Space & Science

And, well, it worked remarkably well. The plants carrying all the genes for the McG cycle weighed two to three times as much as control plants that only had some of the genes. They had more leaves, the leaves themselves were larger, and the plants produced more seeds. In a variety of growing conditions, the plants with an intact McG cycle incorporated more carbon, and they did so without increasing their water uptake.
Having a two-carbon output also worked as expected. By feeding the plants radioactive bicarbonate, they were able to trace the carbon showing up in the expected molecules. And imaging confirmed that the plants were making so many lipids that their cells formed internal pockets containing nothing but fatty materials. Triglyceride levels increased by factors of 100 or more.
So, by a variety of measures, the plants actually did better with an extra pathway for fixing carbon. There are a number of cautions, though. For starters, it’s not clear whether what we’re learning using a small weed will also apply to larger plants or crops, or really anything much beyond Arabidopsis at the moment. It could be that having excess globs of fat floating around the cell has consequences for something like a tree. Plants grown in a lab also tend to be provided with a nutrient-rich soil, and it’s not clear whether all of this would apply to a range of real-world conditions.
Finally, we can’t say whether all the excess carbon these plants are sucking in from the atmosphere would end up being sequestered in any useful sense. It could be that all the fat would just get oxidized as soon as the plant dies. That said, there are a lot of approaches to making biofuel that rely on modifying the fats found in plants or algae. It’s possible that this can eventually help make biofuels efficient so they actually have a net positive effect on the climate.
Regardless of practical impacts, however, it’s pretty amazing that we’ve now reached the point where we can fundamentally rewire a bit of metabolism that has been in operation for billions of years without completely messing up plants.
Science, 2025. DOI: 10.1126/science.adp3528  (About DOIs).

