Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
India’s space program is set for another major milestone with the launch of the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) radar imaging satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit. The launch is scheduled for May 18, 2025, at 6:59 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. EOS-09 is equipped with a state-of-the-art C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), enabling it to capture high-resolution images of Earth’s surface regardless of weather conditions, day or night. This all-weather, round-the-clock imaging is vital for applications ranging from agriculture and forestry monitoring to disaster management, urban planning, and national security.
Stunning new visualization from NASA’s Webb Telescope explores the Cosmic Cliffs, a spectacular ridge of dust clouds, sparkling with a myriad of stars, along the edge of the nebula Gum 31https://t.co/gTruoCFAyx pic.twitter.com/t4kaEFf6Cg
— Daniel Pomarède (@DanielPomarede) May 7, 2025
(Credit: X/@DanielPomarede)
NASA has given a 3D visualisation to one of the first images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope when it opened its eyes in the vacuum of space. The image captured in July 2022, dubbed cosmic cliffs, shows a glittering realm of star birth in the far reaches of the universe. The visualisation, created by NASA’s Universe of Learning and titled “Exploring the Cosmic Cliffs in 3D,” breathes new life into an iconic Webb image. The landscape of “mountains” and “valleys” known as the Cosmic Cliffs is actually a portion of the nebula Gum 31, which contains a young star cluster called NGC 3324.
A new study has shown how sunlight – technically, shortwave radiation – has been interacting with Earth’s surface and atmosphere, which scientists are only beginning to understand. The prospective study shows how decades of research into shortwave radiation is reshaping our understanding of Earth’s systems and could lead to major technological and scientific breakthroughs. Shortwave radiation refers to the energy emitted by the sun in the form of visible light, ultraviolet (UV), and short infrared (IR) wavelengths. It is responsible for heating the Earth's surface. It plays a major role in climate and weather systems.
A recent study has found that humans can strengthen their bond with cats by using a specific facial expression. By narrowing their eyes and blinking slowly, humans can make cats feel more comfortable and receptive. This technique, observed in cat-human interactions, can help build trust between humans and cats, even with unfamiliar felines. This eye narrowing action by humans generates something popularly known as a cat smile - the so-called "slow blink" - and seems to make the human more attractive to the cat. Eye-narrowing movements in cats have some parallels with the genuine smile in humans (the Duchenne smile), as well as eye-narrowing movements given in positive situations in some other species.
