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Gilmour Space Technology's planned launch of its Eris rocket from Queensland on May 15 was thwarted by an electrical fault, initially attributed to a white cockatoo seen pecking at the launchpad cables. The company humorously shared the bird's antics on Instagram, labeling it as "Exhibit A" in their anomaly investigation. However, further analysis revealed that the issue stemmed from an unexpected power surge caused by electrical backfeed from downstream devices, not the cockatoo. CEO Adam Gilmour confirmed that the problem was identified before fueling and liftoff, emphasizing the importance of ground testing. While the launch has been delayed, Gilmour expressed optimism about resolving the issue and returning to the launchpad soon. The incident highlights the occasional interference of wildlife in high-tech environments, with past examples including a weasel disrupting the Large Hadron Collider and raccoons breaking into a bank. A new launch window will be announced shortly. 
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Jun 04 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIceland's government has lifted its summer 2023 suspension on commercial whaling, allowing hunting to resume under new regulations aimed at improving animal welfare. Initially announced in June by Minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir, the suspension followed a report highlighting the prolonged suffering of whales during hunts. The new rules permit hunting only within 25 meters of boats and prohibit killing whales accompanied by calves, while banning controversial methods like electrification. However, animal rights advocates have expressed disappointment, arguing that these measures do not address the inherent cruelty of whaling. Kate O’Connell from the Animal Welfare Institute criticized the decision, asserting it would lead to unnecessary suffering for whales, while anti-whaling campaigner Luke McMillan dismissed the regulations as ineffective. Despite the resumption, there remains hope that Iceland may not renew the whaling permit for the last remaining company, Hvalur, in 2024.
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Jun 23 2025, 11 ameznews.inA puzzling discovery at Shanidar Cave in northern Iraq, where Neanderthal remains were found alongside significant amounts of pollen, has sparked debate among scientists regarding ancient burial practices. Initially thought to indicate elaborate funerary rituals, recent research suggests that the pollen may have been deposited by nesting solitary bees rather than by humans or animals transporting flowers. The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, highlights that the pollen mixture found around the grave is inconsistent with the idea of whole flowers being placed there, pointing instead to bees foraging from various plant species. While the "Flower Burial" hypothesis remains contentious, researchers argue that the true significance of the site lies in its unique cluster of Neanderthal burials, which may offer deeper insights into their spatial awareness and social behaviors, rather than the presence of flowers.
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Jun 23 2025, 12 pmeznews.inFor centuries, the Vatican has classified the capybara, the world's largest rodent, as a fish, a designation that dates back to 1784. This unusual classification was not for the animal's protection, unlike California's recent decision to label bees as fish for conservation purposes. Instead, it allowed Christians to consume capybara meat during Lent, a period when the eating of certain animals is restricted. The request originated from Venezuelan clergymen who argued that the capybara's webbed feet and aquatic habits justified its classification as a fish. This historical precedent highlights a broader understanding of dietary restrictions, which were based on the distinction between land and water animals rather than strict categories of mammals and fish. Capybaras, known for their swimming abilities and sociable nature, are not alone in this classification; beavers also enjoy similar status, allowing for their consumption during Lent.
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Jun 23 2025, 7 ameznews.inIn a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified that the Portuguese man o' war, long thought to be a single species, actually comprises four genetically distinct species. This revelation, made possible through citizen science and the analysis of over 4,000 images, highlights significant differences in genetic makeup, morphology, and distribution among the species. The four newly recognized species—_Physalia physalis_, _Physalia utriculus_, _Physalia megalista_, and _Physalia minuta_—each inhabit specific oceanic regions, with no evidence of interbreeding despite overlapping ranges. Professor Kylie Pitt from Griffith University expressed surprise at the findings, which challenge the long-held belief that these siphonophores are a single, globally connected species. The research, published in *Current Biology*, suggests that further taxonomic subpopulations may exist, underscoring the complexity of marine biodiversity.
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Jun 19 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe world's rarest gemstone, kyawthuite, is a transparent reddish-orange mineral known from a single specimen housed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Discovered near Mogok, Myanmar, and recognized by the International Mineralogical Association in 2015, this unique mineral was cut into a 1.61-carat gemstone for study. Kyawthuite, with the chemical formula Bi3+Sb5+O4, likely formed deep underground in pegmatite rock, exhibiting an asymmetrical structure and a Mohs hardness of 5.5. Its rarity stems not from the scarcity of its components—bismuth and antimony—but from the specific geological conditions required for its formation. Myanmar is also home to other rare minerals, including painite, the second rarest gemstone. As technology advances, the gemstone industry is exploring more sustainable methods for gemstone creation, including the recent development of lab-grown rubies.
