Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Butterfly Nebula Unveils Secrets of Earth’s Beginnings, Thanks to Webb
In a dazzling new photo, the James Webb Space Telescope zooms in on the Butterfly
Nebula — the dying gasps of one of the hottest stars in the sky, which could hold clues to Earth's origins. Glittering some 3,400 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius, the Butterfly Nebula (officially designated NGC 6302) is the swan song of a dying star. At its center sits one of the hottest known stars in the Milky Way: a white dwarf (the collapsed husk of a once-sunlike star) smoldering at temperatures of more than 220,000 kelvins (nearly 400,000 degrees Fahrenheit). The JWST observations not only reveal new insights about the messy process of stellar death but could also help researchers better understand how the ingredients of Earth-like planets are recycled through space.
When the Sun Strikes: Record-Breaking Solar Flare Image Released
The world's largest solar telescope just captured the highest-resolution images of a solar flare to date — and they're spectacular. Solar flares are massive bursts of light emitted by the sun during solar storms. Twisting magnetic fields create large, bundled loops of plasma called arcades that extend into the corona — the hot, outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere. When aimed at Earth, energy from the flares can disrupt radio communications and spacecraft orbiting our planet. The observations could help scientists understand the mechanics of solar flares and improve predictions of future flares.
Breathe Easy: Surgery Proves Superior in Chronic Sinus Treatment
Sinus surgery is more effective than antibiotics at treating chronic rhinosinusitis, according to a major clinical trial led by University College London (UCL). Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), or sinusitis, is a long-term condition affecting one in 10 UK adults. Symptoms include a blocked and runny nose, loss of smell, facial pain, tiredness and worsening of breathing problems, such as asthma. It's often similar to the symptoms of a bad cold, but it can last for months or even years. Scientists hope these findings will help reduce the length of time for patients to get treatment. Streamlining clinical pathways will help reduce unnecessary visits and consultations, and save on health care resources.
Straight Hair, Hidden Risks: ‘Formaldehyde-Free’ Products Not So Safe
Formaldehyde-free hair-straightening products have been marketed as a safer option, but they may pose a risk to kidney health, a case series suggests. Formaldehyde — as well as liquid forms of the chemical, called formalin and methylene glycol — is added to hair-straightening and hair-smoothening products as a preservative to extend shelf life and to help lock the hair's texture in place for a long time. When heated, as it is during these hair treatments, formaldehyde is released into the air as a gas. This can cause immediate problems, such as skin irritation, coughing, wheezing and a burning sensation in the eyes. But especially when it happens repeatedly, formaldehyde exposure can also cause long-term issues such as asthma and a raised risk of cancer.
