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The first full moon of 2026, known as the Wolf Supermoon, is all set to rise this weekend on January 3, 2026, marking the year’s opening celestial highlight. As per NASA, a supermoon occurs when the full Moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee, making it appear larger and brighter than a typical full moon. January’s full Moon will be at its peak illumination, at around 10:03 GMT (5:03 am EST), though it will be visible on the evenings of January 2 and 3 as it climbs the eastern horizon at dusk.&nbsp;<h2>The Name</h2>&nbsp;The name Wolf Moon has deep historical roots. Live Sciences says that according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the full moon gets its name because wolves were more likely to be heard howling during these cold winter nights. Other western cultures names of this full moon includes the Cold Moon or Freeze-Up Moon, reflecting seasonal conditions and light influences from ancient observations. This will be the first of three supermoons in 2026, with the year’s largest and closest supermoon scheduled for December 24.&nbsp;<h2>How to view and enjoy the supermoon</h2>&nbsp;To see the Wolf Supermoon at its best, observers should look to the eastern horizon at sunset on January 2 and 3. When the Moon is low in the sky, optical effects such as the moon illusion can make it appear impressively large to the naked eye. Unlike dimmer night-sky phenomena, a supermoon is bright enough to be visible even from urban locations with light pollution.&nbsp;Because it's the full moon closest to the winter solstice on Dec. 21, the Wolf Moon will also make the highest arc through the night sky of any full moon, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. At the perigee the Moon is about 2,20,000 miles away from Earth, compared to at its furthest point - or apogee - around 2,50,000 miles away. The Wolf Moon in January 2026 happens to be the final one in a sequence that began back in late 2025.

The Wolf Moon in January 2026 ]happens to be the final one in a sequence that began back in late 2025.

The first full moon of 2026, known as the Wolf Supermoon, is all set to rise this weekend on January 3, 2026, marking the year’s opening celestial highlight. As per NASA, a supermoon occurs when the full Moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee, making it appear larger and brighter than a typical full moon. January’s full Moon will be at its peak illumination, at around 10:03 GMT (5:03 am EST), though it will be visible on the evenings of January 2 and 3 as it climbs the eastern horizon at dusk. The Name The name Wolf Moon has deep historical roots. Live Sciences says that according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the full moon gets its name because wolves were more likely to be heard howling during these cold winter nights. Other western cultures names of this full moon includes the Cold Moon or Freeze-Up Moon, reflecting seasonal conditions and light influences from ancient observations. This will be the first of three supermoons in 2026, with the year’s largest and closest supermoon scheduled for December 24. How to view and enjoy the supermoon To see the Wolf Supermoon at its best, observers should look to the eastern horizon at sunset on January 2 and 3. When the Moon is low in the sky, optical effects such as the moon illusion can make it appear impressively large to the naked eye. Unlike dimmer night-sky phenomena, a supermoon is bright enough to be visible even from urban locations with light pollution. Because it's the full moon closest to the winter solstice on Dec. 21, the Wolf Moon will also make the highest arc through the night sky of any full moon, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. At the perigee the Moon is about 2,20,000 miles away from Earth, compared to at its furthest point - or apogee - around 2,50,000 miles away. The Wolf Moon in January 2026 happens to be the final one in a sequence that began back in late 2025.

The Wolf Moon in January 2026 ]happens to be the final one in a sequence that began back in late 2025.

What is the Wolf Supermoon? All you need to know about the first full moon of 2026

Some studies have reportedly shown that for some cells, death is not the end. Xenobots, a lab-designed multicellular organism originally tiny cells found in a frog's embryo, exhibit properties that are controversial and sometimes extraordinary. They are not robots; they are biological machines that were assembled by scientists with the help of certain computer-based tools.These xenobots perform more roles beyond their functions. For example the cells designed by &nbsp;Peter Noble, PhD, a microbiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with Alex Pozhitkov, PhD, a bioinformatics researcher at the City of Hope cancer center were from skin and heart, but they could perform tasks like movement using hairlike cilia, collect or push microscopic particles, almost like tiny janitors, self-organise into clusters or repair themselves if damaged, perform collective behaviors. This was baffling because these cells did not behave the same way within the frog. These cells were natural cells, but were given a new job in a new structure.&nbsp;The scientists concluded that cells can reorganise into a new form and new structure in a new environment. It implies a state of biological autonomy that exists outside, irrespective of the organism as a whole. The authors argue that xenobots form a kind of “third state” of life, wherein cells can reorganise after the death of an organism to form something new. These forms likely wouldn’t materialise in nature, but xenobots show that cells have a surprising ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Experiments with human cells, or “anthrobots,” exhibit this behaviour, too.Our life and our death were supposed to be the two states. But the third state of the xenbots autonomy at the cellular level does not fit both life and death, but lies somewhere in the grey zones. &nbsp;“The third state suggests that (an organism’s) death may play a significant role in how life transforms over time,” wrote the authors in the conversation.&nbsp;

Xenobots made from frog cells show surprising autonomy, raising questions about a possible third state of life beyond life and death.

Some studies have reportedly shown that for some cells, death is not the end. Xenobots, a lab-designed multicellular organism originally tiny cells found in a frog's embryo, exhibit properties that are controversial and sometimes extraordinary. They are not robots; they are biological machines that were assembled by scientists with the help of certain computer-based tools. These xenobots perform more roles beyond their functions. For example the cells designed by Peter Noble, PhD, a microbiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with Alex Pozhitkov, PhD, a bioinformatics researcher at the City of Hope cancer center were from skin and heart, but they could perform tasks like movement using hairlike cilia, collect or push microscopic particles, almost like tiny janitors, self-organise into clusters or repair themselves if damaged, perform collective behaviors. This was baffling because these cells did not behave the same way within the frog. These cells were natural cells, but were given a new job in a new structure. The scientists concluded that cells can reorganise into a new form and new structure in a new environment. It implies a state of biological autonomy that exists outside, irrespective of the organism as a whole. The authors argue that xenobots form a kind of “third state” of life, wherein cells can reorganise after the death of an organism to form something new. These forms likely wouldn’t materialise in nature, but xenobots show that cells have a surprising ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Experiments with human cells, or “anthrobots,” exhibit this behaviour, too. Our life and our death were supposed to be the two states. But the third state of the xenbots autonomy at the cellular level does not fit both life and death, but lies somewhere in the grey zones. “The third state suggests that (an organism’s) death may play a significant role in how life transforms over time,” wrote the authors in the conversation.

Xenobots made from frog cells show surprising autonomy, raising questions about a possible third state of life beyond life and death.

Is there a place between life and death? Scientists explore the ‘third state’ of life

New research published by British theoretical physicist from the University of Portsmouth, Melvin Vopson, reveals a new role for gravity. His highly speculative and controversial idea is that “gravity reduces information entropy”, meaning that it helps in information processing, ie, organising, which is characteristic of a computational system. The paper has been peer reviewed and published by the American Institute of Physics in mid-2025.<h2>How did Vopson link gravity to information order?</h2>&nbsp;Vopson's hypothesis draws upon the concept of "Entropic Gravity", an idea first explored in 2011 by Dutch theoretical physicist Erik Verlinde. In Newtonian classical physics, mass attracts mass. Gravity is a force. In Einstein's general relativity, gravity is a space-time curvature caused by mass and energy. The concept is that gravity isn't a fundamental force, but an emergent phenomenon, something that appears from the collective behaviour of smaller components. Just as temperature, which emerges from the motion of molecules, similarly, gravity might emerge from the way information is organised in the universe.&nbsp;Melvin Vopson further built on the previous ideas of Claude Shannon and Rolf Landauer’s which suggest that information is not abstract. There is a relation between information and thermodynamics. That information has a physical cost, such as energy, heat, and entropy. From which he induces that information must then obey laws like matter and energy. In classical physics, the second law of thermodynamics posits that the total entropy (disorder) of an isolated system always increases.He proposes a new idea, which he calls the “Second Law of Infodynamics”, which is contrary to traditional thermodynamics, suggesting that information-entropy decreases over time. “The Second Law of Information Dynamics requires information entropy to decrease; it requires less computational power and less data storage,” said Vopson.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I was a bit too brave. I postulated with a collaborator of mine that this is a universal law, but I only gave two examples … since then, all my efforts were geared toward finding other systems where this is valid,” Vopson said ambitiously. As he was trying to find evidence for his presumptuously declared "law" of the universe, &nbsp;he took COVID-19 as a specimen.&nbsp;After analysing the readily available data related to the mutations of the SARS-CoV-2, the microscopic menace behind the pandemic, Vopson determined that when the virus mutated, information entropy decreased. According to Vopson, “if the universe were a super-sophisticated simulation, it would require built-in optimisation and compression to reduce complexity. So perhaps these genetic mutations are evidence of that optimisation at work, since mutations appeared to decrease information entropy.”&nbsp;He admits that the idea is speculative and in the realm of hypothesis. Despite six years of these kinds of rapid-fire bold claims, they are very far from certain. But he also acknowledges that he faced very little pushback from the scientific community. “We have a public duty to publish results, publish ideas, bring them into the public domain so we can debate them, so we can disprove them,” said Melvin Vopson.&nbsp;

British physicist Melvin Vopson proposes that gravity reduces information entropy, hinting that the universe may function like a computational system.

New research published by British theoretical physicist from the University of Portsmouth, Melvin Vopson, reveals a new role for gravity. His highly speculative and controversial idea is that “gravity reduces information entropy”, meaning that it helps in information processing, ie, organising, which is characteristic of a computational system. The paper has been peer reviewed and published by the American Institute of Physics in mid-2025. How did Vopson link gravity to information order? Vopson's hypothesis draws upon the concept of "Entropic Gravity", an idea first explored in 2011 by Dutch theoretical physicist Erik Verlinde. In Newtonian classical physics, mass attracts mass. Gravity is a force. In Einstein's general relativity, gravity is a space-time curvature caused by mass and energy. The concept is that gravity isn't a fundamental force, but an emergent phenomenon, something that appears from the collective behaviour of smaller components. Just as temperature, which emerges from the motion of molecules, similarly, gravity might emerge from the way information is organised in the universe. Melvin Vopson further built on the previous ideas of Claude Shannon and Rolf Landauer’s which suggest that information is not abstract. There is a relation between information and thermodynamics. That information has a physical cost, such as energy, heat, and entropy. From which he induces that information must then obey laws like matter and energy. In classical physics, the second law of thermodynamics posits that the total entropy (disorder) of an isolated system always increases. He proposes a new idea, which he calls the “Second Law of Infodynamics”, which is contrary to traditional thermodynamics, suggesting that information-entropy decreases over time. “The Second Law of Information Dynamics requires information entropy to decrease; it requires less computational power and less data storage,” said Vopson. “I was a bit too brave. I postulated with a collaborator of mine that this is a universal law, but I only gave two examples … since then, all my efforts were geared toward finding other systems where this is valid,” Vopson said ambitiously. As he was trying to find evidence for his presumptuously declared "law" of the universe, he took COVID-19 as a specimen. After analysing the readily available data related to the mutations of the SARS-CoV-2, the microscopic menace behind the pandemic, Vopson determined that when the virus mutated, information entropy decreased. According to Vopson, “if the universe were a super-sophisticated simulation, it would require built-in optimisation and compression to reduce complexity. So perhaps these genetic mutations are evidence of that optimisation at work, since mutations appeared to decrease information entropy.” He admits that the idea is speculative and in the realm of hypothesis. Despite six years of these kinds of rapid-fire bold claims, they are very far from certain. But he also acknowledges that he faced very little pushback from the scientific community. “We have a public duty to publish results, publish ideas, bring them into the public domain so we can debate them, so we can disprove them,” said Melvin Vopson.

British physicist Melvin Vopson proposes that gravity reduces information entropy, hinting that the universe may function like a computational system.

