A swift left hook, a front kick to the chest, a series of cross jabs, and the crowd erupts in cheers. However, it isn’t traditional kickboxing skills that determine the outcome of the match; instead, an attempted roundhouse kick goes awry, leading to the kickboxer from a prestigious university team tumbling to the floor.
While conventional kickboxing involves risks like bloodshed, sweat, and severe head injuries, competitors in Friday’s match at Beijing’s inaugural world humanoid robot game encountered a unique set of challenges, including balance, battery life, and a deeper philosophical purpose.
The compact humanoid robot named Kickboxer, entered by a team from a leading Chinese University of Technology, is part of the Jamboree—a humanoid event showcased at China’s latest tech gatherings. This government-backed competition kicked off after an audience of 12,000 national speed skaters, training for the 2022 Winter Olympics, performed to the Chinese national anthem on Friday morning.
“I came here out of curiosity,” remarked Hong Yun, a 58-year-old retired engineer seated in the front row. He mentioned that watching a robot compete was “far more thrilling than seeing real humans doing the same.”
The robot is set to compete in five soccer matches on the event’s first day in Beijing. Photo: Tingshu Wang/Reuters
The event showcases China’s proficiency in humanoid robotics, a sector prominently featured within the country’s artificial intelligence landscape. The promotional efforts are in full swing.
Similar to kickboxing, humanoids engaged in various sports, including athletics, soccer, and dance. One robot stumbled during a 1500-meter event, losing its head mid-course. “Maintaining [the head] was our goal,” shared Wang Ziyi, a 19-year-old student from Beijing Union University who was part of the robotics team.
A troupe of humanoid dance robots took to the stage during the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, a televised celebration that captivated nearly 1.7 billion viewers online.
One robot got derailed midway through a 1500m event as its head detached. Photo: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
These social media-friendly activities reflect more serious geopolitical dynamics, highlighting the intensifying technological rivalry between the US and China, which may reshape the AI landscape.
This technology has become a pivotal factor in relations between the two nations. Despite the US’s continued lead in frontier research, Beijing is heavily investing in practical applications like robotics, partly driven by restrictions on Washington’s advanced chip exports to China.
Several cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, have created 100 billion yuan (around 1 billion pounds) funds for the robotics industry. In January, state-owned banks revealed plans to offer 1 trillion yuan in financial support for the AI sector over the next five years.
“If there’s a sector where [Beijing] has heavily invested, it’s this one,” noted Kyle Chan, a researcher at Princeton University.
The robot is seen being transported after a kickboxing match during the competition’s opening day. Photo: China News Service/Getty Images
There’s something inherently unsettling about witnessing a jerky, human-like robot with two arms and legs, being dragged out of the ring by a human operator.
In the realm of humanoids, the Chinese industry possesses many strengths. While US firms like Tesla and Boston Dynamics remain dominant overall, several Chinese companies—including Ubtech and Unitree Robotics, who provided the boxing robots for Friday’s match—are swiftly catching up.
Tesla relies on China for numerous components needed to produce its physical humanoids. According to investment bank Morgan Stanley, the China-based supply chain is projected to manufacture robots using a third of its non-Chinese suppliers. “It appears remarkably challenging to disentangle this area from China completely,” Sheng Zhong, head of Chinese Industrial Research at the bank, noted in a recent report.
The robot, developed by the Chinese firm Unitree Robotics, is seen playing traditional drums. Photo: Tingshu Wang/Reuters
Beyond just generating positive attention on social media, China envisions humanoids as potential solutions to challenges posed by its aging population and shrinking workforce. A recent article from the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, suggested that robots could provide both practical and emotional support to the elderly. “The vision for robot-assisted elderly care is not far off,” it asserted. Humanoid robots could also replace factory workers as China seeks to retrain its workforce for more advanced technological roles.
However, there remains a significant gap between humanoids that can stumble through a sports match and those capable of managing everyday tasks. Ensuring safe interactions with vulnerable populations represents another considerable challenge. “The home is likely one of the last environments where humanoid robots will be welcomed for safety reasons,” Chan stated. “Overall, I maintain a somewhat skeptical view regarding the humanoid explosion.”
A technician works on humanoid robots in the vicinity of the game. Photo: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Two significant obstacles to deploying technology that is useful beyond PR stunts are the complexity of human environments and the dexterity required to navigate them.
