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

— William Shakespeare
Julius Cæsar

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We may finally know why birds sing at dawn

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 10/24/2025 - 1:00am
Birds all over the world break into a dawn chorus every morning – now experiments in zebra finches suggest both a mechanistic and a functional explanation for this phenomenon
Categories: Astronomy

We may finally know why birds sing at dawn

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 10/24/2025 - 1:00am
Birds all over the world break into a dawn chorus every morning – now experiments in zebra finches suggest both a mechanistic and a functional explanation for this phenomenon
Categories: Astronomy

ESA Is Simulating A Solar Storms For Satellite Operator Training

Universe Today - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 7:44pm

Threats from space aren’t always obvious, but statistically its only a matter of time before one of them happens. One of the most concerning for many space experts is a massive solar storm, like the one that literally lit telegraph paper on fire when it hit back in 1859. In the last 150 years our technology has improved by leaps and bounds, but that also means it's much more susceptible to damage if another event like the “Carrington Event”, as the storm in 1859 is called. Estimates for potential damage range into the trillions of dollars, with full economic recovery taking well over a decade if something isn’t done to mitigate the damage beforehand. As part of that preparedness, the European Space Agency (ESA) has started requiring the operational crew of new satellites, which would be on the frontlines of any solar storm catastrophe, to simulate how they would handle such an event, as described in a recent press release focused on one of those simulations.

Categories: Astronomy

Hurricane Melissa Could Drop Two Feet of Rain on Jamaica

Scientific American.com - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 3:30pm

Melissa is a Category 5 major hurricane and moving relatively slow—a brutal combination that will drench some parts of Jamaica with up to 40 inches of rain

Categories: Astronomy

Merged Stellar Pairs May Orbit the Milky Way’s Black Hole 

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 2:29pm

The merged remnants of stellar pairs may orbit the Milky Way’s central, supermassive black hole.

The post Merged Stellar Pairs May Orbit the Milky Way’s Black Hole  appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

Duck-Billed Dinosaur ‘Mummies’ Are Clay Molds Formed by Microbes, Scientists Say

Scientific American.com - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 2:15pm

Wyoming’s “dinosaur mummies,” once thought to preserve fossilized flesh, are actually detailed clay molds formed by microbes as the creatures decayed

Categories: Astronomy

Phosphorus Prepared Earth For Complex Life And Could Be A Valuable Biosignature

Universe Today - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 1:20pm

A new study has revealed how phosphorus, a nutrient essential for photosynthesis, surged into ancient oceans and started Earth's first major rise in atmospheric oxygen more than 2 billion years ago.

Categories: Astronomy

Testosterone helps libido in menopause – can it treat other symptoms?

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 1:17pm
A growing body of research suggests testosterone replacement therapy can alleviate menopausal symptoms such as a decrease in libido, mood swings and brain fog. But some in the field are sceptical
Categories: Astronomy

Testosterone helps libido in menopause – can it treat other symptoms?

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 1:17pm
A growing body of research suggests testosterone replacement therapy can alleviate menopausal symptoms such as a decrease in libido, mood swings and brain fog. But some in the field are sceptical
Categories: Astronomy

The Rise of AI ‘Chatfishing’ in Online Dating Poses a Modern Turing Test

Scientific American.com - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 12:35pm

Forget fake profile pics on dating apps—AI is now doing the talking, and we can’t tell the difference

Categories: Astronomy

What Medications Are Safe to Take While Pregnant? Studies Are Lacking

Scientific American.com - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 11:00am

Less than 1 percent of clinical trials include pregnant or breastfeeding people. Experts say that needs to change

Categories: Astronomy

Which At-Home Remedies Actually Help When Sick with a Cold or Flu?

Scientific American.com - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 11:00am

Should you take vitamin C or zinc when you are sick with a common cold or influenza? Immunologist Zachary Rubin explains which at-home remedies actually help.

Categories: Astronomy

NASA’s Bet on SpaceX’s Starship May Give Moon Race to China

Scientific American.com - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 10:30am

Former NASA officials warn that the U.S. looks poised to lose its self-declared race to beat China to the moon

Categories: Astronomy

FutureEO at ESA’s Ministerial Council 2025

ESO Top News - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 6:53am

The European Space Agency’s Council at Ministerial Level is the time for bold vision and decisive action. In November, ESA’s Member States, Associate States, and Cooperating States will unite to elevate Europe’s role in space and secure its continued leadership for the benefit of citizens.

At the heart of ESA’s Earth Observation Programmes stands FutureEO – a driving force for innovation and excellence across satellite missions, Earth system science and Earth action, all in pursuit of a more sustainable and resilient future.

Designed to anticipate and address the challenges of tomorrow, FutureEO is poised to enter a new era of growth, ambition and global impact.

Categories: Astronomy

Static Electricity Helps Parasitic Nematodes Leap onto Insects

Scientific American.com - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 5:45am

For microscopic worms, physical laws we seldom notice take on life-or-death importance

Categories: Astronomy

Cyprus joins European Space Agency as an Associate Member

ESO Top News - Thu, 10/23/2025 - 4:15am

The Republic of Cyprus has signed an Associate Agreement with the European Space Agency, and is expected to become an Associate Member in the coming months.  

Categories: Astronomy

'I'll be damned if that's the story we write': Acting NASA Administrator Duffy vows not to lose moon race to China

Space.com - Fri, 09/12/2025 - 5:00am
'Wake up and ask yourself, 'Is what I'm doing helping us get back to the moon?' … If it's not, stop doing it.'
Categories: Astronomy

SpaceX launches powerful satellite to orbit for Indonesian telecom company

Space.com - Thu, 09/11/2025 - 9:32pm
It was the 114th Falcon 9 mission of 2025 already.
Categories: Astronomy