More than half a billion years ago, Earth was a frozen world, covered in ice from pole to pole. This period, known as the Neoproterozoic Era or "Snowball Earth," lasted from about 1 billion to 543 million years ago. During this time, glaciers dominated the landscape, creeping over frozen land and depositing minerals into the ocean. According to a new study published in the journal *Geology*, these glaciers may have played a crucial role in shaping the evolution of complex life on our planet.

SpaceX's ambitious journey to perfect its Starship megarocket encountered another setback on Monday, as the company stood down from the eighth uncrewed test flight. The mission, which was scheduled to lift off during an hour-long launch window beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. ET) from SpaceX's Starbase facilities in South Texas, was aborted due to undisclosed issues with the Super Heavy booster and other technical concerns detected by computers during the countdown. This latest delay underscores the complexities and challenges inherent in rocketry, even for a company as pioneering as SpaceX.

In a historic achievement, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace has successfully soft-landed its Blue Ghost lunar lander on the moon, marking a significant milestone in private space exploration. Touching down on the moon's near side around 2:34 a.m. CT (3:34 a.m. ET) on Sunday, Blue Ghost becomes only the second private-sector spacecraft to accomplish this feat, following Intuitive Machines' groundbreaking landing in February 2023. This success underscores the growing capabilities of private companies in space exploration and sets the stage for future missions aimed at paving the way for human return to the lunar surface.

Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance polymath, is renowned for his contributions to art, science, and engineering. However, his influence extends beyond these realms into the strategic design of military fortifications. Recent discoveries beneath Milan's Sforza Castle have brought to light a hidden feature that may have been inspired by Leonardo's designs, offering a glimpse into the mind of a genius who was equally adept at creating beauty and devising defenses.

The red planet, Mars, has long captivated scientists and dreamers alike with the tantalizing possibility that it once harbored conditions suitable for life. Now, new research suggests that Mars may have had a vast ocean with waves lapping against sandy beaches 3.6 billion years ago. This groundbreaking discovery, made by China's Zhurong rover, adds to the growing body of evidence that Mars was once a much warmer and wetter world than it is today.

After the explosive mishap during its seventh test flight in January, SpaceX is gearing up for another attempt with Starship Flight 8. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared the way for SpaceX to proceed with the eighth test flight of its Starship system, despite the ongoing investigation into the January incident. This approval marks a significant step forward for SpaceX as it seeks to refine and perfect its next-generation fully reusable transportation system.

Giant pandas are one of nature's most fascinating contradictions. With their distinctive black-and-white fur and endearing appearance, these creatures have captured the hearts of millions. However, their dietary habits have long puzzled scientists. Despite having a digestive system typical of carnivores, pandas survive almost exclusively on bamboo—a plant that offers minimal nutritional value. Now, Chinese researchers have uncovered a remarkable genetic mechanism that explains how pandas have adapted to this unusual diet.

In the realm of conservation, unlikely heroes often emerge from the most unexpected places. Max, an English Springer Spaniel, is one such hero. Bred for hunting, Max has been repurposed to serve a higher cause: saving Australia's iconic koalas from the brink of extinction. With his supercharged sense of smell, Max is at the forefront of a unique conservation effort, sniffing out koala scat to provide crucial data for ecologists and conservationists.

As February draws to a close, sky-gazers are in for a rare treat: a celestial parade of seven planets visible across the night sky. This planetary alignment includes Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune, alongside the more familiar bright planets—Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. However, spotting all seven won't be an easy task, according to astronomers. While the planets will all be above the horizon just after sunset, some will be more challenging to see than others.

In the annals of scientific discovery, few findings capture the imagination quite like the revelation of ancient, fossilized brain tissue. In 2020, researchers stumbled upon a remarkable phenomenon: a black, glassy substance inside the skull of a victim killed during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. This discovery, made in the coastal town of Herculaneum, has sparked a fascinating and ongoing debate about the conditions that led to the formation of this unique material, believed to be fossilized brain tissue.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), also known as heart bypass surgery, has been a widely - recognized and effective treatment for coronary heart disease for decades. This article reviews the current status of CABG technology, including its indications, surgical methods, materials used, and postoperative recovery considerations.

Space, an infinite and mysterious expanse, is full of incredible secrets waiting to be discovered.

Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of matter and energy at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics and has revolutionized our understanding of the microscopic world, revealing a realm where the classical laws of physics no longer apply.

In the modern era, the aspiration to delay human aging has captured the attention of the global scientific fraternity. With an aging population on the rise and the pursuit of enhanced quality of life, understanding the mechanisms of aging and devising strategies to slow it down have become paramount.

The Big Bang Theory stands as the prevailing cosmological model that explains the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of our universe. It is a scientific narrative that has been meticulously pieced together through decades of astronomical observations, theoretical physics, and mathematical modeling.