Chinese robot ‘guide dog’ aims to improve independence for visually impaired
Researchers in Shanghai are developing a six-legged robot that could serve as an assistive device for visually impaired people, similar to a guide dog. The robot, roughly the size of an English Bulldog, uses cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence to navigate its environment. It can recognize traffic signals and communicate verbally with a human operator. […]
This mysterious ancient computer has a ‘calendar ring’ that followed the lunar year
The Antikythera Mechanism is an ancient Greek device dated to around 100 BC that is believed to be the earliest known analog computer. It was used to calculate and display astronomical positions. Recent research using X-ray imaging found the mechanism had a “calendar ring” with regularly spaced holes that was inscribed with Egyptian month names […]
Scientists discover moss can grow on Mars
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered that a type of desert moss found in Antarctica called Syntrichia caninervis can survive the extreme conditions on Mars. Tests showed the moss can tolerate temperatures as low as -196°C and similar levels of gamma radiation as found on the Martian surface. This indicates the moss is […]
The new space race: International partnerships (op-ed)
Shift from competition to collaboration in international space exploration, with the U.S. now leading an international coalition for projects like the Artemis program. It notes Japan will join an upcoming Artemis mission, the first time a non-American will walk on the moon, signifying growing cooperation. However, Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution on preventing weapons in […]
James Webb Space Telescope spies strange shapes above Jupiter’s Great Red Spot
The James Webb Space Telescope captured new images of Jupiter that revealed previously unseen atmospheric structures and activity above the planet’s Great Red Spot storm. The structures included dark arcs and bright spots in Jupiter’s upper atmosphere, where it meets the planet’s magnetic field. Astronomers believe these features are caused by powerful gravity waves propagating […]
Tour the famous ‘Pillars of Creation’ with gorgeous new 3D views from Hubble and JWST
The Pillars of Creation are clouds of gas and dust where new stars are forming, located in the Eagle Nebula 5,700 light years from Earth. Hubble first imaged them in 1995. NASA has combined data from Hubble and JWST to create a new 3D visualization showing the pillars in both visible and infrared light. This […]
Dark matter clue? Mysterious substance may be interacting with itself in nearby galaxy
A nearby galaxy called Crater II that orbits the Milky Way galaxy may provide clues about dark matter. Dark matter makes up most of the matter in the universe but has never been directly detected. Dark matter is usually thought to be “cold” and collisionless, but some theories suggest it could be “self-interacting” dark matter […]
OceanGate co-founder organising trip to ‘portal of hell’ sinkhole
OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Söhnlein is organizing an expedition with his company Blue Marble Exploration to explore Dean’s Blue Hole, a deep underwater sinkhole located in the Bahamas. Dean’s Blue Hole is described as the “portal to hell” and is one of the deepest underwater sinkholes in the world at 663 feet deep. It has reportedly […]
Energy startup discovers new benefit while developing innovative iron-air battery — and it could revolutionize an entire industry
Form Energy, an energy startup based in Massachusetts, has been developing an innovative iron-air battery that uses the oxidation and reduction of iron to store energy. While working on this battery technology, Form researchers discovered the process could also be used to more cleanly and efficiently produce iron needed for steelmaking. Traditionally, oxygen must be […]
Surprising asteroid sample reveals Bennu may have originated from an ocean world
Scientists have been analyzing samples collected from asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission in 2020. Initial analysis found the samples to be rich in organic compounds like carbon and nitrogen, which are important for life. Unexpectedly, the samples also contained magnesium-sodium phosphate, a compound that can dissolve in water and is relevant to biochemistry. The […]