Is gravity a clue we live in a simulation? New theory links gravity to information processing

The race to conquer space has now moved to artificial intelligence as countries vie to launch AI infrastructure into low-Earth orbit. China is believed to be leading in this arena and is reportedly working to place space supercomputers above Earth soon. Researchers at the Institute of Computing Technology (ICT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing are preparing to launch an AI data centre. This structure will include 10,000 high-performance computing cards, Popular Mechanics reported. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai are also developing these cosmic AI hubs, and whoever manages to have the most perfect space centres will lead computing in space.&nbsp;NVIDIA-backed startup Starcloud is potentially winning this race. Nvidia H100 graphics processing unit managed to get its Starcloud-1 satellite past Earth’s atmosphere last month. It not only launched an 80-gigabyte chip, but also trained the NanoGPT large language model from Terra Firma. While the chip is 100 times more powerful than any chip that has ever been sent to space, NanoGPT is the first AI ever trained in space.<h2>Bezos and Musk plan on having AI data hubs in orbit</h2>Meanwhile, Blue Origin has been working on aI data hub for space for over a year, while Musk plans to upgrade Starlink satellites to handle AI computing payloads. Pichai confirmed Project Suncatcher, which will place micro-racks of machines on board satellites. Having AI infrastructure in space will reduce the huge amounts of energy and water the technology uses and reduce greenhouse gases. In space, it will rely on solar power, which means 10 times less use of electricity by the AI data centres.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-just-saved-a-precious-drill-on-mars-from-212-million-kilometres-away-1767174556834">NASA just saved a precious drill stuck on Mars since 8 months from 212 million kilometres away</a>&nbsp;China is way ahead in this race and recently placed the first computing constellation in space. Guoxing Aerospace and the research institute Zhejiang Lab together deployed 12 satellites into low-Earth orbit. The constellation could be the foundation for an orbiting supercomputer in the future. &nbsp;Aerospace company Zhongke Tiansuan launched a space supercomputer in 2022, while &nbsp;Zhongke Tiansuan’s satellite is in stable orbit for more than a thousand days. This puts China way ahead of other countries in the quest to have AI hubs and supercomputers in space.&nbsp;AI data centres in Earth's orbit are the future. The Starcloud team said in a white paper published last year, "Gigawatt-scale orbital data centres are among the most ambitious space projects of all time. We are convinced that orbital data centres are feasible, economically viable, and necessary to realise the potential of AI, the most important technology of the 21st century, in a rapid and sustainable manner."&nbsp;This endeavour can soon become a reality as experts are sure that an actual supercomputer could be operational in space by the 2030s. However, who will be the first to launch one remains to be seen.&nbsp;

AI data hubs and supercomputers in space can soon become a reality as several experts are working on the same. China is said to be in the lead, as some companies have already launched what could form the basis for an orbiting supercomputer.

The race to conquer space has now moved to artificial intelligence as countries vie to launch AI infrastructure into low-Earth orbit. China is believed to be leading in this arena and is reportedly working to place space supercomputers above Earth soon. Researchers at the Institute of Computing Technology (ICT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing are preparing to launch an AI data centre. This structure will include 10,000 high-performance computing cards, Popular Mechanics reported. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai are also developing these cosmic AI hubs, and whoever manages to have the most perfect space centres will lead computing in space. NVIDIA-backed startup Starcloud is potentially winning this race. Nvidia H100 graphics processing unit managed to get its Starcloud-1 satellite past Earth’s atmosphere last month. It not only launched an 80-gigabyte chip, but also trained the NanoGPT large language model from Terra Firma. While the chip is 100 times more powerful than any chip that has ever been sent to space, NanoGPT is the first AI ever trained in space. Bezos and Musk plan on having AI data hubs in orbit Meanwhile, Blue Origin has been working on aI data hub for space for over a year, while Musk plans to upgrade Starlink satellites to handle AI computing payloads. Pichai confirmed Project Suncatcher, which will place micro-racks of machines on board satellites. Having AI infrastructure in space will reduce the huge amounts of energy and water the technology uses and reduce greenhouse gases. In space, it will rely on solar power, which means 10 times less use of electricity by the AI data centres. Also Read: NASA just saved a precious drill stuck on Mars since 8 months from 212 million kilometres away China is way ahead in this race and recently placed the first computing constellation in space. Guoxing Aerospace and the research institute Zhejiang Lab together deployed 12 satellites into low-Earth orbit. The constellation could be the foundation for an orbiting supercomputer in the future. Aerospace company Zhongke Tiansuan launched a space supercomputer in 2022, while Zhongke Tiansuan’s satellite is in stable orbit for more than a thousand days. This puts China way ahead of other countries in the quest to have AI hubs and supercomputers in space. AI data centres in Earth's orbit are the future. The Starcloud team said in a white paper published last year, "Gigawatt-scale orbital data centres are among the most ambitious space projects of all time. We are convinced that orbital data centres are feasible, economically viable, and necessary to realise the potential of AI, the most important technology of the 21st century, in a rapid and sustainable manner." This endeavour can soon become a reality as experts are sure that an actual supercomputer could be operational in space by the 2030s. However, who will be the first to launch one remains to be seen.

AI data hubs and supercomputers in space can soon become a reality as several experts are working on the same. China is said to be in the lead, as some companies have already launched what could form the basis for an orbiting supercomputer.

Supercomputers in space: China leads race for AI data hubs in Earth orbit as Musk, Bezos and Pichai also fight it out

NASA recently carried out a tricky manoeuvre from 212 million kilometres away, when a drill on the Perseverance rover got stuck in a rock sample. The rover is currently exploring the Jezero crater on Mars. Recently, while poking at the rocks, a part of its drill got lodged in a rock. Scientists back on Earth found themselves in a bind, racking their brains about how to dislodge a drill from another planet. The problem could have caused Perseverance to lose a precious tool, as letting go of it would have been easier. However, that would have left it without a way to retrieve the rock samples. But the engineers pulled an incredible feat and managed to pull it out. A NASA spokesperson told Mashable on Wednesday, "The team was working to extract a drill bit from the most recent sample collection attempt, which was successfully accomplished as of late Tuesday night."&nbsp;They added that the rover was designed for such an eventuality, and even if it had to lose a drill bit, it had others on board. NASA did not reveal exactly how it was able to get the drill out of the Martian rock. Jezero Crater has been an area of interest on Mars because scientists believe a river once flowed into a delta here. The crater is believed to have formed after a collision 4.6 billion years ago. There are layered rocks in an area called the Witch Hazel Hill in this region of Mars that consist of alternating light and dark bands.&nbsp;<h2>Drill on Perseverance was stuck since April</h2>Earlier this month, the rover dug into one of the light-toned layers filled with tiny rock pieces. Recently, it was checking out the dark ones when pictures beamed back showed that the drill was stuck. NASA believes this happened on April 22.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/1-2-billion-light-years-away-a-triple-black-hole-collision-is-occurring-for-the-first-time-1767166848929">1.2 billion light-years away, a triple black hole collision is occurring for the first time</a>&nbsp;Perseverance has been collecting samples from Mars, filling up a tube with dirt and rocks. NASA plans on bringing these samples back to Earth as part of a return mission and is aiming to do so by 2030. However, its original plan has effectively failed because of high costs, and now it is looking at alternative ways to bring the samples to Earth.

Perseverance rover got one of its drills stuck in a rock on Mars, and NASA only got to know about it months later. There were chances that the rover would lose the drill, but the space agency said that it had successfully retrieved it. 

NASA recently carried out a tricky manoeuvre from 212 million kilometres away, when a drill on the Perseverance rover got stuck in a rock sample. The rover is currently exploring the Jezero crater on Mars. Recently, while poking at the rocks, a part of its drill got lodged in a rock. Scientists back on Earth found themselves in a bind, racking their brains about how to dislodge a drill from another planet. The problem could have caused Perseverance to lose a precious tool, as letting go of it would have been easier. However, that would have left it without a way to retrieve the rock samples. But the engineers pulled an incredible feat and managed to pull it out. A NASA spokesperson told Mashable on Wednesday, "The team was working to extract a drill bit from the most recent sample collection attempt, which was successfully accomplished as of late Tuesday night." They added that the rover was designed for such an eventuality, and even if it had to lose a drill bit, it had others on board. NASA did not reveal exactly how it was able to get the drill out of the Martian rock. Jezero Crater has been an area of interest on Mars because scientists believe a river once flowed into a delta here. The crater is believed to have formed after a collision 4.6 billion years ago. There are layered rocks in an area called the Witch Hazel Hill in this region of Mars that consist of alternating light and dark bands. Drill on Perseverance was stuck since April Earlier this month, the rover dug into one of the light-toned layers filled with tiny rock pieces. Recently, it was checking out the dark ones when pictures beamed back showed that the drill was stuck. NASA believes this happened on April 22. Also Read: 1.2 billion light-years away, a triple black hole collision is occurring for the first time Perseverance has been collecting samples from Mars, filling up a tube with dirt and rocks. NASA plans on bringing these samples back to Earth as part of a return mission and is aiming to do so by 2030. However, its original plan has effectively failed because of high costs, and now it is looking at alternative ways to bring the samples to Earth.

Perseverance rover got one of its drills stuck in a rock on Mars, and NASA only got to know about it months later. There were chances that the rover would lose the drill, but the space agency said that it had successfully retrieved it.&nbsp;

NASA just saved a precious drill stuck on Mars since 8 months from 212 million kilometres away

A giant, triple collision is about to happen 1.2 billion light-years from Earth, with three galaxies set to crash into each other. Named J1218/1219+1035, it is a rare cosmic event where a system is forming, where each of the three supermassive black holes will also collide. All of them are gobbling material at extreme speeds, releasing radio lights and actively launching jets. This mind-blowing occurrence will turn the concept of triple radio-active galactic nuclei (AGN) into reality. It also offers a peek into the life cycle of supermassive black holes." Astrophysicist Emma Schwartzman of the US Naval Research Laboratory said, “Triple active galaxies like this are incredibly rare, and catching one in the middle of a merger gives us a front-row seat to how massive galaxies and their black holes grow together.”<h2>How common are galaxy mergers?</h2>Galaxy mergers are quite common in the universe. In the Milky Way alone, three to four major galaxy mergers have occurred over 13 billion years. But that is true for a double galaxy merger. J1218/1219+1035 is rare in more ways than one. Having a triple galaxy collision has hardly ever happened before, and an event where all three come together at the same time, instead of in a staggered manner, seldom happens. Besides, this is the first galaxy merger where all three AGNs are shining in radio light, and only the third where all three galaxies have AGN. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.&nbsp;The triple galaxy merger was spotted by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. Initially, it appeared like two galaxies were coming together, with their edges already overlapping. Each had a radio-active galactic nucleus, which was confirmed in later observations. They were around 74,000 light-years away from each other. But then they saw a third galaxy with a blazing AGN located about 316,000 light-years away was also at play. A tail of gas flowing from the third one towards the other two showed that a triple collision was happening.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

1.2 billion light-years from Earth, scientists have spotted a rare cosmic event where not two, but three galaxies are set to crash into each other, along with all three of their blazing supermassive black holes. Experts are watching them closely to see the end result. 

A giant, triple collision is about to happen 1.2 billion light-years from Earth, with three galaxies set to crash into each other. Named J1218/1219+1035, it is a rare cosmic event where a system is forming, where each of the three supermassive black holes will also collide. All of them are gobbling material at extreme speeds, releasing radio lights and actively launching jets. This mind-blowing occurrence will turn the concept of triple radio-active galactic nuclei (AGN) into reality. It also offers a peek into the life cycle of supermassive black holes." Astrophysicist Emma Schwartzman of the US Naval Research Laboratory said, “Triple active galaxies like this are incredibly rare, and catching one in the middle of a merger gives us a front-row seat to how massive galaxies and their black holes grow together.” How common are galaxy mergers? Galaxy mergers are quite common in the universe. In the Milky Way alone, three to four major galaxy mergers have occurred over 13 billion years. But that is true for a double galaxy merger. J1218/1219+1035 is rare in more ways than one. Having a triple galaxy collision has hardly ever happened before, and an event where all three come together at the same time, instead of in a staggered manner, seldom happens. Besides, this is the first galaxy merger where all three AGNs are shining in radio light, and only the third where all three galaxies have AGN. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The triple galaxy merger was spotted by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. Initially, it appeared like two galaxies were coming together, with their edges already overlapping. Each had a radio-active galactic nucleus, which was confirmed in later observations. They were around 74,000 light-years away from each other. But then they saw a third galaxy with a blazing AGN located about 316,000 light-years away was also at play. A tail of gas flowing from the third one towards the other two showed that a triple collision was happening.

1.2 billion light-years from Earth, scientists have spotted a rare cosmic event where not two, but three galaxies are set to crash into each other, along with all three of their blazing supermassive black holes. Experts are watching them closely to see the end result.&nbsp;

1.2 billion light-years away, a triple black hole collision is occurring for the first time

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is believed to be between 8 and 14 billion years old, much older than our solar system, which was born only about 4.6 billion years ago. This dating means that it could even belong to a star that no longer exists. Associate Professor Michele Bannister, from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), who has been studying the comet, has made several revelations about the comet ever since it was discovered in July 2025. Calling it a "once in a lifetime opportunity" that she has spent her career preparing for, Bannister says interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS offer a peek into the building blocks of planet formation in other corners of the Milky Way. "This comet is a calling card from the past, and we only have a few hundred days to try and interpret what it’s telling us," she told Astrobiology.&nbsp;“That’s the great joy of interstellar objects, they’re giving us clues, because they’re made up of the building blocks of planet formation elsewhere in the galaxy. They’re telling us about a star that’s so ancient it might not even exist anymore," she said. The UC team, in collaboration with Professor Chris Lintott at the University of Oxford, was the first to offer a theoretical insight into the age of 3I/ATLAS based on its velocity days after it was discovered.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-is-not-unique-scientist-says-a-trillion-interstellar-objects-are-in-the-solar-system-right-now-1767097867958">Scientist says a trillion 3I/ATLAS-like objects are in the solar system right now</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-heartbeat-aligns-with-a-144-second-timing-system-used-by-ancient-indians-researcher-claims-1766144196301">3I/ATLAS 'heartbeat' aligns with a 144-second timing system used by ancient Indians, researcher claims</a><h2>Studying the coma and tails of 3I/ATLAS</h2>Bannister and her team at the UC have an extensive theoretical model, called the Ōtautahi-Oxford model, that is used to learn more about interstellar objects - their formation, how they move in the galaxy, and their chemical properties. The team also studied the composition of the comet, its coma and its tails (It has two - a tail and an anti-tail in the direction of the Sun). According to her, the visible tails of the comet are made up of grains of ice and dust, which reflect sunlight. She calls 3I/ATLAS "a dusty wee snowball" for this reason.&nbsp;Its composition speaks volumes about its home environment, Bannister says, adding that they saw an "unusually rich atomic nickel and iron emission as it entered our skies."

