Science Live News Content

Mars helicopter sends final message, but will keep collecting data

Office of Space Commerce Extends TraCSS Project

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 20, 2024 The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) has announced a one-month extension of the Consolidated Pathfinder project supporting the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS). Launched in January 2024, the Consolidated Pathfinder is a short-term project ...

DeepMind spinoff Isomorphic claims AlphaFold 3 predicts bio-matter down to the DNA

Finnair suspends flights to Estonian city over Russian GPS interference

Helsinki (AFP) April 29, 2024 Finnair said Monday it was suspending flights to the Estonian city of Tartu for one month due to GPS interference that the Estonian foreign minister labelled a Russian "hybrid attack". All flights to Tartu were suspended between April 29 and May 31 while "an ...

WhatsApp users to soon get these new interesting features, testing underway

Currently available to some beta testers, the "locked chats on linked devices" feature will let users protect their conversations from their linked devices.

Ineos drives towards hydrogen car future

Millbrook, United Kingdom (AFP) May 18, 2024 At a sprawling vehicle test centre in the English countryside, a hydrogen-powered Grenadier 4x4 made by Ineos Automotive grips steep and rugged tracks, showcasing its off-road capabilities. Making the demonstrator car was "a really obvious thing" ...

Astronomers detect rare neutral atomic-carbon absorbers with a deep neural network

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 20, 2024 Recently, an international team led by Prof. GE Jian from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences used deep learning neural networks to search for rare weak signals in quasar spectral data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey ...

How NASA Tracked the Most Intense Solar Storm in Decades

Greenbelt MD (SPX) May 20, 2024 May 2024 has already proven to be a particularly stormy month for our Sun. During the first full week of May, a barrage of large solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched clouds of charged particles and magnetic fields toward Earth, creating the ...

China 'can't have it both ways' with Russia and West: US

Washington (AFP) May 16, 2024 The United States on Thursday said Chinese President Xi Jinping cannot both improve ties with the West and support Russia after he vowed to boost relations with his counterpart Vladimir Putin. "The People's Republic of China can't have its cake and eat it too," ...

Putin in trade push on final day of China trip

Beijing (AFP) May 17, 2024 Russian leader Vladimir Putin was in the northeastern city of Harbin on Friday, the final day of a visit aiming to promote crucial trade with China and win greater support for his war effort in Ukraine. Putin arrived Thursday on his first trip abroad since his ...

Trade barriers on Chinese EVs a 'big trap', says Stellantis CEO

Paris (AFP) May 16, 2024 Placing 100 percent tariffs on Chinese cars, as the United States has just done, is a "huge trap", the head of the Stellantis automobile group said Thursday. "When you put a bubble around a market, whether it is the American market or the European market, the first ...

Asian stocks mixed after Wall St, Europe retreat from records

Hong Kong (AFP) May 17, 2024 Asian markets diverged Friday as hopes for US interest rate cuts played up against profit-taking from another strong week and warnings from Federal Reserve officials that borrowing costs should be kept elevated for now. All three main indexes in New York as well ...

Researchers uncover how jelly sea creatures might shape modern robotics

Eugene OR (SPX) May 16, 2024 Scientists at the University of Oregon have discovered that colonies of gelatinous sea animals swim through the ocean in giant corkscrew shapes using coordinated jet propulsion, an unusual kind of locomotion that could inspire new designs for efficient underwater ...

'Grand Theft Auto VI' release set for late 2025

San Francisco (AFP) May 16, 2024 Rockstar Games parent Take-Two Interactive on Thursday said the eagerly awaited video game "Grand Theft Auto VI" will be released in fall of 2025. Rockstar had previously said the next installment to the blockbuster franchise would be available next year, ...

Ed Dwight Goes to Space 63 Years After Training as 1st Black Astronaut

Edward Dwight was among the first pilots that the United States was training to send to space in 1961, but he was passed over. On Sunday, he finally made it on a Blue Origin flight.

At age 90, America's first Black astronaut candidate has finally made it to space

Ed Dwight, a former Air Force test pilot who was passed over to become an astronaut in the 1960s, described his flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard as "life changing."

