International
Learn about seven important NASA discoveries
October 15 |
As part of the commemoration of the discovery of the exoplanet Kepler 452-b, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States (U.S.), this Sunday is worth knowing seven important discoveries of this U.S. agency in recent years.
The cosmic body identified by the Kepler telescope, to which it owes its name, was confirmed by NASA on July 23, 2015.
Kepler-452b is an exoplanet, a planet revolving around a star other than the Sun, which in this case is a G2-type yellow dwarf, which is known as Kepler-452.
The agency responsible for the civil space program, as well as for aeronautical and aerospace research, since its foundation in 1958 has developed space exploration and science projects, which have led to relevant discoveries in several aspects.
1) The study of twins
In April 2019 NASA published the controversial results of an investigation known as the Twins Study.
A set of ten teams of researchers from the United States (U.S.) set out to observe the changes that might occur to a human being when exposed to the risk of traveling into space for a year.
The scientists compared a wide range of samples and measurements from identical twin brothers, retired astronauts Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly. Scott was sent into space, while Mark remained on Earth.
One of the results revealed the lengthening of the space-bound twin’s telomeres, special features at the ends of each strand of DNA that generally shorten with age, which demonstrated how a human body can adapt to a variety of changes generated by the environment of outer space flight.
2) Observing the Earth from space
There are a wide variety of scientific studies based on images that NASA crew members take using Crew Earth Observations (CEO).
NASA’s orbiting space station carries its crew and cameras over different points on Earth at different times and the station revisits the sites at varying intervals, allowing images of many areas to be collected at different times of the day and night.
In this way experts discovered that artificial lighting at night affects the behavior of urban wildlife, according to a study of light levels in the city of Chicago that was based on images taken by astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS).
3) A revealing microscope
A miniaturized fluorescence microscope made it possible to observe changes in living cells in microgravity.
This microscope enables real-time analysis of cell behavior during long-duration spaceflight. Its rapid imaging capability allows monitoring of cellular and molecular reactions that can happen more rapidly in altered gravity environments.
The implementation of real-time analysis methods on the station furthers the understanding of how cells in the human body react and adapt to the space environment.
4) The universe in better resolution
NASA’s Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (Nicer) facilitates measurements with excellent precision of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of black hole collapse.
In early 2018 JAXA’s All-Sky X-ray Imaging Monitor (MAXI) captured a new transient X-ray source in the sky designated MAXI J1820 + 070.
Nicer began monitoring the source and discovered that it was a binary black hole system with a mass much larger than that of the Sun. In addition, recorded measurements have revealed how the inner edge of a black hole’s accretion disk (and the corona above it) vary in size and shape as a black hole consumes material from a companion star.
5) Spaceflight decreases crew performance on Earth.
Astronauts’ bodies adapt to microgravity while in space. When crew members return to Earth, they show significant decreases in manual dexterity, multitasking, motion perception, and the ability to operate a vehicle.
NASA researchers confirmed that the post-flight performance decline was related to spaceflight factors and not to other factors such as lack of practice or sleep.
6) Cement in space
Another discovery confirmed by NASA suggests the possibility of building places to live on the Moon or Mars.
It is a research called Microgravity Investigation of Cement Solidification (MICS), which reveals that samples processed in space show considerable changes in the microstructure of cement compared to those processed on Earth, such as increased porosity, or the presence of more open spaces.
Showing that cement can harden in space is of great importance for future lunar constructions.
7) Keep it clean
New materials are needed to slow the growth and spread of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and silver coatings, according to research called Biorisk-KM-Metally, conducted by the Russian space agency (Roscosmos) and confirmed by NASA.
The researchers conducted tests on an antimicrobial coating called AGXX® and compared it with silver and stainless steel coatings. For the study, crew members placed 12 plates on the space station’s toilet door, with one plate coated in each tested material to be collected at six, 12 and 19 months.
In all time lapses, the experts found that the AGXX® coating had significantly fewer bacteria than surfaces coated with silver and stainless steel. These data are useful for the development of ideal technologies to reduce the risk of biological damage to space hardware and equipment.
International
Three Killed, Four Injured in Shooting Near Seattle’s Space Needle
Three people were killed and at least four others, including a young child, were injured in a shooting near Seattle’s iconic Space Needle on Sunday, authorities said.
The shooting occurred during the annual Bite of Seattle food festival, held in one of the city’s busiest tourist areas. Police have arrested one suspect and are searching for a second individual believed to be involved.
Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 6:00 p.m. local time (0100 GMT Monday).
