In 1967, Biosatellite II irradiated parasitic wasps for 2 days in orbit; females later laid as many eggs as controls, and hatchability remained excellentA 1967 NASA mission sent parasitic wasps into orbit around Earth. These wasps showed surprising resistance to radiation damage while in spa...
02 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 1990, NASA sent a X-ray telescope into space on Space Shuttle Columbia for the first time to perform observations of galactic and extragalactic objects: What was BBXRT?In 1990, NASA sent a X-ray telescope into space on Space Shuttle Columbia for the first time to perform observations of galactic and extrag...
02 Sep, 2026, 02.05 AM IST
Science says space smells different after astronauts return inside, Here’s the chemistry behind the strange odorAstronauts have described the smell as resembling spent gunpowder, ozone, burning metal and welding fumes. NASA even worked with fragrance ...
01 Sep, 2026, 09.57 PM IST
In 1990, NASA recovered tomato seeds after nearly 6 years on LDEF; classroom tests found space seeds germinated at 73.8% versus 70.3% for Earth controlsAfter nearly six years aboard NASA's LDEF satellite, Rutgers tomato seeds returned to Earth to inspire young scientists. Millions of studen...
01 Sep, 2026, 07.00 PM IST
Columbia Engineering built a pigment-free paint filled with microscopic air pores; it stayed 6°C below surrounding air during hot desert tests in ArizonaResearchers at Columbia University and Purdue University have unveiled an experimental paint-like coating that can cool surfaces to tempera...
31 Aug, 2026, 07.56 PM IST
In 1987, Bion 8 carried monkeys Yerosha and Dryoma for 13 days; Yerosha escaped part of his restraints before the capsule landed 1,850 miles off targetThe Soviet Bion program studied weightlessness effects using rhesus macaques. Bion 8 launched in 1987 with two monkeys, Yerosha and Dryoma....
31 Aug, 2026, 07.40 PM IST
In 2013, Bion-M1 carried land snails in orbit for 30 days; hardware failures killed many other animals, but the snails survivedIn a space mission conducted by Russia in 2013, a tragic outcome ensued as most of the aboard animals, including mice, gerbils, and fish, c...
30 Aug, 2026, 04.00 PM IST
In 2025, researchers built a box from porous PMMA sheets that reflected 96% of sunlight; 80°F outdoor air measured 65.3°F inside without electricityInnovative materials scientists are exploring passive cooling techniques to lessen the demand for air conditioning. They have engineered a ...
29 Aug, 2026, 07.40 PM IST
In 1984, NASA sent about 3,300 honeybees into space to test comb-building without gravity; the colony built about 31 square inches of honeycombIn 1984, honeybees traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger for a unique student experiment. These bees successfully built honeycomb an...
29 Aug, 2026, 04.22 PM IST
In 2023, Princeton researchers tested a naturally ventilated cooling box; it stayed below outdoor air while using radiative cooling and buoyancy-driven airflowResearchers have unveiled a groundbreaking cooling technique designed for buildings that eliminates the need for traditional air conditioni...
29 Aug, 2026, 02.40 PM IST
In a 2025 study, Penn State researchers tested porous PMMA sheets that reflected 96.4% of sunlight; a test box stayed 14.7°F cooler than the outdoor airInnovative researchers have crafted a groundbreaking porous plastic sheet that cools without any electrical input. By reflecting sunlight a...
29 Aug, 2026, 02.30 PM IST
In 1997, NASA launched Columbia to study undercooled molten metals in microgravity; the STS-83 mission also carried experiments on sintering and fire behaviorThe 1997 mission of space shuttle Columbia was cut short due to problems with fuel cells. However, the crew managed to perform crucial micr...
26 Aug, 2026, 07.00 PM IST
NASA mixed cement aboard the space station; it hardened with strange stripes and highly porous structures that may affect its strengthAstronauts on the International Space Station conducted a unique experiment blending cement in microgravity. This innovative study seeks to...
26 Aug, 2026, 02.50 PM IST
Phoenix installed nine temporary shades across parks to fight extreme heat; surfaces became 46°F cooler, while adding a solar-run mister lowered air temperature by another 10°FPhoenix tested nine temporary, artist-designed shade structures across its parks in 2025 as part of an experiment to tackle extreme heat. T...
25 Aug, 2026, 01.10 PM IST
In 1968, two Afghan tortoises who beat humans to the Moon lost 10% of their weight - They flew around the moon on Soviet Zond 5 and returned alive 3 months before Apollo 8In September 1968, two tortoises made history as the first animals to orbit the Moon and safely return to Earth aboard the Soviet Zond 5 sp...
24 Aug, 2026, 01.36 PM IST
Stanford ran water beneath mirror-like rooftop panels; they cooled it 3–5°C below the surrounding air by sending heat into spaceResearchers at Stanford have created innovative panels that cool water exclusively using sunlight and mirrors. These panels effectively ref...
21 Aug, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts saw mysterious flashes with their eyes closed. Scientists later found the causeDuring the Apollo missions, astronauts noted peculiar flashes of light occurring inside their spacecraft. These experiences were later attr...
13 Aug, 2026, 12.03 AM IST