Blue Origin flies thrill seekers to space, including oldest astronaut

Washington (AFP) May 19, 2024 After a nearly two year hiatus, Blue Origin flew adventurers to space on Sunday, including a former Air Force pilot who was denied the chance to be the United States' first Black astronaut decades ago. It was the first crewed launch for the enterprise owned and ...

Can we rid artificial intelligence of bias?

San Francisco (AFP) May 19, 2024 Artificial intelligence built on mountains of potentially biased information has created a real risk of automating discrimination, but is there any way to re-educate the machines? The question for some is extremely urgent. In this ChatGPT era, AI will ...

Controversial floating beach unveiled off French Riviera

Nice, France (AFP) May 17, 2024 A controversial private floating beach anchored off the French Riviera has entered service despite opposition from local politicians and environmental groups, its backers said on Friday. "Canua Island", a 1,750 square-metre (18,800 square feet) motorised ...

Flash floods kill 50 in western Afghanistan

Kabul (AFP) May 18, 2024 Flash flooding has killed at least 50 people in western Afghanistan, provincial police said Saturday, with some residents reaching safety on higher ground mere minutes before the water hit. The floods on Friday also destroyed about 2,000 houses, and damaged thousands ...

Senegal PM questions French military presence

Dakar (AFP) May 17, 2024 Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has questioned the military presence of former colonial ruler France, which has several bases in the West African nation, saying it impinged on Dakar's sovereignty. Addressing students at Dakar University on Thursday, Sonko also ...

China to launch sample return mission to the far side of the Moon – maybe next week

CHIPS Act hangover sees most US science agency budgets cut for 2024

Today at the CPUC: PG and E Enhances Net Billing Programs for Solar and Storage Systems

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 10, 2024 Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG and E) has taken a significant step forward in enhancing its solar and storage system policies by submitting the Third Substitute Sheets for Advice Letter 7149-E to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This ...

Another week, another leak for Boeing's Starliner crew capsule

Quantum navigation system successfully trialed in UK flights

London, UK (SPX) May 13, 2024 The UK has successfully completed commercial flight trials of a new quantum-based navigation system, designed to be immune to jamming or spoofing by external threats. These trials mark a significant advancement in navigation technology that could enhance global ...

How to connect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad the easy way

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to connect your AirPods to your Apple devices. There are easy ways to connect your AirPods seamlessly on your iPhone and iPad.

Astrobotic to conduct NASA JPL studies for Mars missions

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 21, 2024 Astrobotic has been selected by NASA's Mars Exploration Program for two studies of commercial services aimed at supporting cost-effective, frequent missions to Mars. The studies will explore commercial payload delivery and surface imaging services to enable ...

'Vigorous melting' at Antarctica's Thwaites 'Doomsday' Glacier

Glaciologists show evidence of warm ocean water intruding kilometers beneath grounded ice at Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. The findings suggest that existing climate models are underestimating the impact of ocean and ice interactions in future sea level rise projections.

AI chips could get a sense of time

Artificial neural networks may soon be able to process time-dependent information, such as audio and video data, more efficiently.

Blueprints of self-assembly

Scientists have taken a step closer to replicating nature's processes of self-assembly. The study describes the synthetic construction of a tiny, self-assembled crystal known as a 'pyrochlore,' which bears unique optical properties. The advance provides a steppingstone to the eventual ...

Robot-phobia could exasperate hotel, restaurant labor shortage

Using more robots to close labor gaps in the hospitality industry may backfire and cause more human workers to quit, according to a new study. The study, involving more than 620 lodging and food service employees, found that 'robot-phobia' -- specifically the fear that robots and technology ...

New AI algorithm may improve autoimmune disease prediction and therapies

A new advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm more accurately model how genes associated with specific autoimmune diseases are expressed and regulated and to identify additional genes of risk. The method outperforms existing methodologies and identified 26% more novel gene and trait ...

OpenAI to 'pause' voice linked to Scarlett Johansson

San Francisco (AFP) May 21, 2024 Movie star Scarlett Johansson said Monday she was "shocked" by an OpenAI synthetic voice that sounds like her, which was released after she declined to work with the ChatGPT-maker on such a project. The artificial intelligence powerhouse headed by Sam Altman ...

Evolutionary history of extinct duck revealed

The study's findings show mergansers arrived in the New Zealand region at least seven million years ago from the Northern Hemisphere, in a separate colonisation event to that which led to the Brazilian merganser.

