As part of the commemoration of the discovery of the exoplanet Kepler 452-b, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States (U.S.), this Sunday is worth knowing seven important discoveries of this U.S. agency in recent years.
The cosmic body identified by the Kepler telescope, to which it owes its name, was confirmed by NASA on July 23, 2015.
Kepler-452b is an exoplanet, a planet revolving around a star other than the Sun, which in this case is a G2-type yellow dwarf, which is known as Kepler-452.
The agency responsible for the civil space program, as well as for aeronautical and aerospace research, since its foundation in 1958 has developed space exploration and science projects, which have led to relevant discoveries in several aspects.
Advertisement
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
1) The study of twins In April 2019 NASA published the controversial results of an investigation known as the Twins Study.
A set of ten teams of researchers from the United States (U.S.) set out to observe the changes that might occur to a human being when exposed to the risk of traveling into space for a year.
The scientists compared a wide range of samples and measurements from identical twin brothers, retired astronauts Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly. Scott was sent into space, while Mark remained on Earth.
One of the results revealed the lengthening of the space-bound twin’s telomeres, special features at the ends of each strand of DNA that generally shorten with age, which demonstrated how a human body can adapt to a variety of changes generated by the environment of outer space flight.
2) Observing the Earth from space There are a wide variety of scientific studies based on images that NASA crew members take using Crew Earth Observations (CEO).
Advertisement
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
NASA’s orbiting space station carries its crew and cameras over different points on Earth at different times and the station revisits the sites at varying intervals, allowing images of many areas to be collected at different times of the day and night.
In this way experts discovered that artificial lighting at night affects the behavior of urban wildlife, according to a study of light levels in the city of Chicago that was based on images taken by astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS).
3) A revealing microscope A miniaturized fluorescence microscope made it possible to observe changes in living cells in microgravity.
This microscope enables real-time analysis of cell behavior during long-duration spaceflight. Its rapid imaging capability allows monitoring of cellular and molecular reactions that can happen more rapidly in altered gravity environments.
The implementation of real-time analysis methods on the station furthers the understanding of how cells in the human body react and adapt to the space environment.
Advertisement
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
4) The universe in better resolution NASA’s Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (Nicer) facilitates measurements with excellent precision of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of black hole collapse.
In early 2018 JAXA’s All-Sky X-ray Imaging Monitor (MAXI) captured a new transient X-ray source in the sky designated MAXI J1820 + 070.
Nicer began monitoring the source and discovered that it was a binary black hole system with a mass much larger than that of the Sun. In addition, recorded measurements have revealed how the inner edge of a black hole’s accretion disk (and the corona above it) vary in size and shape as a black hole consumes material from a companion star.
5) Spaceflight decreases crew performance on Earth. Astronauts’ bodies adapt to microgravity while in space. When crew members return to Earth, they show significant decreases in manual dexterity, multitasking, motion perception, and the ability to operate a vehicle.
NASA researchers confirmed that the post-flight performance decline was related to spaceflight factors and not to other factors such as lack of practice or sleep.
Advertisement
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
6) Cement in space Another discovery confirmed by NASA suggests the possibility of building places to live on the Moon or Mars.
It is a research called Microgravity Investigation of Cement Solidification (MICS), which reveals that samples processed in space show considerable changes in the microstructure of cement compared to those processed on Earth, such as increased porosity, or the presence of more open spaces.
Showing that cement can harden in space is of great importance for future lunar constructions.
7) Keep it clean New materials are needed to slow the growth and spread of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and silver coatings, according to research called Biorisk-KM-Metally, conducted by the Russian space agency (Roscosmos) and confirmed by NASA.
The researchers conducted tests on an antimicrobial coating called AGXX® and compared it with silver and stainless steel coatings. For the study, crew members placed 12 plates on the space station’s toilet door, with one plate coated in each tested material to be collected at six, 12 and 19 months.
Advertisement
20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90
20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90
20250701_dengue_728x90
20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90
20231124_etesal_728x90_1
20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90
domfuturo_netview-728x90
20240604_dom_728x90
CEL
In all time lapses, the experts found that the AGXX® coating had significantly fewer bacteria than surfaces coated with silver and stainless steel. These data are useful for the development of ideal technologies to reduce the risk of biological damage to space hardware and equipment.
