NASA discovers signs of past life on Mars

NASA has confirmed that it has detected seasonal variations in methane, and minerals like phyllosilicates may be indirect signs of conditions that supported life in the past. But this only indicates the potential for past life, not direct biological evidence of microorganisms or “Earth-like” organisms.

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Seasonal variations in methane: NASA’s Curiosity rover has detected seasonal increases and decreases in methane levels in Gale Crater. On Earth, most methane is produced by biological activity (microorganisms or the decomposition of organic matter), but it can also form through geological processes. So methane on Mars is an interesting clue but not enough to confirm the presence of life.

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Phyllosilicates (clay): This type of mineral forms when rocks interact with liquid water for a long time.  Their presence suggests that Mars once had a moist environment that could have supported microbial life. 

To date, NASA has not found direct evidence (e.g. bacterial cells, DNA, proteins, etc.) that life has existed or is present on Mars. All remain at the level of potential signs that need further verification.

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Russia activates and puts into service new missile system

The latest information shows that Russia has actually activated and put into service a new missile system, specifically a medium-range hypersonic missile called Oreshnik. President Vladimir Putin said Russia has begun mass production of the hypersonic missile system and it has been officially put into service. (Yahoo, ABC News).

At the same time, according to Reuters, Russia announced that it had lifted all restrictions on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles, including those capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This topic was presented as a strong strategic warning to Europe.

Strategy:

CriteriaInformationbOreshnik missile (medium-range hypersonic missile)Status Already in mass production and in service Expected deployment Belarus (in 2025) Deployment policy Russia announced that there are no more restrictions on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles

Russia has officially activated its new missile arsenal — namely the Oreshnik system — with plans to deploy it in Belarus and remove all previous restrictions on intermediate-range weapons.  This marks a remarkable strategic shift in the Russian military, sending a clear message to NATO and European countries.

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The US State Department is asking visa applicants to pay a whopping $15,000

The US State Department is asking visa applicants to pay a whopping $15,000. But that’s only in the context of a US customs pilot program, not a mandatory rule that applies to all cases.

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Pilot Program Overview: “Visa Bond”

When: Starting August 20, 2025, for about 12 months.

Who: B-1/B-2 visa applicants (tourist or short-term business) from Malawi and Zambia, as those two countries are among the countries with high overstay rates and weak background checks.

Bond amount: Up to $15,000, but the specific amount — $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 — is determined by the consular officer based on the visa applicant’s individual circumstances (the $10,000 level is generally used unless otherwise indicated).

Refund: If you comply with the visa conditions (depart the US on time, use the specified airport, do not apply for an immigration visa), the deposit will be fully refunded.

Airport requirements: Those who have paid the deposit must enter and depart through one of three airports: Boston (BOS), JFK (New York), or Washington Dulles.

Note

Not all visas require a deposit — the program is in the pilot phase and only applies to certain nationalities, not to all cases.

Not applicable to other types of visas: Such as student visas or visas issued before August 20, 2025.

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Successfully tested unmanned T-72 tank, towards robot warfare

Shturm, an unmanned attack tank developed on the basis of the T-72 (or T-90) chassis recently announced by Russia.

Photo image Kiesiak Adam

Announcement and Successful Testing: Shturm. Russia has for the first time publicly unveiled the prototype of the unmanned tank “Shturm”, developed by the Uralvagonzavod corporation for the Ministry of Defense. This is an important step in the modernization of the armored forces.

The Shturm system includes both an unmanned combat vehicle and a mobile command vehicle, both based on the T-72 or T-90 chassis, and has just been successfully tested in the field.

Outstanding features of Shturm

Firepower designed for urban areas: equipped with a shortened 125 mm D-414 main gun, still using an automatic loading system with a capacity of 22 rounds; diverse weapon options such as 30 mm 2A42 cannon, RPO-2 thermobaric rockets; rumored 152 mm version.

Obstacle-clearing capabilities: equipped with a front bulldozer blade to clear paths or clear obstacles, suitable for urban battlefields.

Reuse of existing chassis: utilizing the T-72/T-90 chassis saves costs and makes flexible use of existing tank inventories.

Flexible control: the current version is still manned, but is designed to operate in remote control mode — paving the way for fully unmanned systems in the future.

Clear tactical role: Shturm is designed to take on the most dangerous missions, such as breaking through enemy defenses, minimizing risks to soldiers, especially in tense urban environments.

Results and Strategic Impact

Successful field testing has marked Shturm as a viable direction — robotic tanks can operate in coordination with traditional armored forces, while minimizing the risk to human lives. 

If proven effective on the battlefield, Shturm could pave the way for a new generation of unmanned tanks designed from scratch. At the same time, the highly automated T-14 Armata could become the command center for future robotized formations. 

Category Content Project Shturm — unmanned tank based on T-72/T-90 Features Shortened gun, autoloader, dozer blade, weapon options Control Manned/remote control application Role Defensive breakthrough, urban warfare Future Paving the way for combat robots; T-14 as commander. 

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World Bitcoin market news today

Here is the latest update on the global Bitcoin market on August 11, 2025.

Stock market information for Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin is a crypto in the CRYPTO market.

The price is 120037.0 USD currently with a change of 1484.00 USD (0.01%) from the previous close.

The intraday high is 122242.0 USD and the intraday low is 118177.0 USD.

Price & Market Trend

Bitcoin price is hovering around $120,037, with an intraday range of $118,177 to $122,242.

However, many other reporting sources show that BTC has surpassed $122,000 and is approaching its most recent record high ($123,091 on July 14, 2025).

Supporting the Uptrend

The continued inflow of funds from ETFs and financial institutions into Bitcoin provides a solid support.

Positive regulations from the US, including the order allowing retirement plans like 401(k) to invest in crypto, have triggered a strong buying wave from institutional investors.

Market Volume and Capitalization

The total crypto market capitalization has surpassed $4.1 – $4.13 trillion, with Bitcoin dominating around 58–60%, making BTC’s capitalization now surpass Amazon’s and reaching around $2.45 trillion.

Volatility & Market Sentiment

BTC’s implied volatility has increased from 33 to 37, suggesting that the market may be preparing for a sharp correction or a new breakout.

The Reddit community noted the “slow but steady” level of price performance, which still brings good returns compared to other asset classes.

Quick Summary:

FactorsHighlightsPrice~$120K–$122K, approaching ATH ~$123KMomentumETF, institutional money, supportive policiesMarket cap$4.1–4.13 trillion, BTC surpasses AmazonVolatilitySigns of increase, warning of strong movement ahead

Investors

The Economic Times

CoinDesk

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