International

Learn about seven important NASA discoveries

Photo: NASA

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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Severe winter storm grips U.S., leaves multiple dead as extreme cold persists

Meteorologists are describing the storm as one of the worst winter weather events to hit the United States in decades, as heavy snowfall and widespread ice accumulation triggered potentially “catastrophic” conditions, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The agency warned that similar conditions are expected to persist through Monday morning, with freezing temperatures and icy conditions likely to last for several days.

In Texas, authorities confirmed three deaths, including a 16-year-old girl who died in a sledding accident.

Meanwhile, two people died from hypothermia in Louisiana, according to the state’s Department of Health.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that five people were found dead outdoors over the weekend amid frigid temperatures. Although he did not confirm that the deaths were directly related to the weather, he told reporters: “There is no more powerful reminder of the danger of extreme cold.”

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“The impacts of snow and sleet will persist well into next week, with repeated refreezing keeping surfaces icy and dangerous for both driving and walking,” the NWS said.

International

France debates ban on social media for children under 15

French lawmakers are set to decide this Monday whether to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, a measure aimed at protecting adolescents’ mental health and combating cyberbullying.

The proposed legislation also includes a ban on mobile phone use in high schools, and comes shortly after Australia introduced a similar restriction in December, becoming the first country in the world to prohibit social media for minors under 16.

“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale, nor should they be manipulated by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video published on Saturday.

The centrist president has made the protection of minors from the harmful effects of social media and the regulation of screen time a key priority of his second term, which ends in 2027.

At 4:00 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT), members of the National Assembly are scheduled to debate the bill introduced by Macron’s ruling party, Renaissance. If approved, the proposal will move to the Senate for consideration in mid-February.

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The leader of the ruling party’s lawmakers and former prime minister, Gabriel Attal, expressed confidence that senators would also back the measure, which would take effect on September 1, following the summer holidays.

“France could become a pioneer in Europe within a month. We can change the lives of our young people and their families,” Attal said, adding that the country would gain greater independence from “certain powers” that seek to “colonize minds.”

France’s public health agency Anses has warned that social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, which are deeply embedded in teenagers’ daily lives, can have a detrimental impact on mental health.

The agency highlighted multiple risks, including cyberbullying, constant social comparison, exposure to violent content, and attention-capture mechanisms that negatively affect sleep patterns.

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International

Federal immigration agents kill man in Minneapolis, sparking protests and outrage

Federal immigration agents shot and killed a 37-year-old Minneapolis man during an operation on Saturday, authorities confirmed, sparking new protests and deepening outrage over federal immigration enforcement in the city.

The victim, identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, was a U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse who worked at a Veterans Affairs hospital and was widely respected in his community, according to colleagues and news reports.

Officials said the shooting occurred during a targeted immigration raid in south Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the incident as an act of self-defense by agents who believed the man posed a threat.

However, videos reviewed by multiple outlets and eyewitnesses show Pretti holding a phone and not displaying a weapon before being pepper-sprayed, tackled by agents and then shot multiple times, raising serious questions about the official account.

The killing comes amid a broader federal immigration enforcement operation in the city and follows another controversial shooting in early January in which Renée Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent, leading to widespread protests and criticism of federal tactics.