SpaceX and NASA are preparing for the Crew-9 launch, carrying an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Station (ISS). However, a potential storm could delay the launch scheduled for Thursday, September 26th. The launch will mark the ninth crew rotation mission to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
A new comet, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), is expected to be visible to the naked eye this week, offering a rare opportunity to witness a celestial spectacle. The comet will be brightest on September 27th and visible in the pre-dawn sky for several mornings, potentially reaching the brightness of the top 20 stars. Though comets can be unpredictable, this celestial event is a must-see for stargazers.
A recently discovered duck-billed dinosaur, named Coahuilasaurus lipani, has been found to have a unique and impressive schnoz, reminiscent of Yoshi from Super Mario World. The dinosaur also possesses unusual tooth-like spikes on the roof of its mouth, which likely helped it eat tough plants in the tropical forests of Mexico 73 million years ago. This discovery challenges the assumption that dinosaur species had wide-ranging territories, suggesting that they may have been more geographically localized than previously thought.
NASA’s Goldstone Solar System Radar captured images of a skyscraper-sized asteroid, 2024 ON, revealing it to be a unique double-asteroid shaped like a tumbling snowman. This ‘contact binary’ poses no immediate threat to Earth, but highlights the importance of NASA’s asteroid tracking program.
The recent case of a person in Missouri contracting H5N1 bird flu without known exposure to infected animals raises concerns about the virus’s spread and the effectiveness of current tracking methods. The case highlights the need for more extensive testing of cattle and raw milk to better understand the virus’s potential for human-to-human transmission.
Kerala, India, has reported its first case of the new Clade 1b strain of Mpox, prompting the state government to release revised guidelines for prevention and treatment. The case, a 38-year-old man who recently returned from the UAE, is currently stable. The state has also strengthened monitoring at airports and increased testing facilities.
Researchers have discovered that semi-aquatic lizards called anoles can create air bubbles on their foreheads to breathe underwater, allowing them to stay submerged for extended periods and evade predators. This remarkable adaptation, previously unknown in lizards, has been observed in at least 19 species of anoles, including the water anole.
Scientists have successfully germinated a 1,000-year-old seed discovered in the Judean Desert, revealing a tree that could be linked to the biblical ‘tsori’— a resin with healing properties mentioned in the Bible. This ancient tree, dubbed ‘Sheba,’ may hold the key to unlocking a long-standing mystery about a lost lineage mentioned in the Bible.
India is at the forefront of Generative AI (GenAI) adoption, with 81% of organizations embracing this technology, according to a new report by Elastic. This surge in GenAI adoption is fueling investment in AI initiatives and pushing IT service providers to integrate GenAI into their core development processes. The report highlights how AI is revolutionizing engineering workflows, accelerating project timelines, and prompting organizations to prioritize AI upskilling programs.
The Cave of Swimmers in Egypt’s Western Desert reveals stunning rock paintings depicting people swimming, offering a glimpse into a time when the Sahara was a vibrant oasis. These paintings, dating back 6,000 to 9,000 years, challenge our perception of the desert’s history and provide insight into the lives of those who lived there.
