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Once in 50,000-year comet may be visible to the naked eye
A newly discovered comet could be visible to the naked eye as it shoots past Earth and the Sun in the coming weeks for the first time in 50,000 years, astronomers have said.
At CES, sailor-less ships head to port on AI wave
Whether on pleasure yachts or deep-sea cargo ships, AI-backed navigation assistance and autonomy are helping captains set sail for sunsets or simply moor in a port scratch-free.
US proposes stricter air quality standards for soot
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed stricter standards on Friday for microscopic particles responsible for harmful air pollution.
International fusion energy project faces delays, says chief
An international project in nuclear fusion may face "years" of delays, its boss has told AFP, weeks after scientists in the United States announced a breakthrough in their own quest for the coveted goal.
Half of world's glaciers expected to vanish by 2100: study
Half of the Earth's glaciers, notably smaller ones, are destined to disappear by the end of the century because of climate change, but limiting global warming could save others, according to a new study.
Stellantis to build electric 'air taxis' with Archer
Global automaker Stellantis will produce electric "air taxis" developed by US aviation company Archer, it announced Wednesday at the major Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Reducing nitrogen use key to human and planetary health: study
Better management of nitrogen-rich fertilisers through alternating crops, optimising use and other measures can yield huge environmental and health benefits, but must boost food production at the same time, researchers warned Wednesday.
Dramatic rise in US children ingesting marijuana edibles: study
The number of American children accidentally ingesting cannabis edibles has jumped nearly 15 times in recent years as more states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, according to a scientific study published Tuesday.
South Korea's lunar orbiter sends photos of Earth, Moon
South Korea's first-ever lunar orbiter Danuri has sent black-and-white photos of the Moon's surface and Earth, the national space centre said Tuesday.
France fails to end culling of male chicks
An exception to a New Year's resolution by France to end the massive culling of male chicks will still allow millions to be killed, much to the consternation of animal rights activists.
Dressing 'revolution' seeks artificial skin for burn victims
Far from the humble sticking plaster, medical firms and researchers are seeking to create the "ultimate dressing" -- artificial skin they hope will revolutionise the treatment of severe burns.
China's ByteDance admits using TikTok data to track journalists
Employees of Chinese tech giant ByteDance improperly accessed data from social media platform TikTok to track journalists in a bid to identify the source of leaks to the media, the company admitted Friday.
From robot fireflies to okra plasters: 2022's nature-inspired solutions
Even as animals and plants face widespread extinction from human-driven causes like climate change, the natural world continues to inspire scientific discovery in unexpected ways.
Russia might send up rescue ship for ISS crew
Russia is examining the flight worthiness of a Soyuz crew capsule docked with the ISS that sprang a leak last week, and might need to send up a rescue vessel for stranded crew, officials said Thursday.
France planning AI-assisted crowd control for Paris Olympics
French authorities plan to use an AI-assisted crowd control system to monitor people during the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to a draft law seen by AFP on Thursday.
Men urged to train themselves to notice household chores: study
Gender imbalance in shouldering domestic work is explained by different ways in which men and women perceive chores, philosophers at Britain's Cambridge University suggest.
Chile's ALMA observatory resumes work after cyberattack
The ALMA telescope in the Chilean Andes has resumed operations nearly two months after shuttering due to a cyberattack, the observatory said Wednesday.
NASA retires InSight lander after four years on Mars
NASA said farewell on Wednesday to the InSight lander that spent four years probing the interior of Mars.
Vega-C rocket lost after lift-off in Europe space setback
Europe's new Vega-C rocket was lost shortly after lift-off from French Guiana overnight with two satellites on board, in the latest blow to European space efforts.
Europe's new Vega-C rocket lost shortly after lift-off
Europe's new Vega-C rocket was lost shortly after lift-off from French Guiana overnight with two satellites on board, in the latest blow to European space efforts.
Vega-C rocket lost shortly after lift-off in French Guiana
The European Vega-C rocket was lost shortly after lift-off from French Guiana on Tuesday with two Airbus satellites on board, the company behind the launch said.
N. Zealand's amended cow burp tax plans still stink, say farmers
New Zealand's government on Wednesday outlined changes to controversial plans to tax the farts and burps of livestock, but a leading farmers group said it was still opposed to the emissions reduction scheme.
En garde! Wasps use penis spikes to ward off predators
An accidental sting has helped Japanese scientists prove some male wasps have a rather unusual predator defence weapon: penis spikes.
Planet spiralling into star may offer glimpse into Earth's end
For the first time astronomers have identified a planet that is spiralling towards a cataclysmic collision with its ageing sun, potentially offering a glimpse into how Earth could end one day.
Things to know about a landmark biodiversity agreement
After years of negotiations, the world has agreed a landmark deal to protect vanishing species and ecosystems, dubbed a "peace pact with nature" at the UN meeting in Montreal called COP15.
From battlefield to glampsite: the story of Saudi's Khaybar
A Saudi town best known for a fierce battle between the Prophet Mohammed and Jewish tribes is remodelling itself as an upscale tourist draw in line with the kingdom's rebranding efforts.
At COP15, businesses urged to act for nature
Widely blamed for ravaging Earth's ecosystems, big businesses are nevertheless being turned to as key players in a deal to save nature at the COP15 biodiversity conference.
Nature at risk of 'cascading' species extinction: study
Climate change and habitat degradation will cause extinctions that cascade through communities of animals and plants and drive dramatic biodiversity loss, according to new research published on Friday.
New funding announcements at high-stakes UN nature summit
The world's environment ministers began the final phase of crunch talks at a UN summit in Montreal on Thursday aimed at sealing a historic "peace pact with nature."
Tiny meteorite may have caused leak from Soyuz capsule
Russian and NASA engineers were assessing a coolant leak on Thursday from a Soyuz crew capsule docked with the International Space Station (ISS) that may have been caused by a micrometeorite strike.
Tiny meteorite may have caused coolant leak from Soyuz capsule
Russian and NASA engineers were assessing a coolant leak on Thursday from a Soyuz crew capsule docked with the International Space Station (ISS) that may have been caused by a micrometeorite strike.
Swedish zoo shoots dead three chimps on the run
A Swedish zoo said Thursday it had to shoot dead three chimpanzees after they escaped from their enclosure, with the situation still not under control.