Tag Archives: probes

Three Solar Geophysical Probes Track Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

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NASA’s STEREO (Solar-Earth Relations Observatory), the NASA/ESA SOHO (Solar-Heliospheric Observatory), and NASA’s PUNCH (Corona-Heliosphere Integrating Polarimeter) missions had the extraordinary capability to observe sky regions near the Sun, enabling them to monitor 3I/ATLAS as it traversed behind the Sun from Earth’s perspective.

3I/ATLAS moves at an incredible speed of 209,000 km (130,000 miles) per hour, visualized through a series of colorized stacked images captured from September 11 to 25, 2025, using the Heliocentric Imager-1 instrument aboard NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft. Image credit: NASA / Lowell Observatory / Qicheng Zhang.

STEREO monitored the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS between September 11 and October 2, 2025.

The mission aims to examine solar activity and its effects on the entire solar system and is part of a collection of NASA spacecraft studying comets, offering insights on their size, physical characteristics, and chemical makeup.

Initially, it was believed that comet 3I/ATLAS would be too dim for STEREO’s instruments, but advanced image processing using the visible-light telescope Heliospheric Imager-1 and the stacking of images revealed 3I/ATLAS effectively.

By overlaying multiple exposures, distinct images were produced, showing the comet slightly brighter at the center.

This image of 3I/ATLAS combines observations from the NASA/ESA SOHO mission between October 15 and 26, 2025. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Lowell Observatory / Qicheng Zhang.

The SOHO spacecraft managed to catch a glimpse of 3I/ATLAS from October 15 to 26, 2025.

During this time frame, the LASCO instrument suite onboard SOHO identified comets crossing its observation area from around 358 million km (222 million miles) away, which is more than twice Earth’s distance from the Sun.

SOHO orbits at Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1, a gravitational equilibrium point approximately 1.6 million km (1 million miles) closer to the Sun along the Sun-Earth axis.

Members of the SOHO team also utilized stacking techniques to create images of 3I/ATLAS.

In this image, 3I/ATLAS is clearly visible as a bright object in the center, created by consolidating observations from NASA’s PUNCH mission conducted from September 20 to October 3, 2025. Image credit: NASA/Southwest Research Institute.

The PUNCH mission observed 3I/ATLAS from September 20 to October 3, 2025.

These observations indicated that the comet’s tail extended slightly to the lower right.

During this period, the comet was so dim that the PUNCH team was uncertain if the spacecraft would be able to detect it well, given its primary focus on studying the Sun’s atmosphere and solar wind rather than comets.

However, by collecting multiple observations, 3I/ATLAS and its tail became distinctly visible.

“We’re truly pushing the limits of this system,” stated Dr. Kevin Walsh, a planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute who led the PUNCH observations of comets.

Source: www.sci.news

Niger Probes $5 Million Sale of Earth’s Largest Martian Rock

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Dakar, Senegal – the largest meteorite discovered on Earth – a 54-pound (25 kilograms) rock that fetched over $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record.

However, in a West African nation where rusty red rocks have been excavated from the Sahara desert, authorities have initiated an investigation into what they describe as “illegal international trafficking,” suggesting it may have been smuggled from the country.

Here’s what you should know about meteorites and legal controversies:

How was it discovered

According to Sotheby’s, the rock, designated NWA 16788, was dislodged from the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid collision and journeyed 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to Earth.

It was uncovered in the Sahara, northwest Niger by an unnamed meteorite hunter in November 2023, as per the auction house’s report. The identities of buyers remain undisclosed.

In the arid regions of the Sahara like Niger, meteorite hunting is on the rise. While meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, the Sahara has emerged as a prime location for their discovery due to its climate, which is conducive to conservation.

Hunters often seek space rocks to sell to collectors and scientists. The most coveted and valuable meteorites are from Mars and the Moon.

