Astronomers have spotted what they believe to be a rainbow-like phenomenon occurring on a planet outside our solar system for the first time, and it could reveal new insights about alien worlds. Observations from the European Space Agency’s Cheops space telescope, or Characterising ExOplanet Satellite, detected a “glory effect” on WASP-76b, an ultra-hot exoplanet 637 light-years from Earth. Often seen ...
Dengue cases are surging in the Americas, with cases reported topping 5.2 million as of this week, surpassing a yearly record set in 2023, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). “We are in an emergency situation because of dengue,” PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said in a news briefing Thursday. Countries in the southern hemisphere have been the hardest ...
The Prince of Wales was back in action on Thursday, carrying out his first public engagements during which he promised to “take care” of his wife, Catherine, who revealed her cancer diagnosis last month. William, 41, visited a surplus food charity in Surrey before he headed to a youth center in west London. The Princess of Wales, who has not ...
A giant prehistoric snake longer than a school bus slithered around what is now India 47 million years ago, according to new research. The extinct snake may have been one of the largest to have ever lived, dwarfing present-day anacondas and pythons that can grow to about 6 meters (20 feet). The colossal creature’s scientific name is Vasuki indicus, after ...
A huge heart-shaped feature on the surface of Pluto has intrigued astronomers since NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft captured it in a 2015 image. Now, researchers think they have solved the mystery of how the distinctive heart came to be — and it could reveal new clues about the dwarf planet’s origins. The feature is called Tombaugh Regio in honor of ...
The United States on Thursday blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have recognised a Palestinian state. Twelve members of the Security Council had voted in favor of the resolution, while two countries – the UK and Switzerland – abstained. The US vetoed it. The Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, sharply criticized the US veto, saying in a ...
Kenya’s military chief, Francis Ogolla, died in a helicopter crash in the western part of the country on Thursday, President William Ruto announced in a televised address. The helicopter crashed shortly after take-off on Thursday afternoon local time, killing Ogolla and nine other members of the military, Ruto said. Two people survived the crash, he added. “I am deeply saddened ...
The potential change of plans comes as the administration faces fierce political headwinds, a conservative Supreme Court majority that has shown aggressive interest in curtailing the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority and questions over how fast electric utilities can pivot to the most innovative climate solutions. The EPA is considering eliminating a proposal for new natural gas plants to use hydrogen alongside ...
A far-right German politician has gone on trial accused of using banned Nazi slogans at two rallies dating back to 2021. Björn Höcke, leader of the regional branch of Alternative for Germany party (AfD) in the eastern state of Thuringia, is accused of ending a May 2021 election event in Merseburg by shouting the Socialist Nationalist slogan, “Everything for our ...
Offshore wind projects have been dogged by inflation and culture wars. Now they’re making a comeback
After a disastrous year marked by high costs, accusations of environmental harm and project cancellations in 2023, there’s a sense the US offshore wind industry is on a rebound. There are now two dozen turbines spinning off the East Coast – a number set to more than double by the end of the year. New projects are being announced, and ...