Spin of Supermassive Black Hole Measured at a Quarter the Speed of Light

This week, science reporter Isaac Schultz described a groundbreaking effort to measure the spin of a supermassive black hole, and a fascinating experimental archaeology experiment in which marines fought each other to test how well ancient Mycenean armor works. Other science coverage included a botched SpaceX engine test that produced a spectacular fireball, new insights into the link between Ozempic and stomach paralysis, a slideshow featuring the best Milky Way photography of the year, and NASA’s bold plan to build the first railway on the Moon. — George Dvorsky 

A team of astronomers has managed to calculate the speed of a distant supermassive black hole’s spin thanks to the object’s chance meeting with a star—which it promptly destroyed. – Isaac Schultz Read More

Sixty-four years ago, a team of archaeologists found a 3,500-year-old suit of armor in Dendra, Greece, several miles from the ancient site of Mycenae. Known as the Dendra Panoply, researchers were unsure if the resplendent suit of armor was purely ceremonial or battle-ready—so they put it through an actual real world test. – Isaac Schultz Read More

Video captured by NASASpaceflight shows the fireball, which occurred on May 23, 2024.Gif: NASASpaceflight/X/Gizmodo

A qualification test of a Raptor 2 engine resulted in a dramatic explosion at SpaceX’s McGregor facility. The company has yet to comment on the incident, but it’s unlikely to affect the upcoming fourth test launch of the Starship megarocket. – George Dvorsky Read More

The GLP-1 semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, both sold by the company Novo NordiskPhoto: Ricardo Rubio (AP)

New research this month is the latest to link the use of Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 drugs to a greater risk of gastroparesis, a potentially serious medical condition. So what exactly is gastroparesis and how worried should you be about it if you’re on or thinking about taking these medications? – Ed Cara Read More

The company is offering compounded semaglutide for $199 a month.Image: Hims & Hers

The millennial-skewed telehealth platform Hims & Hers announced Monday that is now offering customers a compounded version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. – Bruce Gil, Quartz Read More

The Milky Way as seen above New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki. Photo: Tom Rae

Our galaxy stretches across 100,000 light-years and contains somewhere between 100 to 400 billion stars. It appears in our night skies as a long, hazy strip of light littered with celestial objects. Photographers worldwide have been captivated by the sight of the Milky Way from Earth, capturing its incredible details in stunning high-contrast images. – Passant Rabie Read More

An artist’s concept of a future human habitat on the Moon.Illustration: Ethan Schaler

NASA aims to set up a long-term human presence on the Moon, but maintaining a habitat on the surface will require some innovative infrastructure. To one day transport cargo across the dusty, cratered landscape, NASA is considering a magnetic levitation railway system. – Passant Rabie Read More

Plastic rubbish left somewhere on an inhabited island of the Maldives.Image: Lars Halbauer (AP)

It seems that nobody—and no body part—is safe from microplastics. In a recent study, researchers found traces of plastic in the testicles of both dogs and humans. The potential health impacts of this discovery are not yet clear, but the team suggests it may help explain why men’s sperm counts have declined over time. – Ed Cara Read More

An artist’s impression of Gilese 12 b in orbit around its red dwarf host star.Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)

A newly discovered exoplanet, with its surface temperature estimated to be remarkably temperate, is suddenly one of the most intriguing objects in our immediate celestial neighborhood. This rocky Venus-sized world transits a red dwarf star, offering astronomers the rare opportunity to study whether such planets can retain their atmospheres and potentially support life. – George Dvorsky Read More

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