United News of Bangladesh

For generations, humans have wondered what alien life might look like, but rarely consider what extraterrestrials would think of us. The answer, according to experts, might be uncomfortable. “If I were looking at Earth from a distance, I would be pretty disappointed,” says theoretical physicist Avi Loeb. “Most of our investing is in preventing conflicts. Look at the Ukraine war over a little territory. That is not a sign of intelligence.” Loeb leads Harvard’s Galileo Project, which searches for evidence of extraterrestrial technological artifacts. He suggests aliens might be observing humanity to ensure we aren’t a threat—or laughing at us. Interest in UFOs and UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) has surged recently. Former President Barack Obama confirmed aliens are “real” but unseen, while Donald Trump ordered the release of government files amid public curiosity. The U.S. heads back to the moon with NASA’s Artemis II mission, fueling further fascination. The American UFO narrative stretches back decades, from the 1947 Roswell debris to Star Trek’s “First Contact Day.” Experts note much of popular culture portrays aliens as aggressive, reflecting humanity’s projection of its own conflicts. According to SETI Institute President Bill Diamond, the search for life is driven by the desire to know we are not alone. Many Americans share this curiosity; a 2021 Pew survey found two-thirds believe intelligent life exists elsewhere, and about half see military UFO reports as evidence. Former NOAA official Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet emphasizes that UAPs are real, with some encounters involving near-collisions with aircraft. Government secrecy, he says, often relates to national security and defense technologies. University of Michigan astronomer Edwin Bergin notes that if intelligent beings could traverse interstellar distances, they would likely make their presence known. “I would think they would look at us like we were crazy … but they would come out,” he says. Diamond concludes, “If any civilization has mastered interstellar travel, they have capabilities beyond our comprehension. If they want to be seen, they will; if not, they won’t.”

Astronauts aboard Artemis II have captured striking images of Earth as they continue their historic journey toward the moon. NASA released the crew’s first transmitted photos on Friday, about a day and a half after launch — marking the first human mission toward the moon in more than 50 years. One image, taken by mission commander Reid Wiseman, shows a curved section of Earth through the spacecraft window. Another reveals the full planet, its blue oceans streaked with swirling white clouds and even a faint green aurora visible from space. “It’s remarkable to think that everyone on Earth, except the four astronauts, is captured in that image,” said NASA official Lakiesha Hawkins, noting that the mission is progressing smoothly. By Friday afternoon, the four-member crew — three Americans and one Canadian — had traveled more than 110,000 miles (180,000 kilometers) from Earth and were steadily closing in on the moon, with about 150,000 miles (240,000 kilometers) remaining. They are expected to reach the lunar vicinity on Monday. Flying aboard the Orion spacecraft, the astronauts will circle the moon before making a return journey to Earth without landing. The spacecraft was set on its trajectory after a key engine burn shortly after launch. Following a repositioning maneuver by Mission Control, the astronauts were treated to a breathtaking view of the entire Earth illuminated in their windows, complete with visible northern lights. “It was the most spectacular moment, and it stopped all of us in our tracks,” Wiseman said. The mission marks humanity’s first crewed lunar journey since Apollo 17 in 1972.  

