Gadget

NASA’s JunoCam, once believed nearly lost to Jupiter’s intense radiation, has made a stunning comeback thanks to a bold experiment. Engineers used a process called annealing—heating the camera from afar—to reverse internal damage and restore image clarity. Just in time for a close flyby of the volcanic moon Io, the camera delivered detailed images of lava flows and sulfuric peaks. The breakthrough technique is now being applied to other instruments on Juno and could shape future spacecraft built for radiation-heavy environments around Earth and beyond.

A growing number of rocket launches may be compromising the ozone layer’s recovery, according to new scientific studies. Chlorine and soot from rockets, along with pollutants released during satellite re-entry, could have long-term environmental impacts. The space industry is urged to act now—through regulation, innovation, and cleaner fuels—to protect one of Earth’s vital protective layers.

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The revelation that Mars once had Earth-like rainfall reshapes our understanding of planetary evolution. The insights support the theory that early Mars was far more hospitable than previously believed, possibly housing primitive life forms. The findings could guide future missions like NASA’s Perseverance in locating signs of fossilised organisms.

SpaceX launched two mPOWER internet satellites into medium Earth orbit and landed its Falcon 9 booster on a ship in the Atlantic, marking its 89th Falcon mission of the year. The satellites will expand SES’s global network as the company moves closer to completing its 13-satellite constellation for advanced internet coverage worldwide.

Astronomers have finally spotted Betelgeuse’s hidden companion star, ending a 1,000-year mystery about its six-year dimming cycle. Using Gemini North’s advanced imaging, researchers captured the first image of the elusive companion orbiting deep within Betelgeuse’s atmosphere. The discovery solves a stellar puzzle and offers new insight into red supergiant systems.

Google’s I/O Connect India 2025 event was held in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Besides announcing new AI-based tools and programmes for the Indian developer community, the tech giant has showcased applications built with Google’s AI models. Startups ranging from education and governance to commerce and media are using Google’s Gemini and Gemma 3 models for their new tools and features.

A security patch Microsoft released this month failed to fully fix a critical flaw in the U.S. tech giant’s SharePoint server software, opening the door to a sweeping global cyber espionage effort, a timeline reviewed by Reuters shows.

Meta announced a couple of new safety features for teen accounts on Instagram on Wednesday. The Menlo Park-based social media giant said it is expanding its Teen Account protection and safety features to offer more tools to teenagers while they exchange messages with other users via the platform’s direct messaging (DM) feature.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is now receiving One UI 8 Watch update with Wear OS 6, bringing new features to India and other regions. The upcoming Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic will launch with One UI 8 Watch, while last year’s Galaxy Watch Ultra, which recently saw a storage and colour refresh, will get this update before older models like the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 6 series.