"When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes."

— William Shakespeare
Julius Cæsar

Astronomy

<p><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod

APOD - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 12:00am


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

ADHD drugs reduce risk of criminal behaviour, drug abuse and accidents

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 7:30pm
A study of 150,000 people with ADHD in Sweden confirms that drugs taken to manage the condition have wider benefits beyond improving immediate symptoms
Categories: Astronomy

ADHD drugs reduce risk of criminal behaviour, drug abuse and accidents

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 7:30pm
A study of 150,000 people with ADHD in Sweden confirms that drugs taken to manage the condition have wider benefits beyond improving immediate symptoms
Categories: Astronomy

Planning for the Ultimate Space Mission

Universe Today - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 5:47pm

What if we could send a probe smaller than a paperclip, yes a paperclip to visit a black hole? It sounds impossible, but one scientist believes this extraordinary mission could become reality within our lifetimes. Astrophysicist Cosimo Bambi has outlined a bold plan to launch microscopic spacecraft toward the nearest black hole, potentially revolutionising our understanding of physics and Einstein's theory of general relativity. While the technology doesn't exist today and would cost trillions, within the next 20-30 years it could become a reality!

Categories: Astronomy

NASA Selects Six Companies to Provide Orbital Transfer Vehicle Studies

Universe Today - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 5:47pm

NASA has selected six companies to produce studies focused on lower-cost ways to launch and deliver spacecraft of various sizes and forms to multiple, difficult-to-reach orbits. The firm-fixed-price awards comprise nine studies with a maximum total value of approximately $1.4 million.

Categories: Astronomy

Astronomers Spot the Earliest Confirmed Black Hole at Cosmic Dawn

Universe Today - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 5:47pm

An international team of astronomers led by The University of Texas at Austin’s Cosmic Frontier Center has confirmed the most distant black hole ever observed. Located at the center of the galaxy CAPERS-LRD-z9, this black hole existed 13.3 billion years ago, just 500 million years after the Big Bang. As such, it provides a unique opportunity to study the structure and evolution of the period known as "Cosmic Dawn."

Categories: Astronomy

China launches 8th batch of satellites for 13,000-strong internet megaconstellation (video)

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 5:00pm
A Long March 5B rocket launched the eighth batch of satellites for China's Guowang broadband network on Wednesday (Aug. 13). It was the fourth Guowang launch in less than three weeks.
Categories: Astronomy

Trailblazing women in space quiz: Can you name the first five female astronauts in space?

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 4:00pm
This quiz tests your knowledge of which female astronauts broke barriers and reached for the stars.
Categories: Astronomy

mRNA drugs could protect against almost any kind of viral infection

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 3:00pm
mRNA drugs might be able to protect against a huge range of viruses by turning on key parts of our innate defences against infection
Categories: Astronomy

mRNA drugs could protect against almost any kind of viral infection

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 3:00pm
mRNA drugs might be able to protect against a huge range of viruses by turning on key parts of our innate defences against infection
Categories: Astronomy

Jacket that gets thinner when you sweat could help avoid overheating

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 3:00pm
A material made from bacterial cellulose alters its insulating properties in dry and moist conditions, which could help you stay a comfortable temperature whatever the weather
Categories: Astronomy

Jacket that gets thinner when you sweat could help avoid overheating

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 3:00pm
A material made from bacterial cellulose alters its insulating properties in dry and moist conditions, which could help you stay a comfortable temperature whatever the weather
Categories: Astronomy

NASA's Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft fuels up and moves closer to launch

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 3:00pm
NASA's Orion spacecraft for the crewed Artemis 2 mission to fly astronauts around the moon is all fueled up and going through final preparations to ready the vehicle for stacking with its SLS rocket.
Categories: Astronomy

Bill McKibben makes a powerful pitch for solar in optimistic new book

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00pm
In Here Comes the Sun, environmentalist Bill McKibben argues that the rapid adoption of solar power should quell our worst climate fears. Is he right, asks James Dinneen
Categories: Astronomy

Bill McKibben makes a powerful pitch for solar in optimistic new book

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00pm
In Here Comes the Sun, environmentalist Bill McKibben argues that the rapid adoption of solar power should quell our worst climate fears. Is he right, asks James Dinneen
Categories: Astronomy

Stark images show water's role in human strife and survival

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00pm
As part of the exhibition Thirst: In Search of Freshwater, photographer M'hammed Kilito's images showcase the importance and fragility of humanity's relationship with fresh water
Categories: Astronomy

This book could convince you to become an engineer

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00pm
From DNA sequencing to rainbows, the world of microfluidics is well-served by Albert Folch's book How the World Flows, says Karmela Padavic-Callaghan
Categories: Astronomy

Stark images show water's role in human strife and survival

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00pm
As part of the exhibition Thirst: In Search of Freshwater, photographer M'hammed Kilito's images showcase the importance and fragility of humanity's relationship with fresh water
Categories: Astronomy

This book could convince you to become an engineer

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00pm
From DNA sequencing to rainbows, the world of microfluidics is well-served by Albert Folch's book How the World Flows, says Karmela Padavic-Callaghan
Categories: Astronomy

Trees have a microbiome inside them? This is both obvious and profound

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00pm
Groundbreaking new research reveals something that should have been obvious all along: trees have a vast, diverse microbiome in their interiors, says Graham Lawton
Categories: Astronomy