3I/ATLAS update: The interstellar comet is on its way out of the solar system. Scientists studying it have observed its composition and velocity, which reveal what the comets home would have been like, a star that might not even exist today.

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is believed to be between 8 and 14 billion years old, much older than our solar system, which was born only about 4.6 billion years ago. This dating means that it could even belong to a star that no longer exists. Associate Professor Michele Bannister, from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), who has been studying the comet, has made several revelations about the comet ever since it was discovered in July 2025. Calling it a "once in a lifetime opportunity" that she has spent her career preparing for, Bannister says interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS offer a peek into the building blocks of planet formation in other corners of the Milky Way. "This comet is a calling card from the past, and we only have a few hundred days to try and interpret what it’s telling us," she told Astrobiology. “That’s the great joy of interstellar objects, they’re giving us clues, because they’re made up of the building blocks of planet formation elsewhere in the galaxy. They’re telling us about a star that’s so ancient it might not even exist anymore," she said. The UC team, in collaboration with Professor Chris Lintott at the University of Oxford, was the first to offer a theoretical insight into the age of 3I/ATLAS based on its velocity days after it was discovered. Also Read: Scientist says a trillion 3I/ATLAS-like objects are in the solar system right now Also Read: 3I/ATLAS 'heartbeat' aligns with a 144-second timing system used by ancient Indians, researcher claims Studying the coma and tails of 3I/ATLAS Bannister and her team at the UC have an extensive theoretical model, called the Ōtautahi-Oxford model, that is used to learn more about interstellar objects - their formation, how they move in the galaxy, and their chemical properties. The team also studied the composition of the comet, its coma and its tails (It has two - a tail and an anti-tail in the direction of the Sun). According to her, the visible tails of the comet are made up of grains of ice and dust, which reflect sunlight. She calls 3I/ATLAS "a dusty wee snowball" for this reason. Its composition speaks volumes about its home environment, Bannister says, adding that they saw an "unusually rich atomic nickel and iron emission as it entered our skies."

3I/ATLAS update: The interstellar comet is on its way out of the solar system. Scientists studying it have observed its composition and velocity, which reveal what the comet's home would have been like, a star that might not even exist today.

3I/ATLAS could be coming from a star that is already dead: 'A star that’s so ancient...'

A fungus that is resistant to drugs and extremely lethal is fast spreading across the world, a new study has found. According to researchers, the risk to public health from Candida auris has increased sharply, and there is an urgent need to develop "antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens." C. auris was only discovered in 2009 and cannot be treated with existing drugs. Outbreaks of the fungus have been reported across the globe, including in the US, in the past, triggering a need for better diagnostic systems and medicines. The paper on the fungus was published in the journal Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. The fungus has been found in over 50 countries till now and in at least 39 US states.&nbsp;Study authors wrote, "Taken together, these data underscore the need to develop novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, to improve diagnostic tests, and to develop immune- and vaccine-based adjunct modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients." A study noted last year that fungal infections are responsible for the death of nearly 4 million people every year. However, Candida auris is a deadlier one, first seen inside the ear of a patient in Japan.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/zombie-spiders-infected-by-a-fungus-invade-us-homes-people-fear-the-last-of-us-like-apocalypse-can-it-infect-humans-1755861628898">Zombie spiders infected by a fungus invade US homes. People fear 'The Last of Us'-like apocalypse. Can it infect humans?</a><h2>Candida auris infection on skin and blood are lethal</h2>People with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of being infected by the fungus, as it can quickly turn life-threatening. According to research, it can kill one-third of affected patients whose skin is directly affected by it, and if it enters the bloodstream, the fatality rate climbs to 50 per cent. Candida auris becomes a bigger risk because it is resistant to the most common antifungal medications, including instances where it was found to be resistant against all four major classes of antifungals. Additionally, current tests fail to detect the fungus and often misclassify it as another Candida species.&nbsp;Climate change is believed to be driving its spread globally, as the fungus has adapted to increasingly warmer temperatures. Scientists have warned that better methods to detect it are needed, along with drugs that can fight the fungus.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A deadly fungus is fast spreading across the globe, according to scientists, who have raised concerns about current tests that fail to identify it on time. It is resistant to current medicines and has already been detected in over 50 countries. 

A fungus that is resistant to drugs and extremely lethal is fast spreading across the world, a new study has found. According to researchers, the risk to public health from Candida auris has increased sharply, and there is an urgent need to develop "antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens." C. auris was only discovered in 2009 and cannot be treated with existing drugs. Outbreaks of the fungus have been reported across the globe, including in the US, in the past, triggering a need for better diagnostic systems and medicines. The paper on the fungus was published in the journal Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. The fungus has been found in over 50 countries till now and in at least 39 US states. Study authors wrote, "Taken together, these data underscore the need to develop novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, to improve diagnostic tests, and to develop immune- and vaccine-based adjunct modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients." A study noted last year that fungal infections are responsible for the death of nearly 4 million people every year. However, Candida auris is a deadlier one, first seen inside the ear of a patient in Japan. Also Read: Zombie spiders infected by a fungus invade US homes. People fear 'The Last of Us'-like apocalypse. Can it infect humans? Candida auris infection on skin and blood are lethal People with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of being infected by the fungus, as it can quickly turn life-threatening. According to research, it can kill one-third of affected patients whose skin is directly affected by it, and if it enters the bloodstream, the fatality rate climbs to 50 per cent. Candida auris becomes a bigger risk because it is resistant to the most common antifungal medications, including instances where it was found to be resistant against all four major classes of antifungals. Additionally, current tests fail to detect the fungus and often misclassify it as another Candida species. Climate change is believed to be driving its spread globally, as the fungus has adapted to increasingly warmer temperatures. Scientists have warned that better methods to detect it are needed, along with drugs that can fight the fungus.

A deadly fungus is fast spreading across the globe, according to scientists, who have raised concerns about current tests that fail to identify it on time. It is resistant to current medicines and has already been detected in over 50 countries.&nbsp;

Lethal fungus resistant to drugs has picked up pace across the world, scientists warn

3I/ATLAS might only be the third interstellar object seen in our solar system. But it is not special in the sense that there are 10^{23}, or one hundred sextillion, such objects in the Milky Way alone. What's even more intriguing is the fact that there could be a trillion such interstellar objects in the solar system right now. This object has been classified as a comet by scientists at NASA, ESA and other space agencies. It was discovered on July 1 by the ATLAS observatory in Chile. The object's trajectory was a dead giveaway of its origins. It was on a hyperbolic path and not attached to the Sun's gravity. This meant that it was travelling from some corner of the Milky Way, although scientists are still not sure where it originated. 3I/ATLAS isn't unique, Avi Loeb says, and there are billions and trillions of such objects traversing through our galaxy.<h2>3I/ATLAS has been in the solar system for 8.000 years</h2>He also says that 3I/ATLAS has been journeying through our solar system for over 8,000 years. It has been "travelling through the region containing objects that are gravitationally bound to the Sun, the so-called solar system." Loeb says, considering that it is a natural object, it can be used to deduce the number of such objects moving "through the Solar system out to the edge of the Oort Cloud at a distance of 100,000 AU."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-could-display-its-most-remarkable-anomaly-near-jupiter-rare-coincidence-at-perijove-1764325401352">3I/ATLAS could display its 'most remarkable anomaly' near Jupiter - Rare coincidence at perijove</a>&nbsp;"Given that 3I/ATLAS was discovered at a distance of ~5 AU in a survey that lasted 5 years, I calculate that there should be a trillion objects like 3I/ATLAS in the solar system right now!" Loeb wrote in his blog. The edge of the Oort cloud is roughly halfway to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. He cites this information to deduce that a trillion objects like 3I/ATLAS are being produced per star in the Milky Way.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-could-have-spewed-poisonous-gas-at-earth-could-it-reach-us-1766461842998">3I/ATLAS could have spewed poisonous gas at Earth. Could it reach us?</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-latest-update-methanol-hydrogen-cyanide-nucleus-coma-1765510271069">3I/ATLAS is chemically unusual, with methanol raging not just in the nucleus</a><h2>A billion interstellar objects have travelled towards Earth</h2>The Milky Way is believed to contain 100 billion stars, and they likely "process 3 million solar masses to make a population of interstellar comets like 3I/ATLAS over the past 10 billion years." Loeb says that this means that there are “10^{23} similar objects in the Milky Way galaxy alone and 10^{34} of them in the observable volume of the Universe.” The Harvard scientist says this means that 3I/ATLAS isn't really special, and Earth has been visited by a billion similar interstellar objects over its lifetime.&nbsp;

3I/ATLAS is not unique, in the sense that there could be billions and trillions of such objects in the Milky Way. In fact, there could be a trillion objects like 3I/ATLAS in the solar system right now, and over a billion of them have visited Earth over its lifetime.

3I/ATLAS might only be the third interstellar object seen in our solar system. But it is not special in the sense that there are 10^{23}, or one hundred sextillion, such objects in the Milky Way alone. What's even more intriguing is the fact that there could be a trillion such interstellar objects in the solar system right now. This object has been classified as a comet by scientists at NASA, ESA and other space agencies. It was discovered on July 1 by the ATLAS observatory in Chile. The object's trajectory was a dead giveaway of its origins. It was on a hyperbolic path and not attached to the Sun's gravity. This meant that it was travelling from some corner of the Milky Way, although scientists are still not sure where it originated. 3I/ATLAS isn't unique, Avi Loeb says, and there are billions and trillions of such objects traversing through our galaxy. 3I/ATLAS has been in the solar system for 8.000 years He also says that 3I/ATLAS has been journeying through our solar system for over 8,000 years. It has been "travelling through the region containing objects that are gravitationally bound to the Sun, the so-called solar system." Loeb says, considering that it is a natural object, it can be used to deduce the number of such objects moving "through the Solar system out to the edge of the Oort Cloud at a distance of 100,000 AU." Also Read: 3I/ATLAS could display its 'most remarkable anomaly' near Jupiter - Rare coincidence at perijove "Given that 3I/ATLAS was discovered at a distance of ~5 AU in a survey that lasted 5 years, I calculate that there should be a trillion objects like 3I/ATLAS in the solar system right now!" Loeb wrote in his blog. The edge of the Oort cloud is roughly halfway to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. He cites this information to deduce that a trillion objects like 3I/ATLAS are being produced per star in the Milky Way. Also Read: 3I/ATLAS could have spewed poisonous gas at Earth. Could it reach us? Also Read: 3I/ATLAS is chemically unusual, with methanol raging not just in the nucleus A billion interstellar objects have travelled towards Earth The Milky Way is believed to contain 100 billion stars, and they likely "process 3 million solar masses to make a population of interstellar comets like 3I/ATLAS over the past 10 billion years." Loeb says that this means that there are “10^{23} similar objects in the Milky Way galaxy alone and 10^{34} of them in the observable volume of the Universe.” The Harvard scientist says this means that 3I/ATLAS isn't really special, and Earth has been visited by a billion similar interstellar objects over its lifetime.

3I/ATLAS is not unique, in the sense that there could be billions and trillions of such objects in the Milky Way. In fact, there could be a trillion objects like 3I/ATLAS in the solar system right now, and over a billion of them have visited Earth over its lifetime.

