Thursday, February 5, 2026

Scientists Discover Earth-Like Planet HD 137010 B Orbiting Sun-Like Star

In the vast expanse of space, a team of scientists, led by Alexander Venner, has made a groundbreaking discovery. They have detected an Earth-like planet, dubbed HD 137010 b, orbiting a Sun-like star. This celestial --- boasts a size and orbital period eerily similar to those of Earth. The planet's star, located roughly 146 light-years from Earth, shines bright enough for substantial follow-up observations. The researchers' findings, published in a recent study, mark a significant milestone in the search for --- beyond Earth. Venner's team re-examined Kepler data, searching for Earth-like exoplanets within the habitable zone of Sun-like stars. Their diligence paid off, as they uncovered the tell-tale signs of a planetary transit around a Sun-like star. The signal strength of the candidate planet was comparatively shallow, yet detected at a high signal-to-noise ratio. The team's analysis of K2 photometry, imaging observations, and archival radial velocities and astrometry confirmed the event was astrophysical and occurred on-target. This discovery has sparked excitement, as HD 137010 b may lie within its star's habitable zone, adding to its list of Earth-like similarities. For more information on this remarkable find, readers can refer to "The Deb

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NASA scientists have announced the detection of an Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star with a size and orbital period similar to Earth's.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Robotics And Artificial Intelligence

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First seen in USA TODAY:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a company in possession of innovative technology, must be in want of a new market to conquer. Faraday Future, a renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, has taken a bold step in this direction by unveiling its latest creations: a trio of robots designed to revolutionize various aspects of daily ---. Under the umbrella of its new division, FF AI-Robotics Inc., Faraday Future has introduced three distinct robots, each with its unique features and applications. The first, FF Futurist, a full-size humanoid, stands at an impressive 5 feet 6 inches tall and is poised to make a lasting impression in public and commercial spaces. With its ability to greet visitors in over 50 languages, answer basic queries, and route individuals to human employees, FF Futurist is set to become an indispensable asset in business settings. The second humanoid, FF Master, is a smaller, more agile counterpart, measuring 4 feet 3 inches tall. Designed for engagement and entertainment, FF Master is capable of dancing, performing martial-arts-style movements, and holding basic conversations, making it an ideal companion for homes, classrooms, and retail demonstrations. The third category, FF Aegis, comprises two quadruped robot models, resembling futuristic

For more than a decade, Faraday Future has described its electric vehicles as something more than cars — rolling computers packed with sensors, ...
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A Quiet Revolution In Renewable Energy

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Article from Los Angeles Times:

In the sweltering heat of summer, a quiet revolution brews. As electricity prices skyrocket, some U. S. residents are taking matters into their own hands. They are installing DIY solar panels on balconies and in backyards, often without their utility's knowledge or consent. These "plug-in solar" systems, also known as balcony solar, typically consist of two to four solar panels plugged into wall outlets. They generate enough electricity to power essential appliances, potentially saving homeowners and renters hundreds of dollars a year on their utility bills. The nascent market for plug-in solar systems is gaining momentum. Legislation has been introduced in nearly two dozen states to legalize these systems, which could jump-start a new era of affordable renewable energy. Utah has already enacted a law allowing plug-in solar without utility approval, and other states, including New York and California, are considering similar legislation. However, concerns linger. Utilities worry about the impact on grid balance if excess electricity is fed into the network without their knowledge. Landlords and homeowners associations also express concerns about safety and aesthetics. Despite these challenges, millions of balcony solar systems have been deployed in countries like Germany, which regulates the technology. In the U. S., only about 5,000 plug-in solar systems have

As electricity prices soar and rooftop solar subsidies vanish, some U.S. renters and homeowners are surreptitiously installing solar panels on ...
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Planets With Two Suns Are Almost Impossible To Find — General Relativity May Be Why | Discover...

Planets with two suns have long captured the imagination of science fiction fans, thanks largely to Tatooine, the iconic desert world from Star Wars . Given what astronomers know about how stars and planets form, these worlds should be common. Most stars are born with planets, and many stars form in pairs.

Yet when scientists look to the sky, planets orbiting two stars at once are surprisingly scarce. Of the more than 6,000 exoplanets discovered so far — largely by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) — only 14 are known to orbit binary star systems, which is far fewer than expected.

