Recording captured the chilling sound of the Titan submersible's final moment
The federal government released a chilling audio recording of the doomed Titan submersible as it imploded in the North Atlantic Ocean, killing five people, nearly two years ago, officials said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recording was made by a passive acoustic recorder about 900 miles from where the OceanGate vessel met its end.
NASA says yes, an asteroid buzzing by in 2032 could hit Earth
An asteroid that measures up to 300 feet across could smack into Earth in 2032, and while NASA says the chances of a collision are “extremely low,” the probability has been increasing since the space rock was discovered weeks ago. NASA said last week that there is currently a 2.3% (or 1 in 43) chance that the asteroid, dubbed 2024 YR4, will hit Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. While still tiny, that probability nearly doubled from the agency’s initial estimate of 1.2% in late January.
Chinese fossil of a Jurassic bird rewrites history of avian evolution
The fossil of a Jurassic bird unearthed in southeastern China has major implications for the history of avian evolution, researchers say. The newly discovered Baminornis zhenghensis, a quail-sized bird, roamed the skies some 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, meaning it is among the oldest birds known to mankind, along with the iconic Archaeopteryx that was discovered in Germany in 1862 and is of similar age.
NASA, SpaceX reveal new date to return stranded Starliner crew back to Earth
The two NASA astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station for more than seven months are scheduled to finally return home in March, sooner than expected. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stranded on the space station since they left Earth on June 5, 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which experienced helium leaks and propulsion system issues. Wilmore and Williams became aware of the issues once they docked at the space station. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to launch on March 12 to head to the space station, then return home with Wilmore and Williams after a handover period of several days, NASA said. The sped-up timeline comes after the agency said in December that late March would be the earliest launch date.
Elon Musk-led group proposes buying OpenAI for $97.4 billion. OpenAI CEO says ‘no thank you’
A group of investors led by Elon Musk is offering about $97.4 billion to buy the nonprofit behind OpenAI, escalating a dispute with the artificial intelligence company that Musk helped found a decade ago. Musk and his own AI startup, xAI, and a consortium of investment firms want to take control of the ChatGPT maker and revert it to its original charitable mission as a nonprofit research lab, according to Musk’s attorney Marc Toberoff.
Judge blocks Trump administration from cutting research funding after 22 states sue
A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration's radical changes to how the National Institutes of Health pays for biomedical research, putting on hold a plan to slash research funding paid out by the federal government. Twenty-two state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday against the plan, which would limit how it pays out universities and research institutes for “indirect costs.”
Top translation apps for travelers
Traveling abroad can be an incredible adventure, but the language barrier can make even the most intrepid explorer nervous. The fear of being unable to communicate or understand signs and menus keeps many would-be travelers from ever leaving their home country. But fear not. With the rise of powerful translation apps, you can harness the latest technology right on your smartphone to bridge the language gap wherever your journey takes you. I've tested out the top contenders to bring you my picks for the best translation apps for global travelers. Whether you have an iPhone or an Android, these apps have got you covered with features like live speech translation, text input and even AI-powered sign and menu translation.
California small plane crashes upside down, 2 occupants survive and refuse medical treatment
Two people walked away from a small plane crash in south central California after the aircraft landed upside down. First responders were called to the scene Sunday morning on the south side of East Lerdo Highway in Shafter, California, near the Minton Field Airport, the Kern County Fire Department said on Facebook. The plane was located upside down "in the middle of a vegetable field with no smoke or fire visible," the department said.
NASA says Boeing-built SLS moon rocket is ‘essential’ as company warns of layoffs
On the heels of the revelation that Boeing is planning to lay off as many as 400 workers from its Space Launch System program, NASA has called the SLS megarocket “essential” to its Artemis moon landing program — sowing confusion about what, exactly, may change for both the launch vehicle and Artemis in the days and weeks ahead. The statement from NASA comes amid widespread speculation that SLS — which made its debut flight test in 2022 — may be on the chopping block.
Never lose cell service again with this space-age satellite tech
Imagine never being without a cell signal again, anywhere, any time on the planet. That's exactly what AST SpaceMobile is working to achieve. Founded in the heart of Texas in 2017, this innovative company is developing the world's first global cellular broadband network that can connect directly to your everyday smartphone, no special equipment required. Its mission? To ensure that no matter where you are around the globe – from remote mountain ranges to isolated islands – you'll never be out of touch again.