Latest news with #universe
Washington Post
11 hours ago
- Science
- Washington Post
Why are we abandoning our research on Mars?
Louis Friedman is co-founder and former executive director of the Planetary Society. The three big questions about life — What is life? How did life originate? Is there extraterrestrial life? (Are we alone?) — are the raison d'être of space exploration. Life is why we explore. Yet despite exploring for all of human history, we have found only one example of life (that of Earth) and don't know how it came to be. The mystery of how chemistry begot biology — that is, how the molecules of the universe came together to create life — is still undetermined. We do not even know whether life is an inevitable result of the chemical and physical processes of our universe or a random mathematical accident of nature — rarely repeated, if at all.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Science
- The Sun
Mystery object zooming towards Sun may be ‘hostile alien probe' – but experts brand Harvard prof's claims as ‘nonsense'
THE mysterious interstellar object blazing through our solar system could be a piece of "possibly hostile" alien technology, according to a controversial new study. The research, from a small group of scientists including a renowned alien-hunting Harvard University astronomer, argues that object 3I/ATLAS is actually an extraterrestrial probe in disguise. On 1 July, astronomers spotted a highly unusual object zooming towards our Sun at roughly 245,000 kilometres per hour - or 68km a second. With a "short tail" and a "fuzziness" around it, astronomers declared it an icy comet - and the fastest rock our solar system has ever seen. Judging by its bizarre orbit, experts determined that the super-fast space traveller had come from outside our solar system. That would make it the third interstellar object to pass Earth on record, following the rare visits of the famous 1I/ʻOumuamua asteroid in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. But Harvard astrophysics professor Avi Loeb and his colleagues suggest it could be something more advanced than an interstellar rock. "In this paper we present additional analysis into the astrodynamics of 3I/ATLAS, and hypothesise that this object could be technological," they write in their paper. The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, added that the technology could even be "possibly hostile". Loeb and his colleagues say this would "be expected from the 'Dark Forest' resolution to the 'Fermi Paradox'" - a theory that alien civilisations exist throughout the universe but are both silent and hostile. 'Dark Forest' theorists believe aliens remain hidden for fear of being destroyed by other intelligent lifeforms. It is one of many possible explanations of the Fermi Paradox, which aims to answer why humans have not yet found alien life. Why We Haven't Met Aliens Yet: 9 Theories Loeb is a controversial figure among astronomers and astrophysicists, having previously suggested that interstellar object 1I/ʻOumuamua may have also been an alien craft in 2017. Now 3I/ATLAS is showing signs it could be of alien origin as well, according to Loeb. 5 The object's orbit, for example, brings it suspiciously close to Venus, Mars and Jupiter, Loeb writes in his study. Yet separate experts told Live Science that the new claims are "nonsense" and "insulting." They insist that the available evidence points toward the object being completely natural. What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet? Here's what you need to know, according to Nasa... Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth) Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it'll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn't vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth's atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vaporizing) If it is natural like most researchers say, then 3I/ATLAS appears to be a comet older than our solar system - a whopping 7.6billion years old. The space rock is estimated to be up to 20km in size. Its current trajectory suggests it came from the Milky Way's 'thick disk' – a field of ancient stars. No comet from that region has ever graced Earth with a flyby, according to astronomers. 5 To figure out whether 3I/ATLAS really is an alien probe - similar to Earth's Voyager 1 and 2 - scientists will have to continue monitoring it. Radio waves coming from the object would be strong evidence that the object is of alien origin - assuming the probe was still in working order. Any signs of manoeuvring or propulsion would also be a good indicator that it's more than cosmic debris. If it were to approach to Earth, a rare type of world as planets come, in a stable orbit - that too might suggest it is an otherworldly probe. Our planet, with its water, healthy atmosphere, strong magnetic field and life, would be of great interest to other intelligent forms of life. But for now, evidence mostly points towards 3I/ATLAS being an ancient, icy and speedy comet. 5
UAE Moments
a day ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
♈ Aries Daily Horoscope for July 23, 2025
Big Aries energy meets big decisions. Are you ready to choose your next adventure? Today's vibe is bold, fiery, and full of potential—just the way you like it. The universe is handing you the mic, but what you say next could set the tone for the rest of your month. Choose your words (and your battles) wisely. Career: Your ambition is peaking — great for brainstorming or pitching, not so great for paperwork or waiting on approvals. Don't get discouraged if things don't move at your speed. Stay focused on the long game and avoid picking battles that aren't worth it. Love: You're radiating intensity — which can either charm or overwhelm. If single, let your energy invite rather than overpower. In a relationship? Avoid jumping to conclusions. A little softness can go a long way today. Body: Your body is craving movement — but don't overdo it. A quick workout or dance break might help burn off that restlessness. If you've been ignoring little aches, it's time to show your body some respect. Mental Health: Your mind's in go-mode, which can lead to overthinking or impulse decisions. Hit pause before reacting — especially in emotional convos. Meditation, deep breaths, or even screaming into a pillow (we won't judge) could help.
