technical updates

Two decades of satellite and GPS data show the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf slowly losing its grip on a crucial stabilizing point as fractures multiply and ice speeds up. Scientists warn this pattern could spread to other vulnerable Antarctic shelves. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/T0tOanR

Researchers found that fructose can prime immune cells to overreact to bacterial toxins. In healthy adults, fructose-sweetened drinks increased receptors that trigger inflammation. This heightened sensitivity may contribute to greater infection risk. The effects could be even more dangerous in people with metabolic diseases. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/SBPJrLl

The discovery of strange, ultra-red objects—especially the extreme case known as The Cliff—has pushed astronomers to propose an entirely new type of cosmic structure: black hole stars. These exotic hybrids could explain rapid black hole growth in the early universe, but their existence remains unproven. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6CsLvIA

In 1995, "Toy Story" introduced one of sci-fi's greatest heroes. Thirty years on, Buzz Lightyear is still the pride of Star Command from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/LSQdCY8

If you're a fan of Predator or sci-fi in general, you must consider this massive Black Friday Disney Plus deal, which includes Hulu, for just $4.99 a month. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Uw8ac4Y

Sure, there's a lot of hype around Stranger Things season five, but if you love sci-fi and you want value, these are the Black Friday streaming deals you need. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/EbXi4Tw

The liftoff of two cosmonauts a NASA astronaut to the International Space Station caused damage to Russia's launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/p8F7euw

Classic "Who" foes the Sea Devils make waves in this Doctor-less, grown-up drama series from the mind of Russell T Davies. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/5wmU0dS

We've bounty-hunted down a great deal for lovers of Lego, Star Wars or both. This Lego Star Wars Jango Fett Helmet is down to just $56 at Walmart, and it's a blast to build, too. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/G4R0izH

Celebrate the prequel trilogy's most overlooked starship with $10 off this awesome mid-sized Lego Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Acclamator-Class Assault Ship model. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/C62uLsg

Paramount Plus is just $2.99 a month for two months this Black Friday, meaning you can stream the new season of Starfleet Academy and all Star Trek content. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/NIjV14t

SpaceX called off the planned launch of 140 satellites atop a used Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday (Nov. 26) in California. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ZQ1i7Fz

Rheumatoid arthritis begins years before pain ever appears, and scientists have now mapped the hidden immune battle that unfolds long before symptoms. By studying people with RA-linked antibodies over seven years, researchers discovered sweeping inflammation, malfunctioning immune cells, and even epigenetic reprogramming in cells that had never encountered a threat. These changes show that the body is preparing for autoimmune attack long before joints become damaged. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/yY3opOX

Astronauts on the International Space Station just shared their Thanksgiving meal plans. Like many Americans, they will welcome guests — if a launching Soyuz crew arrives in time. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/52IXCu0

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former NASA astronaut, is under investigation for his participation in a short video reminding members of the U.S. military not to obey illegal orders. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Lq0Fa2X

NASA's Perseverance rover spotted a possible space rock on the surface of Mars. The meteorite's nickname is 'Phippsaksla.' from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ZlvE92A

Hunter-gatherers at Poverty Point may have built its massive earthworks not under the command of chiefs, but as part of a vast, temporary gathering of egalitarian communities seeking spiritual harmony in a volatile world. New radiocarbon data and reexamined artifacts suggest far-flung travelers met to trade, worship, and participate in rituals designed to appease the forces of nature. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/7Uh5Eji

Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) fractured following a close brush with the sun on Oct. 8. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/6QVxA1C

Monk parakeets ease into new friendships, slowly approaching strangers to avoid aggressive encounters. Researchers watched how birds shared space, groomed each other, and escalated to deeper social bonds over time. The results show a clear pattern of cautious exploration echoing similar studies in other animals. Even for birds, making a friend can be a delicate dance. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/LgT4NRp

Researchers have uncovered a surprising way the brain switches pain on, revealing that neurons can release an enzyme outside the cell that activates pain signals without disrupting normal movement or sensation. This enzyme, called VLK, modifies nearby proteins in a way that intensifies pain and strengthens connections tied to learning and memory. Removing VLK in mice dramatically reduced post-surgery pain while leaving normal function untouched, offering a promising path toward safer, more targeted pain treatments. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/EhNyukj

Scientists discovered that lowering a specific molecule helps microglia switch into a protective state that quiets brain inflammation in Alzheimer’s. A small group of these cells seems to have an outsized ability to keep the brain healthier. When a key signal is removed from them, Alzheimer’s symptoms worsen. This pathway may help explain why some people naturally have reduced Alzheimer’s risk. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ydWlGjM

"That moment feels as enjoyable as heading out on a date." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/9obu0YU

