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Unknown anomaly causes explosion at UK spaceport, anti-bleed gel gets FDA approval for US soldiers’ use, rare condition makes man have pink orgasms

Plus: Students create unique solar EV chargers at college that power campus too

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A test of a rocket engine at the UK’s SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland took a dramatic turn when an explosion occurred during a nine-engine test by Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a German aerospace company.

The test, which took place on Monday at the island of Unst, was a crucial step in a series of trials that RFA is conducting as part of their ambitious goal to launch the UK’s first vertical rocket into orbit.

This incident comes just three months after RFA conducted a successful initial rocket test at the same site, during which they fired their engines for eight seconds before shutting them down as planned. For more on this development, check out our Must-Read.

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RFA reported that an “anomaly” during the test led to what they described as “the loss of the stage,” but fortunately, there were no injuries reported. The explosion, which sent large flames and thick plumes of smoke horizontally from the rocket’s base before the entire structure was engulfed in fire, was a stark reminder of the challenges that come with pioneering space exploration.

“The launch pad has been saved and is secured, the situation is under control, and any immediate danger has been mitigated,” RFA confirmed in a statement.

The company, headquartered in Augsburg, Germany, emphasized that they are now collaborating closely with SaxaVord Spaceport and local authorities to determine the root cause of the failure and ensure that future tests proceed safely and successfully.

A biotechnology firm in the United States has received the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its new innovation, a hemostatic gel designed to control moderate to severe bleeding in seconds.

The Brooklyn-based company, Cresilon, says the plant-based hemostatic gel is designed to temporarily control the flow of blood when applied externally to a wound.

The company’s Traumagel is the first hemostatic medical device with FDA clearance for temporary external use.

In Iran, doctors have reported an unusual medical case involving a 31-year-old man who was referred to their psychiatric clinic due to strange experiences following his orgasms. Shortly after climax, he noticed that his vision altered significantly, becoming more vivid, sharper, and taking on a pink hue.

In his own words, he suddenly had “high contrast vision with dominant pink color everywhere.”

This rare condition is a unique form of synesthesia—a neurological phenomenon where senses merge in unusual ways. In this man’s case, his synesthesia is triggered by orgasm, momentarily causing him to perceive the world in shades of pink.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

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VIDEO

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IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, What number comes into your mind to replace the question mark?

The answer is: 8

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Additional Reads


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🎬 IE Originals:Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos.

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