Artemis 2 mission update: NASA prepares first manned Artemis mission to the moon, deployment imminent
NASA is making final preparations for the imminent launch of its Artemis 2 giant lunar rocket, with crewed flights around the moon scheduled to begin as early as February 6. The Artemis mission aims to return humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The program is also scheduled to […]
Parkfield, San Andreas searches for ‘crystal ball’ to predict earthquakes in advance
It’s currently impossible to predict earthquakes before they occur, but scientists are inching closer to doing so with new and innovative ways to monitor the movement of the Earth’s crust. In this excerpt from When Worlds Quake: The Quest to Understand the Interior of Earth and Beyond (Princeton University Press, 2026), author Hrvoje Tokarčić, Chair […]
Iceman mummy Ötzi carried high-risk strains of HPV, study finds
A new study has found that the 5,300-year-old iceman mummy Ötzi and a prehistoric man who lived in Siberia 45,000 years ago both carried cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Scientists analyzed ancient genetic data previously collected from these people and found that both were likely infected with HPV16, a preprint paper posted on bioRxiv […]
Is it okay to eat too much protein?
The U.S. federal government has just released a new version of the food pyramid, recommending that Americans eat more protein than previously recommended. Previously, the recommended daily protein intake was approximately 0.8g per kg of body weight. This recommendation was aimed at meeting the nutritional needs of the average sedentary adult. New dietary guidelines now […]
Ethereal ice structures swirl next to Chicago during extreme cold waves accelerated by the polar vortex — Earth seen from space
simple facts Where is it? Chicago, Illinois [41.85802928, -87.57938545] What is in the photo? Swirling ice on the shores of Lake Michigan Which satellite took the photo?Landsat 8 When was it taken? January 24, 2025 This striking satellite photo shows a rippling ribbon of ethereal ice swirling like a turbulent cloud on the surface of […]
DNA from ancient viral infections aids embryo development, mouse study finds
A new study shows that a swath of DNA left in the mouse genome by an ancient viral infection is crucial for early development in the womb. The viral DNA turns on genes that give cells in early mouse embryos the potential to become almost any type of cell in the body, according to a […]
Metal compound identified as potential new antibiotic thanks to robot performing ‘click chemistry’
Iridium metal complexes are an unconventional but promising new antibiotic, a new study has found. The compound is one of more than 600 produced in a study published in Nature Communications in December. The researchers used robots to synthesize compounds, combining building blocks of metal and organic molecules to generate a huge chemical library in […]
Astronomers may have already discovered the “Great Comet of 2026,” and it may soon be visible to the naked eye.
2026 may be less than two weeks away, but a new comet is already leading the way to becoming this year’s “Great Comet.” The much-anticipated ice ball may be visible to the naked eye and is scheduled to make its closest approach to us within four months from now. Scientists discovered the incoming comet, named […]
Tuumba Majali Great Mother: North Macedonian box-shaped goddess figurine designed to protect Stone Age homes 7,800 years ago
simple facts Name: Tumba Majali Great Mother What is it: clay sculpture Birthplace: Skopje, North Macedonia Creation date: 6th millennium BC In 1981, a clay sculpture called the Great Mother was discovered in an ancient village in North Macedonia known as Thumba Majali. The unusual cubic shape of the woman’s lower body is thought to […]
Monumental tomb discovered in Türkiye may belong to Midas royal family
An ancient tomb discovered in Turkey may have been built for a member of the family of the legendary King Midas, who lived in the 8th century BC and was famous for his mythical “touch of gold.” The probable royal tombs of the ancient Kingdom of Phrygia (1200 BC to 675 BC) are located more […]