A recent study published in July 2025 tackles one of the greatest mysteries of science—how life first emerged from non-living matter on early Earth. The research, led by Robert G. Endres from Imperial College London, presents a new mathematical framework that suggests the spontaneous origin of life is far more complex than previously understood. The Improbability of Life’s Origins Endres’ …
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Life can thrive in some seriously extreme environments, from the salty to the cold, and now the surprisingly deep, as scientists have found the deepest complex ecosystem ever discovered. The hadal trenches these animals call home can be as deep as 9,533 meters (31,276 feet) and play host to species that get their energy from chemical reactions. Handy, given there’s …
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The energy needed for thunderstorms could come from an avalanche of electrons seeded by extraterrestrial cosmic rays, a new study claims. Scientists already knew that lightning is an electrical discharge between thunderclouds and Earth’s surface, but exactly how storm clouds obtain an electric field powerful enough to hurl a bolt has remained a mystery for centuries. Now, a new study …
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Around the world, international borders are hardening. Nations are competing for resources, technology and even orbits. But in Vienna this June, a different vision took center stage. One where space is shared, data is open and no satellite orbits Earth on its own. At the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Living Planet Symposium 2025, the “Breaking Barriers” plenary presentation delivered the …
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On July 30, 2025, asteroid 2025 OL1—measuring roughly the size of a small aircraft—will pass Earth at a distance of 1.29 million kilometers. This event, closely tracked by NASA and international space agencies, highlights ongoing efforts to monitor near-Earth objects and refine planetary defense strategies. A Speedy Visitor—But Not a Threat Asteroid 2025 OL1 measures about 110 feet across, roughly …
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Does the 2024 YR4 asteroid threaten the earth? In late 2024, it was first spotted blinking on Nasa’s radar as a potentially catastrophic Earth impactor set for December 22, 2032. This asteroid has since been ruled out as a direct threat to our planet – a huge sigh of relief for us Earthlings. If the asteroid-Moon smashup happens, what’s next? …
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Roughly 720 million years ago (give or take a few tens of millions), Earth plunged into one of the most extreme climate events in its history. In several stages, the planet became a giant snowball, encased in ice from pole to pole for millions of years. What exactly triggered this deep freeze has long divided researchers, but a new study …
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QUICK FACTS Where is it? Kumani Bank, Caspian Sea [39.5666672, 49.5898615] What’s in the photos? The emergence and rapid disappearance of a volcanic “ghost island” Which satellites took the photos? Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 When were the photos taken? Nov. 18, 2022; Feb. 14, 2023; and Dec. 25, 2024 A striking series of satellite photos shows the brief lifespan …
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Earth is about to witness a close celestial visitor as asteroid 2025 OL1 approaches our planet. Roughly the size of a small aircraft, measuring about 110 feet in diameter, this space rock will make its closest pass on July 30, 2025. Travelling at an impressive speed of 16,904 miles per hour, it will safely skim past Earth at a distance …
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Illustration showing a view of Earth from the moon. (Getty Images/NASA) Earth has dodged a celestial bullet, but the moon might not be so lucky, and that has scientists keeping their telescopes and minds trained on a massive asteroid called “2024 YR4.” That’s not its official name, but more on that later. When it was first discovered, this asteroid had …
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