Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Astronomers Crack the Case of the Missing Sulfur
For decades, scientists have puzzled over why so little sulfur appears in space,
even though it is one of the most common elements in the universe and vital to life. A new study suggests that the missing sulfur may be locked away in icy dust grains, forming unusual molecular shapes like crown-like rings and hydrogen-linked chains. These hidden forms make sulfur difficult to detect with telescopes, helping explain why its presence has been underestimated for so long. Researchers now believe they may be closing in on solving a mystery that has lingered in astronomy for years.
Navigating the Future: Quantum Tech Takes Flight on X-37B
A US military space-plane, the X-37B orbital test vehicle, is due to embark on its eighth flight into space on August 21, 2025. Much of what the X-37B does in space is secret. But it serves partly as a platform for cutting-edge experiments. One of these experiments is a potential alternative to GPS that makes use of quantum science as a tool for navigation: a quantum inertial sensor. This technology could revolutionize how spacecraft, airplanes, ships and submarines navigate in environments where GPS is unavailable or compromised. In space, especially beyond Earth's orbit, GPS signals become unreliable or simply vanish. The same applies underwater, where submarines cannot access GPS at all. And even on Earth, GPS signals can be jammed (blocked), spoofed (making a GPS receiver think it is in a different location) or disabled — for instance, during a conflict.
One Quiet Trait May Unlock the Mystery of Anxiety & Depression
The meta-analysis of 33 studies, the first of its kind, looked at the relationship between sensitivity and common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Researchers found there was a significant, positive relationship between the two, concluding that highly sensitive people are more likely to experience depression and anxiety compared to those who are less sensitive. In the study, sensitivity was defined as a personality trait that reflects people's capacity to perceive and process environmental stimuli such as bright lights, subtle changes in the environment and other peoples' moods. Often overlooked in mental health studies and clinical practice, which tend to focus on neuroticism and its association with mental health conditions, this research shows that understanding a person's sensitivity level is important and can have therapeutic implications.
Breakthrough: Sheep’s Wool Protein Found to Repair Teeth Naturally
Dental treatments from sheep’s wool and other hair could be used to coat teeth to repair enamel and prevent tooth decay, according to a new study. After extracting keratin — a protein found in hair, skin and fingernails — from wool and applying it to teeth, scientists found that the substance formed a protective crystal-like coating that mimicked natural tooth enamel. The finding could support sustainable, low-cost treatments for early tooth decay within the next two to three years, according to the researchers. Not only is it sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin, it also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins, commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable. Keratin also looks much more natural than these treatments, as it can more closely match the color of the original tooth.
