Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
A new MRI scan has now revealed the possibility of pinpointing the accurate age of the heart and scientists have noted it's not the same as our age. Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have unveiled a new way of uncovering the ‘true age’ of your heart using MRI, offering a lifeline to millions by catching problems before they become deadly. The team discovered that in healthy people the heart age was similar to chronological age. But for patients with things like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and atrial fibrillation – their functional heart age was significantly higher.
Over the weekend and into May 5, 2025, Earth was hit by unusually fast solar winds, with speeds exceeding 700 kilometers per second, triggering minor G1-class geomagnetic storms and dazzling auroral displays across high-latitude regions. This surge in solar wind is linked to a giant coronal hole on the Sun, an area where the solar magnetic field opens up and allows high-speed streams of charged particles to escape into space and reach Earth. While no major coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have been directed at Earth recently, the ongoing high-speed solar wind continues to compress Earth’s magnetosphere, increasing the chance of further geomagnetic activity.
As Europe accelerates its shift to solar energy to meet ambitious climate and energy security goals, a formidable new challenge is emerging from the skies: Saharan dust. A new research findings reveal that the Sahara releases billions of tonnes of fine dust into the atmosphere annually, with tens of millions of tonnes reaching Europe. Once aloft, these particles scatter and absorb sunlight, diminish surface irradiance, and even encourage cloud formation-all of which degrade the performance of solar panels. Beyond the atmospheric effects, Saharan dust also poses long-term risks to solar infrastructure. Dust contamination and erosion can further reduce panel efficiency and drive up maintenance costs, threatening the economic viability of large-scale solar projects.
A killer fungus could spread through parts of Europe, Asia and the Americas, causing serious lung problems for vulnerable people due to rising temperatures, a new study has warned. Aspergillus, a type of fungus that thrives in warm, damp climates, has the potential to infect millions if it makes its way into the aforementioned regions. The researchers have warned that the world was approaching a "tipping point" where the spread of fungal pathogens could become the norm. As per the study, the species can grow quickly in high temperatures in compost, which explains why it is able to thrive in the 37C internal temperature of the human body. Additionally, fungi's resilience means they can survive and thrive in places that other organisms can't, even inside Chernobyl's nuclear reactors.
