Science Alert
Catch up on the latest science news, from space and technology to life and environmental research- all the discoveries shaping our world today.
Updated: 1 hour 18 min ago
How a silent microbe survives the harshest sterilisation on Earth
A tiny bacterium, Tersicoccus phoenicis, is changing how scientists view cleanliness in secure areas. This microbe survives by entering a dormant state, evading detection by normal tests. This discovery impacts space missions and industries on Earth. New methods are needed to ensure true sterility. This organism's resilience is a significant finding.
First humans reached Australia 60,000 years ago: How they arrived is finally clear
A groundbreaking genetic study confirms modern humans arrived in Australia approximately 60,000 years ago, settling a long-standing archaeological debate. Researchers analyzed thousands of genomes, revealing two distinct migration routes into the ancient continent of Sahul. This deep history aligns with Aboriginal oral traditions, showcasing advanced seafaring skills of early ancestors.
Physicists prove universe cannot be a simulation: New study debunks simulation hypothesis
Scientists at the University of British Columbia Okanagan say they’ve found a mathematical limit that shuts down the Simulation Hypothesis entirely. Drawing on Gödel’s incompleteness theorem, their study argues that parts of reality cannot be generated by any algorithm, which means no computer, however advanced, could ever build a universe like ours. The obstacle isn’t processing power. It’s logic itself.
NASA’s SWOT satellite captures first detailed look at 2025 tsunami, revealing mid-ocean waves and dispersive behaviour
A powerful 2025 Kuril-Kamchatka earthquake generated a Pacific-wide tsunami, captured by NASA's SWOT satellite. These unprecedented high-resolution images reveal complex, braided wave patterns, challenging the assumption that large tsunamis travel as non-dispersive waves. This discovery offers crucial new insights into mid-ocean energy distribution, promising to significantly improve future tsunami forecasting and hazard assessments.
‘Mini-sonic booms’ on Mars: Nasa rover records electric sparks in dust devils — watch
NASA's Perseverance rover has unveiled a captivating phenomenon: tiny electrical sparks, likened to 'mini-lightning', occurring within the Martian dust devils and storms. This crucial discovery not only validates a longstanding scientific hypothesis but also has the potential to revolutionize our comprehension of the Red Planet's atmospheric features and habitability.
Geminids meteor shower 2025: When and where to watch the spectacular December nights with up to 120 shooting stars per hour
The Geminids meteor shower, a consistent and bright celestial event, is set for a spectacular display in 2025. With minimal moonlight during its peak on December 13-14, stargazers can anticipate 60-120 meteors per hour. This unique shower, originating from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, offers a prime opportunity for unforgettable cosmic viewing.
Ancient giant that never shrank: Study shows Anacondas have been massive for 12 million years
Anacondas reached their enormous size about 12.4 million years ago and, unlike most other Miocene giants, have barely changed since. Fossils from Venezuela reveal that early anacondas were already as large as modern ones, defying climate cooling, habitat loss and new predators. Their enduring gigantism hints at remarkable resilience and ecological adaptability that future research now aims to explain.
NASA’s Bennu asteroid holds secrets of life: Discovery of sugars, mysterious space gum, and ancient supernova star dust
Bennu asteroid samples returned by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission reveal life's building blocks, including sugars like ribose and glucose. Scientists also found a unique nitrogen-rich polymer, offering clues to early life's chemical origins. The asteroid's high concentration of supernova dust sheds light on its formation environment and the distribution of presolar materials in our early solar system.
Aryabhata to Gaganyaan: Russia–India ready to deepen space partnership; comes ahead of Putin’s visit
India and Russia are poised to significantly boost space collaboration, with Roscosmos hinting at a major announcement soon. Discussions are reportedly covering engine development, crewed missions, and orbital stations, emphasising mutual benefit over technology transfer. President Putin's visit aims to elevate ties across various sectors, including energy and industry, to a new qualitative level.
Bengaluru startup first Indian firm to get US-FDA Class II nod for medical air cleaners
Bengaluru-based Biomoneta has achieved a significant first, becoming the inaugural Indian healthtech firm to secure US-FDA 510(k) Class II clearance for its innovative medical air-cleaning device. This breakthrough, powered by their unique ZeBox technology, promises to revolutionize hospital infection control by effectively eliminating airborne pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, paving the way for its deployment in US healthcare facilities.
