Science, Space, & Robotics - Page 2
The latest and most important Science, Space, & Robotics news - Page 2.
Unsettling levels of microplastics discovered in human brains
Microplastics are becoming more and more of a concern as researchers are discovering them in almost every facet of life, and now a new study has pointed to the presence of microplastics in... human brains.
It was only last year that researchers from the University of Mexico discovered microplastics in human testicle tissue, and now a new study published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine has revealed through sample analysis microplastics in the human brain tissue. The tissue was collected from people in 2016 and 2024, and according to the study, each of the brain samples contained microplastics and even smaller plastics called nanoplastics. Notably, the more recent samples contained 50% more plastics than the older samples.
The discovery of microplastics in the brain isn't totally new, as researchers penned a study in 2024 that detailed their presence, but this new study has looked at how microplastics can enter the brain, and according to the researchers, inhalation is a key factor. The researchers explain that when individuals inhale microplastics, which can be present in something as innocuous as indoor dust, the microplastics can travel through the nose to the olfactory bulb, a region of the brain responsible for processing smells.
Continue reading: Unsettling levels of microplastics discovered in human brains (full post)
The Last of Us style 'zombie-fungus' has now been confirmed in another species
When you hear the word 'cordyceps' - one might shudder at the mental visual of a fungus-brained humanoid. After all, it was a real condition (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) occurring in ants that inspired the infection in The Last of Us.
You can add a new fear to the list, as a similar parasite was discovered in spiders located in Northern Ireland. The zombie-spider fungus, entitled G. attenboroughii (after Sir David Attenborough) was originally discovered in 2021 during the filming of BBC's Winterwatch in a gunpowder storeroom at Castle Espie. As reported by LiveScience, the parasite infects spiders while they're still alive. It causes a fluffy white fungus to accumulate on their bodies and has a range of 'zombie-like' effects as it takes over its host.
In a study published January 24th, G. attenboroughii was officially confirmed as a new species. Similar to the zombie-ant fungus, the infection works by penetrating the host's body, producing toxins to kill said host, while releasing antibiotics to preserve the corpse while extracting nutrients. From there, under the right conditions, the fungus eventually grows long structures to spread spores and reproduce. Leading to disturbing visuals such as that pictured below:
NASA discovers asteroid that's now the most significant threat to Earth
Keeping an eye on space for any potentially hazardous space rocks is a paramount mission for astronomers, which is why systems have been put in place for automatic detection of any suspicious objects.
A NASA-operated telescope located in Chile detected a suspicious object last year on Christmas Day, which resulted in the space agency's Asteroid Terrestrial Last Alert System (ATLAS) being triggered and manual follow-up observations being conducted by human researchers. Researchers then discovered the object was an asteroid, which has now been named 2024 YR4. The team found the asteroid's orbit around the Sun is elongated, and it's currently traveling directly away from Earth, almost in a straight line.
However, its almost straight-line trajectory has made it difficult for researchers to get accurate measurements of its speed, size, and characteristics. Preliminary estimations put 2024 YR4 at anywhere between 130 and 300 feet in diameter, it's speed at 38,700 mph, and a composition of silicate minerals, which are rock-forming minerals. Researchers will be able to see the asteroid until April this year, as it will disappear around the Sun and won't be visible again until 2028. That's when things could begin to get hairy, though.
Robots set to take on humans in first-ever long distance running race
What's the point of creating a humanoid robot if you can't race it? Well, many people agree with that sentiment, as a first-of-its-kind event is being planned where humans will take on humanoid robots over several miles.
In what seems like a humorous story at face value, engineers have been officially asked by event organizers to enter their bipedal robots into a long-distance running race that will take place in the Chinese capital's Daxing district. The event is being organized by the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town), and tech firms have been invited to enter their humanoid robots, but there are a few stipulations.
Engineers must make sure their robot has a humanoid appearance and mechanical structure designed to be bipedal, meaning it moves using two legs. As you can probably imagine, using wheels to create any movement is wholly forbidden. Other rules include the height requirement of between 19.7 inches and 78.7 inches, with a maximum leg extension distance, which measures from the hip joint to the base of the foot, of 17.7 inches.
Continue reading: Robots set to take on humans in first-ever long distance running race (full post)
NASA confirms asteroid samples contain ingredients for life as we know it
When NASA announced it had collected samples from asteroid Bennu, a 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid, the recovered samples were much more than anticipated, approximately double the total planned weight.
The quantity of the samples actually proved to be a problem for researchers as NASA struggled to get the capsule open for nearly three months, eventually resulting in special tools being designed to remove the lid of the capsule. NASA set a mission goal of 60 grams to call the asteroid sample collection mission a success, but OSIRIS-REx gathered more than 120 grams. Those samples have now been analyzed by a large team of scientists from more than 40 institutions around the world, with the researchers publishing a new study in the scientific journal Nature.
