NASA’s New Missions and Ancient Discoveries Transform Our View of the Cosmos and Earth’s Past  

Featured & Cover NASA's New Missions and Ancient Discoveries Transform Our View of the Cosmos and Earth’s Past  

In a thrilling update for science enthusiasts, Jackie Wattles, a seasoned CNN journalist covering space exploration, delves into recent breakthroughs in space, technology, and archaeology. Having reported on space advancements for nearly a decade, Wattles notes that today’s rapid technological progress is accelerating discoveries in rocketry, astronomy, and scientific tools.

The mysteries of the universe, particularly dark matter and dark energy, are at the forefront of these advancements. Despite their mysterious nature, scientists believe dark matter composes 85% of the universe’s total matter, though it remains undetectable. Meanwhile, dark energy could explain why the universe is expanding and accelerating in that expansion.

Exploring the Cosmos

With innovative instruments now online, scientists can gather data that will reshape our understanding of the cosmos. One significant development comes from the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope, which launched in 2023. Designed to study dark energy and dark matter, Euclid recently contributed the first fragment of a cosmic map. This initial data comprises roughly 100 million stars and galaxies, offering a snapshot of the vast six-year map-making endeavor ahead. By examining how dark matter bends light and curves space across galaxies, scientists hope to uncover new insights into the mysterious substance.

In Chile, researchers from Stanford University and the U.S. National Science Foundation are also gearing up to deploy the largest digital camera ever built. Installed at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, this camera will provide unprecedented views of space, aiding astronomers in mapping and understanding celestial phenomena.

Ancient Cities Rediscovered

Technology is helping scientists peer not only into the universe but also into the Earth’s hidden past. In Uzbekistan’s mountains, researchers recently uncovered the remnants of two ancient cities using LiDAR, a light-based radar mounted on drones. This groundbreaking remote-sensing technique allowed anthropologists to map cities that have remained buried and obscured by dense vegetation for centuries. These settlements, strategically located on ancient Silk Road trade routes, were adorned with watchtowers, fortresses, plazas, and pathways that once supported bustling societies. “We’ve mapped these forgotten medieval towns for the first time,” reported the research team, revealing the layout of a long-lost world now reclaimed by nature.

Challenges of Space Travel

Space travel continues to push human endurance to its limits, as recent experiences of citizen astronauts with SpaceX demonstrate. The Polaris Dawn crew, a group of private explorers, recently undertook a daring journey beyond the Earth’s radiation belt, conducting the first private spacewalk in September. During the mission, they faced various physical discomforts, including blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting. These health issues highlighted the toll microgravity takes on the human body. “The human body is not designed for microgravity,” remarked one crew member. However, the mission served a greater purpose, as it allowed researchers to gather data aimed at developing treatments for the effects of space on human physiology.

Bridging History and Science

Science is also unlocking secrets from centuries-old stories, merging historical records with cutting-edge genetic analysis. An 800-year-old tale about a man thrown into a well at Norway’s Sverresborg Castle during a brutal military assault is now gaining scientific credibility. DNA analysis on the bones discovered at the castle in 1938 has allowed scientists to gain new insights into the person known as “Well-man.” This fusion of genetics and history brings a new dimension to ancient accounts, breathing life into long-forgotten legends.

Mesozoic Fireflies’ Glow

In another extraordinary discovery, researchers found evidence that fireflies, with their bioluminescent glow, date back to the Mesozoic Era. This revelation means that dinosaurs might have once witnessed these creatures’ soft light. Building on a 2015 study that identified an early firefly species from this era, scientists analyzed a 99-million-year-old firefly trapped in resin, discovered in northern Myanmar in 2016. Such fossils provide crucial insights into how fireflies evolved their glowing ability over 100 million years ago. The research team noted that “the evolution of these captivating creatures” is challenging to study because soft-bodied insects like fireflies rarely fossilize.

Through these groundbreaking studies, from exploring the universe’s secrets to uncovering Earth’s hidden past, science is transforming how we view our world and beyond.

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