2D materials: A catalyst for future quantum technologies

Researchers have discovered that a 'single atomic defect' in a layered 2D material can hold onto quantum information for microseconds at room temperature. This underscores the broader potential of 2D materials in advancing quantum technologies.

Zebrafish on China's space station reported to be in good condition

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 21, 2024 The four zebrafish aboard China's Tiangong space station, orbiting about 400 km above Earth, are in good condition, according to experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Experts shared updates on China's first in-orbit aquatic ecological ...

Digital Realty ditches diesel for salad dressing in US to cut datacenter emissions

Electric school buses may yield significant health and climate benefits, cost savings

Replacing diesel school buses with electric school buses may yield up to $247,600 in climate and health benefits per individual bus, according to a new study. The researchers found that these benefits -- including fewer greenhouse gas emissions and reduced rates of adult mortality and childhood ...

AI systems are already deceiving us -- and that's a problem, experts warn

Washington (AFP) May 10, 2024 Experts have long warned about the threat posed by artificial intelligence going rogue - but a new research paper suggests it's already happening. Current AI systems, designed to be honest, have developed a troubling skill for deception, from tricking human ...

SpaceX set to literally rock Florida with more and bigger Starship launches

Space insurers make record-breaking loss as orbit gets cramped

Supernova or Coronavirus: Can You Tell the Difference?

A scientist finds beauty in the “visual synonyms” that exist in images seen through microscopes and telescopes.

Chinese director Jia mines leftover footage for top Cannes film

Cannes, France (AFP) May 18, 2024 Veteran director Jia Zhang-Ke has boldly repurposed the leftover material he has amassed across his entire career to create a brand new film. Jia's "Caught By The Tides" is a decades-spanning love story that is in competition for the Cannes Film Festival's ...

Researchers introduce programmable materials to help heal broken bones

Natural materials like bone, bird feathers and wood have an intelligent approach to physical stress distribution, despite their irregular architectures. However, the relationship between stress modulation and their structures has remained elusive. A new study that integrates machine learning, ...

NASA analyzes cost-effective methods to manage orbital debris

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 22, 2024 New data from NASA and its partners suggests more cost-effective strategies for addressing orbital debris. A report by NASA's Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) offers new insights into measuring the risks from orbital debris. "Growing ...

Mothers live longer as child mortality declines

The dramatic decline in childhood mortality during the 20th century has added a full year to women's lives, according to a new study.

Exercise spurs neuron growth and rewires the brain, helping mice forget traumatic and addictive memories

Researchers have found that increased neuron formation and the subsequent rewiring of neural circuits in the hippocampus through exercise or genetic manipulation helps mice forget traumatic or drug-associated memories. The findings could offer a new approach to treating mental health conditions ...

US forces lose strategic African position in Niger

Abidjan (AFP) May 19, 2024 With the US troop withdrawal from military-led Niger underway and due to be over by September 15, Washington is preparing to abandon its strategic position in the Sahel where Russia and Iran are gaining ground. The demand for US troops to exit came after French ...

Federal probe targets Waymo’s robotaxis amid traffic safety concerns

The self-driving taxi company Waymo is under federal investigation after a series of accidents. What does this mean for the industry? Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.

Night-time heat significantly increases the risk of stroke

Researchers show that nocturnal heat significantly increases the risk of stroke. The findings can contribute to the development of preventive measures: With them, the population can better protect themselves against the risks of climate change with increasingly frequent hot nights. In addition, ...

Researchers discover hidden step in dinosaur feather evolution

Scientists discover 'zoned development' in dinosaur skin, with zones of reptile-style scales and zones of bird-like skin with feathers. A new dinosaur skin fossil has been found to be composed of silica -- the same as glass.

Warming climate intensifies flash droughts worldwide

Sudden, severe dry spells known as flash droughts are rising in intensity around the world, with a notable exception in mountainous Central Asia, where flash drought extent is shrinking, according to new research. Heat and changes to precipitation patterns caused by a warming climate are ...

UK zoo keeps its rhinos warm with upgraded heating system

Chester Zoo in northern England is partnering with Mitsubishi Electric to implement more sustainable heating, starting with the habitat of its critically endangered black rhinos.

