Argentine football legend Diego Maradona endured at least 12 hours of agony before his death, and his worsening condition should have been noticed by doctors days earlier, a forensic expert testified Thursday. Carlos Cassinelli, director of Forensic Medicine at the Scientific Police Superintendency, revealed details of the autopsy performed on Nov. 25, 2020, the day Maradona died while under home care in Tigre, Buenos Aires. “The heart was completely covered in fat and blood clots, which indicate agony,” Cassinelli said during the homicide trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of medical negligence. Autopsy Findings and Negligence AllegationsMaradona’s autopsy concluded that he died of acute pulmonary edema caused by congestive heart failure. “This is a patient who had been collecting water over the days; that’s not acute. This was something that was foreseeable,” Cassinelli stated. “Any doctor examining a patient would find this.” Argentina puts 7 healthcare workers on trial over Maradona’s death Prosecutors argue that the medical team responsible for Maradona’s care—including a neurosurgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, doctors, and nurses—failed to provide adequate treatment, which allegedly contributed to his death. During the investigation, witnesses reported noticing excessive swelling in Maradona’s face and abdomen in his final days. Medical Team on TrialAmong the accused are Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician for the last four years of his life, and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed medication that Maradona continued taking until his death. Court allows transfer of soccer great Diego Maradona's remains to public mausoleum The trial is expected to scrutinize the care Maradona received during his convalescence, with prosecutors seeking to establish whether medical negligence played a direct role in his passing. Source: With input from agency 

An ancient wasp may have zipped among the dinosaurs, with a body like a Venus flytrap to seize and snatch its prey, scientists reported Wednesday. The parasitic wasp's abdomen boasts a set of flappy paddles lined with thin bristles, resembling “a small bear trap attached to the end of it,” said study co-author Lars Vilhelmsen from the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Scientists uncovered over a dozen female wasps preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from the Kachin region in northern Myanmar. The wasp’s flaps and teeth-like hairs resemble the structure of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant, which snaps shut to digest unsuspecting insects. But the design of the wasp's getup made scientists think its trap was designed to cushion, not crush. Instead, researchers suggested the flytrap-like structure was used to hold a wriggly insect still while the wasp laid an egg, depositing a baby wasp to feed on and drain its new host. It's a playbook adapted by many parasitic wasps, including modern-day cuckoo and bethylid wasps, to exploit insects. But no known wasp or any other insect does so with bizarre flaps quite like this one. New two-clawed dinosaur species unearthed in Mongolia “I've seen a lot of strange insects, but this has to be one of the most peculiar-looking ones I've seen in a while,” said entomologist Lynn Kimsey from the University of California, Davis, who was not involved with the research. Scientists named the new wasp Sirenobethylus charybdis, partly for the sea monster from Greek mythology that stirred up wild whirlpools by swallowing and expelling water. The new study was published in the journal BMC Biology and included researchers from Capital Normal University and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum in China. It's unclear when the wasp went extinct. Studying unusual insects like this one can help scientists understand what insects are capable of and how different they can be. “We tend to think that the cool things are only found today," said Gabriel Melo, a wasp expert at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, who had no role in the study. "But when we have this opportunity, we see that many really exceptional, odd things already happened.”

Scientists have identified a rare dinosaur species with only two claws in Mongolia's Gobi Desert. Named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, this dinosaur belonged to the Therizinosaur group, which typically had three claws and walked on two legs.  Weighing around 260kg, the medium-sized dinosaur had distinctively long, curved claws. Researchers suggest these claws, coupled with strong flexing ability, helped it grasp vegetation efficiently. Therizinosaurs, a group of plant-eating or omnivorous theropods, lived in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous Period, which lasted from 145 to 66 million years ago, reports BBC.  Among them, Therizinosaurus—recognised for its enormous claws—gained fame through its appearance in ‘Jurassic World Dominion’. Describing the group, Dr Darla Zelenitsky, a study co-author from the University of Calgary, noted their "awkward" appearance.  The newly discovered specimen was excavated from the Bayanshiree Formation, a Late Cretaceous fossil site in the Gobi Desert, dating back 100.5 to 66 million years. Science, tradition combine to restore relics in Beijing UNESCO acknowledges the Mongolian Gobi as one of the world's richest sites for dinosaur fossils, particularly from the Cretaceous period—the final chapter of the dinosaur era.  The study highlighted that Duonychus tsogtbaatari’s claws measured nearly a foot in length, significantly exceeding the size of the underlying bone. Besides grasping, these two-fingered hands might have been used for digging, display, or even as weapons.  Although two-fingered dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex are well known, Duonychus developed this trait independently. The specimen also preserved the first-ever recorded keratinous sheath of a therizinosaur, a structure similar to human fingernails, which may have aided in movement, defence, or capturing prey.

