A crucial James Webb Space Telescope component reached its frigid operating temperature the week of April 6–13, as astronomers found the largest comet core ever and a laser beamed from deep space.
On their first night of observations with South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope, astronomers identified the most distant radio-wave laser (also called a megamaser) ever captured. Megamasers are concentrated light beams sometimes produced by the collisions of two galaxies.
Researchers developed a technique to biologically de-age cells with the same process used to create stem cells. The process removes age-related degeneration without entirely stripping cells of their function. Skin cells regained their ability to heal wounds after the technique was applied.
Researchers provided evidence that memory is stored across a vast number of brain regions, helping to validate the century-old “unified engram complex” hypothesis. The study could provide additional targets for treating memory loss and impairment.
Astronomers discovered the largest icy comet nucleus ever found using the Hubble Space Telescope. Comet C/2014 UN271 has a mass of 500 million tons and a diameter of approximately 80 miles.
Researchers found poaching is more detrimental than generally thought due to reproductive variance. Their study found that black rhino populations were in more danger when individuals that were more successful parents were killed.
Researchers genetically modified silkworms to produce edible silk proteins that can be used to mark individual pills or liquid medicines as legitimate. Their use could help prevent patients from taking counterfeit medicines.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument reached its operating temperature of 7 Kelvin (minus 447 Fahrenheit), making it ready for calibration. Operating at extremely low temperatures will keep the telescope from registering excessive background noise in images.