Astronomers Discover Over 2,400 Active Black Holes, Including Key Missing Intermediate Mass Types

A recent study published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics has raised concerns about three massive asteroids—2020 SB, 524522, and 2002 CL1—that may be on a collision course with Earth. According to the researchers, led by Valerio Carruba of São Paulo State University, these asteroids are presently orbiting Venus and remain obscured by the Sun's glare, making them nearly undetectable from Earth. While the study asserts that there is no immediate threat to Venus, researchers caution that even a minor gravitational shift could redirect these asteroids towards Earth, posing catastrophic risks. Should one of these asteroids collide with our planet, it could create a crater over 3 kilometers wide and unleash energy equivalent to a million Hiroshima atomic bombs. The situation is particularly precarious, as traditional detection methods may only provide a warning of two to four weeks before potential impact, which is insufficient for any significant defense or evacuation measures. To improve detection capabilities, the researchers recommend deploying a dedicated mission near Venus.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified the most distant galaxy ever observed, designated MoM z14, which existed just 280 million years after the Big Bang, according to researchers from Yale University. This discovery surpasses the previous record holder, JADES-GS-z14-0, by 20 million years. Yale professor Pieter van Dokkum described the finding as a “cosmic miracle,” highlighting that the galaxy is the earliest known object, emerging when the universe was merely 280 million years old. JWST, which has been operational since summer 2022, excels in detecting high-redshift galaxies, with MoM z14 exhibiting a redshift of 14.44. Van Dokkum noted that JWST was not expected to locate galaxies this early in its mission, suggesting that over 100 bright galaxies may exist in the early universe—far more than anticipated pre-launch. Researchers found MoM z14 to be around 50 times smaller than the Milky Way, featuring elements like nitrogen and carbon, indicating a rapidly forming star rate. This discovery opens avenues for further exploration of early cosmic history, as scientists now speculate the existence of even earlier galaxies.

A cybersecurity breach has revealed an unprotected database exposing over 184 million records, including email addresses and passwords in plain text. According to cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, the leaked data is linked to major platforms like Apple, Google, and Facebook, posing a significant risk for identity theft and online fraud. Fowler described the breach as “a cybercriminal’s dream working list.” As companies increasingly shift to cloud services, the potential for such breaches is amplified. The Identity Theft Resource Center reported a 72% increase in data breaches in 2023, with victims impacted by mega-breaches rising by an astonishing 312% in 2024. A recent report by IBM indicated that 82% of these breaches involved information stored in the cloud, exacerbating security vulnerabilities. Experts recommend immediate action to protect personal information, including changing passwords, using unique passwords across different sites, and enabling multi-factor authentication. Teresa Murray from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group emphasizes the urgency of taking these protective measures, highlighting the need for vigilance against cyber threats.