People take photos of protest art representing President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein on the National Mall near the Capitol (AP Photo)

a statue depicting donald trump with a disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein A protest was set up on the National Mall near the United States Capitol on Tuesday.The large statue, widely circulated on social media with the title “King of the World”, replicates the iconic pose from the 1997 film Titanic in which the film’s hero stands with his arms outstretched on the bow of the ship.A plaque attached to the base of the sculpture references the film, criticizing the alleged relationship between the two men. It read, “The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, noisy parties and secret nude sketches.” “This memorial honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.”Behind the statue, a row of banners displayed photos of Trump and Epstein along with the slogan “Make America Safe Again.”According to The New Republic, the installation is reportedly the latest protest artwork by an unknown activist group, Secret Handshake, the Independent reports. In September, the group erected another statue near the Capitol that depicted Trump and Epstein holding hands before it was removed by authorities.Secret Handshake has also staged other politically themed installations, including a sculpture mocking participants in the January 6 United States Capitol attack and a large reproduction of what was claimed to be a birthday letter Trump allegedly sent to Epstein.Scrutiny of Trump’s alleged past ties to Epstein has intensified since the United States Department of Justice began releasing documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November.Earlier this month, the Justice Department released additional documents that mention the 79-year-old president. Among them were three internal memos summarizing an FBI interview with a woman who alleged that Trump had sexually assaulted her. White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt dismissed the claim as “completely baseless” and “supported by zero credible evidence.”Trump himself has repeatedly said he distanced himself from Epstein years before the financier’s arrest and has denied any wrongdoing, calling the controversy a political “hoax” instigated by Democrats.

Have you ever crushed an insect with your feet and wondered why it keeps buzzing continuously? Now, imagine a car tire rotating right above it; Most creatures would be crushed, but not this devilish iron beetle. Research published in Nature finds that this unusual desert resident of the US southwest shrugs off forces that would flatten other insects, thanks to an exoskeleton stronger than steel. Scientists recently cracked the code by walking this little animal and peering inside with high-tech scans. Their findings have revealed a jigsaw-like armor that laughs despite crushing pressure, inspiring the future; Everything from bike parts to aircraft.

Why iron clad beetle Can avoid being run over by cars

Hailing from the dry scrublands of California and Arizona, the diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloedes diabolicus) cannot fly; It is a ground-hugger that has developed armor to protect itself from predators such as shrews and coyotes. Weighing only three grams, it has an exoskeleton that can withstand 100 Newtons of force of a car tire on dirt without buckling. “If a car tire ran over a beetle on a dirt surface, it would exert about 100 newtons of force,” said Pablo Zavatieri, a professor at Purdue University who led the team’s breakthrough study. Using only compressive steel plates, David Kiselas’ lab at the University of California, Irvine stretched one specimen to 150 newtons, 39,000 times its body weight, before any fractures occurred. Other ground beetles lost their existence on only half of it. “This devilish iron-clad beetle isn’t able to fly, so it’s adapted to living on the ground. It pretty much has to stand there and suffer,” Kiselas noted during experiments where the beetle survived two car overturns without any damage. CT scans revealed the secret: the elytra (stiff front wings fused into a shield) meet at a central suture similar to interlocking saw blades.

Scientists decode the jigsaw armor that protects ironclad beetles

Here’s the genius bit: Physics meets biology in a double-whammy defense. When crushed, those puzzle-pieces lock tightly into the blade suture, preventing them from coming loose like cheap Legos. The layers then collapse gracefully, shrinking just enough to absorb the energy without completely collapsing. “The suture works like a jigsaw puzzle. It connects the various exoskeletal blade puzzle pieces in the abdomen beneath the elytra,” Zavattieri described, after confirming the mechanism by simulations and 3D-printed replicas. This setup takes the force away from the weak neck, where most beetles snap. Only under extreme laboratory loads did it fail spectacularly, but real-world tires? no contest. The layered protein fibers of the elytra are rich in glycine and cross-linked just like a tough honeycomb, adding flex without brittleness. Kiselas’ team measured it to be only 105% tougher than aircraft aluminum standards in compression tests. “We had to test the folklore,” admitted Kiselas, laughing, about confirming roadkill myths with actual run-overs.