As reported by the Heritage Academic Journal, the rock was sold to international dealers and eventually made it to a private gallery in Italy. Last year, a team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock to determine its structure and origins before it fell to Earth.

The meteorite was briefly showcased in Rome before appearing at the New York auction last month.

Why Niger is investigating

Following the sale, Niger raised concerns about how the meteorite was made available for auction.

Last month, the Niger government launched an inquiry into the discovery and sale of meteorites, stating that it resembles “illegal international trafficking.”

Last week, President Abdullah Hamanetiani halted the export of precious stones, semi-precious stones, and meteorites to ensure proper traceability.

In a statement to the Associated Press, Sotheby’s maintained that the meteorite was exported from Niger and transported in line with all applicable international regulations.

“In selling this item, all necessary documentation was obtained at each stage of the journey, consistent with best practices and the requirements of the involved countries,” the statement indicated.

Niger authorities did not respond to inquiries from the Associated Press.

What international law says

Patti Garstenblis, a cultural heritage attorney and expert on illegal trade, noted that rare minerals like meteorites are recognized as cultural property under the UNESCO Cultural Property Treaty, which both Niger and the United States have ratified.

However, Garstenbliss pointed out that Niger needs to establish ownership and that the meteorite was stolen.

“I doubt Niger could reclaim the meteorite if it wasn’t stolen and was properly declared upon entering the U.S.,” she stated to the Associated Press.

Paleontologist Paul Sereno, who has spent years uncovering dinosaur fossils in Niger’s Sahara, is advocating for the return of the nation’s cultural and natural heritage, including meteorites.

“When laws clearly state that rare minerals like meteorites are cultural artifacts, unique and valuable items cannot just be claimed without consideration for the country,” he told the AP.

“We are no longer in a colonial era,” he added.

In certain countries, including Morocco, a major source of meteoritic specimens for international markets, if an object is found on their territory, compensation is required. Nonetheless, due to the expansive desert regions and the informal trading networks, enforcement remains challenging.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Microsoft Probes Israeli Military’s Use of Azure Cloud Storage

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Microsoft is examining how Unit 8200, the Israeli military surveillance unit, utilizes the Azure Cloud Storage platform.

Top executives are quickly assessing the data that Unit 8200 stores on Azure following a Guardian investigation that disclosed how intelligence agencies can amass extensive records of intercepted Palestinian mobile communications through cloud services.

Collaborative inquiries with Israeli and Palestinian media outlets, including +972 Magazine and the Hebrew publication Local Call, found that Unit 8200 employs a specialized area within Azure that archives millions of daily calls from Gaza and the West Bank.

Sources linked to the investigation indicate that vast amounts of data from this cloud-based repository are being leveraged to pinpoint and identify bombing targets in Gaza.


The report, released on Wednesday, raised alarms among Microsoft’s leadership regarding whether some employees in Israel fully disclose their knowledge of Unit 8200’s use of Azure, according to insiders.

Insiders reveal that internal efforts are currently ongoing to evaluate the type of data stored in Microsoft’s data centers, alongside reconsiderations of how this information is utilized by Israeli forces in the ongoing conflict with Gaza.

In May, Microsoft acknowledged that a review of its military ties with the U.S. found that Azure “was used to target or harm people” in Gaza, with “no prior evidence” of this use existing. These findings reportedly relied partially on the assurances provided by Israeli staff.

However, some senior executives at the company’s U.S. headquarters have recently started to doubt the accuracy of the information provided by certain Israeli employees managing their military relationships.

A source familiar with internal discussions noted that management struggled to verify some of the claims from Israeli staff, questioning whether employees felt they were beholden to their military rather than their employer.

Using leaked documents, the Guardian discovered multiple employees associated with managing the Unit 8200 project, identifying them as reservists for the elite wiretapping unit, akin to the U.S. National Security Agency.

Despite the concerns raised by recent executives, Microsoft has yet to initiate official reviews of its collaborations with the Israeli military from earlier this year, which were spurred by reports highlighting the military’s reliance on Microsoft technology during attacks in Gaza.

