Cryogenicist

  Millions of tiny natural and human-made objects continuously orbit the Earth at extraordinary speeds, turning near-Earth space into a hazardous environment for satellites and astronauts alike. The danger came into sharp focus recently when orbital debris struck China’s crewed spacecraft “Shenzhou-20”, cracking the window of its return capsule and rendering it unusable for crew travel. Though no lives were lost, the incident underscored how even minuscule objects can threaten modern space missions. What exactly is MMOD and why is it so dangerous? MMOD refers collectively to “Micrometeoroids and Orbital Debris”. While grouped together for risk assessment, the two have very different origins. Micrometeoroids are naturally occurring particles, often no larger than grains of dust or sand, originating largely from collisions in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter , with some contribution from comets. Despite their tiny size, they travel at staggering velocities — up to 72 km pe...

  The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed one of the most extreme and unusual worlds ever detected beyond the Solar System. Located about 2,000 light-years from Earth, the exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b displays a striking lemon-like shape, challenging long-held assumptions about planetary structure and survival in hostile cosmic environments. An extreme planet in a hostile orbit PSR J2322-2650b orbits a millisecond pulsar, the ultra-dense remnant of a collapsed star. Unlike typical planets that circle luminous stars, this world revolves around an object roughly the mass of the Sun but compressed to the size of a city. The planet completes one orbit in just 7.8 hours at a distance of nearly one million miles, exposing it to intense gravity and relentless radiation. Record-breaking temperatures and tidal stress The close orbit subjects the Jupiter -sized planet to extreme heating. Observations indicate temperatures of about 3,700°F on the side facing the pulsar, while the far side re...

  NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft, which has been orbiting the Red Planet for over a decade. The space agency confirmed that the spacecraft abruptly stopped communicating with Earth after passing behind Mars, raising concerns about the status of one of its most important Martian science missions. Sudden Communication Blackout According to NASA, MAVEN was functioning normally before it moved behind Mars relative to Earth, a routine phase during its orbit when communication is temporarily unavailable. However, when the spacecraft re-emerged, ground stations received no signals. Engineers have since been attempting to re-establish contact, but the spacecraft has remained silent. NASA has initiated detailed engineering investigations to determine whether the issue is linked to onboard systems, power supply, or external factors. Mission Launched to Study Martian Atmosphere Launched in 2013, MAVEN entered Mars orbit in 2014 with th...

  Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has entered a highly active phase as it travels through the inner solar system, drawing scientific attention with its rapid brightening and unusual green glow. Recent observations show that the comet, originating beyond our solar system, is undergoing chemical and physical changes as it responds to solar heating, offering rare insights into material formed around distant stars. Green Glow Signals Chemical Activity Astronomers observed a distinct greenish hue emerging from the comet’s coma after its close solar approach in late October. This colour is produced by diatomic carbon (C₂) molecules released when frozen gases sublimate from the comet’s surface. When exposed to sunlight, these molecules emit green light, a common phenomenon in solar system comets but unexpected for 3I/ATLAS, which earlier appeared predominantly red. Solar Heating Drives Brightening and Tail Formation As 3I/ATLAS warmed, ice and dust trapped within its nucleus vaporised, formin...

  The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the earliest supernova ever identified, offering scientists an unprecedented glimpse into stellar death in the universe’s first billion years. The finding provides critical insight into how massive early stars lived fast, explosive lives and seeded young galaxies with elements essential for planets and life. Discovery of a Supernova From the Universe’s Dawn Astronomers detected faint brightness changes in a small, compact galaxy dating back to the first billion years after the Big Bang . Webb’s near-infrared instruments revealed subtle light variations between observations, allowing researchers to reconstruct the fading pattern of a stellar explosion that occurred when early star formation was at its peak. These early stars were massive, short-lived and highly influential in shaping primitive galaxies. Clues From the Light Curve and Explosion Signature Analysis points to a core-collapse supernova arising from a giant star that rapidly...

  Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, produced new lava fountains as part of its ongoing eruptive phase, marking another intense episode within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The latest activity was captured through summit webcam livestreams that showed rapid escalation soon after the eruption began. Intensifying Activity During Episode 38 The eruption episode, recorded as Episode 38, started at 8:45 am HST on December 6. Within minutes, lava fountains surged in height and intensity. A specialised camera placed in a restricted area was damaged after being buried by tephra during a strong burst around 9:55–9:57 am, according to the US Geological Survey. Sustained Lava Fountains At The North Vent Officials reported continuous lava fountains reaching heights of 50–100 feet. These sustained emissions came from the volcano’s north vent, with fountain heights increasing as the episode progressed. Such short-lived eruptive bursts are consistent with the intermittent patter...