News

Physics Nobel Prize Rewards Science on Tiny Timescale Stockholm, 3 Oct (ONA) --- This year's Nobel Prize in Physics rewards experiments with light that capture "the shortest of moments" and opened a window on the world of electrons. The award goes to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L'Huillier. Their work demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to capture and study rapid processes inside atoms, BBC news reported. The winners will share prize money of 11m Swedish krona (£824,000). The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said ...

NASA’s First Asteroid Samples Land on Earth after Release from Spacecraft Houston, 24 Sep (ONA) --- NASA’s first asteroid samples fetched from deep space parachuted into the Utah desert today to cap a seven-year journey. In a flyby of Earth, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft released the sample capsule from 63,000 miles (100,000 kilometers) out. The small capsule landed four hours later on a remote expanse of military land, as the mothership set off after another asteroid. “We have touchdown!” Flight Control announced, immediately repeating the news since the landing ...

Turbo-charged Plants Could Boost Farm Output Illinois, 19 Sep (ONA) --- According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, almost three-in-ten people around the world went short of food in 2022, with more than a tenth severely food insecure. Improving plant yields is one way to cut the shortfall, and there have been great advances. But while maize yields, for example, have tripled over the past hundred years, so has water usage. "We need to be able to increase productivity without increasing further demand, particularly in terms of water," said Prof Steve Long of ...

China Unveils World's First Geothermal Standard for Green TransitionBeijing, 18 Sep (ONA) --- China introduced the world's inaugural geothermal industry standard at the 2023 World Geothermal Congress in Beijing.This move aims to accelerate the global shift towards green and low-carbon energy solutions.Previous tests carried out in north China's Hebei Province have demonstrated that the standard can ensure the sustainable development and usage of geothermal heating projects.Over 1,400 attendees from 54 countries participated in China's first-ever hosting of the congress, themed ...

Antarctic Sea-ice at Mind-blowing Low Alarms Experts Colorado, United States, 17 Sep (ONA) --- The sea-ice surrounding Antarctica is well below any previous recorded winter level, satellite data shows, a worrying new benchmark for a region that once seemed resistant to global warming. "It's so far outside anything we've seen, it's almost mind-blowing," said Walter Meier, who monitors sea-ice with the National Snow and Ice Data Center. An unstable Antarctica could have far-reaching consequences, polar experts warn. Antarctica's huge ice expanse regulates the planet's ...

X-ray Spectroscopy Reveals Earth's Early Stages Tokyo, 12 Sep (ONA) --- A new study led by Zhong Yin, an associated professor at Tohoku University, probed the pre-biotic stage of earth’s history. The team of researchers included researchers from Tohoku University, the University of Geneva, ETH Zurich, and the University of Hamburg.It is indicated that in early stages, Earth’s atmosphere was different, with intense space radiation. Some hypothesized that urea, a vital organic compound, reacted with this radiation in water puddles, forming the basis for DNA and RNA.For this study, ...

Across Northern Hemisphere, Time to Catch New Comet before Vanishing for 400 Years Florida, 7 Sep (ONA) --- A newly discovered comet is swinging through our cosmic neighbourhood for the first time in more than 400 years. Stargazers across the Northern Hemisphere should catch a glimpse as soon as possible, either this week or early next because it will be another 400 years before the wandering ice ball returns. The comet, which is kilometer-sized (1/2-mile), will sweep safely past Earth on 12 September 2023, passing within 78 million miles (125 million kilometers). ...

Scientists Design Energy Source to Live on Moon Wales, 4 Sep (ONA) --- Scientists have developed an energy source which could allow astronauts to live on the Moon for long periods of time. The Nasa-led Artemis Program hopes for an outpost on the Moon by around 2030, BBC news reported. Bangor University has designed nuclear fuel cells, the size of poppy seeds, to produce the energy needed to sustain life there. Prof Simon Middleburgh from the university said the work was a challenge - "but it was a fun one". The Moon, which is seen by some to be the gateway to Mars, ...

Workshop Held on Oman’s Strategic Approach in Biotechnology within Vision 2040Muscat, 3 Sep (ONA) --- The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation today held a preparatory workshop for a project to draft the national strategy for biotechnology within the context of Oman Vision 2040.Specialists, experts and researchers from vital sectors took part in the workshop, held at Muscat Innovation Complex.Dr. Kawthar Ibrahim Al Balushi, expert in research and innovation programs at the innovation complex and Chair of the National Committee for Biotechnology, underscored the ...

Alluvial Mining Threatens River EcosystemsWashington, 30 Aug (ONA) --- A research study published in the scientific journal Nature has warned about the impact of mining stream beds, known as alluvial mining, on river systems.The study’s authors found that gold and mineral mining in and near rivers is degrading waterways in 49 countries. The research focused on tropical waterways, principally located in South America and Africa.River mineral mining involves intensive excavation and sediment processing in river corridors, releasing sediment downstream. This excavated material disrupts ...

