James Webb Telescope Detects Unknown Molecule on Pluto and Titan as China’s Great Green Wall Surpasses Forest Growth and Medici Mystery Cracked

Space Discoveries of the Week

James Webb Telescope has detected an absorption line in the spectra of Pluto and Titan that points to a previously unknown molecule, a finding that could reshape our understanding of outer‑solar‑system chemistry. The signal, reported by NASA, appears in a region never seen before and raises fresh questions about the exotic chemistry of these icy worlds.

China’s Great Green Wall outpaces natural forests

Satellite analyses show that the Great Green Wall—over ↑ 66 billion trees planted along China’s northern frontier—are growing at a rate that exceeds that of comparable natural woodlands, possibly driven by heightened carbon‑dioxide uptake.

DNA solves 500‑year‑old Medici murder

Researchers extracting ancient DNA from the remains of Giovanni and Francesco de’ Medici identified malaria parasites, overturning centuries‑old theories of arsenic poisoning and closing a Renaissance‑era forensic case.

“Science is the ultimate detective,” said lead archaeogeneticist at the University of Pisa.

Elsewhere, Hubble captured light from a galaxy that should be invisible, solar storms promise vivid auroras, and engineers sketch a protective “airbag” to shield satellites from solar flares.

Intel provided by Nova Stirling (Aerospace & Space Tech Correspondent).