Science/Tech / The Times of India
NASA and SpaceX have postponed the Crew-11 launch to the ISS due to adverse weather in Florida, rescheduling for August 1, 2025. This mission, carrying astronauts from the US, Japan, and Russia, will be the first NASA SpaceX launch broadcast on Netflix. The six-month mission will focus on microgravity research and ISS operations, continuing NASAs Commercial Crew Programme.
Scientists have engineered a device that eliminates over 99% of carcinogenic PFAS from drinking water within five minutes. This innovative tool, featuring a metal-organic framework (MOF), not only purifies water but also glows upon detecting contamination, enabling real-time monitoring. The reusable filter maintains high efficiency even after multiple uses, offering a sustainable solution to combat widespread PFAS pollution affecting millions.
A recent 8.8-magnitude earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, forcing cruise ships into emergency mode. While deep ocean waters offer relative safety, ships near coastlines face significant risks. Some ships evacuated ports immediately, leaving passengers behind, highlighting the difficult decisions made during natural disasters and the importance of passenger awareness.
A viral rumour about total darkness on August 2, 2025, is creating panic. NASA clarifies no such event is scheduled. The rumour is a confusion with the August 2, 2027, total solar eclipse. This eclipse will be visible across Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. It is expected to last over six minutes.
Australia's first attempt to launch a domestically built rocket into orbit ended in failure as the Eris vehicle crashed shortly after liftoff from Queensland. Despite the setback, Gilmour Space Technologies, the company behind the launch, hailed it as a milestone, noting the successful ignition of all four engines.
Lucid Motors, a Saudi-backed electric vehicle manufacturer, set a new Guinness World Record by driving its Lucid Air Grand Touring 1,205 km (749 miles) on a single charge from St. Moritz, Switzerland to Munich, Germany. This surpasses the previous record by 160 km and demonstrates the cars real-world range and efficiency in diverse conditions.
NASA and ISRO are set to launch the NISAR satellite on July 30, 2025, aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket. This collaborative mission will employ advanced radar technology to monitor Earth's environmental changes, including land deformation, glacier movement, and ecosystem health. NISAR's data will benefit global climate research, disaster management, and agricultural planning.
Brain scans in your 40s might reveal lifespan. Duke University research shows brain structure changes indicate biological aging. The DunedinPACE tool analyzes these changes. It helps predict cognitive decline and diseases. Early detection enables preventative care. This promotes longer, healthier lives. Brain imaging could become a routine health assessment. It helps in slowing age-related decline.
The possibility of human reproduction in space raises significant biological and technological challenges. Microgravity impacts fetal development and poses logistical difficulties for childbirth, while cosmic radiation threatens DNA and increases the risk of miscarriage and developmental abnormalities. Protecting against radiation and understanding the effects of weightlessness on fetal and infant development are crucial before attempting space pregnancy.
Growing plants in space, once a distant dream, is now vital for long-duration missions. Astronauts have successfully cultivated zinnias, sunflowers, and wheat on space stations, offering fresh food, psychological comfort, and life-support benefits. NASA's Veggie project and earlier Soviet experiments demonstrate the feasibility of space farming, paving the way for sustainable deep space exploration and reducing reliance on Earth-based supplies.
The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite is scheduled to launch on July 30 aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket from Sriharikota. Following launch, a meticulous deployment sequence will unfold over several weeks, including the deployment of a massive 12-meter radar antenna. After a 90-day commissioning phase, Nisar will commence its science operations, capturing crucial data on Earth's surface changes using its L-band and S-band frequencies.
The world's top court is poised to tell governments what their legal obligations are to tackle global warming, and possibly outline consequences for polluters that cause climate harm to vulnerable countries. But the potentially more controversial request is what -- if any -- legal consequences there might be for major polluters who cause severe climate damages.
The Delhi Bird Atlas identified 221 bird species across Delhi's diverse habitats in its first year, thanks to a citizen-led project involving over 200 volunteers. Achieving 100% coverage of mapping grids, the Atlas, supported by the Forest Department and conservation organizations, utilizes a seasonal, grid-based approach to map birds and share data via eBird.
Canada's wildfires have burned more than 13.6 million acres (5.5 million hectares) this year, an area roughly the size of Croatia, officials said Friday as the country endures one of its most destructive fire seasons. According to figures dating back to 1983, Canada's second most destructive fire season was 1995, when 17.5 million acres burned, a mark that may be passed this year.
One billion Africans have to cook on open fires or with fuel that is hazardous to their health and the environment, the International Energy Agency said Friday. Two billion people across the world still cook on open fires or with rudimentary stoves fed by wood, charcoal, agricultural waste or manure, the IEA report found.