A sweeping collection of astronaut health studies planned for NASA’s Artemis II mission around the Moon will soon provide agency researchers with a glimpse into how deep space travel influences the human body, mind, and behavior.
During an approximately 10-day mission set to launch in 2026, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will collect and store their saliva, don wrist monitors that track movement and sleep, and offer other essential data for NASA’s Human Research Program and other agency science teams. 
“The findings are expected to provide vital insights for future missions to destinations beyond low Earth orbit, including Mars,” said Laurie Abadie, an aerospace engineer for the program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, who strategizes about how to carry out studies on Artemis missions. “The lessons we learn from this crew will help us to more safely accomplish deep space missions and research,” she said.
One study on the Artemis II mission, titled Immune Biomarkers, will explore how the immune system reacts to spaceflight. Another study, ARCHeR (Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness), will evaluate how crew members perform individually and as a team throughout the mission, including how easily they can move around within the confined space of their Orion spacecraft. Astronauts also will collect a standardized set of measurements spanning multiple physiological systems to provide a comprehensive snapshot of how spaceflight affects the human body as part of a third study called Artemis II Standard Measures. What’s more, radiation sensors placed inside the Orion capsule cells will collect additional information about radiation shielding functionality and organ-on-a-chip devices containing astronaut cells will study how deep space travel affects humans at a cellular level.
“Artemis missions present unique opportunities, and challenges, for scientific research,” said Steven Platts, chief scientist for human research at NASA Johnson.
Platts explained the mission will need to protect against challenges including exposure to higher radiation levels than on the International Space Station, since the crew will be farther from Earth.
“Together, these studies will allow scientists to better understand how the immune system performs in deep space, teach us more about astronauts’ overall well-being ahead of a Mars mission, and help scientists develop ways to ensure the health and success of crew members,” he said.
Another challenge is the relatively small quarters. The habitable volume inside Orion is about the size of a studio apartment, whereas the space station is larger than a six-bedroom house with six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym, and a 360-degree view bay window. That limitation affects everything from exercise equipment selection to how to store saliva samples.
Previous research has shown that spaceflight missions can weaken the immune system, reactivate dormant viruses in astronauts, and put the health of the crew at risk. Saliva samples from space-based missions have enabled scientists to assess various viruses, hormones, and proteins that reveal how well the immune system works throughout the mission.
But refrigeration to store such samples will not be an option on this mission due to limited space. Instead, for the Immune Biomarkers study, crew members will supply liquid saliva on Earth and dry saliva samples in space and on Earth to assess changes over time. The dry sample process involves blotting saliva onto special paper that’s stored in pocket-sized booklets.
“We store the samples in dry conditions before rehydrating and reconstituting them,” said Brian Crucian, an immunologist with NASA Johnson who’s leading the study. After landing, those samples will be analyzed by agency researchers.
For the ARCHeR study, participating crew members will wear movement and sleep monitors, called actigraphy devices, before, during, and after the mission. The monitors will enable crew members and flight controllers in mission control to study real-time health and behavioral information for crew safety, and help scientists study how crew members’ sleep and activity patterns affect overall health and performance. Other data related to cognition, behavior, and team dynamics will also be gathered before and after the mission.
“Artemis missions will be the farthest NASA astronauts have ventured into space since the Apollo era,” said Suzanne Bell, a NASA psychologist based at Johnson who is leading the investigation. “The study will help clarify key mission challenges, how astronauts work as a team and with mission control, and the usability of the new space vehicle system.” 
Another human research study, Artemis II Standard Measures, will involve collecting survey and biological data before, during, and after the Artemis II mission, though blood collection will only occur before and after the mission. Collecting dry saliva samples, conducting psychological assessments, and testing head, eye, and body movements will also be part of the work. In addition, tasks will include exiting a capsule and conducting simulated moonwalk activities in a pressurized spacesuit shortly after return to Earth to investigate how quickly astronauts recover their sense of balance following a mission.
Crew members will provide data for these Artemis II health studies beginning about six months before the mission and extending for about a month after they return to Earth.
NASA also plans to use the Artemis II mission to help scientists characterize the radiation environment in deep space. Several CubeSats, shoe-box sized satellites that will be deployed into high-Earth orbit during Orion’s transit to the Moon, will probe the near-Earth and deep space radiation environment. Data gathered by these CubeSats will help scientists understand how best to shield crew and equipment from harmful space radiation at various distances from Earth.
Crew members will also keep dosimeters in their pockets that measure radiation exposure in real time. Two additional radiation-sensing technologies will also be affixed to the inside of the Orion spacecraft. One type of device will monitor the radiation environment at different shielding locations and alert crew if they need to seek shelter, such as during a solar storm. A separate collection of four radiation monitors, enabled through a partnership with the German Space Agency DLR, will be placed at various points around the cabin by the crew after launch to gather further information.
Other technologies also positioned inside the spacecraft will gather information about the potential biological effects of the deep space radiation environment. These will include devices called organ chips that house human cells derived from the Artemis II astronauts, through a project called AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response). After the Artemis II lands, scientists will analyze how these organ chips responded to deep space radiation and microgravity on a cellular level.
Together, the insights from all the human research science collected through this mission will help keep future crews safe as humanity extends missions to the Moon and ventures onward to Mars.
____
NASA’s Human Research Program
NASA’s Human Research Program pursues methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, the International Space Station and Artemis missions, the program scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives the program’s quest to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission ready as human space exploration expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Group photo taken at the General Assembly on Defence, Space and Cybersecurity, held on Friday 12 September 2025, at ESRIN, ESA’s Centre for Earth Observation Programmes in Italy. The event was organised by the European Parliament and the European Commission, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, to promote dialogue between European and national decision-makers and industry leaders. Representatives from major European entities debated the future of the European Union, which is facing unprecedented challenges since the postwar period, in an increasingly complex geopolitical context. Participants examined Europe’s needs in key sectors such as space, cybersecurity, and defence, within the broader context of the Atlantic Alliance. Acting at the European level, as demonstrated by projects like Galileo, EGNOS, and Copernicus, not only brings extraordinary added value in terms of innovation, industrial competitiveness, economies of scale, and spending efficiency, but also strengthens Europe’s strategic autonomy, the security of its citizens, and the protection of its critical infrastructure.The group included experts from major European entities, including: Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space; Adolfo Urso, Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy; Matteo Piantedosi, Italian Minister of the Interior; Gen. B. Luigi Vinciguerra, Brigade General of the Guardia di Finanza – Head of the III Operations Department, General Command; Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency; Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes and Head of ESRIN; Carlo Corazza, Head of the European Parliament Office in Italy; Ammiraglio Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee; Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI); Hans de Vries, Chief Cybersecurity and Operations Officer (COO) – ENISA; Fabio di Stefano, Communications at the European Parliament in Italy.Watch here a replay of ESA Director General’s intervention and find the transcript of his speech.

