🚀 Boeing's first astronaut mission grounded, oral insulin innovation, monster black holes detected by JWST

The first crewed test flight of SpaceX rival Boeing’s spaceship Starliner was scrubbed barely two hours before the scheduled lift-off on Monday night (May 6, 2023) due to a probable oxygen valve issue in the launch vehicle. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were already strapped into the Starliner capsule when the mission was postponed just a few hours before the lift-off.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA)-operated Atlas V rocket encountered a glitch in its upper Centaur Stage. The next launch attempt may occur by Friday, May 10. For an in-depth look at the details, read today’s Must-Read.

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MUST READ

🚀 Rocket valve glitch grounds Boeing’s first astronaut mission

This mission will mark the 100th launch of an Atlas V rocket, which has lifted spacecraft to the moon, Mars, and more. The rocket has a hundred percent success rate, but this is the first time that Atlas V will carry astronauts. That’s why safety has been the utmost priority for NASA, ULA, and Boeing.

The oxygen pressure-relief valve on the Atlas rocket’s upper stage malfunctioned, causing it to open and close quickly. This could have posed a potential safety hazard for the crewed test flight.

If this test flight mission goes as planned, Boeing will become NASA’s second private provider of astronaut transportation services. 

💊 Nanotechnology-based oral insulin may replace injections for diabetes

A new nanotechnology-based oral insulin may prove to be a more effective diabetes treatment than painful injections in the coming years. Researchers at the University of Sydney created this oral insulin pill that may be consumed like any other tablet. They have tested this medication on mice, rats, and baboons.

This nanomaterial protects insulin molecules from stomach acid. This unique material does more than create a protective barrier. It also serves as a “nano-carrier” for insulin molecules, allowing them to reach the locations in the body where they are most required.

Human trials are slated to begin in 2025, which will be led by Endo Axiom Pty Ltd, a spin-out company founded by the research team.

🔭 JWST detects ‘monster’ black holes sprouting from massive cosmic ‘seeds’

A team of MIT astronomers has uncovered tantalizing clues about the origins of some of the universe’s most enigmatic objects: black holes.

They used the James Webb Space Telescope to collect data on distant quasars, which are extraordinarily luminous objects powered by black holes. Webb peered back more than 13 billion years to a time when the universe was still in its infancy.

The powerful space observatory detected “elusive starlight” from around three ancient quasars. Webb’s data indicated that the black holes fueling these quasars were significantly larger than their host galaxies compared to their current equivalents.

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