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NASA Partners With SpaceX To Launch NEO Surveyor, a Mission To Detect Asteroid Threats
NASA has selected SpaceX for the launch of its NEO Surveyor spacecraft in 2027. The mission, valued at $100 million, will use a Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the spacecraft to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1. The infrared telescope will help detect and track hazardous near-Earth objects, including difficult-to-spot dark asteroids. This mission builds on...
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NASA Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Not Hit Earth, Risk Reduced to Zero
NASA has reassured the public that asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer poses any threat to Earth. Initially, the asteroid had a 1-in-32 chance of impact, making it a Level 3 risk on the Torino Scale. However, new observations have reduced the probability to zero. The asteroid will make close flybys in 2028 and 2032, providing scientists with an opportunity...
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NASA Lowers Impact Probability of Asteroid 2024 YR4 After New Data
Asteroid 2024 YR4, initially flagged as a potential threat due to its size and energy potential, has been downgraded after refined observations. NASA now estimates just a 0.28 percent chance of impact in 2032, significantly reducing concerns. The rapid fluctuation in risk assessment was expected, as ongoing astronomical observations provide more pr...
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Telescope Captures "City-Killer" Asteroid, NASA Tracking Potential Threat
A newly discovered asteroid has climbed to the top of NASA's impact risk list after fresh observations doubled its chances of striking Earth in 2032.
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May 2024 Solar Storm Triggers Unusual Radiation Belts, Raising Space Safety Concerns
A significant solar storm in May 2024 led to the creation of two temporary radiation belts, detected by the CIRBE satellite in June. One belt contained high-energy electrons, while the other was rich in protons, a rare occurrence. While the electron belt dissipated in three months, the proton-dominated belt remains, potentially affecting space miss...
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This Asteroid Could Hit Earth In 2032, Threatening To Wipe Out A City
NASA has detected an asteroid called 2024 YR4, which has a 1 in 83 chance of impacting Earth in 2032, potentially releasing 8 megatons of energy and devastating a major city, although it's too small to end human civilization.
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Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a Small but Notable Chance of Earth Impact in 2032
NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a newly discovered 55-metre-wide object with a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If it collides, it could release energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT, enough to cause serious regional damage. Currently ranked as a Level 3 threat on the Torino Scale, its classificati...
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Southern California's Drought Crisis Fuels Wildfire Threats and Water Shortages
Southern California is grappling with severe drought conditions that have left soil moisture levels at an all-time low. In January 2025, wildfires ravaged the Los Angeles region, fueled by strong winds and parched vegetation. While Northern California’s water levels remain stable, Southern California faces significant water shortages, exacerbated...
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Is Global Scientific Progress Under Threat? Why China Is Central To It
Amid heightened tensions between the US and China, the two countries signed a bilateral science and technology pact on Dec 13, 2024. The event was billed as a "renewal" of a 45-year-old pact to encourage cooperation, but that may be misleading.
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Study Warns Saltwater Intrusion Threatens Global Coastal Groundwater by 2100
A NASA-DOD study indicates that by 2100, 77% of global coastal aquifers will face saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels and reduced groundwater recharge. This phenomenon, caused by shifting fresh and saltwater dynamics, threatens water quality, agriculture, and infrastructure. Low-lying regions, including Southeast Asia, the U.S. Eastern Sea...
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Bird Flu Poised To Spark The Next Global Pandemic, Experts Warn Of Rising Risks
Scientists identify mutation that could facilitate H5N1 "bird flu" virus infection and potential transmission in humans.
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Polar Bears in Alaska Face Rising Pathogen Threats Due to Climate Change
Polar bears in the Chukchi Sea are increasingly exposed to pathogens like Toxoplasma gondii, brucellosis, and canine distemper due to warming climates. Researchers revealed a significant rise in pathogen antibodies in polar bears since the 1990s, linking this trend to reduced sea ice, altered diets, and human interaction. The findings raise concern...
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California Announces Plan to Protect Joshua Trees from Wildfires and Climate Change Threats
A new plan released by California's Department of Fish and Wildlife outlines strategies to protect Joshua trees from threats including wildfires, human development and climate change. The plan includes land conservation, wildfire management and relocation of trees where necessary. It aims to safeguard the species for the future amid rising temperat...
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ISS Successfully Executes Collision Avoidance Maneuver Amid Rising Space Junk Threat
The International Space Station (ISS) conducted its 39th collision avoidance maneuver to evade space debris from a 2015 satellite breakup. The adjustment in orbit prevented a potential close encounter within 2.5 miles of the ISS. Experts attribute increasing debris risks to factors such as satellite fragmentation events and solar activity. Measures...
-
Space Debris Accumulation in the Stratosphere Threatens Major Environmental Risks
The growing presence of satellite space junk, as more satellites enter Earth's orbit, has raised concerns about environmental impacts. Pollution from burnt-up satellites contributes to changes in atmospheric chemistry, with metals like aluminium potentially harming the ozone layer. Scientists warn that satellite re-entries are contributing to a ris...
