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New research indicates that bioluminescence, the ability of living organisms to produce light through chemical reactions, originated in animals at least 540 million years ago. This finding, based on an investigation of octocorals, an ancient group of marine invertebrates, predates the previous oldest known instance of the trait by nearly 300 million years. Experts believe bioluminescence has evolved independently at least 94 times in nature and serves various functions, including camouflage, courtship, communication, and hunting.

The Lyrid meteor shower is in full swing, with dozens of shooting stars streaking through the sky each night. The shower is most active from Sunday night to Monday morning, but it will remain visible for the next week. To maximize your chances of spotting the Lyrids, find a spot with low light pollution and lie flat on your back with your feet facing east. After about 30 minutes, your eyes will adjust to the dark and you should start to see the meteors.

Portland Public School (PPS) custodians are facing a request to return overpaid wages earned during the January ice storm. The district’s error in overpaying custodians has caused financial hardship for many, who are now struggling to adjust their budgets. The overpayment issue stems from the lack of a contract at the time of the storm, resulting in confusion over pay calculations. Despite requests for clarification, custodians were not provided with transparent information. As a result, some custodians are expressing concern about future participation in severe weather events if the issue remains unresolved.

NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured stunning images of Jupiter’s moon Io, revealing a lava lake and a towering feature named ‘Steeple Mountain.’ The surface of Io, the most volcanically active world in our solar system, is continuously reshaped by lava, erasing impact craters and creating a smooth topography. The new data provides insights into Io’s unique geological processes and its history of volcanic activity.

NASA’s CloudSat mission, launched in 2006 to study the structure and composition of clouds, has concluded after nearly two decades in Earth orbit. The satellite carried a powerful radar instrument that provided unprecedented 3D images of clouds, revealing their role in precipitation, atmospheric heating and cooling, and storm development. CloudSat worked in tandem with its sister satellite, CALIPSO, which used lidar technology to study the atmosphere. Both satellites have now been decommissioned, but NASA continues to monitor Earth’s atmosphere and climate with a fleet of other satellites.

The venerable Hubble Space Telescope, known for its remarkable astronomical discoveries, has once again proven its scientific prowess by uncovering a new sample of over 1,000 asteroids. This discovery was made possible through the collaborative efforts of citizen scientists, astronomers from the European Space Agency (ESA), and machine learning algorithms, marking a significant advancement in the field of asteroid detection and analysis.

In collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and design firm Hassell, Fortnite has created an immersive simulation called ‘Lunar Horizons.’ This experience allows players to embark on a lunar expedition to the south pole of the moon, mirroring NASA’s upcoming Artemis 3 mission scheduled for 2026. Players assume the role of astronauts, tasked with gathering water and Helium-3 to complete the construction of the ESA Lunar Habitat. ‘Lunar Horizons’ is an educational experience that incorporates real-life details and interactive elements to educate players about space exploration and the challenges faced in moon missions.

Rocket Lab is a private space company founded in 2006 with a mission to democratize access to space. The company’s Electron launch vehicle has successfully deployed over 180 satellites into orbit, making it a major player in the small satellite industry. Rocket Lab is also developing the Neutron rocket, a reusable launch vehicle designed to deploy large spacecraft and satellite constellations. In addition to its launch services, Rocket Lab offers a range of spacecraft design and manufacturing services, making it a comprehensive end-to-end space company.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has criticized the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program and other educational policies ahead of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s visit to Little Rock. In a letter to Cardona, Sanders and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Olivia expressed concerns about the legality and fairness of the student loan forgiveness program and the mishandling of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program.

Research suggests that Western Canada’s caribou populations are rebounding after decades of decline. The study found that a 52% increase in caribou numbers since 2020 is primarily attributed to the culling of hundreds of wolves. While wolf culling has proven effective in increasing caribou growth rates, it remains a controversial measure, raising concerns about animal welfare and its reliance on killing another wild animal. Despite conservation agreements, habitat concerns persist, necessitating continued wolf culling as a stopgap measure in the absence of effective habitat restoration efforts.