Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (GAKRIBI) in Gazipur has developed the country’s first high drought-tolerant inbred soybean variety named ‘GAU Soybean 6’. The innovation, led by Professor Dr. M. A. Mannan of the Department of Agronomy, marks the university’s 94th crop variety development. The National Seed Board officially released the variety on November 11, 2025, following five years of successful field evaluation in Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Bhola with support from Solidaridad Network Asia.

The variety was selected from 250 germplasms collected from Taiwan, Bangladesh, and South Korea after three years of testing. It can withstand severe drought conditions at 50–60% field capacity and yield 3.2–3.8 tons per hectare. Each plant produces 80–100 pods, and the seeds weigh about 230 grams per 1,000. Its low trypsin content enhances protein absorption in poultry feed, making it valuable for the poultry industry. The crop matures in about three months, offering farmers higher returns in less time.

University officials described the innovation as a milestone for sustainable agriculture, with potential to strengthen food security and improve farmer livelihoods in drought-prone coastal regions.

NASA has postponed its Artemis-2 lunar mission after engineers detected a mechanical fault in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket during final preparations. The mission, originally scheduled for early March, was intended to send four astronauts around the far side of the Moon and return them to Earth after ten days. It would have been humanity’s longest-distance space journey in over fifty years.

According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the issue was found in the helium flow system, which is essential for pressurizing the rocket’s fuel tanks and cooling systems. The problem emerged after a 50-hour test that had shown no faults, leading the team to believe the launch could proceed by March 6. NASA described the helium insufficiency as a serious technical problem requiring further maintenance.

On February 19, the rocket had been fueled with about 730,000 gallons of propellant, marking a major milestone in launch preparation. NASA hopes that resolving the issue will allow the Artemis-2 mission to proceed successfully, paving the way for Artemis-3, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since 1972.

Astronomical observers in Bangladesh have reported that February 18 will offer a roughly 50-minute favorable window for moon sighting after sunset. According to the Bangladesh Weather Observation Team (BWOT), the moon will remain visible in the western sky for about 50 to 51 minutes after sunset, which is considered a suitable period for naked-eye observation. The new moon will form on the night of February 17, but it will not be visible that day due to its young age.

BWOT stated that sunset in Bangladesh on February 18 will occur at approximately 5:58 p.m., and moonset at around 6:49 p.m., giving a 50-minute observation opportunity. By that time, the moon will be about 24 hours old, making visibility more likely if weather conditions are clear. However, visibility will depend on atmospheric clarity, cloud cover, air pollution, and the observer’s location.

The report also noted that some Middle Eastern countries may attempt moon observation using advanced telescopes. If successful, fasting could begin there on February 18; otherwise, it may start on February 19.

A new team of four astronauts reached the International Space Station (ISS) after a 34-hour journey aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on Saturday. The mission, known as Crew-12, includes American astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev. They will stay for several months to conduct scientific research in microgravity.

Jessica Meir, the mission commander and a marine biologist, said the crew is continuing humanity’s legacy of over 25 years of continuous presence in space. The mission follows the early return of Crew-11 in January due to a medical emergency, marking the first such incident in ISS history. Crew-12 fills that gap, restoring full operations at the station, which orbits 400 kilometers above Earth.

Sophie Adenot, the second French woman in space, will test the use of artificial intelligence and augmented reality for self-administered medical ultrasounds. NASA plans to deorbit the ISS in 2030, making Crew-12 one of its final long-duration teams.

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has inaugurated a two-day science festival titled ‘Al-Khwarizmi Science Fest 2025’ at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) complex in Farmgate, Dhaka. The event began on Thursday morning with Advocate Saida Akter, sister of July uprising martyr Ahnaf Abir Ashrafulllah, declaring the festival open. Shibir Secretary General Sibgatullah delivered the welcome speech, emphasizing the importance of science, technology, and innovation for national progress.

In his address, Sibgatullah stated that technological innovation is vital for ensuring food security, environmental protection, and sustainable defense systems. He called for state support to nurture talented youth and promote indigenous innovation, asserting that Bangladesh could achieve self-reliance through its own technological advancements. The organization aims to foster a science-minded, responsible, and innovative generation capable of contributing to national welfare.

