Hayabusa2 May Encounter Lost Soviet Phobos 1 Probe Instead of Asteroid

A team of researchers has proposed that the celestial object 1998 KY26, the intended target of Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, may actually be the derelict Soviet Mars probe Phobos 1. The hypothesis, detailed in a paper by Adam Hibberd of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies and senior author Abraham Loeb of Harvard University, suggests the object … Read more

Saturn Projected to Generate 1,000 Tons of Diamonds Annually

Digital rendering of Saturn and its rings against a black background

Researchers have proposed a model suggesting that Saturn may generate approximately 1,000 tons of diamonds annually, according to reports from Spacedaily and scienceandtechnoworld.blogspot.com. The estimate, which stems from work presented in 2013, is an order-of-magnitude result based on the behavior of carbon under extreme pressure rather than a direct spacecraft measurement. From Lightning to Carbon … Read more

Tropical Thunderstorms Drive Widespread Tree Mortality, Ecology Letters Finds

Close-up of lush green forest ferns

New research published in 2025 suggests that ordinary tropical thunderstorms—rather than heat or drought alone—are a primary, yet frequently overlooked, cause of widespread tree mortality in tropical forests. According to a perspective piece in Ecology Letters, scientists Evan Gora and his colleagues argue that while climate research has historically prioritized heat, fire, and drought, convective … Read more

NASA Recruits Volunteers for Yearlong Moon and Mars Exploration Analog Simulation

NASA is recruiting four volunteers for the Moon and Mars Exploration Analog (MMEA), a yearlong simulation starting no earlier than August 2027 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The program combines two existing habitats to study human health and performance during deep-space missions, including transit, surface operations, and the return journey. Combining Habitats for … Read more

Plataine Launches Agentic AI Tools for Composites Production at CAMX 2026

Plataine is introducing a new generation of Agentic AI tools at CAMX 2026, featuring a Production Scheduler and Material AI Agent. These tools are designed to integrate with existing ERP, MES, and PLM systems to optimize composites manufacturing operations in real time by predicting risks and automatically executing approved decisions. The shift from passive dashboards … Read more

UChicago PME Uses Dioctyl Phthalate to Boost Stretchable OLED Brightness

Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering discovered, in a study published July 21, 2026, that adding dioctyl phthalate (DOP)—a common plastic softener—to light-emitting polymer films significantly increases both brightness and stretchability. This physical method allows OLED displays to remain efficient while becoming flexible enough for wearable electronics. The quest for … Read more

Global Ocean Temperatures Reach Record 21.0 Degrees Celsius Fueling El Niño

Global ocean surface temperatures reached a record high of 21.0 degrees Celsius on June 21, according to the Copernicus Marine Service. This surge, part of a nine-year trend of rising heat, intensifies the current El Niño event, threatening to disrupt weather patterns, accelerate sea-level rise, and stress marine ecosystems worldwide. Record-Breaking Temperatures in the World’s … Read more

LG Display Receives 1.3 Trillion Won Low-Interest Loan from National Growth Fund for OLED Expansion

[단독]국민성장펀드, LG디스플레이에 1.3조 저리대출…총 3조 OLED 투자 지원한다

LG Display is set to receive a 1.3 trillion won low-interest loan from the government-backed National Growth Fund to accelerate its transition toward organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. The funding is part of a broader 3 trillion won capital project aimed at enhancing the company’s production capabilities and maintaining a technological lead over Chinese competitors. … Read more