NASA astronauts practice ‘moonwalking’ in the Arizona desert
NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas practiced moonwalking in the Arizona desert as training for future Artemis missions to the lunar surface. The astronauts wore prototype spacesuits and conducted simulated moonwalks and technology tests over the course of a week in conditions similar to the moon’s terrain. The training included rehearsing lunar operations, locating […]
Space photo of the week: Hubble spots a twisted ‘train-wreck’ galaxy that may hide a cosmic illusion
The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of galaxy NGC 4753, located around 60 million light years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. The galaxy has a distinctive twisted, warped shape with dark brown dust lanes that give it a cobweb-like or “train wreck” appearance. NGC 4753 is a lenticular galaxy, between a spiral and […]
A massive, icy Mars crater stares up at a Red Planet orbiter
A massive crater located in Utopia Planitia on Mars has been imaged by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). Utopia Planitia is the largest known impact basin in the solar system, with a diameter of over 3,300 km. The crater imaged is around 8 km across and shows signs of icy material from when an […]
China Uses Giant Rail Gun to Shoot Smart Bomb Nine Miles Into the Sky
– China reportedly tested a hypersonic railgun that can launch projectiles at extremely high speeds using electromagnetic force. – In a recent test, the railgun launched a “smart bomb” or precision-guided projectile 9 miles into the sky. However, the test was declared unsuccessful. – Researchers from the Naval Engineering University analyzed the test and found […]
In the Milky Way, 3 intruder stars are ‘on the run’ — in the wrong direction
Astronomers have discovered 3 ancient stars in the outskirts of the Milky Way galaxy that are moving in the “wrong direction” at high speeds of hundreds of thousands of miles per hour. These stars are 12-13 billion years old, making them as old as the first galaxies formed after the Big Bang. They were found […]
Mysterious origin of the “tree of life” revealed
The baobab tree, also known as the “tree of life”, has long been a mysterious species with an unknown origin. It is found in certain parts of Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. A new genetic study was able to trace the origin of all baobab species to the island nation of Madagascar. The trees first evolved […]
AT&T deal will make every phone a satellite phone
– AT&T has entered into a commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile to provide satellite connectivity to phones. – This will allow AT&T subscribers to use their regular smartphones to make calls, send texts and access the internet even in remote areas without cellular coverage, through satellites in orbit. – AST SpaceMobile will launch its first […]
Sophia the AI robot gives commencement speech at New York college. Some grads weren’t so pleased.
– Sophia, an AI robot developed by Hanson Robotics, gave the commencement speech at D’Youville University’s spring graduation ceremony in Buffalo, NY. – Some students objected to a robot speaker and started a petition to have a human replace Sophia, arguing it was impersonal and took away from the ceremony. – As the first AI […]
Dozens of Egyptian pyramids, some in Giza, sat along a branch of the Nile, study says
– A new study provides evidence that an ancient branch of the Nile River once flowed through the area where many Egyptian pyramids were built, including those at Giza. – Using satellite data, sediment cores, and 1911 maps, researchers were able to trace the path of this extinct branch of the Nile, called the Ahramat […]
US confirms first aid trucks arrive via Gaza pier
– The US military has confirmed that the first shipment of aid trucks has arrived in Gaza via a temporary floating pier off the coast. – Around 500 tons of aid is expected to enter Gaza in the coming days through this maritime corridor, according to US Central Command. – British military personnel worked with […]