Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first human spaceflight programme, is now set to launch its maiden crewed mission in the first quarter of 2027. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has confirmed that Gaganyaan has entered its final phase. The mission’s updated timeline follows the successful completion of key test milestones, including the TV-D1 abort test and the first uncrewed Test Vehicle mission earlier this year. The next steps include a second Test Vehicle mission (TV-D2) later in 2025 and two uncrewed orbital flights in 2026. While astronaut training is progressing steadily, Gaganyaan aims to send Indian astronauts into low-Earth orbit, about 400 km above the Earth, for several days before safely returning them.
In a new study, researchers have posited that acoustic sound waves can alter cellular behaviour, which, in turn, can be used to stop fat development in the body. Analysing the results, scientists found that the sound waves stopped adipocyte differentiation, the process where preadipocytes (precursor cells) turn into mature fat cells that store fat. Those that did mature, contained about 15 per cent less fat than normal. Currently, acoustic wave therapy is being used to treat conditions like chronic pain and soft-tissue injuries by boosting circulation and reducing inflammation.
A new study uncovers the precise mechanism by which LINE-1, sneaky DNA element that invades the nucleus of dividing cells to replicate itself. LINE-1 is a special bit of genetic code that can copy and move itself to new parts of our DNA. Normally, the nucleus is tightly closed off, but it briefly opens when a cell divides. LINE-1 uses this moment to slip in. It sends in a piece of RNA and a protein called ORF1p, which then stick to the DNA. The protein and RNA form clumps called condensates that attach to certain parts of the DNA. This allows LINE-1 to hide from the cell’s defenses and successfully make more copies of itself. These LINE-1 sequences have played a role in human evolution, they can also cause serious problems including brain disorders, and even aging.
NASA has revealed that the global sea level rise in 2024 was higher than expected, with a 0.59 cm (0.23 in) increase, surpassing the predicted 0.43 cm (0.17 in). This unexpected rise is attributed to the thermal expansion of seawater, accounting for two-thirds of the increase, rather than melting glaciers. In recent years, about two-thirds of the sea level rise was from the addition of water from land into the ocean by melting ice sheets and glaciers. About a third came from thermal expansion of seawater. But in 2024, those contributions flipped, with two-thirds of sea level rise coming from thermal expansion. This rapid change is also leading to marine heatwaves, devastating fisheries, and diminishing freshwater supplies. Experts emphasise that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to mitigating these impacts.
