Kostya Trachenko obituary

China has just kicked off its Tianwen-2 mission, aiming to snag samples from a nearby asteroid and bring them back to Earth. This ambitious space venture is part of a growing global effort to study these celestial bodies up close, which could unlock secrets about our solar system's origins—and maybe even help us figure out how to deflect any future asteroid threats.

Editor’s Note: Asteroid missions aren't just about cool space rocks—they're like time capsules holding clues to how planets formed. China's move here puts it in direct competition with NASA and other space agencies, signaling how serious the country is about becoming a major player in deep-space exploration. Plus, mastering asteroid sampling could one day help humanity protect itself from potential impacts. Win-win, right?

Scientists have cracked the code on how to extract proteins from ancient, preserved brains—something that was nearly impossible before. This breakthrough means we can finally peek into the molecular secrets of our ancestors' brains, potentially uncovering clues about human evolution, diseases, and even cognition from thousands of years ago.

Editor’s Note: Brains usually decompose quickly after death, so finding intact ancient ones is rare—and studying them was even harder. Now, this new technique opens a door to understanding how human brains evolved, how diseases like dementia might have affected our ancestors, and what makes our brains uniquely human. It’s like dusting off a fossilized instruction manual for the mind.

A German court has thrown out a lawsuit aiming to hold energy giant RWE accountable for climate-related damages in Peru. The case, brought by a Peruvian farmer who argued RWE’s emissions contributed to glacial melting threatening his home, was dismissed due to insufficient evidence linking the company directly to the harm.

Editor’s Note: This ruling is a setback for activists pushing to hold corporations legally responsible for climate change. While the court didn’t dispute the reality of climate impacts, it highlighted the legal hurdles in pinning specific damages on individual companies. The case reflects the growing—but still messy—battle over who should foot the bill for a warming planet.

A judge has ruled that the government broke the law in its handling of a case involving a Russian scientist, though the details of the misconduct aren’t fully spelled out here. It’s a win for those who argue the government overstepped, but the broader implications—like whether this affects other cases or U.S.-Russia relations—aren’t yet clear.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about one scientist—it’s a red flag about how governments handle sensitive cases, especially when geopolitics are involved. If authorities cut corners or acted improperly, it could undermine trust in legal processes or even strain diplomatic tensions further. Watch for fallout in similar cases.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is putting on a jaw-dropping show, shooting lava fountains up to 1,000 feet high—something scientists haven’t witnessed since the 1980s. While the spectacle is stunning, experts are quick to remind everyone that this isn’t just a natural light show; dangerous gases and volcanic hazards are part of the package.

Editor’s Note: This eruption isn’t just another routine event—it’s a rare, dramatic display of nature’s raw power, offering scientists a chance to study volcanic behavior that hasn’t been seen in decades. But for locals and visitors, it’s a mixed bag: awe-inspiring visuals come with real risks, from toxic fumes to potential evacuations. Whether you’re a science geek or just love a good spectacle, Kilauea’s latest act is worth paying attention to.