The work is highly technical, taking place in a setting that resembles a laboratory rather than a museum. A fragment of a glazed roof tile from Beijing’s Forbidden City undergoes analysis in a cutting-edge X-ray diffraction machine, which generates images that are then displayed on computer screens. The fragment being examined has a darkened area on its surface, which restorers seek to identify. Their goal is to enhance the preservation of artifacts in the vast imperial palace, which served as the residence of China’s emperors and the centre of power for centuries. Researchers find potential to delay Alzheimer’s symptoms, but funding delays threaten progress “We want to determine what the black substance is,” said Kang Baoqiang, one of the restorers at the site, now a museum drawing visitors from around the globe. “Whether it originates from atmospheric sediment or is the result of significant internal changes.” A team of approximately 150 workers blends scientific analysis with traditional methods to clean, repair, and restore the museum’s collection of over 1.8 million relics. The collection includes scroll paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, ceramics, and, somewhat unexpectedly, elaborate antique clocks presented to emperors by early European visitors. In a room down the corridor from the X-ray facility, two restorers meticulously patch holes in a panel of patterned green silk featuring the Chinese character for “longevity,” carefully applying colour in a technique known as “inpainting.” This piece is believed to have been a birthday gift for Empress Dowager Cixi, the influential figure behind the throne in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Much of the restoration work is painstaking and repetitive, often taking months to complete. “I don’t have grand ambitions about protecting traditional cultural heritage, as some people say,” remarked Wang Nan, one of the restorers. “I simply find satisfaction in the sense of accomplishment when an antique piece is restored.” Now a major tourist attraction in central Beijing, the Forbidden City was named by foreigners during imperial times because access was largely restricted. Officially, it is known as the Palace Museum. During World War II, many of its treasures were swiftly removed to prevent them from falling into the hands of the invading Japanese army. Later, during the civil war that led to the Communist Party’s rise to power in 1949, the defeated Nationalists transported many of the most valuable items to Taiwan, where they are now housed in the National Palace Museum. Since then, Beijing’s Palace Museum has rebuilt its collection. How will the universe end? A changing understanding of dark energy may provide a new answer Restoration techniques have also progressed, noted Qu Feng, head of the museum’s Conservation Department, though traditional methods remain the foundation of their work. “When we restore an antique, we safeguard the cultural values it embodies,” Qu said. “And that is our ultimate objective.”