NASA’s Artemis II astronauts fired their engines and blazed toward the moon Thursday night, breaking free of the chains that have trapped humanity in shallow laps around Earth in the decades since Apollo. The so-called translunar ignition came 25 hours after liftoff, putting the three Americans and a Canadian on course for a lunar fly-around early next week. Their Orion capsule bolted out of orbit around Earth right on cue and chased after the moon nearly 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) away. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am so, so excited to be able to tell you that for the first time since 1972 during Apollo 17, human beings have left Earth orbit,” NASA’s Lori Glaze announced at a news conference. The engine firing was flawless, she noted. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said he and his crewmates were glued to the capsule's windows as they left Earth in the rearview mirror, taking in the “phenomenal” views. Their faces were pressed so tightly against the windows that they had to wipe them clean. “Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the moon,” Hansen said. NASA had the Artemis II crew stick close to home for a day to test their capsule’s life-support systems before clearing them for lunar departure. Now committed to the moon, the Artemis II test flight is the opening act for NASA’s grand plans for a moon base and sustained lunar living. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen will dash past the moon then hang a U-turn and zip straight home without stopping on land. In the process, they will go the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 distance record set in 1970. They also may become the fastest during their reentry at flight’s end on April 10. History already madeGlover, Koch and Hansen already have made history as the first Black person, the first woman and the first non-U.S. citizen to launch to the moon. Apollo’s 24 lunar travelers were all white men. “Trust us, you look amazing. You look beautiful," Glover said in a TV interview after beholding the globe from pole to pole. "And from up here you also look like one thing: homo sapiens as all of us no matter where you’re from or what you look like, we’re all one people.” To set the mood for the day’s main event, Mission Control woke up the crew with John Legend’s “Green Light” featuring Andre 3000 and a medley of NASA teams cheering them. “We are ready to go,” Glover said. Mission Control gave the final go-ahead minutes before the critical engine firing, telling the astronauts that they were embarking on “humanity’s lunar homecoming arc” to bring them back to Earth. The capsule is relying on the gravity of Earth and the moon — termed a free-return lunar trajectory — to complete the round-trip figure-eight loop. The engine accelerated their capsule to more than 24,000 mph (38,000 kph) to shove them out of Earth's orbit. “I’ve got to tell you, there is nothing normal about this," Wiseman said. "Sending four humans 250,000 miles away is a herculean effort, and we are now just realizing the gravity of that.” Flight director Judd Frieling said he and his team were all business while on duty but will likely reflect on the momentousness of it all once they go home. “I suspect everybody understands that this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment," he told reporters. Savoring views of EarthThe next major milestone will be Monday’s lunar flyby. Orion will zoom 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) beyond the moon before turning back, providing unprecedented and illuminated views of the lunar far side, at least for human eyes. The cosmos will even treat the Artemis II astronauts to a total solar eclipse as the moon temporarily blocks the sun from their perspective. While awaiting their orbital departure earlier Thursday, the astronauts savored the views of Earth from tens of thousands of miles high. Koch told Mission Control that they can make out the entire coastlines of continents and even the South Pole, her old stomping ground. NASA is counting on the test flight to kickstart the entire Artemis program and lead to a moon landing by two astronauts in 2028. The so-called lunar loo may need some design tweaks, however. Orion's toilet malfunctioned as soon as the Artemis crew reached orbit Wednesday evening. Mission Control guided astronaut Koch through some plumbing tricks and she finally got it going, but not before having to resort to using contingency urine storage bags. The urine pouches are serving double duty. Mission Control ordered the crew to fill a bunch of the empty bags with water from the capsule’s dispenser on Thursday. A valve issue arose with the dispenser following liftoff, and NASA wanted plenty of drinking water on hand for the crew in case the problem recurred. The astronauts used straws and syringes to fill the pouches with more than 2 gallons (7 liters) worth before pivoting to the moon.

