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New Farm Fertilizer Could Remove CO2 from Air, Improve Soil Quality
Researchers have identified a method to accelerate carbon mineralisation using calcium silicates in farm fertilizers. The process could sequester billions of tons of CO2 while benefiting soil health. Unlike traditional magnesium silicates, calcium silicates react faster with CO2, making the approach more efficient. Scientists are exploring ways to ...
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Scientists Detect Rising Microplastics in Human Brains, Study Raises Concerns
A study has found microplastics in human brains, with concentrations rising over recent years. Researchers suggest possible links to dementia, but some experts question the findings due to potential flaws in the analysis. While microplastics have been previously detected in human bodies, their impact on brain health remains unclear. Scientists call...
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Historical Records Unveil 16th Century Transylvania’s Climate Struggles
Centuries-old records from Transylvania offer insight into the extreme climate events of the 1500s. Researchers examined handwritten manuscripts in multiple languages to trace shifts in temperature, droughts, and floods. The study reveals how people endured environmental hardships, including famine and disease. Evidence suggests the Little Ice Age ...
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MIT Develops Tiny Robotic Insect Drones with 100x Longer Flight Time Than Before
A new generation of robotic insects can fly 100 times longer than previous models, making artificial pollination more viable. Researchers improved endurance and agility by refining wing structure, reducing energy use, and incorporating power storage. Future advancements will integrate sensors and navigation systems to optimise their role in agricul...
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NASA Perseverance Rover Discovers Ancient Rock Sample on Mars' Jezero Crater
NASA’s Perseverance rover has collected a unique rock sample from Mars' Jezero Crater. The rock, named “Silver Mountain,” is believed to be one of the oldest in the solar system, possibly dating back to the Noachian period, over 4 billion years ago. This discovery provides new insights into Mars’ geological history and past environmental co...
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Astronomers Find a 200,000-Light-Year Black Hole Jet in the Early Universe
Astronomers have identified the longest black hole jet observed in the early universe, stretching 200,000 light-years—twice the Milky Way’s width. Found in quasar J1601+3102, this jet was detected using the LOFAR telescope. Despite the black hole being 450 million times the Sun’s mass, it isn’t among the most massive. Scientists believe env...
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Microplastics Found in Human Brain Tissue, Study Shows Rising Levels
A study has detected microplastics and nanoplastics in human brain tissue, showing a 50 percent increase in levels over recent years. The findings suggest these particles may bypass the blood-brain barrier, leading to concerns over potential health effects. Experts are now focusing on how these plastics enter the brain and their possible role in ne...
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SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Explosion Raises Concerns Over Air Pollution
The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7 in mid-January has raised concerns among scientists about atmospheric pollution. The upper stage, weighing 85 tons without fuel, detonated at 90 miles (146 km) above Earth, potentially releasing 45.5 metric tons of metal oxides and 40 metric tons of nitrogen oxides. Experts warn these pollutants could i...
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Polar Bear Fur's Natural Oil Prevents Ice Build-Up, Study Finds
Scientists have uncovered a surprising feature of polar bear fur: a natural oil that prevents ice accumulation. Unlike penguins, which rely on feather structure, polar bears benefit from a chemical composition that keeps their fur ice-free. A study published in Science Advances found that unwashed polar bear fur performed as well as high-performanc...
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Ocean Warming Rate Quadruples Over Four Decades, Accelerating Climate Change
New research highlights a troubling acceleration in ocean warming, with the rate of temperature rise quadrupling since the 1980s. According to a study in Environmental Research Letters, ocean surface temperatures now rise at 0.27°C per decade, up from 0.06°C. This rapid warming, driven by greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane, is worsening Earth'...
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Neanderthal Blood Protein Incompatibilities May Have Contributed to Extinction
Research indicates that genetic differences in Neanderthal blood proteins may have played a role in their extinction. Scientists discovered that Neanderthals had a rare RhD blood type, which was incompatible with the blood types of Denisovans and Homo sapiens. This incompatibility could have led to hemolytic disease in mixed-species offspring, resu...
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Microbes Uncovered in Amazon Peatlands Could Alter Global Carbon Dynamics
Microscopic organisms found in the tropical peatlands of Peru’s northwestern Amazon are helping regulate the carbon cycle, a key factor in Earth’s climate. These microbes, part of the Bathyarchaeia group, thrive in waterlogged, oxygen-deprived conditions and exhibit unique metabolic behaviours that either store or release carbon. Researchers wa...
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New Dual-Reactor Tech Turns CO2 Into Protein for Food and Sustainability
A team of engineers in China has developed an innovative dual-reactor system that converts carbon dioxide into a high-protein product suitable for human and animal consumption. The two-stage process uses microbial electrosynthesis to turn CO2 into acetate, which is then used by bacteria to produce single-cell protein. This system promises a more su...
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Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
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2024 Marks Earth's Hottest Year Ever, Surpassing Critical 1.5 degree Celsius Warming Limit
In 2024, Earth recorded its hottest year ever, surpassing the critical 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold for the first time in history. This significant temperature increase has been linked to intensified weather events, rising sea levels, and widespread environmental damage. The year saw an alarming rise in climate-related disasters, with the U...
