Tonight, skywatchers will be treated to a rare and exciting astronomical event: a black moon, which is the second new moon to occur in December. While blue moons, or two full moons in a month, are relatively well-known, black moons are much rarer and are often misunderstood. A black moon occurs when the second new moon of the month takes place, and the new moon’s natural invisibility is further enhanced. As a result, this phenomenon makes it difficult to spot with the naked eye, but it

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): ISRO is preparing for a major milestone as it plans the 100th launch from the Sriharikota spaceport, scheduled for January. This milestone will be achieved with a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) mission, according to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. The 99th launch from Sriharikota took place on Monday, with the successful PSLV-C60

A new study conducted by University College London (UCL) has revealed that smoking has a more significant impact on life expectancy than previously believed. The study, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, found that each cigarette smoked reduces a person’s life by an average of 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. These findings are higher than earlier estimates, which suggested that each cigarette took around 11 minutes off a person’s life. This mea

What Is a Black Moon and How to Experience This Rare Phenomenon? Skywatchers are in for a treat as 2024 concludes with a rare astronomical event called the "black moon." This fascinating term refers to the second new moon occurring within a single calendar month. While not officially recognized in astronomy, the phenomenon has gained popularity among amateur astronomers and stargazers over the years. According to the US Naval Observatory, the black moon will oc

A groundbreaking study has uncovered notable differences in the nut-cracking abilities of chimpanzees within the same group, shedding new light on their cognitive and motor skills. Researchers analyzed extensive video footage of wild chimpanzees from Bossou, Guinea, where they observed 3,882 instances of chimps attempting to crack open nuts using stones as tools. The study found varying levels of efficiency among individuals, indicating differences in cognitive abilities and physical dexterit

Cephalopods, including octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid, have long fascinated researchers due to their exceptional cognitive abilities. While we still don’t fully understand the extent of their emotional states or conscious experiences, there's no doubt that these marine creatures display remarkable intelligence. For example, cuttlefish like Squirt have demonstrated highly accurate aim and a complex level of learning, raising questions about their capacity for intentional behavior.

 Tea bags, widely used for their convenience, may pose a hidden health risk, according to a study conducted by the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Researchers found that the polymer-based materials commonly used in commercial tea bags release millions of microplastics and nanoplastics into the tea when infused. These tiny particles can be absorbed by the human body, potentially entering the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body. The study highlights that food packag

NASA has announced delays to its Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The first crewed lunar mission, Artemis 2, will now take place in April 2026, pushed back from its original launch window in September 2025. The second mission, Artemis 3, which seeks to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, has been rescheduled from late 2026 to mid-2027. The delays, revealed on December 5, are attributed to technical issues discovered during the Ar

The KM3NeT (Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope) is an innovative scientific project aimed at detecting high-energy neutrinos in the Mediterranean Sea. This project involves deploying two massive underwater telescopes equipped with photomultiplier tubes to capture light from neutrinos interacting with seawater. One telescope is located off the coast of Sicily to observe cosmic neutrinos, while the other off the French coast focuses on studying atmospheric neutrinos and their o

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have quantified how quickly the human brain processes information, revealing a surprisingly slow speed of just 10 bits per second. Despite receiving billions of bits of data from our senses, including sight, hearing, touch, and smell, the brain only processes a tiny fraction of this information. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) conducted the study, publishing their findings in the journal Neuron last week.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which orbited asteroid Vesta in 2012, captured images of enigmatic gullies on the asteroid's surface, prompting scientists to investigate their origins. A recent study published in the Planetary Science Journal explores the possibility that these gullies were formed by brief liquid flows involving briny water. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) simulated conditions similar to Vesta's surface using the Dirty Under-vacuum Simul

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is gearing up for a record-breaking approach to the sun's surface on Christmas Eve. The spacecraft will come within 3.8 million miles of the sun, making it the closest any human-made object has ever come to a star.   Traveling at an incredible 430,000 mph, the Parker Solar Probe will make its closest approach of all 24 scheduled orbits around the sun. This hist

A recent study led by Professor Simone Pettigrew from The George Institute for Global Health has found an effective method to reduce alcohol consumption. The study combined a warning about the cancer risks associated with alcohol with a practical action—tracking the number of drinks consumed. The findings show that this combination helped participants significantly cut down on their alcohol intake. This approach offers a straightforward and actionable strategy for promoting better healt

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by finding a binary star system orbiting the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. Led by Florian Peißker from the University of Cologne, Germany, the team identified the system, known as D9, using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. This discovery, published in Nature Communications, is significant not only for its rarity but also for its role in solving the co

NASA has announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, will remain in space at least until late March 2025. Originally, they were meant to spend just eight days aboard the ISS, but due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft's propulsion system, their mission was altered. After Starliner faced difficulties, NASA decided to send the astronauts back with the Crew-9 mission, which arrived in S

NASA is pioneering new frontiers in space exploration with the development of tiny underwater robots through the Sensing With Independent Micro-swimmers (SWIM) project. These innovative robots are designed to explore extraterrestrial oceans, beginning with the icy waters beneath Jupiter's moon, Europa. SWIM robots were recently tested in a Caltech swimming pool, demonstrating their ability to navigate autonomously. The SWIM project is an integral part of NASA's broader strat

Recent studies by British scientists reveal that the Earth's magnetic North Pole is moving at an accelerating pace, shifting towards Russia. Over the past few decades, its movement has significantly increased from 15 kilometers per hour (kmph) between 1990 and 2005 to 50-60 kmph. This shift is particularly concerning for navigation systems like GPS, as the magnetic North Pole plays a critical role in guiding navigation tools, including compasses used by planes, boats, submarines, and smar

On November 19, 2024, SpaceX successfully launched the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) GSAT-20 communication satellite aboard its Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, which took place at 12:01 AM from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, marked a milestone as SpaceX's first-ever launch of an ISRO satellite. The GSAT-20, weighing 4,700 kg, was deployed into geosynchronous transfer orbit after a 34-minute flight, fulfilling its mission to improve India's communication

A groundbreaking study using data from NASA and German satellites has revealed a concerning and persistent decline in Earth's freshwater reserves since May 2014. The findings, published in Surveys in Geophysics, highlight a significant reduction in the amount of freshwater stored on land, including in lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers. This shift, tracked by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, suggests a transition towards drier conditions across co

A powerful solar flare, classified as an X2.3 flare, disrupted radio communications over parts of the Atlantic Ocean, South America, and Africa on November 6, 2024. The event, which took place at 8:40 am ET, caused a shortwave radio blackout, highlighting the significant impact solar flares can have on global communications. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which constantly monitors solar activity, captured images of the flare. Solar flares are intense bursts of energy