👩🚀 Canan Dağdeviren’s Wearable Ultrasound Device Sent to Space
Turkish scientist Prof. Dr. Canan Dağdeviren has opened a new chapter in the scientific world by sending her wearable ultrasound device, designed for the early detection of breast cancer, into space. On April 14, 2025, this historic mission was carried out aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, owned by Jeff Bezos. The all-female crew of six included notable names such as singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe. Dağdeviren’s device, described as an “electronic bra,” was tested in space conditions, marking a revolutionary step forward in women’s health.
Dağdeviren announced this historic moment on social media with a powerful message. She highlighted the opportunities for education and equality provided by the Republic founded by Atatürk and dedicated her invention not just to science, but to all living beings fighting against injustice. Her words represented more than just a scientific breakthrough—they embodied hope, solidarity, and a future shaped by women’s leadership. Dağdeviren’s meaningful step not only expanded the boundaries of science but also made a lasting impact with its inspiring social message.
☄️ Kosmos 482: 53-Year-Old Soviet Spacecraft Falls into the Indian Ocean
Originally launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 to explore Venus, Kosmos 482 became trapped in Earth’s orbit due to a failed launch and drifted in space for 53 years. On the morning of May 10, 2025, the spacecraft finally returned to Earth, crashing into the Indian Ocean. According to Roscosmos, the approximately 495-kilogram descent module landed off the coast of Indonesia’s Andaman Islands at 09:24 local time. Due to its durable design, the module likely survived re-entry without completely burning up, once again drawing attention to the issue of space debris.
Kosmos 482 was part of the Soviet Venera program and was originally designed to survive Venus’s harsh atmosphere. After its failed mission, the spacecraft became a piece of space junk orbiting Earth for decades. According to the European Space Agency, there are over a million objects larger than 1 cm and approximately 50,000 objects larger than 10 cm orbiting our planet. The fall of Kosmos 482 has renewed concerns about the dangers posed by such debris. Experts emphasize the importance of adopting “Design for Demise” strategies in future missions to ensure that spacecraft are built to safely disintegrate upon re-entry.
🌌 James Webb Telescope Observes Extraordinary Aurora Explosions on Jupiter
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected unprecedentedly intense and bright auroral (northern lights) activity at Jupiter’s poles. Led by the University of Leicester, the research revealed that these light shows, caused by interactions between the planet’s powerful magnetic field and charged particles, are largely fueled by volcanic eruptions on Jupiter’s moon Io. These eruptions release vast amounts of charged particles into space, which are captured by Jupiter’s magnetic field and funneled into its atmosphere, creating intense auroral emissions. The auroras on Jupiter were found to be hundreds of times brighter and far more dynamic than those on Earth.
JWST’s observations, made using its near-infrared camera (NIRCam) on December 25, 2023, revealed unexpected results. While scientists expected gradual changes, they witnessed rapid and intense light flashes in the polar regions. One of the study’s most surprising findings came from simultaneous observations by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which, despite monitoring Jupiter in the ultraviolet spectrum, failed to detect any of the auroral bursts recorded by JWST. This discrepancy has sparked new questions about the complexity of Jupiter’s atmosphere and magnetic environment. JWST also gathered detailed data on the behavior of trihydrogen cations associated with auroras, offering new insights into the heating and cooling of Jupiter’s upper atmosphere. Scientists now hope to combine these findings with data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft to better understand the planet’s magnetosphere and its interaction with Io.
🎬 Art Corner of the Week: Space Sweepers (2021)
Marking South Korea’s first big-budget space opera, Space Sweepers invites viewers into an action-packed adventure set in the year 2092. The film follows the crew of a space junk-collecting vessel as they stumble upon a humanoid robot that turns out to be the key to a potential mass extinction event. Directed by Jo Sung-hee, this visually stunning production captures attention with its gripping pace, compelling characters, and thought-provoking moral dilemmas. Balancing thrilling sci-fi elements with a strong emotional core, Space Sweepers offers something for both genre enthusiasts and fans of character-driven storytelling. It’s a must-watch addition to your list this week.