Satellite image reveals how Jabal Arkanū’s rings survived millions of years in the Sahara Desert
Stunning concentric rings in Libya's Sahara Desert, Jabal Arkanū, were formed by ancient volcanic activity and millions of years of erosion, not meteorite impacts. Captured from the International Space Station, these formations reveal Earth's internal dynamics and the remarkable persistence of geological structures in extreme arid climates, offering a unique window into our planet's history.
Stonehenge just got stranger: Archaeologists confirm massive man-made ring of pits underground
New research has confirmed that a vast ring of Neolithic pits, more than a mile wide and over 4,000 years old, was deliberately engineered near Stonehenge, not formed by nature. Using cutting-edge dating and soil-analysis techniques, researchers argue it reflects an ancient belief system inscribed into the land itself. The discovery suggests Stonehenge’s builders shaped not only monuments of stone, but also monuments of earth.
Professor’s radical theory claims consciousness doesn’t come from the brain and may continue after death
A radical new theory from Professor Maria Strømme suggests that consciousness may not originate in the brain but instead exist as a universal field, with individual minds acting like temporary waves returning to an ocean after death. Her model attempts to bridge physics, ancient philosophy and reports of near-death experiences, inviting science to rigorously test phenomena long dismissed as mystical or imaginary.
NASA lets you send your name to the Moon: Simple steps to sign up for Artemis II 2026
NASA's Artemis II mission offers a unique chance for global citizens to send their names on a digital memory card circling the Moon in 2026. This historic, free initiative connects humanity to a new era of space exploration, paving the way for lunar landings and Mars travel. Registering is simple, providing a symbolic boarding pass and a lasting keepsake.
Why did a minor sunspot erupt while a huge one rotated toward Earth’s side
Solar activity surged on December 1, 2025, with a powerful flare from a small sunspot. This event disrupted radio communications over Australia. A massive sunspot complex, 4294-96, is also facing Earth. Experts expect more strong flares this week. These events could affect satellites and power grids. Space weather forecasting is now a key focus.
‘Nuclear shield’: Chernobyl fungus blocks radiation and could be a breakthrough for Mars missions
A peculiar black fungus discovered in Chernobyl's reactor ruins exhibits an astonishing ability to survive and potentially thrive on extreme radiation. Scientists are exploring its potential as a natural radiation shield for future Mars missions, as experiments show it can block cosmic rays. This discovery offers a novel approach to protecting astronauts from harmful radiation.
Full Moon December 2025: Final supermoon of the year to be visible December 4; know when, where and how to watch
The December 2025 Cold Moon, a supermoon, will be exceptionally large and bright, reaching a high point in the Northern Hemisphere sky. This celestial event, also known as the Long Nights Moon, occurs when the full moon coincides with perigee, its closest approach to Earth. Observers can best witness its impressive size and brightness at moonrise on December 5th.
ESA prepares to land on Enceladus: The hidden ocean world that may hold the first evidence of alien life
The European Space Agency is planning an ambitious mission to Saturn's moon Enceladus, launching in the 2040s. Utilizing an orbiter and lander, the mission will directly sample material from the moon's subsurface ocean via its geysers. Scientists aim to analyze these plumes for clues to extraterrestrial life, making Enceladus a prime target in the search for life beyond Earth.
Mind-bending theory claims we’re actually in the year 1726 and that 300 years of history never happened
A fringe historical theory claims we’re actually living in the 1700s, arguing that nearly 300 years of early medieval history were fabricated by medieval rulers. But historians point to recorded astronomy, tree-ring dating and extensive global archives as solid evidence those centuries really occurred. The Phantom Time Hypothesis remains a fascinating idea, but not one supported by serious scholarship.
How Africa may become Earth’s next ocean basin in 5 to 10 million years giving birth to a new ocean
Scientists are observing a new ocean forming in Africa's Afar region, a unique geological hotspot. Early magnetic surveys from 1968, combined with recent data from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, reveal how continental crust is breaking apart and transforming into oceanic crust. These findings offer a rare, real-time glimpse into the birth of a new ocean basin.
