MAINSTREAM Space.com

NASA's Juno probe orbiting Jupiter may have come to an end, but no one can confirm

NASA’s Juno spacecraft, launched in 2011 and orbiting Jupiter since 2016, may have ceased operations, but the agency has not confirmed its status. Originally planned as a 20-month mission, Juno has been extended multiple times, most recently through September 2025, to study Jupiter’s interior, magnetosphere, rings, and moons such as Ganymede, Europa, and Io. The probe has provided valuable data on the planet’s magnetic and gravitational fields and its faint ring system, contributing to preparations for upcoming missions like the Europa Clipper, which launched in October 2024 and will arrive at Jupiter in 2030. Due to a U.S. government shutdown, NASA is unable to confirm whether Juno remains operational. The mission is not classified as an excepted activity, meaning it lacks funding and priority during the shutdown. With Juno’s future uncertain and no new data expected until Europa Clipper’s arrival, a significant gap in Jupiter system observations may occur. NASA awaits government funding decisions to clarify Juno’s status.

7 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM BBC Health

Alarming number of people now vape, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 100 million people, including at least 15 million children aged 13 to 15, currently use e-cigarettes, raising concerns about a new wave of nicotine addiction. Children are nine times more likely to vape than adults, according to global data. WHO officials warn that e-cigarettes, often marketed as harm reduction tools, are instead hooking young people on nicotine, potentially reversing progress made in tobacco control. WHO Director General Dr. Tedros criticized the tobacco industry for aggressively targeting youth with new nicotine products amid declining tobacco use worldwide. While tobacco use has decreased from 1.38 billion users in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, one in five adults still smokes, with significant drops in prevalence among women and men. Despite efforts by many countries to regulate e-cigarettes, 62 nations lack policies addressing child vaping, and 74 have no minimum purchase age, highlighting gaps in global tobacco control measures.

8 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM Science Daily

For 170 years, U.S. Cities have followed a hidden law of growth and decline

A study by the Complexity Science Hub analyzed 170 years of economic data from U.S. cities, revealing a consistent pattern in urban growth and transformation. Despite technological revolutions and industrial shifts, cities maintain a stable level of "coherence," meaning their economic activities remain well-integrated even as they diversify and evolve. This coherence governs how cities adapt without losing their economic identity. The research examined 650 million census records and 6 million patents, showing that cities gradually transitioned from manufacturing and craftsmanship to services and engineering. Notably, West Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, which developed later, experienced rapid diversification following the Gold Rush but maintained coherence levels comparable to older East Coast cities. The findings suggest that urban economic transformations are constrained by the need to preserve coherence, requiring cities to develop new industries in ways that fit their existing economic structures. This insight helps explain how cities like Pittsburgh and Boston successfully reinvented themselves after industrial decline.

8 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM Space.com

The Harvest Moon rises tonight: See the 1st supermoon of 2025 brighten October's sky

October’s full moon, known as the Harvest Moon, will reach its peak on the evening of October 6, appearing near the constellation Pisces with Saturn nearby. This moon is significant because it occurs close to the autumn equinox, a time historically important for farmers who relied on its light to harvest crops before artificial lighting existed. This year’s Harvest Moon is also a supermoon, meaning it will be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, making it appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. Observers can expect to see the moon rise in the eastern sky at sunset, often displaying a yellow-orange hue due to atmospheric scattering of light. The event offers an excellent opportunity for stargazers and astrophotographers to observe lunar features such as ejecta rays and Apollo-era landing sites with telescopes or binoculars. Expert guides are available for those interested in photographing the supermoon using DSLR cameras.

8 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM New Scientist

Nobel prize for medicine goes to trio for work on immune tolerance

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discovery of regulatory T cells, a crucial immune cell type that prevents the immune system from attacking the body’s own tissues. Their work revealed how these cells maintain immune tolerance and protect against autoimmune diseases. Sakaguchi’s 1995 research demonstrated that regulatory T cells, characterized by the CD25 protein, suppress self-reactive T cells that escape elimination in the thymus. Brunkow and Ramsdell identified mutations in the Foxp3 gene linked to autoimmune conditions, showing its role in regulatory T cell development. Sakaguchi later connected these findings, confirming Foxp3’s importance. This breakthrough has transformed immunology, offering new therapeutic avenues. Enhancing regulatory T cells could suppress autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, while reducing them might improve cancer immunotherapy. The discoveries have deepened understanding of immune system function and paved the way for ongoing clinical trials targeting immune regulation.

10 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM BBC Health

Nobel Prize for discovering immune security guards

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 has been awarded to Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan, and Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell from the United States for their groundbreaking discoveries about the immune system. Their research identified specialized cells, described as "security guards," that prevent the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues while still targeting harmful infections. This discovery has been crucial in understanding why autoimmune diseases do not develop in everyone and has opened new avenues for medical research. Their findings have laid the foundation for a new field focused on immune regulation, leading to innovative treatments for autoimmune conditions and cancer. The laureates will share a prize fund of 11 million Swedish kronor (£870,000). The Nobel Committee highlighted the significance of their work in advancing knowledge of immune system function and its implications for disease treatment and prevention.

