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NASA SPHEREx Telescope to Map the Universe and Search for Life’s Ingredients
NASA’s SPHEREx mission, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 27, aims to explore the origins of the universe and the formation of galaxies. Using near-infrared light, the telescope will study over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way. It will also search for water and organic molecules in regions where ...
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Sahara and Amazon May Hold Clues to Dinosaurs’ Earliest Origins, New Study Suggests
Recent research suggests the Sahara Desert and Amazon rainforest might hold the key to uncovering the earliest dinosaurs, tracing their origins to equatorial Gondwana over 230 million years ago. Studies published in Current Biology propose that small, chicken-sized dinosaurs thrived in arid regions before dispersing widely. Limited fossil records f...
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Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
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Trillions of Comets Found in 74 Alien Star Systems, Unveiling Exocomets and Planetary Belts
A discovery of trillions of comets in 74 star systems has opened new doors for understanding the role of exocomets in planetary water sources. The planetesimal belts, detected using ALMA and SMA telescopes, offer crucial insights into the evolution of planetary systems and the potential for life-supporting water on distant planets. This research pa...
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New Research Sheds Light on Iron’s Role in Earth’s Core Dynamics
Cutting-edge research using ultrafast X-ray absorption spectroscopy has revealed the structural and thermal behaviour of iron under extreme conditions mimicking Earth’s core. Findings show a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure at 240 GPa and 5,345 K, challenging prior theories favouring a body-centred cubic (bcc) form. The study provides criti...
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Astronomers Spot Hundreds of Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Using Infrared
Hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes have been identified using infrared observations, offering fresh insights into their role in galaxy formation. Researchers relied on data from NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to detect emissions from black holes obscured by thick clouds ...
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Pterosaur Tails Combined Aerodynamic Precision and Display Adaptations, Reveal New Study
Early pterosaurs featured long tails ending in leaf-shaped vanes, supported by a sophisticated tensioning system. This system, revealed through laser-stimulated fluorescence analysis of fossils, included criss-crossing fibres and tube-like structures that provided stiffness. These tails served a dual purpose: aiding flight by stabilising the vanes ...
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Early Human Ancestors Had Plant-Based Diets, Research Suggests
New research reveals that Australopithecus africanus, an early human ancestor, primarily ate plants. Fossilised tooth analysis suggests meat was not a major part of their diet. This study, published in Science, challenges the idea that early hominins relied on animal protein for cognitive development. Researchers point out the possibility of insect...
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Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Found Behind Gas and Dust Across the Universe
Supermassive black holes, which feed on surrounding material, may be more common than earlier believed. Researchers suggest that nearly 30%-50% of these black holes could be concealed behind dense gas and dust, making them invisible to standard telescopes. The study, based on infrared observations, sheds light on how these entities influence star f...
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NASA’s Hubble Observes Rare Blue Lurker Star with Unusual Evolution in M67 Cluster
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has identified a rare stellar phenomenon called the “blue lurker” in the M67 star cluster. Located 2,800 light-years away, this star is part of a triple-star system and has an unusual evolutionary history. The blue lurker’s accelerated spin, taking just four days, contrasts with the typical rotation of Sun-like...
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Ancient Ice Core from Antarctica May Reveal Climate Mysteries from 1.2 Million Years Ago
A team of scientists in Antarctica has extracted a 2.8-kilometre-long ice core from Little Dome C, believed to be 1.2 million years old. The ice core contains trapped air bubbles and volcanic ash, offering valuable data on climate shifts and the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. The research aims to uncover the cause behind significant climatic changes a...
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Fossils Reveal Evolution of Early Nervous Systems in Ecdysozoans
A study published in Science Advances has provided groundbreaking insights into the early evolution of nervous systems in ecdysozoans, the group that includes insects and nematodes. Fossils from the Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation showed that ancient organisms like Eopriapulites had a single ventral nerve cord, supporting its ancestral role. Researc...
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New Cartilage Type Found: Lipocartilage Resembles Fat, Boosts Elasticity
Scientists have identified lipocartilage, a newly classified type of cartilage featuring fat-filled, balloon-like cells that offer elasticity and structural stability. Found in the external ears, noses, and throats of mammals, including humans, this tissue differs from traditional cartilage types by maintaining its size regardless of calorie intake...
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Spiders Detect Smells Through Leg Hairs, Claims New Study
Researchers have discovered that male spiders use specialised hairs on their legs, called wall-pore sensilla, to detect airborne scents, particularly pheromones released by females. These sensilla, mapped on the upper parts of the legs, allow males to locate mates through chemical signals with remarkable sensitivity. This discovery, observed in mal...
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New "Kiss-and-Capture" Theory Explains Pluto's Formation of Largest Moon, Charon
A new theory proposes that Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, was formed billions of years ago through a rare "kiss-and-capture" collision in the Kuiper Belt. This process involves two icy bodies briefly merging and then separating, leaving Charon in a stable orbit around Pluto. Unlike traditional collision models, this event challenges previous theor...