While other forms of AI, like large language models, can be trained using vast amounts of digital data, there are far fewer datasets available to train algorithms for walking through crowded restaurants or maneuvering stairs. China’s initiatives to integrate robots into everyday settings might assist businesses in gathering more data, yet that remains a major bottleneck, according to Chang.
Dr. Jonathan Aitken, a robotics lecturer at the University of Sheffield, echoed this sentiment. “The current AI state is not yet prepared for humanoids operating in uncontrolled environments,” he asserted.
While impressive displays, such as a robot jumping or kicking, showcase remarkable capabilities, executing mundane tasks—like using a knife or folding laundry—demands a level of finesse. Human hands possess approximately 27 “degrees of freedom,” enabling independent movements. In contrast, one of the most advanced models available, Tesla’s Optimus Humanoid, has only 22.
Nevertheless, China has defied the odds before with rapid advancements. Just a decade ago, the nation exported fewer than 375,000 cars annually. Today, China stands as the world’s largest automotive supplier, shipping nearly 6 million vehicles each year. In response, the European Union has raised tariffs on electric vehicles produced in China to curb this trend.
In China, both the government and the populace are firmly behind the push for humanoids. Zhan Guangtao attended the Humanoid Games alongside her two daughters on Friday. “It’s essential to expose my kids to advanced robotics from around the world,” Zhan remarked. “Such exposure broadens their perspectives.”
Nature of science journals aims to highlight the complexities of academic publishing.
In an editorial released on Monday, the journal revealed it will include a peer review file with the papers it plans to publish. This will grant reviewers insight into the behind-the-scenes process where authors respond to revisions.
Publishing peer review files has been an option in Nature since 2020, but as of Monday, it has become a standard practice.
“Our goal is to demystify what many refer to as the ‘black box’ of science and clarify how research papers are developed. This aims to enhance transparency and foster trust in the scientific process. We believe that publishing peer reviewer reports enriches scientific communication and contextualizes how results and conclusions are reached.”
Opening the peer review process is becoming increasingly common among scientific journals, but Nature stands out as one of the largest and most influential in adopting this practice.
Peer review occurs once scientific research is submitted to a reputable journal, where field experts evaluate the work for issues such as flawed inferences, poor research practices, and data errors. These external experts provide feedback to journal editors and authors, known as the Judge Report.
“Peer review enhances the quality of the paper,” the editorial states. “The dialogue between authors and reviewers should be regarded as a significant component of the scientific record, crucial to research andits dissemination.”
Nature’s updated process automatically publishes judge reports and author responses. Journal practices evolve particularly when public trust in science wanes; a Pew Research Center poll indicates that trust in scientists fell approximately 10 percentage points from 2019 to 2024, with only 45% of Americans considering scientists to be effective communicators.
Michael Eisen, a former editor of the scientific journal Elife and a proponent of reforming the scientific publishing process, believes Nature’s decision marks a significant step towards greater transparency in the field.
“It’s valuable for the public to witness the process,” Eisen stated. “Much of the criticism stems from misunderstanding, which often arises from a lack of transparency surrounding scientific processes.”
Eisen suggests this move could help skeptics recognize the rigorous scrutiny applied to critical topics.
“For instance, if people observe the thorough examination vaccine-related studies undergo, it can help them better understand and assess the context of scientific findings,” Eisen noted.
At the same time, this transparency may help to mitigate the sensationalism often associated with striking findings.
“It may help dispel the notion that once a paper is published, it is infallible and that all questions have been resolved,” Eisen added.
He also mentioned that Nature could publish reviewer comments on manuscripts that were ultimately rejected.
“The truly transformative step would be to disclose reviews for all submitted papers,” Eisen remarked. “While it’s insightful to understand the questions raised in reviews of accepted papers, it is equally important to see why certain papers were rejected by the journal.”
the is a small junction in a Norfolk village where a red telephone booth stands on a battlefield at the heart of the struggle between an 89-year-old man and a multi-billion-pound multinational corporation. And in the red phone box, evacuating from the wind, there is Derek Harris. Last month he learned that BT (formerly British News) was threatening to close the phone box in the village of Charrington, where he had lived for 50 years when he saw it on the Parish Council agenda. “I thought, ‘I thought I should do something about this,'” Harris said.
He describes it as a “David and Goliath” campaign. It is, and – as revealed in February, this sun-lit but chewing, no longer. We talk about mortality and compromise, heritage and value. I leave with a new sense of how I can feel my true love for inanimate objects and why it is important to have a mission.
