On October 3, 2024, the sun unleashed a colossal solar flare, registering as an X9.05 eruption, marking the most powerful flare recorded in this solar cycle. The flare reached its peak at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT), leading to significant shortwave radio blackouts across Europe and Africa, where the sun was illuminating the Earth during…
After over a decade of navigating the Martian surface, NASA‘s Curiosity rover is showing signs of wear and tear on its wheels. Since landing in Gale Crater in 2012, the rover has travelled around 20 miles (32 kilometres) across rugged terrain, and its six wheels are looking quite battered. Recent images captured by the rover’s…
The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has embarked on significant exploratory trials in the Andaman Sea using the Varaha-3, a specialised seabed mining machine. These trials, which took place at a depth of 1,193 metres, are part of India’s broader initiative to explore and harness ocean resources responsibly. The Geological Survey of India previously surveyed…
Mayonnaise, a staple condiment often found on sandwiches, is unexpectedly becoming a tool for scientists studying nuclear fusion. The unique behaviour of mayonnaise, which can shift from elastic to plastic, provides valuable insights into how materials react under the extreme conditions necessary for fusion. When gently jiggled, mayonnaise returns to its original form, exhibiting elastic…
Rwanda is currently facing its first outbreak of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious pathogen related to Ebola. Since its discovery in September, the virus has led to the deaths of 11 people. Rwanda’s Health Minister, Sabin Nsanzimana, confirmed that efforts to contain the outbreak include clinical trials of experimental vaccines and treatments. The Marburg…
Scientists have developed the most detailed map of a fruit fly’s brain to date, revealing nearly 140,000 neurons and 54.5 million synapses. This achievement comes after over four years of work by researchers, led by neuroscientists Mala Murthy and Sebastian Seung at Princeton University. The map, known as a ‘connectome’, represents the most complete brain diagram…
NASA has chosen two mission proposals to further investigate X-ray and far-infrared wavelengths, marking the start of a new class of astrophysics missions. These missions fall within NASA’s Explorers Programme and have been allocated $5 million each for a 12-month concept study. A final decision will be made in 2026, with the selected mission launching…
Foldables have indeed come a long way, especially in India. While earlier limited to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold range, 2024 has provided enough variety from a number of manufacturers across foldable segments. You can now get one for as low as Rs. 64,999 in a flippable clamshell form factor or pony up Rs. 1,59,999 for…
Infinix Zero Flip will be launched in India soon. The company’s first clamshell-style foldable phone was introduced in global markets last month, and will make its debut in the country by mid-October, the Transsion-owned company has confirmed. The Infinix Zero Flip is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8020 chipset and sports a 6.9-inch inner screen…
Xiaomi 15 Pro — the successor to the Xiaomi 14 Pro that was launched in November 2023 — is expected to be unveiled soon. A publication has leaked specifications of the handset, along with three images of the purported smartphone that show its rear panel. The Xiaomi 15 Pro is shown to be equipped with…