Connect with us

Published

3 years ago

on

The search for alien life just got more interesting as a team of scientists recently discovered new evidence suggesting that Saturn’s moon Enceladus has oceans that have all the basic requirements and materials needed for life to survive. According to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers believe that the ocean of Enceladus is filled with dissolved phosphorus, which is an essential ingredient for life. 

“Enceladus is one of the prime targets in humanity’s search for life in our solar system,” said Southwest Research Institute’s Dr Christopher Glein, the co-author of the paper. 

“What we have learned is that the plume contains almost all the basic requirements of life as we know it. While the bioessential element phosphorus has yet to be identified directly, our team discovered evidence for its availability in the ocean beneath the moon’s icy crust,” he added. 

Running models with data on the ocean-seafloor system on Enceladus, the research team predicted that there should be as much or more phosphorus than in seawater on Earth. “What this means for astrobiology is that we can be more confident than before that the ocean of Enceladus is habitable,” Mr Glein added.  

The researchers noted that it was previously Enceladus might not have adequate levels of phosphorus to support life. However, with their new study, Mr Glein suggested that a new probe be sent to Enceladus in a bid to investigate the habitable ocean. 

“We need to get back to Enceladus to see if a habitable ocean is actually inhabited,” he said as per the study. 

Meanwhile, as per The Independent, Saturn is not the only planet that might have life in its vicinity. The presence of ammonia on Venus has also led some researchers to suggest that the planet could have alien life in its sulfuric atmosphere. They have said that while the planet itself is too hot to have life, there could be microscopic organisms in the clouds, producing ammonia to neutralise the acidity in the same way that animals on Earth do. 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Science

LOx Leak in Falcon 9 Delays Axiom-4 Launch Carrying Indian Astronaut

Published

3 hours ago

on

June 12, 2025

By

LOx Leak in Falcon 9 Delays Axiom-4 Launch Carrying Indian Astronaut

The Axiom-4 mission, which will carry Indian payload specialist Shubhanshu Shukla, was delayed yet again due to a propellant leak in the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX, the company behind the mission, also confirmed that a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was detected in post-static fire testing, which tests the rocket while it’s still attached to the launch pad. Initially targeted for May 29, the mission has faced successive delays, the latest pushing the launch further from its recent 11 June schedule. ISRO scientists have mentioned the issue may delay liftoff by “another few days” depending on repair progress and safety validations.

LOx Leak in Falcon 9 Forces Fourth Delay of Axiom-4 Mission with India’s Shubhanshu Shukla

As per a statement from SpaceX, the LOx leak was identified after the static fire booster test, prompting the team to stand down from the latest launch window. According to The Print, ISRO officials said that an LOx issue this close to launch generally requires the rocket to be pulled back for thorough inspection. However, the ISRO team, unfamiliar with SpaceX’s proprietary systems, refrained from commenting on specific technical procedures, the publication said. The first signs of the leak were reportedly detected on 8 June.

Falcon 9’s Merlin engines rely on LOx (liquid oxygen), along with RP-1 (rocket-grade kerosene), as an oxidiser to propel the vehicle. During static fire tests, the engines are briefly ignited to validate their performance. Detection systems, including oxygen sensors and thermal imaging, help identify leaks in these stages. The Ax-4 mission had already been rescheduled multiple times — initially from 29 May to 8 June, then to 10 June, and again to 11 June — due to weather concerns.

SpaceX vice president Bill Gerstenmaier told reporters during a pre-launch briefing that a solution was underway. “We’re putting in a purge that will stop the leak,” he mentioned, adding that the problem was under control. Still, the ultimate launch date is up in the air and will rely on the results of continuing safety assessments.

