NASA reports plane-sized asteroid nearing earth
The space rock—known as 2025 OW—is estimated to be about 210 feet across and will make its closest approach to our next Monday, at a distance of around 393,000 miles, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
But 2025 OW isn't the only asteroid approaching us in the coming days. NASA is also tracking another airplane-sized space rock known as 2025 OX, which is estimated to be about 110 feet across, and will fly past the Earth on July 26 at a distance of 2,810,000 miles.
Three more aircraft-sized space rocks are also expected to pass by Earth in the next few weeks.
On July 28, asteroid 2018 BE5 will make its closest approach at a distance of just 2,580,000 miles; 2025 OR will pass within 3,040,000 miles on July 31; and, next month, 2019 CO1 will get within 4,240,000 miles of our home.
According to NASA, asteroids are inactive bodies made of all the rocky, dusty and metallic materials left behind from the formation of our solar system. They are mainly concentrated within the main asteroid belt, orbiting around the sun between the paths of Mars and Jupiter, though some may end up in the inner solar system.
Asteroids of various sizes can pose different levels of threat to our planet. Small ones around 30 feet impact Earth about once in a decade, causing a very bright fireball, and a strong sonic boom. They may sometimes also break nearby windows.
Space rocks measuring 160 feet and over can cause local devastation and leave a crater. Thankfully, they only impact Earth about in 1,000 years.
Depending on the impact location, larger space rocks—those that measure in at over 500 feet across—can cause deaths across populated metro areas and states, says NASA. Fortunately, they only hit the Earth around every 20,000 years.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ammon
5 hours ago
- Ammon
Humanin Peptide: Exploring Its Multifaceted Potential Across Research Domains
Ammon News - Humanin is a small, mitochondria-derived peptide consisting of 24 amino acids, first identified in 2001. It has attracted significant attention within the scientific community due to its unique origin and diverse biological activities. Emerging research suggests that Humanin might serve as a pivotal molecule linking mitochondrial function with cellular survival pathways. This article explores the current understanding of Humanin properties and speculates on their prospective uses across various research domains, focusing on their biochemical attributes and the implications of their activity in cellular physiology, cellular aging, metabolic regulation, neurodegeneration, and beyond. Origin and Biochemical Properties of Humanin Humanin is encoded within the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, marking it as a mitochondria-derived peptide (MDP), a class of peptides believed to mediate inter-organelle communication. This origin positions Humanin uniquely as a potential signaling molecule that may support cellular homeostasis. The peptide's sequence is highly conserved across species, indicating an evolutionarily preserved function. Biochemically, Humanin is characterized by its amphipathic nature, allowing it to interact with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic environments. This feature may enable the peptide to cross cellular membranes and interact with intracellular targets, thereby modulating various signaling cascades. Humanin's interaction with specific receptors, including formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) and the ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR) complex, suggests it may trigger intracellular pathways involved in survival and metabolic regulation. Humanin in Mitochondrial Signaling and Cellular Stress Response Mitochondria are crucial regulators of cellular metabolism and apoptotic signaling. It has been hypothesized that Humanin may act as a mitochondrial stress signal, released under conditions of mitochondrial dysfunction. This theory posits that the peptide might serve as an adaptive response element, modulating cell fate decisions during stress. In research contexts, Humanin's possible role may be further investigated as a mediator of mitochondrial quality control and biogenesis. Studies suggest that the peptide might support mitochondrial dynamics by interacting with key proteins involved in fission and fusion processes. These processes are essential for maintaining mitochondrial integrity and function. Given the centrality of mitochondria in numerous diseases and cellular aging, Humanin may serve as a valuable probe for understanding mitochondrial contributions to pathophysiology and organismal longevity. Potential in cellular aging and Longevity Research Cellular aging is characterized by the progressive decline of cellular and organismal function, with mitochondrial dysfunction playing a prominent role. The discovery of Humanin coincided with investigations into the mitochondrial theory of cellular aging, leading to hypotheses that the peptide might modulate age-associated pathways. Research indicates that Humanin levels may decline over time, suggesting a correlation between peptide abundance and organismal integrity. It has been theorized that Humanin may support cellular resistance to oxidative stress and apoptotic stimuli, both of which escalate during cellular aging. Investigations suggest that Humanin may support the activity of longevity regulators, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin, thereby contributing to metabolic homeostasis. Moreover, Humanin appears to regulate autophagy, a crucial mechanism for cellular waste removal and recycling. Given that defective autophagy is implicated in age-related diseases, the peptide might serve as a tool for probing autophagic processes and their manipulation to delay cellular aging phenotypes. Humanin's Implications in Neurodegenerative Disease Research Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, involve complex pathologies where mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis converge. It has been proposed that Humanin might play a neuroprotective role by interfering with apoptotic pathways