Japan is preparing to launch the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, later this year. Made from magnolia wood, the satellite aims to tackle the growing issue of space pollution, particularly the aluminum particles released when traditional metal satellites burn up during re-entry. Developed by researchers from Kyoto University in collaboration with Sumitomo Forestry, the LignoSat
On February 19, 2025, a Falcon 9 rocket fell back toward Earth in an uncontrolled reentry, producing a massive fireball in the skies over Europe. On its way down, the rocket came near a lidar station in Saxony, Germany, where a team of researchers was able to use the remote-sensing instrument to measure the effect
SpaceX can land its rockets in The Bahamas again — and will do so very soon, if all goes according to plan. On Tuesday (Feb. 17), the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAA-B) approved the resumption of Falcon 9 first-stage touchdowns in the nation’s waters. The decision ended a lengthy review spurred by a
Credit: Olga Yastremska/Alamy Calling nanoscientists: your field needs you to try to replicate a landmark finding that quantum dots can act as biosensors inside living cells. As part of the first large-scale effort in the physical sciences to tackle the reproducibility crisis, researchers in France and the Netherlands are offering funds and resources in exchange
For more than two centuries, paleontologists have studied a group of plant eating dinosaurs known as Iguanodontia. These dinosaurs were first identified in the early 1800s and are famous for their beaked mouths and strong hind legs. Now, that long established branch of the dinosaur family tree has gained a surprising new member. Researchers have
Strains and media Strains used are listed in Supplementary Table 2 and plasmids in Supplementary Table 3. Strains and plasmids are available on request. Hanseniaspora strains were grown in standard rich medium (YPD; yeast extract, peptone, dextrose) or in synthetic complete dropout medium at 30 °C. DNA extraction and Nanopore sequencing DNA for nanopore sequencing was
Massive structures of slow, swirling, plume-like patterns were found hidden deep inside Greenland’s ice sheet years ago, but their source remained a mystery. Now, scientists believe they may have tracked down the mechanism responsible for Greenland’s plumes, and it’s wild. A team of international researchers suggests the enigmatic structures lurking beneath the surface may be
NASA’s Artemis II Fueling Test (Official Feed) – YouTube Watch On The second prelaunch test campaign for NASA’s Artemis 2 moon rocket is underway, and one of its most critical operations will happen today (Feb. 19). NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket entered hour 36 of its approximately 50-hour-long wet dress rehearsal (WDR) this morning,
Scientists say they have drilled deeper than ever beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, peering back millions of years to reveal signs it was once, at least in part, open ocean. The vast expanse is estimated to hold enough ice to raise global sea levels by four to five metres (13 to 16 feet), said
Planet Earth is overrun with life. Lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans are teeming with it, from the surfaces all the way down to the bottom, often at depths of miles and miles. The land, both above and below ground, is packed with living organisms of varying size, mass, and complexity, including plants, animals, and fungi.