Astronomers Detect Sugar in Interstellar Space for the First Time

• Astronomers have discovered sugar in gaseous form within a large gas cloud located near the center of the Milky Way galaxy. • The discovery was made using two dish-shaped radio telescopes in Spain, which identified the substance by comparing cosmic signals with laboratory samples.

• The website "Watts Up With That?" has published a critique claiming that research measuring climate change consensus is "the worst, most invalid research ever published." • The author argues that the methodology—using keyword searches and abstract reviews by political activists—is scientifically unsound and lacks epistemic standing.

• Scientists have identified the cause of Earth's greatest mass extinction, explaining why modern beaches are dominated by clams and snails rather than brachiopods. • The study reveals that warming oceans and plummeting oxygen levels eliminated species unable to adapt their body plans and metabolisms to the harsh conditions.

• Astronomers have detected erythrulose, a type of sugar also found in raspberries, within interstellar space. • The discovery identifies the presence of this specific organic molecule in the vast regions located between stars.

• Astronomers led by Jiménez-Serra detected erythrulose, a four-carbon sugar known for its raspberry-like scent, within the G+0.693-0.027 dust cloud near the Milky Way's center. • The discovery was made using two Spanish radio telescopes after initial searches for simpler three-carbon sugars had yielded no results.

• The FCC has granted a start-up company permission to test a space mirror designed to reflect solar rays onto Earth's dark side. • The project aims to illuminate a three-mile-wide patch of land, effectively turning night into day for that specific area.

• Astronomers have detected glycolaldehyde, a simple sugar molecule also found in raspberries, within the interstellar clouds of gas and dust between stars. • The discovery was made using specialized telescopes to analyze the chemical composition of space, identifying the sugar's unique spectral signature.

• The FCC has granted Reflect Orbital permission to launch its first light-directing space mirror into orbit later this year. • This initial launch serves as a demonstration of the company's technology, which aims to provide a transformative and clean communication solution.

• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released proposed rules in May to modify the US Code of Federal Regulations regarding federal financial assistance and grants. • These changes would undermine the long-standing scientific peer review process by codifying the ability of political appointees to oversee and influence award decisions.

• Science journalist Roberta Kwok has released a new book titled "Lost in Curiosity," which explores the complex and often chaotic process of scientific discovery. • The narrative provides a behind-the-scenes look at how researchers work to uncover nature's secrets, highlighting the human elements of the scientific method.

• Astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission used a commercial Nikon Z9 camera to capture high-resolution images of space. • Researchers, including co-author Ko Arimatsu, analyzed these images to extract scientifically valuable astronomical data.