How Massive Whales Use Stealth To Feed On Prey?
Humpback whales are massive and rather slow, so how are they so effective at foraging? Evidently, they are also quite stealthy.
Identical 'Twin Stars' May Help Retrace Milky Way's Family History, Study Finds
The researchers of a new study found that 25 pairs of binary stars in the Milky Way are actually identical twins. The findings could help astronomers track stars' trajectory from when they were born billions of years ago.
Study: Household Carbon Footprints In Japan Driven By Sweets And Alcohol, Not Meat
A new study found that families in Japan with higher carbon footprints tend to consume more sweets, alcohol and restaurant food. Meat consumption only explained less than 10 percent of carbon footprint differences.
Ethiopia Launches Its First Satellite, Caps Great Year For African Space Industry
Ethiopia launched its first satellite on Dec. 20. The launch marks the eighth African satellite launch this year, and the 41st satellite launch in African space history.
Boeing Starliner Completes Successful Landing, Gets The New Name 'Calypso'
Boeing's Starliner crew capsule successfully returned to Earth on Sunday, Dec. 22, marking the end of its uncrewed Orbital Flight Test. Astronaut Suni Williams, who will command the crewed mission, announced that they have named the spacecraft "Calypso" after Jacque Cousteau's ocean exploring ship.
Ancient Spider Fossil Discovery A Hoax, Specimen Doctored
Researchers discovered that the supposed spider fossil from China was forged. It was actually the fossilized remains of a crayfish that fossil hunters painted on to look like a spider.
Super-Puffs: Hubble Observations Unravel Mystery Behind 'Cotton Candy' Planets
"Super-puffs" is the nickname for a unique class of young exoplanets with the density of cotton candy. Are they really as "puffy" as experts think they are?
Students Create Astronaut Gloves For Moon And Mars Missions
The students behind the startup Ntention created smart gloves for astronauts on Moon and Mars missions. Only recently, the smart gloves successfully passed NASA Haughton-Mars Project testing.
Study Finds Personal Ownership Actually Beneficial To Group Projects
The popular saying "there is no 'I' in team" prioritizes the team as a whole over the individual members. However, a new study finds that the "I" in team might actually help make the project better.
Mars 2020 Rover 'Earned Its Driving License' By Passing First Driving Test
The Mars 2020 just passed its driving test. The rover is designed to cover more ground and make more driving decisions on its own.
Sub-Neptune Planets Stop Growing By 'Eating' The Sky
According to the authors of a new study, it is possible that the flowing magma on sub-Neptune planets essentially "eat" the hydrogen in the atmosphere, therefore stalling the planet's growth.
What Makes ESA's CHEOPS Different From Other Exoplanet-Hunting Telescopes?
The ESA's CHEOPS telescope is now in orbit around the Earth. What makes CHEOPS different from other exoplanet-hunting telescopes already in space?
Dogs Use Similar Brain Region As Humans To Process Numbers Of Objects
Basic sensitivity to numerical information is called numerosity, something that appears to be widespread in the animal kingdom. According to a new study, dogs use similar parts of their brains to process numbers of objects as humans.
112 Exoplanets Have New Names From Over 300,000 Worldwide Submissions
After a massive campaign to name 112 exoplanets and their stars, they now have new names from 112 countries. Some names are based on iconic landscapes, while others are based on mythology and indigenous languages.
Astronomers Spot One Of The 'Most Violent Mergers' Between Two Galaxy Groups
Two galaxy groups are colliding onto each other at speeds of 4 million miles per hour. According to researchers, they are destined to one day become one massive galaxy cluster.
Climate Affecting Bird Migration Timing At 'Continental Scale', Study Finds
Researchers found that migratory birds are now passing certain stops earlier than they would have 20 years ago. Being out of sync with the blooming of plants and emergence of insects could prove problematic for birds' health.
Stunning Image Of Milky Way's Galactic Center Reveals Intense Ancient Star Burst
A stunning image of the Milky Way's galactic center reveals new details about the history of star formation in the galaxy. The findings of a new study run contrary to the currently accepted paradigm of how stars were formed in the Milky Way.
Smog Causes School Shut Down In Iran; Construction, Public Transport Blamed For Problem
Schools in the Iranian capital of Tehran had to be cancelled due to heavy smog. The term "smog" was first used in the 1900's, but the problem persists even today.
Two Rocket Launches This Week: SpaceX, Boeing Prepare For Launch
Two major companies are launching into space this week. SpaceX will be launching its second to the last mission for the year on Monday, while the Boeing Starliner crew capsule will be launching into space for the first time on Friday.
Stars' Flares Make Exoplanets Less Habitable Even In The Habitable Zone, Study Finds
Exoplanets may still be less friendly to life even if they are in their solar system's habitable zone. This is because a planet that is close to its host star is also susceptible to its radiation.
Boeing Starliner Crew Capsule Declared Ready For First Flight On Dec. 20
NASA and Boeing have completed an in-depth assessment of the Starliner crew capsule's readiness for its first mission on Dec. 20. Regardless of whether Boeing or SpaceX succeeds first, they will be bringing astronauts from American soil to the ISS for the first time in many years.
Tapping A Beer Can To Prevent Fizzing Over? Study Says It Doesn't Work
Does tapping a beer can before opening it really work in preventing it from fizzing over? Researchers of a new study say no.
First Martian Global Wind Map Reveals Ripple Effects, Contrasting Patterns
Thanks to NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, researchers were able to map Mars's global wind patterns for the first time ever.
Earth Was Unstable Even Before Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Hit, Study Finds
Researchers studying shells found that the Earth was already under stress due to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere even before the mass extinction event. The results could help us see how Earth might respond to carbon dioxide pressures in the future.
Water Common But Scare In Exoplanets, Challenging Planet Formation Theories
Researchers found signs of water vapor in giant exoplanets, but in amounts that are lower than they expected. The findings challenge current theories on how planets are formed.
MAMBO-9: Most Distant Dusty, Star-Forming Galaxy Spotted Hiding 'In Plain Sight'
Astronomers finally found the light from dusty galaxy MAMBO-9. It was first spotted 10 years ago, but the instruments were not sensitive enough, and other telescopes could not detect it.
Mars 2020: Mars Will Soon Have Two Roaming Rovers Again
NASA's Curiosity rover has been the only rover roaming the Martian landscape since Opportunity died in 2018. Soon, it will have a new companion in the Mars 2020 rover.
People Judge Others' Competency Within Milliseconds Just By Looking At Clothes, Study Finds
How do people judge other people’s competency upon meeting them? According to a new study, it all happens within milliseconds.
Earth Building Materials Include Stardust From Red Giants, Study Finds
Researchers of a new study determined that some of the building material that formed Earth was actually stardust from red giants. They also explain why there is more of this stardust on Earth than the other bodies in our solar system.
ESA Commissions Swiss Startup For World's First Space Debris Removal
In 2025, a Swiss startup will attempt to remove part of the the ESA-owned Vega rocket currently in orbit. It will be the first ever mission to remove space debris.
