Space
The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft and two cubesats launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to investigate the asteroid Dimorphos, which NASA deliberately struck in 2022. The mission aims to assess the impact's effects and gather data on the binary asteroid system, with arrival expected in 2026.
Space
Astronomers confirmed a sub-Earth planet, Barnard b, orbiting Barnard's star, the closest single star to our Sun at six light-years. The discovery, made with the Very Large Telescope, marks the first known planet around this star and adds to the growing census of low-mass worlds in our cosmic neighborhood.
Space
Two NASA astronauts whose eight-day mission stretched to eight months due to Boeing Starliner issues plan to vote from the International Space Station. They requested absentee ballots, which NASA transmits electronically, continuing a practice that allows Americans in orbit to participate in elections.
Space
Boeing recorded zero net sales of its 737 Max in April and May, with only three other planes sold in May. The slump follows the Alaska Airlines door plug incident and ongoing scrutiny, though the company's backlog remains strong at over 5,600 orders.
Space
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, already years behind schedule and over budget, faces another delay after a helium leak was found in its service module. The launch, now targeted for May 21, marks the latest in a series of technical issues, including a recent valve problem on the Atlas V rocket. NASA and Boeing are conducting additional testing to ensure safety before the first crewed flight.
Space
NASA's Perseverance rover has arrived at a new vantage point overlooking the Séítah region of Jezero Crater, marking the start of its dedicated science campaign. The rover will use its autonomous driving capability to explore layered rocks and dunes that may hold clues to ancient microbial life.
Space
Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin predicts humans will reach Mars by 2040, emphasizing that the journey hinges on inspiring and educating the next generation in STEM fields. He points to current technological advances and the need for sustained investment in youth as critical to making the mission a reality.
Space
A New York Times report reveals that in 2012, Google DeepMind cofounder Demis Hassabis pointed out a critical flaw in Elon Musk's Mars colonization plan: AI could follow humans to the Red Planet. Musk, reportedly speechless, later invested in DeepMind but eventually called the company his top AI concern.
Space
A British planetary scientist challenges Harvard's Avi Loeb's claim that tiny spherules found on the Pacific Ocean floor are from an interstellar meteorite, suggesting they could be fallout from Cold War-era nuclear tests on the Marshall Islands. She calls for further analysis to settle the origin of the particles.
Space
A Falcon 9 rocket stage bound for the International Space Station was damaged when it struck a bridge during transport, forcing SpaceX to postpone the Crew-5 launch to late September. The incident adds to a series of hardware challenges for the company, while the mission's crew, including a Russian cosmonaut, remains confident in the vehicle's safety.
Health
A case report in BMJ Case Reports describes an 80-year-old woman with lung cancer whose tumor shrank by 76% after she declined conventional treatment and instead used CBD oil. The authors caution that the link is not proven and call for more research.
Health
Bryan Johnson, a 45-year-old tech entrepreneur, spends $2 million annually on a rigorous anti-aging regimen aiming to restore his body to an 18-year-old state. With over 30 health professionals and extreme treatments, he claims to have reversed his epigenetic age by 5.1 years in seven months, documenting everything publicly in his Blueprint project.
Health
A California ophthalmologist removed 23 contact lenses from a senior patient's eye, a case that went viral and sparked global awareness about proper lens hygiene. The patient, who had not seen a doctor in two years, is recovering but has resumed wearing contacts against medical advice.
Health
Neuralink acknowledged that a significant number of monkeys in its brain implant experiments were euthanized due to complications, contradicting an animal rights group's claims. The company defends its practices while facing criticism and preparing for human trials.
Health
As the milk crate challenge spreads on TikTok, orthopedic surgeons and health departments warn of severe injury risks and added strain on hospitals already overwhelmed by COVID-19. The Baltimore Department of Health and Mount Sinai's Shawn Anthony urge the public to avoid the stunt, which often results in falls comparable to ladder accidents.
Health
Researchers using the Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have identified 77 drug compounds that might bind to the coronavirus spike protein, potentially blocking infection. The findings, published on ChemRxiv, highlight seven candidates for experimental testing, though scientists caution that this is an early computational step, not a cure.
Health
China's state-run Global Times has cautioned Elon Musk against endorsing the lab leak theory of COVID-19's origins, warning that such views could harm Tesla's business in China. The warning follows Musk's tweets supporting a US Energy Department assessment, which has intensified diplomatic tensions.
Health
Stanford researchers have developed a prototype pair of autofocal glasses that track eye movements and adjust focus automatically, offering a potential new solution for the 123 million Americans expected to suffer from presbyopia by 2020. The bulky headset, to be presented at SIGGRAPH in Vancouver, showed improved vision in early tests.
Health
Researchers at the Salk Institute have grown fully mature human pancreatic beta cells from induced pluripotent stem cells, and when transplanted into diabetic mice, the cells restored normal blood sugar control. The breakthrough, which relies on a key protein called ERRγ, could pave the way for a new class of diabetes treatments without the ethical concerns of embryonic stem cells.
Health
A tattoo artist uses an NFC chip implanted in his hand to unlock his studio, part of a growing trend of 10,000 people worldwide. The chip's 880-byte memory stores simple data, but users report a shift in daily habits, forgetting keys and badges. Experts weigh in on the practical and social implications of body-integrated access.
