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India’s space agency on Monday released images its spacecraft took of the far side of the Moon as it headed for an attempted landing on the lunar south pole, just days after the failure of a Russian lander. The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft had been in a race with Russia to be the first to land on the lunar south pole, a region whose shadowed craters are thought to contain water ice that could support a future moon settlement.

As news of the failure of Russia’s Luna-25 mission broke on Sunday, ISRO said that Chandrayaan-3 was on course to land on August 23.

The mission – Chandrayaan means “moon vehicle” in Hindi and Sanskrit – is India’s second attempt to land on the south pole of the moon. In 2019, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 mission successfully deployed an orbiter but its lander crashed.

Rough terrain makes a south pole landing difficult, but making a first landing would be historic. The region’s water ice could supply fuel, oxygen and drinking water for future missions.

Images released on Monday showed craters on the moon’s surface captured by the ISRO craft’s Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera, which is designed to help find a safe landing location for the spacecraft.

India’s moon mission blasted off on 14 July, and the lander module of Chandrayaan-3 separated from the propulsion module last week.

For India, a successful moon landing would mark its emergence as a space power as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government looks to spur investment in private space launches and related satellite-based businesses.

“If Chandrayaan-3 succeeds, it will boost India’s space agency’s reputation worldwide. It will show that India is becoming a key player in space exploration,” said Manish Purohit, a former ISRO scientist.

It would also boost India’s reputation for cost-competitive space engineering. The Chandrayaan-3 was launched with a budget of about Rs. 615 crore ($74 million), less than the cost to produce the 2013 Hollywood space thriller Gravity.

A successful mission would make India only the fourth country to successfully land on the moon, after the former USSR, the United States and China.

“India is going to acquire a new technology with a successful landing, which is a big thing,” K. Sivan, former chief of the country’s space agency, said after the Chandrayaan-3 launched.

Scientists at ISRO have said they learned from the earlier moon mission’s failure and made changes to Chandrayaan-3 that would make a successful landing more likely, including making it possible to touch down safely anywhere within an expanded landing zone in adverse conditions. It has also been equipped with more fuel, more solar panels and sturdier legs.

Executives in India’s nascent space industry also expect a boost. The number of space startups in India has more than doubled since 2020, when India opened to private launches.

“The next 3 days will be nothing less than ‘terrific’! Eagerly looking forward to the landing!”, Pawan Chandana, co-founder of Skyroot, which launched India’s first privately built rocket last year, posted on X, formerly called Twitter.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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New Research Suggests Dark Energy Is Evolving, Challenging Cosmology Models

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March 26, 2025

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New Research Suggests Dark Energy Is Evolving, Challenging Cosmology Models

New research suggests that dark energy, the unknown force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe, may not be behaving as previously believed. Observations from a large-scale 3D map indicate that this force could be evolving over time, contradicting long-standing models of cosmology. The data, derived from extensive observations of millions of galaxies, provides fresh insights into the fundamental workings of the universe. Scientists are now questioning whether the standard model, which assumes a constant dark energy force, remains valid in explaining the cosmos.

Evidence from DESI’s 3D Mapping Project

According to the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which operates from the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-Meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, findings suggest that dark energy may not be a fixed force. The analysis is based on data collected over three years, covering nearly 15 million galaxies and quasars. DESI’s ability to simultaneously capture light from 5,000 galaxies allows researchers to examine large-scale cosmic structures and measure how the universe’s expansion rate has changed over time.

Comparisons with Other Cosmic Observations

As reported, inconsistencies arise when DESI’s findings are compared with measurements from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and type Ia supernovae. The CMB consists of fossil light from the early universe, has been used to track the expansion history of the cosmos. Similar to thaf type Ia supernovae, often called “standard candles” for their uniform brightness, have provided key distance measurements. The DESI data suggests that dark energy’s influence may have weakened over time, a deviation from the accepted cosmological model that assumes it remains unchanged.

Implications for Future Research

Speaking in an official press release, DESI Project Scientist Arjun Dey stated that these findings could redefine humanity’s understanding of the universe. The instrument’s ongoing observations will continue to refine knowledge of dark energy’s role. Scientists anticipate that by the project’s conclusion, further data will offer a clearer picture of whether dark energy fluctuates, potentially reshaping existing theories of cosmic evolution.

