NASA's New Horizons Prepares for Historic Space Exploration Milestone

A pilot and two children managed to survive nearly 12 hours on the wing of a sinking aircraft after it crashed into Tustumena Lake in Alaska on March 24, 2025. The small plane, a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, was nearly submerged, with only parts of the wing and rudder visible above the icy water, according to the Independent. The trio was rescued thanks to local pilot Terry Godes, who spotted them while searching the area after seeing a Facebook post requesting help. Godes reported seeing "three people on top of the wing," prompting him to alert other pilots for assistance. Dale Eicher, another pilot, relayed the survivors' coordinates to the Alaska National Guard, who responded immediately. The survivors were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Alaska State Troopers confirmed the group faced brutal overnight conditions with temperatures dropping into the 20s Fahrenheit (-6 to -1 °C). The cause of the crash is under investigation, with Tustumena Lake known for its sudden and powerful winds, presenting hazards for both planes and boats.

Researchers in New Mexico have discovered ancient footprints that are believed to be over 23,000 years old, significantly predating previous estimates by more than a decade. According to a study published in the journal Science, the footprints, located in White Sands National Park, showcase early human life during the Last Glacial Maximum and provide invaluable insights into the social activities of prehistoric peoples. The initial estimation of the footprints' origin was around 13,000 years ago; however, a study by U.S. Geological Survey researchers in 2021 used radiocarbon dating to confirm the new age. The latest research reinforced these findings by correlating the footprints' dating with fossilized pine pollen found in the same sediment layer. Sally Reynolds, a paleoecologist at Bournemouth University, acknowledged the footprints as a remarkable window into ancient human interactions and lifestyles. Matthew Bennett, also from Bournemouth University, noted various activities depicted in the footprints, including children playing and adults hunting. The team's ambitious goal is to uncover further evidence that might shed more light on the lives of early Americans.

NASA has recently confirmed the presence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the elliptical galaxy M87, weighing approximately 2.6 billion times that of the Sun. This groundbreaking discovery was made possible by images captured from the Hubble Space Telescope, which revealed the immense gravitational forces at play in the galaxy located 52 million light-years from Earth. According to scientists, M87 is home to over 100 billion stars, yet its core houses a black hole that significantly distorts space and time, a phenomenon that many describe as a “door to hell.” The existence of such a colossal black hole has been theorized since 1978, but it remained unverified until recent analysis by astronomers including Tod Lauer, Sandra Faber, and Gary Linds. Additionally, the galaxy exhibits a dramatic plasma jet extending thousands of light-years, fueled by the black hole's energy. The concentration of stars near M87's center is also remarkably high, dense enough to be 300 times greater than typical massive elliptical galaxies, indicating the black hole's strong gravitational influence.