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Jun 23 2025, 5 ameznews.inDespite living in an age of reason, modern attitudes towards death remain steeped in superstition, as evidenced by euphemisms and beliefs about the lingering presence of the deceased. Historically, cultures have taken extreme measures to protect the living from the dead. Ancient Egyptians, for instance, believed in an afterlife so luxurious that they buried pharaohs with hundreds of servants, a practice that began with the first king, Hor-aha. In Turkey, a recent discovery revealed a burial designed to prevent a restless spirit from returning, featuring bent nails and a heavy covering. Meanwhile, in Britain, corpses were often buried at crossroads to prevent hauntings, a practice that persisted until the 1820s. In Poland, numerous "vampire" burials have been found, where the deceased were interred with sickles and padlocks to prevent them from rising again, reflecting a community's fear of the dead and the supernatural.
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Jun 19 2025, 3 pmeznews.inEvolutionary biologists often encounter the question, “If humans evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” This misconception stems from a misunderstanding of evolutionary processes, which are not linear. Instead of viewing evolution as a direct progression from primitive apes to modern humans, it is more accurate to see humans and chimpanzees as cousins that share a common ancestor from approximately 6 to 7 million years ago. This ancestor, now extinct, gave rise to both species, while the fossil record remains incomplete. Humans and chimps share about 98.8% of their DNA, highlighting their close relationship. The evolutionary tree further branches out to include other great apes and monkeys, with the divergence between these groups occurring around 25 to 30 million years ago. As evolutionary biologists William Eric Meikle and Eugenie C. Scott noted, asking why monkeys still exist if humans evolved from them is as nonsensical as questioning why cousins remain when one has siblings.
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Jun 22 2025, 9 ameznews.inPresident Donald Trump has announced the ambitious "Golden Dome" missile defense project, intended to protect the U.S. from missile attacks, with plans for it to be operational by January 2029. The initiative, inspired by the Cold War-era "Star Wars" program, aims to deploy advanced technologies, including a network of satellites and space-based interceptors, to intercept threats such as hypersonic and ballistic missiles. The project is estimated to cost around $175 billion, though some estimates suggest it could reach $831 billion over two decades. The announcement has sparked controversy, with experts questioning its feasibility and potential conflicts of interest, particularly regarding Elon Musk's involvement after his significant campaign donation. International reactions have varied, with China expressing concern over the militarization of space, while Russia downplayed the project. Canada is considering collaboration on the initiative, with Prime Minister Mark Carney indicating discussions with Trump.
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Jun 22 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn a historic milestone for space exploration, NASA's Voyager 1 is set to become the first human-made object to reach a full light-day from Earth in late 2026. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 has been traveling for nearly 50 years and is currently about 166 astronomical units (AU) from Earth, having crossed the heliopause into interstellar space. At its speed of approximately 61,195 kilometers per hour (38,025 miles per hour), it will take over a year to cover the remaining distance to achieve this feat, which equates to 25.9 billion kilometers (16 billion miles). Signals from Earth currently take over 23 hours to reach the spacecraft. While Voyager has left the heliosphere, the debate continues regarding the true boundary of the Solar System, which may extend far beyond the Oort Cloud. The probe is expected to continue its journey until it runs out of power in the early 2030s.
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Jun 19 2025, 11 pmeznews.inArchaeologists from the University of Milan have uncovered a Medieval skeleton believed to belong to a young man, aged between 17 and 20, who suffered a gruesome death in the 13th century, likely due to a brutal torture method known as "the wheel." This device, used for public executions, involved systematically breaking limbs and inflicting further injuries before displaying the victim on a pole. The skeleton, found near a cathedral in Milan, exhibited symmetrical wounds on the arms and legs, suggesting intentional harm, and forensic analysis revealed unusual fractures at the base of the skull, indicative of a botched beheading. Researchers speculate that the victim may have been targeted as a suspected plague spreader, highlighting the societal discrimination of the time. If confirmed, this discovery would mark the first archaeological evidence of wheel torture in medieval northern Italy, underscoring the horrific realities of historical punishment.
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Jun 22 2025, 10 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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