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NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a dramatic cosmic interaction occurring in the outskirts of the Milky Way galaxy. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a dwarf galaxy approximately 10 per cent the mass of the Milky Way, has been observed losing much of its gaseous halo. The phenomenon is attributed to the gravitational and environmental forces exerted by the Milky Way during the LMC’s close approach, as detailed by researchers led by Dr Andrew Fox of the European Space Agency in Baltimore.

LMC’s Halo Dispersal Observed

The study highlights the effect of ram pressure, a force generated as the LMC moves through the Milky Way’s dense halo of gas. This pressure has stripped away most of the LMC’s original gaseous halo, leaving behind only a compact remnant. Dr Fox, the principal investigator, noted that while significant mass has been lost, the remaining halo is still visible, trailing behind the dwarf galaxy like the tail of a comet.

Survival and Star Formation Potential

Despite this significant loss, the LMC retains enough material to sustain star formation. According to researchers, its relatively larger mass has enabled it to withstand the stripping forces. Dr Fox said that the LMC is a survivour. Smaller galaxies would not have retained their gas, resulting in a collection of ageing stars without the potential for new ones. The retained gas, while diminished, allows for the creation of new star-forming regions, keeping the galaxy active.
Scientific Insights

The findings provide valuable insights into galactic interactions and the role of ram pressure in shaping galaxy evolution. While the LMC’s closest encounter with the Milky Way has passed, scientists predict that the remnants of its gas halo will eventually merge with the Milky Way’s own gas, enriching its galactic ecosystem.

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Blue Origin’s Crewed Suborbital Launch Delayed Again Due to Weather Conditions

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June 23, 2025

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Blue Origin’s Crewed Suborbital Launch Delayed Again Due to Weather Conditions

High winds have once more prevented Blue Origin from launching six people to suborbital space on the company’s New Shepard rocket. The mission, NS-33, was initially scheduled to launch on Saturday, June 21, from the company’s launch site in West Texas. However, adverse weather conditions forced a postponement, and a second attempt on Sunday morning was scrubbed as well due to continued high winds. Blue Origin has yet to announce when the next launch window will be, but they stated via social media that the team is “assessing our next launch opportunity.”

Blue Origin’s 13th Human Spaceflight NS-33 Delayed Again as Six Civilians Await Suborbital Trip

As per a report by Space.com, NS-33 will mark the 33rd overall flight of the New Shepard vehicle and Blue Origin’s 13th human spaceflight mission. Most previous flights have supported uncrewed research missions, but this flight will carry six civilian passengers, including Allie and Carl Kuehner, known for their work in conservation and exploration; philanthropist and beekeeper Leland Larson; entrepreneur Freddie Rescigno, Jr.; author and attorney Owolabi Salis; and retired lawyer Jim Sitkin. The delay adds to the mission’s significance as it continues Blue Origin’s trajectory of expanding commercial spaceflight.

The New Shepard system, fully autonomous and reusable, delivers passengers to suborbital space for brief yet profound experiences—roughly 10 to 12 minutes in duration. Riders experience several minutes of weightlessness and view Earth from the edge of space before the crew capsule safely returns under parachutes. The first human spaceflight for Blue Origin took place in July 2021, which lifted off with founder Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and Dutch student Oliver Daemen.

Yet the delay of NS-33 is a reminder that even the most sophisticated spaceflight activity is no match for the weather. Its next launch try has not been confirmed, but the company’s fourth flight with humans this year is eagerly awaited.

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Green Rooftops Could Help Cities Like Shanghai Filter Out Tons of Microplastics from Rainwater

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June 23, 2025

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Green Rooftops Could Help Cities Like Shanghai Filter Out Tons of Microplastics from Rainwater

The research team at Tongji University collaborated with a colleague from the Shanghai Academy of Landscape Architecture Science and Planning, finding that growing plants on roofs can be an effective method for removing microplastics from the air. In this study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the team measured the amounts of microplastics on the plants and soil in which they grow. Previous research has shown that growing plants on roofs can reduce heating and cooling bills, as well as clear the air surrounding them of pollution.

Testing Plant Types and Microplastic Exposure

As per the study, the research team found whether the growing plants have microplastics or not. To know this, they planted two different types of plants, which are used on rooftops in Shanghai. Further, they introduced microplastic particles in the air near those plants at common levels found in Shanghai. The researchers then introduced simulated rains, after measuring the microplastic levels in the soil and on the plants.

Green Roofs Trap the Majority of Microplastics from Rain

What they found was that the plants did a great job of pulling the microplastics from the rain by growing through the air above them. The green roof system created by researchers consisted of a soil layer, which pulled the microplastics from the rainwater that falls on it to around 97.5%.

Microplastics Mostly Captured in Soil, Not on Leaves

And after conducting the measurements through multiple rains, the team came to know that the percentage of microplastics removed further increased with the intensity of the rainfall.

The researchers found that leaves were collecting less of the microplastics, but the bulk was deposited in the soil in a better way, rather than in a fibre-like shape.

Shanghai’s Green Roof Potential to Capture Microplastics

The team noted that Shanghai currently has only 38.33 million square feet of roof occupied by vegetation. However, based on their findings, they suggest, it is possible that Shanghai could capture around 56.2 metric tons of microplastic every year if the rooftops of all the buildings were made green.

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SpaceX to Launch Over 150 Memorial DNA Capsules into Orbit on Celestis’ Perseverance Flight

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3 hours ago

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June 23, 2025

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SpaceX to Launch Over 150 Memorial DNA Capsules into Orbit on Celestis’ Perseverance Flight

There’s a Falcon 9 rocket slated to lift off on June 23, 2025, with a unique memorial payload — over 150 capsules of cremated remains and DNA samples will circle the Earth. Aboard the SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare mission, Celestis will fly its “Perseverance Flight”, which is being conducted in collaboration with Europe’s The Exploration Company (TEC). The launch is scheduled for 5:18 p.m. EDT (2118 GMT) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The TEC capsule, dubbed “Mission Possible”, marks the company’s first customer payload flight and will briefly orbit Earth before reentry, offering a new kind of cosmic farewell to participants worldwide.

SpaceX to Launch Celestis Memorial Flight with 150 DNA Capsules, Including Youngest European

As per a report from Space.com, the Perseverance capsule will circle Earth two to three times before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. The capsules will then be recovered and returned to families as keepsakes. Celestis, which pioneered space memorials in 1994, calls this its 12th Earth Rise flight and 25th overall. TEC views this launch as a key step before the debut of its Nyx Earth vehicle, expected to dock with the ISS in 2028.

Celestis has previously launched DNA and cremated remains of cultural icons, including “Star Trek” cast members, visual effects artist Douglas Trumbull, and symbolic remains of four U.S. presidents. The mission, said to combine reverence with innovation, is being presented as both a technical demonstration and a deeply personal experience for participating families.

One of the most celebrated participants is three-year-old Matteo Barth, who will be the youngest German—and probably the youngest European—to send his DNA to space. His participation is a tribute to his grandfather’s memory, the late Dieter Barth, and a testament to an intergenerational shared love of space.

The Perseverance Flight is also the latest example of a broader trend in space memorials: that of advancing technology meeting deeply personal remembrance. Leveraging SpaceX’s successful history of launching things into space and TEC’s pioneering work, the mission is an accomplishment in tribute as well as progress.

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