Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
A long-term study reveals that adhering to a nutritious diet in midlife significantly enhances the likelihood of aging without chronic diseases. The research found that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, unsaturated fats, and low-fat dairy, while minimising sodium, sugary drinks, trans fats, red meat, and processed meats, are linked to healthier ageing. Each of these diets emphasises high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, and legumes, and some also include low to moderate intake of healthy animal-based foods such as fish and certain dairy products. Higher intake of ultra-processed foods, especially processed meat and sugary and diet beverages, was associated with lower chances of healthy ageing.
When you can see the stars above, the city lights below, and the atmospheric glow blanketing Earth's horizon.
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) April 12, 2025
Pic 1) Midwest United States
Pic 2) India
Pic 3) Southeast Asia
Pic 4) Canada pic.twitter.com/nRa56Ov3cm
(Credit: X/@Space_Station)
The ISS, which orbits Earth at an altitude of 370-460 kilometres, regularly captures and shares such imagery. NASA recently shared a series of Earth images on X, captured from the International Space Station (ISS), including a stunning photo of India glowing under a layer of stars. The image captures the subcontinent aglow with a dense network of city lights, shimmering beneath a starlit sky. Another fairly recent picture of India that garnered attention was shared by Nasa astronaut Donald Pettit of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, also captured from the International Space Station (ISS).
Recently, ISRO chief Dr V Narayanan shared the initial planning regarding ambitious Mangalyaan-2. Launched aboard the LVM3 rocket, the 4,500 kg spacecraft will initially be placed in an Earth orbit of 190 x 35,786 km. From there, a composite module consisting of a Cruise Stage and a Descent Stage will set off on its months-long journey to the Red Planet. Once Mangalyaan-2 enters Martian proximity, the Descent Stage will detach from the Cruise Stage and make a direct entry into Mars’ atmosphere, a bold move that skips the need for orbiting before landing. Slowing down during this high-speed descent will be managed through a process called aerobraking, which uses the Martian atmosphere to reduce velocity.
A new study led by researchers at Florida State University somewhat shockingly suggests that unmarried people are less likely to develop dementia. The researchers also found that divorced or never-married people were less likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and that people who became widowed during the study had a lower risk of dementia. This study challenges the idea that marriage is automatically good for brain health. Instead, it suggests the effect of relationships on dementia is far more complex. What matters might not be your relationship status but how supported, connected and fulfilled you feel.
