News

NASA’s Pandora satellite set to search for alien life

NASA’s Pandora satellite set for January launch to search exoplanets for signs of alien life

Published

3 weeks ago

December 30, 2025

Harvey Vargas

NASA’s Pandora satellite set for January launch to search exoplanets for signs of alien life

In Short:
– NASA and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will launch the Pandora Mission on January 5, 2026, to find signs of life.
– The mission will study 20 exoplanets’ atmospheres for biosignatures, utilising an innovative telescope design.

NASA is gearing up to launch the Pandora Mission on January 5, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The compact satellite, developed with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, is designed to probe distant exoplanets for signs of life by analyzing their atmospheric composition. This $20 million mission focuses on detecting water vapor and other biosignatures across 20 known worlds.

At the core of Pandora is CODA, a 45-centimeter all-aluminum telescope offering innovative, cost-effective observations in both visible and near-infrared light. By separating planetary signals from the bright light of host stars, scientists hope to confirm the presence of water—a critical ingredient for life as we know it. Each of the 20 target planets will be observed 10 times during planetary transits, enabling continuous 24-hour monitoring sessions.

Pandora arrives amid growing excitement over exoplanet discoveries, including potential biosignatures found on K2-18b in 2025. Its observations will pave the way for future missions, like NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, while rideshare payloads from Spire Global and Kepler Communications join the launch. The mission operations center at the University of Arizona will process all incoming data.

News

OpenAI prepares first consumer device amid revenue boom

OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.

Published

6 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.

OpenAI is gearing up to launch its first-ever consumer hardware device in late 2026. The product is expected to be a screenless smart speaker, signalling the tech giant’s move beyond software and into the world of physical devices.

The device comes after OpenAI acquired a promising hardware startup to accelerate development.

The company is also pushing a strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing, working closely with U.S. manufacturers to secure efficient production of essential components.

Despite the progress, technical hurdles remain, especially around the device’s listening capabilities, which could delay the rollout.

This development comes on the heels of OpenAI reporting an annualised revenue of over $20 billion in 2025, representing a staggering 233% increase from the previous year. The combination of massive revenue growth and expansion into hardware marks a new era for the AI pioneer.

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News

Putin invited to Trump’s Gaza Peace Board

Putin invited to U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza amid ceasefire efforts and reconstruction debates.

Published

7 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Putin invited to U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza amid ceasefire efforts and reconstruction debates.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly received an invitation to join the U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, according to the Kremlin. The council, created by President Donald Trump, is designed to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas while overseeing the region’s reconstruction.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow will review the details of the invitation before responding. The board has already extended invitations to several world leaders, with some nations confirming their participation.

The proposal has sparked debate because the Trump administration reportedly requires participating nations to pay $1 billion to secure a permanent seat. Putin’s potential involvement also raises concerns, given his ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

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#GazaPeace #Putin #Trump #MiddleEast #InternationalRelations #WorldLeaders #Ceasefire #GlobalPolitics

News

Trump escalates Greenland standoff as Europe weighs retaliation

Denmark boosts Greenland troops as Trump pushes U.S. control, prompting European leaders to seek diplomatic solutions amidst rising tensions.

Published

7 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Denmark boosts Greenland troops as Trump pushes U.S. control, prompting European leaders to seek diplomatic solutions amidst rising tensions.

Denmark has deployed additional troops to Greenland after President Donald Trump renewed his push for U.S. control of the island, linking the issue to what he claims cost him a Nobel Peace Prize.

The move has raised alarm across Europe, with leaders scrambling to prevent a fresh transatlantic crisis.

Trump has warned of tariffs against countries opposing American control of Greenland, calling the territory vital to U.S. security interests. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has privately raised concerns with Trump, while EU officials assess potential coordinated countermeasures.

Despite the rhetoric, European leaders remain cautious. With U.S. influence deeply embedded in Europe’s defence and security framework, the bloc is keen to avoid further escalation as diplomatic negotiations continue behind the scenes.

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