Science News

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano spews 10,000-metre plume, tremors shake Flores island as villages evacuated

Axiom-4 mission carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla reschedules launch — here’s why it was delayed

The change allows NASA to continue assessing space station operations following recent repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module.

10 venomous king cobras spotted near Mount Everest spark concerns among scientists – Here's why

Experts say the appearance of these snakes, especially the king cobra, at such elevations is rare. King cobras are the world’s longest venomous snakes.

IIT Delhi, DRDO achieve free-space secure communication over 1km

They sent encrypted information securely over a free-space optical link covering a distance of more than 1km on the IIT Delhi campus

China fires laser 80,000 miles to the Moon and back in daylight — A first-ever feat

China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) fired a precision laser from Earth to the Moon, reaching 130,000 kilometres.

ISRO conducts successful model rocket test in UP’s Kushinagar ahead of student space contest

This was not a typical launch with a satellite in tow. Instead, it was a systems check for the upcoming IN-SPACe CANSAT and Model Rocketry India Student Competition 2024–25.

$1.5 Billion NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite NISAR to launch from India in July

The NISAR mission marks a significant milestone in NASA’s ongoing collaboration with ISRO, indicative of strong bilateral relations between the United States and India.

Amid scorching heat, solar water system becomes a lifeline for Cheetah cubs in Kuno

A solar-powered water-lift system is now supporting cheetah cubs born this year. With June temperatures nearing 48°C, officials acted to avoid past heartbreak.

Massive 14-foot great white shark captured near North Carolina’s outer banks — Watch video here

Contender, nearly 14 feet long, is now swimming north along the Atlantic coast. He was initially tagged on 17 January 2025, some 45 miles outside Jacksonville, Florida.

Red Meets Blue: How to watch Mars-Regulus 'kiss' as 'heart of Lion glows' near red planet this week

At their closest, Mars and Regulus sit just 0.7 degrees apart. That’s about a little finger’s width at arm’s length. It's one of the year's tightest planetary conjunctions.

Aurora Borealis: Rare sight expected this weekend – When and where to watch

A rare Aurora Borealis display may be visible in 18 US states this weekend due to a solar storm. Find out when and where to see the northern lights near you!

Elon Musk's SpaceX makes history with 500th Falcon 9 launch, marking reusability milestone

The latest launch lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was celebrated widely by SpaceX engineers and CEO Elon Musk.

ISRO, NASA and SpaceX working together after Ax-4 delay, says ISRO chairperson

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed it is working closely with Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX after a recent technical issue with the ISS Zvezda module.

Thailand’s national bird, the Siamese Fireback, spotted for the first time in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand

It was the Siamese Fireback, Thailand’s national bird. This was the first sighting in Uttarakhand’s Almora district.

Symbol of India in space: Designer Manish Tripathi creates AXIOM-4 mission badge for Subhanshu Shukla

Designer Manish Tripathi creates a unique mission badge for AXIOM-4 astronaut Subhanshu Shukla.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts with mesmerising 1,000-foot lava fountains — Watch video here

The latest eruption lasted about eight hours this Wednesday. Lava fountains shot from the northern vent with force. Some streams soared more than 1,000 feet into the air.

Upcoming space events in 2025: Rocket launches, space missions, skywatching events and more

Get ready for a stellar year ahead! From exciting rocket launches and deep-space missions to breathtaking meteor showers and lunar events, 2025 promises a packed calendar of celestial spectacles.

Kashmir's long-lost Eurasian Otter, thought to be extinct, spotted after 30 years

In the Lidder River at Srigufwara, villagers spotted a strange animal. At first, many believed it was a crocodile. But videos sent to wildlife officials revealed something unexpected.

Summer Solstice 2025 Date: When is the longest day of the year?

Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees off vertical. That tilt and Earth's orbit bring about the seasons. At this time in June, the Northern Hemisphere is inclined towards the sun.

Titan's strange spin stumps scientists: A fresh mystery emerges

Typically, solar heat or a planet’s gravity influences atmospheric behaviour. Scientists expected Titan’s tilt to shift over time, but it didn’t. Instead, the direction of the tilt remains fixed in space.

Fiery 'river of fire' spotted from space as Mount Etna erupts, satellites capture stunning view

Experts believe the violent flow was triggered by a collapse in part of the volcano’s caldera wall. The superheated avalanche, thankfully, caused no injuries or deaths.

Eight-legged water bear to travel to space: Here's why Shubhanshu Shukla is taking a tardigrade on a space mission

This microscopic “water bear” is central to the Voyager Tardigrades mission, an experiment aimed at unravelling how life can thrive in space’s harsh conditions.

Chilling video shows rare blood-red squid captured alive on camera for the first time

Spotted using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed from Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too), the squid was seen drifting silently through the pitch-dark bathypelagic zone.

SpaceX launches so far in 2025: Full list of Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Starship Missions

SpaceX is rewriting the rules of modern rocketry in 2025, clocking a launch every 2.27 days, while Starship inches closer to operational status with ambitious biweekly test flights.

May 2025 ranked second-hottest globally, EU data shows

May's average global temperature was 1.4°C higher than the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. That figure pushes Earth further into the danger zone agreed upon in the Paris climate pact.

