Bangladesh’s night sky will feature a striking celestial display from Friday, April 17, through April 30, as the Lyrid meteor shower becomes visible along with noticeable planetary movements. The Lyrids, one of the most captivating annual meteor events, occur when Earth passes through dust left behind by Comet Thatcher.

The meteor shower will be most visible from the night of April 22 to the early hours of April 23, with observers potentially seeing 10 to 20 meteors per hour under clear skies. The Lyrid meteors are known for their brightness and often leave long-lasting trails of light. During this period, Venus will remain bright in the western sky but gradually move lower toward the horizon, while Mars will appear prominently with its reddish hue in the evening sky.

Toward the end of April, Saturn will rise high in the eastern sky about two hours before sunrise, with Neptune positioned nearby. However, viewing Neptune will require a powerful telescope.

The White House has confirmed that it is reviewing reports concerning the mysterious disappearances and deaths of at least ten American scientists. Many of these individuals had access to classified information related to nuclear or space research. Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt stated at a Wednesday briefing that she had not yet spoken with relevant agencies but indicated that the administration believes a formal investigation may be necessary.

The list of missing persons includes senior researchers and contractors from some of the country’s most sensitive scientific institutions. Among them are Monica Jacinto Reza, a senior aerospace engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who disappeared in June 2025 while hiking in California, and Steven Garcia, a government contractor from the Kansas City National Security Campus who went missing in August 2025. Former Los Alamos National Laboratory employee Anthony Chavez and retired Air Force Major General William ‘Neil’ McCasland also vanished between 2025 and early 2026.

Reports also mention the unexplained deaths of several prominent scientists, including NASA’s Frank Maiwald in 2024 and Michael David Hicks in 2023, both from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with causes of death not publicly disclosed.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain announced that an international-standard DNA laboratory will be established in Dhaka. He stated that with a population of 25 million and a growing number of DNA tests each year, the ministry’s forensic DNA laboratory will be upgraded into a modern facility. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Forensic DNA Laboratory Advisory Council at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The minister said that DNA screening laboratories at divisional levels will gradually be upgraded into fully self-sufficient profiling labs. He noted that the current forensic DNA lab equipment is over 15 years old, significantly reducing efficiency, and emphasized the need for new machines to ensure quality, purity, and accuracy in sample analysis. The ministry plans to integrate all forensic DNA reports into a centralized database under the Directorate of DNA Laboratory Management.

The advisory council also discussed staffing needs, database development, amendments to DNA laws and regulations, recruitment of qualified personnel, and setting analysis fees. Senior officials from the ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office attended the meeting.

The astronauts of NASA’s Artemis-2 mission expressed awe and called for global unity after completing their record-breaking lunar journey. Speaking at a press conference organized by NASA in Houston, they described Earth as a solitary “lifeboat” in the vast emptiness of space. The crew safely splashed down off the coast of California on Friday, marking the first time in over 50 years that humans have orbited the Moon.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, and Christina Koch shared their reflections on the mission’s significance. Koch urged humanity to preserve brotherhood, describing Earth as a calm and steady vessel in the universe. Hansen highlighted the mission’s milestones, noting that Glover was the first Black astronaut, Koch the first woman, and Hansen the first non-American to orbit the Moon. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the crew for inspiring the world to dream again.

Artemis-2 is the first crewed mission under NASA’s Artemis program, aimed at establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon as a step toward deeper space exploration. NASA expects humans to walk on the lunar surface again by 2028.

Four astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II mission have safely returned to Earth after completing a record-breaking journey around the Moon. The Orion spacecraft carrying them splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 6:07 a.m. Bangladesh time on April 11, 2026. The mission marked the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, covering 694,481 miles in total. The spacecraft had launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 2.

Following splashdown, Navy divers and helicopters surrounded the capsule to begin recovery operations. NASA confirmed all astronauts were in good health, describing their condition as “green.” The crew was airlifted to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks, including pulse, blood pressure, and neurological assessments. NASA officials reported that the capsule’s recovery followed years of testing and prior Artemis-1 rehearsals.

NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya called the mission “a gift to the world,” while Orion Program Manager Howard Hu described it as the beginning of a new era in human space exploration. NASA said the mission exceeded expectations and demonstrated the success of extensive teamwork.

Four astronauts from NASA’s Artemis-2 lunar mission safely returned to Earth, landing in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of California on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 6:07 a.m. local time. The Orion spacecraft, carrying U.S. astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, completed its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere before splashdown. U.S. Navy ships and divers participated in the recovery operation to secure the spacecraft and bring the crew aboard a naval vessel for medical checks.

The 10-day mission began on April 1, marking a major milestone in NASA’s renewed lunar exploration program. During the mission, the crew traveled as far as 252,757 miles from Earth while orbiting the far side of the Moon, surpassing the distance record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. After initial health assessments, the astronauts will return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The successful completion of Artemis-2 reinforces NASA’s progress toward future lunar and deep-space missions under the Artemis program.

Four astronauts from NASA’s Artemis-2 mission have begun their return to Earth after completing a historic lunar flyby. On April 7, the crew described their sense of awe while observing the Moon’s surface from the Orion capsule. They captured images of craters, ridges, and rare cosmic views including Earthrise, a solar eclipse, and the Orientale Impact Basin—some never before seen by humans.

During the mission, the astronauts were out of contact with Earth for about 40 minutes while passing the Moon’s far side. Christina Koch, NASA’s first woman to orbit the Moon, called the close-up view of the lunar terrain an unbelievable experience. Victor Glover said it felt as if he were walking among the Moon’s rugged mountains. The crew reached 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record, and spoke with President Donald Trump during the mission.

NASA reported that the team transmitted 20 gigabytes of data in 45 minutes using optical communication. The Orion capsule is now heading toward Earth and is expected to splash down near San Diego on April 10. The main challenge ahead is re-entry, when exterior temperatures may reach 1,600°C.

U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated the astronauts of the Artemis mission for what he described as a historic achievement while they orbited the Moon. According to AFP from Houston, Trump spoke with the crew by phone on Monday, expressing that the entire United States was proud of their success. He told the astronauts that they were true pioneers of the modern era.

The Artemis mission involves a ten-day journey around the Moon with three American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut on board. During the call, Trump engaged in a friendly conversation with the crew, praising their courage and dedication. He emphasized that their work required immense bravery and represented a significant milestone for the nation.

The mission marks a symbolic step in renewed lunar exploration efforts, highlighting international cooperation and the continued ambition of human spaceflight.

NASA’s Artemis-2 mission began its journey toward the Moon on April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center, marking humanity’s return to lunar travel after 53 years. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carried the Orion spacecraft with four astronauts on board. The mission has entered its third day, with NASA confirming that the crew successfully completed the trans-lunar injection phase, sending them out of Earth’s orbit toward the Moon. The astronauts have tested life support, communication, and manual control systems and are reported to be in good health and spirits.

The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover—the first Black astronaut on a lunar mission—Mission Specialist Christina Koch, the first woman to travel to the Moon, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, the first non-American in such a mission. The 10-day mission will not land on the Moon but will orbit about 7,400 kilometers above its surface before returning to Earth.

NASA expects Orion to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026. The mission’s success will determine the feasibility of the Artemis-3 mission planned for 2027 or 2028.

NASA’s Artemis-2 mission, launched from Florida, will send four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor J. Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon without landing. The mission, originally planned for November 2024, was delayed due to technical issues. It aims to test flight strategies and prepare for Artemis-3, scheduled for next year. The next human landing on the lunar surface is expected with Artemis-4, planned for 2028.

The Artemis program, launched in 2017 after several canceled projects, involves thousands of people and an estimated cost of $93 billion. It seeks to establish a sustainable lunar presence through a lunar orbit station and a surface base, paving the way for future Mars missions. NASA has partnered with private companies, selecting SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s lander designs for future lunar landings.

NASA’s renewed lunar focus also reflects growing geopolitical interest, as both the United States and China aim to explore resource-rich regions of the Moon. Artemis-2 will mark the first time in over 50 years that humans view the Moon’s far side directly, capturing images for future scientific analysis.

