NASA's Bold Journey: Unveiling the Enigmatic Asteroid Embodying Chaos!

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Following a journey of almost 4 billion miles, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has successfully brought back NASA's inaugural asteroid sample to Earth.

The rocks and soil sample, gathered from asteroid Bennu, successfully touchdowned in the Utah desert on September 24th. It endured scorching temperatures during reentry, resulting in the exterior of the capsule being completely charred. Presently, these exceptional materials are securely stored at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Researchers will scrutinize them to unravel the mysteries of our solar system.

Countless individuals, who dedicated years to the mission, rejoiced in the monumental accomplishment. Among them was Brian May, the guitarist of Queen, who also proudly contributes as an astrophysicist and a valued member of the OSIRIS-REx team. However, the extraordinary expedition of the spacecraft is not yet concluded.

Across the universe

An artist's rendering shows OSIRIS-APEX kicking up dust so it can study Apophis.

University of Arizona

The OSIRIS-APEX mission, formerly known as something else, is now targeting Apophis, an asteroid renowned for instilling fear.

The celestial body, named after the Egyptian deity linked to disorder and gloom, was previously regarded as a significant peril to our planet.

The most recent research indicates that Apophis will not be on a collision course with Earth in the near future. However, in 2029, the asteroid will come remarkably close to our planet, making it visible to the naked eye.

During this time, OSIRIS-APEX will take action by entering into orbit around Apophis and conducting an extensive 18-month study. Although the spacecraft is no longer capable of gathering a sample, it will utilize thrusters to stir up dust and rocks in order to investigate the stony surface of Apophis.

Unearthed

Archaeologists were excavating a 2,300-year-old tomb in Israel when they came across what may be the remains of a hetaira, or a courtesan of ancient Greece.

The cremated remains of a woman were discovered in a cave, along with a remarkably well-preserved bronze folding mirror. It is possible that she was among the earliest Greeks to venture into the area, perhaps accompanying a government official or important military commander during the Hellenistic Age, which spanned from 323 BC to 30 BC.

Several details about her burial, including the rare pristine mirror, hint at the womans origins, and researchers hope to uncover more of her story in the future.

Curiosities

So-called fairy circles, or bare patches forming patterns that can span miles, are shown at the edge of the Namib Desert in Namibia.

The appearance of barren dirt in dryland grasses, known as "fairy circles," has captivated researchers for many years. These intriguing dot patterns have been observed in the Namib Desert in Southern Africa and the Western Australian outback.

Scientists in Spain have used artificial intelligence to create a new global atlas, uncovering the presence of fairy circles at hundreds of locations worldwide. Although the origin of these mysterious circles is still unknown, this comprehensive atlas holds the potential to shed light on the phenomenon and aid further research into the appearance of this polka-dot pattern.

, scientists have forecasted that in 250 million years, the consolidation of a colossal "supercontinent" could render Earth essentially inhospitable, leading to the extinction of humans and heat-intolerant mammals.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has returned to Earth after an unexpectedly prolonged stay of 371 days in space. He, along with cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, had originally planned for a six-month mission but encountered a coolant leak in their Soyuz spacecraft due to a probable collision with space debris. A replacement spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station in late February, and a new crew was able to join them on September 15.

Rubios time spent aboard the orbiting outpost is the longest any US astronaut has experienced zero gravity. Now, he is adapting back to life on Earth. According to him, it will take anywhere from two to six months before he feels completely back to normal since in space, they do not walk or bear their own weight.

Meanwhile, a new film explores the story of astronaut José Hernández, the first former migrant worker to venture to space in 2009 after NASA rejected him 11 times.

Wild kingdom

The electric blue tarantula is a newly discovered species found in southern Thailand.

Courtesy Narin Chomphuphuang

A newly described tarantula species looks like it would be right at home slinging webs alongside Spider-Man.

The electric blue tarantula, known as Taksinus bambus, was discovered inhabiting tree hollows in southern Thailand in the previous year. Narin Chomphuphuang, a researcher at Khon Kaen University in Thailand who aided in the spider's identification, expressed admiration for the animal's blue hue, noting that blue is exceptionally uncommon in nature.

Researchers believe that the unique structure of the tarantulas hair, rather than the presence of blue pigments, contributes to the creatures "mesmerizing" appearance.

Explorations

Discover captivating books that will transport you:

Next week, prepare for the grand unveiling of the Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine, honoring brilliant intellects for their groundbreaking research. However, even these celebrated accolades are not immune to criticism.

Elusive pangolins hold the unfortunate title of being the most trafficked mammals on the planet. However, a recent revelation of an unidentified species offers hope in the battle against the impending extinction of these creatures covered in scales.

Is it true that gum remains in your stomach for seven years? Let's hear what experts have to say about this age-old belief and uncover the reality of what occurs when you ingest gum.

The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a fundamental element for life on the surface of Europa, a frozen oceanic world that orbits Jupiter.

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