After the New Horizons probe flew over Pluto in 2015 and collected a series of images of the dwarf planet, scientists analyzed the data and reached a very unexpected conclusion.
The study, published in the scientific journal Icarus, recorded the presence of six landslides on the inner walls of three Pluto craters. The causes of these phenomena remain not fully understood.
According to the researchers, the landslides were found in the Coughlin and Giclas craters, as well as in a third unnamed crater, all located on the western edge of Sputnik Planitia. The LORRI (Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager) instrument of the New Horizons probe allowed for the identification of surface structures measuring up to 300 meters.
These landslides left extensive accumulations of debris on the crater floors. The material moved a distance of 10.1 to 14.5 kilometers. Some of these deposits have an uneven surface, indicating the presence of large chunks of solid ice.
In the areas where the landslides occurred, clearly defined concave cliffs are visible, from which the material detached and slid down the steep crater walls. The largest accumulation of debris covers an area of 130 square kilometers—enough to cover a small city or a large inland city.
Although landslides have been observed on other bodies in the solar system, such as Mars, these are the first cases registered on Pluto, suggesting ongoing geological activity on this icy world.
The team conducting the research notes that the exact cause of the landslides on Pluto has not yet been established. It is hypothesized that the landslide in the Coughlin crater could have been caused by a small nearby impact. One of the hypotheses relates to thermal stresses in the surface ice, which arise from minor temperature fluctuations. These changes lead to the periodic sublimation and condensation of Pluto's volatile substances, including molecular nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane. Such fluctuations occur due to Pluto's elliptical orbit, which sometimes brings it closer to the Sun, crossing Neptune's orbit, and then moves it away again.
Researchers have discovered a new species of porcelain crab inhabiting the shallow coral reefs of the Lakshadweep Islands in India. This tiny crustacean, distinguished by its bright dark red color, was observed while surveying the rocky shores of Agatti Island.
The new species has been named Pachycheles ravichandrani. The discovery was confirmed through a combination of traditional microscopic analysis and modern DNA sequencing, marking an important addition to the known biodiversity of the Indian Ocean. This finding occurred in November 2024, thanks to a research group from ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, and the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology.
Scientists found these crabs among boulders covered with coralline algae at depths of less than one meter. Although they resemble true crabs externally, porcelain crabs are closely related to benthic lobsters, which are known for their fragility, similar to porcelain, and tendency to easily lose limbs when fleeing predators.
To distinguish the new species from close relatives found in Japan and the Western Pacific Ocean, the team employed integrative taxonomy. Under the microscope, it was determined that Pachycheles ravichandrani possesses a unique semi-circular carapace and specialized hair-like structures called setae along the ridges. The most notable feature is a distinct gap between the fingers of its smaller claw and a unique truncated cutting edge, which is absent in similar species. Mitochondrial DNA testing of the crab confirmed the finding, showing a significant divergence in size ranging from 12.6% to 21.7% from other species of the same genus.
In its natural habitat, the crab is visually distinct: its dark carmine carapace is adorned with a white spot on its back and white dots on its claws. Its walking legs have horizontal carmine stripes. The researchers named the species in honor of Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, who heads the country's Deep Ocean Mission and promotes marine biodiversity research.
This discovery is part of a series of recent findings in the Lakshadweep archipelago, which, according to scientists, underscores the urgent need for further study of India's shallow reef environments. The team believes that many other species may be hidden in plain sight near the coast, awaiting identification and protection.
The state media of the Maldives, PSM News, reported on Saturday the opening of the first shark research center in the Maldives. This center is located in the city of Fuvahmulah.
According to PSM News, this center will conduct scientific research, provide educational programs about marine life, and strengthen cooperation between scientists, nature conservation specialists, and local residents.
Local authorities and diving centers are actively promoting Fuvahmulah as a leading destination for shark diving. It was noted that the city received the 'Best Shark Diving Spot' award at the largest diving exhibition in Asia in December 2024.
Overall, the Maldives has established itself as one of the world's destinations for shark tourism.
As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms societies and economies, governments worldwide face a common challenge: how to harness the immense potential of this technology while managing growing risks. During the opening of the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a comprehensive set of proposals aimed at advancing a more inclusive and coordinated structure for global AI governance.
Xi Jinping outlined ways to strengthen AI capabilities in developing countries and initiated the creation of a World Organization for AI Cooperation. Many international observers view this as a highly practical approach to ensuring that the benefits of AI are accessible to all of humanity.
One of the central theses of Xi Jinping's speech was that the benefits of AI must be distributed among all nations, especially developing countries that risk falling behind in the new technological revolution. Sengdeun Sayasone, Deputy Chairman of the Laos-China Cooperation Committee, noted that Xi's remarks reflect China's deep strategic vision and responsibility as a major global power, emphasizing that China is consistently putting this vision into action.
John Tsingseki, Chairman of the Zambia Cybersecurity Initiative Fund, stated that Xi's address came at a crucial moment for the international community. He noted that the president's speech directly responds to calls for unified efforts so that AI can better serve humanity, promoting AI integration and exploring ways to use the technology to solve common global problems.
Experts pointed out that China's proposal to establish a World Organization for AI Cooperation is a decisive step toward forming a representative, consensus-based architecture for international governance. Andrei Dostal, a Member of the European Parliament, stressed that such a centralized international body is necessary to overcome the fragmented and disparate approaches to AI regulation currently existing.
Dostal insisted on the importance of this initiative, arguing that a single organization could foster broad international cooperation in developing universal standards. This would ensure the peaceful and productive application of AI, as well as provide a vital platform for interaction among leading experts in advanced technologies.
International specialists also emphasized that Xi's speech highlighted the significance of international cooperation in addressing both the opportunities and risks associated with AI. Vince Henderson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Dominica, noting China's sustained leadership in this area, stated that the global community urgently needs such guidelines, especially in managing the multifaceted risks related to AI adoption.
Henderson added that over the past three years, China has consistently advocated within the United Nations for a stronger and more effective system of international AI governance. He also mentioned that Beijing actively encourages governments to partner with the private sector to develop ethical norms, protect privacy, and ensure technological security for the benefit of all.
The international scientific and professional community shares this vision of shared scientific progress. Turing Award laureate Gill Brassard described Xi's speech as extremely inspiring, noting that it clearly defines an actionable direction for strengthening international cooperation. Brassard added that collaboration is vital not only in artificial intelligence but in all scientific fields.
Tatiana Shmolrack, Managing Director for Greater China at the British Standards Institution, reiterated that the key takeaway is the responsible assurance of human well-being through technological innovation. She stated that achieving this ultimate goal requires joint efforts and unhindered cooperation, with Global South countries participating in shaping global AI governance on equal footing with developed economies.
This view is shared by German scientist Max Müllerhauser from the Technical University of Darmstadt, who noted that Xi's vision perfectly aligns with the current reality of managing technological risks. Müllerhauser concluded that AI represents both the greatest opportunity for our era's development and a repository of enormous risks, making effective governance a necessary condition, and he hopes that more world leaders will embrace the same spirit of cooperation.
