the Milky Way’s most energetic cosmic rays that travel through the galaxy and affect events. Scientists think there could be many more cosmic accelerators out there which could soon be discovered.

A mysterious object is blasting energy at extremely high levels in the Milky Way, which astronomers say is a cosmic accelerator. However, its true identity remains a secret. Scientists are now trying to find more of these objects. 

Scientists have discovered a natural particle accelerator in the Milky Way blasting out protons with energies exceeding one quadrillion electron volts. These are some of the fastest-moving particles and the highest known energies in our galaxy. Humans have built colliders on Earth, but none even comes close to this cosmic accelerator. Named LHAASO J1912+1014u, it is located in the constellation Aquila. Astronomers think this object could provide clues to the origin of high-energy particles moving through space at almost the speed of light. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal. The particles emitted by this object carry energies thousands of times higher than the collision limits of Earth’s largest human-made particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). First spotted in 2024, it was classified as a supernova remnant. But then a stream of gamma-ray emissions was observed bursting from the object. They are generated when accelerated particles collide with surrounding gas. This led scientists to conclude that it was a natural cosmic accelerator that boosts protons up to petaelectronvolt (PeV) energies, also known as a PeVatron. Triple observations revealed it was not a supernova remnant Initially thought to be a supernova remnant, researchers combined data across multiple wavelengths using data from three different observatories - NASA's Fermi-LAT, Japan's FUGIN radio telescope, and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. This helped them rule out electrons as the source of the gamma-ray emissions and that they stemmed from accelerated protons. Tsunefumi Mizuno, associate professor at Hiroshima University’s Astrophysical Science Center and corresponding author of the study, said in a statement, "In this study, three arrows—Fermi-LAT GeV gamma-ray data, FUGIN radio data and Chandra X-ray data—are bundled together through a detailed multiwavelength modelling, revealing that our target, LHAASO J1912+1014u, is a cosmic-ray proton PeVatron." These findings can help explain the Milky Way’s most energetic cosmic rays that travel through the galaxy and affect events. Scientists think there could be many more cosmic accelerators out there which could soon be discovered.

A mysterious object is blasting energy at levels thousands of times than the maximum energy humans can give a particle in Earth's largest and most powerful machine, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The identity of this object remains unknown.

1,000x stronger than the LHC: Milky Way has a mystery engine blasting record-breaking energy

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1,000x stronger than LHC: Milky Way has a mystery object blasting record energy