A new survey of people in eight countries finds that mental wellness took a dive in 2020, with the worst effects found among the young.
Why it matters: Few people's mental health escaped unscathed from the effects of the pandemic, but the gap between the state of the young versus older adults could mean serious problems down the road.
A new study concludes that the first-known interstellar object to pass through our solar system is probably a piece from another planet.
The big picture: The finding throws cold water on the theory — raised by one prominent astrophysicist — that the object was really an alien artifact, but it will help scientists learn about the makeup of planets beyond our corner of the galaxy.
For the first time, NASA has captured the sound of one of its rovers driving along the surface of Mars.
Why it matters: These audio recordings can be used for scientific as well as engineering purposes, like diagnosing possible problems with the rover as they pop up.
Human stem cells can be grown in the lab into balls of cells that resemble embryos in the earliest stages, researchers report today.
Why it matters: The models of the earliest days of human development could help to determine how pregnancies are lost and which genetic mutations can lead to birth defects. They could also be used to screen the effect of drugs on human development and improve IVF therapy success rate.
Some people with "long COVID" say their symptoms have gotten better after they received a vaccine, the Washington Post reports.
The big picture: The evidence so far is largely anecdotal, but further research could help determine whether vaccines can offer some help to the millions of people worldwide who are suffering through long-term illness that science doesn't understand very well.
A planet about 41 light-years from Earth lost one atmosphere but may have developed a new one.
Why it matters: Astronomers are increasingly finding that even distant planets whose features seem easy to explain are actually more complicated than initially expected, hinting at the vast diversity of planets in the universe.
Lightning strikes on the early Earth over the course of 1 billion years could have been key to the formation of the first life on our planet, according to a new study.
The big question: What triggered the first forms of life to develop on Earth? This new study may help scientists find an answer to that enduring question.
Russia, the U.S.' long-standing partner in space, is turning to China for its lunar ambitions.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Russia have been uneasy partners in orbit for decades, but as the two grow farther apart in space, their rift could reshape the geopolitical landscape above Earth — and on it — for years to come.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday appointed cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga as the new health minister, as the number of infections and deaths from COVID-19 continue to spike in the country, per Bloomberg.
Why it matters: Queiroga is Brazil's fourth health minister since the pandemic began. Intensive care units in 25 of Brazil's 26 state capitals are operating at capacity or close to it, and the numbers show no signs of slowing down.
