Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
. @Hubble_space and @ESAGaia join forces to revisit the fate of our galaxy.
— ESA Science (@esascience) June 2, 2025
Doubt is cast on the long-held prediction that the Milky Way galaxy will collide with the Andromeda galaxy in about 4.5 billion years.
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Astronomers have long believed that the Milky Way galaxy may collide head-on with its largest neighbour, the Andromeda galaxy, in about 4.5 billion years. But a new study shows the cosmic clash, named Milkomeda, might not happen. The new data, obtained using the Hubble and Gaia space telescopes, indicates the likelihood of the Milky Way and Andromeda colliding within the next 4 to 5 billion years is only 2 per cent. Earlier, scientists believed the collision may destroy both galaxies, merging them into an elongated one. The reason was that the two galaxies were moving toward each other at 2,24,000 miles per hour. They expected it to be similar to other galaxy collisions where a merger would create cosmic fireworks. A few billion years after the merger, the two original galaxies will no longer look like they used to; instead, they will turn into one spiral-shaped galaxy called an elliptical galaxy.
A recent study reveals that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere, vital for complex life, is expected to last approximately one billion more years. Increasing solar radiation will reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, impairing photosynthesis and leading to a sharp decline in oxygen levels. One of the corollaries of such a theoretical framework is a continuous decline in atmospheric CO2 levels and global warming on geological timescales. Indeed, it is generally thought that Earth's biosphere will come to an end in the next 2 billion years due to the combination of overheating and CO2 scarcity for photosynthesis. If true, one can expect that atmospheric O2 levels will also eventually decrease in the distant future.
Glitter is festive and fun – but those shimmering specks often end up far from party tables and greeting cards. You can even spot them glinting on beaches, washed in with the tide. A glitter – specifically, the kind made from a common plastic polymer called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – is not merely polluting the ocean. It could actively interfere with marine life as it forms shells and skeletons, which is a much bigger deal than it might sound. Put simply: glitter helps the formation of crystals thet can break the glitter into even smaller pieces, making the pollution problem worse and more long-lasting. It actively interacts with its surroundings; it's not drifting passively.
A group of humans that settled in Colombia 6,000 years ago vanished without a trace 4,000 years later. Scientists have not found any of their ancestors with their DNA, nor are there any descendants. Who were they? Where did they go? Researchers say that this group started off as hunter-gatherers in the Bogotá Altiplano, which is now Colombia. They developed and became an agricultural society. What's surprising is that none of the modern humans share their genes either. Scientists have theorised that their genes are likely diluted, assuming they mingled with the local population for several years. Researchers were able to establish a linguistic connection between the the mysterious people and those who speak the Chibchan languages, with certain shared genetic and cultural aspects. However, they failed to find a direct link with anyone.