Four astronauts blasted off on a high-stakes journey around the moon on Wednesday, marking humanity’s first lunar mission in more than 50 years and a major step in NASA’s plan to land humans on the moon again within two years. The 32-storey Space Launch System rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center carrying three Americans and one Canadian, as tens of thousands of spectators gathered to witness the historic launch. Roads and nearby beaches were packed with onlookers, evoking scenes from the Apollo-era moon missions of the 1960s and 1970s. The mission represents NASA’s most significant progress yet toward building a sustained human presence on the moon. “On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation,” launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told the crew moments before liftoff. “Good luck, Godspeed Artemis II. Let’s go.” Artemis II departed from the same launch site used during the Apollo missions. Surviving Apollo astronauts watched as the rocket roared into the evening sky, heading toward a nearly full moon about 248,000 miles away. Five minutes after launch, commander Reid Wiseman spotted the moon. “We have a beautiful moonrise, we’re headed right at it,” he said from the capsule. He is joined by pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The crew is the most diverse ever sent on a lunar mission, including the first woman, the first person of colour and the first non-American astronaut to travel to the moon aboard NASA’s Orion capsule. “NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said after liftoff, describing the long gap since the last mission as a brief pause. Launch challenges overcome Tension surrounded the launch preparations earlier in the day as hydrogen fuel began flowing into the rocket. Previous tests had revealed dangerous hydrogen leaks, causing significant delays. However, NASA reported no major leaks this time, allowing more than 700,000 gallons of fuel to be loaded smoothly. Engineers also resolved last-minute technical issues involving battery sensors and communication with the rocket’s flight termination system, clearing the way for liftoff. Details of the 10-day mission The astronauts will remain in orbit around Earth for the first 25 hours of their 10-day mission, conducting system checks before firing the main engine to begin their journey to the moon. Unlike Apollo 8, they will not enter lunar orbit. Instead, their capsule will fly past the moon and travel about 4,000 miles beyond it, making them the most distant humans ever, before looping back to Earth for a Pacific Ocean splashdown. While in Earth orbit, the crew practiced manual control of the capsule, maneuvering close to the rocket’s upper stage to test handling in case of automated system failure. Unique views and experiments During the lunar flyby, the moon will appear as large as a basketball held at arm’s length. The astronauts will observe and photograph its surface, potentially capturing views never before seen by humans. They will also witness part of a total solar eclipse, using protective glasses as the moon briefly blocks the sun. NASA officials said the success of Artemis II is critical to future missions aimed at establishing a long-term lunar base supported by robotic systems. It has been more than three years since Artemis I, which flew without a crew. Artemis II introduces life-support systems, including water and waste management, increasing mission complexity. NASA plans to wait a full day before committing to the full lunar trajectory. However, technical issues have already emerged. Christina Koch reported that the capsule’s toilet malfunctioned shortly after activation. Mission control advised using a backup system while engineers work on a solution. “There’s always been a lot riding on this mission,” NASA official Lori Glaze said before launch, adding that teams are now more motivated as the agency accelerates its lunar programme. A new era of lunar exploration NASA officials say Artemis marks a new chapter in space exploration, especially for generations that did not witness the Apollo missions. “This is their Apollo,” said NASA science chief Nicky Fox, noting that many people alive today were not born during the original moon landings. Unlike the short-term Apollo missions driven by Cold War competition, Artemis aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon, with ambitions extending to Mars. NASA is also racing against China’s lunar ambitions. The current plan targets a return to the moon’s surface near the south pole by 2028 under Artemis IV, following earlier preparatory missions. Like Apollo 13, Artemis II will use a free-return trajectory, relying on the gravitational pull of the Earth and moon to guide the spacecraft on its path. Risks remain Despite the excitement, NASA acknowledges significant risks. The agency has not disclosed detailed risk assessments, though officials say the mission’s success probability is better than 50 percent, typical for a new rocket system. The Space Launch System has faced persistent issues, including hydrogen leaks and delays, as well as damage observed in Artemis I’s heat shield. While Wednesday’s launch proceeded without leaks, uncertainties remain. Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke expressed support for the mission, sending a message of encouragement to the crew. During a recent briefing, Koch highlighted the mission’s broader significance, saying the journey to Mars begins with returning to the moon. “It is our strong hope that this mission is the start of an era where everyone on Earth can look at the moon and think of it as also a destination,” she said. Victor Glover added, “It’s the story of humanity — not Black history or women’s history, but human history.”

