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A scientist built 200 bee hotels. Three years later, they changed what we know
Hotels are usually built for travellers, but some are designed for creatures no bigger than your thumb. Scientists and conservationists have spent years creating these miniature refuges for wild bees in the form of small nesting structures fitted with narrow tunnels that mimic the hollow stems and cavities many solitary bee species naturally use to lay their eggs.
Likely origin of mysterious ‘space balls’ found on Queensland beaches revealed by Australian Space Agency
Organisation says objects consistent with ‘debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere’ The Australian Space Agency has said the six so-called “space balls” found in north Queensland were likely from a “foreign rocket body” that had recently re-entered the atmosphere after being in orbit.The six mysterious objects were found by the public washed ashore in the Forrest Beach area, north of Townsville, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and were suspected of containing haz...
Japan starts 21st Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water discharge
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) on Monday began the 21st discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant since the controversial release program started in August 2023.The latest discharge, the third for fiscal
Isro tests new motor for rocket being built for Gaganyaan parachute trials
India's space agency, Isro, has successfully tested a crucial solid motor for a new sub-orbital vehicle supporting the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. This vehicle will test the crew module's parachute system by lofting it to high altitudes. Modified from a PSLV motor, this test marks a significant step towards safely returning astronauts from space.
Where does Congo River’s huge freshwater flow go? Scientists now know
Recent research has unveiled that giant ocean whirlpools, also termed mesoscale eddies, play a crucial role in transporting freshwater from the Congo River into the Atlantic Ocean. These dynamic currents, characterized by their power and fleeting existence, can capture substantial volumes of river water and transport it hundreds of kilometers away.
AI poses ‘Hiroshima’-style threat to humanity without global rules, says Cooper
Exclusive: Foreign secretary warns of combined risks of AI, climate crisis, irregular migration and foreign interferenceArtificial intelligence poses a “Hiroshima”-style risk to humanity if governments do not agree to curb how it is developed, the foreign secretary has warned.Yvette Cooper urged countries, including the US and China, to agree international rules for AI, telling the Guardian she believes the issue will dominate foreign policy over the next two years. Continue reading...
Australian authorities issue warning over mysterious space balls found washed up on beach - 'Potentially hazardous'
Half a dozen mysterious silver spheres have been found washed up on beaches in Australia, prompting an investigation by the Australian Space Agency into their origins.The objects, which appeared as big chrome balls, were discovered near Forrest Beach in northern Queensland, roughly 80 kilometres north of Townsville over the weekend.Authorities were first alerted on Friday afternoon following reports of the initial piece of debris washing ashore.By Sunday, Queensland Fire Department personnel had...
Nanobubbles tested at Lincoln Memorial pool to clean water and fight algae
Microscopic nanobubbles are being tested at Washington D.C.'s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to combat algal blooms. This innovative technology, injecting ozone nanobubbles, effectively cleans water and holds promise for restoring oxygen-starved lakes and seas suffering from eutrophication. Scientists are exploring methods to deliver these oxygen-carrying bubbles directly to the sediment layer, where critical environmental issues begin, offering a potential solution for vast polluted water bod...
Australia probes mystery space balls that washed up on beach
Australia probes mystery space balls that washed up on beachImage source, Queensland Fire DepartmentImage caption, Queensland authorities warned local residents that the spheres could be "potentially hazardous objects"ByJaroslav LukivPublished8 minutes agoThe authorities in Australia are investigating the origins of mysterious large silver spheres that washed up on a beach in northern Queensland this weekend.The six solid objects discovered on Forrest Beach, to the north of Townsville, are thoug...
Why China wanted to build the 'sky river' across the Tibetan Plateau
In 2018, Chinese state media announced one of the most ambitious weather engineering projects ever proposed, an attempt to build a permanent airborne water corridor across the Tibetan plateau. Named Tianhe, meaning sky river, the plan aimed to use tens of thousands of fuel burning cloud seeding chambers scattered across an area roughly the size of Alaska, seeding clouds with silver iodide in the hope of diverting monsoon moisture from the Indian Ocean toward China's drier northern regions.
