NASA warns of THREE asteroids headed towards Earth, as Japan prepares for next mission to nearby space rock — RT

 As 2020 draws to a close and the number of existential threats to life on Earth appears to diminish at least slightly, NASA is warning about the close flybys of three asteroids over 40 meters in diameter.

China’s Chang’e 5 mission has returned samples from the moon to Earth | New Scientist

The first samples of moon rocks to come back to Earth since 1976 have landed. On 16 December, the Chinese Chang’e 5 spacecraft brought back about two kilograms of lunar material after a quick mission lasting only about two days on the moon’s surface.

Asteroid the Size of Big Ben Approaching Earth, Says NASA

At the end of the 20th century NASA launched the Near-Earth Object Programme, aimed at finding and tracking the movement of celestial objects whose orbits could bring them into close proximity to our planet. The space agency so far has found an estimated 25,000 NEOs to date.

Earth Has More Diamonds than Previously Thought

There may be a quadrillion tons of diamonds under the Earth’s surface, according to a study conducted by an international team of scientists and published in the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems.

UN marks World Oceans Day amid reports of ocean life killed by plastic trash

In the shadow of reports of whales and other sea life dying after eating plastic trash, including plastic garbage bags, the United Nations marked on Friday World Oceans Day. This year's theme focuses on preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean, said UN chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Moons of Giant Alien Planets Could Host Life

Researchers have identified more than 100 giant exoplanets that may have potentially life-hosting moons.

1.5 Degree C or Less Would Save Most Species

New research finds that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C would save the majority of the world's plant and animal species from climate change.

China confirms reception of data from Gaofen-5 satellite

The Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed that one of its institutes has successfully tracked and received the data from the recently launched Gaofen-5, a hyperspectral imaging satellite.

China launches new Earth observation satellite for environmental monitoring

China on Wednesday launched Gaofen-5, a hyperspectral imaging satellite, as part of the country's high-resolution Earth observation project.

Europe Launches Satellite to Start Space Junk Clean-Up Mission

European engineers launched a satellite to the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday to track space junk and take it back to the earth, kicking off the Remove Debris project.

Strange phenomenon under Africa threatens to flip Earth’s magnetic field

Earth’s magnetic field is decaying at such a rapid rate that scientists think the poles may flip. New research shows the most significant weakening is happening under Africa, in an area called the ‘South Atlantic Anomaly.’

US government admits funding secret UFO programme

The US Department of Defense has admitted that it used to fund a covert programme to investigate sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), according to multiple media reports.

Giant 5km-wide asteroid to make closest approach to Earth in 40 years – just week before Christmas

A massive asteroid which is about half the size of the space rock that wiped out the dinosaurs is expected to come the closest it’s been to Earth in almost half a century, astronomers say. The celestial body will fly by our planet as early as mid-December.

'Minute Difference' In Deadly Asteroid's Trajectory Could Have Saved Dinosaurs

The asteroid impact which killed the dinosaurs would not have had the same devastating impact had it landed elsewhere on Earth, according to a new study which compares the probability of extinction at different possible sites of an asteroid strike.

Asteroid Size of a Small House to Fly Past Earth Next Week

A huge space rock approaching Earth is set to make a relatively close pass next week when it flies by our planet at about one-eighth of the distance to the moon.

Potentially Habitable 'Super-Earths' Found Orbiting around Sun's near Neighbor

Two planets that orbit around a star like our own sun could support life, according to new research.

World population to hit 9.8 bln by 2050, despite nearly universal lower fertility rates, UN says

The United Nations said here Wednesday that the world population is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, and to hit 9.8 billion by 2050, despite nearly universal lower fertility rates.

We are probably not alone: NASA's Kepler finds 10 more Earth-like planets

NASA has announced the discovery of 10 rocky, Earth-sized planets in our Milky Way Galaxy that could potentially have liquid water and support life.

Merkel Vows 'More Decisive Action Than Ever' on Climate

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday pledged "more decisive action than ever" to protect the climate after the US pullout from the landmark Paris accord.

‘Catastrophic avalanche of collisions’: Space junk can destroy satellites, scientists say

At least 170 million pieces of rapidly-moving space junk are now circulating in Earth’s orbit and this debris may even lead to a “catastrophic avalanche of collisions” and destroy all working satellites and even threaten economies, scientists said.