The festival features events such as a math olympiad, project display competition, and Capture the Flag contest, along with public science demonstrations, robotics and technology exhibitions, science games, quizzes, and a youth innovation showcase. It remains open to all from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Education Adviser Professor Dr. C. R. Abrar has called for giving top priority to science and research to ensure sustainable development, build a knowledge-based economy, and address future challenges. He made the remarks on Monday while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled “Strengthening Research and Development to Meet National and Global Needs: Use of Affordable and High-Tech Solutions,” organized by the Ministry of Education at the Secretariat.

Dr. Abrar expressed concern over the declining enrollment in science education and the slow pace of research in Bangladesh. He highlighted that private universities face serious delays of six to eight months in obtaining government clearance for research grants, which hampers effective fund utilization. He urged the removal of unnecessary disparities between public and private universities and proposed a fast-track system for responsible institutions. He also noted that Bangladesh invests only about 0.3 percent of its GDP in research—far below regional and global standards.

The adviser emphasized the need to connect expatriate Bangladeshi researchers, promote knowledge exchange, and build a strong research ecosystem integrating basic and applied sciences through coordinated efforts among government, academia, and the private sector.

Archaeologists have identified a red hand stencil on a cave wall in Indonesia as the world’s oldest known cave painting. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, was made by Indonesian and Australian researchers who determined the artwork to be at least 67,800 years old. The team, led by Indonesia’s Adhi Agus Oktaviana and Australia’s Maxime Aubert, conducted fieldwork on Muna Island in Sulawesi province, using uranium-thorium dating on small limestone deposits known as “cave popcorn.”

The study found that the handprints were created by blowing pigment over hands pressed against the cave wall, leaving a clear silhouette. The painting predates similar Neanderthal-associated hand stencils in Spain by about a thousand years, though the Spanish dating remains disputed. Researchers also discovered that the caves were reused for painting over tens of thousands of years, with newer images drawn atop older ones.

According to the study, the finding provides new insight into how early Homo sapiens reached Australia, supporting theories that modern humans were present in Indonesian islands around 65,000 years ago and possibly linked to the ancestors of Indigenous Australians.

Gazipur Agricultural University (GAKRUB) organized a farmer training program titled “Verification of Milk Quality at Farmers’ Doorsteps through the Innovated Mobile Milk Testing Laboratory.” The event took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the university’s International Complex seminar room. The training aimed to ensure fair prices for farmers and safe milk for consumers by teaching the use and practical application of the mobile milk testing laboratory. Forty farmers from different areas of Gazipur participated in the two-phase program.

The opening session was attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. J.K.M. Mostafizur Rahman as chief guest, with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. M. Moynul Haque and Treasurer Professor Dr. Md. Safiul Islam Afrad as special guests. The session was chaired by Professor Dr. Farhana Yasmin, Director of the External Center. The training was conducted by Professor Dr. Md. Morshedur Rahman, inventor of the mobile milk testing technology, who provided both theoretical and practical guidance.

According to the university, the mobile milk testing lab—first of its kind in Bangladesh—offers services such as nutrition analysis, adulteration detection, antibiotic presence testing, mastitis examination, and microbial count assessment.

NASA has moved its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, marking a major step toward sending humans to the Moon for the first time in over five decades. The transfer, lasting about 12 hours, positions the Artemis-2 mission for final testing before a possible launch on February 6. The mission will carry three American astronauts and one Canadian on a roughly 10-day journey around the Moon without landing.

The Artemis-2 mission, announced during former President Donald Trump’s first term, is viewed as a key milestone in the United States’ renewed lunar ambitions. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen attended the rollout, expressing excitement about the upcoming flight. Engineers will now conduct a series of safety tests, including a full simulation, before liftoff. NASA previously completed the uncrewed Artemis-1 mission in November 2022.

The report notes that China is also advancing its lunar program, aiming to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. Analysts suggest U.S. urgency stems partly from China’s progress, while uncertainty remains over the 2027 Artemis-3 mission due to delays in SpaceX’s Starship rocket development.

Iran launched three remote-sensing satellites—Tolou-3, Zafar-2, and Kowsar-1.5—into orbit on Sunday from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome. The satellites were carried aboard a Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle as part of a multi-payload mission. This marks the seventh time Iran has used a Russian rocket for satellite deployment, according to the Mehr news agency.

Hassan Salarieh, head of Iran’s Space Agency, said the launch signals a bright future for the country’s space sector and is the first instance of Iran sending multiple satellites into space simultaneously. Among the satellites, Tolou-3 is Iran’s heaviest and most advanced observation satellite to date, weighing 150 kilograms. About 80 percent of its components were manufactured domestically, representing a major step toward the localization of satellite cluster technology.

