In November 2025, ESA’s Jupiter Ice Satellite Probe (Juice) utilized five scientific instruments to study 3I/ATLAS, marking the second interstellar comet ever identified in our neighboring universe. The spacecraft also captured fresh images of this interstellar traveler using its navigation camera (NavCam).
This image from ESA’s Juice spacecraft captures the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: ESA / Juice / NavCam / CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.
“Though the data from the scientific instruments won’t reach Earth until February 2026, our team was eager to see what we could find,” stated members of the Juice team.
“We opted to download just a quarter of a single NavCam image to test the waters.”
“To our astonishment, we clearly observed a comet, notably surrounded by signs of activity.”
“You can distinctly see the glowing gas surrounding the comet, referred to as the coma, along with indications of its two tails.”
“The comet’s ‘plasma tail,’ composed of electrically charged gas, stretches toward the top of the image.”
“A fainter ‘dust tail,’ made of tiny solid particles, can also be seen extending to the bottom left.”
Annotated version of the Juice image depicting interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: ESA / Juice / NavCam / CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.
The image of 3I/ATLAS was captured on November 2, during the initial observation window of Comet Juice.
This observation took place on November 4, just two days before Juice’s closest approach to the comet, approximately 66 million kilometers (41 million miles) away.
“On February 18 and 20, 2026, we will receive data from the five scientific instruments (JANUS, MAJIS, UVS, SWI, PEP) activated during the observation,” the researchers mentioned.
“This delay results from Juice currently using its main high-gain antenna as a heat shield against the sun, while a smaller medium-gain antenna transmits data to Earth at a slower rate.”
Even though Juice was situated farther from 3I/ATLAS than ESA’s Mars rover—which returned in October—it observed 3I/ATLAS shortly after the comet’s closest proximity to the Sun, suggesting a more active state.
“We anticipate clearer indications of this activity with data from our scientific instruments,” the scientists elaborated.
“This will encompass not only visuals from JANUS (Juice’s high-resolution optical camera), but also spectrometry data from MAJIS and UVS, compositional insights from SWI, and particle data from PEP.”
On Monday, the House passed a strongly bipartisan law aimed at criminalizing the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit photos and videos that include AI-generated imagery, commonly referred to as “deepfakes.”
The legislation, which cleared with a vote of 409 to 2, is expected to be signed by President Trump soon.
Known as the Take It Down Act, this law is designed to combat what is termed “Revenge Porn.” Under its provisions, social media companies and online platforms must remove such images within two days of receiving notification.
The bill saw bipartisan support, uniting conservatives and other parties alike, and it passed the Senate unanimously in February. Trump’s endorsement, highlighted in his joint address to Congress last month, appears to have facilitated its passage.
co-sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and Democrat Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, it marks the first significant Internet Content Act to pass Congress since 2018, following prior legislation aimed at combating online sex trafficking. While concentrating on revenge porn and deepfakes, this bill indicates a crucial step towards holding internet companies accountable, which have largely evaded governmental oversight for years.
The strong backing for the Take It Down Act underscores the growing frustration among legislators regarding social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Revenge porn and deepfakes affect individuals of all ages, particularly impacting teenage girls, as the proliferation of “nudification” apps allows boys to secretly create and distribute sexually explicit images of female classmates.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Florida, introduced a parallel bill in the House and stated on Monday that this legislation aims to prevent the rampant abuse and harassment faced by young girls online.
“Using the likenesses, voices, and images of young, susceptible women to manipulate, coerce, and publicly humiliate them for amusement or revenge is utterly reprehensible,” said Salazar.
Such legislation has been frequently attempted in various states across the nation, and although South Carolina lacks specific laws against revenge porn, at least 20 other states have enacted measures addressing sexually explicit deepfakes.
The measures passed on Monday are part of ongoing bipartisan efforts by lawmakers to tackle deepfake pornography. Cruz and Klobuchar first introduced the bill last year, but it did not advance in a Republican-led House. Reintroduced this year, it gained traction after receiving endorsement from first lady Melania Trump.
Last year, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a younger Democratic congresswoman from New York, proposed legislation enabling individuals depicted in sexually explicit deepfakes to sue creators and distributors of such content. This bill has not been reintroduced this year.
Legislators have recently focused on several bills aimed at safeguarding children from online sexual exploitation, bullying, and harmful algorithms. In January 2024, executives from Meta, TikTok, and other tech firms faced tough questions from lawmakers as they defended their platforms.
During these hearings, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was compelled to apologize to parents who had lost children to online dangers.
However, some advocates for free speech caution that such measures could stifle legitimate expression, arguing that similar laws might inadvertently lead to the removal of both lawful and unlawful content.