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
♈ Aries Daily Horoscope for July 22, 2025
Big Aries energy meets big decisions. Are you ready to choose your next adventure? Today's vibe is bold, fiery, and full of potential—just the way you like it. The universe is handing you the mic, but what you say next could set the tone for the rest of your month. Choose your words (and your battles) wisely. Career: You're feeling ambitious, and it's a good day to pitch that idea or take the lead in meetings. Just be sure you're listening as much as you're speaking. Collaboration will earn you more respect than domination. Love: Your charm is magnetic right now, and someone definitely notices. If you're single, don't be afraid to make the first move. In a relationship? Surprise your partner with something spontaneous—they'll love your fiery unpredictability. Body: Time to burn off that excess energy! A fast-paced workout (or even a mini dance party) can help release some tension and improve your focus. You'll feel more grounded afterward. Mental Health: You might be a little impatient today, especially if things aren't moving fast enough for your liking. Breathe. Control what you can, and don't spiral about the rest.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
This new 'CosmoCube' moon orbiter could eavesdrop on whispers from the early universe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A U.K.-led team of scientists is developing a miniature spacecraft that will orbit the moon in an effort to detect faint radio signals from the universe's infancy. The proposed mission, called CosmoCube, aims to "listen" for these ancient signals from the far side of the moon. It will target the "cosmic dark ages" — a critical-but-mysterious era roughly 50 million to 1 billion years after the Big Bang, when the first stars, galaxies and black holes in the universe formed. "It's incredible how far these radio waves have travelled, now arriving with news of the universe's history," David Bacon, a cosmologist at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K. who's involved with the mission, said in a statement. "The next step is to go to the quieter side of the moon to hear that news." Observing this distant epoch is notoriously difficult, astronomers say. At that time, the universe was filled with a dense fog of neutral hydrogen gas that blocked visible light from traveling freely through space, rendering the early cosmos opaque. However, hydrogen, which is the most abundant element in the universe, emits a characteristic radio signal at a frequency of 1,420 megahertz, corresponding to a wavelength of about 8.3 inches (21 centimeters). As the first luminous objects ignited, they subtly transformed the hydrogen around them, altering the strength and profile of this signal. Capturing these variations could offer a pristine view into how the first luminous objects formed, according to the statement. While this signal has been studied extensively in the nearby universe, detecting its much fainter counterpart from the universe's earliest days is far more challenging. Capturing these ancient signals requires near-total radio silence, which is virtually impossible to achieve on Earth, where electronic devices and atmospheric interference create a constant background hum. "It's like trying to hear that whisper while a loud concert is playing next door," Eloy de Lera Acedo, an associate professor of radio cosmology at the University of Cambridge who's involved with the CosmoCube mission, said in the statement. "This makes it really hard to pick up those faint signals from billions of years ago." RELATED STORIES —Astronomers see the 1st stars dispel darkness 13 billion years ago at 'Cosmic Dawn' —Scientists use the JWST to study an extremely ancient galaxy piercing through the cosmic dark ages —Tiny galaxies may have helped our universe out of its dark ages, JWST finds The CosmoCube mission would take advantage of the moon's far side, which acts as a natural shield from Earth's radio emissions, according to the statement. From this unique vantage point, the probe aims to deploy a sensitive radiometer designed to detect low-frequency radio signals. The mission data could also help to resolve the Hubble tension, the long-standing puzzle in cosmology involving conflicting measurements of the universe's expansion rate based on observations of the early universe versus the local universe. Lab prototypes of the instruments are already undergoing environmental testing. The team plans to launch CosmoCube within the next four to five years, with the goal of reaching lunar orbit by the end of the decade, the team said in the statement. Solve the daily Crossword