New research suggests that an experimental treatment may delay Alzheimer’s symptoms in individuals genetically predisposed to the disease, potentially offering hope for those who would otherwise experience symptoms in their 40s or 50s. However, the research, which is facing funding delays under the Trump administration, has left participants worried about losing access to a promising lifeline. The early results, which were published Wednesday, mark a scientific first. "It’s still a study, but it has given me an extension to my life that I never banked on having," said Jake Heinrichs from New York City. Heinrichs, now 50, has been part of the study for over a decade and remains symptom-free despite carrying an Alzheimer’s-causing gene that claimed the lives of his father and brother at similar ages. Heinrichs' wife, Rachel Chavkin, voiced concerns over the potential loss of funding, saying, “How much time do we have? This trial is life.” Currently, two U.S.-approved drugs can modestly slow the worsening of early-stage Alzheimer’s by targeting amyloid, a sticky substance that builds up in the brain. However, this new research is the first to suggest that removing amyloid many years before symptoms appear may help delay the disease. The study, led by Washington University in St. Louis, focuses on families with rare gene mutations that almost guarantee Alzheimer’s symptoms at a specific age. This information helps researchers measure the effects of treatments. The latest findings, published in Lancet Neurology, reveal that long-term amyloid removal halved the risk of symptom onset for a group of 22 participants who had received treatment for an average of eight years. Despite the study's small size, neuroscientist David Gate from Northwestern University, who was not involved in the research, emphasized the significance of the findings. The participants have now transitioned from an earlier experimental drug to Leqembi, an IV treatment approved in the U.S., to continue the research. "What we want to determine over the next five years is how strong is the protection," said Dr. Randall Bateman of Washington University, who leads the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network. However, Bateman has faced funding delays from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as reviews were canceled and grant approvals stalled. This is part of a larger issue, with millions of dollars in Alzheimer’s research being delayed due to NIH funding restrictions and mass firings. Adding to the uncertainty, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, nominated to lead the NIH, recently commented that the agency had not supported a sufficiently broad range of Alzheimer’s research. He speculated that NIH’s focus might shift away from amyloid research. Alzheimer’s, which affects nearly 7 million Americans, remains poorly understood, though amyloid buildup in the brain is known to play a significant role in triggering cognitive decline. Researchers are now testing tau-fighting drugs and exploring other potential causes, such as inflammation, immune cells, and viruses. While some scientists, like Gate, believe that amyloid is not the only factor, there is still no clear evidence to disprove the amyloid hypothesis. For now, families with Alzheimer’s-causing genes are helping answer whether blocking amyloid buildup can delay symptoms. Without NIH funding, Bateman warns that this opportunity could be lost. Longtime study participant June Ward, 64, from North Carolina, expressed frustration over the funding delays, saying, “It’s absolutely insane.” Ward, whose mother developed Alzheimer’s symptoms two years earlier, is hopeful that the treatment could prevent her from experiencing the same fate. In New York, Heinrichs shared his hope that his 3-year-old son won’t have to endure the same challenges he faced growing up. “We need the NIH to be not politicized,” added Chavkin. “It’s just about keeping people alive or helping them live better. And in this case, it’s helping my husband survive.”

Scientists are homing in on the nature of a mysterious force called dark energy, and nothing short of the fate of the universe hangs in the balance. The force is enormous — it makes up nearly 70% of the universe. And it is powerful — it is pushing all the stars and galaxies away from each other at an ever faster rate. And now scientists are getting a little closer to understanding how it behaves. The big question is whether this dark energy is a constant force, which scientists have long thought, or whether the force is weakening, a surprising wrinkle tentatively proposed last year. Results presented at a meeting of the American Physical Society Wednesday bolster the case that the force is weakening, though scientists are not yet certain and they still haven't worked out what this means for the rest of their understanding of the universe. The updated findings come from an international research collaboration that is creating a three-dimensional map to see how galaxies have spread and clustered over 11 billion years of the universe’s history. Carefully tracking how galaxies move helps scientists learn about the forces that are moving them around. Called the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, the collaboration released its first analysis of 6 million galaxies and quasars last year and has now added more data, bringing the count to nearly 15 million. Their updated results, taken with other measurements — exploding stars, leftover light from the young universe and distortions in galaxy shape — support the idea presented last year that dark energy may be waning. “It's moving from a really surprising finding to almost a moment where we have to throw out how we've thought about cosmology and start over,” said Bhuvnesh Jain, a cosmologist with the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved with the research. It's not time to completely rule out the idea that dark energy is constant because the new results are still shy of the gold standard level of statistical proof physics requires. The collaboration aims to map around 50 million galaxies and quasars by the end of its survey in 2026. And other efforts around the globe have an eye on dark energy and aim to release their own data in the coming years, including the European Space Agency’s Euclid mission and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. European telescope reveals new images of distant galaxies “We want to see several different collaborations having similar measurements” at that gold standard to be sure that dark energy is weakening, said cosmologist Kris Pardo with the University of Southern California who was not involved with the new research. If dark energy is constant, scientists say our universe may continue to expand forever, growing ever colder, lonelier and still. If dark energy ebbs with time, which now seems plausible, the universe could one day stop expanding and then eventually collapse on itself in what’s called the Big Crunch. It might not seem like the cheeriest fate, but it offers some closure, said cosmologist and study collaborator Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki of the University of Texas at Dallas. “Now, there is the possibility that everything comes to an end,” he said. “Would we consider that a good or bad thing? I don’t know.”