Axiom Space is in charge of the project, a major step for India’s human spaceflight program. It features Shubhanshu Shukla as part of a commercial crew going to the International Space Station. Technical problems are common in space operations, but this fourth delay shows how hard it is to make sure that everything is perfect for crewed missions to take off.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Poco F7 With Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC Surfaces on Geekbench After Company Hints at Imminent Launch



Apple to Reportedly Use AI-Powered Tags to Improve App Discoverability on the App Store

Continue Reading

Science

Over 4,300 Koalas Found in Newcastle’s Fringe Forests by Drone Survey

Published

21 hours ago

on

June 11, 2025

By

Over 4,300 Koalas Found in Newcastle’s Fringe Forests by Drone Survey

In a landmark survey, University of Newcastle researchers mapped a previously hidden koala population on the outskirts of Newcastle, NSW. The study estimated about 4,357 koalas across roughly 67,300 hectares of bushland (208 sites). They also found more than 290 koalas in Sugarloaf State Conservation Area, a region with few prior records. Local researcher Daryn McKenny, who grew up nearby and first reported seeing a koala there years ago, contributed his knowledge and sightings to the project. The findings show koalas can survive – and even thrive – in peri-urban forests, underscoring the need to protect these fringe habitats.

Hidden Koalas on Newcastle’s Fringe

According to the study, the survey estimated 4,357 koalas in 208 bushland sites around Newcastle. Lead author Shelby Ryan said that the drone surveys allowed the team to find koalas within minutes in areas that had taken hours on foot. Seven national parks were sampled (about 10% of each) with multiple night surveys, and a statistical model extrapolated these counts across the landscape. Maria National Park had the highest density (about 521 koalas per 3,350 hectares), while fire-affected parks from the 2019-20 fires hosted roughly two-thirds fewer koalas.

Survey Methods and Conservation Implications

Thermal imaging revealed koalas as yellow hotspots, which were then confirmed by a spotlight to identify the animal. The team used a statistical model accounting for terrain slope, tree coverage, and soil moisture to extrapolate koala numbers across the landscape. University of Newcastle’s Dr. Ryan Witt said that this model can even extend estimates to private or otherwise inaccessible lands that were not directly surveyed.

WWF-Australia – which co-funded the work – hailed the findings as critical for its goal of doubling koala numbers by 2050, noting that accurate abundance estimates are the “holy grail” of koala conservation. 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Threads Begins Testing the Ability to Send DMs Without Switching to Instagram



Oppo K13x 5G Design, Colour Options Revealed; Tipped to Launch Later This Month

Continue Reading

Science

NASA F-15 Flights Validate Supersonic Tools for X-59 Quiet Flight Quesst Mission

Published

21 hours ago

on

June 11, 2025

By

NASA F-15 Flights Validate Supersonic Tools for X-59 Quiet Flight Quesst Mission

High above the Mojave Desert, NASA’s two F-15 jets completed a pivotal series of May flights to validate airborne tools essential for the agency’s Quesst mission, aimed at enabling quiet supersonic travel. Flying faster than the speed of sound, the jets replicated the conditions under which NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft will fly. The campaign tested shockwave sensors, geospatial guidance systems, and schlieren imaging tools designed to detect and visualise the aircraft’s sonic “thump”—a softer alternative to the traditional boom—when the X-59 cruises at Mach 1.4 and above 50,000 feet.

As per NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centre, the dual-jet validation effort was led by the SCHAMROQ team, which transformed an F-15D from a combat aircraft into a research platform. Along with an F-15B, the aircraft were used to perform simultaneous flight operations—called dual ship flights—to validate three core systems: a near-field shock-sensing probe, an airborne schlieren photography setup, and a GPS-driven Airborne Location Integrating Geospatial Navigation System (ALIGNS). These efforts collectively confirm the systems’ readiness for X-59 data capture.

Cheng Moua, NASA’s project lead for SCHAMROQ, likened the series to a “graduation exercise”, where all tools were tested in their final configuration. The schlieren system, in particular, demanded intense precision, requiring a high-speed handheld camera to track the X-59’s airflow against the sun’s backdrop while the aircraft flew through a tight 100-foot alignment corridor.

The successful validation shows that NASA’s specialised tools are ready to record the X-59’s sound signature. This is a key step towards establishing that it is conceivable, quantifiable, and repeatable to fly supersonic over land without making too much noise. The information will help determine the future of commercial aviation regulation and technology, making the promise of quicker, quieter flight travel more likely.

Continue Reading

Trending