Astronauts of NASA’s Artemis mission completed their final preparations on Saturday for entering the Moon’s orbit. The crew, consisting of Americans Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen, reviewed imaging and analysis tasks for lunar surface features. At the start of their workday, they were about 169,000 miles from Earth and 110,700 miles from the Moon. The next key phase, entering the Moon’s gravitational sphere, is expected between Sunday and Monday night.

NASA reported that the Orion spacecraft’s crew began their day with breakfast and music, maintaining high morale. Glover was scheduled to conduct manual piloting tests to provide NASA with additional data on deep-space performance. The astronauts also reviewed checklists for documenting their lunar flyby experience and continued photographing geological formations such as lava flows and craters.

The Artemis-2 mission is part of NASA’s long-term plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a permanent base for future deep-space research. NASA officials described the mission as a learning experience, marking the first time a crewed spacecraft is operating in deep space in decades.

Researchers at Gazipur Agricultural University have developed a new high-yielding, short-duration, slender Aus rice variety named GAU Dhan-4. After nearly a decade of research and field trials, the variety received official approval at the 115th meeting of the National Seed Board on February 5, 2026. The university announced the development in a press statement on Saturday, noting that the innovation aims to boost farmers’ income and strengthen national food security.

The research team, led by Professors M. Moynul Haque and Mosiul Islam from the Department of Agronomy, created the variety by crossing the traditional Aus rice Parija with the high-yielding fine-grain BU Dhan-2. GAU Dhan-4 matures within 90 to 100 days, allowing farmers to cultivate up to four crops annually. It yields 5 to 5.5 tons per hectare under favorable conditions, requires less water, and shows resistance to diseases. The grain contains about 24.58% amylose and 8.38% protein, making it nutritious and easily digestible.

University Vice-Chancellor GKM Mostafizur Rahman praised the innovation as a reflection of researchers’ dedication and said it would significantly contribute to increasing agricultural productivity in Bangladesh.

NASA has launched four astronauts toward the Moon under the Artemis-2 mission, marking the first crewed lunar journey in over five decades since the Apollo missions. The launch took place on Thursday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at around 6:35 p.m. local time, with a rocket featuring orange and white colors roaring into the sky. The crew includes three Americans and one Canadian astronaut.

Unlike the Apollo missions, the Artemis-2 astronauts will not land on the Moon. During the 10-day mission, they will orbit around the far side of the Moon, flying about 6,400 miles beyond the lunar surface. The astronauts will spend three hours in that region to analyze geological features and capture images. NASA will also monitor their physical and mental conditions after their return to better understand the effects of space travel on humans.

If the mission concludes safely, NASA aims to organize the next lunar landing mission by 2028, paving the way for humans to walk on the Moon again.

After more than five decades, humans have once again embarked on a journey to the Moon. On Wednesday, April 1, a NASA rocket carrying four astronauts lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. local time. The mission, named Artemis-2, includes three American astronauts and one Canadian.

Reid Wiseman, a former U.S. Navy pilot and test pilot who spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station in 2014, is commanding the mission. Pilot Victor Glover, who previously served on the SpaceX Crew-1 mission, becomes the first Black astronaut to join a lunar mission. Mission specialist Christina Koch, known for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, will become the first woman to travel around the Moon. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, also a mission specialist, is the first from his country to take part in a lunar mission.

The Artemis-2 mission marks a major milestone in NASA’s renewed lunar exploration program, paving the way for future human landings on the Moon.

NASA successfully launched the Artemis-2 mission on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts toward the Moon for the first time in 54 years. The crew includes three Americans—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—and one Canadian, Jeremy Hansen. The launch took place at 6:35 p.m. local time, drawing cheers from NASA staff and spectators after years of delays and budget increases.

Before liftoff, the astronauts delivered brief remarks, with Hansen emphasizing that the mission represents all of humanity. Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson addressed the crew, highlighting the global partnerships and the hopes of a new generation carried by the Artemis team.

The mission’s first phase will test the spacecraft’s safety and reliability. Over a roughly 10-day flight, the astronauts will orbit the Moon without landing, while also testing manual control capabilities during docking simulations.