Ironclad Beetle Engineering Inspiration: From Bug to Bolt

Those who tamper with nature are only dreaming big. Zavatieri’s squad mimicked the suture in carbon-fiber fasteners, which were just as strong as metal fasteners, but far more flexible, bending before breaking. “This work shows that we may be able to move from using strong, brittle materials to using materials that can be both strong and tough by dissipating energy when broken. “Nature has enabled the devilish ironclad beetle to do this,” Zavatieri concluded in his Nature paper. Pictures of bike helmets or drone frames illustrate this Beetle’s clever trick, a kind of lightweight kit that folds right up in a jiffy, leaving you with no scratches. Kiselas’ team is a longtime expert in biomimicry (they worked on crazy mantis shrimp punches in a previous study), and now they’re eyeing a fix for planes, too: wing joints or torso pieces that block bird strikes. The beetle’s low metabolism means no energy is wasted in flight, all the energy is channeled into the shell. 35% protein, 35% chitin, and a mineral matrix that just keeps it in place with stiffness.Beyond mere laboratories, this story humbles us. In a world of predatory prey, evolution created a tank for this tiny creature, no technology required. Find one in the woods? Don’t drive over it, take your hat off to a survivor who is teaching us to build back tougher.

These days there is a belief all over the world that one should buy gold for future investment. All big investors will suggest buying gold as the best way to invest money. but scientist ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) have developed a sustainable method to restore 22 karat gold from electronic waste using proteins made from whey, a byproduct of the dairy industry. Swiss researchers successfully recovered 450 mg of 22 karat gold from 20 discarded computer motherboards. This special research conducted by scientists at ETH Zurich has been published in the journal advanced Materials.

How 20 discarded motherboards are hiding 22 carat gold!

According to a joint report by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) International Telecommunication Union (ITU)The world will generate a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022. There is literally a mine of gold in these scraps. Electronic devices such as motherboards usually sell more expensive because of the use of gold in their connectors and circuit paths due to its superior conductivity and corrosion resistance. Researchers at ETH Zurich have confirmed in their study that by processing just 20 old computer motherboards, they can recover 450 mg of high purity, 22 karat gold. The number could be larger if the amount of discarded motherboards is high.

Whey to Wealth: Using Dairy Byproducts to Extract Precious Metals

The most incredible part of the Swiss research is the use of whey, a common liquid byproduct of the cheese making industry. Whey protein, traditionally considered a waste product, has been transformed by scientists into a highly efficient ‘protein sponge’ capable of extracting gold from discarded electronic scrap like motherboards.As cited by ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), researchers denatured whey proteins under high temperatures and acid to create tiny fibers, called amyloid fibrils. These nanometer sized fibers were freeze dried to make sponges. When this sponge is placed in a solution of a dismantled computer motherboard, it acts like a molecular magnet.

Profitable and green future e-waste recycling

The success story of Swiss researchers on the protein-sponge method signals a change in the way we look at global waste streams. By solving the extraction principle that high-purity gold can be recovered using organic materials instead of toxic chemicals, researchers have laid the foundation for a truly green and profitable circular economy. This study transforms e-waste from a growing environmental liability to a beneficial resource.

How is this discovery of 22 carat gold a win for the global economy?

According to an economic analysis provided by ETH Zurich, the value of the 450 mg of 22 karat gold recovered far exceeds the costs associated with its extraction. Furthermore, the cost of energy and raw materials is approximately 50 times less than the market value of the gold obtained. This profit-to-cost margin makes the technology highly attractive to scale up commercially, as it provides a faster and cheaper way to extract gold from deep earth ores.

The 74 expedition members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are preparing for an important spacewalk to advance microgravity research. NASA Flight engineers Jessica Meyer and Chris Williams prepared spacesuits in the Quest airlock, cleaned cooling loops and reviewed procedures for the March 18 extravehicular activity (EVA). They will perform kit modifications and install route cables for the seventh roll-out solar array, increasing ISS power capacity. Meanwhile, Jack Hathaway and ESA’s Sophie Adenot test EchoFinder-2, an AI-augmented reality ultrasound device in the Columbus module that autonomously scans organs to reduce reliance on Earth for distant missions. NASA further reported that Roscosmos astronauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev monitored vascular health with sensors, while Andrey Fadeyev maintained the oxygen generator and water systems. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL opens for re-entry into the Pacific via Canadarm2 on March 12, after delivering 11,000 pounds of cargo through September 2025. These efforts are a mix of maintenance and science, fueling the president’s deep space ambitions as part of the Artemis push. Live coverage across all NASA platforms begins at 6:45 a.m. EDT.

