A research group led by Prof. Wang Xianlong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully synthesized high-energy-density materials cubic gauche nitrogen (cg-N) at atmospheric pressure by treating potassium azide (KN3) using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique (PECVD).

Asteroid Ryugu possibly did not travel as far from its place of origin to its current near-Earth orbit as previously assumed. New research published in the journal Science Advances suggests that Ryugu was formed near Jupiter.

University of Maryland scientists uncovered evidence of an ancient seafloor that sank deep into Earth during the age of dinosaurs, challenging existing theories about Earth's interior structure. Located in the East Pacific Rise (a tectonic plate boundary on the floor of the southeastern Pacific Ocean), this previously unstudied patch of seafloor sheds new light on the inner workings of our planet and how its surface has changed over millions of years. The team's findings were published in the journal Science Advances on September 27, 2024.

Since the first sighting of the first-discovered and largest asteroid in our solar system was made in 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi, astronomers and planetary scientists have pondered the make-up of this asteroid/dwarf planet. Its heavily battered and dimpled surface is covered in impact craters. Scientists have long argued that visible craters on the surface meant that Ceres could not be very icy.

A comet is expected to risk having its tail clipped on Friday by flying perilously close to the sun, promising fireworks next month should it survive the fraught flypast.

Using the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), astronomers from Italy and Spain have carried out high-temporal-resolution optical spectroscopic observations of a transitional millisecond pulsar designated PSR J1023+0038. Results of the observational campaign, published September 19 on the pre-print server arXiv, yield essential information regarding the nature of this pulsar.

This week, biologists tracked down a mysterious group of orcas near Chile; Hubble spotted a black hole jet that causes stars along its trajectory to erupt; and researchers explained mysterious craters that began appearing in Siberian permafrost in the 2010s. But you're probably here for cheese, cosmology and octopuses, so here you go:

A SpaceX rocket soared into the sky Saturday with two passengers on board, leaving two seats empty to return American astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station, NASA said.

A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution lifts the veil on what happens when octopuses and fish hunt together. As it turns out, this cross-species relationship is more complex than anyone expected.

The Tower of Babel has long been a symbol of human ambition, divine intervention, and the complexities of communication. Rooted in the Book of Genesis, this ancient tale tells of a united people in the land of Shinar, speaking one language, who sought to build a tower to reach the heavens. Their ultimate goal was to make a name for themselves and prevent being scattered across the Earth. However, God viewed their grand project as an act of hubris and pride. To halt their progress, He confused their language, leading to widespread misunderstanding, which resulted in the people's dispersion and the abandonment of the tower. The Monumental Fall of Babylon: What Really Shattered the Empire? Babylon’s Temple of Ninmakh, the Mesopotamian Goddess of Humankind The Tower of Babel is believed to have been inspired by a real-life structure, the ziggurat of Babylon known as Etemenanki, meaning "The Temple of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth." This massive ziggurat showcased the architectural sophistication of ancient Mesopotamia and held significant religious importance. Ziggurats were considered bridges between Earth and the divine realm, where gods could descend to interact with humans. Read moreSection: NewsAsiaAncient PlacesVideosRead Later