A Microsoft spokesperson stated, “As indicated in a prior independent investigation, the company takes these allegations seriously. Upon receiving new information, we are committed to verifying it and taking appropriate actions.”

According to documents reviewed by the Guardian, Microsoft executives are aware of plans to transition a substantial amount of sensitive, classified intelligence data to Azure as the company collaborates with the unit to implement advanced security measures in its cloud services.

Nevertheless, the company claims that executives are not aware that Azure is utilized by Unit 8200 to retain the information from intercepted Palestinian communications. “There is no information concerning the data stored within a customer’s cloud environment,” the spokesperson remarked earlier this week.

In a statement following the investigation, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) remarked, “We value Microsoft’s support in securing cybersecurity. Microsoft ensures that it is not an IDF partner in data storage or processing and does not collaborate with us.”

Several sources within Microsoft have indicated that the IDF’s statement surprised the company’s leadership, as it is not a secret that they provide cloud storage to the military under a contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

After the disclosure regarding its reliance on Microsoft, a worker-led organization, called Apartheid Azure, issued a series of demands, including an appeal for the company to sever all publicly known ties with the Israeli military.

NOAA organizer Abdo Mohamed, who was terminated from the company last year, stated that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and other executives have maintained that “when entering this partnership in 2021, the company did not anticipate benefiting from the suffering of the Palestinian people.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

European Probes Capture First Image of the Antarctic Sun

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Observations from the spacecraft have revealed the presence of both Arctic and Antarctic magnetic fields in the Sun’s southern hemisphere. This complex magnetic configuration is predicted to persist only temporarily during the solar maximum before undergoing a magnetic field reversal.

The European Space Agency (ESA) states that as the Sun transitions to its quieter solar minimum phase, this accumulation at the poles should occur gradually over time.

“The precise mechanics of this accumulation are still not fully understood. However, the Solar Orbiter has reached high latitudes at a crucial time to observe the entire process from a unique vantage point,” explains Sami Solanki, director of the Max Planck Institute for Solar Systems Research in Germany and a scientist working with the Solar Orbiter project.

While scientists have previously captured close-up images of the Sun, these were primarily taken from the Sun’s equator by various spacecraft and observatories.

The Solar Orbiter’s mission included a journey through the cosmos, featuring a close flyby of Venus, which allowed the spacecraft to tilt its orbit for a better view of the Sun’s higher latitudes.

The recently released image was captured in late March when the Solar Orbiter was positioned 15 degrees below the Sun’s equator, shortly followed by another observation at 17 degrees below the equator.

“We had no clear expectations for these initial observations. The Sun’s polarity is truly uncharted territory,” Solanki stated, as mentioned in a statement.

Launched in February 2020, the Solar Orbiter mission is a collaborative effort led by Europe in conjunction with NASA.

In the coming years, the Solar Orbiter’s trajectory is expected to tilt even more, providing increasingly direct views of the solar polar regions. According to ESA, the most impressive observations may still be on the horizon.

“This data will transform our understanding of solar magnetic fields, solar winds, and solar activity,” states Daniel Muller, the Solar Orbiter project scientist at ESA.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Private Ispace Resilience Probes Set to Land on the Moon This Week

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Artist’s depiction of the Resilience lunar lander

ispace

The private spacecraft is set to attempt a landing this week. Should the Japanese company ISPACE succeed on this attempt, it would mark a historic achievement as the first non-US enterprise to land on the moon, following a failed attempt in 2023.

ISPACE’s Resilience Lander embarked on its journey towards the moon on January 15th. It launched with the assistance of a SpaceX rocket and Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lander. While Blue Ghost made a successful landing on March 2nd, Resilience traveled a longer path, traversing deeper into space before entering lunar orbit on May 6th. This intricate route was essential for landing in the hard-to-reach northern plains of Mare Frigoris, which had been uncharted by previous lunar missions.