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Pulsar Fusion’s Nuclear Fusion Rockets May Revolutionise Space Travel

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March 26, 2025

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Pulsar Fusion’s Nuclear Fusion Rockets May Revolutionise Space Travel

A UK-based company has announced plans for nuclear fusion-powered rockets that could reduce travel time across the solar system. Pulsar Fusion has been working on the project in secrecy for a decade and recently introduced the concept at the Space-Comm Expo in London. The company aims to test the technology this year and conduct an orbital demonstration by 2027. The rockets, called Sunbirds, are designed to propel spacecraft at high speeds using nuclear fusion. Experts believe that if the technology works, it could transform space exploration. However, some remain sceptical about its feasibility.

Technology Behind the Sunbird Rockets

As reported, the rockets will use a Duel Direct Fusion Drive (DDFD) engine. This system is designed to generate thrust by fusing deuterium and helium-3. Unlike conventional fusion reactors, the DDFD would produce charged particles that could be directly used for propulsion. The company claims that this technology could cut the journey to Mars in half and reduce the travel time to Pluto to just four years. However, the fusion process has not yet been successfully tested in space.

Challenges and Expert Opinions

In an interview with Live Science, Paulo Lozano, an astronautics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, expressed doubts about the project. He stated that fusion technology remains complex and has not yet been mastered for compact systems like these rockets. Richard Dinan, CEO of Pulsar Fusion, responded by saying that fusion in space is easier to achieve because the vacuum eliminates many of the challenges faced on Earth. The company plans to test the propulsion system this year, though initial trials will use inert gases instead of helium-3 due to its high cost.

Future Plans and Potential Hurdles

Pulsar Fusion hopes to create a fleet of Sunbird rockets that can be reused multiple times. These rockets would be stationed in orbit and attach to spacecraft, helping them reach deep space. This approach could lower costs for long-distance missions. However, one of the biggest challenges is sourcing helium-3, which is rare and expensive. Some experts suggest that mining helium-3 from the Moon could be a solution, but no such plans are in place yet. The company has not set a timeline for when a fully functional Sunbird prototype will be ready.

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30,000-Year-Old Vulture Feathers Discovered, Uniquely Preserved in Volcanic Ash

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March 26, 2025

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30,000-Year-Old Vulture Feathers Discovered, Uniquely Preserved in Volcanic Ash

Fossilised feathers of a 30,000-year-old griffon vulture have been found in a remarkable state of preservation, with details unlike any previously recorded. The discovery, made in the Colli Albani volcanic complex near Rome, Italy, has intrigued scientists for decades. The remains, which include traces of the bird’s wing feathers and eyelids, were first unearthed in 1889. Until now, the preservation process remained unexplained. New research suggests that the feathers were encased in volcanic ash, later transforming into silicon-rich zeolite crystals, which retained the structure of the vulture’s delicate tissues. This marks the first instance of such preservation occurring in volcanic material.

Unprecedented Preservation Through Zeolite Crystals

According to the study published in Geology, an analysis using electron microscopes and chemical testing revealed that the feathers were fossilised in three-dimensional form. This contrasts with the usual fossilization process, where feathers leave two-dimensional carbon imprints. Previously, three-dimensional feather fossils had only been identified in amber. The research team, led by Valentina Rossi, a paleobiologist at University College Cork in Ireland, found that zeolite minerals had played a critical role in maintaining the feathers’ microscopic details. Speaking to Live Science, Rossi described the discovery as unique, highlighting that feathers preserved in volcanic ash had never been documented before.

Burial in Volcanic Ash Preserved Delicate Features

The fossil, initially discovered by a landowner in the foothills of Mount Tuscolo, had been noted for its unusual preservation in volcanic rock. Over time, much of the specimen was lost, leaving only part of one wing, the head, and the neck. Recent reanalysis identified even finer details, including the structure of the vulture’s eyelids and skin. According to Dawid Iurino, associate professor in vertebrate paleontology at the University of Milan, the bird was likely buried in a low-temperature pyroclastic deposit. He explained to Live Science that while volcanic environments typically destroy organic material, certain conditions allowed soft tissues to be fossilised at a cellular level.

Potential for More Fossil Discoveries in Volcanic Rock

The study suggests that the preservation process occurred within days, as the ash reacted with water and gradually formed zeolite crystals that replaced the biological structures. Maria McNamara, professor of paleontology at University College Cork, told Live Science that the findings could expand the scope of fossil research. She noted that delicate tissues had not previously been expected to survive in volcanic rock, opening new possibilities for similar discoveries in the future.

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