activated during neuronal stress. The peptide's interaction with receptors, such as FPRL1, and its support of intracellular signaling pathways may modulate inflammatory responses and cellular survival in neural tissue. Research suggests that Humanin may mitigate the support of toxic protein aggregates, a hallmark of many neurodegenerative conditions, by supporting mitochondrial resilience and reducing oxidative stress. Furthermore, Humanin's potential role in regulating neuroinflammation offers intriguing possibilities for studying the intersection between mitochondrial signals and immune responses within the central nervous system. The peptide may be utilized as a molecular tool in experimental models to dissect pathways implicated in neuronal survival and degeneration. Metabolic Research and Humanin Peptide Metabolic disorders, including diabetes and obesity, have increasingly been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired inter-organ communication. It has been hypothesized that Humanin may play a role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, thereby supporting systemic metabolic homeostasis. Some investigations suggest that Humanin may modulate insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial bioenergetics, supporting energy balance at the cellular and organismal levels. Studies suggest that the peptide may interact with signaling networks, such as the PI3K/Akt pathway, which plays a central role in metabolic control. Given its mitochondrial origin, Humanin may serve as a key signaling molecule in the crosstalk between mitochondria and other cellular organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, further supporting metabolic processes. These properties position Humanin as a promising candidate for research into the molecular underpinnings of metabolic diseases and the development of novel metabolic modulators. Cardiovascular and Vascular Research Potential Emerging data indicate that Humanin might exert support on vascular cells and cardiovascular function. The peptide's interaction with endothelial cells suggests a role in regulating vascular tone and inflammatory responses within blood vessels. It is theorized that Humanin might support mitochondrial function in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells, possibly modulating cellular survival under ischemic or oxidative stress conditions. These properties have prompted investigations into the peptide's potential to support mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis and other vascular pathologies. As mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly studied as a contributor to the progression of cardiovascular disease, Humanin may serve as a novel research molecule for dissecting mitochondrial involvement in vascular integrity and disease. Future Directions and Research Challenges Despite growing interest, much remains speculative about the full scope of Humanin's possible roles and mechanisms. It has been proposed that further elucidation of Humanin's receptor interactions, signaling pathways, and intracellular targets is necessary to unlock its research potential fully. Technological advances in mitochondrial biology, peptide synthesis, and receptor pharmacology may facilitate the development of experimental tools to explore Humanin's activities in greater detail. Additionally, the integration of omics technologies, such as proteomics and metabolomics, may provide comprehensive insights into the peptide's support on cellular networks. Conclusion Humanin represents a fascinating intersection of mitochondrial biology, cellular signaling, and organismal physiology. Its properties as a mitochondria-derived peptide position it uniquely as a molecule of interest across multiple research domains, including cellular aging, neurodegeneration, metabolism, cardiovascular science, and immunology. While many aspects of Humanin's function remain hypothetical, ongoing investigations suggest it might serve as a crucial mediator of mitochondrial communication and cellular resilience. Continued exploration of this peptide may not only deepen understanding of mitochondrial roles in science and disease but also unveil novel pathways for scientific inquiry. Visit this website for the best research compounds.
Ammon
a day ago
- Ammon
Scientists discover a 'super–Earth' planet 35 light years away
Ammon News - It's one of the biggest unanswered questions in science. Are there aliens out there, and if so, where are they hiding? Now, researchers may have taken a huge step towards answering this question. Using NASA's TESS space telescope, a team from Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets has detected a 'super–Earth' 35 light–years away that might be habitable. The planet, called L 98–59 f, is one of five worlds found orbiting a red dwarf star called L 98–59. However, it is the only one with the right conditions to support life. 'Finding a temperate planet in such a compact system makes this discovery particularly exciting,' said Charles Cadieux, lead author of the study. 'It highlights the remarkable diversity of exoplanetary systems and strengthens the case for studying potentially habitable worlds around low–mass stars.' L 98–59 was first discovered in 2019, and was originally confirmed to have just four planets around it. However, by carefully reanalysing data collected from ground–based and space–based telescopes, the team was able to identify a fifth planet. This planet does not transit its host star – meaning it doesn't pass directly between us and the star. However, its presence was confirmed through subtle variations in the star's motion. The scientists believe the planet receives about the same amount of stellar energy as Earth does from the sun. Excitingly, this places it 'firmly' within the habitable zone – a region where water could remain in liquid form. The new study also sheds light on the four other planets orbiting the star.
Ammon
4 days ago
- Ammon
First Woman to command a space mission
Ammon News - On this day in 1999, with the launch of NASA's orbiter Columbia, U.S. astronaut Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle mission. Britannica