A new set of computer simulations may finally explain several long-standing mysteries surrounding gigantic radio "relics" that appear when galaxy clusters collide. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/nLUW3o4

John Carpenter's Antarctica-set sci-fi classic clearly had a significant influence on "Alien: Earth". from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/BRQYynh

"This challenges our understanding of black hole and galaxy formation in the early universe." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/4GN27mc

"The most convincing scenario is that most of the building blocks of Earth and Theia originated in the inner solar system. Earth and Theia are likely to have been neighbors." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/mY5lT0D

A record-breaking number of stars has been mapped by a new model that speeds up processing time while allowing smaller scale events, such as supernova explosions, to be incorporated into the simulation alongside larger-scale galactic processes. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/401xkDC

The most distant moon since March 2020 takes to the sky today, but you won't be able to see it. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/zIKLgd5

Rocket Lab launched its HASTE suborbital vehicle for the sixth time ever on Tuesday (Nov. 18), sending several test payloads up for the U.S. military. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/4clyMk7

"It sounds like science fiction or the stuff of Hollywood movies." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/td30Yow

"His planet's dying, too. We're here for the same reason." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/GS2jkwF

"We really needed the sensitivity of JWST. We also needed the 100 times magnification from gravitational lensing from a galaxy cluster between us and LAP1-B." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/kXhM1Tt

Regular stars collapse and die once they run out of fuel for their nuclear reactions, but the white dwarfs just sit there, hanging out, for eternity. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/6RH9Mm8

An AI-powered controller on an orbiting satellite executed real-world attitude adjustments in space, showing that AI can fly satellites autonomously. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ELUnqaD

At this rate, Starship will not be ready in time for NASA's schedule. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/FAf24ds

'In many ways this was our 'The Guns of Navarone' season and they completed their mission'. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/9PxSn14

Electrons can freeze into strange geometric crystals and then melt back into liquid-like motion under the right quantum conditions. Researchers identified how to tune these transitions and even discovered a bizarre “pinball” state where some electrons stay locked in place while others dart around freely. Their simulations help explain how these phases form and how they might be harnessed for advanced quantum technologies. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8d1KuCO

GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide offer powerful weight-loss effects but come with unanswered questions about long-term safety, side effects, and global accessibility. Researchers stress the need for independent studies before these treatments can be fully embraced worldwide. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/hb0pzxe

Researchers have sequenced the oldest RNA ever recovered, taken from a woolly mammoth frozen for nearly 40,000 years. The RNA reveals which genes were active in its tissues, offering a rare glimpse into its biology and final moments. Surprisingly, the team also identified ancient microRNAs and rare mutations that confirm their mammoth origin. The finding shows that RNA can endure millennia—reshaping how scientists study extinct species. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/BXqFoaV

Scientists discovered that a week of full submergence is enough to kill most rice plants, making flooding a far greater threat than previously understood. Intensifying extreme rainfall events may amplify these losses unless vulnerable regions adopt more resilient rice varieties. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/a7Ip8kP

Scientists found that people who use both cannabis and tobacco show a distinct brain pattern tied to mood and stress regulation. Their scans revealed higher levels of an enzyme that reduces a natural feel-good molecule in the brain. This imbalance may help explain why co-users experience more anxiety and struggle more when quitting. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/byuhr6O

By reactivating a long-lost gene, researchers were able to lower uric acid levels and stop damaging fat accumulation in human liver models. The breakthrough hints at a future where gout and several metabolic diseases could be prevented at the genetic level. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uTWiK5t

The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 21 mission currently have no safe way to get home from the Tiangong space station in the event of an emergency. But that situation is likely to change soon. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ToHjDEs

For North America, the best time to look will be before dawn on Tuesday, Nov. 18. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/cBLJplU

The solar system is moving through space over three times as fast as estimated, calling into question our best model of the universe and its evolution. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/lZckhLx

It's based on the colorful microorganisms that live in the clouds on Earth. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/LKMySJC

The International Space Station's three Russian cosmonauts were instructed to spend a night in a laboratory module to shelter from radiation during a solar storm. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/LiBeMkW

C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) has broken into three distinct pieces following its closest approach to the sun on Oct. 8. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/avKWS71

Scientists may have solved the mystery of an "impossible" merger between two black holes so massive and fast-spinning that they shouldn't even exist, according to current theory. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/w1Q6JAp

Rocket Lab has delayed the first launch of its medium-lift Neutron rocket to 2026, founder and CEO Peter Beck said during a company earnings call on Nov. 10. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Q41zGE

The supernova was the death of a red supergiant star 500 times larger than the sun, in a galaxy just 22 million light-years away. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ISHWuQc

New observations from the Virtual Telescope Project reveal 3I/ATLAS's sharply defined ion tail, highlighting increased activity as the interstellar comet moves through the inner solar system. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/c4ZKmdB