If the probe executes its landing operations successfully, it will commence its landing sequence on June 5th at approximately 7:20 PM BST, with a landing in Mare Frigoris scheduled an hour later. The landing attempt will be broadcast live on ISPACE’s YouTube channel.

The lander is outfitted with six diverse experiments, including a device capable of splitting moisture into hydrogen and oxygen for usable resources, a module for producing food from algae, and a radiation monitor for deep space studies. Additionally, it will deploy a 5-kilogram rover named Tenalious, tasked with exploring the lunar surface and capturing images during its anticipated two-week mission.

This marks ISPACE’s second attempt at a lunar landing, following the initial Hakuto-R spacecraft, which lost communication and crash-landed on the moon. The company asserts that it has enhanced Resilience with improved sensors leveraging data gathered from the initial mission, yet challenges remain, particularly in slowing the spacecraft from several hundred kilometers per hour to a complete stop in just three minutes. Should ISPACE choose to abort the landing on June 5th, there are three alternate landing sites and dates prepared as contingencies.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Soviet Probe’s Imminent Crash with Earth: The Impact Location Remains Unknown

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Model of Kosmos 482, originally set for Venus

Wikimedia Commons

Over 50 years after its launch, the Soviet spacecraft Cosmos 482 is set to return to Earth. Initially designed to land on Venus, it began to disintegrate in low Earth orbit, never completing its intended mission. After orbiting our planet for decades, it is finally on a path to re-enter.

Kosmos 482 was launched in 1972; however, much about its mission and structure remains classified due to its Cold War origins. The intention to reach Venus is inferred from other Soviet missions focused on the planet at that time, and indications suggest that the spacecraft attempted a maneuver in orbit before fragmenting. The exact reason for its failure is unclear, but three out of four pieces landed in New Zealand shortly after launch.

The last fragment has drifted into a higher orbit, approximately 210 km at its closest to Earth and as far as about 9,800 km. Over time, particles from the Earth’s upper atmosphere have slowed its descent, gradually bringing it closer to re-entering. It is projected to crash on May 9th or 10th.

The capsule remains of the spacecraft are estimated to be over one meter wide and weigh nearly 500 kilograms. Given its size and the possibility that it was engineered to withstand the intense conditions during a Venusian descent, impact speeds may exceed 200 km/h.

Predicting the exact impact site for Kosmos 482 is challenging. Based on its current trajectory, it could land anywhere between the latitudes of 52° south and 52° north, covering a vast area from the southern tip of South America to parts of Canada and Russia. Fortunately, despite the extensive range of potential landing sites, the likelihood of it striking a populated area is minimal. “The numbers are infinitesimally small,” stated Marsin Pilinsky from the University of Colorado Boulder. statement. “The ocean is a likely landing zone.”

Pilinsky is part of a team monitoring the debris. As the re-entry date approaches, landing predictions will become more accurate. Instances of space debris falling to Earth are not rare; for instance, NASA tracks one orbital object entering the atmosphere daily, with most either burning up or landing in oceans. However, Kosmos 482 is notably larger and more robust than typical space debris.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Competition regulator probes Apple and Google’s mobile platforms in the UK

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The UK’s competition watchdog is set to investigate the impact of Apple and Google’s mobile platforms on consumers and businesses, following criticism over the appointment of a former tech executive as its new chair.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into the tech giants’ mobile operating systems, app stores, and browsers to determine if specific guidelines are needed to regulate their behavior.

This inquiry comes after Doug Gurr, a former Amazon UK country manager, was appointed as the CMA chair, with the government denying any bias towards big tech companies.

The investigation will focus on how Google and Apple’s mobile platforms impact consumers, businesses, and app developers, as most smartphones in the UK come with pre-installed iOS or Android operating systems.

The CMA will assess whether Google and Apple should be classified as companies with “strategic market positions” under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC). If designated as such, the CMA could impose regulatory requirements or mandate changes to promote competition on their platforms.