But first, some field mice. Charlington is in a picturesque part of the East Anglia countryside. “We are surrounded by open, rolling, wonderful fields – cultivated, beautiful,” says Harris. [of phone lines]. On the other side of the church just above the road is a telegraph pole, inside which three mice nest. ” His eyes glow. The rodents nibbled through the wires, destroying the villagers’ telephone lines and the internet. He says he knows about the mouse because the engineers at OpenReach, a BT-owned company that cares for the network, told him.
Harris is turning his eyes to OpenReach as he has a green junction box connected to a new fibrous cable just a few meters from the phone box. Harris will not take much time to connect the payphone to fiber formation, and like the entire phone network, he will need to upgrade his phone booth to a digital line before the analog network is turned off in 2027. “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t connect. Anyway, engineers say they come most weeks.”So maintenance.” [of the phone box] There is no problem. It’s cost-effective.”
The UK has 14,000 working phone booths, down from 20,000 three years ago. At its peak in the 1990s there were 100,000. Of these, approximately 3,000 have iconic red designs. It’s probably strange that phone boxes are surviving at all when around 95% of households have mobile phones.
It is owned and operated by BT and costs millions of pounds each year, so it is requested by regulator Ofcom under the mandate of quaintly named Telephony Universal Services. In the year until May 2020, emergency services were made from telephone booths and 25,000 and 20,000 calls were made to Childline and Samaritans, respectively.
“We have a legal responsibility to ensure that phone booths exist to meet the reasonable needs of UK citizens,” says Katie Hanson, senior consumer policy manager at Ofcom, who was part of a review of the new guidance that was published in 2022. The approach we took is that the boxes we think are essential are protected from removal.”
If the last time in the area (more than 400 meters from another phone box), you cannot remove the phone box if one or more of the following conditions apply: If you’re in an area that doesn’t have coverage for all four mobile network providers, or if you’ve made at least 52 calls in the past year, or if you have a large number of places how hobes hobes hobes in how in hocidens how in hocidents, or if you have high social needs, for example, if you have many calls to helplines such as childline or domestic abuse charities. If the phone booth is the last on the site and none of the other terms apply, and BT wants to remove it, you must start a consultation process with the local government.
Crisis Charities Childline and Samaritans receive thousands of calls from phone booths.
Photo: Sally Anscombe/Getty Images
It is one of the 10 North Norfolk District Council area that was assigned to remove less than 10 calls from Sharrington’s public telephone box last year. The village in the reserve features a 13th century church and Jacobian Manor House. Harris believes that the phone booth is a “symbolic heritage property” and that local MP Steph Aquaron wrote in historic England to list it. “K6 models work rarely,” says Harris. Topped with a golden Tudor crown, the K6 (for kiosk number 6) was designed by Ir Gilbert Scott in 1935 to mark George V’s silver jubilee.
Harris has lived in Charlington for half a century. It was just that he and his late wife raised two children. The phone booth was there longer. Both Harris and K6 share their birth year in 1935. This partially explains his affinity. He spent his childhood in Surrey, near Croydon Airport, enjoying the sight of a plane flying overhead.
“It’s very interesting for a little boy,” he says. “It wasn’t a very good place when the war began, as the airport was the target.” The family took shelter to the south coast, but it wasn’t that safe. German fighter bombers attack the area with a “chip and run” attack. When Harris was about eight years old, he survived such an attack while playing with his brother. “We saw a friend injured. Some were killed.” A few years later, as a young man, Harris joined the Army and was injured. “The outdoor surgeon saved my life,” he says, but he was warned that he would need multiple operations in the coming years and not expect long lifespans (he reminds me a few times in “90th year”).
“I faced death in 2016. It’s still here.”… Harris Councillor Andrew Brown (left).
Photo: Joshu Abright/Guardian
Sharrington’s phone booth also fights previous threats to its life. “They tried to remove it in 2016, but we resisted it well,” says Harris. “I have faced death before and passed through it. I faced death in 2016. It’s still here. Something tells me that it’s meant to stay.” Campaigns to keep it, including Harris and local councillor Andrew Brown, were given an extra month to sue their lawsuit.
“It could be a lifeline and a conservation asset,” Brown says. The area is rural and isolated, with some villagers virtually no mobile signals. North Norfolk has the highest proportion of seniors in the UK and Wales, with adults probably not having a mobile phone. And it has one of the highest percentages of the second home in the country. In an emergency, try knocking on the empty villa door without a mobile signal or work payphone.