10 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM Space.com

The exoplanet revolution at 30: 1st alien world was found around a sun-like star three decades ago

Thirty years ago, astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz discovered 51 Pegasi b, the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star, marking a milestone in astronomy. This gas giant, similar to Jupiter but orbiting extremely close to its star with a four-day year, challenged previous assumptions about planetary systems. The discovery was made using the ELODIE spectrograph at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence in France, detecting the star’s wobble caused by the gravitational pull of the orbiting planet. This wobble occurs because the planet and star orbit a common center of mass, causing the star to shift slightly. The finding revolutionized the field by confirming that planets exist beyond our solar system, opening the door to the study of thousands more exoplanets. Today, over 6,000 exoplanets have been identified, suggesting that nearly every star in the Milky Way hosts planets. This breakthrough has expanded our understanding of the universe and the potential for diverse planetary systems.

10 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM NPR Science

The medicine Nobel Prize goes to 3 scientists for work on peripheral immune tolerance

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking research on peripheral immune tolerance, a mechanism that prevents the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues. Their work revealed how regulatory T cells (T-regs) act as crucial regulators, suppressing immune responses that could lead to autoimmune diseases. Sakaguchi first identified regulatory T cells in 1995. Subsequently, Brunkow and Ramsdell discovered a mutation in the Foxp3 gene linked to a rare autoimmune disorder. Sakaguchi later connected these findings, demonstrating that Foxp3 controls the development of T-regs, which maintain immune balance by curbing overactive T cells. This research has significantly advanced understanding of immune system function and opened new avenues for treating autoimmune diseases and cancer. The Nobel Committee highlighted the importance of these discoveries in explaining why most individuals do not develop serious autoimmune conditions. The laureates are affiliated with institutions in the United States and Japan.

10 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM The Guardian Science

Nobel prize in medicine awarded to scientists for immune system research

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking research on peripheral immune tolerance. Their work has significantly advanced understanding of how the immune system is regulated to prevent it from attacking the body’s own tissues, a mechanism crucial for maintaining health and preventing autoimmune diseases. The trio will share the prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor, approximately £871,400. This marks the 116th Nobel Prize in this category, with 13 previous awards given to women. Their discoveries shed light on the immune system’s ability to distinguish between harmful invaders and the body’s own cells, a key factor in developing treatments for autoimmune disorders and improving immune therapies. The announcement was made in Sweden, continuing the tradition of recognizing significant contributions to medical science that have broad implications for human health and disease management worldwide.

10 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM NPR Science

Amid funding cuts and public health battles, NIH issues autism research grants

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $5.1 million grant to Cornell University as part of a $50 million Autism Data Science Initiative aimed at advancing autism research. This funding supports efforts to better understand treatment outcomes and inform future clinical studies amid ongoing public health challenges and federal budget cuts. Cornell’s Autism Replication, Validation, and Reproducibility Center, led by Judy Zhong, will serve as a verification hub for projects funded through the initiative, employing a rigorous replication system to validate research models related to autism. The initiative reflects the Trump administration’s heightened focus on autism, including controversial proposals to create a database compiling information from pharmacies, hospitals, and wearable health devices. Despite decades of research, autism remains complex and poorly understood, with causes and diagnostic criteria still under investigation. The administration’s involvement has drawn attention due to unproven claims linking autism to vaccines and other factors.

11 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM The Guardian Science

Fade to grey: as forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours

Research in Brazil reveals that butterflies are losing their vibrant wing colours as tropical forests are replaced by monoculture plantations like eucalyptus. These bright hues, which evolved over millions of years, play crucial roles in survival by aiding in mate attraction, camouflage, and predator avoidance. However, degraded habitats with reduced biodiversity and altered environmental conditions favor duller, less colourful species that blend into the simplified landscapes. The study highlights how eucalyptus plantations, which are warmer, drier, and exposed to more direct sunlight than native forests, create ecological backdrops where muted colours provide an advantage. This shift reflects a broader phenomenon termed “discoloration,” where habitat loss and environmental degradation lead to a fading of natural colours across ecosystems. Butterflies serve as ideal indicators due to their diverse and vivid coloration, rapid response to environmental changes, and ease of monitoring. The findings underscore the ecological consequences of deforestation and habitat simplification, signaling a loss of biodiversity and the erosion of nature’s visual richness.

11 hours ago

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MAINSTREAM New Scientist

Would a ban on genetic engineering of wildlife hamper conservation?

Conservationists are divided over the use of genetic engineering, particularly gene drives, to protect wildlife such as lions from diseases. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is set to vote on a motion proposing a moratorium on all forms of genetic engineering in wildlife, including modified microbes. Although the moratorium would not have legal force, it could influence funding decisions and national laws, potentially halting projects involving gene editing. The debate centers on the potential benefits of gene drives, which can spread specific genetic traits rapidly through populations, such as disease resistance or the elimination of invasive species. Proponents argue these technologies could save endangered species, while opponents warn of unintended ecological consequences and ethical concerns. The controversy intensified after the development of CRISPR gene-editing technology, which enables precise genetic modifications. Some conservationists see the moratorium as a necessary precaution, while others fear it may indefinitely block promising conservation tools, including de-extinction efforts.

12 hours ago

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