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NASA SPHEREx Telescope to Map the Universe and Search for Life’s Ingredients
NASA’s SPHEREx mission, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 27, aims to explore the origins of the universe and the formation of galaxies. Using near-infrared light, the telescope will study over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way. It will also search for water and organic molecules in regions where ...
-
Sahara and Amazon May Hold Clues to Dinosaurs’ Earliest Origins, New Study Suggests
Recent research suggests the Sahara Desert and Amazon rainforest might hold the key to uncovering the earliest dinosaurs, tracing their origins to equatorial Gondwana over 230 million years ago. Studies published in Current Biology propose that small, chicken-sized dinosaurs thrived in arid regions before dispersing widely. Limited fossil records f...
-
Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
-
Trillions of Comets Found in 74 Alien Star Systems, Unveiling Exocomets and Planetary Belts
A discovery of trillions of comets in 74 star systems has opened new doors for understanding the role of exocomets in planetary water sources. The planetesimal belts, detected using ALMA and SMA telescopes, offer crucial insights into the evolution of planetary systems and the potential for life-supporting water on distant planets. This research pa...
-
New Research Sheds Light on Iron’s Role in Earth’s Core Dynamics
Cutting-edge research using ultrafast X-ray absorption spectroscopy has revealed the structural and thermal behaviour of iron under extreme conditions mimicking Earth’s core. Findings show a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure at 240 GPa and 5,345 K, challenging prior theories favouring a body-centred cubic (bcc) form. The study provides criti...
-
Astronomers Spot Hundreds of Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Using Infrared
Hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes have been identified using infrared observations, offering fresh insights into their role in galaxy formation. Researchers relied on data from NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to detect emissions from black holes obscured by thick clouds ...
-
Pterosaur Tails Combined Aerodynamic Precision and Display Adaptations, Reveal New Study
Early pterosaurs featured long tails ending in leaf-shaped vanes, supported by a sophisticated tensioning system. This system, revealed through laser-stimulated fluorescence analysis of fossils, included criss-crossing fibres and tube-like structures that provided stiffness. These tails served a dual purpose: aiding flight by stabilising the vanes ...
-
Early Human Ancestors Had Plant-Based Diets, Research Suggests
New research reveals that Australopithecus africanus, an early human ancestor, primarily ate plants. Fossilised tooth analysis suggests meat was not a major part of their diet. This study, published in Science, challenges the idea that early hominins relied on animal protein for cognitive development. Researchers point out the possibility of insect...
-
Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Found Behind Gas and Dust Across the Universe
Supermassive black holes, which feed on surrounding material, may be more common than earlier believed. Researchers suggest that nearly 30%-50% of these black holes could be concealed behind dense gas and dust, making them invisible to standard telescopes. The study, based on infrared observations, sheds light on how these entities influence star f...
-
NASA’s Hubble Observes Rare Blue Lurker Star with Unusual Evolution in M67 Cluster
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has identified a rare stellar phenomenon called the “blue lurker” in the M67 star cluster. Located 2,800 light-years away, this star is part of a triple-star system and has an unusual evolutionary history. The blue lurker’s accelerated spin, taking just four days, contrasts with the typical rotation of Sun-like...
-
Ancient Ice Core from Antarctica May Reveal Climate Mysteries from 1.2 Million Years Ago
A team of scientists in Antarctica has extracted a 2.8-kilometre-long ice core from Little Dome C, believed to be 1.2 million years old. The ice core contains trapped air bubbles and volcanic ash, offering valuable data on climate shifts and the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. The research aims to uncover the cause behind significant climatic changes a...
-
Fossils Reveal Evolution of Early Nervous Systems in Ecdysozoans
A study published in Science Advances has provided groundbreaking insights into the early evolution of nervous systems in ecdysozoans, the group that includes insects and nematodes. Fossils from the Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation showed that ancient organisms like Eopriapulites had a single ventral nerve cord, supporting its ancestral role. Researc...
-
New Cartilage Type Found: Lipocartilage Resembles Fat, Boosts Elasticity
Scientists have identified lipocartilage, a newly classified type of cartilage featuring fat-filled, balloon-like cells that offer elasticity and structural stability. Found in the external ears, noses, and throats of mammals, including humans, this tissue differs from traditional cartilage types by maintaining its size regardless of calorie intake...
-
Spiders Detect Smells Through Leg Hairs, Claims New Study
Researchers have discovered that male spiders use specialised hairs on their legs, called wall-pore sensilla, to detect airborne scents, particularly pheromones released by females. These sensilla, mapped on the upper parts of the legs, allow males to locate mates through chemical signals with remarkable sensitivity. This discovery, observed in mal...
-
New "Kiss-and-Capture" Theory Explains Pluto's Formation of Largest Moon, Charon
A new theory proposes that Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, was formed billions of years ago through a rare "kiss-and-capture" collision in the Kuiper Belt. This process involves two icy bodies briefly merging and then separating, leaving Charon in a stable orbit around Pluto. Unlike traditional collision models, this event challenges previous theor...