“Despite the good intentions, the potentially harmful effects of the bill on constitutional rights to free speech and privacy online cannot be overlooked,” stated Becca Branham, assistant director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy Technology, a research organization.
Branham also remarked that the Take It Down Act serves as “a potentially weaponized enforcement tool that endangers meaningful progress in the battle against image-based sexual abuse.”
China has successfully launched three astronauts into space as part of the crew replacement mission for China’s Tiangong space station, marking another milestone in the country’s aspirations for manned missions to the moon and Mars.
The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft lifted off as scheduled at 5:17pm (0917 GMT) atop China’s Long March 2F rocket, set to arrive at Tiangong after approximately 6.5 hours.
The rocket launched from a facility near the Gobi Desert in northwestern China, and the spacecraft will remain in space until it returns the current crew back to Earth.
Tiangong, also known as the “Celestial Palace” space station, is a Chinese-built station that positions China as a significant player in space exploration after being excluded from the International Space Station due to US national security concerns. China’s space program is overseen by the People’s Liberation Army, a military branch of the ruling Communist Party.
There are concerns about China’s potential use of technology onboard the space station to interfere with satellites and other spacecraft in times of crisis.
Astronauts Chen Zonglui, Chen Dong and Wang Jie embarked on the delayed space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday. Andy Wong / AP
Since sending its first astronauts into space in 2003, China has made significant strides in its space program, becoming the third country to do so. It has also landed explorers on Mars and the far side of the moon, with plans to land humans on the moon by 2030.
The Shenzhou 20 mission is led by astronaut Chen Dong, on his third spaceflight, accompanied by fighter pilot Chen Zonglui and engineer Wang Ji. Unlike previous crews, the Shenzhou 20 mission consists entirely of male astronauts.
The incoming crew will replace the current astronauts on board the Chinese space station, staying onboard for approximately six months, like their predecessors.
Scheduled to reach Tianong after 6.5 hours, the spacecraft was launched into space atop the Chinese Long March 2 rocket at 5:17pm on March 2.
The current crew was sent last October and spent 175 days in space. They are set to return on April 29, following a brief overlap with the incoming crew. Tianong, completed in October 2022, has a capacity of up to six people.
During their mission, the astronauts will conduct medical and technological experiments, perform spacewalks for maintenance tasks, and install new equipment, as announced by the Manned Space Agency.
I
In the summer of 2020, amidst the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic on economies worldwide, an overlooked American software company made a bold decision to diversify. MicroStrategy, located near a shopping mall and subway station in Tysons Corner, Virginia, felt that its traditional “software-as-a-service” business was not daring enough.
Instead, the company announced its plans to broaden its horizons by investing up to $250 million in alternative assets, including stocks, bonds, commodities like gold, digital assets such as Bitcoin, and other types of assets.
Fast forward less than five years later, and the sideline in Bitcoin has propelled MicroStrategy to new heights. The company’s stock price has skyrocketed by 20 times, pushing its market capitalization to nearly $75 billion, with its stock entering the Nasdaq 100 index of leading technology companies.
Co-founder and chairman Michael Saylor took a risk to embrace digital currencies after Donald Trump’s election victory, despite concerns about potential threats from volatile crypto prices. MicroStrategy has now become a preferred choice among UK investors as the token’s value has surged.
Saylor’s strategic vision transformed the company into the world’s first “Bitcoin treasury company.” MicroStrategy’s relentless pursuit involves a cycle where issuing bonds to purchase Bitcoin drives up MSTR stock prices, leading to more bond offerings to acquire additional Bitcoin.
Interestingly, Saylor likened Bitcoin to Manhattan real estate in 1650 and emphasized the company’s commitment to quarterly Bitcoin acquisitions.
Critics argue that Manhattan real estate provides stable rental income and potential property value appreciation. However, Saylor focuses on BTC yield, a key metric tracked by MicroStrategy to monitor the ratio of Bitcoin holdings to the company’s stock.
While some may feel they missed the boat with Bitcoin reaching $100,000 in December, Saylor confidently stated that he would buy $1 billion worth of Bitcoin daily even at that price.
Portfolio manager Michael Lebowitz criticized MicroStrategy for essentially “ripping off investors,” citing increased optimism about Bitcoin and heightened stock price volatility.
MicroStrategy’s financial results showed a decline in total revenue and a significant increase in net losses in the third quarter of 2024. Despite this, the company became the top stock choice for UK investors through Interactive Investor.
By the end of December, MicroStrategy had invested $27.9 billion to acquire a total of 446,400 Bitcoins. This represented around 2% of the total Bitcoin supply and was valued at approximately $42 billion at that time.
