Russia unveils plan for its own four-module space station after ISS exit, carpenter ants amputate injured nestmates' legs, is Havan Syndrome behind Biden's presidential debate misfire?

Russia has announced a timeline for building and deploying its space station modules, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, aims to create a four-module core by 2030.

This new station will enable Russia to perform research and development that was previously impossible on the International Space Station (ISS) due to constraints and international agreements.

For decades, the ISS has been a symbol of international cooperation in space exploration. But recently, there have been cracks in the Russia collaboration for various reasons, including the Ukraine invasion. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

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MUST READ

🛰️ Russia to exit ISS, unveils plan for its own four-module space station

Back in 2022, Russia first announced plans to launch a space station in the low-Earth orbit. Reportedly, this planned outpost is named the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS).

Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos, announced recently the ambitious construction schedule of the space station. The first module, for science and power, is targeted for launch in 2027. Three more modules will be added by 2030—with another two by 2033. Around 19 companies will contribute to the construction of this space station.

Building the station is just one part of the project. Russia also needs to develop new crewed spacecraft and upgrade its launch infrastructure.

🇺🇸 Havana syndrome hit Biden during presidential debate, conspiracy theorists claim

The first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump made several headlines, but the current president’s so-called ‘poor performance’ has been attributed to malpractices by conspiracy theorists.

Several reports mention that Biden had failed to impress in the first presidential debate against Trump. Words like ‘low-energy’ and ‘apparently sick,’ have been used to describe his appearance in the debate which had been organized at his beckoning.

However, conspiracy theorists believe that Biden’s dismal performance was not because of his age- or health-related issues but due to the use of ‘directed energy weapons.’

🐜 Carpenter ant doctors amputate legs to save friends, scientists stunned

While animals are known to care for one another, surgery was thought to be exclusive to humans. However, behavioral ecologists from the University of Würzburg have discovered that ants also perform surgical procedures on their injured nestmates.

Previous research on Megaponera analis ants revealed they use antimicrobial compounds from a special gland to treat injuries and prevent infections.

In contrast, Florida carpenter ants, lacking such a gland, rely on mechanical actions to care for their injured nestmates. These ants either clean wounds or amputate limbs, demonstrating their ability to assess injuries and determine the appropriate treatment.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

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ENERGY

> Bottled water extracted from the air using sunlight as a power source will soon be available for purchase in US stores. The sustainable solution, dubbed SKY WTR, is a product of Source, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based company. (More)

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> New approaches to managing rice systems in Latin America are proving effective at reducing water usage and cutting back the high greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation. (More)

INNOVATION

> A team of researchers has developed an innovative sensor that leads to fully internal hearing aids. The UmboMic sensor, made from polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), is flexible and safe for use in the body. (More)

> Researchers have succeeded in developing a morphing structure inspired by the starfish which is flexible but also steady at the same time. According to the researchers, the structure exhibits 4D features and can offer various applications for robotics, aviation, and medical devices. (More)

> A research team from INRAE was able to train sheep to undergo MRI scans while awake—a world-first. This innovative method, which hinges on trainer–lamb cooperation, helps produce quality images without the need for anaesthesia. (More)

VIDEO

> In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, two distinct lifeforms have successfully merged into a single organism for the first time in over a billion years. (More)

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IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

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The answer is: B (16.66)

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> London’s Design Museum will mark Barbie’s 65th anniversary with an exhibition of the first Barbie, launched in 1959, and subsequent models – among them, one that was taken into space by an astronaut

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