Spacewalk preparations on the international space station

NASA flight engineers Jessica Meir and Chris Williams are leading the charge for the upcoming spacewalk on March 18. Inside the Quest airlock, the two carefully cleaned the cooling loops on their spacesuits, refilled water components, and inspected the helmets to ensure everything worked flawlessly during the six-and-a-half-hour extravehicular activity (EVA). Their mission? To install a modification kit and route cables on the port side of the ISS for a future roll-out solar array, the seventh such array to boost the station’s power output. As posted on their This spacewalk highlights the ongoing upgrades keeping the ISS operational amid its aging infrastructure.Veteran astronaut Jessica Meyer, with her experience from previous EVAs, pairs seamlessly with Chris Williams, who has been adapting to station life since November. Their teamwork at the Quest Airlock not only prepared the hardware but also reviewed critical emergency procedures for the harsh vacuum of space. Augmented reality and AI in space health screeningInnovation is not just outside the station, it is thriving inside as well. Flight engineer Jack Hathaway of NASA and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency (ESA) conducted an augmented-reality-guided ultrasound scan using the EchoFinder-2 device in the Columbus laboratory module. They took pictures of each other’s abdomens and vascular systems, with AI analyzing the data to automatically identify the organs. An ESA report on the technology explains, “EcoFinder-2 opens the door to autonomous ultrasound using minimal training and low-tech hardware for space missions, reducing the reliance on Earth-based experts critical for future Mars trips where signal delays stretch up to 20 minutes. Adenote, on his first mission since February 2026, and Hathaway, a U.S. Navy captain with more than 2,500 flight hours, swapped roles to test the system’s reliability in weightlessness. Meanwhile, NASA’s blog further reports that Roscosmos astronauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev monitored circulatory health with blood pressure cuffs and sensors on the forehead, fingers and toes. Data sent to the laptop helps doctors track microgravity’s effects on vascular systems, from fluid changes to possible clots. Flight engineer Andrey Fadeyev kept life support running, servicing the electron oxygen generator in the Zvezda module and purifying water tanks to protect the crew’s supplies.

Cygnus cargo spacecraft departing from the ISS

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft is expected to undock on March 12, after a six-month stay beginning September 18, 2025. Loaded with trash and experiments, it will be grabbed by the Canadarm2 robotic arm from the Unity module and released for a fiery reentry over the South Pacific. The mission delivered more than 11,000 pounds of supplies, hardware and science payload under NASA’s Commercial Replenishment Service program. “Cygnus XL, operated by Northrop Grumman, is scheduled to depart the ISS on Thursday, March 12,” Space Coast Daily confirms, with live coverage beginning at 6:45 a.m. EDT on NASA+.Sophie Adenot will oversee Cygnus’ systems post-release, ensuring a smooth exit. This departure clears the docking port for future missions, maintaining the ISS’s role as a springboard for deep space ambitions.

Expedition 74 Crew: Pioneering Spacewalk

Expedition 74, running from December 2025, combines NASA, ESA and Roscosmos expertise for research in biology, physics and human physiology. From solar array upgrades powering the outposts of tomorrow to AI diagnostics paving the way for autonomous medicine, these activities captivate global audiences.As President Trump’s administration sets its sights on Artemis and beyond, the ISS remains Earth’s orbiting laboratory, where changes like turning on today’s solar arrays provide sustainable power for an expanded human presence in space. Watch the action live and witness history happening 400km above us.

