Science

In an unexpected outcome, the Covid-19 lockdowns, which reduced air pollution worldwide, were linked to a sharp rise in methane levels, a powerful greenhouse gas, according to a study published on Thursday in the journal Science.Researchers found that methane levels increased at a record pace in the early 2020s because the atmosphere’s natural “cleaning agents”,…

Indian-origin scientist Meha Jain of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability has won the Arizona State University–Science Prize for Transformational Impact. The honour recognises early-career researchers whose work delivers real social impact. Jain was awarded for using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to study how smallholder farmers respond to climate stress. Her…

Video released by Nasa on Wednesday captures glowing green ribbons of aurora lighting up Earth from space. The timelapse footage, taken from the International Space Station, shows the lights shimmering across the planet as a thin orange line traces the edge of Earth’s atmosphere.The striking visuals come as the Sun continues a period of increased…

Imagine a jet of energy so powerful that it makes even Star Wars’ Death Star look tiny. That’s reportedly what astronomers are seeing from a supermassive black hole 665 million light-years away. The jet, nicknamed Jetty McJetface, is moving at almost the speed of light and is made from the remains of a star torn…

NASA’s internship programs reportedly give students a chance to experience real space science. You don’t need to be a seasoned astronaut or even have graduated yet. It’s not just about dreaming of rockets or Mars; you might actually get hands-on with real projects. These internships are open to college-level students, and it seems they’re not…

NASA maps how Earth’s glaciers speed up and slow down through the year Glaciers have never been still. They move again and again often in step with the seasons. Scientists have known this for a long time, mostly by watching individual glaciers or small regions. What has been harder to see is how this behaviour…

Jupiter is slightly smaller than scientists believed for decades: NASA’s Juno mission finally explains why (Image Source – NASA) Jupiter has long been described as a swollen, fast-spinning giant, but its exact dimensions have rested on ageing measurements. For decades, scientists relied on radio signals gathered briefly by Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft in the late…

As talk of Mars colonisation and permanent lunar bases accelerates, scientists are issuing a stark warning: human reproduction in space is nowhere near safe enough to even be considered.Despite decades of spaceflight, reproduction beyond Earth has never been attempted, and experts say the biological risks involved could endanger not just astronauts, but future generations. A…

A promising pancreatic cancer therapy developed by Spanish scientist Mariano Barbacid has sparked global attention for its striking results in mice. Beyond the scientific breakthrough, the project is also making headlines for the unusual way it is being funded. After preclinical success, the research has encountered a familiar obstacle: securing the substantial funding required to…

At first glance, it looks like something generated by AI or photoshopped for social media: a single tree bursting into dozens of differently coloured blossoms and, months later, yielding an improbable mix of peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and more. But the so-called “Tree of 40 Fruit” is entirely real. It is the result of a…