In the Wild West of corporate space travel, humans could return to the moon. But does it bring diplomatic challenges?
When Pittsburgh-based company Astrobiotic Technology launched its fuel-efficient, NASA-backed flight to the moon, hopes were high that it would be the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years. But a fuel leak resulted in the company pulling the.....»»
Near-extinct Caribbean reptile makes epic comeback
The Sombrero ground lizard, endemic to a tiny Caribbean island near Anguilla, is a critically endangered reptile. In 2018, it was estimated that fewer than 100 individuals of the species were left in the wild—it was on the very brink of extinction......»»
Reflected moonlight found to make barn owls less visible to prey
A team of biology and optics researchers affiliated with a host of institutions in Spain has found that the unique undercoating of the barn owl helps to make it less visible to prey when flying under the moon and starlit skies......»»
How to watch the final ISS spacewalk of 2024
The space station will host its third and final spacewalk of 2024 on Thursday, December 19. Here's how to watch it ........»»
Boeing Starliner astronauts will stay in space a little while longer
Two astronauts who traveled to space on the troubled Boeing Starliner spacecraft will have their stay extended a little longer......»»
Amazon’s RTO delays exemplify why workers get so mad about mandates
Amazon lacks space to accommodate its entire workforce. Amazon announced in September that it will require workers to be in the office five days a week starting in January. Emplo.....»»
Boomerang workers: helpful returnees or resented colleagues?
While movement from job to job throughout one's career is expected, little research has evaluated the effects of hiring boomerang workers—those who return to a former employer. A new study by a University of California, Davis, researcher and collea.....»»
Antineutrino detection gets a boost with novel plastic scintillator
How do you find and measure nuclear particles, like antineutrinos, that travel near the speed of light?.....»»
Researchers explore, sample and interpret lunar volatiles in polar cold traps
The moon has both a South and North Pole, but just how cold are they? For context, Antarctica's coastal temperatures average around 14°F (-10°C), while the interior drops to -76°F (-60°C), making Earth's South Pole one of the coldest places on th.....»»
Astronaut-on-a-chip: Multi-organ tissue chips simulate space radiation"s impact on human health
As astronauts venture further into space, their exposure to harmful radiation rises. Researchers from Columbia University are simulating the effects of space radiation here on Earth to determine its impact on human physiology using multi-organ tissue.....»»
Play for the planet: Five climate change games for the festive season
Although most people in the UK are worried about climate change, disagreement about what to do can be polarizing, especially at Christmas when norms around travel, presents and waste are at the forefront of people's attention. People who are concerne.....»»
Researchers address material challenges to make commercial fusion power a reality
Imagine if we could take the energy of the sun, put it in a container, and use it to provide green, sustainable power for the world. Creating commercial fusion power plants would essentially make this idea a reality. However, there are several scient.....»»
Old moon, young crust: Violent volcanism may mean the moon is much older than previously thought
After its formation, the moon may have been the scene of such immense volcanic activity that its entire crust melted several times and was completely churned through. At that time, the moon orbited significantly closer to Earth than today. The result.....»»
Aerosols could be weakening summertime circulation in the Northern Hemisphere
Over the past several decades, summer jet streams (or west to east wind flow) and weather systems in the Northern Hemisphere have weakened. Projections suggest the trend will continue, which could make extreme heat events more likely and affect air q.....»»
Flying this holiday season? Here"s why air travel makes us so cranky—and what to do about it
The holidays are coming, airports are packed and emotions are running high. You've probably seen it or even been part of it: that tense moment when a passenger snaps at a flight attendant, or a near-meltdown over a seat reclining too far. Why does fl.....»»
How a giant prehistoric elephant skull helped untangle an evolutionary mystery
About 400,000 years ago, early humans in Europe, Asia and Africa lived alongside giant straight-tusked elephants, far bigger than their modern-day cousins. Their evolution has long been a mystery to paleontologists, but an extraordinary, enormous and.....»»
UK researchers call for better governance to tackle "wild west" of esports sponsorships
The rapidly growing field of esports needs a comprehensive and agreed governance framework to tackle "unhealthy" sponsorships to protect both players and fans, researchers have said......»»
How bad will it get? Political scientists have a pessimism bias, study finds
The past decade has seen historic challenges for U.S. democracy and an intense focus by scholars on events that seem to signal democratic decline. But new research released Dec. 17 finds that a bias toward pessimism among U.S. political scientists of.....»»
Bad gift ideas: Ferrets and other exotic wild mammals as pets
As the festive season approaches, the demand for pets as holiday gifts tends to spike. People can be drawn to exotic or unique animals, hoping to surprise their loved ones with something special......»»
Spiderweb protocluster captured by Webb shows supermassive black holes can halt star formation
An international research team has used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe massive galaxies discovered by the Subaru Telescope in a corner of the early universe known as the Spiderweb protocluster. The JWST results confirm what had been.....»»
Dormant massive black hole in the early universe challenges existing models
Scientists have spotted a massive black hole in the early universe that is "napping" after stuffing itself with too much food. Like a bear gorging itself on salmon before hibernating for the winter, or a much-needed nap after Christmas dinner, this b.....»»