A European space telescope, launched to investigate the dark universe, has unveiled a wealth of new data on distant galaxies. On Wednesday, the European Space Agency's Euclid observatory released images and other information, offering a glimpse of three cosmic regions that the mission will explore in greater detail. These observations aim to map the shapes and positions of galaxies billions of light years away, with a light year equating to nearly 6 trillion miles. Blue ghost lander captures stunning Lunar sunset before falling silent Launched in 2023 from Florida, the observatory is working on creating a cosmic map to gather insights into the workings of our expanding universe and the roles of dark energy and dark matter—two mysterious forces that constitute the majority of the universe, yet remain poorly understood. Over the course of six years, the mission aims to capture images of more than 1.5 billion galaxies. NASA’s stranded astronauts finally head home after nine months in space

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the acquisition of a radar system from Australia and an expansion of military operations in the Arctic to reinforce the country’s sovereignty in the increasingly contested region. According to the prime minister’s office, the Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) system, valued at CAD 6 billion (USD 4.2 billion), will enhance early warning capabilities, extending radar coverage from the Canada-U.S. border into the Arctic. Carney made the announcement at a military base in Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit, following diplomatic visits to Paris and London. “Defending our Arctic sovereignty is a key priority,” Carney stated. “Canada is, and always will be, an Arctic nation.” The Australian radar system consists of a series of pillars spanning nearly 1.6 kilometers (one mile) and is expected to have a smaller footprint than similar American systems. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the deal, calling it a significant export if finalized. He spoke with Carney the previous night, expressing surprise at the geopolitical tensions unfolding between Canada and the U.S. Canadian government officials, speaking anonymously, indicated that the deal has been well received by top military figures in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the joint U.S.-Canadian military command. However, they were uncertain about Washington’s political response to the purchase. US military targets Houthi radar sites in Yemen after merchant sailor goes missing Carney also unveiled a CAD 420 million (USD 294 million) investment to bolster Canada’s Arctic military presence, including expanded operations, training exercises, and additional personnel deployment. The initiative aims to establish a more consistent year-round presence in the region. During his visit, Carney’s flight path passed over Greenland, an area that has drawn interest from U.S. President Donald Trump as part of his “America First” foreign policy strategy. His administration has made controversial remarks about annexing Greenland and even suggested Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. “Our historically aligned priorities with the United States are beginning to diverge,” Carney observed. Trump has reportedly threatened economic measures to pressure Canada into statehood, a stance that has provoked backlash among Canadians. His rhetoric has unexpectedly boosted the political standing of Canada’s governing Liberal Party, which had been facing a potential electoral defeat but now sees renewed support. Carney is expected to call a general election within days. The U.S. president has also imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and has hinted at broader trade restrictions. Carney and Trump have yet to speak since Carney assumed office as prime minister and Liberal Party leader over a week ago. Carney stated that he will engage in a comprehensive discussion with Trump at an appropriate time, covering a range of bilateral issues. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to make dismissive remarks about Canada, reiterating on Fox News that the country “was meant to be the 51st state.” He suggested that his approach to Canada is harsher than his dealings with America's adversaries. Russia donates two military helicopters, radar station to Kyrgyzstan He further downplayed the upcoming Canadian election, expressing indifference toward the outcome, particularly regarding the Conservative candidate. Carney’s visit to Iqaluit highlights its significance as the largest settlement in Nunavut, a vast Arctic territory home to around 40,000 people. The remote region, about the size of Alaska and California combined, remains largely inaccessible by road or rail. The Arctic has increasingly become a focal point for geopolitical disputes, climate change concerns, and economic interests, making Canada’s efforts to assert sovereignty and strengthen security measures all the more pressing. Source: With input from agency 