-
NASA Partners With SpaceX To Launch NEO Surveyor, a Mission To Detect Asteroid Threats
NASA has selected SpaceX for the launch of its NEO Surveyor spacecraft in 2027. The mission, valued at $100 million, will use a Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the spacecraft to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1. The infrared telescope will help detect and track hazardous near-Earth objects, including difficult-to-spot dark asteroids. This mission builds on...
-
NASA Confirms Asteroid 2024 YR4 Will Not Hit Earth, Risk Reduced to Zero
NASA has reassured the public that asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer poses any threat to Earth. Initially, the asteroid had a 1-in-32 chance of impact, making it a Level 3 risk on the Torino Scale. However, new observations have reduced the probability to zero. The asteroid will make close flybys in 2028 and 2032, providing scientists with an opportunity...
-
NASA Lowers Impact Probability of Asteroid 2024 YR4 After New Data
Asteroid 2024 YR4, initially flagged as a potential threat due to its size and energy potential, has been downgraded after refined observations. NASA now estimates just a 0.28 percent chance of impact in 2032, significantly reducing concerns. The rapid fluctuation in risk assessment was expected, as ongoing astronomical observations provide more pr...
-
Telescope Captures "City-Killer" Asteroid, NASA Tracking Potential Threat
A newly discovered asteroid has climbed to the top of NASA's impact risk list after fresh observations doubled its chances of striking Earth in 2032.
-
May 2024 Solar Storm Triggers Unusual Radiation Belts, Raising Space Safety Concerns
A significant solar storm in May 2024 led to the creation of two temporary radiation belts, detected by the CIRBE satellite in June. One belt contained high-energy electrons, while the other was rich in protons, a rare occurrence. While the electron belt dissipated in three months, the proton-dominated belt remains, potentially affecting space miss...
-
This Asteroid Could Hit Earth In 2032, Threatening To Wipe Out A City
NASA has detected an asteroid called 2024 YR4, which has a 1 in 83 chance of impacting Earth in 2032, potentially releasing 8 megatons of energy and devastating a major city, although it's too small to end human civilization.
-
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a Small but Notable Chance of Earth Impact in 2032
NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a newly discovered 55-metre-wide object with a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If it collides, it could release energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT, enough to cause serious regional damage. Currently ranked as a Level 3 threat on the Torino Scale, its classificati...
-
Southern California's Drought Crisis Fuels Wildfire Threats and Water Shortages
Southern California is grappling with severe drought conditions that have left soil moisture levels at an all-time low. In January 2025, wildfires ravaged the Los Angeles region, fueled by strong winds and parched vegetation. While Northern California’s water levels remain stable, Southern California faces significant water shortages, exacerbated...
-
Is Global Scientific Progress Under Threat? Why China Is Central To It
Amid heightened tensions between the US and China, the two countries signed a bilateral science and technology pact on Dec 13, 2024. The event was billed as a "renewal" of a 45-year-old pact to encourage cooperation, but that may be misleading.
-
Study Warns Saltwater Intrusion Threatens Global Coastal Groundwater by 2100
A NASA-DOD study indicates that by 2100, 77% of global coastal aquifers will face saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels and reduced groundwater recharge. This phenomenon, caused by shifting fresh and saltwater dynamics, threatens water quality, agriculture, and infrastructure. Low-lying regions, including Southeast Asia, the U.S. Eastern Sea...
-
Bird Flu Poised To Spark The Next Global Pandemic, Experts Warn Of Rising Risks
Scientists identify mutation that could facilitate H5N1 "bird flu" virus infection and potential transmission in humans.
-
Polar Bears in Alaska Face Rising Pathogen Threats Due to Climate Change
Polar bears in the Chukchi Sea are increasingly exposed to pathogens like Toxoplasma gondii, brucellosis, and canine distemper due to warming climates. Researchers revealed a significant rise in pathogen antibodies in polar bears since the 1990s, linking this trend to reduced sea ice, altered diets, and human interaction. The findings raise concern...
-
California Announces Plan to Protect Joshua Trees from Wildfires and Climate Change Threats
A new plan released by California's Department of Fish and Wildlife outlines strategies to protect Joshua trees from threats including wildfires, human development and climate change. The plan includes land conservation, wildfire management and relocation of trees where necessary. It aims to safeguard the species for the future amid rising temperat...
-
ISS Successfully Executes Collision Avoidance Maneuver Amid Rising Space Junk Threat
The International Space Station (ISS) conducted its 39th collision avoidance maneuver to evade space debris from a 2015 satellite breakup. The adjustment in orbit prevented a potential close encounter within 2.5 miles of the ISS. Experts attribute increasing debris risks to factors such as satellite fragmentation events and solar activity. Measures...
-
Space Debris Accumulation in the Stratosphere Threatens Major Environmental Risks
The growing presence of satellite space junk, as more satellites enter Earth's orbit, has raised concerns about environmental impacts. Pollution from burnt-up satellites contributes to changes in atmospheric chemistry, with metals like aluminium potentially harming the ozone layer. Scientists warn that satellite re-entries are contributing to a ris...
