Skywatchers, take note! A 'black moon,' a rare lunar timing event, occurs when there are two new moons in a single month or the third new moon in a four-new-moon season. While invisible, these nights offer the darkest skies, perfect for stargazing and astrophotography. Plan your celestial observations for 2026 with our new moon calendar, featuring IST times.

Human radio waves have inadvertently altered Earth's radiation belts, creating an unexpected barrier that modifies radiation behavior. While solar storms can rapidly create temporary, powerful radiation belts, human activity has caused a more subtle, long-term change. This dual influence necessitates a reevaluation of space environment models for future space exploration and technology.

Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to screening CVs or scheduling interviews. Two unsettling Reddit accounts describe interviews where neither side realised they were speaking to a machine. Perfect answers, repeated phrasing and lifeless precision exposed the truth. The stories hint at a near future where human presence in hiring becomes optional, and increasingly difficult to verify.

Dolphins are often cast as playful, gentle creatures, but footage from GoPros attached to six wild bottlenose dolphins tells a different story. Trained by the US Navy, the animals were filmed hunting with precision, using sonar clicks, suction feeding and audible “victory squeals” as they consumed hundreds of fish, and even venomous sea snakes, revealing a far more primal side to their behaviour.

After analysing nearly a decade of Maxim’s Hot 100 lists, researchers attempted to define what “the sexiest woman alive” looks like when reduced to data. The result is a composite rather than a person: dark eyes, long dark hair, a slim build, tattoos, and a medium-to-tall frame. Even then, the study concedes that no single woman fully fits the mould.

A bus-sized asteroid successfully completed a routine flyby of Earth on December 22, 2025, at a safe distance. NASA confirmed the event, emphasizing that the object was tracked well in advance and posed no threat. This flyby served as a clear demonstration of how near-Earth objects are monitored and understood by scientists.

In 2025, India showcased significant scientific momentum, marked by advancements in space technology with ISRO's achievements and the successful Space Docking Experiment. The nation also made strides in semiconductors with its first indigenous processor and embraced AI for practical applications in agriculture and healthcare, alongside progress in quantum computing and supercomputing infrastructure.

Astronomers are closely watching asteroid 2024 YR4. This space rock may hit the Moon in December 2032. The impact could be visible from Earth. It could also send debris towards Earth. This poses a risk to satellites and future human missions. The James Webb Space Telescope will provide more data. Scientists are monitoring the skies for safety.

Scientists may soon detect alien life. Astronomer David Kipping suggests initial signals will be loud and unusual. This is because the first detected civilizations might be in decline. Past astronomical discoveries show extreme examples are found first. This could mean humanity receives warnings about advanced societies facing problems. The search for alien life might reveal much about our own future.