Colombian Senator Uribe Turbay, shows clinical improvement and begins neurological rehabilitation
Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, seriously injured in the head in an attack on June 7, has had a clinical improvement and a process of neurological rehabilitation began, reported this Monday the Santa Fe Foundation of Bogotá, where he has been hospitalized since then.
“During the last few days the patient has shown a favorable and stable clinical response, evidenced both in the recent diagnostic images taken (magnetic resonance, tomography, Doppler, among others), and in his response to surgical and medical interventions,” says the medical report.
According to the Santa Fe Foundation, “in this context, and as part of the comprehensive care process, the neurorehabilitation protocol was initiated.”
The medical report, the first disclosed by the Santa Fe Foundation in the last eleven days, points out, however, that the 39-year-old politician continues with a “reserved” neurological prognosis.
“Miguel Uribe Turbay requires continuing his management in the Intensive Care Unit, with mechanical ventilatory support and under sedation, as well as with hemodynamic and neurological monitoring for the early detection of any change,” the statement adds.
Uribe Turbay, a member of the right-wing Democratic Center party, was shot twice in the head and one in the left leg when he was leading a rally in a park in the Bogota neighborhood of Modelia, an attack that has revived among Colombians the ghost of political violence that marked the 1990 elections in which three presidential candidates were killed.
Due to the severity of the injuries suffered, the politician, one of the candidates of the Democratic Center for the 2026 presidential elections, has undergone several surgeries in Santa Fe.
The authorities, for their part, have made some progress in the investigation of the attack, for which five people have been arrested, including the hit man who shot him, a 15-year-old boy who was found with a Glock pistol used in the attack.
The other four detainees have been accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of participating in the preparation and cover-up of the attack, and among them is Elder José Arteaga Hernández, alias ‘el Costeño’, considered by the authorities as a key piece for being the alleged organizer of the attempted murder.
Zelenski proposes the Minister of Economy, Sviridenko, as the new prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed on Monday the current Minister of Economy, Yulia Sviridenko, as the new prime minister to replace the current head of government, Denis Shmigal.
“I have proposed that Yulia Sviridenko lead the Government of Ukraine and significantly renew her work. I look forward to the presentation of the new Government action plan in the near future,” Zelenski wrote in X after meeting with Sviridenko.
The Ukrainian president spoke with the current Minister of Economy about “concrete measures to double Ukraine’s economic potential, to expand support programs for Ukrainians and to increase domestic weapons production.”
Zelenski and Sviridenko also reviewed the economic agreements signed by Ukraine at the international conference for the reconstruction of the country held in Rome on Thursday and last Friday.
Several Ukrainian media had advanced weeks ago that Sviridenko would soon replace Denis Shmigal as prime minister. At the head of the Economy portfolio, Sviridenko, 39, has been one of the most visible and active figures in the Government in recent months.
Zelenski talks to Kellogg in Kiev about sanctions against Russia and the sale of weapons to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Monday with the special representative for Ukraine of the White House, retired General Keith Kellogg, about the possibility of the US approving new sanctions against Russia and sending new weapons to Ukrainians that would be paid for with European money.
“We have talked about the road to peace and what we can do together from a practical point of view so that it is closer. This includes strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, joint production and acquisition of defensive weapons in collaboration with Europe,” Zelenski wrote in X about the content of the meeting.
The Ukrainian president also mentioned “sanctions against Russia and those who help it” among the actions with which the United States can contribute to ending the war.
“We have hope in the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will never stop if its ambitions, which are not reasonable, are not put to a hold of force,” Zelenski also wrote, who thanked Kellogg for visiting Ukraine and also showed his appreciation for the “important signs of support and positive decisions for both countries” that the US president has made public in recent days.
Kellogg has arrived in Kiev this Monday to spend this week in Ukraine and meet with local leaders. His visit comes after Trump has confirmed that he will send Patriot missile anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine for which several European countries will pay.
Trump has also recently been very critical of the attitude of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he reproaches for not intending to take down his arms despite the pro-peace messages that the Kremlin leader has been launching since the US began its efforts to mediate a negotiated solution to the conflict.