“Two individuals were shooting at each other,” Davis said, adding that investigators recovered two firearms at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that three people died as a result of the shooting. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said members of the State Patrol’s SWAT team had been deployed to assist Seattle police with the investigation.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson described the incident as a “horrific act of violence.”
“Our focus is on those who lost their lives, those fighting to recover, and the families standing beside them,” Wilson said in a statement.
Susan Gregg, a spokesperson for Harborview Medical Center, said the hospital admitted four victims: a young child, a 23-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and another woman whose age was not immediately known and who required emergency surgery.
According to police, the hospitalized victims are in stable condition.
Witnesses told local television station KIRO that they heard multiple gunshots before crowds fled the festival area.
“At first I thought it was fireworks, and then everyone started running,” witness Nick Bate told the station.
Another witness told AFP that panic spread immediately after the shooting.
“We just started running. I didn’t even look to see where the shooter was. I just kept hearing the gunfire,” the witness said.
International
China Accuses U.S. AI Firms of Using Chinese Models to Train Artificial Intelligence
China on Monday accused U.S. artificial intelligence companies of using Chinese AI models to train their own systems, escalating tensions in the technological rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it has evidence that “many U.S. artificial intelligence companies have distilled Chinese models during their research, development and training processes.”
Model distillation is a machine learning technique that transfers knowledge from a larger, more advanced model to a smaller and faster one, allowing it to perform efficiently while requiring fewer computing resources. The approach is widely used across the AI industry.
U.S. officials have previously argued that Chinese firms employ distillation on a large scale to unlawfully replicate proprietary American AI systems. Beijing dismissed those allegations, calling them unfounded.
According to the Chinese ministry, Washington’s accusations “lack both factual and legal basis, apply double standards in practice, and represent a typical act of AI hegemony.”
“China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the ministry added.
The statement comes days after a senior White House official accused Chinese startup Moonshot AI of secretly copying Anthropic’s most advanced AI model to develop its Kimi K3 system.
Moonshot’s latest model drew significant attention across the U.S. technology sector following its release, reigniting debate over China’s growing competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
Last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington could impose sanctions on China as the administration considers restricting or banning foreign-developed open-source AI models, many of which are built using model distillation techniques.
International
Costa Rica Seeks to Expand Extradition Law to Target Organized Crime
Costa Rican President Laura Fernández announced that her administration will submit a constitutional reform bill to Congress on August 3 aimed at expanding the legal grounds for extraditing Costa Rican nationals accused of serious crimes.
Under current legislation, Costa Rican citizens can only be extradited to face prosecution abroad for international drug trafficking and terrorism. The proposed reform would broaden that list to include a wider range of organized crime offenses.
Speaking before the Legislative Assembly while presenting a broader package of public security initiatives, Fernández said the proposal seeks to strengthen the country’s fight against transnational criminal organizations.
“We are going to expand the grounds for extradition to include serious crimes,” the president said.
The initiative would allow the extradition of Costa Rican nationals accused of financing drug trafficking or terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, arms and organ trafficking, contract killings, organized crime-related homicides, cybercrime and cyberterrorism.
“We will not stop in our national crusade against organized crime or in our relentless war against drug trafficking,” Fernández said.
A political ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, Fernández took office in May after campaigning on a promise to adopt a tougher stance against organized crime, which she has linked to the recent rise in violence in Costa Rica, a country long regarded as one of the safest in Latin America.
Costa Rica currently permits the extradition of its own citizens only for international drug trafficking and terrorism, following a 2025 constitutional amendment promoted by former President Rodrigo Chaves, who now serves as the country’s Minister of the Presidency and Finance.
Three Killed, Four Injured in Shooting Near Seattle’s Space Needle
China Accuses U.S. AI Firms of Using Chinese Models to Train Artificial Intelligence
Costa Rica Seeks to Expand Extradition Law to Target Organized Crime
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America4 days agoCDC Issues Level 2 Travel Alert for Costa Rica Amid Chikungunya Outbreak
-
International3 days agoWildfires in France Burn Nearly Three Times More Land Than in 2025, Interior Minister Says
-
Central America4 days agoHonduras Warns of Possible New Dengue Epidemic as Cases Continue to Rise
-
International3 days agoIsrael Says Saudi Recognition Would Mark ‘Historic Breakthrough’ for Middle East Peace
-
Central America21 hours agoEU Urges Nicaragua to Hold Free and Transparent Elections Amid Proposed Electoral Reforms
-
International4 hours agoCosta Rica Seeks to Expand Extradition Law to Target Organized Crime
-
International4 hours agoChina Accuses U.S. AI Firms of Using Chinese Models to Train Artificial Intelligence
-
International3 hours agoThree Killed, Four Injured in Shooting Near Seattle’s Space Needle