Welcome back. This week, a moon lander named “Odysseus” became the first US spacecraft to land on the moon since 1972. It also made history as the first privately-made and operated spacecraft to land on the moon, created by a company called Intuitive Machines based out of Houston, TX.

And then it tipped over.

On Friday, CEO Steve Altemus explained that the lander tripped on a rock during its final descent and is now laying on its side on the lunar surface. Whoops!

Despite taking a little tumble, Odysseus is reportedly “alive and well” — although with some of its antennas covered, the amount of data we’re getting back from it is limited. Once fully up-and-running, Odysseus will begin collecting data for NASA as they prepare to send astronauts back to the moon.

It’s been a rocky mission so far, but hey, we all trip and fall sometimes. Here’s what else happened in science this week:

BIOLOGY

Mussels and silkworms and internal bleeding, oh my!

Hot take: internal organ bleeding is bad. That’s something we can all agree upon, right? Today, when someone has surgery, their bleeding is controlled with gauze and their wound is stitched up with a needle and thread — but wouldn’t it be nice if our wounds were repaired with something a little more… natural? That’s what a research team out of Korea recently set out to explore.

What did they do?

The scientists developed a new hemostatic agent (thing that stops bleeding) drawing inspiration from mussels and silkworm cocoons. They used two proteins: one called bioengineered mussel adhesive protein (MAP), which helps blood clot, and another called silk fibroin (SF), which is strong and can repel water. When combined, a layer of MAP on one side helps with clotting while a layer of SF on the other side keeps the wound clean.

Well, does it work?

Yeah it does! The researchers tested it on a rat liver (to simulate a bleeding injury) and found that the agent successfully stopped bleeding and protected the wound. And the best part — it’s naturally biodegradable! Since its made of proteins that can be easily broken down, it could be left inside the body after surgery, providing long-lasting protection.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202308833

PHYSICS

Everybody freeze — especially you, electrons

We all know atoms — after all, they make up everything! And we all know the classic structure, with protons and neutrons in the middle, and electrons buzzing all around the core. And while the entire atom is absurdly tiny, electrons are especially small, fast, and difficult to observe. But now, for the first time, scientists were able to watch electrons move in real-time.

How’d they do it?

In a series of experiments, researchers used extremely short pulses of x-rays, measured in attoseconds (billionths of a billionth of a second) to observe electron movement around a “frozen” atom in a sample of water. Think of stop-motion photography. The more pictures you take, the more detailed and fluid the animation looks. Scientists now predict that this new approach will open all kinds of doors in experimental physics…

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adn6059

MEDICINE

Not to fear, a universal snake venom antidote is (almost) here!

In the (unlikely) event that you get bit by a venomous snake — you don’t have a ton of options. We have some effective treatments called antivenoms that are derived from the natural defenses of other animals like horses, but they can cause pretty severe allergic reactions. Oh yeah — and they also require that you know the species of snake behind the bite. So if you don’t know your snakes, you could be out of luck.

What are we doing about this?!

Don’t worry, Indiana Jones. Scientists recently identified and developed an antibody capable of neutralizing a specific type of toxin that’s produced by the Elapidae family of snakes — which includes cobras, kraits, and mambas. It works by binding to the toxin directly, which prevents it from binding to other sites in the body. With nothing to bind to, the venom is no longer lethal. It’s already been shown to protect mice, and researchers now anticipate that a universal treatment for venomous snakebites is on the horizon.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adk1867

ASTRONOMY

The only thing better than one Sun is two Suns!

Yes — there may be some real-life Tatooines out there. The fictional desert planet, and home of protagonist Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, is famously part of a binary star system (two suns). Astronomers have known about the existence of binary star systems for some time now, but it hasn’t been clear exactly how they exist, until now.

What did they discover?

The researchers found that many binary star systems display “perfect” alignment, meaning that the planets orbit in the same direction that the first star rotates, and the second star orbits that system on the same plane as the planets. But why does that matter? Well, the team says that this discovery is good news for life forming in these systems. If the suns were aligned differently, planets would be “flash-heated” and all the chaos would be difficult for the development of any extraterrestrial life. So perhaps in a galaxy far, far away…

Read more: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad1bed

BIOLOGY

Finally, the science behind those super-long naps

Admit it — we’ve all been a bit jealous of bears and other animals that hibernate. A months-long nap? Sign me up! Recently, a team of researchers uncovered exactly how hibernation works on a molecular level.

How do you study hibernation?

The scientists looked at small hibernating mammals like ground squirrels and dormice, as well as larger ones like bears. Particularly, they were interested in the role of a protein called myosin, which is involved in muscle contraction. In a series of experiments, they measured the activity and structure of myosin in muscle fibers taken from the animals during both their hibernation and active periods.

And what were the results?

The results showed that myosin activity was significantly reduced during hibernation, which suggests that on a molecular level, muscles are not contracting as much during hibernation — thus conserving energy. The researchers also found that myosin plays a role in non-shivering thermogenesis during hibernation, where heat is produced without the muscle activity of shivering. Sleeping through winter AND staying warm? Thanks, myosin.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.94616.1

TOP HEADLINES

Science in the News

• Researchers have discovered gravity in the quantum world.

• A new biosensor has been used to accurately determine meat freshness.

• Physicists have identified a new method to potentially make nuclear waste more stable.

• Scientists have developed a molecular “glue” that helps to selectively degrade proteins.

• Astronomers have identified the brightest quasar ever recorded, powered by a black hole that’s eating the equivalent of one Sun per day.

• A new artificial photosynthesis technology may pave the way for biodegradable plastics.

• Engineers have developed a new chip that uses light waves, rather than electricity, to perform the complex math.

• Researchers have collected DNA from corals using underwater drones.

IN THE MICROSCOPE

What’s geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy is the heat that comes from deep within the Earth's crust — and the word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat).

Even though our planet was formed billions of years ago, there’s still a good amount of energy leftover from that process, and it’s stored within the layers of the Earth. Couple this with the slow decay of radioactive particles in the our planet’s core (don’t worry, this is a a process that happens in all rocks), and you have a natural, renewable energy source!

To harness this energy, wells are drilled into the Earth to access hot water or steam trapped underground. That hot water or steam is then brought to the surface where it can be used to heat things directly or generate electricity by turning turbines.

Geothermal activity is found in regions where heat from the Earth's interior can reach the surface. These areas are typically located along tectonic plate boundaries, where the Earth's crust is thinner and more prone to volcanic and seismic activity. As a result, geothermal hotspots are often found in regions with active volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and hydrothermal vents.

Today, geothermal energy is important because it's clean, reliable, and abundant. It doesn't produce greenhouse gas emissions and it's available 24/7, making it a reliable source of power for those who can access it…

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