Sara Cardel, CEO of the CMA, emphasized the importance of mobile platforms as gateways to the digital world and highlighted the potential for a more competitive ecosystem to drive innovation and growth.

The CMA aims to complete its investigation by October 22nd, in line with its focus on ensuring consistent regulations that support economic growth and competition.

Both Apple and Google have expressed readiness to cooperate with the CMA and reiterated their commitment to fostering choice and opportunity for consumers and businesses while complying with regulations.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Live Nation probes data breach at Ticketmaster’s US division | Cybersecurity Breach

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Live Nation Entertainment is currently investigating a data breach at its Ticketmaster division that was discovered on May 20. This breach is the latest in a string of major corporate hacks that have occurred over the past year.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Live Nation reported finding “unauthorized activity” in a third-party cloud database containing primarily Ticketmaster data and is working with forensic investigators to address the issue.

Reports surfaced last week that a cybercrime group known as ShinyHunters claimed to have stolen user data for over 500 million Ticketmaster customers. However, Live Nation did not mention Shiny Hunters in its SEC filing.

Live Nation has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the breach.

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This breach comes at a time when concert promoters are facing antitrust scrutiny. Live Nation is at the center of this scrutiny as the first target of antitrust lawsuits filed by U.S. and state governments seeking to break up the company for alleged price gouging on concert tickets.

According to Live Nation’s filing, on May 27, a criminal threat actor attempted to sell purported user data from Live Nation on the dark web. The company is actively working to mitigate risks, notify law enforcement, regulators, and users as needed, and ensure the security of personal information.

Despite the breach, Live Nation believes it will not have a significant impact on its operations or finances. The company is evaluating risks and implementing measures to enhance its operations.

Source: www.theguardian.com

FBI Probes Falsified Tweets Creating Artificial Rise in Bitcoin Investment Fund Prices

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Wednesday that it is working with the FBI to investigate fake messages posted to the X social media account.

On Tuesday, hackers posted false news about an incident. A widely anticipated announcement SEC expected to announce on Bitcoin, leading the crypto world soaring prices and wary observers. An SEC spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian in a statement that the fraudulent posts to the @SECGov account were “not initiated or created by the SEC.”

“The SEC continues to investigate this matter and is coordinating with appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the SEC Office of Inspector General and the FBI,” the spokesperson said. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.

X confirmed late Tuesday, following a preliminary investigation, that the SEC's account was compromised when an unidentified person gained control through a third party and via a phone number associated with the account.

An erroneous post on @SECGov said securities regulators had approved holding Bitcoin in exchange-traded funds. The widely anticipated move was expected to bring Bitcoin more mainstream integration and encourage investment – and the initial SEC tweet sent Bitcoin's price soaring nearly $48,000.

The SEC removed the post about 30 minutes after it was posted, and SEC Chairman Gary Gensler said: Confirmed In a post shortly after, it said the agency's account had been compromised and the tweet was “fraudulent.” “The SEC has not approved the listing and trading of spot Bitcoin exchange products,” he said.

But on Wednesday, the S.E.C. Approving 11 Spot Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds. This approval is a game-changer for Bitcoin, allowing institutional and retail investors to gain exposure to the world's largest cryptocurrency without directly owning Bitcoin, allowing FTX CEO Sam's massive This is a major boost for the cryptocurrency industry, which has been plagued by a series of scandals, including trials and convictions. Money laundering between Bankman Freed and cryptocurrency giant Binance.

“Retail investors seeking exposure to Bitcoin now have easier and more direct access to their assets through many top financial institutions,” said Digital Commerce, a cryptocurrency and blockchain advocacy organization. said Perianne Bowling, founder and CEO of the Chamber. “This alone is a transformational event for hundreds of millions of investors and the Bitcoin community.”

Reuters contributed to this article

Source: www.theguardian.com