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 39 min ago
NASA’s New Horizons travelled 3 billion miles over 9 years to reach Pluto – but it was moving too fast to stop when it arrived
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft completed its swift flyby of Pluto after a nine-year journey. The mission prioritized data collection over live communication during the brief encounter. Scientists received approximately 50 billion bits of data over fifteen months after the flyby. This slow data return revealed Pluto's complex and geologically active icy world. The mission highlighted the trade-off between reach and the patience required for discovery.
Early humans fed salmon to canines 12,000 years ago, that is why dogs are friendly companions
Recent findings reveal that ancient dogs in Alaska had a unique partnership with humans, dating back 12,000 years. This evidence indicates that these canines often shared salmon with early settlers, shedding light on the evolving dynamics between humans and dogs in the Americas. The analysis of fossilized bones uncovered a diet rich in fish, prompting a reevaluation of wolf domestication theories and illustrating a nuanced history of human-canine interactions.
Quote of the day by Marie Curie: "Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and…" - understand what confidence and perseverance can achieve that talent alone never will
Marie Curie's 1894 letter offers timeless advice on facing life's difficulties. She stressed perseverance and self-confidence as essential for achieving goals. Curie wrote this as a struggling student, years before her fame. Her own challenging life lent extraordinary weight to these words. This message remains relevant, emphasizing sustained effort over quick results.
This supersonic jet needed a radiation meter because it flew twice as high as commercial aircraft
The Concorde jet soared near the edge of space, requiring careful monitoring of radiation levels to ensure passenger safety. In the face of hazardous cosmic storms, pilots were mandated to descend to safer altitudes. While this supersonic aircraft typically flew above the majority of Earth's atmospheric shield, fluctuations in radiation exposure depended on several factors including altitude, geography, and solar activity. During such storms, safety took precedence over speed.
Scientists say crushing deep-ocean pressure squeezes hidden nutrients out of sinking marine snow, feeding microbes and changing what we know about Earth’s carbon cycle
Scientists have discovered that the immense pressure in the deep ocean squeezes nutrients out of sinking marine snow—tiny particles of dead algae and organic matter—providing an unexpected food source for deep-sea microbes. The findings suggest more carbon escapes into deep ocean water than previously believed, which could reshape scientists' understanding of Earth's carbon cycle and improve future climate models.
A supernova lit up Earth’s sky in 1054 and was visible in daylight. Hubble now shows its glowing remains are still expanding nearly 1,000 years later
Astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to measure the expanding Crab Nebula. New images compared with older ones show gas filaments moving outwards. This ancient stellar explosion's remnant is still actively changing today. The Crab Pulsar at the center continues to power the nebula's glow. Scientists also identified previously unrecognised filament structures within the nebula.