What Shubhanshu Shukla’s AX-4 mission to ISS means for India’s space journey

This mission carries several experiments designed by Indian scientists. Many will study muscle behavior in zero gravity. Such studies can’t be done on Earth easily due to gravity’s influence.

IAF pilot Shukla’s flight to ISS would bring new learnings for Indian space projects

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian to space, joining Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission. His experience will aid India’s Gaganyaan mission and human spaceflight advancements. The space flight has been postponed to a future date

SpaceX halts Axiom-4 mission carrying Shubhanshu Shukla due to Falcon 9 propellant leak

SpaceX postponed the launch of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission. It was scheduled to fly from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. Liftoff was originally planned for 10 June at 8:22 am ET.

Greenland's 650-foot tsunami in 2023 sent shockwaves across the globe, rattling sensors for 9 days—check out image

On 16 September 2023, millions of tonnes of rock fell. The impact hurled up a wave 650 feet high. It raced down the fjord, smashed into cliffs, then reversed.

NASA warns that asteroid 2024 YR4 may crash into the Moon in 2032

Back in December 2024, when YR4 was first discovered, the danger was greater. It showed a 3.1% chance of hitting Earth.

From female to alpha: Sex-changing fish quick to assert dominance in minutes

Quertermous expected behaviour shifts within the hour but was surprised by the immediate reactions. In many tanks, aggression rose noticeably just moments after the dominant fish disappeared.

Fish ‘beauty salons’ may help shape reef microbial life — Here’s how

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and University of Miami investigated this strange concept.

Strawberry Moon 2025: When and where to watch this special and rare full moon in india

This full moon marks the final one of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also the lowest full moon of the year for those living north of the equator.

James Webb reveals new secrets of the enigmatic Sombrero Galaxy with its latest image

The galaxy, first seen 244 years ago, holds mysteries scientists still seek to understand. JWST’s powerful cameras now show more than ever before.

Wallace’s Line: The invisible barrier what animals don’t cross — Here’s Why

This fascinating divide is called Wallace’s Line. It’s named after Alfred Russel Wallace, a naturalist who noticed the sharp difference while exploring in the 19th century.

A night to remember: Moon glows beside famous red star Antares today — Here's how to see it

The waxing gibbous moon will glow close to the bright red star Antares in the Scorpius constellation.

M87 black hole rotates at 80% max speed, nears cosmic speed threshold, feeds at 23% light speed

The black hole weighs about 6.5 billion solar masses. Scientists now believe it spins at around 80% of the maximum speed nature allows.

ISRO invites nation to watch AX-4 launch as Shubhanshu Shukla to become 2nd Indian to ISS after Rakesh Sharma

The Ax-4 mission, according to Axiom Space, “realises the return” to space for these three countries. Shukla, a fighter pilot for 15 years, was praised by his fellow astronauts for his technical skills and sharp focus.

'We pray for safe return': Shubhanshu Shukla’s parents speak ahead of Ax-4 mission liftoff

The Ax-4 mission marks India’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. Alongside India, astronauts from Poland and Hungary will also participate.

NASA captures giant Mars volcano piercing through morning clouds

Odyssey, the longest-operating spacecraft orbiting a planet, captured the photo by turning 90 degrees halfway around the planet.

SpaceX Ax-4 crew completes final rehearsal: India, Poland and Hungary join human spaceflight after 40 years

Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become India’s second national astronaut to travel to space since Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.

India’s Shubhanshu Shukla gears up for Axiom 4 mission: When and how to watch it live

Axiom 4 mission, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Indian space program, International Space Station, SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, ISRO, NASA, microgravity, spaceflight, science experiments, commercial projects, private space station, India's growing presence in global spaceflight

Russia patents technology for launching drones to maintain orbital space station

This technology is planned to be tested at the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) and later applied in the exploration of the Moon

Mysterious ‘Doomsday Fish’ known as a sign of upcoming tsunamis and earthquakes, appears in Tamil Nadu, India

Oarfish, also known as doomsday fish, have a mythical reputation and are often linked to earthquakes or tsunamis in folklore.

India’s Microbiome Moment: Where science meets tradition

Hyderabad-based Mapmygenome’s acquisition of Canada’s Microbiome Insights marks a critical moment in healthcare. It provides a platform to marry modern science with the wisdom and insight of Ayurveda. That, in turn, will allow India to lead a transformation in global healthcare

Japan’s ispace Moon Mission Crashes as Another Lunar Landing Fails

The company’s livestream ended shortly after the failed attempt. ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada apologised publicly, acknowledging the setback and thanking everyone involved.

NASA captured three massive black holes devouring giant stars — the biggest explosion since the Big Bang

The black holes sit in the centres of faraway galaxies. They stayed dark for years before tearing into massive stars. After the stars were destroyed, the black holes glowed brightly for months.

The Earth is alive and has a pulse that beats every 26 seconds – watch the NASA video here

One popular theory involves ocean waves crashing into land. Some scientists believe the waves hit the continental shelf, sending out vibrations.

Tiny star hosts giant surprise: Saturn-sized planet found orbiting red dwarf star

The giant planet, named TOI-6894b, was spotted using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS.

Mystery in the Mist: Pluto’s hazy skies baffle scientists, reveal a truly unique atmosphere

In 2022 and 2023, researchers turned JWST's powerful MIRI instrument toward Pluto. What they found was unlike anything seen elsewhere in the Solar System.