Now, astrophysicists writing in The Astrophysical Journal Letters believe they know why: the missing planets may be casualties of a subtle but powerful effect Albert Einstein predicted more than a century ago. “You have a scarcity of circumbinary planets in general and you have an absolute desert around binaries,⁘ said first author Mohammad Farhat in a press release . “Planets form from the bottom up, by sticking small-scale planetesimals together.

But forming a planet at the edge of the instability zone would be like trying to stick snowflakes together in a hurricane,” added Farhat. The problem doesn't stop with instability alone. Both the planet's orbit and the orbit of the two stars slowly rotate over time in a process known as precession — similar to how a spinning top wobbles as it slows down.

The planet's orbit precesses due to the stars' gravitational pulls, while the binary stars' orbit precesses largely because of relativistic effects. As tidal interactions gradually shrink the stars' orbit, the precession rate of the stars speeds up, while the planet's rate slows down. When these rates match, the system enters a resonance that stretches the planet's orbit into an extreme oval.

The key insight of this new research is the role played by Einstein's general theory of relativity . Proposed in 1915, the theory describes gravity not as a force, but as a bending of spacetime itself, often compared to the way a heavy object warps a trampoline. Related materials: Visit website

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

UFO Fears And Secrecy Surround UK's Porton Down Lab

Locals near Porton Down, a secret UK lab, claim to have witnessed UFOs and express deep-seated fears about the facility's true purpose. The Sun reports that despite official denials, residents remain skeptical about the government's activities at the site. A local resident shares their experience of being woken up by loud bangs in the early hours of the morning, sparking concerns about the mysterious happenings at Porton Down. The secrecy surrounding the facility has fueled numerous rumors about its true purpose, including speculation about alien bodies. According to The Sun, a novel by Nick Pope, who worked for the Ministry of Defence, was cleared prior to publication, only adding to the rumors. The government's assurances that no aliens have been taken to the site have done little to alleviate the concerns of locals, who remain convinced that something is being hidden.

But when The Sun visited the villages around the controversial base this week, it was clear that no amount of official denial is going to quell ...
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Singapore Launches National Space Agency To Capitalize On Growing Global Space Economy

Published by aol.com:

Singapore has taken a significant step in the Southeast Asian space race by launching its first space agency, the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS). Led by Ngiam Le Na, a seasoned public servant with experience in defence and research, NSAS will focus on five key areas: research and development, industry growth, global partnerships, national capability expansion, and legislation for safety and sustainability. The agency's establishment is timely, given the predicted growth of the global space economy to $1. 8 trillion by 2035, up from $613 billion in 2024, according to the World Economic Forum. Singapore is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, with 70 space companies employing 2,000 professionals and partnerships with prominent space agencies such as the European Space Agency and the UAE Space Agency. The country's Ministry of Trade and Industry has highlighted Singapore's strengths in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and artificial intelligence as key advantages in the space technology sector. Industry executives have expressed enthusiasm for the burgeoning space scene in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region. Massimo Claudio Comparini, managing director of Leonardo's Space Division, notes that Singapore is a vital R&D hub, and its growth in the space sector is promising. Michelle Khoo, leader at the Deloitte Center

The agency will be led by Ngiam Le Na, a veteran public servant who previously served as deputy CEO of Singapore's Defence Science and Technology ...
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Sunday, February 1, 2026

Elon Musk's SpaceX Weighs Potential Merger With Tesla Or XAI

In the vast expanse of Elon Musk's entrepreneurial universe, a potential seismic shift is underway. SpaceX, the pioneering space exploration company, is contemplating a merger with either Tesla Inc., its electric vehicle counterpart, or xAI, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence firm. This development, whispered among insiders, signals Musk's strategic maneuvering to consolidate his business empire. The possibility of a SpaceX-Tesla tie-up has been floated, with some investors actively championing the idea. Meanwhile, a separate exploration of a potential union between SpaceX and xAI is also underway, ahead of a prospective initial public offering. The prospect of such a deal has piqued the interest of infrastructure funds and Middle Eastern sovereign investors, who may be drawn to the sizable opportunities it presents. However, any such transaction would likely necessitate a substantial financing component. As the situation stands, no definitive decisions have been made, and the contours of a potential deal remain fluid. The companies involved have thus far declined to comment on the matter. In a subtle yet telling move, two Nevada-based legal entities, bearing the phrase "merger sub" in their names, were established on January 21, with SpaceX Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen listed as an officer. Information for this

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SpaceX is considering a potential merger with Tesla Inc., as well as an alternative combination with artificial intelligence firm xAI, according to ...
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