Tech

A new super-Earth, GJ 251 c, has been found orbiting a nearby red dwarf star within its habitable zone. About four times Earth’s mass, it may host liquid water. Detected via the radial-velocity method using Penn State’s Habitable Zone Planet Finder, it’s a prime target in the search for life.

A new Scientific Reports study warns that dimming the Sun with sulfur aerosols could cause severe side effects, including disrupted monsoons, ozone loss, and acid rain. Researchers stress that despite its cooling potential, such geoengineering carries unpredictable global risks that outweigh short-term benefits.

Astronomers have detected a small companion star orbiting the red supergiant Betelgeuse using Hubble and Chandra observations. Dubbed “Betelbuddy,” the discovery reveals an extreme binary system that challenges existing models of stellar evolution and may offer clues to Betelgeuse’s future.

Dark matter near the Milky Way’s center appears flattened, not spherical, according to new simulations. The discovery may explain a puzzling gamma-ray glow long observed by NASA’s Fermi telescope, reigniting theories that dark matter collisions produce high-energy radiation in the galaxy’s core

Carnegie Mellon engineers have unveiled AI-controlled drones that 3D print by snapping magnetic blocks together mid-air. Powered by a large language model, the drones translate simple commands into precise construction plans, achieving 90% accuracy. The technology could enable aerial infrastructure repair and emergency shelter construction in hard-to-reach areas.