Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is opening the Chandrayaan-3 data to the public. The Indian space agency is inviting scientists, researchers, and academic institutions across India to participate in decoding the valuable data generated by the Chandrayaan-3 mission. ISRO has made the data from Chandrayaan-3’s lander and rover publicly accessible via the PRADAN portal of the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC). Proposals should be scientifically innovative, clearly describing the methodology, objectives, and expected deliverables related to Chandrayaan-3 data analysis. While proposals must highlight the use of Chandrayaan-3 payload data, integration with Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 data or international lunar data is encouraged to strengthen findings.
Red auroras of this size and vibrancy are rare, occurring 2-3 times during a six month mission to the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/5zdXOk5gMs
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) August 30, 2025
(Credit: X/@astro_Pettit)
NASA astronaut has shared a breathtaking video of rare red aurora glowing above the Earth. Aurora is a natural phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. They are known as the northern lights (Aurora Borealis) or southern lights (Aurora Australis). Aurora is formed after the interaction of charged particles (electrons and protons) emitted by the sun with Earth's magnetic field, which directs these particles towards the poles. The particles then collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, exciting them and causing them to emit light.
A new study has uncovered how unique changes in the development of the human pelvis made bipedalism possible. The pelvis in humans is short, wide, and bowl-shaped, unlike the longer, narrower pelvis seen in apes. This structure not only stabilises the body during upright walking but also supports vital organs and allows women to give birth to babies. First, in humans, the cartilage growth plate of the ilium is positioned at a different angle than in other primates. Second, the process of bone formation, known as ossification, occurs later in humans, begins in a different location, and involves unique contributions from supportive cells not typically seen in primate pelvises or in other human bones. These developmental innovations are driven by changes in a network of genes that regulate bone and cartilage growth, including SOX9, ZNF521, PTH1R, RUNX2, and FOXP1/2, which are responsible for growth and regulation of cartiledge. Together, these genetic pathways interact in ways that allowed the human pelvis to grow differently from that of other primates.
Alzheimer’s may start with a failing sense of smell as the brain’s immune system mistakenly attacks scent-related nerve fibers. Studies in humans and mice show this process begins early, opening the door to earlier diagnosis and treatment. The researchers come to the conclusion that these olfactory dysfunctions arise because immune cells of the brain called "microglia" remove connections between two brain regions, namely the olfactory bulb and the locus coeruleus. These findings could pave the way for the early identification of patients at risk of developing Alzheimer's, enabling them to undergo comprehensive testing to confirm the diagnosis before cognitive problems arise.
