During a field trip in the lowland forests of Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park, researchers observed a new predation event: an ornate hawk eagle capturing and killing a great crested owl. Predation of a crested owl (Lophostrix cristata) by an ornate hawk eagle (Spizaetus ornatus), to the best of scientists’ knowledge, has never been documented … Read more
Japan has successfully launched a spacecraft on an unprecedented mission to bring back samples from one of Mars’ moons that scientists hope will shed light on the origins of the solar system and life on Earth. The Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) spacecraft, powered by Japan’s flagship H3 rocket, lifted off before dawn from Tanegashima island … Read more
A meteor streaks across the sky over a desert in China during the Orionid meteor shower on October 22, 2023. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images) The Orionid meteor shower peaks this week and promises to be one of the most dazzling displays of the year. And while some of you will have clear skies, rain and … Read more
There is a deep concern underlying the fundamental physics of existence: the Universe may not be as stable as we would ideally like it to be. Quantum field theory describes invisible quantum fields around us, which produce subatomic vibrations that manifest as particles and matter. These fields tend to seek the lowest possible energy state, … Read more
In September 2022, a NASA spacecraft violently crashed into a small asteroid as a test of planetary defense. Now, a new probe is ready to examine the remains by encountering the space rock for a closer look. The European Space Agency (ESA) launched its Hera mission on October 7, 2024, as a crucial follow-up to … Read more
Dear readers, faithful companions of the flashlight and basketball: First of all, I must apologize for a long silence. If you haven’t read anything of mine for several weeks, it’s neither because of laziness nor because of forgetfulness. It is because he was obliged to duties that, although less poetic than the stars, are no … Read more
DALLAS – An American biotechnology company said it is moving toward its goal of resurrecting the dodo, the famous flightless bird with a large hooked beak, and returning it to its native Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, where humans drove it to extinction in the 17th century. Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences said Wednesday that it has … Read more
The largely unexplored moons of Mars are getting their moment in the spotlight as a first-of-its-kind mission prepares to take off. The red planet has many unsolved enigmas, but the Martian moon exploration project led by Japan will focus solely on two of the greatest curiosities that orbit nearby. Phobos and Deimos have long baffled … Read more
Those who get up early Tuesday morning may have another chance to spot a space jellyfish, the bright, expanding cloud of rocket exhaust that can turn a routine launch into an extraordinary sight in the predawn sky. SpaceX is targeting 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, for the launch of its Bandwagon-5 mission from Cape … Read more
Materials in a superconducting state are of great interest to scientists. This is due to rare properties (mainly the ability to conduct electricity with zero resistance, without heat loss) that promise to transform computing, energy networks and transportation. This phenomenon occurs when free electrons condense into a low-energy quantum state at very cold temperatures, pairing … Read more