He made their point in 2016, Harris said: It wasn’t just a museum piece, people used it. “However, he admits, “probably more of them than they are now.”
Many of the village elders who relied on phone boxes for not having a cell phone have been dead since then, but some older people still use it, Harris claims. If the box survives, one of the handfuls of calls that I logged in in 2025 will be created by me. I lift the receiver and the crackling of dial tones and deep ham go back to the teenage phone and the quick garbled call you had to make before the money runs out. This phone box doesn’t take coins and doesn’t charge me. That’s confusing. You will see that there are some phone booths that don’t allow you to take coins or cards and make free calls to your UK landlines and mobile phones.
It rings the only number you remember without looking at your contact list. He won’t pick it up. Because in this era, who answers unknown landline numbers? So I’m whatsapp to say he rings out of the phone box and says it’s me! We are both temporarily excited about novelty and nostalgia.
Harris admits that mobile phones are everywhere, but he points out that in this part of the country, the signals are rough. “We live next to the quiet Graven Valley, perhaps the most beautiful part of Norfolk, where pure chokestream runs. It’s what attracts ramblers, walkers, lots, and everyone works.” Think if there’s an emergency and your mobile network is down. He says it can happen more and more frequently as you experience extreme weather. “If someone said, ‘If you kept up to that job,’ wouldn’t that be awful? “
It is used in emergencies. “What you need to keep in mind is that some phones made were essential and probably saved someone’s life. It wasn’t that long ago, but there was a snowstorm.” The mobile network is down, and the phone someone made from the phone box was “the only way the rescue came to save this driver, whose car was completely covered in snow. It fell from the top of the hedge in his car and he was trapped.” And not too far is the main road known locally as the Charlington Straight, a rare, straight road that Norfolk’s most reckless drivers tend to speed up. Last year, Harris said: It’s a hot spot for accidents. “
He makes his point for just and practical reasons that he needs to keep a phone box, but this is not the whole story, and when we are talking, we find ourselves out of the cold at a nearby cafe.
“The closer you get to the end, the more you want to see things live. I don’t want to see it die ‘… Derek Harris. Photo: Joshu Abright/Guardian
“Would you like to see the work K6 that BT holds?” asks Harris. He is a good speaker. He distrusts human rights lawyers and misses the day when people respect the police. But he is not all traditionalists. He worked for much of his career in energy savings. I think he likes purpose and order – he dresses perfectly in pressed jeans and shirts, as well as a traditional, untouched overcoat – that may be why he is not keen on the way red phone boxes are being reused in other villages. When BT adopted the kiosk scheme, the phone booth became the home of the library, or defibrillators. Why can’t Sharrington enjoy a new life as such?
“It wasn’t designed for that,” Harris says. “It was designed for communication. Why should it be changed to something else? It’s a telephone kiosk. It’s not a library of sorts or anything.”
Turn it into something else, and it becomes a quirky relic of British history. Another dial tone is dead. As a functional phone booth, “It’s going to be alive, right? So I feel empathy – I feel empathy for what is alive.”
For Harris, that’s personal. Continuity has comfort, which means saving what is worth saving and making the world a better place, or at least not diminishing it. It includes the iconic red telephone box, which works in the village where he lived for a long time. “It’s fighting for something precious, take good care of it,” he says, the more he gets it. The closer you get to the end, the more you want to see things live. I don’t want to see it die. That’s how you put it. That’s what I’m fighting for. “
SSome celebrities have unique collections, like art, rare film prints, or old-fashioned action figures. (Leonardo DiCaprio is included.) Tom Hanks, on the other hand, is known for collecting typewriters, which may seem practical yet cumbersome. A portion of Hanks’ typewriter collection is now on display in a church in Sag Harbor, Long Island.
Hanks has personally selected 35 typewriters from his collection of over 300, including the electric typewriter used on the set of Mad Men. The exhibit features a variety of typewriters, from the classic 1969 Olivetti to a modern translucent model designed for an imprisoned writer in the 1980s. The display also includes some simpler typewriters for a hands-on experience, highlighting the physical presence that is integral to the typewriter’s allure.
Hanks shares a fictionalized account of his typewriter’s origins in his short story “These Are the Meditations of My Heart,” included in his collection “Uncommon Type.” The physical act of typing on a typewriter holds a special significance for him, as he often carries one with him and uses it daily for various tasks, like note-taking or making lists.
