On January 28, 2025, XB-1, an experimental aircraft built by US company Boom Supersonic, became the first privately built jet to fly faster than the speed of sound. To prove this was not a fluke, test pilot Tristan Brandenburg flew around for two more supersonic runs over California’s Mojave Desert before returning to land....
Read news articleOcean shipping moves about 90 percent of global trade, from oranges to televisions. But the industry also produces over 3 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions. If nothing changes, its carbon footprint could reach 10 percent by 2050. UK-based startup Seabound aims to tackle this with a device that can capture up to 95 percent of a ship’s emissions....
Read news articleCalifornia's Yosemite National Park is known for its ancient giant sequoia trees and massive rock formations. These include El Capitan and Half Dome. However, from mid-to-late February, the park's main draw is the Horsetail Fall. Under the right conditions, this winter waterfall, takes on a fiery orange glow. This makes it look like lava flowing down El Capitan, giving it the name "firefall."...
Read news articleOn February 9, 2025, over 200 million Americans will tune in to see defending champions Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League's (NFL) championship game. With the Chiefs aiming for a historic third consecutive title, Super Bowl LIX promises to be thrilling. But Super Bowl Sunday is about more than football....
Read news articleSwedish artist Mikael Genberg has been hoping to put a toy red house on the Moon for 25 years. His dream moved a step closer to reality on January 15, 2025. On that day, his "Moonhouse" set off for the Moon aboard a SpaceX rocket with the Resilience lunar lander built by the Japanese company ispace....
Read news articleEvery year on February 2, thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for one of the most unique US traditions — Groundhog Day. At the heart of the event is Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather-predicting groundhog. According to custom, if Phil sees his shadow, winter will last six more weeks. If he does not, spring will arrive early....
Read news articleMount Everest, Earth's highest peak, is growing faster than expected. Recent GPS measurements indicate it is adding up to 2 millimeters annually. This is nearly twice the previously estimated rate. This growth is mainly due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates over the past 50 million years. However, a new study by the China University of Geosciences suggests that a river capture event may also be helping the growth of the 29,032-foot (8,849-meter) mountain....
Read news articleGiant pandas are back at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, after 15 months! Three-year-olds Bao Li and Qing Bao made their debut to an excited crowd on January 24, 2025. The cubs arrived from China on October 15, 2024. But they had to complete a three-month quarantine before being introduced to the public....
Read news articleOn January 29, 2025, over two billion people worldwide will celebrate the Lunar New Year. Also known as the Chinese New Year, the ancient festival lasts two weeks and is China's biggest holiday. Most businesses are closed for at least seven days. This allows millions of city dwellers to visit family and friends. The festival travel rush is known as Chunyun. It is the world's largest seasonal human migration....
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