Scientist says a trillion 3I/ATLAS-like objects are in the solar system right now

A surprising case came in the Netherlands when a teenage boy woke up from a routine knee surgery and was found speaking a foreign language instead of his native language. The 17-year-old boy has Dutch as his native language. He woke up and was found speaking only English, a language he primarily used in school. Initially, the staff at the hospital where he was admitted assumed it was a behaviour that would pass in a while, but it did not. Later on, the case was documented by doctors and was identified as an instance of foreign language syndrome, an exceptionally rare condition that remains poorly understood.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-this-terrorist-action-is-kremlin-says-russia-s-stance-on-peace-negotiation-remains-unchanged-despite-ukrainian-drone-attack-on-putin-s-house-1767096434947">Kremlin says Russia’s stance on peace negotiation remains unchanged despite ‘Ukrainian drone attack’</a>&nbsp;The boy was in a hospital for a knee surgery after he was injured playing football. The surgery was successful and safe, and there was no immediate complication. But later on, when the boy woke from general anaesthesia, he spoke exclusively in English and repeatedly insisted that he was in the United States.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-russia-has-a-long-record-of-false-claims-ukraine-fm-rejects-drone-attack-on-putin-s-house-claim-says-there-s-no-plausible-evidence-1767104656376">‘Russia has a long record of false claims’: Ukraine FM rejects ‘drone attack on Putin’s house’ claim, says there’s ‘no plausible evidence’</a>&nbsp;The boy did not even recognise his parents, and neither was able to speak or understand Dutch, his native language. According to the medical report, he had no prior psychiatric history and no relevant family medical history, apart from instances of depression on his mother’s side. Doctors diagnosed the teenager with foreign language syndrome (FLS), a condition in which patients suddenly and involuntarily switch to speaking a second language instead of their native one.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kimmel-vs-trump-late-night-host-claims-tyranny-is-booming-in-us-says-my-country-s-president-would-like-to-shut-me-up-because-1766763187731">Kimmel vs Trump: Late-night host claims ‘tyranny is booming’ in US, says ‘my country’s president would like to shut me up because...’</a>

The case was documented by doctors and was identified as an instance of foreign language syndrome, an exceptionally rare condition that remains poorly understood.

A surprising case came in the Netherlands when a teenage boy woke up from a routine knee surgery and was found speaking a foreign language instead of his native language. The 17-year-old boy has Dutch as his native language. He woke up and was found speaking only English, a language he primarily used in school. Initially, the staff at the hospital where he was admitted assumed it was a behaviour that would pass in a while, but it did not. Later on, the case was documented by doctors and was identified as an instance of foreign language syndrome, an exceptionally rare condition that remains poorly understood. Also read: Kremlin says Russia’s stance on peace negotiation remains unchanged despite ‘Ukrainian drone attack’ The boy was in a hospital for a knee surgery after he was injured playing football. The surgery was successful and safe, and there was no immediate complication. But later on, when the boy woke from general anaesthesia, he spoke exclusively in English and repeatedly insisted that he was in the United States. Also read: ‘Russia has a long record of false claims’: Ukraine FM rejects ‘drone attack on Putin’s house’ claim, says there’s ‘no plausible evidence’ The boy did not even recognise his parents, and neither was able to speak or understand Dutch, his native language. According to the medical report, he had no prior psychiatric history and no relevant family medical history, apart from instances of depression on his mother’s side. Doctors diagnosed the teenager with foreign language syndrome (FLS), a condition in which patients suddenly and involuntarily switch to speaking a second language instead of their native one. Also read: Kimmel vs Trump: Late-night host claims ‘tyranny is booming’ in US, says ‘my country’s president would like to shut me up because...’

The case was documented by doctors and was identified as an instance of foreign language syndrome, an exceptionally rare condition that remains poorly understood.

Teen boy wakes up from knee surgery speaking only foreign language, refuses to recognise parents. Here’s what doctors found

Palaeontologists were left scratching their heads when they came across a fossil of an ancient bird that died from eating rocks, over 800 of them. This creature lived 120 million years ago and was classified as a new species of bird by the researchers at the Field Museum. Named Chromeornis funkyi, or a “Funky Chromeo bird,” it was basically a dinosaur and was discovered at the Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature in China. The most striking thing about the fossil is the reason for this bird's death. It had swallowed over 800 rocks and died of suffocation. Scientists cannot explain why it would eat so many rocks. The discovery will be discussed in an upcoming paper in Palaeontologia Electronica.&nbsp;Field Museum curator Jingmai O’Connor led a team of researchers who came across the Chromeornis fossil while scanning through the bird fossil collection at the museum. Gizmodo reported that they saw a tiny chunk of rock, about the size of a sparrow, preserving a fossil that in turn looked like a larger bird species called Longipteryx. It had similarly big teeth at the end of its beak, "but it’s a tiny little guy," she said, adding that this was a clue that it was a new species.However, what was even more strange was what they found in its oesophagus. There was “an unusual mass of stones” inside it, going all the way up against its neck bones.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/thousands-of-dinosaur-footprints-from-210-million-years-ago-uncovered-in-italian-national-park-1765962474353">210-million-years old dinosaur footprints numbering thousands uncovered in Italian national park</a>&nbsp;They further analysed the composition and the placement of the rocks and found that the creature swallowed those stones, and they did not gather there during fossilisation. Birds like owls and chickens are known to eat rocks, which are ground up in a muscular organ called the gizzard. But O’Connor noted that of all the fossils of birds of the same group, “none have ever been found with gizzard stones.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/t-rex-tooth-leads-scientists-to-make-a-shocking-discovery-about-brute-that-ate-dinosaurs-1765876628520">T. rex tooth leads scientists to make a shocking discovery about brute that ate dinosaurs</a><h2>Why did the bird eat the rocks?</h2>“We found over 800 tiny stones in this bird’s throat—way more than we would have expected in other birds with gizzards,” O’Connor said in the statement to the publication. Not all of them were rocks, but some were "more like tiny clay balls." The researchers think this bird was likely sick, and so started eating rocks. “It swallowed too many, and it tried to regurgitate them in one big mass. But the mass of stones was too big, and it got lodged in the oesophagus," she said.&nbsp;Birds from the same group as Chromeornis were the most populous group towards the end of the dinosaur era. The asteroid killed all dinosaurs 66 million years ago, except the birds that could fly. O’Connor says that learning about how they managed to survive, and yet were vulnerable, can help predict the course of the current cycle of mass extinction."

A bird fossil in China from the time of dinosaurs showed a huge chunk of rock inside the creature's throat. However, it turned out to be stranger than thought, as the bird had swallowed hundreds of these pieces for some unexplainable reason.   

Palaeontologists were left scratching their heads when they came across a fossil of an ancient bird that died from eating rocks, over 800 of them. This creature lived 120 million years ago and was classified as a new species of bird by the researchers at the Field Museum. Named Chromeornis funkyi, or a “Funky Chromeo bird,” it was basically a dinosaur and was discovered at the Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature in China. The most striking thing about the fossil is the reason for this bird's death. It had swallowed over 800 rocks and died of suffocation. Scientists cannot explain why it would eat so many rocks. The discovery will be discussed in an upcoming paper in Palaeontologia Electronica. Field Museum curator Jingmai O’Connor led a team of researchers who came across the Chromeornis fossil while scanning through the bird fossil collection at the museum. Gizmodo reported that they saw a tiny chunk of rock, about the size of a sparrow, preserving a fossil that in turn looked like a larger bird species called Longipteryx. It had similarly big teeth at the end of its beak, "but it’s a tiny little guy," she said, adding that this was a clue that it was a new species. However, what was even more strange was what they found in its oesophagus. There was “an unusual mass of stones” inside it, going all the way up against its neck bones. Also Read: 210-million-years old dinosaur footprints numbering thousands uncovered in Italian national park They further analysed the composition and the placement of the rocks and found that the creature swallowed those stones, and they did not gather there during fossilisation. Birds like owls and chickens are known to eat rocks, which are ground up in a muscular organ called the gizzard. But O’Connor noted that of all the fossils of birds of the same group, “none have ever been found with gizzard stones.” Also Read: T. rex tooth leads scientists to make a shocking discovery about brute that ate dinosaurs Why did the bird eat the rocks? “We found over 800 tiny stones in this bird’s throat—way more than we would have expected in other birds with gizzards,” O’Connor said in the statement to the publication. Not all of them were rocks, but some were "more like tiny clay balls." The researchers think this bird was likely sick, and so started eating rocks. “It swallowed too many, and it tried to regurgitate them in one big mass. But the mass of stones was too big, and it got lodged in the oesophagus," she said. Birds from the same group as Chromeornis were the most populous group towards the end of the dinosaur era. The asteroid killed all dinosaurs 66 million years ago, except the birds that could fly. O’Connor says that learning about how they managed to survive, and yet were vulnerable, can help predict the course of the current cycle of mass extinction."

A bird fossil in China from the time of dinosaurs showed a huge chunk of rock inside the creature's throat. However, it turned out to be stranger than thought, as the bird had swallowed hundreds of these pieces for some unexplainable reason. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Dinosaur-era bird found with 800 stones jammed in its throat: It ate them all. Why?

Quantum physics explains how matter and energy behave at the smallest level, including atoms, electrons, photons and subatomic particles. Its core ideas include superposition, where particles exist in multiple states at once and entanglement, where distant particles remain linked.

Quantum physics explains how matter and energy behave at the smallest level, including atoms, electrons, photons and subatomic particles. Its core ideas include superposition, where particles exist in multiple states at once and entanglement, where distant particles remain linked.

'Small tech, big impact': How quantum physics is making weapons smarter, not bigger

Scientists have discovered a spider on Jupiter's moon Europa, which seems to have been formed when salty water erupted to the surface following an impact that gouged a crater. The Manannán crater was recently studied by researchers from the Planetary Science Institute, the University of Central Florida, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and other institutions. It looks like the spiders seen on Mars and Earth, but the reason for their formation is different. The Martian spiders are formed when carbon dioxide gas escapes from underground, eroding the dust to form spider-like shapes. On Earth, such features are found on frozen lakes and ponds and are called lake stars, and are formed when snow falls on frozen lakes.&nbsp;In the Manannán crater, this "spider" has been nicknamed Damhán Alla, the Irish term for the arachnid. It is one of the largest craters on Europa, stretching 21-23 kilometres in diameter, with the spider right at the centre. Previous studies of the crater have revealed ice and hydrated water minerals in concentrated form around it. Now, according to findings published in The Planetary Science Journal on December 2, 2025, briny water was released from the crater billions of years ago, causing this spider to take shape in the crater, EarthSky reported.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-just-recreated-spiders-seen-on-mars-in-a-lab-on-earth-758451">NASA just recreated 'spiders' seen on Mars in a lab on Earth</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spiders-on-mars-esas-mars-express-captures-unique-phenomenon-on-the-red-planet-714917">Spiders on Mars? European mission captures weird black spots near Inca City</a><h2>Manannán impact opened up a subsurface brine reservoir</h2>Co-author of the study, Elodie Lesage of the Planetary Science Institute, said, "This spider-like feature might have formed through the eruption of melted brines following the Manannán impact." This discovery can reveal what the subsurface was like at the time of the impact. "This would mean that it can inform us on subsurface properties and brine composition at the time of the impact," he added.&nbsp;To check their theory, the researchers looked at the lake stars in Breckenridge, Colorado. They used Europa ice simulants cooled with liquid nitrogen to recreate the process in a cryogenic glovebox at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Lauren McKeown, a planetary geomorphologist at the University of Central Florida and lead author of the study, said, "We flowed water through these simulants under different temperatures and found that similar star-like patterns formed even under extremely cold temperatures."&nbsp;McKeown explained that on Earth, "the weight of the snow creates holes in the ice, allowing water to flow through the snow, melting it and spreading in a way that is energetically favourable" to form these patterns. &nbsp;"On Europa, we believe a subsurface brine reservoir could have erupted [after an impact] and spread through porous surface ice, producing a similar pattern," she added.&nbsp;

One giant spider has been observed on Jupiter's moon Europa, sitting right in the middle of its largest crater. Scientists have a theory about Damhán Alla, the name given to this spider. Is it really a spider, or simply another phenomenon on the Jovian moon?

Scientists have discovered a spider on Jupiter's moon Europa, which seems to have been formed when salty water erupted to the surface following an impact that gouged a crater. The Manannán crater was recently studied by researchers from the Planetary Science Institute, the University of Central Florida, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and other institutions. It looks like the spiders seen on Mars and Earth, but the reason for their formation is different. The Martian spiders are formed when carbon dioxide gas escapes from underground, eroding the dust to form spider-like shapes. On Earth, such features are found on frozen lakes and ponds and are called lake stars, and are formed when snow falls on frozen lakes. In the Manannán crater, this "spider" has been nicknamed Damhán Alla, the Irish term for the arachnid. It is one of the largest craters on Europa, stretching 21-23 kilometres in diameter, with the spider right at the centre. Previous studies of the crater have revealed ice and hydrated water minerals in concentrated form around it. Now, according to findings published in The Planetary Science Journal on December 2, 2025, briny water was released from the crater billions of years ago, causing this spider to take shape in the crater, EarthSky reported. Also Read: NASA just recreated 'spiders' seen on Mars in a lab on Earth Also Read: Spiders on Mars? European mission captures weird black spots near Inca City Manannán impact opened up a subsurface brine reservoir Co-author of the study, Elodie Lesage of the Planetary Science Institute, said, "This spider-like feature might have formed through the eruption of melted brines following the Manannán impact." This discovery can reveal what the subsurface was like at the time of the impact. "This would mean that it can inform us on subsurface properties and brine composition at the time of the impact," he added. To check their theory, the researchers looked at the lake stars in Breckenridge, Colorado. They used Europa ice simulants cooled with liquid nitrogen to recreate the process in a cryogenic glovebox at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Lauren McKeown, a planetary geomorphologist at the University of Central Florida and lead author of the study, said, "We flowed water through these simulants under different temperatures and found that similar star-like patterns formed even under extremely cold temperatures." McKeown explained that on Earth, "the weight of the snow creates holes in the ice, allowing water to flow through the snow, melting it and spreading in a way that is energetically favourable" to form these patterns. "On Europa, we believe a subsurface brine reservoir could have erupted [after an impact] and spread through porous surface ice, producing a similar pattern," she added.