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Astrobotic eyes Andøya. US-based lunar logistics company Astrobotic and Norwegian spaceport operator Andøya Space have signed a term sheet outlining the framework for a Launch Site Agreement, European Spaceflight reports. The agreement, once finalized, will facilitate flights of Astrobotic’s Xodiac lander testbed from the Andøya Space facilities. The Xodiac vertical takeoff, vertical landing rocket was initially developed by Masten Space Systems to simulate landing on the Moon and Mars. When Masten filed for bankruptcy in 2022, Astrobotic acquired its intellectual property and assets, including the Xodiac vehicle.
Across the pond … So far, the small Xodiac rocket has flown on low-altitude atmospheric hops from Mojave, California, reaching altitudes of up to 500 meters, or 1,640 feet. The agreement between Astrobotic and Andøya paves the way for “several” Xodiac flight campaigns from Andøya Space facilities on the Norwegian coast. “Xodiac’s presence at Andøya represents a meaningful step toward delivering reliable, rapid, and cost-effective testing and demonstration capabilities to the European space market,” said Astrobotic CEO John Thornton.
Ursa Major breaks ground in Colorado. Ursa Major on Wednesday said it has broken ground on a new 400-acre site where it will test and qualify large-scale solid rocket motors for current and future missiles, including the Navy’s Standard Missile fleet, Defense Daily reports. The new site in Weld County, Colorado, north of Denver, will be ready for testing to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Ursa Major will be able to conduct full-scale static firings, and drop and temperature storage testing for current and future missile systems.
Seeking SRM options … Ursa Major said the new facility will support national and missile defense programs. The company’s portfolio includes solid rocket motors (SRMs) ranging from 2 inches to 22 inches in diameter for missiles like the Stinger, Javelin, and air-defense interceptors. Ursa Major aims to join industry incumbents Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and newcomer Anduril as a major supplier of SRMs to the government. “This facility represents a major step forward in our ability to deliver qualified SRMs that are scalable, flexible, and ready to meet the evolving threat environment,” said Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major, in a statement. “It’s a clear demonstration of our commitment and ability to rapidly advance and expand the American-made solid rocket motor industrial base that the country needs, ensuring warfighters will have the quality and quantity of SRMs needed to meet mission demands.”

Part of the Gibson Desert in Western Australia is featured in this image, captured by the Φsat-2 mission in June 2025.Covering an area of over 150 000 sq km, the desert consists of gravel terrains covered by desert grasses, as well as red sandy plains and dune fields. As we can also see in the image, the typical soil surface colours range from reddish brown to red, owing to the iron-rich sediments. Additionally, the dry climate and weather trigger soil oxidation, giving the landscape its distinctive warm colours.Parallel sand dune ridges are a defining characteristic of the area and can be seen spreading across the image. These are shaped by the wind and can stretch for tens of km.The largest blue feature visible in the lower part of the image is a dry lakebed, where the Fortescue River empties. In this region, rivers are mainly ephemeral, which means that they remain dry for most of the year and flow only temporarily and briefly, usually in direct response to precipitation. The Fortescue River is dry in this image because no significant rain fell during the days before the acquisition.Inland drainage is typical of most of Western Australia, and the great majority of the lakes here are saline dried-up lakebeds, rather than freshwater bodies. The partially white body of water seen at the top is part of the Fortescue Marsh wetlands rather than a classic permanent lake. The white colour within the lake is due to the presence of sediments in the water.The Fortescue Marsh is a vast seasonal floodplain with lakes, marshes, and pools that act as a natural water retention basin during and after rains. It is nationally recognised as a wetland of importance and supports diverse flora and fauna that has adapted to the arid and ephemeral river environment.Launched in August 2024, Φsat-2 is a miniature satellite – a cubesat – designed to demonstrate how different Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies can advance observing Earth from space. 