Photo: Joseph Jagos / Church, Sag Harbor
The exhibition design for Hanks’ typewriter collection was entrusted to Simon Doonan, a renowned creative director known for his work on various projects. Doonan’s approach to the exhibit reflects the interactive nature of collecting typewriters and highlights the historical significance of these machines in the 20th century.
Tom Hanks surrounded by several typewriters at the California Typewriter. Photo: American Buffalo Photo
Doonan emphasizes the aesthetic appeal of typewriters, describing them as visually engaging and immersed in design language that reflects their respective eras. While acknowledging the historical significance and practical use of typewriters, he also recognizes their potential for conveying both love letters and sinister messages, much like their portrayal in various movies over the years.
The physical experience of using typewriters, especially older models, is highlighted by the manual adjustments, satisfying key presses, and carriage movements that define the process. For those who appreciate the tactile nature of typewriters, Tom Hanks’ collection offers a glimpse into a bygone era filled with unique stories waiting to be told.
Zoomies are a hilarious sight. Watching a cat bounce off walls like a pinball is pure entertainment. One moment they’re leaping over furniture, and the next they’re careening into a lampshade. They zip around here, there, and everywhere before inevitably falling asleep.
Most cats will experience zoomies at some point, also referred to as “periods of frenzied random activity” or “FRAP.” This behavior is more common in the early and late hours of the day and is often seen in kittens and young cats.
Zoomies may also occur after a bowel movement, leading to terms like “poo” and “clap ‘n flap.” Several theories exist to explain this behavior.
Photo credit: Kyle Smart
Some believe it may be a response to a dirty litter box, as cats are naturally clean and want to distance themselves from their waste quickly.
Others suggest it could indicate a gastrointestinal issue or digestive illness.
One theory proposes that the behavior harks back to a cat’s wild instincts, as fecal matter can attract predators. By defecating swiftly, cats may avoid drawing unwanted attention.
On a different note, gastroenterologist and author Dr. Anish Sheth hypothesized that large stools could stimulate the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to abdominal organs.
This stimulation may decrease heart rate and blood pressure, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain and potential dizziness. The outcome? A goofy moment of cat craziness, or zoomies.
While this theory is intriguing, conventional wisdom suggests that vagus nerve activity typically relaxes animals rather than making them more active. As a result, the debate continues.
This article explores the question “Why do cats get zoomy after pooping?” posed by Ann Rosales via email.
If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us at:questions@sciencefocus.comor message us on Facebook,Twitter, or visit our InstagramPage (please include your name and location).
Explore more ultimatefun facts on our fascinating science pages.
The UK government’s mandate for technology companies to self-regulate gambling-style loot boxes in video games has come under scrutiny as some developers, who were involved in creating industry guidelines, failed to comply with their own rules.
In the last six months, three companies, including major developer Electronic Arts (EA), faced charges from the advertising regulator for not disclosing the presence of loot boxes in their games as stipulated in the guidelines they helped establish.
Experts who filed the complaint noted numerous other breaches but only reported a few to highlight the issue to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Loot boxes are game features that allow players to spend real or virtual currency to unlock digital envelopes with random rewards like character outfits or weapons.
Despite concerns about the gambling-like risks associated with loot boxes, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport announced in July 2022 that loot boxes would not be classified as gambling products.
Nadine Dorries, the then culture secretary, expressed concerns about regulating loot boxes due to potential unintended consequences.
Instead of direct regulation, the government established a “technical working group” which included video game and tech companies and introduced 11 principles related to loot boxes in August 2023.
One of the guidelines requires clear disclosure of paid loot boxes in game promotions.
Leon Hsiao, an expert on loot box regulation, found that the majority of game ads he analyzed violated the group’s disclosure rules despite being members of the Loot Box Working Group.
Several games, including those from EA, Hutch, and Jagex, were subject to complaints upheld by the ASA for inadequate disclosure of loot boxes.
While EA and Jagex cited human error and lack of space for disclosures, Hatch claimed misunderstanding of the advertising guidelines.
Hsiao stressed that these incidents were not isolated and suggested the industry’s self-regulation efforts were not sufficient.
Don Foster, chairman of the House of Lords’ group for Gambling Reform, called out the failure of self-regulation and urged government intervention to protect children from loot box-related harm.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport emphasized the need for video game companies to enhance efforts in safeguarding players from loot box risks.