One giant spider has been observed on Jupiter's moon Europa, sitting right in the middle of its largest crater. Scientists have a theory about Damhán Alla, the name given to this spider. Is it really a spider, or simply another phenomenon on the Jovian moon?

Giant 'spider' right in the middle of Europa's Manannán crater proof of water? Scientists say...

Scientists have gotten a look at an area of Antarctica that has been hard to reach, even with the best technology. It wasn't done intentionally, but a robot thought lost to time resurfaced and revealed secrets about the underbelly of the Denman Glacier. This ocean robot was sent to collect data from the Totten Glacier, but it ended up under the Denman Glacier. The findings published in ScienceAdvances journal in December 2025 mention that this robot was a free-floating device, and a pull by a current led it astray from its destination. With features like salinity and temperature sensors, it was meant to go below the water and surface once every 10 days to transmit data to satellites. This is a common method to study the impact of climate change on the glaciers.&nbsp;The Australian national science agency CSIRO intended for this robot to do the same for the Totten Glacier. The primary purpose was to know by how much the sea levels could rise if this particular one in Antarctica melted. But it was navigationally lost instead and never surfaced again. However, it proved to be a blessing in disguise as it gathered data from the Denman Glacier. Nine months later, the robot resurfaced with plenty of data on this ice body and the impact of climate change on Antarctica.Also Red: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/doomsday-gets-closer-cracks-on-thwaites-glacier-have-doubled-in-two-decades-1766981007538">Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades</a>&nbsp;<h2>The robot showed how East Antarctica could be affected&nbsp;</h2>It got trapped beneath the Denman Glacier and the Shackleton ice shelf. During this time, it did what it was intended to do, except for a different glacier. It measured water salinity and temperature from the sea floor up to the base of the ice shelf. It also tried to resurface, but every time it did, the robot bumped the ice shelf, measuring its depth unintentionally. When the researchers compared the data of the ice shelf's depth to satellite measurements of the area, they could tell which way it went and from where it was transmitting the data.&nbsp;The robot revealed that the Shackleton ice shelf is in no danger right now. However, the Denman has warm water under it, and this is causing it to melt. If it melts, global sea levels could rise by almost 5 feet. The information it transmitted is crucial as it provided the first ever line of oceanographic measurements under an East Antarctic ice shelf. This region of Antarctica has more ice than West Antarctica, and melting glaciers here can prove more dangeroud to the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

An Australian team of scientists sent a free-floating robot to study a particular glacier in Antarctica. But it drifted away from its destination and ended up in an area that is extremely tough to observe and analyse. It was thought lost, but was actually trapped somewhere else.

Scientists have gotten a look at an area of Antarctica that has been hard to reach, even with the best technology. It wasn't done intentionally, but a robot thought lost to time resurfaced and revealed secrets about the underbelly of the Denman Glacier. This ocean robot was sent to collect data from the Totten Glacier, but it ended up under the Denman Glacier. The findings published in ScienceAdvances journal in December 2025 mention that this robot was a free-floating device, and a pull by a current led it astray from its destination. With features like salinity and temperature sensors, it was meant to go below the water and surface once every 10 days to transmit data to satellites. This is a common method to study the impact of climate change on the glaciers. The Australian national science agency CSIRO intended for this robot to do the same for the Totten Glacier. The primary purpose was to know by how much the sea levels could rise if this particular one in Antarctica melted. But it was navigationally lost instead and never surfaced again. However, it proved to be a blessing in disguise as it gathered data from the Denman Glacier. Nine months later, the robot resurfaced with plenty of data on this ice body and the impact of climate change on Antarctica. Also Red: Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades The robot showed how East Antarctica could be affected It got trapped beneath the Denman Glacier and the Shackleton ice shelf. During this time, it did what it was intended to do, except for a different glacier. It measured water salinity and temperature from the sea floor up to the base of the ice shelf. It also tried to resurface, but every time it did, the robot bumped the ice shelf, measuring its depth unintentionally. When the researchers compared the data of the ice shelf's depth to satellite measurements of the area, they could tell which way it went and from where it was transmitting the data. The robot revealed that the Shackleton ice shelf is in no danger right now. However, the Denman has warm water under it, and this is causing it to melt. If it melts, global sea levels could rise by almost 5 feet. The information it transmitted is crucial as it provided the first ever line of oceanographic measurements under an East Antarctic ice shelf. This region of Antarctica has more ice than West Antarctica, and melting glaciers here can prove more dangeroud to the world.

An Australian team of scientists sent a free-floating robot to study a particular glacier in Antarctica. But it drifted away from its destination and ended up in an area that is extremely tough to observe and analyse. It was thought lost, but was actually trapped somewhere else.

A robot got lost in Antarctica. It revealed scary secrets from underneath another glacier

An international team of astronomers have recently observed a dramatic event unfolding in the heart of NGC 3783, a spiral galaxy located about 130 million light-years from Earth. At its centre lies a supermassive black hole around 30 million times the mass of the Sun. Astronomers detected a bright X-ray flare erupting from the black hole, before swiftly fading away. As it faded, powerful winds emerged, blasting material into space at approximately 60,000 km per second, about one-fifth the speed of light. These winds were generated so quickly that researchers were able to watch them form over the course of a single day. “We’ve not watched a black hole create winds this speedily before,” said Liyi Gu, the lead researcher at&nbsp;Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON).&nbsp;<h2>Devouring material</h2>&nbsp;This discovery was made through coordinated observations by the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton and the XRISM mission, an X-ray telescope developed by JAXA with ESA and NASA participation. XMM-Newton monitored the bright flare and tracked changes in the region’s X-ray emission, while XRISM’s sensitive instruments measured both the speed and structure of the emerging winds. The flare’s rapid rise and decline appeared to trigger the ultra-fast outflow, offering new insight into how black holes influence their surroundings. According to ESA, the black hole in question is as massive as 30 million Suns. As it feasts on nearby material, it powers an extremely bright and active region at the heart of the spiral galaxy. &nbsp;The work has been published in Astronomy and Astrophysics.&nbsp;<h2>A link to solar physics and galaxy evolution</h2>&nbsp;The characteristics of this event have surprising parallels with phenomena seen on our own Sun. The winds from the black hole bear resemblance to solar eruptions from material known as coronal mass ejections. These are powerful eruptions of plasma and magnetic field that the Sun periodically hurls into space. This analogy arises because, as the X-ray flare faded, tangled magnetic fields of the Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) of the black hole may have 'untwisted', launching the high-speed winds, similar to the flares that erupt from the Sun, but on a scale almost too big to imagine.&nbsp;

As it faded, powerful winds emerged, blasting material into space at approximately 60,000 km per second, about one-fifth the speed of light.

An international team of astronomers have recently observed a dramatic event unfolding in the heart of NGC 3783, a spiral galaxy located about 130 million light-years from Earth. At its centre lies a supermassive black hole around 30 million times the mass of the Sun. Astronomers detected a bright X-ray flare erupting from the black hole, before swiftly fading away. As it faded, powerful winds emerged, blasting material into space at approximately 60,000 km per second, about one-fifth the speed of light. These winds were generated so quickly that researchers were able to watch them form over the course of a single day. “We’ve not watched a black hole create winds this speedily before,” said Liyi Gu, the lead researcher at Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON). Devouring material This discovery was made through coordinated observations by the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton and the XRISM mission, an X-ray telescope developed by JAXA with ESA and NASA participation. XMM-Newton monitored the bright flare and tracked changes in the region’s X-ray emission, while XRISM’s sensitive instruments measured both the speed and structure of the emerging winds. The flare’s rapid rise and decline appeared to trigger the ultra-fast outflow, offering new insight into how black holes influence their surroundings. According to ESA, the black hole in question is as massive as 30 million Suns. As it feasts on nearby material, it powers an extremely bright and active region at the heart of the spiral galaxy. The work has been published in Astronomy and Astrophysics. A link to solar physics and galaxy evolution The characteristics of this event have surprising parallels with phenomena seen on our own Sun. The winds from the black hole bear resemblance to solar eruptions from material known as coronal mass ejections. These are powerful eruptions of plasma and magnetic field that the Sun periodically hurls into space. This analogy arises because, as the X-ray flare faded, tangled magnetic fields of the Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) of the black hole may have 'untwisted', launching the high-speed winds, similar to the flares that erupt from the Sun, but on a scale almost too big to imagine.

As it faded, powerful winds emerged, blasting material into space at approximately 60,000 km per second, about one-fifth the speed of light.

Astronomers observe a flaring supermassive black hole firing winds at 60,000 km/s!

NASA has transformed the cycle of the stars into music for the first time, with an imaginative fusion of science and art. The initiative turns astronomical observations into music, allowing people to ‘hear’ the cosmos in a way that complements traditional images. Using a process known as data sonification, scientists take measurements from space telescopes and map them to audible tones, pitch and rhythm. This method translates data normally seen in images into sound, providing both an alternative way to experience space and a potential new tool for scientific insight.&nbsp;The project began by translating raw telescope data into sonic signatures. Stars emit light, energy, and electromagnetic waves continuously. For example, a brighter source might be represented by a louder or higher pitched note. Although sound does not travel through the vacuum of space, this process uses precise mathematical mapping to produce audio that reflects real observational data.&nbsp;&nbsp;"This composition was made by the stars - literally! 🎼Two new orchestral works have been made by using real data from the @chandraxray and @NASAWebb telescopes - transforming the life cycle of stars into music.", NASA Marshall said in a post on X.&nbsp;<h2>From telescopes to symphonies</h2><h2>&nbsp;</h2>Composer Sophie Kastner worked closely with NASA to compose three movements of music. The current effort brings together data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope to produce musical compositions that trace the life cycle of stars. These compositions focus on iconic cosmic regions such as the Galactic Centre, the Crab Nebula and the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This composition was made by the stars - literally! 🎼 Two new orchestral works have been made by using real data from the <a href="https://twitter.com/chandraxray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chandraxray</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAWebb</a> telescopes - transforming the life cycle of stars into music. Play these pieces yourself by visiting <a href="https://t.co/WuEcBcZ2HZ">https://t.co/WuEcBcZ2HZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/22xk3ALaGC">pic.twitter.com/22xk3ALaGC</a>&mdash; NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Marshall/status/2005002254726631583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I approached the form from a different perspective than the original sonifications. Instead of scanning horizontally, I focused on small sections of the image and created short vignettes to accompany those events, as if crafting a film score. The Galactic Centre image was rich with information, prompting me to direct the listener's attention to smaller moments within the extensive dataset”, Kastner said, describing her approach.&nbsp;<h2>Broadening access and scientific engagement</h2>&nbsp;According to NASA's official website, one key aim of the sonification work is to make astrophysical data accessible to a wider audience, including those who are blind or visually impaired. By offering an auditory experience, these sonifications open a new sensory gateway to the universe that can engage both the public and researchers in novel ways.&nbsp;

Although sound does not travel through the vacuum of space, this process uses precise mathematical mapping to produce audio that reflects real observational data. 

NASA has transformed the cycle of the stars into music for the first time, with an imaginative fusion of science and art. The initiative turns astronomical observations into music, allowing people to ‘hear’ the cosmos in a way that complements traditional images. Using a process known as data sonification, scientists take measurements from space telescopes and map them to audible tones, pitch and rhythm. This method translates data normally seen in images into sound, providing both an alternative way to experience space and a potential new tool for scientific insight. The project began by translating raw telescope data into sonic signatures. Stars emit light, energy, and electromagnetic waves continuously. For example, a brighter source might be represented by a louder or higher pitched note. Although sound does not travel through the vacuum of space, this process uses precise mathematical mapping to produce audio that reflects real observational data. "This composition was made by the stars - literally! 🎼Two new orchestral works have been made by using real data from the @chandraxray and @NASAWebb telescopes - transforming the life cycle of stars into music.", NASA Marshall said in a post on X. From telescopes to symphonies Composer Sophie Kastner worked closely with NASA to compose three movements of music. The current effort brings together data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope to produce musical compositions that trace the life cycle of stars. These compositions focus on iconic cosmic regions such as the Galactic Centre, the Crab Nebula and the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula.