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Apple’s big annual event on Tuesday delivered a polished and tightly produced showcase. The company’s CEO, Tim Cook, led the presentation with sweeping visuals, confident pacing and a clear message: Apple is still betting big on premium innovation. But the real headline wasn’t so much the tech; it was the prices.Earlier this year, President Donald Trump granted Apple a tariff break. Still, the company raised prices across its iPhone lineup. The new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, which Apple positioned as a reinvention of last year’s iPhone 16 Plus, jumps to $999. The iPhone 17 Pro begins at $1,099, while the Pro Max tops out at $1,199. The entry-level iPhone 17 starts at $799.Apple positioned the price hikes as a reflection of breakthrough innovation. The company spotlighted the iPhone Air’s sleek redesign, the powerful A19 chip and major camera upgrades. Yet the takeaway was clear: tariff relief didn’t lead to consumer savings. Instead, Apple leaned into its premium identity, signaling that cutting-edge tech now comes with a steeper price tag.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.GOOGLE PIXEL 10 EVENT BRINGS NEW PHONES, SMARTWATCH, EARBUDS AND AI Apple CEO Tim Cook holds an iPhone 17 Pro and an iPhone Air, on its campus in Cupertino, California, Sept. 9, 2025. (REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo)iPhone 17 Air: the thinnest iPhone ever Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 Air, its slimmest model yet at 5.6mm and 165 grams, built with recycled aluminum, glass and titanium. (Apple)Apple calls the iPhone 17 Air a game-changer. At just 5.6mm thin and weighing around 165 grams, it stands as the slimmest iPhone the company has ever made. The design uses recycled aluminum, glass and titanium to reduce weight while staying durable. Engineers reinforced the frame and applied new drop-test algorithms to make sure it holds up in daily use.The Air debuts silicon anode battery technology, which allows Apple to shrink the device without cutting power. During the presentation, Apple promised “all-day battery life,” but never gave an exact hour count. That vague description raised questions. Moments later, Apple introduced a new low-profile MagSafe battery accessory. When paired with the iPhone 17 Air, Apple says the combo delivers up to 40 hours of video playback. The timing of that announcement made it clear that battery life could still be a concern.Apple also pushed the Air forward with a new ultra-wide 48MP fusion camera system, which uses advanced image processing to improve detail and low-light performance. The display gained a ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling and animations feel smoother. Outdoor use should also improve, thanks to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, making it easier to see in direct sunlight. On the durability side, the Air features Ceramic Shield 2 coating, which Apple claims resists scratches and accidental drops better than before.The iPhone 17 Air starts at $999 with 256GB of storage. That price is $100 higher than last year’s thinnest model, marking another step up in Apple’s pricing strategy.iPhone 17 Pro: design and performance overhaul The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 and comes with 256GB of base storage. (Apple)The iPhone 17 Pro introduces a striking unibody design that relies on laser-welded vapor chamber cooling to keep performance steady even under heavy use. Apple gave the back a ceramic shield finish, while the front now features its upgraded seven-layer coating. That change reduces glare both indoors and outdoors, making the display easier on the eyes in all conditions.At the core of the Pro sits the new A19 Bionic chip built on 3nm architecture. Apple paired it with a 16-core Neural Engine and an updated display engine to push speed and efficiency even further. The company claims this is the most power-efficient iPhone yet and promises the longest battery life ever offered in a Pro model.Apple also turned its attention to the camera system. The Pro camera lineup includes a 48MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide, with ProRes support for high-quality video recording. It even offers Genlock syncing, which professionals can use to line up multiple cameras in studio and live production setups.To complement the new design, Apple introduced TechWoven cases that feel more like premium accessories than traditional covers. Some versions include optional cross-body straps, a nod to the growing trend of blending technology with fashion.Apple also revealed three new finishes for the Pro models: deep blue, cosmic orange and silver, adding a fresh look to the lineup.The iPhone 17 Pro comes with 256GB of base storage and starts at $1,099, keeping its place as Apple’s most balanced high-end option between the Air and the Max.WWDC 2025: IOS 26, LIQUID GLASS DESIGN AND APPLE’S AI SHORTFALLiPhone 17 Pro Max: bigger, brighter, more expensive Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro Max as its top model, featuring the biggest display ever on an iPhone. (Apple)Apple positioned the iPhone 17 Pro Max as the ultimate model in the lineup. It shares the same unibody design, ceramic shield finish and seven-layer front coating as the Pro, but it stretches everything to a larger scale. The Pro Max delivers the biggest display Apple has ever put on an iPhone, paired with enhanced brightness that makes it more usable outdoors and in direct sunlight.Inside, it runs on the same A19 Bionic chip with the 16-core Neural Engine, so performance and efficiency mirror the Pro. What sets the Max apart is its endurance. Apple claims it offers the best battery life of any iPhone to date, making it the go-to choice for people who rely heavily on their phone throughout the day.The Pro Max also carries the full Pro camera system, including the 48MP main sensor and advanced video features like ProRes and Genlock. With its extra size, it appeals most to creators, gamers and anyone who wants the biggest screen possible in an iPhone.Like the Pro, the Max is available in deep blue, cosmic orange and silver finishes.Pricing starts at $1,199 with 256GB of storage, marking the highest entry point yet for an iPhone and reinforcing Apple’s steady climb in premium pricing.iPhone 17: Apple’s new starting point iPhone 17 starts at $799 with 256GB of storage. (Apple)The standard iPhone 17 rounds out the lineup and now serves as Apple’s new baseline model. It starts at $799 with 256GB of storage.The iPhone 17 inherits many of the Pro’s features. It comes in five colors and has a thinner profile that feels more refined in hand. The display includes the upgraded coating to cut glare, and the front camera has a square AI-driven sensor with Center Stage for better video calls.The main camera system also makes a leap forward. The iPhone 17 now carries a 48MP main sensor, supported by Apple’s fusion technology to improve clarity and low-light results. Combined with the updated display engine and improved durability from Ceramic Shield 