In the realm of space exploration, every mission is fraught with challenges that can abruptly halt progress. Recently, California-based asteroid mining company AstroForge announced that its Odin spacecraft, which launched into space just a week and a half ago alongside Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander, has experienced an unfortunate demise. The primary goal of Odin was to scout for the precious resource platinum on an asteroid. However, the team behind the mission reported that the spacecraft is likely tumbling through space, with little hope of re-establishing communications. This incident underscores the inherent difficulties of space missions, emphasizing that with every bold endeavor, valuable lessons are learned.
This week, we witnessed a compelling narrative unfold between two lunar landers, which illustrates the unpredictable nature of space exploration. On March 2, Firefly Aerospace celebrated a significant achievement when its Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully touched down on the moon, marking it as the second private sector company to accomplish this feat. Images showcasing the spacecraft's striking shadow on the lunar surface and its landing feet embedded in moon dust confirmed the mission's success. The Cedar Park, Texas-based company has since released a thrilling video documenting the lander's dramatic descent just north of the moon's equator. Over the next week, Blue Ghost will focus on collecting samples, drilling into the lunar subsurface, and capturing high-definition imagery.
In contrast, the Athena lander, which also successfully reached the moon, faced challenges during its descent near the lunar south pole on Thursday. Initially, Intuitive Machines encountered difficulties in determining the spacecraft's orientation. However, images from Athena's suite of cameras confirmed that the mission ended prematurely, with the lander resting on its side inside a crater. The lander is reported to be 820 feet (250 meters) from its intended landing site at Mons Mouton, a flat-topped mountain. Despite its challenges, Athena briefly operated before powering down, making it the “southernmost lunar landing and surface operations ever achieved,” according to the company.
In a remarkable twist of genetic engineering, scientists at Colossal Biosciences have introduced the woolly mouse, a creature genetically modified to exhibit several traits reminiscent of the extinct woolly mammoth. These mice showcase curly whiskers and hair that grows three times longer than that of typical laboratory mice. Colossal's overarching goal is to resurrect mammoths and other extinct species, and the modified mice will serve as a key resource to test connections between specific genetic sequences and the physical traits that enabled these giants to survive in harsh, cold environments. However, experts like Robin Lovell-Badge, head of the Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics Laboratory at The Francis Crick Institute, caution that the study does not clarify whether these modified mice genuinely exhibit cold tolerance. He remarked, “As it is, we have some cute looking hairy mice, with no understanding of their physiology, behaviour, etc.”
The journey of the world’s largest iceberg, known as A23a, may be nearing its conclusion after spending five years drifting in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. This massive iceberg, weighing an astonishing 1.1 trillion tons and slightly smaller than Rhode Island, has run aground on the island of South Georgia in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, noted that the grounding of A23a could stir up nutrients and enhance food availability for the regional ecosystem, benefiting local wildlife, including penguins and seals. Scientists are now focused on predicting A23a's future movements and the potential impact on the ecosystem if it were to break apart.
In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, researchers have unearthed a collection of tools crafted from elephant and hippopotamus bones, dating back 1.5 million years in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, often referred to as the “Cradle of Humankind.” This unexpected finding establishes the tools as the oldest known bone implements, predating previous discoveries by about one million years. The 27 bone fragments appear to have been systematically sharpened and shaped using stone tools. This discovery suggests that early human ancestors possessed advanced critical thinking skills and innovative craftsmanship capabilities. However, scientists continue to investigate the identities of those who created these ancient tools.
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For the second time this year, SpaceX’s megarocket Starship exploded midflight during a test mission, disrupting air traffic and raining flaming debris captured on video by onlookers in the Caribbean.The narwhal, often dubbed the “unicorn of the sea” for its iconic spiral tusk, has been observed in surprising ways using its tusk for playful behavior, as captured in newly recorded video evidence.The twin Voyager probes are currently shutting down a science instrument to conserve power, a measure aimed at prolonging the historic missions for several more months.