NASA has launched the countdown for humanity’s first crewed mission to the Moon in more than five decades, with liftoff targeted for Wednesday evening. The 32-storey Space Launch System rocket is set to carry four astronauts into space. After spending about a day orbiting Earth, their Orion spacecraft will head toward the Moon, perform a flyby and return directly without landing. The mission is expected to last nearly 10 days, ending with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. “Our team has worked extremely hard to get us to this moment,” said launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, adding that all systems are currently in excellent condition. Officials said the rocket is performing well after recent repairs, while weather forecasts indicate favourable launch conditions. The Artemis II mission was initially scheduled for February but was delayed due to hydrogen fuel leaks. Although those issues were resolved, a clogged helium pressurisation line forced the rocket back to the hangar last month. It returned to the launch pad about a week and a half ago, and the joint US-Canadian crew arrived at the site on Friday. Unlike the Apollo program missions between 1968 and 1972, which included only male astronauts, Artemis II features a more diverse crew, including a woman, a person of colour and a non-US citizen. Mission pilot Victor Glover said he hopes the mission will inspire young people, especially those from underrepresented communities, to see themselves reflected in space exploration. At the same time, he expressed hope that such “firsts” will eventually no longer be notable as space travel becomes a shared human endeavour. NASA has a launch window through the first six days of April, after which it will pause attempts until later in the month.

A new study from the University of Michigan suggests that nitrile and latex gloves commonly used by scientists could be causing microplastics levels in environmental studies to appear higher than they actually are. Researchers found that particles from these gloves can unintentionally transfer onto lab tools used to analyze air, water, and other samples. The contamination originates from stearates, soap-like, salt-based substances added to disposable gloves to help them separate during manufacturing. While not plastics themselves, stearates can resemble certain microplastics in testing, potentially leading to false positive results. To address this, U-M researchers Madeline Clough and Anne McNeil recommend the use of cleanroom gloves, which release far fewer particles. McNeil emphasized that the study does not undermine the real threat of microplastics. “We may be overestimating microplastics, but there should be none,” she said. Clough added, “We’re searching for the needle in the haystack, but there really shouldn't be a needle to begin with.” The research, led by Clough, a recent doctoral graduate, was published in RSC Analytical Methods and supported by the U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts’ Meet the Moment Research Initiative. Tracing the source of inflated results The discovery arose during a collaborative project on airborne microplastics in Michigan, involving U-M departments of Chemistry, Statistics, and Climate and Space Sciences Engineering. Clough and McNeil, working with faculty and students including chemistry professor Andy Ault, graduate students Rebecca Parham and Abbygail Ayala, collected air samples using metal-surfaced air samplers. Light-based spectroscopy was then used to analyze particle types. During preparation, Clough wore nitrile gloves as standard practice. However, initial results showed microplastics counts thousands of times higher than expected. “It led to a wild goose chase trying to figure out where this contamination could have come from,” Clough said, eventually tracing it to the gloves. Glove testing reveals widespread contamination The team tested seven types of gloves, including nitrile, latex, and cleanroom varieties, under typical lab conditions such as handling filters, microscope slides, and other equipment. The experiments showed that routine contact transferred particles from gloves to surfaces, introducing an average of around 2,000 false positive signals per square millimeter. Cleanroom gloves performed significantly better, releasing far fewer particles due to the absence of stearate coatings and their design for controlled environments. Distinguishing real microplastics from false positives Using scanning electron and light-based microscopy, the researchers found stearates are visually almost identical to polyethylene, a common plastic. Clough and McNeil, along with graduate student Eduardo Ochoa Rivera and statistics professor Ambuj Tewari, developed methods to separate true microplastics from glove-related contamination, enabling scientists to revisit previous datasets for more accurate assessments. “For microplastics researchers who have these impacted datasets, there’s still hope to recover them and find a true quantity of microplastics,” Clough said. The study highlights the critical role of chemistry expertise in microplastics research, especially in identifying subtle material differences. “This field is very challenging because there’s plastic everywhere,” McNeil said. “But that’s why we need chemists and people who understand chemical structure to be working in this field.” #From Science Daily

NASA is preparing to launch four astronauts on its first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, as the Artemis II program aims to revisit the moon while drawing inevitable comparisons with the historic Apollo missions. Unlike Apollo 8, which first orbited the moon, Artemis II will follow a safer out-and-back trajectory. The mission also reflects broader societal representation, including a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian astronaut among the crew. Christina Koch, part of Artemis II, said the mission “builds on Apollo” but “could never be the same.” Artemis II astronauts arrive at Florida launch site for first moon trip in 53 years Apollo reached the moon in just eight years after America’s first manned spaceflight, while Artemis has advanced more slowly amid shifting targets between the moon and Mars. NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) has flown only once in an uncrewed test. New NASA administrator Jared Isaacman recently restructured the program, adding a mission before the planned moon landing now set for Artemis IV in 2028.

