SciShorts: SpaceX’s Dragon Cargo Vessel returns to Earth after resupplying the ISS

After spending more than a month in the International Space Station, the SpaceX Dragon cargo vessel made a successful re-entry last week. The vessel had been sent to resupply the ISS with some vital cargo including some experimental gear, hardware, scientific instruments and even a few live lab mice. On its return, the capsule brought […]

Moving Clocks Run Slow: The Special Theory of Relativity

In 1905, one of the scientific world’s most significant concepts was born. The Special Theory of Relativity has been the key to understanding the universe and its working. Ever since Albert Einstein ingeniously put it forward, the theory finds itself being applied in almost every field. Albert Einstein is doubtlessly one of the best scientists […]

SciShorts: The Ozone Hole is Healing

For the first time, researchers have proof that the ozone hole is indeed healing due to human activities. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has been studying the chemical composition of the ozone layer. Every September, the ozone layer over the Antarctic breaks down due to a reaction with solar rays. This breaking down is […]

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Powering the Future

One of the growing concerns of transport systems is the ebbing availability of crude oil. Everything from cars to airplanes depends on the crude oil market. Even thermal power stations, which produce nearly 50% of the electricity used by the world, are taking a fall as natural resources are depleting. Almost all major cities in […]

SciShorts: Alzheimer’s Can Spread Like a Viral Disease

Through studies done on mice, researchers have discovered that Alzheimer’s disease could spread like a viral infection. One of the biggest symptoms of Alzheimer’s is the formation of clumps in the brain. This is due to a protein called amyloid-β. It was discovered that when this protein accumulated in the brain, the connections between regions […]

SciShorts: Witnessing a Black Hole for the First Time

For the first time ever, scientists are working on unveiling the image of a black hole. This is to be done by using collective data from various telescopes that have been placed at different places on the globe. This group of telescopes is called the Event Horizon Telescope (yes, singular). To obtain an image of […]

The Fermi Paradox: Are We Alone?

Over the last few decades, humans have been employing various means to detect aliens. From trying to send radio signals to developing highly sensitive telescopes, we have been tirelessly working to find a space neighbor – and there just seems to be none. In a universe that is 90,000,000,000 light years wide (and rapidly expanding), […]

SciShorts: India Launches its 100th Satellite

The 100th satellite for ISRO was launched on January 12, 2018. ISRO’s launching of the PSLV-C40 is an important milestone in India’s space journey. The rocket carried ISRO’s 100th satellite among the 31 satellites put into orbit. The rocket’s primary payload was the Cartosat-2, which will be used to get images to develop land and geographical […]

SciShorts: The Falcon Heavy Rocket to Take Musk’s Car to Space

Entrepreneur and futurist, Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX will launch what is supposed to be the world’s most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy “Megarocket”. The rocket will have three reusable cores and 27 engines to give it a thrust of about 2500 tons. Moreover, it will be able to lift around 54 metric tonnes […]

Gravitational Waves from Merging Neutron Stars Revolutionize Physics

Scientists for the first time detected both gravitational waves and light created by the merging of two neutron stars. This sensational event has opened doorways to understanding various facets of the universe. About 130 million years ago, two neutron stars collided into each other setting off immense amounts of energy and gravitational waves. The reverberations […]