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NASA probe makes closest ever pass by the Sun

NASA's pioneering Parker Solar Probe made history Tuesday, flying closer to the Sun than any other spacecraft with its heat shield exposed to scorching temperatures of more than 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (930 degrees Celsius).

Saving the mysterious African manatee at Cameroon hotspot

Ever since his first hard-won sightings of African manatees, award-winning marine biologist Aristide Takoukam Kamla has been devoted to protecting the little known and atrisk aquatic mammals.

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Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future

World skiing's governing body joined forces with the UN's weather agency on Thursday in a bid to feed its meteorological expertise into managing the "existential threat" to winter sports posed by climate change.

2024 Nobels offer glimmer of hope as global crises mount

Next week's Nobel Prize announcements will crown achievements that made the world a better place, a glimmer of optimism amid a spiralling Middle East conflict, war in Ukraine, famine in Sudan and a collapsing climate.

South America treated to rare 'ring of fire' eclipse

Skygazers on the tip of South America were treated Wednesday to a spectacular "ring of fire" solar eclipse that was visible from Chile's Easter Island before heading to mainland Patagonia.

Mexico's new president offers apology for 1968 student massacre

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum offered an official apology Wednesday for the massacre of students by the army in 1968, in one of her first acts after taking office.

Historic funding round values OpenAI at $157 billion

New funding propelled ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to a valuation of $157 billion, the company said on Wednesday, sealing its place as the world leader on artificial intelligence.

Thunderstorms are a 'boiling pot' of gamma rays, scientists find

Big thunderstorms continuously emit gamma rays that are undetectable from the ground, two studies said on Wednesday, upending what was previously thought -- and potentially pointing towards a clue in the mystery of how lightning is sparked.

Scientists unlock secret of 'Girl With Pearl Earring'

Johannes Vermeer's "Girl With The Pearl Earring" is one of the world's most popular paintings -- and now scientists believe they know why, by measuring how the brain reacts when the work is viewed.

Webb telescope detects carbon dioxide on Pluto's largest moon

Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected carbon dioxide on the frozen surface of Pluto's biggest moon, Charon, for the first time, research revealed on Tuesday.

Scientists fear underfunded Argentina research on verge of collapse

Argentine biochemist Alejandro Nadra worries that President Javier Milei's budget cuts will undo his scientific quest to unravel the cause of genetic diseases that disable and kill millions.

Iran 'news' sites, hackers target Trump ahead of US election

Iran is ramping up efforts to interfere with the US election with fake "news" websites and hackers targeting Donald Trump, American officials and researchers say, as the Republican nominee reported threats on his life from the Islamic republic.

Japan's speedy, spotless Shinkansen bullet trains turn 60

Her white-gloved, waistcoated uniform impeccable, 22-year-old Hazuki Okuno boards a bullet train replica to rehearse the strict protocols behind the smooth operation of a Japanese institution turning 60 Tuesday.

Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet

Europe has embarked on the mission to put humans back on the Moon with a new lunar simulator launched in Germany, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet told AFP.

Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky Sun flypast

A comet is expected to risk having its tail clipped on Friday by flying perilously close to the Sun, promising fireworks next month should it survive the fraught flypast.

Macron, Trudeau pledge to work for 'decarbonized' economies

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday committed to work towards "open and decarbonized" economies and for international cooperation on artificial intelligence.

Macron meets Trudeau in Canada as both face political setbacks

French President Emmanuel Macron, fresh from his own political struggles back home, meets Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday in the wake of the Canadian leader's survival of a no-confidence vote.

Plane contrails: white fluffy contributors to global warming

The white, feathery lines behind airplanes that look like bits of harmless cloud are anything but, warn experts, who say they could have a greater environmental impact than the aviation sector's CO2 emissions.

Macron begins Canada visit focused on French connection and AI

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Canada Wednesday evening for a visit that will focus on the promotion of French language and artificial intelligence.

Nuking a huge asteroid could save Earth, lab experiment suggests

Humanity could use a nuclear bomb to deflect a massive, life-threatening asteroid hurtling towards Earth in the future, according to scientists who tested the theory in the labaratory by blasting X-rays at a marble-sized "mock asteroid".

Restarting nuclear power plants: the unprecedented gamble in the US

Two American energy companies are each preparing to bring a nuclear power station back into service, an unprecedented operation which should help meet the growing need for electricity in the United States.

Mysterious 18th century diamond necklace set for auction

A mysterious 18th century necklace made from around 500 diamonds, some of which are believed to have been taken from a piece that contributed to Marie Antoinette's demise, will go on sale in November, Sotheby's said on Monday.

Black Eyed Peas star harnesses AI for novel radio product

Unlike many artists, will.i.am, lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas, is not at war with artificial intelligence.

300-kilo WWI bomb removed in Belgrade

A century-old artillery round weighing nearly 300 kilogrammes (660 pounds), was safely removed on Sunday from a construction site near the Serbian Parliament in Belgrade, police said.

UN adopts pact promising to build 'brighter future' for humanity

The United Nations on Sunday adopted a "Pact for the Future" aimed at addressing sprawling 21st-century challenges ranging from conflict to climate change and human rights, despite last-minute objections from a group of countries led by Russia.

Can an ambitious Milei make Argentina an AI giant?

Argentina's President Javier Milei has plans to turn his country, which has one of the lowest rates of artificial intelligence (AI) use on the continent, into a world leader in the field.

How plastic pollution poses challenge for Canada marine conservation

One of the largest producers of plastic waste per capita, Canada is struggling to protect its designated marine protected areas from this pollution, experts warn.

AI development cannot be left to market whim, UN experts warn

The development of artificial intelligence should not be guided by market forces alone, UN experts cautioned on Thursday, calling for the creation of tools for global cooperation.

Zoom fatigue? Try some nature in your background: study

Feel drained after a long video call? Your tiredness could be partly linked to the background on your screen, according to a study published on Thursday which suggested trying an image depicting nature.

Snapchat pushes 'safer' platform image, but not everyone agrees

Snapchat, the popular teen-focused social network, is positioning itself as a healthier alternative to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which have faced criticism for their impact on youth mental health. However, not everyone is convinced.

Spacewalk an 'emotional experience' for private astronauts

The commander of the daring space voyage that included the first-ever spacewalk by private astronauts described opening the hatch into the void as an "emotional experience" that left him in awe, yet deeply aware of the dangers.

Germany's Scholz disappointed by delay to Intel chip plant

Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced disappointment Tuesday after US semiconductor giant Intel delayed plans to build a mega chip-making plant in Germany which had been championed by Berlin.

Where in the world is closest to becoming a '15-minute city'?

Paris and Milan are among the cities closest to reaching the urban planning goal of being a "15-minute city," while car-dependent metropolises in the United States and elsewhere lag behind, a worldwide analysis said Monday.

The stone-eaters that threaten Iran's ancient Persepolis

Conservationists at Persepolis, Iran's most iconic ancient site, are waging a delicate battle against an unlikely adversary: tiny but persistent lichens eroding the millennia-old monuments.

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