2, the iPhone 17 delivers a more polished experience than previous entry models.Beyond iPhones: Apple’s big updates for AirPods and WatchApple didn’t stop with iPhones. The company used its event to refresh its wearables and audio lineup, bringing new features to AirPods and multiple Apple Watch models. Each product builds on familiar designs while adding functions aimed at health, fitness and convenience.AirPods Pro 3: smarter sound and live translation The new AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge. (Apple)Apple unveiled the third-generation AirPods Pro, priced at $249, and available starting Sept. 19. The design keeps the iconic stem but introduces foam-infused ear tips that come in five sizes. Apple said it studied 100,000 ear shapes to make them fit more securely.The new AirPods Pro 3 extend listening time, offering up to eight hours on a single charge, compared with six hours in the previous generation. With the charging case, total listening time stretches to 10 hours with hearing-AI features enabled.One of the standout additions is heart rate sensing, which turns the AirPods into another health-tracking accessory in Apple’s ecosystem. The earbuds also use AI-driven hearing enhancements to improve clarity in noisy environments. Apple said the AirPods Pro 3 now deliver up to four times stronger active noise cancellation (ANC) than the originals, making them far more effective in crowded or loud spaces.For workouts, users can also track over 50 activity types with the Fitness app on iPhone while wearing them. Perhaps most notably, Apple added live translation. When two people wear AirPods Pro 3 paired with iPhones, conversations can be translated in real time, breaking language barriers in a way that once seemed impossible.Apple Watch Series 11: health at the forefront Apple Watch Series 11 expands the company’s push into advanced health technology. (Apple)The Apple Watch Series 11 continues Apple’s push into health technology. It runs on watchOS 26 and introduces monitoring for possible hypertension and sleep apnea, with alerts designed to prompt users to seek medical care. Apple noted that FDA clearance is still pending for hypertension notifications, but the company clearly sees the watch as a serious medical tool.The watch also includes Sleep Score, which breaks down sleep stages such as core, deep and awake to give users a clearer picture of rest quality. Battery life reaches up to 24 hours, and the watch remains efficient even with 5G connectivity.Apple built the Series 11 with 100% recycled aluminum and titanium cases, expanding its sustainability pledge. Color options bring a refreshed look, while pricing starts around $399, depending on configuration.APPLE WINS BLOOD OXYGEN BATTLE FOR WATCH OWNERS Apple Watch SE 3: affordable and fast Apple Watch SE 3 remains the lowest-priced entry into the lineup at $249. (Apple)Apple also refreshed its budget-friendly model, the Apple Watch SE 3. At $249, it remains the lowest-priced entry into the lineup. The SE 3 uses the new S10 chip, giving it faster performance and support for Apple’s expanding gesture controls.It also delivers sleep apnea notifications, a feature previously limited to more expensive models. Charging is now up to two times faster, ensuring the watch is ready to go with less downtime. Apple added more health and convenience tools, including wrist temperature sensing for deeper insights in the Vitals app, retrospective ovulation estimates and an Always-On display. It also supports double-tap and wrist flick gestures, plus on-device Siri. Available in two colors, the SE 3 carries forward Apple’s strategy of making core health features more accessible.Apple Watch Ultra 3: the powerhouse upgrade Apple Watch Ultra 3 debuts with the largest and brightest display ever on a Watch. (Apple)At the top end, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Ultra 3, starting at $799 and shipping September 19. This model pushes the limits of durability and outdoor performance. The Ultra 3 features the largest and brightest display ever put on an Apple Watch, making it easier to read data during workouts or in direct sunlight.It includes a redesigned radio and antenna system capable of connecting with satellites orbiting 800 miles above Earth. That means users can send messages or use Find My features even without cell service, making it a true companion for extreme adventures.The Ultra 3 packs a larger battery that runs up to 42 hours on a single charge. With Low Power Mode enabled, Apple says the battery can extend to as much as 72 hours, making it the longest-lasting Apple Watch to date. It also introduces new Workout Buddy tools for training and enhanced hypertension notifications, further pushing Apple’s reputation in health tech. Available in black or natural titanium, the Ultra 3 blends rugged design with cutting-edge features.iPhone 17 accessories: small add-ons with big impact Apple showcased new accessories for its iPhones, including a low-profile MagSafe battery pack. (Apple)Apple used the event to highlight a series of accessories that show how the company expects people to use its new iPhones. The most talked about was the low-profile MagSafe battery pack, created to address the iPhone 17 Air’s biggest weakness: vague “all-day” battery claims. When attached, the Air can stretch to 40 hours of video playback, turning what could have been a limitation into a selling point for Apple’s ecosystem.To complement the Air’s slim profile, Apple also revealed a new translucent case and a lightweight bumper. The translucent case keeps the 5.6mm design visible while still protecting it, while the bumper adds shock resistance around the edges without adding bulk. Both aim to reassure buyers who worry that the thinnest iPhone yet might be more fragile.For the Pro and Pro Max models, Apple introduced TechWoven cases made from a durable fabric blend. What stood out was the addition of an optional cross-body strap, giving users a hands-free way to carry their phones. Apple leaned into the idea of the iPhone as not just a device but also a lifestyle accessory that blends technology with personal style.Together, the MagSafe battery, translucent Air case, protective bumper and fashion-forward TechWoven cases with cross-body straps showed Apple’s strategy clearly. Accessories are no longer secondary; they are central to how Apple expects customers to protect, power and personalize their iPhones.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPKurt’s key takeawaysApple’s iPhone 17 lineup pushes innovation forward with a blend of sleek design and powerful features. The iPhone 17 Air impresses with its ultra-thin profile and new battery technology. Meanwhile, the Pro and Pro Max models deliver unmatched performance and durability for demanding users. Additionally, Apple enhances its ecosystem with upgraded AirPods and Apple Watch models that emphasize health and convenience. Overall, Apple continues to balance style, functionality and user experience, setting a strong foundation for the year ahead.Which Apple device are you most excited to buy, and why?

