Science News - Page 9

Explainer: New COVID–19 infections cause mutations and are the main driver of new variants, not vaccines

Nearly all mutations that occur are harmless glitches that don’t change how the virus works – some can harm the virus while a small fraction may make the virus more infectious.

COVID-19 Fact Check: Does a mask protect me from the infection if I am the only person wearing one indoors?

While the lab studies all show a mask can protect the wearer, how well the masks perform in the real world depends on a number of variables, including how consistently people use them,

International Astronomical Union names crater on the Moon's South Pole after Arctic explorer Matthew Henson

The Henson Crater is in the same region where the Artemis program by NASA aims to land the next generation of lunar explorers.

NASA and USGS to launch Landsat 9 satellite on 27 September: Here is how you can watch it online

Landsat 9 will continue the legacy of monitoring and inspecting Earth’s coastal and land regions after the first Landsat satellite was launched in 1972.

NASA's VIPER lunar rover to land at the edge of Nobile crater on the Moon’s South Pole

According to NASA, astronauts will "follow in VIPER’s wheel prints and land at the lunar South Pole” when they return to the Moon after the Apollo mission.

Tweak these three aspects to live a more sustainable life and decrease your carbon footprint

Reducing your climate footprint is not just about buying “green” stuff: it’s also about avoiding consumption in the first place.

For India to reach net-zero by 2050, the country needs to allocate 2.5 percent of its land for clean energy installation

The study by Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) notes the potential for land-use conflict to arise over renewable energy installations, even in sparsely populated areas.

Failure to curb emission has put world on catastrophic pathway to 2.7-degrees of heating: UN chief

"Failure to meet this goal will be measured in the massive loss of lives and livelihoods," UN chief Antonio Guterres said.

Developing countries depend on developed nations to act against climate change: Bhupender Yadav

Yadav underlined the need for upholding the principles of the UNFCCC process for a successful outcome in any climate change negotiations, including the upcoming COP26.

ISRO signs agreement with Agnikul Cosmos allowing it access to facilities, expertise to build launch vehicles

This will help Agnikul, based in IIT-Madras, to avail technical expertise of ISRO for testing and qualifying its space launch vehicle systems and subsystems.

Private enterprises to take over building GSLV-Mk III and SSLV rockets for the space department

The industrialisation of space activities is gaining momentum in India.

French astronaut's 'space workout' video aboard ISS leaves Netizens stunned; watch viral clip here

The 41-second clip shows Pesquet using some heavy equipment to perform squats. The astronaut captioned the video as “space workout, anyone?”

Astronomer on James Webb telescope team explains how and why we are sending a giant telescope to space?

The Webb team will continue to rehearse and practice until the launch date in December, but our work is far from done after Webb is folded and loaded into the rocket.

Vaccines and medicines have brought Ebola is under control, says scientist who discovered the virus

Jean-Jacques Muyembe first came across the virus in 1976 as a field epidemiologist when he was called to the village of Yambuku in northern DRC for a mysterious illness that had just appeared.

Faroe Islands government calls for re-evaluation of traditional hunt after citizens slaughter 1,400 dolphins

The hunt occurred on 12 September where locals butchered a large pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins after spotting them off the coast of Eysturoy.

Are nasal sprays a better way to administer COVID-19 vaccines? Experts seem to think so

An article published by Gavi the Vaccine Alliance noted advantages of nasal sprays that include the fact that they don't need refrigeration or need to be administered by health professionals.

Inspiration4 crew tell us what it is like to live in SpaceX's Crew Dragon for three days while orbiting Earth

"My favorite space food is pizza which I had yesterday and I'll probably have for dinner tonight also," said Sian Proctor, who is a geology teacher and was a NASA astronaut finalist.

Three Chinese astronauts return to Earth after spending 90 days aboard new space station

After launching on 17 June, the three astronauts went on two spacewalks, deployed a 10-meter mechanical arm, and had a video call with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

With telemedicine, access to proper healthcare will no longer be a problem for the average Indian citizen

54 percent of patients think telemedicine is not reliabile, 30 percent aren't comfortable with technology and data privacy is an area of concern along with regulatory approval for LEO-based internet access.

How much of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels? Can renewables replace it all?

Fossilisation of trees moved enormous amounts of carbon from the air to underground, leading to a decline in atmospheric CO₂ levels

Google Doodle celebrates Japanese green tea researcher Michiyo Tsujimura on 133rd birthday

Born in 1888, Tsujimura was the first woman in Japan to receive a doctoral degree in agriculture.

India is fast emerging as a world space hub for cost-effective satellites launches: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

World today is enamoured of Chandrayaan, Mars mission and upcoming Gaganyan," the Minister added.

Adverse effects of climate change will push 216 million people to migrate by 2050: World Bank report

The true toll could be far higher and could have significant implications for host countries, which are often unprepared to cope with the influx of new migrants.

Inspiration4 launches successfully: Here are five things you need to know about the all-civilian mission

The crew members' sleep, heart rate, blood and cognitive functions will be analyzed during the mission in order to study how rookies react in space.

Sending four civilian into orbit, Inspiration4 mission will bring space tourism one step closer to reality

The mission’s emphasis on public involvement and the fact that Inspiration4 will send regular people into orbit for three days make it a milestone in space tourism.

NASA astronaut to set American record for longest space stay by inhabiting ISS for 353 days

The extended stay will give NASA the opportunity to study how the human body adapts to life in microgravity for longer time periods.

World leaders and UN to hold closed-door climate talks on the sidelines of the General Assembly

UN representative said "It's not intended in any fashion to be a meeting in the shadows," but a way to facilitate frank dialogue "rather than pre-prepared statements or reverting to established positions."

Ebola can spread via fruit bats or from human to human contact: Everything you need to know about the virus

A vaccine developed by the US group Merck Sharp and Dohme was found to be very effective in a major study carried out in Guinea in 2015.

Ebola virus can lie dormant in survivors and trigger outbreaks even five years after infections: Study

Ebola outbreaks are usually thought to result from the virus "spilling" from an animal host to a human. But the analysis showed the Guinea strain was virtually identical to that from a 2013-16 wave.

SpaceX launches Inspiration4 into orbit, the first all-civilian crew on private Earth-circling trip

The recycled Falcon rocket soared from the same Kennedy Space Center pad used by the company's three previous astronaut flights for NASA