The study examined the contents of the samples, and through analysis of the mineral grains' exact structure, along with a chemical composition analysis, the team discovered 14 of the 20 amino acids that create the proteins required for life as we know it on Earth. Additionally, the team found a high concentration of ammonia, and five nucleobases life on Earth uses to transmit genetic instructions within DNA and RNA.
Scientists admit to mistakenly identifying Elon Musk's car for an asteroid
Scientists have admitted to a blunder in space, and it involves Elon Musk's car. The admittance highlights the importance of accurate near-Earth object tracking.
The Minor Planet Electronic Circular listed the discovery of an asteroid on January 2, but the entry into the database was promptly removed after the researchers realized the object wasn't an asteroid at all but Elon Musk's car, specifically the Tesla Roadster that was launched into space on February 6, 2018. The correction was issued less than a day after the discovery of the suspected asteroid, with an editor notice being published informing readers the designation of 2018 CN41 "is being deleted".
While the misidentification of the object was corrected promptly by the researchers after they realized the object's orbit matched the orbit of the Falcon Heavy Upper stage with the Tesla Roadster attached, the mistake does highlight a problem with space-object identification in general.
Official Doomsday Clock moved to 89 seconds to midnight, closest it's ever been
Humanity has reached a point where, according to scientists, it's at the closest point to destroying itself since the inception of the renowned Doomsday Clock.
The Doomsday Clock was first introduced in 1947 and is updated by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group that was founded by University of Chicago scientists who assisted with the creation of the first nuclear weapons under the Manhattan Project. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists assesses the global risk of humanity destroying itself in various ways. According to the researchers, the clock has now been moved to just 89 seconds to midnight, marking the closest it's ever been to midnight, which represents the end of humanity as we know it.
According to the researchers, the world is less safe/stable than it was a year ago, with "Arms control treaties are in tatters, and there are active conflicts involving nuclear powers," said Dan Holz, chair of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' science and security board. Moreover, Holz stated misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracies are serving as a "threat multiplier". Suzet McKinney, a member of the bulletin's Board of Science and Security and a director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay, said biological threats, such as diseases, are currently a major concern, especially when considering their development being paired with sophisticated AI models.
Elon Musk says President Trump has asked SpaceX to bring astronauts stranded on ISS home ASAP
Elon Musk has said that President Trump has requested that SpaceX bring the 2 astronauts that are currently stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) back home "as soon as possible".
In a post on X, the SpaceX and Tesla boss said "The POTUS has asked SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the Space Station as soon as possible. We will do so", while adding "terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long".
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stuck on the ISS since June 2024 after arriving on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft as part of the Crew Flight Test mission. NASA decided that they would come home on Dragon after "uncertainties" surrounding Starliner.
China breaks record with nuclear test that burned 6 times hotter than the Sun
Pushing the limits of what is possible is one of the fundamental principles of science, and China has taken yet another step toward the unknown with its recent nuclear fusion test that generated temperatures six times hotter than the surface of the Sun.
The news comes from Chinese state media and states researchers operating the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) nuclear fusion reactor conducted a test on January 20 that resulted in a loop of plasma being able to maintain adequate temperatures for 403 seconds. While that might not sound very long, these researchers are attempting to create an "artificial Sun," which, if they succeed, will theoretically unlock a limitless energy supply.
However, nuclear fusion is incredibly difficult, or at least maintaining the temperatures and the pressure needed to sustain the reaction for long periods of time. But progress is being made. In January 2022, researchers at EAST sustained a temperature of 70 million degrees Celsius (126 million degrees Fahrenheit), and maintained it for 1,056 seconds. The end goal of this experimentation is to create a nuclear fusion reaction that is strong enough that it can self-sustain itself, much like the Sun. To reach this, researchers must create a nuclear fusion reaction strong enough that it releases more energy than what was required to get it started.
NASA releases jaw-dropping 2.5 billion pixel image that took 10 years to capture
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning panoramic view of the Milky Way's closest celestial neighbor, which is schedule to collide with our own galaxy in approximately 4.5 billion years.
The incredible image has been posted to NASA and the European Space Agency's (ESA) social channels as well as its website's where it's detailed the image is comprised of a ridiculous 2.5 billion pixels. For those that don't know, Andromeda is located approximately 2.5 million light-years away, and the image is actually a more than 10 year effort by the Hubble Space Telescope which snapped approximately 600 different fields of view of Andromeda.
Notably, the image shows the galaxy "almost edge-on," or tilted 77 degress relative to Earth's view. Because of our position Hubble was required to orbit Earth more than 1,000 times to gather the images required to piece this behemoth together.