Category: Technology

WASHINGTON: Two Nasa astronauts, who were left stranded in space due to technical problems, have finally returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay, safely splashing down off the coast of Florida in a SpaceX capsule. A SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams—alongside fellow American Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov—streaked through the atmosphere before deploying parachutes for a gentle splashdown off the Florida coast at 5:57 pm (2157 GMT). Ground teams erupted in cheers as the gumdrop-shaped spacecraft, named Freedom, charred from withstanding scorching temperatures…

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The first satellite of the innovative FireSat constellation, a collaborative project between Google and its partners, has been launched to change the face of wildfire detection and response using artificial intelligence technology. The satellite constellation intitiative is a collaborative effort among Google Research, Muon Space, Earth Fire Alliance, Moore Foundation, and global wildfire authorities, will be able to identify wildfires as small as 5×5 metres within just 20 minutes, according to ESG News. The tech giant invested $13 million in this project through its ‘AI Collaborative: Wildfires’ initiative. FireSat provides near real-time…

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As United States astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams prepare to return to Earth from their nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), they are reminded of both the well-documented and the mysterious health risks tied to extended space travel. Among the known challenges are bone and muscle deterioration, radiation exposure, and vision impairment, not to mention the psychological strain of isolation. With plans for deeper exploration into the solar system, including missions to Mars, these risks are expected to intensify, demanding innovative solutions to safeguard the future of…

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WASHINGTON: A pair of astronauts are finally set to depart for Earth early Tuesday after more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), ending a prolonged mission that has captivated global attention. In June last year, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams flew to the orbital lab, on what was supposed to be a days-long roundtrip to test out Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed flight. But the spaceship developed propulsion problems and was deemed unfit to fly them back, instead returning empty without more major problems. Ex-Navy pilots…

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A groundbreaking rigid shipping mast has embarked on its maiden voyage, harnessing wind power to propel a cargo ship from England to Canada while significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Following a night of intense work and a brief rest, George Thompson, founder of GT Wings, was back on the main deck, overseeing the operation of the 20-metre-high mast developed by his startup. “We haven’t had much sleep over the last few days,” Thompson told AFP, as he looked out onto the shipyard workers in white helmets and fluorescent vests, still…

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WASHINGTON: United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set to return to Earth tomorrow (Tuesday) after being stranded at the International Space Station for more than nine months. The two astronauts are to be transported home with another American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft, which arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday. The stranded duo have been on the ISS since June after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they were testing on its maiden crewed voyage suffered propulsion…

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WASHINGTON: An analysis released by the US space agency Nasa revealed on Thursday that global sea levels rose more than expected in 2024, Earth’s hottest year on record. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration explained on its website that last year’s increase “was due to an unusual amount of ocean warming, combined with meltwater from land-based ice such as glaciers.” According to the analysis led by Nasa, which monitors rising water levels using satellite imagery, the world’s seas rose by 0.23 inches (0.59 centimetres) in 2024, well above the 0.17…

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PARIS: Large areas of the world will be cast in red light on Thursday from a “Blood Moon” during a rare total lunar eclipse. The extraordinary event will be witnessed by skygazers in the Americas and Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, including parts of Western Europe and Africa. It is the first total lunar eclipse since 2022, but there will be another this September. The phenomenon happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up, and our planet casts a giant shadow across its satellite. But as the Earth’s shadow…

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KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that the first total lunar eclipse of the year is set to grace skies across the world tomorrow (Friday). According to the PMD, the eclipse will commence at 8:57am Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the moon entering total eclipse at 11:26am. The lunar eclipse will reach its peak at 11:59am before gradually ending at 3pm. However, this celestial event will not be visible from Pakistan. This phenomenon will be observable across various regions, including Europe, several Asian countries, Australia, Africa, and both…

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Scientists have discovered fossilised facial bones in Spain, dating back 1.1 to 1.4 million years, which may belong to an unidentified species in the human evolutionary lineage, Reuters reported. The fossils, found at the Sima del Elefante cave near Burgos, include 80% of the left side of an adult’s face, comprising parts of the cheekbone, upper jaw, and nasal structure. These are among the oldest-known human remains in Europe. Researchers have nicknamed the fossil “Pink” after Pink Floyd. Its facial features are more primitive than Homo antecessor, a species that lived in…

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