Health & Fitness / The Times of India
Astronomers have identified a tiny quasi-moon, 2025 PN7, orbiting near Earth for about 60 years. This 62-foot-wide near-Earth asteroid follows a solar orbit synchronized with Earth. Discovered in 2025 by Pan-STARRS, its archival observations trace back to 2014. Its study provides insights into near-Earth objects, orbital dynamics, and potential space missions.
Supermassive black holes discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope in the early universe challenge traditional formation theories. Primordial black holes, formed shortly after the Big Bang, are proposed as seeds for these cosmic giants, potentially explaining their rapid growth. Scientists are exploring observational evidence and simulations to confirm this theory, which could also shed light on dark matter.
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, India's first on the ISS, experienced 'white nights' during the Axiom-4 mission, where the sun never fully set. This phenomenon, caused by the station's beta angle, challenged the crew's sense of time and routine. Besides the awe, persistent sunlight posed operational hurdles, affecting cooling and solar array stress.
In July 2025, NASA's Guardian system detected a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake near Kamchatka. Utilizing atmospheric disturbances and GNSS signals, Guardian issued alerts up to 30 minutes before landfall. This experimental technology enhances traditional warning systems, offering near-real-time, global monitoring and marking a significant advancement in disaster preparedness.
A US court supports Space Exploration Technologies Corp. plans. It dismisses a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration approval. This allows Starship rocket operations to continue in South Texas. The court finds the FAA properly assessed environmental impacts. Conservation groups had concerns about wildlife. The ruling enables SpaceX to proceed with its space exploration goals.
NASA's Perseverance rover has detected compelling evidence of potential past life on Mars within Jezero Crater. The rover's analysis of a mudstone core revealed minerals and textures indicative of microbial activity, including vivianite and greigite. While not definitive proof, these findings represent a significant step in the search for life beyond Earth, pending further analysis of returned samples.
Scientists have successfully identified the source of the vibrant blue color in Jackson Pollock's Number 1A, 1948 as manganese blue, a synthetic pigment. This confirmation, achieved through laser analysis of paint scrapings, marks the first documented use of this specific blue by Pollock. The findings offer insights into Pollock's techniques and contribute to art conservation efforts.
Asteroid 2025 FA22, significantly larger than Delhi's Qutub Minar, will make a close approach to Earth on September 18, 2025. While NASA confirms it poses no collision threat, its size and proximity offer a valuable opportunity for scientific study. Traveling at approximately 24,127 miles per hour, this flyby allows researchers to refine orbital models and improve planetary defense strategies.
Lunar eclipses, transforming the Moon into a copper disc, have fascinated humanity for ages. Some eclipses offer brief glimpses, while others extend for over an hour, captivating observers with their beauty and rarity. NASA's records reveal the ten longest total lunar eclipses, connecting ancient civilizations to modern stargazers in awe of the cosmos' rhythms.
India's first astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla, shared insights on the challenges of eating and drinking in space, emphasizing the need for slow, deliberate movements due to microgravity. He highlighted the use of special packaging and techniques to manage food and liquids, while also clarifying that digestion functions normally in space through peristalsis.
Get ready for a celestial treat. A partial solar eclipse will occur on September 21, 2025. The Moon will obscure a portion of the Sun. It will create a crescent shape. The eclipse coincides with the September equinox. It will be visible in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Pacific. Online streams will allow global viewing.
SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman's upgraded Cygnus XL on a Falcon 9, delivering over 5 tons of supplies to the ISS, including spare parts, research material, and holiday treats. The lengthened Cygnus XL, designed for increased cargo capacity, is set to be captured by the station's robotic arm on Wednesday.
A new study reveals solar flares can reach a staggering 108 million degrees Fahrenheit, six times hotter than previously thought. This discovery resolves a decades-old mystery about broadened spectral lines in flare light, indicating superheated ions. The findings are crucial for refining space weather forecasting, protecting satellites, astronauts, and global communication systems from solar storm hazards.