British swallowtail split from European cousins much earlier than thought, study finds
Finding that Norfolk butterfly has been distinct subspecies for 200,000 years could transform conservation approachThe endangered swallowtail butterfly Papilio machaon britannicus, which is only regularly found breeding in Britain on the Norfolk Broads, has been a distinct subspecies for at least 200,000 years, according to a study.Smaller, darker in colour and much rarer than the continental swallowtail, britannicus was previously considered to have developed its distinctive form during its con...
Missile vs rocket: What really sets them apart?
Rockets and missiles, often confused, are distinct weapons. Rockets, with ancient origins, provide high-volume, affordable firepower for area saturation. Missiles, born from WWII's V-2, are precision-guided, capable of striking specific targets with advanced technology. While guided rockets blur lines, true missiles possess sophisticated guidance for diverse battlefield roles, making both indispensable for modern warfare's complementary strengths.
Mysterious debris found on Queensland beaches could be ‘space balls’ – and may contain toxic rocket fuel
Australian Space Agency working to confirm origin of objects as space archaeologist says they may be connected to a rocket launchGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSix pieces of suspected space debris found washed up on north Queensland beaches could be “space balls” that are often left over from rocket launches, according to one expert.The Australian Space Agency confirmed on Sunday it was working to determine the nature and origin of the mysterious objects which police...
Gaganyaan mission: Isro's parachute test vehicle clears first ground test
India's space agency, ISRO, has successfully tested the solid motor for its new SOLVE launch vehicle, a crucial step for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. This test platform will aid in validating the crew module's parachute system for safe return. SOLVE, adapted from PSLV technology, will offer flexibility in simulating mission conditions, paving the way for upcoming uncrewed Gaganyaan flights.
Norfolk Island’s unique corals under triple threat from disease, El Niño and now government-approved dredging
Exclusive: Most of the island’s corals are likely to be species that have not been formally described by science, researcher saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastScientists fear unique corals that fringe Australia’s remote Norfolk Island could disappear because of a triple threat of disease, El Niño and a federal government plan to dredge a neighbouring shipping channel.A failure to manage sediment and pollution washing into bays from cattle farming, cleared land along...
Why scratching a mosquito bite makes it so much worse, according to science
Scratching a bug bite or rash may seem irresistible, but it’ll only provide temporary relief and likely prolong the itch, researchers found.Scratching is a natural response to a skin irritant that increases skin inflammation and can make certain diseases, such as eczema, worse. But why scratching exacerbates swelling and whether the evolutionary response offers any benefit is something University of Pittsburgh researchers said remained "poorly explored."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSL...
Hubble spots ‘impossible light’ in deep space, scientists search for answers
Astronomers have spotted a remarkably small yet potent galaxy, MXDFz4. 4, from the universe's nascent stages. This galaxy, observed by Hubble and confirmed by other powerful telescopes, is emitting energetic ultraviolet light, a phenomenon previously thought impossible for its era. This discovery offers an unprecedented glimpse into how early galaxies began to clear the cosmic fog, paving the way for light to travel freely.
Billion-year-old hidden magma system on Mars may have supported life
Scientists have uncovered evidence of a massive magma system beneath Mars' surface, challenging the long-held belief that such complex geological activity requires tectonic plates. NASA's InSight lander data revealed a distinct boundary deep within the Martian crust, suggesting a vast, ancient magma chamber that cooled and crystallized. This discovery hints that the ingredients for life might be more common on Mars than previously thought, prompting a re-evaluation of planetary habitability.
Why Antarctica’s missing 2 million sq km of sea ice is worrying scientists
New research reveals Antarctica's significant, underestimated role in global warming. A study highlights a stronger link between Antarctic sea ice, cloud cover, and Earth's heat storage than previously thought. This suggests the planet may be more sensitive to greenhouse gas emissions, potentially leading to faster warming and more severe climate impacts globally. Urgent emission reductions are crucial to mitigate these risks.
Birdsong data from Merlin ID app to help global biodiversity project
Cornell Lab for Ornithology plans data linkup between app and population monitoring on eBird platformThe Merlin bird ID app will allow users to feed real-time bird identifications into one of the world’s biggest citizen-science biodiversity projects in an update it is hoped will aid conservation of at-risk birds.Since 2021, the free Merlin app, created by the Cornell Lab for Ornithology, has used machine learning to provide an almost instantaneous sound-identification service for birdsong, along...