Astronomers have discovered 3I/ATLAS, a fast-moving interstellar object detected in mid-2025. Researchers believe this ancient comet, potentially 8-14 billion years old, originated from the Milky Way's earliest era, predating our Sun. Its unique chemical composition, including iron and nickel, further supports its alien origins, offering a rare glimpse into material forged around ancient stars.

In space, tears don't fall due to the absence of gravity. Instead, surface tension causes them to cling to the eye, creating a physical sensation and potential vision blur. Astronauts manage these tears with absorbent cloths, a process vital for understanding human physiology in microgravity and for future long-duration missions.

Pearls begin as irritants within oysters, which respond by slowly covering the foreign object with layers of nacre. This controlled biological process, influenced by environmental factors and diet, transforms discomfort into a stable, beautiful structure. Cultured pearls follow the same natural oyster response, with quality determined by nacre thickness and lustre, not just size.

Albert Einstein encountered a curious math puzzle involving an old car on a hill. The problem, seemingly simple, highlighted how intuition can be misleading. It demonstrated that faster speeds do not always compensate for slower ones and that averages can obscure critical limitations. This thought experiment, shared through correspondence, underscored the importance of careful examination even of basic questions.

Evidence of a past Martian ice age has been revealed in Coloe Fossae, where long, shallow grooves suggest ice once flowed across the landscape. These features, formed by slow-moving mixtures of ice and rock, indicate glaciers spread into mid-latitudes, offering a glimpse into Mars's icy history as recently as half a million years ago.

Astronomers have directly observed a free-floating planet, comparable in mass to Earth, roaming the Milky Way. Discovered via gravitational microlensing due to its brief light curve, this rogue world is not bound to any star. Its motion suggests ejection from a planetary system, hinting at a potentially vast population of such solitary planets.

AI's rapid rise hides a massive thirst for water and energy. Training complex models like ChatGPT demands immense power, leading to significant water consumption for cooling data centers. Experts propose solutions like efficient cooling, smaller models, and renewable energy to mitigate AI's growing environmental footprint.

Scientists are exploring fungi, specifically mushrooms, to create more efficient and adaptable computers. Unlike rigid silicon machines, fungal networks like mycelium exhibit learning-like behavior by adjusting signal pathways. This biological approach offers a potentially cheaper and more resilient alternative to current complex and costly neuromorphic hardware, hinting at a novel direction for future computing.

Mice are indispensable in biomedical research due to their genetic and anatomical similarities to humans, short lifespans, and rapid reproduction. They have been crucial in developing treatments for cancers, vaccines for pandemics like COVID-19, and understanding neurodegenerative disorders. Ethical guidelines ensure responsible use, with advancements like CRISPR enhancing accuracy and reducing animal numbers.

Scientists are baffled by solid gold particles found in Norway spruce needles. Previously thought impossible, this discovery reveals a partnership between trees and specific bacteria. These microbes, not the trees, are believed to convert dissolved gold ions into solid nanoparticles, a process crucial for understanding mineral deposits and potentially cleaning polluted environments.

Jupiter will be exceptionally bright and large in the night sky this January, peaking around January 10, 2026, during Earth's opposition. This celestial event, occurring roughly every 13 months, makes the planet easily visible to the naked eye, even offering glimpses of its moons with binoculars.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson confronts Moon-landing denial during a podcast appearance, rejecting scepticism with physics, scale and evidence. From lunar rocks and Saturn V maths to the implausibility of a 400,000-person conspiracy, he explains why Apollo isn’t belief-based history. The argument matters because mistrust survives not through gaps in proof, but misunderstanding, and modern spaceflight puts the debate in perspective.

Earth's oceans would experience significantly smaller tides without the Moon. Marine life dependent on tidal motion would face drastic changes. Nocturnal predators and prey behavior would shift dramatically. Earth's axial tilt would become unstable, leading to extreme seasonal variations over long periods. Human activities, from coastal industries to agriculture, would be profoundly impacted.

Our Sun will not explode like other stars. Instead, it will slowly expand into a red giant, consuming inner planets. This process will take billions of years. After this phase, the Sun will shrink to a dense white dwarf. The solar system will become cold and dark. This future event is extremely far away, offering humanity ample time.

Many common beliefs about lightning are myths. These ideas often stem from simple observations and are passed down without question. Modern technology allows us to track lightning and compare it with these beliefs. Studies reveal significant differences between what people think and what actually happens. Understanding these facts can help people stay safer during storms.