But the final reverberations as the newly formed black hole settled into its new state, aka the ringdown, from that first event were significantly fainter, and scientists were unable to distinguish between the ringing from the initial collision and the ringdown. For GW250114, LIGO’s improved sensitivity meant that scientists could measure the frequency and duration of the merged black hole’s ringdown much more precisely. The resulting analysis bolsters the 2019 results confirming the “no hair” theorem.

Audio comparison of the 2015 and 2025 gravitational wave signals. Credit: LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA

Audio comparison of the 2015 and 2025 gravitational wave signals. Credit: LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA

With the latest event, physicists obtained an “exquisitely detailed view of the signal both before and after the black hole merger,” said co-author Maximiliano Isi of Columbia University, who led a 2021 study using the same method on the 2015 data to observationally confirm Hawking’s area theorem. As with the no-hair theorem, the clearer signal from GW250114 further bolsters that earlier result. The GW250114 data revealed that the two initial black holes had a total surface area of about 240,000 square kilometers, about the size of the United Kingdom. After the merger, the new black hole was about 400,000 square kilometers, about the size of Sweden.
“Even though it’s a very simple statement—’areas can only increase’—it has immense implications,” said Isi. Notably, Hawking and Jacob Bekenstein later showed that a black hole’s area is proportional to its entropy, which also must increase per the second law of thermodynamics. This is a key element in ongoing attempts to develop a quantum theory of gravity. “It’s really profound that the size of a black hole’s event horizon behaves like entropy,” said Isi. “It means that some aspects of black holes can be used to mathematically probe the true nature of space and time.”
Caltech physicist Kip Thorne, a longtime friend of Hawking, recalled that when LIGO detected its first gravitational wave signature, Hawking called and asked him if the collaboration would be able to test his theorem. Hawking died in 2018. “If [he] were alive, he would have reveled in seeing the area of the merged black holes increase,” said Thorne.
Physical Review Letters, 2025. DOI: 10.1103/kw5g-d732 (About DOIs).

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 23, or Northrop Grumman CRS-23, will deliver more than 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station. This mission will be the first flight of the Cygnus XL, the larger, more cargo-capable version of the company’s solar-powered spacecraft.

The Cygnus XL will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.  Following arrival, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 to grapple Cygnus XL before robotically installing the spacecraft to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. Stream live launch and arrival coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime, YouTube.

IDA Planar Reflector – This is a reflective element used by visiting spacecraft during docking. The spacecraft bounces a laser off the reflector to compute relative range, velocity, and attitude on approach to the International Space Station. Due to degradation found on the installed reflector, this unit will launch to support a future spacewalk to replace the damaged reflector.

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Distillation Assembly – The urine processor on the space station uses filtration and distillation to separate water from wastewater to produce potable water. This unit is launching as a spare.