Highly sensitive fiber optic gyroscope senses rotational ground motion around active volcano

Researchers have built a prototype fiber optic gyroscope for high resolution, real-time monitoring of ground rotations caused by earthquakes in the active volcanic area of Campi Flegrei in Naples, Italy. A better understanding of the seismic activity in this highly populated area could improve ...

Embryo activist: baby's lawsuit takes on S. Korea climate inaction

Seoul (AFP) May 22, 2024 When he was a 20-week-old embryo - before he even had a real name - Choi Hee-woo became one of the world's youngest-ever plaintiffs by joining a groundbreaking climate lawsuit against South Korea. His case, known as "Woodpecker et al. v. South Korea" after Choi's ...

EarthCARE pre-launch press briefing

Video: 00:51:05 ESA’s Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) mission is designed to advance our understanding of the role that clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back out to space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s ...

Small island states win 'historic' climate case at UN court

Berlin (AFP) May 21, 2024 The UN maritime court on Tuesday ruled in favour of nine small island states that brought a case to seek increased protection of the world's oceans from catastrophic climate change. Finding that carbon emissions can be considered a sea pollutant, the court said ...

New AI accurately predicts fly behavior

Researchers trained an AI model to accurately predict male fruit flies' courtship behavior in response to any sight of a female. This breakthrough offers new insight into how the brain processes visual data and may someday pave the way for artificial vision technology.

ESA and the EU update their Security of Information Agreement

Keeping information secure in today’s interconnected world is becoming ever more important. ESA and the EU have amended their security of information agreement, reinforcing their trusted partnership.

Fear brews in Turkey's landslide-plagued tea hills

Abdullahhoca, Turkey (AFP) May 22, 2024 Every time it rains heavily in Turkey's spectacular Black Sea tea growing region - where it rains a lot - Zikrullah Komurcu starts to worry. Last August he was almost swept away by a mudslide when a tea garden above his home in the village ...

Digging up good news for microbial studies

Findings indicate that soil stored under refrigerated or air-dried conditions can still retain the needed information for understanding microbial community composition and structure for many years.

NASA, IBM Research Release New AI Model for Weather, Climate

By Jessica Barnett Working together, NASA and IBM Research have developed a new artificial intelligence model to support a variety of weather and climate applications. The new model – known as the Privthi-weather-climate foundational model – uses artificial intelligence (AI) in ways that ...

Fate of Retired Research Chimps Still in Limbo

The National Institutes of Health, which owns the chimps at the Alamogordo Primate Facility in New Mexico, has no plans to move the animals to sanctuary, despite a ruling from a federal judge.

NASA to design sustainable jet engine core

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 21, 2024 NASA, in collaboration with industry partners, is set to design a new jet engine core for ultra-efficient airliners, moving into the project's next phase. In its pursuit of sustainable aviation, NASA is developing a small core for a hybrid-electric turbofan ...

Euclid space telescope unveils new images of the cosmos

Paris (AFP) May 23, 2024 A mind-boggling number of shining galaxies, a purple and orange star nursery and a spiral galaxy similar to our Milky Way: new images were revealed from Europe's Euclid space telescope on Thursday. It is the second set of images released by the European Space Agency ...

Scientists say they can make zero-emission cement

Paris (AFP) May 22, 2024 Researchers on Wednesday said they were a step closer to solving one of the trickiest problems in tackling climate change - how to keep making cement despite its enormous carbon footprint. In a world first, engineers from Britain's University of Cambridge have shown ...

Europe's AI stars step out of US shadow

Paris (AFP) May 23, 2024 Europe's artificial intelligence companies are dwarfed in wealth and cachet by US giants like OpenAI and Anthropic and their charismatic leaders. But the VivaTech startup conference in Paris this week is allowing the founders of the continent's three most prominent ...

US lawmakers seek to clean up crypto regulation 'food fight'

Washington (AFP) May 22, 2024 The US House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a bill that would create a new legal framework for digital currencies, in a move cheered by crypto supporters but opposed by consumer groups who say it fails to protect investors. The Republican-backed ...

German AI translation start-up DeepL valued at $2 bn

Berlin (AFP) May 22, 2024 The German translation firm DeepL said Wednesday that it had attracted $300 million of investment in a deal valuing it at $2 billion, as interest surges in generative artificial intelligence tools. The funding round led by Index Ventures will support DeepL's ...