Gadget

The famous 1977 “Wow!” signal — a mysterious radio burst detected by Ohio’s Big Ear telescope — has been reanalyzed using modern computing techniques. Researchers digitized old telescope records, finding the signal was about four times stronger than first thought, peaking at 250 Janskys. The recalculations also refined its frequency and sky location, ruling out man-made interference. While the true source remains uncertain, dense hydrogen clouds emitting natural maser signals are now leading candidates. Nearly 50 years later, the Wow! signal continues to puzzle astronomers worldwide.

Astronomers have achieved a major breakthrough by capturing the sharpest images of a solar flare ever recorded, using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST). Observed at the hydrogen-alpha wavelength during the decay of an X1.3-class solar flare, the images unveiled hundreds of ultra-fine coronal loops averaging just 48 kilometers wide, with some as narrow as 21 kilometers. Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the findings suggest these slender loops may be the fundamental structures behind magnetic reconnection, the process that drives solar flares. The discovery not only advances understanding of solar physics but also holds promise for better predicting space weather events that can impact satellites, communications, and power systems on Earth.

The James Webb Space Telescope observed 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object detected in our solar system. Its coma is unusually rich in carbon dioxide with little water or carbon monoxide, suggesting a CO₂-rich core or an insulating crust. Findings raise new questions about its cosmic origin.

Bitcoin Asia 2025 will be held in Hong Kong on August 28-29, attracting 15,000 attendees and over 200 speakers, making it the world’s second-largest Bitcoin event. The conference highlights Asia’s growing role in digital assets, with Hong Kong emerging as a hub after approving spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in 2024. Upcoming events include Bitcoin Amsterdam in November, Bitcoin MENA in December, and Bitcoin 2026 in Las Vegas next April

The Philippines is thinking about setting up a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to help with its rising debt. Congressman Miguel Luis Villafuerte came up with the idea for the bill, which says that the government must buy 10,000 BTC over five years and hold it for 20 years, only using it to pay off debt. It comes after the US launched its reserves, while the UK and South Korea turned it down, and India is still thinking about it.

Apple’s Awe Dropping hardware launch event will be held on September 9. The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, including a new iPhone 17 Air model. These new phones are expected to be released a few days after the event. The Apple Watch Series 11 and AirPods Pro 3 may also be announced at the same event.

Scientists at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have detected a new plasma wave in Jupiter’s aurora using NASA’s Juno spacecraft. The finding, published in Physical Review Letters, reveals how Jupiter’s magnetic field shapes auroral activity differently from Earth. The study opens new directions for understanding planetary auroras and magnetic field interactions.

Rocket Lab reached a key milestone with its 70th Electron rocket launch, successfully sending five secret satellites into orbit on Aug. 23, 2025. The mission, called “Live, Laugh, Launch,” lifted off from New Zealand and ended its live stream early at the request of the undisclosed customer. Rocket Lab now looks ahead to the debut of its larger Neutron rocket later this year.

On August 20, researcher Maximilian Teodorescu captured a rare photo of two dramatic solar events — a giant tornado of plasma rising 130,000 km and an eruptive prominence spanning 200,000 km. Both were shaped by the sun’s unstable magnetic fields. While the prominence did release a CME, it is not aimed at Earth.

A Romanian researcher captured a rare sight on the Sun — a giant solar tornado alongside a massive plasma eruption. Both events, driven by magnetic field changes, highlight the Sun’s extreme activity during solar maximum. Luckily, the eruption’s CME is not headed toward Earth.