Nicole Mann becomes first Indigenous woman in space
Mann – a NASA astronaut – has become the first Native American to travel into space. Last Wednesday NASA launched its SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. On board were a team of NASA crewmates; Anna Kikina, Josh Cassada, and Koichi Wakata. Their commander was Nicole Aunapu Mann...
Current in Science
Perseverance Mars rover discovers abundance of organic molecules
NASA says its Perseverance rover is finding organic molecules on ‘every target’ that it observes, providing further evidence to suggest that Mars was once teeming with life. New data from NASA’s rover, Perseverance, has reinforced suggestions that life may have existed on Mars billions of years ago. A press conference was...
Hibernating bears may hold the secret to curing diabetes
By feeding honey water to bears, researchers have discovered the potential genetic key to their insulin control. This advance could lead to a remedial treatment for a disease that affects almost ten per cent of the world’s adult population. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why humans aren’t able to...
Scientists say the ozone may be fully healed within 50 years
Before climate change dominated headlines globally, our deteriorating ozone was the prime ecological concern. Decades later, scientists now claim a full recovery could be on the cards before the century’s end. There’s belief bubbling that in the foreseeable future we may actually save ourselves… from ourselves. Amid the constant, demoralising talk...
NASA’s planetary defence mission was a success
Testing humanity’s ability to prevent the kind of disaster that wiped out the dinosaurs, NASA intentionally crashed its DART probe into an asteroid. The threat of a devastating asteroid may seem fanciful, but scientists understandably want to prepare for a dinosaur-esque situation. It’s for this reason that, last November, NASA launched...
Misinformation about psychedelic therapy threatens its future
Ever since hallucinogenic drugs started being reconsidered as a potential treatment for mental illness, hype surrounding their integration into modern medicine has been rife. A new paper argues that this excitement could send us back to square one. For the last two years, I’ve written extensively about hallucinogenic drugs....
Scientists have found a way to turn plastic into diamonds
By recreating the extreme conditions of exoplanets, a team of researchers have successfully managed to produce nanodiamonds from PET plastic. As the climate disaster worsens, our need for technological solutions becomes more urgent. Over the last decade, research into climate innovation has produced a mixed bag of results despite the mounting pressure. Some ideas have gained traction and are genuinely viable, while others have proven to be...
This eye implant could cure blindness for millions of people
Scientists in Sweden have developed a bioengineered cornea that can successfully restore sight. It’s made from proteins in pigskin, which are a by-product of the food industry. For the millions of people across the globe who are blind or have impaired sight as a result of damage to their corneas (a progressive condition known as keratoconus), a breakthrough development from scientists in Sweden may pose a solution. One that’s both environmentally...
Scientists believe ‘space bubbles’ could help ease climate change
Researchers at MIT are advancing a concept to slow or potentially reverse climate change. It involves placing massive silicon bubbles at the direct point between the sun and our planet. Admittedly, this concept is a little wacky, but when we hear that research in the field of solar geoengineering is advancing to help stop climate change… it’s something we’ve got to look into. Last week, a group of scientists at MIT...
Innovative ‘sand battery’ is green energy’s beacon of hope
Two young engineers have succeeded in using sand to store energy from wind and solar by creating a novel battery capable of supplying power all year round. When you think of batteries, you probably think of lithium. If you’re old enough to remember when one started corroding inside your CD player or GameBoy, the idea of using batteries might bring back some sad childhood memories. Lithium batteries don’t hold much energy...