Japan to Launch Lunar Lander, Revolutionary Satellite Tokyo, 27 Aug (ONA) --- A revolutionary satellite that will reveal celestial objects in a new light and the “Moon Sniper” lunar lander are preparing for launch. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, is expected to launch its XRISM mission, pronounced “crism,” from Japan tomorrow (Monday). The satellite, also called the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission, is a joint mission between JAXA and NASA, along with participation from the European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency. Along for the ...

World's Largest Computer Games Trade Fair Opens in Germany Cologne, 23 Aug (ONA) ---- The world's largest computer games trade fair “Gamescom” opened its doors today in Cologne, Germany.People from the industry, journalists and selected fans all poured in to explore the event's first day.The event is open to the general public as of Thursday, when it is expected to be even more crowded. Tickets to the trade fair are already sold out for Saturday. The event runs until Sunday.As many as 1,227 exhibitors are showing new games, hardware and other products. Companies exhibiting wares ...

Researchers Develop Smart Rust to Clean Water Washington, 16 Aug (ONA) --- Researchers developed a special iron oxide nanoparticles, codenamed “smart rust”, that makes water cleaner, in contrast to making water dirtier by pouring flecks of rust into water in normal circumstances. Smart rust can attract many substances, including oil, nano- and microplastics, as well as the herbicide glyphosate, depending on the particles' coating. Since the nanoparticles are magnetic, they can easily be removed from water with a magnet along with the pollutants.Now, the team is reporting that ...

Researchers Discover New Method for Measuring Dark EnergyLondon, 15 Aug (ONA) --- Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found a new way to measure dark energy, the mysterious force responsible for the universe’s accelerating expansion. By studying the movement of Andromeda, our neighboring galaxy on a collision course with the Milky Way, the researchers were able to place an upper limit on the value of the cosmological constant, which is a model of dark energy.This upper limit was found to be five times higher than the value that can be detected from the early universe. ...

AI Offers Huge Promise on Breast Cancer Screening Stockholm, 2 Aug (ONA) --- Artificial intelligence (AI) can "safely" read breast cancer screening images, a Swedish study suggests. Researchers led by a team at Lund University found computer-aided detection could spot cancer at a "similar rate" to two radiologists. But they said more research was needed to fully determine whether it could be used in screening programmes, BBC news reported. Experts in the UK agreed AI offered huge promise in breast cancer screening. This is not the first study to look at the use of AI ...

Two Supermoons in August Mean Double the Stargazing Fun Florida, 30 Jul (ONA) --- The cosmos is offering up a double feature in August: a pair of supermoons culminating in a rare blue moon. The first show on Tuesday as the full moon rises, appearing slightly brighter and bigger than normal. That’s because it will be closer than usual, just 222,159 miles (357,530 kilometers) away, thus the supermoon label. The moon will be even closer the night of 30 August 2023 — a scant 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) distant. Because it’s the second full moon in the same month, it ...

Ocean Currents Vital for Distributing Heat Could Collapse by Midcentury: Study Berlin, 27 Jul (ONA) --- A system of ocean currents that transports heat northward across the North Atlantic could collapse by mid-century, according to a new study. Scientists have said before that such a collapse could cause catastrophic sea-level rise and extreme weather across the globe. In recent decades, researchers have both raised and downplayed the specter of Atlantic current collapse. It even prompted a movie that strayed far from the science. Two years ago, the United Nations ...

Study Finds Climate Change Fingerprints in July Heat Waves in Europe, China, America London, 25 Jul (ONA) --- The fingerprints of climate change are all over the intense heat waves gripping the globe this month (July), a new study finds. Researchers say the deadly hot spells in the American Southwest and Southern Europe could not have happened without the continuing buildup of warming gases in the air. These unusually strong heat waves are becoming more common, the study said. The same research found the increase in heat-trapping gases, largely from the burning of coal, ...

Twitter Unveils X Logo to Replace Blue Bird San Francisco, 24 Jul (ONA) --- Twitter's boss has unveiled the social media site's new logo, featuring a white X on a black background, which will replace its blue bird. "Tweets" will also be replaced, according to Twitter's owner Elon Musk, and posts will be called "x's", BBC news reported. Musk changed his profile picture to the new logo and added "X.com" to his Twitter bio. Musk wants to create a "super app" called "X" - his vision for a new kind of social media platform that he has been talking about creating for ...

FOCUS Study Publishes Findings on Brain Health of Former Footballers London, 18 Jul (ONA) --- The second set of findings from the FOCUS study have now been peer reviewed and published in the JAMA Network Open medical journal. The FOCUS study was commissioned by The Football Association, England [The FA] and the Professional Footballers' Association [PFA] in 2018, with the University of Nottingham appointed to conduct an independent research study into the long-term brain health of former professional footballers. The study, which was led by Weiya Zhang at the Versus Arthritis ...