TAR-200, a small drug-releasing implant, wiped out tumors in most patients with high-risk bladder cancer. Its slow, consistent release of chemotherapy proved far more effective than traditional short-term treatments. The therapy may replace bladder removal surgery for many and has earned FDA Priority Review due to its impressive results. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NVcIzPm

A European Mars orbiter spotted barcode-like dust streaks on the slopes of Apollinaris Mons, revealing how tiny avalanches help drive the Red Planet's massive dust cycle. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/PZbDHLY

Author Adam Christopher takes us to Mustafar and beyond in the chilling new sci-fi story "Star Wars: Master of Evil." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/784q9dW

Four Chinese rockets launched over the weekend, taking the nation's total for 2025 to a record-breaking 72 orbital missions. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/6fPYu47

Scientists just 3D printed human muscle tissue in microgravity conditions. The ultimate goal is to make organs in space. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/xLed1JN

A new "exosuit" was put through its paces with analog astronauts in Australia. The research team would love to try the suit out on the International Space Station, too. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/83LF5Ka

A hospital in Thailand created a quick-action dialysis protocol for patients with metformin-associated lactic acidosis, a dangerous reaction to a common diabetes drug. The program sharply reduced deaths and sped up treatment times. Awareness also soared, showing how organized emergency pathways can transform patient outcomes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Iwu0Oj4

NASA's first Mars launch in more than five years will wait a little longer to get off the ground. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/M4kTDH9

A team at the University of Stuttgart has engineered a compact short-pulse laser that achieves up to 80% efficiency—far surpassing current models. Their new multipass design reuses light within a small crystal, combining power and precision in a palm-sized system. It opens the door to portable, cost-effective lasers for medicine, analytics, and quantum science. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jG7J15L

Excess heat detected at Saturn moon Enceladus' north pole helps to account for a finely balanced energy budget that keeps the moon's ocean liquefied. What could this mean in the search for life? from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/lUrdHB6

The molecules are building blocks of the chemical precursors of things such as RNA. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/EFoW7Hj

China's Tianwen 1 spacecraft has imaged the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from Mars orbit, contributing to global efforts to study the rare visitor from beyond the solar system. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/FiSwKRf

A historical record of Arctic sea ice based on the abundance of cosmic dust in sediments on the sea bed of the Arctic Ocean has revealed how the sea ice responds to climate warming. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Se1R36M

The U.S. military test launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile in a routine exercise to maintain the readiness of its nuclear arsenal. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/e7PvYwb

"If these results are confirmed, it would mark a major paradigm shift in cosmology since the discovery of dark energy 27 years ago." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/hOpDziN

Five lucky winners will be announced Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) on Space.com's Facebook, Twitter, and BlueSky pages. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/5UlYqPZ

The near-full moon shines close to the Pleiades open star cluster early on Nov. 6 from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/zwtIN5B

"By reproducing relativistic plasma conditions in the lab, we can measure processes that shape the evolution of cosmic jets and better understand the origin of magnetic fields in intergalactic space." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ky8Tl1Y

The brief flashes were captured from Earth and could be from the Taurid meteor shower. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/NYs76Xy

"This discovery ends a protracted search for these waves that has its origins in the 1940s." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/pxsz9qZ

China's Shenzhou 20 and 21 astronauts enjoyed freshly cooked BBQ aboard the Tiangong space station recently, thanks to a new microgravity oven. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/X3IwM8F

Scientists have set about discovering if dark matter behaves like ordinary matter in the cosmos, with the answer revealing more about this mysterious "stuff" and casting doubt on the existence of a fifth fundamental force of nature. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/RGIYjef

The list of nations signing the Artemis Accords is growing, continuing NASA's efforts to establish internationally cooperative space exploration. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/HP7RGXy

Researchers at Maynooth University have achieved a forensic milestone by revealing fingerprints on fired bullet casings using a safe electrochemical process. The method uses mild voltage and non-toxic materials to make hidden ridges visible within seconds. Effective even on aged casings, it could help investigators connect evidence directly to a suspect rather than just a weapon. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/7JQA3uU

Researchers discovered that soil microbes in Kansas carry drought “memories” that affect how plants grow and survive. Native plants showed stronger responses to these microbial legacies than crops like corn, hinting at co-evolution over time. Genetic analysis revealed a key gene tied to drought tolerance, potentially guiding biotech efforts to enhance crop resilience. The work connects ecology, genetics, and agriculture in a novel way. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mf6bhxu

SpaceX launched its 140th Falcon 9 mission of the year today (Nov. 2), sending the "Haven Demo" tech demonstrator and 17 other payloads up on the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/JjgM1pc