This strategic approach significantly boosted MicroStrategy’s stock price by almost 400% in 2024, with Bitcoin’s value doubling within that year.
MicroStrategy’s inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index was expected to accelerate the flywheel effect, as index-tracking ETFs would automatically purchase the company’s stock. This move was likened to Bitcoin entering the Nasdaq by industry analysts.
However, investors who bought in November might have witnessed a drop in value, as MicroStrategy’s stock price surged by 58% in November but declined over 20% in December.
In October, MicroStrategy unveiled plans to issue $21 billion in stock and bonds over the next three years to fund further Bitcoin acquisitions.
Shortly before Christmas, the company sought approval from shareholders to issue billions of additional shares, significantly increasing the number of Class A common stock.
MicroStrategy has become an attractive option for investors seeking exposure to Bitcoin without directly owning the cryptocurrency. Shares can be held through various accounts like Roth IRAs or ISAs.
Industry experts view MicroStrategy as a “Bitcoin agency,” catering to risk-tolerant investors seeking exposure to the cryptocurrency. The significant surge in Bitcoin prices, especially during specific periods, has further fueled interest in the company.
An essential component of MicroStrategy’s strategy involves issuing convertible debt with minimal or no interest payments. These instruments provide investors exposure to Bitcoin by converting into stock if the company’s value surges.
In December, MicroStrategy sold $3 billion in convertible notes without interest, convertible into stock at a premium above the stock price on the sale date.
Lebowitz cautioned that convertible note holders would profit only if the company’s stock price exceeds the conversion price upon maturity, potentially missing out on interest payments elsewhere.
MicroStrategy’s heavy reliance on Bitcoin holdings has led to the company being dubbed a leveraged Bitcoin holder, carrying significant risks in case of a market downturn.
Before embracing Bitcoin, Saylor faced a significant financial setback in 2000, losing billions of personal wealth in a day. MicroStrategy had to revise its earnings, leading to a steep decline in its stock price.
MicroStrategy is not alone in aspiring to benefit from the Bitcoin boom. Other players like Riot Platforms and Tesla have joined the trend, while Microsoft shareholders recently voted against adding Bitcoin to the company’s balance sheet.
Analysts have raised concerns about MicroStrategy’s vulnerability to Bitcoin price fluctuations, emphasizing the importance of Bitcoin’s sustained growth for the company’s success.
While Bitcoin enthusiasts believe in its resilience, the future of MicroStrategy’s strategy remains uncertain, particularly in the face of market volatility.
Company X, owned by Elon Musk, has recently updated its terms of service. These changes redirect disputes from users of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter to federal court in Texas. Federal judges in Texas have a reputation for favoring conservative litigants in political cases.
The updated terms state that any legal action against Company X must be filed exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas or the state court in Tarrant County, Texas. This venue clause is a common practice for companies, but it is notable that Company X is located in Bastrop, Texas, which falls under the Western District of Texas.
It is speculated that this choice of venue is related to the political leanings of judges in the Northern District of Texas, which has fewer Republican-appointed judges compared to the Western District. This district is known for conservative activism and has become a preferred destination for lawsuits challenging Joe Biden’s policies, leading some to criticize the tactic as “judge shopping.”
Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, suggested that the new language in the terms of service may be connected to Company X’s recent legal strategy. Elon Musk, known as the world’s richest man, has shown support for conservative causes and was a significant financial backer of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Company X has already filed two lawsuits in the Northern District of Texas, including one against Media Matters for allegedly defaming the platform. Additionally, an antitrust lawsuit has been filed against multiple advertisers for conspiring to boycott and causing revenue loss. These cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, known for controversial rulings on healthcare and gun control.
Despite concerns over potential conflicts of interest, Judge O’Connor has refused to recuse himself from the cases involving Company X. The federal court in Fort Worth, where the cases are being heard, has only two active judges, with the other judge, Mark Pittman, appointed by President Trump.
A hydrothermal explosion occurred just north of Old Faithful geyser on Tuesday, spewing rocks and steam into the air and forcing visitors to flee to safety, Yellowstone National Park officials said.
According to the National Park Service, the explosion happened around 10:19 a.m. in Biscuit Basin, about two miles northwest of Old Faithful, and no one was injured and the extent of damage is unknown. It said in a statement.
The type of explosion that occurred on Tuesday was hot water related, “rapidly ejecting boiling water, steam, mud and rock debris,” the statement said. According to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Eruption video People, including children, were seen running as columns of black and grey matter and steam spewed into the air.
Yellowstone is famous for its hot springs and thermal pools.
According to the USGS, a hydrothermal explosion occurs when underground water at or near boiling point is rapidly transformed into a stream of water due to a drop in pressure.