A private lunar lander has captured the first high-definition images of a sunset on the moon, providing breathtaking visuals before shutting down. Firefly Aerospace and NASA released the images on Tuesday, showcasing the lunar sunset and, in one frame, the distant glow of Venus. The photos were taken shortly before the Blue Ghost lander lost power over the weekend due to a lack of solar energy. The Blue Ghost touched down on the moon on March 2, becoming the first private spacecraft to land upright and complete its entire mission. It continued collecting scientific data and taking images for five hours into the lunar night before falling silent. NASA’s Joel Kearns described the sunset images as the firs t high-resolution photographs of the phenomenon from the moon. Scientists will now analyze the photos, particularly one that appears to capture a horizon glow, possibly caused by levitating lunar dust—a theory proposed more than 50 years ago by Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan, the last person to walk on the moon. NASA’s stranded astronauts finally head home after nine months in space “What we have is a truly beautiful, artistic image that also presents some intriguing scientific features,” Kearns said during a news conference. As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Blue Ghost carried 10 experiments to the lunar surface. While the mission was successful in achieving its objectives, an onboard drill intended to penetrate 10 feet (3 meters) into the lunar surface only managed to reach 3 feet (1 meter). NASA's stranded astronauts greet their replacements at space station Despite the loss of power, Firefly Aerospace plans to attempt a restart of the lander in early April, following the two-week-long lunar night. However, engineers remain uncertain whether it will be able to power back up after enduring the extreme cold. Source: With input from agency

NASA’s two astronauts, who were stranded in space for months due to a failed Boeing test flight, are finally returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams departed the International Space Station early Tuesday, accompanied by two other astronauts. Their SpaceX capsule undocked in the early hours and is set to splash down off Florida’s coast by evening, depending on weather conditions. Originally, Wilmore and Williams were scheduled for a brief mission after launching aboard Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule on June 5. However, multiple technical failures forced NASA to send Starliner back empty, leaving the astronauts stranded. Their return was pushed to February and later delayed again due to SpaceX capsule issues. With their replacements arriving on Sunday, NASA expedited their departure to avoid potential weather disruptions. The pair left the space station alongside NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, who had arrived months earlier with two open seats reserved for them. “We'll miss you, but have a great journey home,” NASA astronaut Anne McClain radioed as the capsule separated from the station, orbiting 260 miles (418 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean. Their prolonged stay captivated global attention, with many joking they were “stuck at work.” While other astronauts have spent longer periods in space, few have faced such prolonged uncertainty about their return. During their unexpected extended mission, Wilmore and Williams integrated into the station’s operations, carrying out research, equipment repairs, and even spacewalks. Williams, with 62 hours logged across nine spacewalks, set a new record for the most time spent outside a spacecraft by a female astronaut. She also took command of the space station three months into their stay, holding the position until earlier this month. NASA's stranded astronauts greet their replacements at space station The mission took a political turn in January when former President Donald Trump urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to accelerate their return, blaming delays on the Biden administration. SpaceX, still preparing a new capsule for the replacement crew, instead opted to send a previously used one, helping to expedite their departure by several weeks. Despite the controversy, Wilmore and Williams maintained their professionalism, expressing support for NASA’s decisions throughout their time in orbit. NASA initially contracted both SpaceX and Boeing to transport astronauts after the retirement of the space shuttle program. The goal was to have two U.S. companies providing crewed flights to the station until its planned decommissioning in 2030. By then, the orbiting laboratory will have operated for over 30 years, with private companies expected to take over low-Earth orbit research while NASA shifts focus to the Moon and Mars. Both retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams said they didn’t mind the extended mission, comparing it to long military deployments. However, they acknowledged the personal sacrifices—Wilmore, 62, missed much of his daughter’s senior year of high school, while Williams, 59, could only communicate with her mother via space-to-ground internet calls. SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA's stuck astronauts after launch pad problem Their long-awaited reunion with family will have to wait a bit longer—after splashdown, they’ll be transported to Houston before finally seeing their loved ones in person. Source: With input from agency