Webb Space Telescope Reveals Moment of Stellar Birth, Dramatic Close-up of 50 Baby Stars Florida, 12 Jul (ONA) --- The Webb Space Telescope is marking one year of cosmic photographs with one of its best yet: the dramatic close-up of dozens of stars at the moment of birth. NASA unveiled the latest snapshot today, revealing 50 baby stars in a cloud complex 390 light-years away. The region is relatively quiet yet full of illuminated gases, jets of hydrogen and even cocoons of dust with the delicate beginnings of even more stars. All of the young stars appear to be no bigger than ...

Omani Research Project Examines Adoption of Global Citizenship Education Muscat, 11 Jun (ONA) ---- ‘Promoting Global Citizenship Education (GCED) in the Sultanate of Oman: An Analysis of National Policies’ by principal investigator Dr. Khalaf Marhoun Al Abri, Associate Professor of Education Systems and Policies at the College of Education at Sultan Qaboos University, is one of the innovative research projects funded by the Block Funding Program of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. For this research project, Dr. Khalaf Al Abri and his team aimed ...

German Researchers Develop AI Systems to Detect Plastic in Oceans Berlin, 7 Jun (ONA) --- The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) is developing several AI systems that can help detect plastic waste floating on the surfaces of the world's oceans.As part of the PlasticObs+ project, technology is to be attached to surveillance aircraft to monitor the oceans. According to the centre, the first test flights were satisfactory.The DFKI's long-term goal is to equip surveillance aircraft that are in use worldwide with AI-supported sensor technology. This would allow for ...

UK Tech Adviser Warns of AI Danger to Humans London, 6 Jun (ONA) ---- Artificial intelligence (AI) could have the capability to be behind advances that “kill many humans” in only two years’ time, according to Rishi Sunak’s adviser on the technology.Matt Clifford said that unless AI producers are regulated on a global scale then there could be “very powerful” systems that humans could struggle to control.Even the short-term risks were “pretty scary,” he told TalkTV, with AI having the potential to create cyber and biological weapons that could inflict many deaths.The ...

Biodegradable Plastics Unbreakable in Oceans: StudyCalifornia, US, 25 May (ONA) --- Researchers have found that certain bioplastics, widely promoted as biodegradable, failed to decompose in ocean conditions over a period of 428 days, according to a recent study that examined materials like polylactic acid, commonly employed in textiles and as a filament for 3D printing.The results were unequivocal. Polylactic acid, alongside oil-based polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate frequently used in synthetic textiles, showed strong resistance to degradation in marine environments. In ...

Biodiversity Targets may be Slipping out of Reach - StudyLondon, 19 Apr (ONA) —- Ambitious targets to halt the decline in nature may already be slipping out of reach, a study suggests.Scientists say the effects of climate change and habitat loss on animal populations have been underestimated.They say bringing back wildlife may take longer than expected and that unless we act now global biodiversity targets will be out of reach.In December 2022, almost 200 countries agreed to halt the decline in nature by the end of the decade.They set ambitious goals to halt the loss of biodiversity and ...

Old NASA Satellite to Fall to Earth, Low Risk of DangerFlorida, 19 Apr (ONA) —- An old NASA satellite is expected to fall to Earth this week, but experts tracking the spacecraft say chances are low it will pose any danger.The defunct science satellite known as Rhessi will plummet through the atmosphere tonight, according to NASA and the Defense Department.NASA said that the reentry location is not being disclosed, given lingering uncertainty over when and where it might go down. Most of the 660-pound (300-kilogram) satellite should burn up upon return, but some parts are expected to ...

Jupiter Moons Mission to Assess Chance of LifeLondon, 13 Apr (ONA) —- The European Space Agency (Esa) is set to launch a satellite to the planet Jupiter, one of the organisation's most ambitious missions ever.The satellite will leave Earth today on an eight-year journey to reach the giant planet's major moons.There's good evidence that these icy worlds - Callisto, Europa and Ganymede - hold oceans of liquid water at depth.The Esa mission aims to establish whether the moons might also have the conditions needed to sustain life, BBC news reported.The project is known as the Jupiter Icy Moons ...

Korean Lunar Orbiter Danuri Captures Moon’s Dark Side Seoul, Apr 12 (ONA) --- Danuri, Korea's first lunar orbiter, has succeeded in capturing photos of the dark side of the moon. The photos are part of scientific research to observe the moon from about 100 kilometers above its surface, according to the science ministry today, The Korea Times reported. This is the first time that the Korean spacecraft photographed craters, valleys, basins and other traces of the moon's dark side, which is hard to observe from the Earth because it is tidally locked to our planet. Using the ...

Wind and Solar Break Energy Records London, 12 Apr (ONA) --- Experts are calling time on the fossil age as new analysis shows wind and solar power produced a record amount of the world’s electricity in 2022. The renewables generated 12 per cent of global electricity in 2022, up from 10 per cent the previous year, according to the report from clean energy think tank Ember. And while a small increase in coal burning pushed electricity emissions up to an all-time high, analysts predict this will be the peak of pollution. If clean power meets all new demand this year as ...