The UK games industry body Ukey supported the implementation of new guidelines by July 2024 to ensure player protection and promote responsible gaming.
EA affirmed their commitment to loot box disclosures and providing players with information for safe gaming practices.
Jagex and Hatch were contacted for comments by The Guardian.
To safely observe a solar eclipse, you’ll need some basic equipment
Liansen / Imago / Alamy
If you’re planning on observing the solar eclipse on April 8 this year, whether you’re in the middle of the total solar eclipse or not, you’ll need some gear to fully enjoy it.
The most important rule during a solar eclipse is not to look directly at the sun. This is only possible during totality, a few minutes when the sun’s light is completely blocked by the moon. But for everyone in North America who lives outside the 185-kilometer-wide total orbit, only a partial eclipse will be visible. And for those on the inside of the road, there are still a few hours on either side of totality, but part of the fun is watching the moon slowly move across the sun.
You can use special solar filters, such as eclipse glasses, to look directly at the sun. But you can also view the eclipse using a simple viewer made from a few things you probably have on hand. Here we will introduce how to create two types of Eclipse viewers.
How to make a pinhole camera
All you need for this viewer is paper, aluminum foil, scissors, and a pen. Make a hole in the middle of a piece of paper and cover with foil. Stick the foil in place and use a pen, needle, or other sharp object to make a small hole in the center of the foil. On the day of a solar eclipse, simply hold this up to the sun and place another piece of paper on the ground below. A small bright dot appears on the second sheet of paper. This is a solar projection. As the eclipse progresses and the moon covers more of the sun, you’ll see the shape of the dot change.
How to make a box eclipse viewer
The second type of eclipse viewer works similarly, but the projection is displayed inside a box instead of on the ground. For this, you will need paper, foil, scissors, and a cardboard box. Cereal boxes or shoe boxes work well.
Line one side of the inside of the box with white paper. Then, drill two holes, spaced apart on opposite sides. Tape the foil to one hole and make a small hole in it. The other hole will be a place to look inside.
On the day of the solar eclipse, hold the viewer in front of you with your back to the sun. A projection of the sun should appear on the white paper lined inside the box.
solar eclipse 2024
On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Our special series covers everything you need to know, from how and when to see a solar eclipse to the strangest solar eclipse experience of all time.
This artist’s impression shows a gas giant exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star, represented by Kepler-1625b. Credit: NASA
The discovery of giant exomoons around the planets Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b raises questions. Since the planets orbit, it is not uncommon for these exoplanets to have moons around them. This makes them even more difficult to detect. So far, only two of the more than 5,300 known exoplanets have been discovered to have moons. New data analysis shows that scientific statements are rarely black and white, that behind every result there is more or less uncertainty, and that the path to a statement often resembles a thriller. Masu.
Introduction to Exomoon research
In observations of the planets Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b with the Kepler and Hubble Space Telescopes, researchers discovered the first traces of such moons. New research calls these previous claims into question. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and Sonnenberg Observatory in Germany report in the same journal. natural astronomy
The “planet-only” interpretation of the observations is more definitive.
For their analysis, the researchers used Pandora, a newly developed computer algorithm that facilitates and accelerates the search for the Exum Moon. They also investigated what types of exomoons could in principle be discovered with modern space-based astronomical observations. Their answers are quite shocking.
Examoon: A rare entity in observation
In our solar system, with the exception of Mercury and Mercury, the fact that a planet orbits one or more moons is more the rule than the exception. Venus, all other planets have such companions.
For gas giants Saturn Researchers have discovered 140 natural satellites to date. Therefore, scientists believe that planets in distant star systems are also likely to have moons. But so far, there is only evidence for two such examooons: Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b. This low yield is not surprising. After all, distant satellites are naturally much smaller than their home world, and therefore much more difficult to find. And combing through observations of thousands of exoplanets for evidence of satellites is extremely time-consuming.
Pandora: Exomoon search algorithm
To make searching easier and faster, the authors of the new study utilize a search algorithm called Pandora that they developed and optimized for exomoon searches. They announced the method last year And the algorithm is available to all researchers as open source code. When applied to observational data from Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b, the results were surprising.
“We wanted to confirm the discovery of exomoons around Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b,” said MPS scientist Dr. Rene Heller, lead author of the new study. “However, unfortunately, our analysis shows that this is not the case,” he added.
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