Discoveries

Good morning, Science Enthusiasts!

How would you like to live on a planet that was sunny all day, every day? Well, take a 280-light-year trip to the gas giant WASP-43 b and you could have exactly that.

Thanks to the power of the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have been able to map out the weather on the distant Jupiter-like planet.

Like the moon, WASP-43 b orbits so close to its star that it has become tidally locked— instead of spinning on its axis, one side of the planet always faces towards the “sun”. The other side, meanwhile, exists in total darkness.

The sunny side of the planet is also totally cloud-free, largely thanks to its scorching surface temperatures of around 2,282 degrees Fahrenheit!

And speaking of scorching temperatures, scientists have issued a warning over the spread of "really dangerous” sun screen trends on social media.

But first, we’ll be looking at an exciting breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology that might bring this near-limitless source of carbon-free energy one step closer to reality.

We'll see you on Friday! Until then, stay curious! 🚀

Pandora Dewan is a Senior Science Reporter at Newsweek based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on science, health and technology. You can get in touch with Pandora by emailing [email protected], or on Instagram and X @PandoraDewan.

STAR POWER

Harnessing the power of the sun

Nuclear Fusion Breakthroughs Bring Near-Limitless Energy Closer

Physicists in the U.S. have overcome two major hurdles to recreating the Sun's power here on Earth. Their discovery increases the stability of fusion reactions and brings us one step closer to making commercial fusion energy a reality. In recent years, we have seen some incredible breakthroughs in fusion energy, including getting more energy out of the reaction than we put in. But we are still a long way off from a commercial fusion power source. Here’s what the new research shows.

Want more stories about nuclear fusion? Here are some that you might like:

LAB NOTES

Top science news across disciplines

Paleontology: Saber-toothed tigers may have had two sets of their famous fangs for a period of their adolescence, fossil evidence reveals.
Research: Doctors have issued a warning over "deadly" sun protection trends on social media after a new study found 1 in 7 Americans under 35 think daily sunscreen use is more harmful than direct sun exposure. Find out which common myths you should avoid.
The cosmos: Moon-dwelling astronauts might be able to get their steps in by running along the walls like Spiderman. Learn how astronauts are adapting to the moon’s weak gravity.
Weather: Extreme snowfall will become less common in California by 2100. To reach their findings, researchers analyzed the unusual snow deluge across the Sierra Nevada mountains in 2023 to assess the impact of "high snow years”. Discover the startling predictions in the latest report.
Neuroscience: People who still have very sharp memory into old age—known as "superagers”—may get their impressive powers from certain areas of the brain being preserved. Here’s their secret to maintaining brain health. — compiled by Sonal Nain, newsletter producer

RARE FINDS

Exploring archaeology

Archaeologists Discover 'Unique' Artificial Body Part in 18th Century Skull

Archaeologists have discovered a "unique" medical prosthetic implant lodged in the skull of an 18th-century skeleton. The artificial body part, described in a study published this month in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, was made for a man with a cleft palate, a congenital defect characterized by a split in the roof of the mouth. The skeleton in question is that of an individual who died at the age of 50 more than two centuries ago and was buried in the crypts of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Kraków, Poland. Learn more about ancient prosthetics and their significance.