According to Tuesday's announcement by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Chang'e-6 spacecraft has begun its return to Earth after launching from the moon's far side. The goal of China becoming the first nation to return lunar samples from the far side—the side of the moon that is continuously facing away from Earth—is getting closer with each passing day. After collecting samples from June 2–3, the probe departed the moon at 7:38 a.m. local time (2338 GMT). According to CNSA, Chang'e-6 "passed the litmus test of high temperature on the far side of the moon." Operati
India's rich culture is reflected in its 1,500+ mango varieties. Indian farmers cultivate Japan's Miyazaki mangoes, among the world's most expensive fruits. These red or purple mangoes sell for roughly ₹2.5 lakh per kg, significantly higher than the average ₹100-₹200 per kg for regular mangoes. Miyazaki mangoes originated in Japan during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), with widespread cultivation beginning in the 1970s. Their creamy texture, aromatic smell, and juicy flesh provide a unique, rich sweetness that distinguishes them from traditional mangoes. These mangoes thrive in sunny a
On May 31, a 12-year-old Indian-American, Bruhat Soma, from Tampa, Florida, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in a thrilling tiebreaker. Soma, whose parents are from Telangana, India, properly spelt 29 words in the tiebreaker, outscoring Faizan Zaki by nine words. The winning word was "abseil." Soma won a trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. The seventh-grader had previously won three straight spelling bees. Thursday's competition began with eight finalists and featured lengthy commercial breaks in which contestants connected with their fans. During the tiebreaker, Soma's s
Santosh Sivan, a renowned Indian cinematographer, has been awarded the prestigious Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Asian to earn this honour. Actor Preity Zinta presented him with a prize at the Palais de Festivals, recognising his 'career and excellent quality of work. Santosh, an FTII Pune graduate and founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers, has worked on over 55 films and 50 documentaries. His famous works include "Roja," "Dil Se," "Iruvar," and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai." He has also directed over 15 films,
Nearly a year after the catastrophic implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible, a new expedition aims to safely examine the Titanic ruins in the North Atlantic. Larry Connor, a billionaire from Ohio, is spearheading this effort, which aims to demonstrate that such dives can be safely completed with competent engineering. Connor, a 74-year-old seasoned explorer, revealed his ideas to The Wall Street Journal, emphasising the importance of strict safety precautions. The tragic Titan catastrophe in June 2023, which resulted in the immediate deaths of everyone onboard, piqued his interest in
The White House announced over $900 million in grants to 530 school districts to replace ageing, gas-powered school buses with cleaner, primarily electric alternatives. This financing is part of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) $5 billion clean school bus programme, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021. This current batch of money will go towards the acquisition of 3,400 school buses, with 92% being electric. Approximately 67% of the cash will go to school districts in low-income, indigenous, and rural communities. The EPA's clean school bus effort is a
On Tuesday, Thailand announced an extended visa stay period for tourists, postgraduate students, and remote workers to improve the country's key tourism industry in the face of economic challenges. According to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke, travellers from 93 countries would be able to remain for 60 days beginning in June, up from 57 nations, with more eligible for visas on arrival. Postgraduate students can stay for an extra year after graduation, and retirees' insurance requirements will be reduced. Tourism, a major contributor to Thailand's economy and employment, is being ta
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated director Payal Kapadia on her historic achievement at the Cannes Film Festival, where her film "All We Imagine as Light" received the prestigious Grand Prix prize. Kapadia's achievement is notable because she is the first Indian director to receive this honour. Modi commended her great talent and stated that her achievement would encourage the next generation of Indian filmmakers. The film won the festival's second-most prestigious honour. It came after the Palme d'Or, which was presented to American director Sean Baker for "Anora" duri
On June 3, a rare planetary alignment will occur, allowing you to see six planets in a line in the sky. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all involved in this amazing occurrence. This is your next opportunity to see a rare celestial show if you were unable to see the northern lights recently. When multiple planets approach the same side of the sun along their orbits, this is known as a planetary alignment. As per Kate Pattle, a lecturer at the Physics & Astronomy Department at University College London, "This implies that their appearance in the sky is in a line w
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is all set for her third space mission and is ready to write another chapter in her illustrious career. The much-awaited launch, which was supposed to test Boeing's Starliner and was originally scheduled for earlier this month, was pushed back because of technical difficulties. But now that the problems have been resolved, the mission is scheduled for sometime between June 1 and June 5. 58-year-old Williams brings an extensive amount of experience to the project. She has already completed two space trips and is familiar with the complexities and requ