Reactor Health Sensor – Part of the Environmental Control and Life Support System – Water Processing Assembly, includes two sensors with inlet and outlet ports to measure reactor health. This unit is being launched as a spare.

Pressure Management Device – This is an intravehicular activity system for performing pressurization and depressurization of the space station vestibules between the space station hatch and the hatch of a visiting spacecraft or other module, like the NanoRacks Airlock. During depressurization, most of the air will be added to the space station cabin air to save the valuable resource.

Air Selector Valve – This electro-mechanical assembly is used to direct airflow through the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly. Two units are launching as spares.

Major Constituent Analyzer Mass Spectrometer Assembly – This assembly monitors the partial pressure levels of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, methane, water vapor, and carbon dioxide aboard station. This unit is launching as a contingency spare.

Major Constituent Analyzer Mass Sample/Series Pump Assembly – This contains plumbing and a pair of solenoid valves to direct sample gas flow to either of the redundant sample pumps. It draws sample gas from the space station’s atmosphere into the analyzer. This unit is launching as a contingency spare.

Major Constituent Analyzer Sample Distribution Assembly – This isolates the gas sample going to the Mass Spectrometer Assembly. The purpose is to distribute gas samples throughout the analyzer. This unit is launching as a contingency spare.

Charcoal Bed – The bed allows the Trace Contaminant Control System to remove high molecular weight contaminants from the station’s atmosphere. This unit is launching as a spare.

Common Cabin Air Assembly Heat Exchanger – This assembly controls cabin air temperature, humidity, and airflow aboard the space station. This unit is launching as a spare.

Sequential Shunt Unit – This regulates the solar array wing voltage when experiencing high levels of direct sunlight; in doing so, it provides usable power to the station’s primary power system. This unit is launching as a spare.

Solid State Lighting Assembly – This is a specialized internal lighting assembly aboard station. NASA will use one lighting assembly to replace a failed unit and will keep the others as spares.

Remote Power Control Module Type V – This module distributes 120V/DC electrical power and provides current-limiting and fault protection to secondary loads aboard the orbiting laboratory. This module is launching as a spare.

Treadmill Isolator Assembly – The Upper, X, Y, and Z Isolator Assemblies are launching as spares for the space station’s treadmill, where they work together to reduce vibration and force transfer when astronauts are running.

Pump Fan Motor Controller – The controller is an electronic controller to modulate the power to the motor windings, which are coils of conductive wire that are wrapped around its core carrying electric current to drive the motor. Windings are commonly used in household appliances, cars (power steering), pumps, and more.

Quick Don Mask Assembly – This mask is used by the crew, along with the Pre-Breath Assembly, in emergency situations. This unit is launching to replace a unit aboard station.

Anomaly Gas Analyzer – This analyzer senses various gases, like oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and others, along with cabin pressure, water vapor and temperature. Two units are launching as an upgrade to the current analyzer system used on board.

Nitrogen, Oxygen Resupply Maintenance Kit – One tank of nitrogen and one tank of oxygen used for gas replenishment aboard the space station are launching to maintain gas reserves.

Crew and Equipment Translation Aid Luminaire – This is a lighting unit used aboard station to illuminate the astronauts’ equipment cart and surrounding work areas during spacewalks.

Applications

11/09/2025
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The fourth satellite for the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission, Sentinel-1D, has arrived at Félix Eboué airport, the main airport in French Guiana. From there the spacecraft, safely stored in its protective casing, will be transported to launch preparation facilities at the European Spaceport in Kourou.

This is the start of a launch campaign that will lead up to the launch date, still to be announced. The satellite will reach its orbit on board an Ariane 6.

Meanwhile, the Sentinel-1 mission will continue to deliver a supply of radar images of Earth’s surface, performing in all weathers, day-and-night. It makes a key contribution to Europe’s Copernicus programme by supporting a broad range of applications that help manage our environment, understand and tackle the effects of climate change and safeguard everyday lives.

Sentinel-1 interferogram of Myanmar earthquake

The Sentinel-1 mission has contributed data to scientific studies on a wide range of topics, including these recent examples:

Sentinel-1D will continue this work and will now undergo a series of launch preparation activities to ensure it is ready for liftoff.

Ramón Torres, Sentinel-1 Satellite Mission Director at ESA, commented, “This time we are launching the fourth Sentinel-1 satellite, and last of the first generation, on an Ariane 6, which will be an important moment for the whole of our space community. To see this mission, the first of the Copernicus programme family and a cornerstone of the Earth observation component of Europe’s space programme, be lifted into orbit on Europe’s newest heavy lift rocket, feels quite momentous. I would like to thank and congratulate all Sentinel-1 team members and our partners who have worked so diligently to make this milestone a huge success.”