A New York-based Indian-origin food brand has come under fire online after users noticed that the Goddess Lakshmi idol had been removed from its packaging.The controversy began after a post on Ax went viral, where Indian-American, an account known for highlighting issues related to Hindu Americans, called out the brand for a sudden change.The account criticized the brand for changing its longtime logo featuring the deity, calling it a “meaningless, confusing depiction.” “Did you remove it to get buyers who think Lakshmi offends them?! Bring her back!” This was the conclusion. The account has 44.2K followers on X and its callout quickly gained prominence on the app, sparking debate over the reasons behind the sudden change. The post quickly gained popularity online, sparking widespread debate about religious depictions on consumer packaging.The account, which has 44.2K followers on X, helped push the discussion into a viral trend, with users offering sharply divided opinions.Some users admitted that the presence of a deity on the packaging had made them uncomfortable in the past. One customer explained, “I don’t know man. I actually didn’t buy this brand because of the god on packaging. It was almost impossible to throw the empty packaging in the trash.” However, he also reflected on whether the brand should make changes to open itself up to more demographics, because “at the end of the day it’s about money.“The author of the post replied, “I think they removed it to not offend anti-Hindu haters.”Others expressed similar concerns about the disposal of packaging containing religious depictions. “Buying things with our gods on the packaging is always a dilemma for me. What to do with the package after using the contents? Don’t feel like throwing in the trash. It is precisely for this reason that I avoided purchasing any Agarbatti brand. “I’m kind of relieved,” another wrote. “Yes, this brand has become extremely bad for “South Asians,” one user said. “Oh my god, that’s too bad. I even trusted this brand,” supported another. Interestingly, most of the users in the comments seemed satisfied with the move, with some even demanding a bigger initiative to ban the use of God and Goddess idols on packaging, which are ultimately rejected. Amid the debate, one user pointed out that the change in packaging is not recent. They revamped the brand several years ago and this was done as per customer feedback as they were unable to throw away the packaging but also faced difficulty in collecting it. “They did this years ago and surprised you now realize they did this based on customer feedback because they can’t throw away and can’t even collect,” he wrote. According to a video shared on the brand youtube The logo of the channel, packaging was changed in 2020. “Your favorite food brand Lakshmi now has a new logo,” it says in the clip revealing the new logo of the lotus, a flower primarily associated with the goddess in Hindu mythology and held dear. The brand, which sells a variety of South Asian products including spices and food items, was founded in 1972 in Jackson Heights, New York by GL Soni and his brother KL Soni under their business, House of Spices. It has several stores in the US and caters to a largely South-Asian consumer base.

At first glance, the Caspian Sea appears as an ocean that stretches endlessly to the horizon, touching the shores of five countries. Yet scientists classify it not as a sea, but as Earth’s largest lake, a vast inland lake covering some 371,000 square kilometers, larger than Japan in size. Spread across Europe and Asia, it is bordered by Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Its vast expanse, distinctive chemistry and geopolitical importance make it one of the planet’s most captivating geographical wonders. From ancient Silk Road commerce to contemporary oil pipelines, the Caspian has deeply influenced the historical, economic, and ecological narrative of the region. Despite this, little is known to the world about its hybrid lake-sea status, lucrative caviar trade and important role in global energy politics.
Credit: Canva

Rain, dust and cold temperatures are expected till March 15.

According to the National Meteorological Centre, weather conditions in the UAE are set to remain unstable from Wednesday to March 15, with rain, dusty winds and cold temperatures expected in many areas before conditions gradually improve towards the end of the week. The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) said partly cloudy sky is expected across the country on Wednesday. Dusty conditions may occur at times, while rainfall may occur over some western and coastal areas. The temperature is also expected to decrease gradually during the day. Northeasterly winds will be active during the day, at times becoming strong enough to kick dust and sand into the air. Wind speed is expected to be between 15 to 30 km/h, with gusts reaching 50 km/h at some places. Winds are likely to reduce by afternoon. Sea conditions in both the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea will start rough, then become moderate to light during the day. Humidity levels may increase in the morning in some inland areas on Thursday. There is also a possibility of light fog towards western areas in the beginning of the day. As the day progresses, the sky will remain partly cloudy and rain may still occur at isolated places. Winds will continue to blow from the north-east, generally light to moderate, but may be gusty at times and kick up dust. Wind speeds are expected to range between 15 to 25 km/h, reaching up to 35 km/h at times. Moderate to light waves will occur in the Arabian Gulf, while waves will remain light in the Oman Sea. By Friday, the country may again experience muggy conditions in the morning, with the possibility of light fog over some western areas. The sky will be partly cloudy during the day and light rain may occur over some western, coastal and island areas. It is expected that the temperature will start rising gradually. North-easterly winds will be light to moderate, becoming strong at times and blowing dust. Winds are expected to range from 15 to 25 km/h, with gusts reaching 35 km/h. Sea conditions will be light to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and light to moderate in the Oman Sea. On Saturday, humid conditions are expected again in the early morning, with fog or mist also likely over some coastal areas. The rest of the day will remain mild to partly cloudy across the UAE. Winds from the north-east will be light to moderate, reaching speeds between 10 to 20 km/h, at times reaching speeds of 30 km/h. Sea will be light in both Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea. By Sunday, moisture may once again bring morning fog in some coastal areas. After this the weather will become clear and partly cloudy, while the temperature is expected to rise further. North-easterly winds will continue at 10 to 20 km/h, occasionally reaching 30 km/h, sea conditions will remain mild in both the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea.

