과학 기사

NASA’s latest mission takes the search for life to new frontiers — this time to Jupiter’s fourth largest moon, Europa. On October 14, 2024, the Europa Clipper spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to uncover the secrets of this distant moon....

In mid-September 2023, a mysterious event set off earthquake sensors worldwide. However, unlike typical earthquake readings, which are quick and sharp, this data showed a slow, constant wave. What surprised scientists even more was that the rumbling continued for nine consecutive days before finally subsiding....

Octopuses are among the smartest marine animals. These intelligent cephalopods are known for using coconut shells as mobile homes and armor and changing colors on demand to evade predators. A new study by researchers at Germany's Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior found that octopuses can also be strong leaders. They take charge of hunting packs and even discipline those who try to cheat....

Planetary rings are a natural feature of the larger outer planets like Jupiter and Neptune, but none are as spectacular as Saturn's. However, in March and November 2025, these majestic rings will not be visible to observers on Earth. Fortunately, this rare event is only an optical illusion. It is caused by the orientation of Saturn's thin rings and the planet's tilt relative to Earth. The last time this occurred was in 2009....

SpaceX has achieved yet another groundbreaking milestone. On October 13, 2024, the aerospace company successfully flew the 233-foot (71 m) Starship rocket booster back to its launch site and caught it mid-air with two mechanical arms. Previously, SpaceX boosters landed on a floating platform or landing pad and required transportation back to the launch site....

In the wild, animals frequently use deceptive tactics to survive. For instance, some wasps turn spiders into "zombie" slaves to build intricate nests. Similarly, mouse-eared bats mimic hornet buzzes to avoid being preyed upon by owls. Now, a new study reveals that a crafty orb-weaver spider species has found a way to manipulate the mating signals of male fireflies to catch more prey....

Earthworms are well-known for their ability to enrich and improve soil. Yet, their precise impact on plant growth had remained a mystery. Now, two groundbreaking studies have found that these creepy crawlers not only boost crop yields but also protect plants from harmful microplastics....

On October 2, 2024, a few lucky skygazers witnessed the Sun transform into a stunning "ring of fire" in the sky. The annular solar eclipse's narrow path, which began in the Pacific Ocean and ended in the Atlantic Ocean, tracked far from land. As a result, it was visible only to about 175,000 people worldwide....

On September 26, 2024, at 11:10 pm EST, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a dangerous Category 4 storm. With sustained winds of over 140 miles per hour (225 km/h), it was the most powerful hurricane to hit the region since record-keeping began in 1851. After causing widespread damage, Helene continued on to several states, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee....

The Internet's newest celebrities are two adorable zoo animals from opposite corners of the world. Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo, resides in Thailand, while Pesto, an unusually large king penguin chick, calls Australia home....

Get ready for a rare celestial event! This weekend, our planet will capture a temporary "mini-moon" in the form of a small asteroid called 2024 PT5. This tiny space rock will enter Earth's orbit on September 29, 2024. However, unlike our permanent Moon, which has been with us for billions of years, 2024 PT5 will only be around for eight weeks....

SpaceX is no stranger to making history. It was the first private spaceflight company to carry astronauts to the International Space Station and the first to develop a reusable rocket booster. On September 15, 2024, SpaceX reached a new milestone with the successful completion of Polaris Dawn, the first of three commercial space missions under the Polaris program. This five-day flight saw a crew of all civilian astronauts set several space altitude records and conduct a pioneering spacewalk....

A herd of 100 life-sized elephant sculptures have begun their trek across the United States. The "Great Elephant Migration" aims to promote harmony between humans and animals. The project is spearheaded by Ruth Ganesh. She is a trustee of Elephant Family USA and cofounder of The Coexistence Collective, a community of 200 indigenous artists in Southern India....

Since 2020, juvenile orcas have been intentionally colliding with boats off the coasts of Spain, Portugal, France, and Morocco. The most recent incident occurred off Spain’s northwest coast on August 25, 2024. A pod of killer whales damaged the rudder of a sailboat named the Amidala, leaving its two passengers stranded. While this boat remained afloat, the orcas' attacks have caused at least seven vessels to sink in the past four years....

Carbon dioxide (CO2), released by burning fossil fuels like oil and coal, is a large contributor to global warming. Switching to renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines can help reduce the harmful emissions. However, phasing out fossil fuels entirely will take time. Meanwhile, companies like Climeworks are developing innovative solutions to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. On May 8, 2024, the Switzerland-based startup turned on Mammoth, the world's largest direct air capture (DAC) plant....

A mummified adult wolf could offer scientists valuable insights into the late Pleistocene era (129,000 to 11,700 years ago). The animal was buried in thick permafrost for over 44,000 years. It was unearthed by the residents of Sakha, Russia, in 2021. The specimen boasted well-preserved teeth, fur, and internal organs, including the stomach. It was the first complete adult wolf found from the late Ice Age....

On August 25, 2024, NASA officials announced that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth in early September without its crew members Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. NASA's decision is based on lingering concerns about the spacecraft's safety. Wilmore and Williams will remain at the International Space Station (ISS) until February 2025....

Ants are known for their teamwork. The tiny insects work together to build homes, find food, and care for their young. Now, a new study has found that Florida carpenter ants even perform life-saving "surgeries" to save their nestmates. This remarkable social behavior has never been observed in a non-human species before....

July 12, 2024, began like any other day for Jose Romero. The dishwasher at Red Lobster in Pueblo, Colorado, began his shift by unpacking the day's lobster shipments. But as he dug into the crate filled with the live crustaceans, he noticed a vibrant orange lobster. It was unlike any other he had seen in his twelve years at the job....

There are numerous meteor showers throughout the year. However, few are as popular, or as reliable, as the Perseids. The "shooting stars" have been zooming across the skies at a rate of about a dozen an hour since mid-July. But the best time to watch them will be from midnight to dawn on August 11, 12, and 13, 2024. That is when the number of meteors will increase sharply to between 50 and 100 an hour. Also, unlike previous years, this upcoming show will not be overshadowed by a bright Moon. This will make it easier to view even the dimmer meteors....

China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe made history on June 25, 2024, when it brought back soil samples from the Moon's far side. The feat marks the first return of materials from the unexplored lunar region....

On June 20, 2024, Northern Hemisphere residents will celebrate the first official day of summer. Also known as the June solstice, it is the day when the North Pole is most tilted toward the Sun. As a result, the Northern Hemisphere will enjoy its longest day of 2024. Conversely, those in the Southern Hemisphere will mark the start of winter with the year's shortest day....

Most crabs have strong exoskeletons to protect them from predators. However, hermit crabs are born with soft bodies. They have usually lived inside sea shells or old snail shells. But, a recent study by Polish scientists has found that the tiny crustaceans are increasingly turning to trash for refuge....

Scientists have found cures for many types of diseases. However, a guaranteed way to fight cancer has proved elusive. That is because every person's cancer is based on their particular genes. Dr. Catherine Wu and her team at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, aim to change that by developing custom vaccines to fight each person's unique cancer....