Iran also plans to launch its first telecommunications satellite cluster, named “Shahid Soleimani,” next year, continuing its efforts to expand national space capabilities.

Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos has announced plans to construct a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2036. The facility is expected to supply electricity to Russia’s lunar exploration program and a planned joint Russia-China research base. The project will be developed in partnership with the Lavochkin Association, with participation from the state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute, Russia’s leading nuclear research center.

The initiative marks Moscow’s renewed ambition to regain prominence in space exploration after setbacks such as the crash of its Luna-25 lander in 2023. Roscosmos described the proposed power plant as a critical step toward establishing a sustainable lunar presence. Although the agency did not explicitly confirm the plant’s nuclear nature, the involvement of major nuclear institutions strongly indicates that direction.

Analysts view the project as part of Russia’s broader strategy to compete with the United States and China in lunar development. If successful, it could enable long-term human and robotic operations on the Moon, though technical and financial challenges remain significant.

On December 21, 2025, countries across the Northern Hemisphere, including Bangladesh, experienced the longest night and shortest day of the year, marking the winter solstice. The astronomical event occurs when the Northern Hemisphere tilts farthest from the Sun, resulting in reduced daylight hours and the official onset of winter.

Scientists explain that Earth’s axial tilt causes seasonal variations as the planet orbits the Sun. Around June 21, the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the Sun, creating the longest day, known as the summer solstice. Conversely, in December, the Southern Hemisphere tilts sunward, bringing summer to the south and winter to the north.

The winter solstice has cultural and scientific significance, symbolizing renewal and the gradual lengthening of days ahead. Meteorological departments in South Asia noted cooler temperatures and longer nights, though no severe cold wave was reported. The event also serves as a reminder of Earth’s dynamic relationship with the Sun and its impact on global climate patterns.

Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is set to make history by sending the first wheelchair-using woman into space. Mikela Benthaus, a spacecraft and mechatronics engineer, will join five other crew members aboard the New Shepard rocket for the upcoming NS-37 suborbital mission. The flight will cross the Kármán line, 62 miles above Earth, marking the internationally recognized boundary of space.

Benthaus, who became paralyzed after a 2018 motorcycle accident, has since been an advocate for inclusive space exploration. Joining her on the mission will be engineer Hans Koenigsmann, entrepreneur Neil Milc, investor Joey Hyde, Adonis Porolis, and space enthusiast Jason Stansell. The crew will experience several minutes of microgravity before returning to Earth during the 10–12 minute flight.

This will be Blue Origin’s 16th human spaceflight and its latest step toward expanding accessibility in commercial space travel. The company has previously flown 86 people past the Kármán line, with 80 of them being first-time space travelers.

Archaeologists in Iran have discovered a prehistoric village estimated to be around 7,000 years old beneath the historic Belad Shapur area of Dehdasht city. The excavation, led by researcher Zabihollah Masoudinia, revealed settlement layers dating back to the 5th and 6th millennia BCE, marking the first formal archaeological exploration in the region. The find includes pottery fragments and cultural artifacts that suggest continuous habitation from the Neolithic to the Islamic periods.

Masoudinia noted that the discovery could redefine Dehdasht’s historical significance. Beneath medieval and Islamic-era structures, researchers uncovered evidence of early human technology, including heated stone fragments used for warming liquids. The team also found remnants of an ancient qanat water system in the city’s northern area, indicating advanced water management practices.

Experts believe the discovery will prompt further excavations and research into Iran’s early urban development. A small research center has been established at the site to study the deeper layers and preserve the artifacts for future analysis.

A new study by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) under India’s Ministry of Science and Technology has revealed that nano-plastics generated from single-use plastics such as PET bottles can severely disrupt key biological processes in the human body. Published in the journal *Nanoscale Advances*, the research led by Prashant Sharma and Sakshi Dagria shows that prolonged exposure to nano-plastics can impair beneficial gut bacteria, reduce their defense mechanisms, and increase antibiotic sensitivity. Laboratory tests demonstrated that these particles damage red blood cell membranes, cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and even trigger apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death linked to cancer. The findings highlight that nano-plastics—tiny synthetic particles measuring between 1 and 1000 nanometers—pose emerging health risks by interfering with gut health, blood stability, and cellular metabolism. Researchers warn that long-term exposure to such particles could lead to significant physiological and genetic harm, underscoring the urgent need for stricter plastic waste management and further biomedical research.