The UAE has confirmed six months of strategic reserves of essential commodities as authorities intensified market inspections nationwide/Representative Image

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has stepped up inspections in markets to ensure stable prices and availability of essential commodities, assuring residents that the country has strategic reserves of key commodities that can meet demand for up to six months.The ministry said inspection teams are conducting daily checks at shops and retail outlets across the country. These inspections are being conducted in coordination with economic development departments in all emirates through a joint national monitoring team. The objective of this effort is to prevent unreasonable price increases, prevent unfair commercial practices and maintain close surveillance on market activity.Officials said retailers must follow consumer protection rules, especially those governing pricing of essential goods. Under the current policy, traders cannot raise prices of certain basic commodities without prior permission from the ministry and the national committee responsible for monitoring price changes.This rule applies to nine essential goods: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread and wheat.The ministry also discussed the recent increase in prices of onion and tomato in the last two days. Officials said the increase is temporary and linked to the impact of the regional crisis. Additional supplies of these vegetables have already been delivered to the markets in large quantities to stabilize availability.Officials stressed that essential goods should be available in sufficient quantities and consumers should have access to a variety of options. Officials said prices are expected to return to normal levels soon due to increased supply.The ministry said the UAE maintains a strategic stockpile of essential commodities capable of meeting market demand for six months. These reserves are distributed to different regions of the country through a system designed to strengthen supply chains and allow authorities to respond quickly to market needs during emergencies.Officials also confirmed that shipping and supply operations through the country’s entry points are continuing normally. Supply chains remain efficient and goods are reaching local markets without any interruption.The UAE also relies on an extensive network of international partner markets that supply imports of a variety of goods. This allows authorities to quickly secure alternative sources if a disruption occurs.Since the beginning of the regional crisis, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and local economic development departments have conducted about 7,105 inspection visits to markets across the country. These inspections resulted in 567 violations, the majority of which were related to unfair price increases.Authorities issued 449 warnings to traders, suppliers and retail outlets and imposed financial penalties totaling AED207,250.The ministry said that surveillance operations will continue in the future to ensure market stability and protect consumers.Residents are encouraged to report price gouging or violations through official channels. Complaints can be submitted through the website of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism www.moet.gov.aeBy calling 8001222 or sending a WhatsApp message, or emailing info@moet.gov.ae.Officials also urged consumers to buy goods as per their needs and avoid hoarding or excessive purchasing so that products remain available to all.

The US is stepping up its campaign against Iran’s missile capabilities, with B-2 bombers reportedly striking deeply buried missile sites. The move signals a direct effort to end Iran’s missile production, a program Washington has long viewed with suspicion. These attacks highlight the US’s ability to target hard infrastructure, even underground facilities.

The war between the US, Israel and Iran has entered its 12th day with no signs of stopping and is becoming more intense. The White House said on Wednesday that the US military is moving to destroy Iran’s missile production capabilities. He further said that American B2 bombers have attacked missile sites buried deep in the country.White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said during a briefing that B-2 bombers “dropped 2,000-pound bombs” on underground missile facilities in Iran.“The United States military is now moving to eliminate Iran’s missile production,” Leavitt said. He said B-2 bombers “recently dropped 2,000-pound bombs on missile sites buried deep in Iran.”The comments came as Washington signaled a more direct effort to target elements of Iran’s missile program. Details regarding the timing of the attacks, the specific locations targeted or the extent of the damage were not immediately disclosed. The long-range stealth bomber used in the operation, the B-2 Spirit, is designed to deliver precision strikes against heavily fortified or underground targets.

Iran’s missile program has long been a point of contention between the United States and Iran, with Washington repeatedly raising concerns that the program could be used to deliver nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.

What are B2 bombers?

B2 bombers can carry GBU-57 bunker busters, designed to penetrate deep underground before detonating. The bomb was specifically developed to destroy hardened nuclear facilities and deeply buried command centers.

The B-2 is one of the most advanced aircraft ever built. Its flying-wing design and special materials significantly reduce its radar signature, allowing it to penetrate heavily defended airspace.This capability makes the aircraft uniquely suited to attack hardened underground facilities. In fact, the B-2 is currently the only aircraft capable of carrying the GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb.Last June, in Operation Midnight Hammer, seven B-2 bombers reportedly dropped fourteen of these warheads on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This attack marked the first operational use of the weapon. These attacks demonstrated the United States’ ability to destroy hardened infrastructure even when buried in mountains or under reinforced bunkers.