Copernicus Sentinel-1D arrives in French Guiana

Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA, added, “It is really a credit to the strong partnership between ESA and the European Commission that we are now preparing to launch another satellite for the Copernicus programme. Sentinel-1 has provided vital radar data that has been used in emergency responses, in scientific studies and in climate observation – a range of use-cases that highlights just how invaluable Copernicus is to our society.”The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites flying in the same orbit but 180° apart, to optimise global coverage and data delivery for Copernicus.Sentinel-1A was the first satellite in the series, launched in April 2014, followed by the launch of Sentinel-1B in 2016. The Sentinel-1B mission came to an end in August 2022 after experiencing a technical fault that rendered it unable to acquire data. The satellite has been successfully de-orbited and will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere within 25 years. Sentinel-1C was launched in December 2024 to take over the role of Sentinel-1B.

Sentinel-1D will launch later this year.

Radar vision for Copernicus

How do radar satellites work?

Sentinel-1D has a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument on board, which allows it to capture high-resolution imagery of Earth’s surface. This powerful radar system operates in several modes, including wide swath and high-resolution, providing detailed data on land subsidence, ice movements and ocean conditions.And like the Sentinel-1C satellite that was launched last year, Sentinel-1D will also carry an Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is a new instrument designed to augment the SAR payload data for maritime ship traffic monitoring applications.

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Science & Exploration

11/09/2025
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The European Space Agency’s Plato spacecraft has safely arrived at ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart in the Netherlands. There, engineers will complete the spacecraft by connecting its solar panels and sunshield, and carry out a series of critical tests to confirm that Plato is fit for launch and ready for its planet-hunting mission in space.

The two main parts of the Plato spacecraft were recently joined together at OHB’s cleanroom in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. On 1 September, Plato arrived in the Netherlands by boat from Germany via the Rhine River. The vessel transporting it moored a few km away from ESTEC.From there, Plato was driven to ESA’s centre by special transport, carefully unloaded, and then moved to a cleanroom.[Text continues below slider]

What’s next for Plato

Plato unloaded at ESTEC

In the coming weeks, engineers will mount the remaining essential part of the spacecraft: the combined sunshield and solar arrays module.With the spacecraft complete, testing will begin. To determine that it can be safely launched, Plato will undergo intense shaking and sound ‘bombardments’ during vibration and acoustic tests.After these, the spacecraft will be placed into the Large Space Simulator – Europe’s largest vacuum chamber – to verify that it can withstand the extreme temperatures and emptiness of space and work well.

Plato is scheduled to launch on an Ariane 6 rocket in December 2026 on its quest to search for Earth-like planets orbiting stars similar to our Sun.For this, the spacecraft is equipped with 26 ultrasensitive cameras designed to capture the tiniest variations in the intensity of a star’s light. When planets pass in front of their host stars, they dim the starlight we receive. By capturing and analysing this dimming effect, Plato can spot new exoplanets.

The mission’s focus is to discover planets that circle Sun-like stars in the habitable zone – the ‘goldilocks’ region, where the temperature is just right for liquid water to exist on a planet’s surface. These planets take several months to complete an orbit because of their location: not too close, not too far from their star. To capture them, Plato’s 26 eyes will stare at the same region of the sky continuously for a minimum of two years.This will also enable Plato to study ‘starquakes’, encoded in subtle changes of a star’s brightness and provide scientists with unique insights into the interiors and ages of stars.

Like other groundbreaking missions such as Webb and Euclid, Plato will peer into space vastness from an orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2 (L2), 1.5 million kilometres away.From this vantage point, the mission will inspect more than 200 000 stars over its nominal lifetime and reveal whether the environment we enjoy on Earth can exist also elsewhere in our galaxy.

Plato safely arrived at ESTEC

About PlatoESA’s Plato (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) will use 26 cameras to study terrestrial exoplanets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars.  Plato’s scientific instrumentation, consisting of the cameras and electronic units, is provided through a collaboration between ESA and the Plato Mission Consortium. This Consortium is composed of various European research centres, institutes and industries, led by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The spacecraft is being built and assembled by the industrial Plato Core Team led by OHB together with Thales Alenia Space and Beyond Gravity. Find out more about PlatoFind out more about Ariane 6
Contact:ESA Media Relationsmedia@esa.int

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