Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗗𝗲𝗫 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲:
— ISRO InSight (@ISROSight) January 16, 2025
Following the docking, ISRO has successfully managed both satellites as a combined unit.
In the upcoming days, ISRO will proceed with undocking and power transfer evaluations.#SPADEX #ISRO pic.twitter.com/tMmCcF5opG
(Credit-X/@ISROSight)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully completed the docking process of the SpaDeX satellites. The historic moment came just days after the space agency, on January 12, brought the two spacecraft to three metres and then placed them back at a safe distance in its trial attempt to dock the satellites. The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission was successfully launched on December 30, 2024. Notably, India became the fourth country to achieve this successful space docking after the United States, Russia, and China.The docking experiment also opens the path for Chandrayaan-4 mission and the development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).
📽️Sit down, relax and enjoy #BepiColombo’s views as it moved gracefully around Mercury on 7-8 January 2025.
— BepiColombo (@BepiColombo) January 14, 2025
🎼🎶Playing in the background is The Hebrides overture by Felix Mendelssohn - can you guess why? pic.twitter.com/n1AdovlW2s
(Credit - X/@BepiColombo)
The BepiColombo spacecraft, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), during its sixth and final flyby of Mercury captured stunning images of the planet's terrain. The spacecraft's onboard monitoring cameras, M-CAM 1 and M-CAM 2, recorded breathtaking visuals as BepiColombo approached and passed over the planet's north pole. The footage reveal intricate details of Mercury's surface, including the Prokofiev crater, where long shadows accentuate its central peak. The spacecraft's close-up views provide valuable insights into the planet's geology and composition, shedding light on its formation and evolution.
According to a recent study published in Neuroscience of Consciousness, Surveillance technology or pervasive monitoring not only alters our behavior but also impacts how our brains process information, often without our conscious awareness. The study found that awareness of being watched heightened participants' awareness of faces, particularly those looking directly at them. This heightened awareness is linked to an ancient survival mechanism that allows humans to detect gaze and interpret social cues. However, the implications of this hyper-awareness could be immense, especially for individuals with mental health conditions such as social anxiety disorder and psychosis, where feelings of being scrutinized can exacerbate anxiety and paranoia.
UK-based pet cloning clinic Gemini Genetics is offering pet owners a second chance to cuddle up with a genetic copy of their furry friends using DNA to create identical replicas. The cloning company uses a deceased pet's DNA to make a genetically identical replica in their facility. After the pet dies, it must be taken within five days. The company has a cloned cocker spaniel roaming around called Gem, who started life as a mere piece of another dog's ear tissue. Amidst hope, there has been much discussion about the potential of the technique and its ethical ramifications.