A newly discovered fossil from northern Egypt is reshaping scientists’ understanding of early ape evolution and the origins of modern humans. The find suggests that the closest ancestors of today’s apes may have lived in northern Africa, not East Africa as previously believed. The fossil, dating back around 17–18 million years, belongs to a newly identified species named ‘Masripithecus moghraensis’. Experts say it represents the closest known relative to the lineage that eventually led to all living apes, including humans. Researchers David Alba and Júlia Arias-Martorell note that the discovery “confirms paleontologists may have been looking for early hominoid ancestors in the wrong region.” Most scientists agree that the first apes appeared in Afro-Arabia more than 25 million years ago and later spread into Eurasia between 14 and 16 million years ago. However, the exact origin of modern apes has remained unclear because fossils from this period are rare and scattered. Large parts of Africa remain unexplored, limiting researchers’ understanding of early ape diversity. The fossil, unearthed in the Wadi Moghra area, offers new insights into ape diversity during a critical period when Afro-Arabia was becoming connected to Eurasia, allowing species to migrate beyond Africa. Using a Bayesian “tip-dating” method, which combines fossil age with anatomical features, scientists confirmed that ‘Masripithecus’ was a stem hominoid closely related to the ancestors of modern apes. The study suggests that modern apes may have originated in northern Afro-Arabia, the Levant, or the eastern Mediterranean, challenging long-held assumptions and highlighting gaps in knowledge about early ape and human evolution. Source: Science Daily

The Artemis II astronauts arrived Friday at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, joining the towering Space Launch System rocket set to carry them around the moon, the first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century. Commander Reid Wiseman flew in from Houston with crewmates NASA’s Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen. The arrival marked their closest step yet to launch, after months of delays caused by rocket fuel leaks and technical issues. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell, and dozens of NASA officials and journalists greeted the crew. “Hey, let’s go to the moon!” Wiseman shouted to the crowd. Hansen added, “So ‘Allons-y!’ — French for let’s go.” NASA is targeting liftoff as early as Wednesday, with a narrow window in the first week of April before a nearly month-long pause. Wiseman cautioned the launch could slip to May or June, noting the rocket has only flown once before, an uncrewed test mission in 2022. The Orion capsule atop the rocket will carry the four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the moon, ending with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The Artemis II mission is the first step in NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to build a sustainable lunar base. Upcoming milestones include a 2027 lunar lander demonstration and one or two crewed lunar landings in 2028. Koch described the evolving program as “motivating and inspiring,” likening it to a relay race that drives the team forward.

Migratory freshwater fish populations are declining rapidly worldwide due to dams, pollution and overfishing, preventing many species from reaching their breeding grounds, according to a new report backed by the United Nations. The report highlights species such as the golden mahseer and goonch catfish among 30 priority fish identified for urgent conservation. Researchers assessed more than 15,000 migratory freshwater fish species — nearly half of all fish species — and found their populations have dropped by about 81% over the past 50 years. Scientists say these fish are vital for food security and livelihoods. “Freshwater fish support hundreds of millions of people around the world,” said Zeb Hogan of the University of Nevada, Reno, a co-author of the report. He added that these species provide food for around 200 million people globally. The study, supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, identified 325 species needing global monitoring and protection, including culturally significant fish such as the Atlantic salmon. Experts say habitat loss caused by dams and river barriers is a major threat. Michele Thieme of World Wildlife Fund said river fragmentation prevents fish from reaching spawning grounds. Migration routes in Europe are especially affected, with barriers found roughly every kilometre. Janina Gray of WildFish said these obstacles weaken fish, making them more vulnerable to disease and predators. Researchers called for urgent action to remove barriers, reduce overfishing and protect habitats to help migratory fish populations recover. Source: BBC