The Times of India

The International Space Station saw a change of command as Crew 11 handed over duties to Roscosmos due to an astronaut's medical issue. NASA's Mike Fincke passed the station's symbolic key to cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Crew 11, including Fincke, is scheduled to return to Earth on January 15th after a shortened mission.

Pluto, once considered the ninth planet, was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 because it shares its orbital path with other objects. Despite its demotion, this distant world continues to fascinate with its icy surface, thin atmosphere, and unique orbit. NASA's New Horizons mission revealed a surprisingly active and dynamic Pluto, offering clues about the solar system's formation.

Scientists have discovered that plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean is now home to marine life. Coastal animals are unexpectedly surviving and even reproducing on floating debris. This new community, formed on plastic rafts, is altering ocean ecosystems. The findings reveal the high seas are not as empty as previously believed, being reshaped by human waste.

Indian-origin astrophysicist Shri Kulkarni has received the Royal Astronomical Society's Gold Medal, its highest honour, for revolutionizing time-domain astronomy. His groundbreaking work, from discovering millisecond pulsars to developing advanced sky-scanning instruments like ZTF, has transformed our understanding of the universe's dynamic nature. This prestigious award recognizes his immense contributions to astrophysics.

Nalini Joshi, an Indian-origin mathematician, has been named New South Wales Scientist of the Year, the first mathematician to receive this top Australian science honour. Her pioneering work in applied mathematics, particularly in integrable systems, has significantly advanced fields like fibre-optic technology and quantum cryptography, highlighting mathematics' crucial role in addressing modern challenges.

Angel Falls in Venezuela presents a unique spectacle. Its immense height causes water to turn into mist before it reaches the ground. Air resistance and the sheer scale of the fall break the water into droplets. This fine spray then drifts into the surrounding jungle. Some moisture does reach lower levels, nourishing the environment.