🎙️ Science News Daily

Welcome to Science News Daily, your daily dose of fascinating discoveries from the world of science.

Today's headlines bring us an extraordinary space homecoming. NASA astronaut Don Pettit is set to return to Earth after 220 days aboard the International Space Station, and what makes this return even more special? It's happening on his 70th birthday. After circling our planet over 3,500 times, Pettit and two Russian cosmonauts will touch down in Kazakhstan.

In Mars exploration news, scientists have made several breakthrough discoveries. NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered compelling evidence of ancient water activity beneath the Martian surface using an innovative crystal-mapping technique. This reveals not just one, but two separate mineral-forming events, suggesting multiple periods when Mars could have supported life.

In another Martian revelation, the Curiosity rover has solved a 3.5-billion-year-old mystery by discovering siderite, an iron carbonate, in Gale Crater. This finding provides crucial new information about Mars' ancient atmosphere and supports theories that the red planet once had conditions suitable for liquid water.

Shifting to Earth science, fascinating research in the American West has revealed how ancient superstorms during the Triassic era created the iconic red rock formations we see today. When North America was part of the supercontinent Pangea, extreme monsoons oxidized ancient sediments, creating these striking geological features.

In medical research, a groundbreaking study has challenged fears about 'digital dementia.' Contrary to popular belief, research from Baylor University and Dell Medical School suggests that technology use may actually help protect aging brains from cognitive decline.

And in a remarkable advancement for sustainable food production, scientists have developed a new bioreactor system that can grow realistic chicken meat using hollow fibers to deliver nutrients. This breakthrough could revolutionize the future of lab-grown meat production.

Finally, in climate science news, researchers have observed an unexpected phenomenon in Antarctica. New 'ghost ice' formation has been detected near the notorious Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, presenting an intriguing development in our understanding of sea ice dynamics.

That's all for today's science news. Join us tomorrow for more fascinating discoveries and breakthroughs that continue to shape our understanding of the world around us. This is Science News Daily, signing off.