Although sound does not travel through the vacuum of space, this process uses precise mathematical mapping to produce audio that reflects real observational data.&nbsp;

Cosmic music: NASA converts the life cycle of stars into sound using real space data

The fate of the universe has changed, and according to scientists, we won't be torn to shreds but will be compressed, falling under the pressure of gravity. A team of South Korean scientists notes in a study that the universe will likely end in the Big Crunch. This is because of dark energy that is becoming weaker, and this will hand over power to gravity, which will pull everything together. Previously, scientists believed gravity would eventually slow down the expansion of the universe. But then in 1998, they saw signs of dark energy and said that this force is speeding up the expansion of the universe. This process was assumed to rip apart atoms in the future, causing the Big Rip.&nbsp;The South Korean scientists gathered supernova data that first revealed dark energy nearly three decades ago. Prof Young Wook Lee, of Yonsei University in Seoul, and his team adjusted this information and noted a change in dark energy, and that the acceleration of the universe was slowing down. This, he says, has changed the fate of the universe. In such a scenario, where dark energy weakens, gravity would take over and pull the galaxies back together. This opens up the possibility of Big Crunch becoming very real. Professor Ofer Lahav of University College London told the BBC that with dark energy going up and down, the entire physics would be shaken up.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-spots-600bn-km-wide-scaled-up-version-of-our-early-solar-system-dracula-s-chivito-shocks-scientists-1766582525866">Hubble spots 600bn km wide scaled-up version of our early solar system: Dracula’s Chivito shocks scientists</a><h2>Big Bang in reverse</h2>What will happen is a Big Bang in reverse, with the universe falling in on itself. There would be no forces left to expand the universe any further, and all intergalactic matter would condense together. A core would start burning up, and all the stars and planets would be sucked into it, setting every other celestial body on fire. There would be no space or time, and all that would be left is a huge fireball.&nbsp;However, Lee's theory does not have many takers. The larger view still is that the universe is continuously expanding and dark energy remains unchanged. What would the Big Crunch look like to us? Several papers have talked about the Big Crunch, and here is what it would appear like to us on Earth. The visible stars and galaxy clusters will become closer to each other and start merging. Stars will collide with each other, and the cosmic microwave background, as observed by telescopes, would reach thousands of degrees Celsius. Right now, the temperature of this radiation is just under 3 degrees above "absolute zero".&nbsp;

The universe will end someday, as it is expanding and stretching due to dark energy. But a South Korean scientist says this force is weakening, and the expansion has slowed down. Soon, gravity will become the bigger force and the universe will end in a Big Crunch.

The fate of the universe has changed, and according to scientists, we won't be torn to shreds but will be compressed, falling under the pressure of gravity. A team of South Korean scientists notes in a study that the universe will likely end in the Big Crunch. This is because of dark energy that is becoming weaker, and this will hand over power to gravity, which will pull everything together. Previously, scientists believed gravity would eventually slow down the expansion of the universe. But then in 1998, they saw signs of dark energy and said that this force is speeding up the expansion of the universe. This process was assumed to rip apart atoms in the future, causing the Big Rip. The South Korean scientists gathered supernova data that first revealed dark energy nearly three decades ago. Prof Young Wook Lee, of Yonsei University in Seoul, and his team adjusted this information and noted a change in dark energy, and that the acceleration of the universe was slowing down. This, he says, has changed the fate of the universe. In such a scenario, where dark energy weakens, gravity would take over and pull the galaxies back together. This opens up the possibility of Big Crunch becoming very real. Professor Ofer Lahav of University College London told the BBC that with dark energy going up and down, the entire physics would be shaken up. Also Read: Hubble spots 600bn km wide scaled-up version of our early solar system: Dracula’s Chivito shocks scientists Big Bang in reverse What will happen is a Big Bang in reverse, with the universe falling in on itself. There would be no forces left to expand the universe any further, and all intergalactic matter would condense together. A core would start burning up, and all the stars and planets would be sucked into it, setting every other celestial body on fire. There would be no space or time, and all that would be left is a huge fireball. However, Lee's theory does not have many takers. The larger view still is that the universe is continuously expanding and dark energy remains unchanged. What would the Big Crunch look like to us? Several papers have talked about the Big Crunch, and here is what it would appear like to us on Earth. The visible stars and galaxy clusters will become closer to each other and start merging. Stars will collide with each other, and the cosmic microwave background, as observed by telescopes, would reach thousands of degrees Celsius. Right now, the temperature of this radiation is just under 3 degrees above "absolute zero".

The universe will end someday, as it is expanding and stretching due to dark energy. But a South Korean scientist says this force is weakening, and the expansion has slowed down. Soon, gravity will become the bigger force and the universe will end in a Big Crunch.

Universe will collapse into one big fireball, with stars and planets sucked into a core

Cracks continue to form around a shear zone of the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, as observed by satellites between 2002 and 2022. A team of researchers from the University of Manitoba wrote in a paper, "Over the past two decades, the shelf has experienced progressive fracturing around a prominent shear zone upstream of its pinning point, gradually compromising its structural integrity." They noted that the “total area length of fractures” grew from around 100 miles to over 200 miles in two decades. There are also hints that major new stresses are acting on the glacier since the average length did not actually increase.&nbsp;Another study published by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) also confirmed that the large cracks in the ice shelf continue to weaken its structural integrity. The Thwaites Glacier is also called the Doomsday Glacier because it is at risk of imminent collapse, and when that happens, the sea levels could rise by 11 feet. Thwaites Glacier is often referred to as the "weak underbelly" of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet because the damage to it cannot be reversed, and it will collapse even under little stress. The Thwaites Ice Shelf holds the eastern portion of Thwaites Glacier and is expected to collapse by 2032. Once this shelf goes, the outflow from the glacier will speed up, leading to a complete breakdown.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-antarctic-ice-sheet-witnessed-a-catastrophe-9-000-years-ago-it-was-hotter-1766667493987">Scientists reveal Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a catastrophe 9,000 years ago - It was hotter</a><h2>Warming oceans are melting glaciers faster</h2>Thwaites is not the only glacier that could ultimately crash down, triggering a rise in sea levels. A recent study highlighted how warming ocean waters are melting ice shelves, and the changes are so clear that they can be noticed in mere hours and days. Meanwhile, circular currents of water measuring nearly 10 kilometres are digging underneath the glaciers. The warm, salty current flows hundreds of feet below the surface and moves upwards and onto the continental shelf. A positive feedback loop is created where new cold water from the ice shelf mixes with warmer, saltier ocean waters. The resultant ocean turbulence causes even more ice to melt.&nbsp;

The Thwaites Glacier, or the Doomsday Glacier, is showing more signs of damage and is inching closer to its end. New studies have noticed that the cracks have spread to a larger area, and scientists think more stressors are at play.

Cracks continue to form around a shear zone of the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, as observed by satellites between 2002 and 2022. A team of researchers from the University of Manitoba wrote in a paper, "Over the past two decades, the shelf has experienced progressive fracturing around a prominent shear zone upstream of its pinning point, gradually compromising its structural integrity." They noted that the “total area length of fractures” grew from around 100 miles to over 200 miles in two decades. There are also hints that major new stresses are acting on the glacier since the average length did not actually increase. Another study published by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) also confirmed that the large cracks in the ice shelf continue to weaken its structural integrity. The Thwaites Glacier is also called the Doomsday Glacier because it is at risk of imminent collapse, and when that happens, the sea levels could rise by 11 feet. Thwaites Glacier is often referred to as the "weak underbelly" of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet because the damage to it cannot be reversed, and it will collapse even under little stress. The Thwaites Ice Shelf holds the eastern portion of Thwaites Glacier and is expected to collapse by 2032. Once this shelf goes, the outflow from the glacier will speed up, leading to a complete breakdown. Also Read: Scientists reveal Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a catastrophe 9,000 years ago - It was hotter Warming oceans are melting glaciers faster Thwaites is not the only glacier that could ultimately crash down, triggering a rise in sea levels. A recent study highlighted how warming ocean waters are melting ice shelves, and the changes are so clear that they can be noticed in mere hours and days. Meanwhile, circular currents of water measuring nearly 10 kilometres are digging underneath the glaciers. The warm, salty current flows hundreds of feet below the surface and moves upwards and onto the continental shelf. A positive feedback loop is created where new cold water from the ice shelf mixes with warmer, saltier ocean waters. The resultant ocean turbulence causes even more ice to melt.

The Thwaites Glacier, or the Doomsday Glacier, is showing more signs of damage and is inching closer to its end. New studies have noticed that the cracks have spread to a larger area, and scientists think more stressors are at play.

Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed an exoplanet unlike any previously studied, opening fresh questions about how worlds form and what their atmospheres can contain. Officially named as PSR J2322-2650b, this distant world orbits a pulsar , a rapidly spinning neutron star left over after a massive star’s supernova. Scientists using the James Webb observed through it's infrared instruments that this Jupiter-mass planet is stretched into a lemon-like shape by extreme gravitational forces and has an atmospheric composition that defies existing models. Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research. The paper appeared on Tuesday in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>A Planet Around an Unusual Host</h2> According to Live Science, PSR J2322-2650b is located some 750 light-years from Earth and completes a full orbit around its star in just 7.8 hours because it lies extremely close to it, only about one million miles. This contrasts sharply with planets in our own Solar System, such as Jupiter, which orbits much farther from the Sun. Earth’s distance from the Sun is about 100 million miles. Gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar stretch the planet pulling it so much that it resembles a lemon, rather than a near-spherical shape typical of most planets. Webb’s ability to observe the planet without interference from the pulsar’s intense gamma radiation has been key to studying its distinct environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>An Atmosphere That Defies Expectation</h2> The composition of this exoplanet’s atmosphere challenges current understanding. Unlike many exoplanets, PSR J2322-2650b’s outer layers are dominated by helium and carbon, with little to no oxygen or nitrogen detected. This unusual mix means that common molecules like water, methane or carbon dioxide, typically expected in planetary atmospheres, are absent. Webb’s data suggest soot clouds likely float through the air, and deep within the planet, these carbon clouds can condense and form diamonds.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The planet orbits a star that's completely bizarre — the mass of the Sun, but the size of a city,” according to the principal investigator on this study, Michael Zhang. Standard planetary formation theories do not predict a world with such chemistry in this environment, particularly around a pulsar, a host rarely observed with planets at all. Together, the star and exoplanet may be considered a “black widow” system, though not a typical example. In such scenarios, a pulsar strips material from a companion star, but even this model does not fully explain the observed composition and structure. But in this case, the companion is officially considered an exoplanet, not a star. The discovery highlights how Webb’s capabilities are revealing planetary phenomena that were previously invisible, prompting a reevaluation of how diverse planetary systems can be. Of the 6,000 known exoplanets, this is the only one reminiscent of a gas giant (with mass, radius, and temperature similar to a hot Jupiter) orbiting a pulsar.

Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research. 

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed an exoplanet unlike any previously studied, opening fresh questions about how worlds form and what their atmospheres can contain. Officially named as PSR J2322-2650b, this distant world orbits a pulsar , a rapidly spinning neutron star left over after a massive star’s supernova. Scientists using the James Webb observed through it's infrared instruments that this Jupiter-mass planet is stretched into a lemon-like shape by extreme gravitational forces and has an atmospheric composition that defies existing models. Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research. The paper appeared on Tuesday in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. A Planet Around an Unusual Host According to Live Science, PSR J2322-2650b is located some 750 light-years from Earth and completes a full orbit around its star in just 7.8 hours because it lies extremely close to it, only about one million miles. This contrasts sharply with planets in our own Solar System, such as Jupiter, which orbits much farther from the Sun. Earth’s distance from the Sun is about 100 million miles. Gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar stretch the planet pulling it so much that it resembles a lemon, rather than a near-spherical shape typical of most planets. Webb’s ability to observe the planet without interference from the pulsar’s intense gamma radiation has been key to studying its distinct environment. An Atmosphere That Defies Expectation The composition of this exoplanet’s atmosphere challenges current understanding. Unlike many exoplanets, PSR J2322-2650b’s outer layers are dominated by helium and carbon, with little to no oxygen or nitrogen detected. This unusual mix means that common molecules like water, methane or carbon dioxide, typically expected in planetary atmospheres, are absent. Webb’s data suggest soot clouds likely float through the air, and deep within the planet, these carbon clouds can condense and form diamonds. “The planet orbits a star that's completely bizarre — the mass of the Sun, but the size of a city,” according to the principal investigator on this study, Michael Zhang. Standard planetary formation theories do not predict a world with such chemistry in this environment, particularly around a pulsar, a host rarely observed with planets at all. Together, the star and exoplanet may be considered a “black widow” system, though not a typical example. In such scenarios, a pulsar strips material from a companion star, but even this model does not fully explain the observed composition and structure. But in this case, the companion is officially considered an exoplanet, not a star. The discovery highlights how Webb’s capabilities are revealing planetary phenomena that were previously invisible, prompting a reevaluation of how diverse planetary systems can be. Of the 6,000 known exoplanets, this is the only one reminiscent of a gas giant (with mass, radius, and temperature similar to a hot Jupiter) orbiting a pulsar.

Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research.&nbsp;

NASA'S James Webb telescope observes a bizarre lemon-shaped exoplanet with unexplained atmosphere

An international team of astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected a supernova that exploded when the universe was only about 730 million years old, placing it deep in the era of reionization according to Phys.org. It also provided the most distant direct evidence yet of a stellar explosion from the early cosmos. This was the period when the first stars and galaxies were forming and transforming the newborn universe. The event was associated with a bright burst of gamma-ray labelled GRB 250314A.&nbsp;Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

NIRCam Image

&nbsp;<h2>How the explosion was found</h2> The supernova was initially flagged in March 2025 by a gamma-ray burst detected by the space-based Variable Objects Monitor. Gamma-ray bursts are explained as, intense flashes of high-energy radiation often linked to catastrophic events such as the collapse of massive stars. Follow-up observations with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO/VLT) in Chile, confirmed the extreme distance implied by the signal. Details of the discovery are described in a study recently published in the journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics. Roughly 110 days after the initial burst, JWST captured near-infrared images using its NIRCam instrument, thus enabling scientists to isolate the light from the supernova itself and study its properties despite the enormous cosmic distance.&nbsp;<h2>Significance of the discovery</h2> This supernova is not just the most distant ever directly observed but also closely resembles certain similar explosions seen in the nearby universe, such as the well-studied GRB-associated supernova, SN 1998bw. Analysis indicates that the massive star which exploded in the early universe had spectral and brightness characteristics comparable to those of long-duration gamma-ray burst-associated supernovae seen much closer to Earth today. The findings challenge the assumptions that the early stars, formed under environments with extremely low metallicity conditions, would behave very differently from their modern counterparts.&nbsp;The research team, according to phys.org, plans to secure a second epoch of JWST observations in the next one to two years. By that time, the light of the supernova is expected to have faded significantly, thus, allowing the team of astronomer to completely characterise the properties of the faint host galaxy thus, confirming the contribution of the supernova.

Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.

An international team of astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected a supernova that exploded when the universe was only about 730 million years old, placing it deep in the era of reionization according to Phys.org. It also provided the most distant direct evidence yet of a stellar explosion from the early cosmos. This was the period when the first stars and galaxies were forming and transforming the newborn universe. The event was associated with a bright burst of gamma-ray labelled GRB 250314A. Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.

Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.

NASA’s James Webb telescope captured supernova from the dawn of universe

The West Antarctica ice sheet is at risk of collapse owing to climate change. Now, a study has revealed that the East Antarctica ice sheet completely collapsed 9,000 years ago because of the warming ocean water. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is a vast body of land ice in East Antarctica. Researchers found evidence in seafloor sediments near Japan’s Syowa Station that proves that the collapse happened because of warm deep ocean currents. The study was led by Professor Yusuke Suganuma of the National Institute of Polar Research (NiPR). Scientists have warned in the past that if Antarctic ice melts, global water levels will rise by several feet.&nbsp;To understand future sea level changes, Suganuma set out on a quest to learn how the Antarctic ice sheets responded to a warming climate in the past. His team took sediment cores from Lutzow-Holm Bay’s seafloor. The layers of sediment showed proof of changes during an extremely hot period on Earth when temperatures were higher than they are today. This period was known as the early Holocene, a time span that started after the last ice age.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-alarmed-at-noticing-a-scary-feeding-trait-in-the-only-antarctic-bug-1765445210475">Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug</a>&nbsp;Rare beryllium isotopes and tiny marine fossils were measured to reveal the timing of this collapse. All the data suggested that the East Antarctic ice sheet broke up 9,000 years ago. The culprit was the circumpolar deep water, a warm, salty current that flows hundreds of feet below the surface. This water moved upwards and onto the continental shelf, cutting away the ice shelves. The fracture in these shelves left the ice with no structural support, causing the inland ice to flow faster towards the ocean.<h2>Ice sheet collapse was rapid</h2>The researchers noted that the ice and ocean formed a positive feedback loop. The surface ocean turned fresh from the meltwater from the Antarctic regions. The warm deep water moved towards the land, creating a "cascading positive feedback". Lighter water moved above the heavier water; hence, the cooler surface water did not mix with the downward water. The collapse occurred rapidly owing to several factors, such as the rising sea level and the shape of the seafloor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered that the Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a rapid collapse thousands of years ago. This was also because of the warming climate. The warm ocean water triggered an effect that led to the massive East Antarctic ice sheet falling apart.

The West Antarctica ice sheet is at risk of collapse owing to climate change. Now, a study has revealed that the East Antarctica ice sheet completely collapsed 9,000 years ago because of the warming ocean water. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is a vast body of land ice in East Antarctica. Researchers found evidence in seafloor sediments near Japan’s Syowa Station that proves that the collapse happened because of warm deep ocean currents. The study was led by Professor Yusuke Suganuma of the National Institute of Polar Research (NiPR). Scientists have warned in the past that if Antarctic ice melts, global water levels will rise by several feet. To understand future sea level changes, Suganuma set out on a quest to learn how the Antarctic ice sheets responded to a warming climate in the past. His team took sediment cores from Lutzow-Holm Bay’s seafloor. The layers of sediment showed proof of changes during an extremely hot period on Earth when temperatures were higher than they are today. This period was known as the early Holocene, a time span that started after the last ice age. Also Read: Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug Rare beryllium isotopes and tiny marine fossils were measured to reveal the timing of this collapse. All the data suggested that the East Antarctic ice sheet broke up 9,000 years ago. The culprit was the circumpolar deep water, a warm, salty current that flows hundreds of feet below the surface. This water moved upwards and onto the continental shelf, cutting away the ice shelves. The fracture in these shelves left the ice with no structural support, causing the inland ice to flow faster towards the ocean. Ice sheet collapse was rapid The researchers noted that the ice and ocean formed a positive feedback loop. The surface ocean turned fresh from the meltwater from the Antarctic regions. The warm deep water moved towards the land, creating a "cascading positive feedback". Lighter water moved above the heavier water; hence, the cooler surface water did not mix with the downward water. The collapse occurred rapidly owing to several factors, such as the rising sea level and the shape of the seafloor.

Scientists have discovered that the Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a rapid collapse thousands of years ago. This was also because of the warming climate. The warm ocean water triggered an effect that led to the massive East Antarctic ice sheet falling apart.

Scientists reveal Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a catastrophe 9,000 years ago - It was hotter

India has carried out a major demonstration of its undersea nuclear strike capability with the successful test of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from INS Arighaat. The launch took place in the Bay of Bengal, off the Visakhapatnam coast, on Tuesday (December 23). Capable of striking targets up to 3,500 km away, the K-4 significantly enhances India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence. Defence sources confirmed that the missile was tested for its full operational range.&nbsp;INS Arighaat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was inducted into service last year. With this test, India further consolidates its position among a select group of nations that possess a fully operational nuclear triad, land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems. The K-4 SLBM, inducted into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024, is derived from the Agni-III ballistic missile. The system has been extensively adapted for underwater launch, enabling it to eject from a submarine silo, rise through the water column, and ignite its rocket motor once it breaches the surface.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/prayers-hymns-and-unity-pm-modi-attends-christmas-morning-service-in-delhi-watch-1766660184271">Prayers, hymns and unity: PM Modi attends Christmas morning service in Delhi | WATCH</a>&nbsp;Designed to carry a nuclear payload weighing up to 2.5 tonnes, the missile can be deployed from Arihant-class submarines. These platforms are engineered for prolonged stealth patrols, remaining undetected in vast oceanic stretches, thereby ensuring a credible second-strike capability.&nbsp;As the most concealed component of India’s nuclear arsenal, submarine-launched missiles like the K-4 play a critical role in deterrence, especially in scenarios where land-based assets may be compromised in a first strike. The K-4 also fills the capability gap between the shorter-range K-15 missile and the longer-range SLBMs currently under development for future deployments. The ‘K’ series of missiles is named in honour of former India President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was instrumental in shaping India’s missile development programme.

Undersea powerplay: India successfully test-fires K-4 missile from nuclear submarine INS Arighaat

India has carried out a major demonstration of its undersea nuclear strike capability with the successful test of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from INS Arighaat. The launch took place in the Bay of Bengal, off the Visakhapatnam coast, on Tuesday (December 23). Capable of striking targets up to 3,500 km away, the K-4 significantly enhances India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence. Defence sources confirmed that the missile was tested for its full operational range. INS Arighaat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was inducted into service last year. With this test, India further consolidates its position among a select group of nations that possess a fully operational nuclear triad, land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems. The K-4 SLBM, inducted into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024, is derived from the Agni-III ballistic missile. The system has been extensively adapted for underwater launch, enabling it to eject from a submarine silo, rise through the water column, and ignite its rocket motor once it breaches the surface. Also Read: Prayers, hymns and unity: PM Modi attends Christmas morning service in Delhi | WATCH Designed to carry a nuclear payload weighing up to 2.5 tonnes, the missile can be deployed from Arihant-class submarines. These platforms are engineered for prolonged stealth patrols, remaining undetected in vast oceanic stretches, thereby ensuring a credible second-strike capability. As the most concealed component of India’s nuclear arsenal, submarine-launched missiles like the K-4 play a critical role in deterrence, especially in scenarios where land-based assets may be compromised in a first strike. The K-4 also fills the capability gap between the shorter-range K-15 missile and the longer-range SLBMs currently under development for future deployments. The ‘K’ series of missiles is named in honour of former India President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was instrumental in shaping India’s missile development programme.

India successfully tested the 3,500-km range K-4 missile from nuclear submarine INS Arighaat, reinforcing its sea-based nuclear deterrence

Russia has announced a twist to its plans of building its own space station. The current space observatory is due to retire by 2030, and will be dragged down by Earth's atmosphere. Initially, Roscosmos had plans to launch brand new modules for the Russian Orbital Space Station, nicknamed ROSS. This was to commence in 2027. But its latest plans have revealed that it will reuse its segment of the ISS. The country has revealed that it would not launch seven new modules into orbit. Instead, it wants to keep its current segments in orbit and will use them for its station. Oleg Orlov, director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems at the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced, "The Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos supported this proposal and approved the deployment of a Russian orbital station as part of the Russian segment of the ISS as the main possible scenario."&nbsp;Orlov said that it has assigned a special commission for ROSS, and they have been working on the concept for the past several months. As part of it, Russia's segments of the space station will be separate to create ROSS after the ISS is retired in 2030. The new modules will be attached to it later on. Initial plans called for a habitable station by 2028, with the first module scheduled to be launched in 2027. Three more modules were to be launched by 2030 and another three by 2035.&nbsp;The Russian Zvezda module of the space station was launched to low Earth orbit in July 2000. It has witnessed some problems, such as an air leak in 2019. It was traced to the vestibule, named PrK, that connects a docking port to Zvezda. This air leak has gone up from one pound a day to about two pounds. In June, the Axiom 4 mission to the ISS had to be postponed because of a new pressure signal in the Zvezda module.

Russia has revealed its plan for its space station, saying that it plans to keep its section of the ISS in orbit. It will add modules to it and wants to create a habitable observatory by 2028.

Russia has announced a twist to its plans of building its own space station. The current space observatory is due to retire by 2030, and will be dragged down by Earth's atmosphere. Initially, Roscosmos had plans to launch brand new modules for the Russian Orbital Space Station, nicknamed ROSS. This was to commence in 2027. But its latest plans have revealed that it will reuse its segment of the ISS. The country has revealed that it would not launch seven new modules into orbit. Instead, it wants to keep its current segments in orbit and will use them for its station. Oleg Orlov, director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems at the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced, "The Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos supported this proposal and approved the deployment of a Russian orbital station as part of the Russian segment of the ISS as the main possible scenario." Orlov said that it has assigned a special commission for ROSS, and they have been working on the concept for the past several months. As part of it, Russia's segments of the space station will be separate to create ROSS after the ISS is retired in 2030. The new modules will be attached to it later on. Initial plans called for a habitable station by 2028, with the first module scheduled to be launched in 2027. Three more modules were to be launched by 2030 and another three by 2035. The Russian Zvezda module of the space station was launched to low Earth orbit in July 2000. It has witnessed some problems, such as an air leak in 2019. It was traced to the vestibule, named PrK, that connects a docking port to Zvezda. This air leak has gone up from one pound a day to about two pounds. In June, the Axiom 4 mission to the ISS had to be postponed because of a new pressure signal in the Zvezda module.

Russia has revealed its plan for its space station, saying that it plans to keep its section of the ISS in orbit. It will add modules to it and wants to create a habitable observatory by 2028.

