UAE Mars mission: extraordinary feat shows how space exploration can benefit small nations
Jul 21, 2020 14:02 pm UTC| Science
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully launched its Mars mission dubbed Al Amal, or Hope, from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan on July 20. This is the first space mission by the UAE, and the first Arab...
Oxford immunologist working on coronavirus vaccine: our early results look highly promising
Jul 21, 2020 14:01 pm UTC| Science
A vaccine against COVID-19 is urgently needed if were to stop the virus spreading and prevent potentially millions of further deaths. Were now one step closer to that goal. Today, we published early results from our...
Are the Earth's magnetic poles about to swap places? Strange anomaly gives reassuring clue
Jul 21, 2020 14:00 pm UTC| Science
Deep inside the Earth, liquid iron is flowing and generating the Earths magnetic field, which protects our atmosphere and satellites against harmful radiation from the Sun. This field changes over time, and also behaves...
Asteroids: NASA releases photo of two giant rocks flying in the asteroid belt
Jul 21, 2020 08:00 am UTC| Science
As certain asteroids are known to be making their way towards Earth, NASA has released a new photo showing two particularly large asteroids within the asteroid belt. These two asteroids are shown to be potentially...
NASA's dangerous plan should Apollo 11 mission go wrong revealed in new book
Jul 21, 2020 07:33 am UTC| Science
This week was the 51st anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 mission, where the US placed the first men on the moon back in 1969. According to Jim Donovan in his new book titled Shoot for the Moon, NASA had a very...
Comet NEOWISE: Last chance in around 6,800 years to see incoming comet
Jul 21, 2020 07:33 am UTC| Science
Space enthusiasts and astronomers are all looking forward to witnessing the passing of Comet NEOWISE this week. NASA has since warned that this upcoming flyby will be the last chance to see the comet as it will only return...
NASA: Potential date of return of SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule on August 2
Jul 20, 2020 06:40 am UTC| Science
Last May, NASA and SpaceX were able to successfully transport two astronauts to the International Space Station. As both agencies are now preparing for their return, NASA has announced that the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight