Butterfly Emerges From Chrysalis in Zero Gravity
Chinese astronauts on the Tiangong space station successfully hatched a butterfly from a chrysalis in zero‑gravity, using a self‑sustaining 14.2‑liter capsule that lacked radiation shielding or human oversight. The insect navigated the chamber, fluttered its wings and rested on leaves just as it would on Earth. This marks the first fully unmanned butterfly metamorphosis experiment, building on a 2009 ISS monarch study. Researchers say the findings could inform future space‑based pollination and agricultural systems.
This Photo of Mars at Night Is Straight Up Haunting
Mars experiences night cycles of roughly 12 hours, with winter nights lengthening and temperatures plunging to –100 °F near the equator. NASA’s Curiosity rover, equipped with white and UV LEDs on its robotic arm, can illuminate the otherwise pitch‑black surface, allowing...
Earth’s Lower Orbit Could Rapidly Collapse, Scientists Warn
Scientists warn that low Earth orbit (LEO) could collapse rapidly if a solar storm disables satellite navigation, triggering the Kessler syndrome cascade. Their pre‑print study introduces a "CRASH clock" metric, estimating only 5.5 days before a catastrophic chain reaction could...