Entire ISS would not crash down on Earth, as Russia reveals its plans for ROSS

NASA's Hubble Telescope has discovered the largest known planet-forming disk located 1,000 light-years from Earth. It spans over 600 billion kilometres, around 40 times the diameter of our solar system. Scientists said it is way more "active and chaotic" than they expected. IRAS 23077+6707, nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito,” has a young star at its centre, which scientists believe may be either a hot, massive star or could even be a pair of stars. This protoplanetary disk is "unexpectedly chaotic and turbulent, with wisps of material stretching much farther above and below the disk than astronomers have seen in any similar system", NASA wrote in its blog. This messy environment and the extraordinary size of the disk nearly obscured the star.&nbsp;Lead author of the study, &nbsp;Kristina Monsch of the Center for Astrophysics, said, "We’re seeing this disk nearly edge-on, and its wispy upper layers and asymmetric features are especially striking. Both Hubble and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have glimpsed similar structures in other disks, but IRAS 23077+6707 provides us with an exceptional perspective." This discovery is unique, and a “new laboratory for studying planet formation and the environments where it happens.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/british-space-scientist-is-sure-alien-life-will-be-discovered-by-this-year-why-would-it-just-1766486452730">British space scientist is sure alien life will be discovered by THIS year: 'Why would it just...'</a><h2>Planetary disk is lopsided and building new planets</h2>This disk is also asymmetrical, with different features on either side. It has vertically imposing filament-like features on just one side, while the other side appears to have a sharp edge and no visible filaments. This suggests that it is interacting in a different way with its surroundings. “We were stunned to see how asymmetric this disk is,” co-investigator Joshua Bennett Lovell said. “Hubble has given us a front row seat to the chaotic processes that are shaping disks as they build new planets — processes that we don’t yet fully understand but can now study in a whole new way.”Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-update-parker-solar-probe-saw-interstellar-comet-when-it-was-invisible-from-earth-1766463450282"> 3I/ATLAS update: Parker Solar Probe saw interstellar comet when it was invisible from Earth</a>&nbsp;NASA said that Dracula’s Chivito could represent a scaled-up version of our early solar system since its disk mass is estimated at 10 to 30 times that of Jupiter. Our solar system was also once a chaotic region, with cosmic material swirling around, and several bodies crashing into each other. But over time, things settled down, and we got our current home. This is how IRAS 23077+6707 is also expected to develop over millions or billions of years. “In theory, IRAS 23077+6707 could host a vast planetary system. While planet formation may differ in such massive environments, the underlying processes are likely similar," Monsch said.&nbsp; &nbsp;

A disk 40 times the diameter of our solar system has been discovered by the Hubble Telescope, which is likely an image of what our solar system once looked like. Named Dracula’s Chivito, it is located 1,000 light-years from Earth and is extremely chaotic.

NASA's Hubble Telescope has discovered the largest known planet-forming disk located 1,000 light-years from Earth. It spans over 600 billion kilometres, around 40 times the diameter of our solar system. Scientists said it is way more "active and chaotic" than they expected. IRAS 23077+6707, nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito,” has a young star at its centre, which scientists believe may be either a hot, massive star or could even be a pair of stars. This protoplanetary disk is "unexpectedly chaotic and turbulent, with wisps of material stretching much farther above and below the disk than astronomers have seen in any similar system", NASA wrote in its blog. This messy environment and the extraordinary size of the disk nearly obscured the star. Lead author of the study, Kristina Monsch of the Center for Astrophysics, said, "We’re seeing this disk nearly edge-on, and its wispy upper layers and asymmetric features are especially striking. Both Hubble and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have glimpsed similar structures in other disks, but IRAS 23077+6707 provides us with an exceptional perspective." This discovery is unique, and a “new laboratory for studying planet formation and the environments where it happens.” Also Read: British space scientist is sure alien life will be discovered by THIS year: 'Why would it just...' Planetary disk is lopsided and building new planets This disk is also asymmetrical, with different features on either side. It has vertically imposing filament-like features on just one side, while the other side appears to have a sharp edge and no visible filaments. This suggests that it is interacting in a different way with its surroundings. “We were stunned to see how asymmetric this disk is,” co-investigator Joshua Bennett Lovell said. “Hubble has given us a front row seat to the chaotic processes that are shaping disks as they build new planets — processes that we don’t yet fully understand but can now study in a whole new way.” Also Read: 3I/ATLAS update: Parker Solar Probe saw interstellar comet when it was invisible from Earth NASA said that Dracula’s Chivito could represent a scaled-up version of our early solar system since its disk mass is estimated at 10 to 30 times that of Jupiter. Our solar system was also once a chaotic region, with cosmic material swirling around, and several bodies crashing into each other. But over time, things settled down, and we got our current home. This is how IRAS 23077+6707 is also expected to develop over millions or billions of years. “In theory, IRAS 23077+6707 could host a vast planetary system. While planet formation may differ in such massive environments, the underlying processes are likely similar," Monsch said.

A disk 40 times the diameter of our solar system has been discovered by the Hubble Telescope, which is likely an image of what our solar system once looked like. Named Dracula’s Chivito, it is located 1,000 light-years from Earth and is extremely chaotic.

Hubble spots 600bn km wide scaled-up version of our early solar system: Dracula’s Chivito shocks scientists

Satellite images released by NASA show a figure that resembles a snowman in one of the most remote corners of the Russian Arctic. The photo was taken on June 16, 2025, by the Operational Land Imager aboard the Landsat 8 satellite. However, the image is actually of a chain of frozen lagoons spread over an area of 22 kilometres near the village of Billings and Cape Billings on Russia’s Chukchi Peninsula. They occur in such a sequence and dimensions that it looks like a snowman. According to researchers, it is a result of natural geological processes, with ice, wind and water playing a role. The Landsat data shown in the photo is from the US Geological Survey.&nbsp;This area of Billings in Russia remains frozen for the majority of the year. The minimum temperature, even during June, stays below the freezing point. “Although June is one of the warmest months in Billings, ice cover is routine even then. Mean daily minimum temperatures are just minus 0.6 degrees Celsius (30.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in June,” according to met data. The frigid conditions give rise to certain phenomena that contribute to the formation of these frozen lagoons. In this case, five main lagoon basins are visible, each frozen and stacked to create a familiar structure.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are the result of what is known as "thermokarst" activity, where buried ice wedges melt and cause the overlying soil to collapse. Shallow depressions are created, which later fill up with meltwater. Wind and wave movement stretch the lake to create oval shapes. The boundaries between underground ice wedges are the thin ridges that appear in the image.&nbsp;Billings is a remote area in Russia that is hard to reach in both winter and summer. However, the cold months make for better access since the lakes and rivers freeze, creating a surface that can be used to move around. In the summer months, the ground thaws and waterlogging prevents easy movement. The only way to reach it is by a helicopter in summer and a snow road in winter. Billings is located on the coast of the East Siberian Sea and has a population of around 200 people. It is one of the few inhabited places in this region of Russia.&nbsp;

In a remote region of Russia, NASA satellites have captured what appears to be a snowman. Billings experiences freezing temperatures throughout the year. This snowman is a result of natural phenomena linked to the cold conditions.

Satellite images released by NASA show a figure that resembles a snowman in one of the most remote corners of the Russian Arctic. The photo was taken on June 16, 2025, by the Operational Land Imager aboard the Landsat 8 satellite. However, the image is actually of a chain of frozen lagoons spread over an area of 22 kilometres near the village of Billings and Cape Billings on Russia’s Chukchi Peninsula. They occur in such a sequence and dimensions that it looks like a snowman. According to researchers, it is a result of natural geological processes, with ice, wind and water playing a role. The Landsat data shown in the photo is from the US Geological Survey. This area of Billings in Russia remains frozen for the majority of the year. The minimum temperature, even during June, stays below the freezing point. “Although June is one of the warmest months in Billings, ice cover is routine even then. Mean daily minimum temperatures are just minus 0.6 degrees Celsius (30.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in June,” according to met data. The frigid conditions give rise to certain phenomena that contribute to the formation of these frozen lagoons. In this case, five main lagoon basins are visible, each frozen and stacked to create a familiar structure. These are the result of what is known as "thermokarst" activity, where buried ice wedges melt and cause the overlying soil to collapse. Shallow depressions are created, which later fill up with meltwater. Wind and wave movement stretch the lake to create oval shapes. The boundaries between underground ice wedges are the thin ridges that appear in the image. Billings is a remote area in Russia that is hard to reach in both winter and summer. However, the cold months make for better access since the lakes and rivers freeze, creating a surface that can be used to move around. In the summer months, the ground thaws and waterlogging prevents easy movement. The only way to reach it is by a helicopter in summer and a snow road in winter. Billings is located on the coast of the East Siberian Sea and has a population of around 200 people. It is one of the few inhabited places in this region of Russia.

In a remote region of Russia, NASA satellites have captured what appears to be a snowman. Billings experiences freezing temperatures throughout the year. This snowman is a result of natural phenomena linked to the cold conditions.

NASA captures a 'Siberian snowman' in remote Russian region from space

Most of 2025 was filled with alien talk, UFOs, UAPs, whether or not extraterrestrials exist out in the universe or not, and they could someday visit us. With 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object visiting us, the chatter grew louder as some scientists theorised that it is on such a perfect path that it is possible it could be an "alien spaceship". Now, a top space scientist in Britain has joined in, declaring that she is "absolutely convinced" that aliens exist in the universe. She has also given a timeline for their discovery, saying they will be found within the next 50 years, Daily Mail reported. Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock, from University College London's Department of Physics and Astronomy, says humans will find life on another planet by 2075.&nbsp;One thing that almost every other scientist agrees on is that whenever an alien species is discovered, it would be technologically superior to us. This is what Dame Maggie also says, adding that they would be much older than us. She told the publication that around 200 billion galaxies are believed to be present in the universe. With these odds, Earth cannot be the only place where ingredients for life are present. "I'm absolutely convinced that there's life out there, because with so many stars, so many planets, why would it just occur here?" she said.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jwst-sees-a-supersonic-supermassive-black-hole-screaming-through-space-1766065205143">1,000km/second: JWST sees a supersonic supermassive black hole screaming through space</a><h2>Exoplanets in the universe</h2>The scientist put forward the Drake equation, which states that the sheer number of galaxies in the universe shows that we are not alone. The Milky Way alone has over 300 billion stars, all of them like our Sun, some even bigger. Astronomers have discovered thousands of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. NASA alone has confirmed at least 6,000 exoplanets.&nbsp;<h2>Earth-like planet with signs of life</h2>K2–18b, 124 light–years from Earth, is one such exoplanet that made headlines in 2025. It is larger than Earth and orbits a red dwarf in its habitable zone. Scientists have detected molecules in the planet's atmosphere that are only possible if some form of life exists there. Experts believe the planet could harbour an ocean, and living organisms possibly live there. When asked about the timeline of detecting alien life, Dame Maggie said that a positive discovery should be made in the next 50 years. &nbsp;

British space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock is sure that life is present on some other planet in the universe. Citing the sheer number of cosmic bodies and galaxies, she says there has to be someone else out there.

Most of 2025 was filled with alien talk, UFOs, UAPs, whether or not extraterrestrials exist out in the universe or not, and they could someday visit us. With 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object visiting us, the chatter grew louder as some scientists theorised that it is on such a perfect path that it is possible it could be an "alien spaceship". Now, a top space scientist in Britain has joined in, declaring that she is "absolutely convinced" that aliens exist in the universe. She has also given a timeline for their discovery, saying they will be found within the next 50 years, Daily Mail reported. Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock, from University College London's Department of Physics and Astronomy, says humans will find life on another planet by 2075. One thing that almost every other scientist agrees on is that whenever an alien species is discovered, it would be technologically superior to us. This is what Dame Maggie also says, adding that they would be much older than us. She told the publication that around 200 billion galaxies are believed to be present in the universe. With these odds, Earth cannot be the only place where ingredients for life are present. "I'm absolutely convinced that there's life out there, because with so many stars, so many planets, why would it just occur here?" she said. Also Read: 1,000km/second: JWST sees a supersonic supermassive black hole screaming through space Exoplanets in the universe The scientist put forward the Drake equation, which states that the sheer number of galaxies in the universe shows that we are not alone. The Milky Way alone has over 300 billion stars, all of them like our Sun, some even bigger. Astronomers have discovered thousands of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. NASA alone has confirmed at least 6,000 exoplanets. Earth-like planet with signs of life K2–18b, 124 light–years from Earth, is one such exoplanet that made headlines in 2025. It is larger than Earth and orbits a red dwarf in its habitable zone. Scientists have detected molecules in the planet's atmosphere that are only possible if some form of life exists there. Experts believe the planet could harbour an ocean, and living organisms possibly live there. When asked about the timeline of detecting alien life, Dame Maggie said that a positive discovery should be made in the next 50 years.

British space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock is sure that life is present on some other planet in the universe. Citing the sheer number of cosmic bodies and galaxies, she says there has to be someone else out there.

British space scientist is sure alien life will be discovered by THIS year: 'Why would it just...'

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