-
New Farm Fertilizer Could Remove CO2 from Air, Improve Soil Quality
Researchers have identified a method to accelerate carbon mineralisation using calcium silicates in farm fertilizers. The process could sequester billions of tons of CO2 while benefiting soil health. Unlike traditional magnesium silicates, calcium silicates react faster with CO2, making the approach more efficient. Scientists are exploring ways to ...
-
Scientists Detect Rising Microplastics in Human Brains, Study Raises Concerns
A study has found microplastics in human brains, with concentrations rising over recent years. Researchers suggest possible links to dementia, but some experts question the findings due to potential flaws in the analysis. While microplastics have been previously detected in human bodies, their impact on brain health remains unclear. Scientists call...
-
Historical Records Unveil 16th Century Transylvania’s Climate Struggles
Centuries-old records from Transylvania offer insight into the extreme climate events of the 1500s. Researchers examined handwritten manuscripts in multiple languages to trace shifts in temperature, droughts, and floods. The study reveals how people endured environmental hardships, including famine and disease. Evidence suggests the Little Ice Age ...
-
MIT Develops Tiny Robotic Insect Drones with 100x Longer Flight Time Than Before
A new generation of robotic insects can fly 100 times longer than previous models, making artificial pollination more viable. Researchers improved endurance and agility by refining wing structure, reducing energy use, and incorporating power storage. Future advancements will integrate sensors and navigation systems to optimise their role in agricul...
-
NASA Perseverance Rover Discovers Ancient Rock Sample on Mars' Jezero Crater
NASA’s Perseverance rover has collected a unique rock sample from Mars' Jezero Crater. The rock, named “Silver Mountain,” is believed to be one of the oldest in the solar system, possibly dating back to the Noachian period, over 4 billion years ago. This discovery provides new insights into Mars’ geological history and past environmental co...
-
Astronomers Find a 200,000-Light-Year Black Hole Jet in the Early Universe
Astronomers have identified the longest black hole jet observed in the early universe, stretching 200,000 light-years—twice the Milky Way’s width. Found in quasar J1601+3102, this jet was detected using the LOFAR telescope. Despite the black hole being 450 million times the Sun’s mass, it isn’t among the most massive. Scientists believe env...
-
Microplastics Found in Human Brain Tissue, Study Shows Rising Levels
A study has detected microplastics and nanoplastics in human brain tissue, showing a 50 percent increase in levels over recent years. The findings suggest these particles may bypass the blood-brain barrier, leading to concerns over potential health effects. Experts are now focusing on how these plastics enter the brain and their possible role in ne...
-
SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Explosion Raises Concerns Over Air Pollution
The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7 in mid-January has raised concerns among scientists about atmospheric pollution. The upper stage, weighing 85 tons without fuel, detonated at 90 miles (146 km) above Earth, potentially releasing 45.5 metric tons of metal oxides and 40 metric tons of nitrogen oxides. Experts warn these pollutants could i...
-
Polar Bear Fur's Natural Oil Prevents Ice Build-Up, Study Finds
Scientists have uncovered a surprising feature of polar bear fur: a natural oil that prevents ice accumulation. Unlike penguins, which rely on feather structure, polar bears benefit from a chemical composition that keeps their fur ice-free. A study published in Science Advances found that unwashed polar bear fur performed as well as high-performanc...
-
Ocean Warming Rate Quadruples Over Four Decades, Accelerating Climate Change
New research highlights a troubling acceleration in ocean warming, with the rate of temperature rise quadrupling since the 1980s. According to a study in Environmental Research Letters, ocean surface temperatures now rise at 0.27°C per decade, up from 0.06°C. This rapid warming, driven by greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane, is worsening Earth'...
-
Neanderthal Blood Protein Incompatibilities May Have Contributed to Extinction
Research indicates that genetic differences in Neanderthal blood proteins may have played a role in their extinction. Scientists discovered that Neanderthals had a rare RhD blood type, which was incompatible with the blood types of Denisovans and Homo sapiens. This incompatibility could have led to hemolytic disease in mixed-species offspring, resu...
-
Microbes Uncovered in Amazon Peatlands Could Alter Global Carbon Dynamics
Microscopic organisms found in the tropical peatlands of Peru’s northwestern Amazon are helping regulate the carbon cycle, a key factor in Earth’s climate. These microbes, part of the Bathyarchaeia group, thrive in waterlogged, oxygen-deprived conditions and exhibit unique metabolic behaviours that either store or release carbon. Researchers wa...
-
New Dual-Reactor Tech Turns CO2 Into Protein for Food and Sustainability
A team of engineers in China has developed an innovative dual-reactor system that converts carbon dioxide into a high-protein product suitable for human and animal consumption. The two-stage process uses microbial electrosynthesis to turn CO2 into acetate, which is then used by bacteria to produce single-cell protein. This system promises a more su...
-
Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
-
2024 Marks Earth's Hottest Year Ever, Surpassing Critical 1.5 degree Celsius Warming Limit
In 2024, Earth recorded its hottest year ever, surpassing the critical 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold for the first time in history. This significant temperature increase has been linked to intensified weather events, rising sea levels, and widespread environmental damage. The year saw an alarming rise in climate-related disasters, with the U...
