Moss spores survive and germinate after 283-day 'space walk'

NASA's Expedition 73 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) engaged in various activities this week, including demonstrating how to measure one's mass in a microgravity environment. The crew also contributed to the overall weight of the ISS, which is nearly 1 million pounds, showcasing the complexities of living and working in space.

Spinning vortices of water trapped beneath the Thwaites glacier ice shelf are responsible for 20 percent of its ice melt. As global temperatures rise, these undersea 'storms' are expected to intensify, raising concerns about the stability of this critical ice mass.

Around 1000 markings on a slab of rock, which was once a seafloor during the Cretaceous period, may have been created by the flippers of sea turtles. These markings were likely quickly buried by an earthquake, preserving the evidence of the turtles' movement.

Conventional computing devices will play a crucial role in turning quantum computers into tools with real-world applications. The integration of classical computing is essential for maximizing the potential of quantum technologies.

Research has identified a toxin produced by bacteria found in contaminated water as a potential trigger for ulcerative colitis, a common type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This discovery may pave the way for new treatment options for patients suffering from this condition.

A species of moss survived for 9 months on the exterior of the International Space Station, according to new research. Remarkably, 80% of the samples continued to reproduce after being returned to Earth, demonstrating the resilience of this organism in extreme conditions.

Researchers have discovered that spores of the moss species Physcomitrella patens can survive for at least nine months on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) and still reproduce upon returning to Earth. This resilience suggests that mosses could play a role in oxygen generation or soil formation during future space missions, potentially transforming barren landscapes on other planets into fertile ground.

Scientists have observed that mice assist each other during difficult births, indicating a level of caregiving previously unrecognized in rodents. This behavior suggests a complex social structure among mice, prompting further investigation into the dynamics of caregiving in the animal kingdom.