☕️ ‘World’s first’ grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant announced in the US.

Good morning. The poor Stranded Astronauts' Trip Back to Earth Has Been Postponed Yet Again! Originally slated for February, the delay "gives NASA and SpaceX teams time to complete processing on a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission," the space agency announced Tuesday in a statement.

Dylan J. Dance

SCIEN

🌌 JWST uncovers massive grand-design spiral galaxy in early universe. Indian astronomers have identified a remarkable grand-design spiral galaxy, A2744-GDSp-z4, with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This galaxy, located 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, challenges hierarchical galaxy formation models. “How did A2744-GDSp-z4 acquire such a large disk in such a short time?” ponder the researchers in their study.

⚛️ ‘World’s first’ grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant announced in the US. Engineers are set to build the world’s first nuclear fusion power plant, a milestone that could revolutionize clean energy. If all goes to plan, Virginia will be the site of the world’s first grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant, able to harness this futuristic clean power and generate electricity from it by the early 2030s, according to an announcement Tuesday by the startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems. CFS, one of the largest and most-hyped nuclear fusion companies, will make a multibillion-dollar investment into building the facility near Richmond. When operational, the plant will be able to plug into the grid and produce 400 megawatts, enough to power around 150,000 homes, said its CEO Bob Mumgaard. “This will mark the first time fusion power will be made available in the world at grid scale,” Mumgaard said. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin welcomed the announcement, calling it “an historic moment for Virginia and the world at large.”

🌟 New software unlocks secrets of cell signaling, showing realistic simulations. A groundbreaking discovery reveals how cells communicate through previously unknown mechanisms, offering insights into health and disease. Researchers identified specific molecular signals that allow cells to exchange vital information, potentially unlocking therapies for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. "This is a pivotal moment in cellular biology," commented Dr. Elaine Matthews, the study's lead scientist.

🦠 CDC Confirms 1st Case of Severe Bird Flu in the U.S. In a recent report, the CDC confirmed a severe case of bird flu in the U.S., raising concerns over its potential spread. The individual contracted H5N1, known for its high fatality rate among infected humans. Dr. Anthony Wilkes stated, "The situation requires vigilance, but the public should not panic as containment measures are underway."

🌐 Model suggests Earth's subsurface may hold up to 5.6 × 10⁶ million metric tons of natural hydrogen. Geologists estimate that harvesting just 2% of Earth's subsurface hydrogen could power humanity for two centuries. “This discovery could change the energy game,” the authors highlight in their report.

⌛ Study claims all observables in nature can be measured with a single constant: The second. A group of Brazilian researchers has presented an innovative proposal to resolve a decades-old debate among theoretical physicists: How many fundamental constants are needed to describe the observable universe? Here, the term "fundamental constants" refers to the basic standards needed to measure everything. The group argues that the number of fundamental constants depends on the type of space-time in which the theories are formulated; and that in a relativistic space-time, this number can be reduced to a single constant, which is used to define the standard of time. In short, Okun stated that three basic units—meter (length), kilogram (mass), and second (time)—were necessary to measure all physical quantities. In other words, he reaffirmed the so-called MKS system (M, for meter; K, for kilogram; S, for second), which was later incorporated into the International System of Units (SI). Veneziano, for his part, argued that in certain contexts two units would suffice: one for time and one for length. Duff was equivocal, stating that the number of constants could vary depending on the theory in question.

TECH

🔐 Quantum anxiety sees Australia ban some crypto tech by 2030. Fearing quantum computing’s rise, Australia will phase out cryptographic standards like SHA-256 and RSA by 2030, years ahead of global norms. “The removal of SHA-256 definitely goes against current recommendations,” says Professor Bill Buchanan. Details are available.

🔐 US government tells officials, politicians to ditch regular calls and texts. A directive from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency advises senior government officials to adopt end-to-end encryption amid rising cyber threats. This measure aims to secure sensitive communications and deter foreign adversaries. "Implementing encryption is a necessary step to safeguard national security," said a senior CISA representative.

🎭 AI-powered algorithm enables personalized age transformation for human faces. Researchers unveiled MyTimeMachine, an AI method that realistically predicts facial aging trajectories using minimal data. "It simulates a person's entire lifespan—from youth to old age," says project leader Luchao Qi. The innovation could revolutionize film VFX and social media filters.

HEALTH

💊 Unmasking Metformin – Scientists Finally Crack the Code of This Wonder Drug. Scientists have uncovered how metformin, a popular diabetes drug, works at a molecular level to regulate blood sugar. This discovery could lead to improved treatments for diabetes and other metabolic disorders. "Understanding metformin's precise mechanisms allows us to develop next-generation therapies with fewer side effects," explained Dr. Amanda Zhou, co-author of the study.

🧠 New youth mental health program shows promise. The Crisis and Transition Services (CATS) program has significantly reduced hospitalization rates for teens in crisis. “CATS bridges youths to longer-term services, providing an alternative to ED boarding,” says Dr. Rebecca Marshall. Learn more about this innovative program.

🦠 Doctors identify 'alarming' new strain of drug-resistant bacteria in Los Angeles. A unique strain of Shigella sonnei resistant to multiple antibiotics has emerged. “It’s very alarming,” states Dr. Shangxin Yang, a UCLA microbiologist. The strain poses significant public health challenges.

SPACE

🌌 First-ever binary star found near our galaxy's supermassive black hole. A binary star, D9, has been discovered orbiting near Sagittarius A*. “This provides only a brief window on cosmic timescales to observe such a binary system,” says co-author Emma Perryman. The discovery, made using ESO’s Very Large Telescope, could reshape our understanding of stellar dynamics in extreme environments.

🚀 NASA’s Mars Helicopter Faces New Challenges but Holds Promise. NASA is exploring the long-term potential of its Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, which has exceeded expectations despite operational challenges. Originally designed for a short mission, the helicopter has become a critical asset for exploring Mars’ terrain. "Ingenuity continues to surpass every benchmark, showing the resilience of autonomous technology," said project manager Teddy Tzanetos.

🕰 Dormant massive black hole in the early universe challenges existing models. Astronomers using JWST detected a black hole, 400 million times the Sun’s mass, in the early universe. It’s dormant yet massive, suggesting black holes might “go through periods of hyperactivity, followed by long dormancies,” says Prof. Roberto Maiolino from Cambridge. Read the full findings.

CLIMATE

🌑 Coal Use to Reach New Peak and Remain at Near-Record Levels for Years. Global coal consumption is set to hit an all-time high, driven by demand in China and India. Despite global climate goals, coal remains essential for energy production in many economies. "This trend is concerning and underscores the urgent need for a transition to cleaner energy sources," warned environmental policy expert Dr. Emily Green.

WORLD

🌍 Flat Earthers Befuddled as Satellite Data Confirms Earth’s Roundness. Flat Earthers face a new wave of evidence from satellite imagery and geospatial data, reaffirming Earth’s curvature. NASA’s findings sparked heated debates among conspiracy theorists. "This isn’t about belief—scientific evidence has consistently supported a round Earth," stated astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson.

🏙 SpaceX wants Starbase to become an official city in Texas. SpaceX seeks to incorporate its launch site into “Starbase,” a proposed city to expand its space operations. Critics raise concerns about private governance. Read more about the plan.

🏛️ Google Street View Leads to Discovery in Spain’s ‘Murder Town’. A Google Street View image has reignited interest in a decades-old unsolved murder in Tajueco, Spain. Authorities are investigating how the image may reveal overlooked clues. "Technology like Street View shows how modern tools can aid law enforcement in revisiting cold cases," said local police investigator Manuel Ortega.