Published By: Soham Halder

Science & Space Roundup: Top News of the Day (Dec 9)

Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.

Defying Gravity: Sunita Williams Shows Students the Art of Drinking in Space

(Credit - X/@AP)

Sunita Williams recently hosted a highly engaging virtual session with students from the Sunita Williams Elementary School in her hometown of Needham, Massachusetts. The event, which sparked excitement among young viewers, provided an intriguing look into life aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the unique challenges astronauts face in space. Williams explained how special pouches, designed to prevent liquids from floating away in zero gravity, are used to drink in space. Her demonstration of this creative solution highlighted the uniqueness of daily life on the ISS. The virtual event allowed students to ask Williams questions directly, offering them a rare opportunity to engage with an astronaut. Through her explanations and demonstrations, Williams ignited the curiosity of her audience, encouraging them to explore the wonders of space.

Unlocking the Universe: Hubble Takes Us Closer to a Quasar Than Ever Before

(Credit - X/@HUBBLE_space)

A group of international astronomers have used the unique capabilities of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to observe closer than ever into the throat of an energetic monster black hole powering a quasar. Meanwhile, a quasar is a galactic center that glows brightly as the black hole consumes material in its immediate surroundings. At least 1 million quasars are scattered across the sky. The quasar in the new study, 3C 273, was identified in 1963 by astronomer Maarten Schmidt as the first quasar. At a distance of 2.5 billion light-years it was too far away for a star. It has a luminosity over 10 times brighter than the brightest giant elliptical galaxies.

Astronomical Beauty: Hubble Discovers a Spiral in the Celestial Flow

(Credit - X/@HUBBLE_space)

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured an astonishing image of spiral galaxy NGC 1637. This galaxy holds evidence of star formation scattered throughout its disk. When observed closely, the galaxy’s spiral arms have pockets of pink clouds, many with bright blue stars. The pinkish color comes from hydrogen atoms excited by ultraviolet light from young, massive stars forming within the clouds. This contrasts with the warm yellow glow of the galaxy’s center, which is home to a densely packed collection of older, redder stars. In 1999, NGC 1637 played host to a supernova named SN 1999EM, lauded as the brightest supernova seen that year.

SpaceX Triumphs: Solving the Heat Shield Puzzle NASA Can't Crack

(Credit - X/@MarcusHouse)

NASA's Artemis-II mission, which aims to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time since the Apollo program, has been delayed from September 2025 to April 2026 due to the Orion spacecraft's heat shield issues. As heat shield is designed to protect the spacecraft from extreme temperatures exceeding 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit during re-entry to Earth's atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 mph, the engineers discovered that more charred material than predicted. This unexpected loss raised concerns about the heat shield's durability and safety for future crewed missions. SpaceX has made significant enhancements to the heat shield technology utilising a unique ceramic tile system designed for high-temperature resistance and durability. SpaceX’s tiles are engineered to withstand extreme thermal loads without significant degradation. This innovation allows for multiple re-entries without requirment of extensive repairs or replacements.