After defying multiple mass extinctions on Earth, the hardy plant passes an intergalactic test. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. While it may appear humble, Earth's moss is built darn tough. It thrives in extreme environments -from the bitter cold, low-oxygen air of the Himalayas, down to the parched sands of Death Valley. Some species even make their home among the lava fields of active volcanoes .

What exactly is the UV Index? The measurement has nothing to do with how hot it is outside. Wearing sunscreen all year round can help protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. As of 2:19 p.m. EST today, it is officially autumn in the Northern Hemisphere .

With advancements in technology, the smaller versions of satellites have gained momentum in the space industry for earth monitoring and communication-based applications. The rise of CanSat technology has significantly impacted the space industry by providing a cost-effective solution for space exploration. CanSat is a simulation model of a real satellite and plays a crucial role in collecting and transmitting atmospheric data. This paper discusses the design of an Onboard Computer System forCanSat, used to study various environmental parameters by monitoring the concentrations of gases in the atmosphere. The Onboard Computer System uses GPS, accelerometer, altitude, temperature, pressure, gyroscope, magnetometer, UV radiation, and air quality sensors for atmospheric sensing. A highly efficient and low-power ESP32 microcontroller and a transceiver module are used to acquire data, facilitate seamless communication and transmit the collected data to the ground station.

Researchers at Tomsk Polytechnic University jointly with the University of Chemistry and Technology (Prague) conducted a series of experiments which proved that artificial neural networks can accurately identify DNA damage caused by UV radiation. In the future, this approach can be used in modern medical diagnostics. An article, dedicated to those studies, was published in the Biosensors and Bioelectronics journal. According to the authors, the ways UV could affect the DNA structure, especially with short-term irradiation, remain practically unstudied. UV radiation is also known to cause cancer.