Outbursts like Tuesday’s are “relatively common in Yellowstone,” the USGS said. It said in a statement Following the incident, Norris Geyser Basin reported a small explosion in April, and Biscuit Basin reported an explosion in 2009.
Photos posted by Yellowstone National Park showed a nearby trail covered in dirt, rocks and debris.
The National Park Service said the trails and parking lots are closed until further notice due to safety concerns, and noted the explosion is not related to any volcanic activity.
Park staff and USGS personnel are monitoring the situation and will determine when the area can be reopened, officials said.
This hat looks normal, but you can sense it when the traffic light changes color
Wang Zhihun
Flexible, wear-resistant strands of conductive fibers are used to make smart clothing with embedded computers and sensors, such as hats that can sense changes in signals.
Previous efforts to create fibers with wear-resistant coatings and conductive cores have encountered problems. When materials cool and shrink at different rates during manufacturing, or are twisted and cleaned once in the final product, small stress cracks can develop and often cause smart devices to stop working.
now, Rayway Researchers at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University have discovered a conductive material that shrinks on cooling and does not develop stress cracks, similar to the aluminosilicate glass used in smartphone screens. The material borrows techniques from fiber-optic cable manufacturing, and the process is cheap and “industry-ready,” Wei said.
The technique involves placing a semiconductor wire made of silicon or germanium into molten glass at a temperature of about 1000 degrees Celsius and drawing it into thin strands. The glass is later etched away with hydrofluoric acid and replaced with a polymer coating that allows for a more flexible material. Fibers can stretch up to 10 kilometers.
A small amount of this fiber is then woven into fabric using a standard loom and regular cotton. Wei says the new material alone feels like “fishing line” on the skin, so cotton is needed to make the clothes comfortable.
The researchers used the fibers to create several prototypes, including electronic sensors and chips that communicate through conductive materials, such as a hat that detects changes in the color of traffic lights.It then passes that information to a smartphone app, a jumper that can receive and decode images sent by pulses of light rather than radio waves, and a watch strap that measures the wearer's heart rate.
In a six-month test where the garment was worn, washed and dried, the fibers were durable and continued to conduct electricity.
However, there are still weaknesses. The link between the flexible material and the rigid circuit board that holds computer chips and other components tends to fail after a few months, causing smart features to stop working.
“The only part that consistently leads to test failures is the connection between the fiber and the external circuitry,” Wei says. “The challenge now is to find a stable connection method.”
BEIJING — China has successfully launched a reusable robotic spacecraft on Thursday for the third time since 2020 in a series of secret orbital test flights aimed at developing reusable technology to reduce the cost of space missions.
The unmanned spacecraft flew atop a Long March 2F rocket, the same rocket series China uses to transport astronauts into space, on Thursday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, state media said. It was launched in
The spacecraft will operate in orbit for a “certain period” before returning to a designated landing site in China. State media reported that reusable technology would be “validated” and space experiments carried out during the flight, but gave no other details.
of final launch The spacecraft was launched in August 2022 and returned to Earth after a 276-day orbit. Details such as what technology was tested or how high the plane flew were not disclosed. Images of the spacecraft have never been released to the public.
China’s plans for a reusable spacecraft (referred to by some as Shenlong, or “Shenron” in Chinese) coincide with a similar secret plan by the United States to fly an autonomous spacecraft known as the X-37B.
Thursday’s launch in China came hours after the launch countdown for the new rocket. X-37B SpaceX has canceled its mission for the third time this week due to weather and technical issues at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A new launch date for the X-37B has not yet been announced. The X-37B was scheduled to launch for its seventh mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket that can carry secret robotic spaceplanes to much higher orbits than ever before.
The Pentagon has provided few details about the mission, which will be overseen by the U.S. Space Command under the military’s National Security Space Launch Program.
But Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman told reporters at an industry conference this week that he expects China to launch Shenron around the same time as the upcoming He said he expected further developments in the growing competition.
“It is no surprise that the Chinese are very interested in our spaceplanes. According to the US aerospace magazine Air & Space Force Magazine, we are very interested in theirs. ,” Saltzman said.
“These are two of the most-watched objects in orbit. It’s probably no coincidence that they’re trying to grab us at this timing and sequence.”
of Made by Boeing(Ban) The X-37B is about the size of a small bus and resembles a small space shuttle ship, and is designed to deploy a variety of payloads and conduct technology experiments on long orbital flights.
On its previous mission, the unmanned X-37B returned to Earth in November 2022 after more than 900 days in orbit.
China successfully launches reusable spacecraft for the first time September 2020 This happened after it had been in orbit for just two days.
The development of reusable spacecraft is considered important to ultimately achieving the goal of increasing the frequency of space flights and lowering the cost per mission.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
