The near-Earth asteroid Apophis will make an extremely close flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of approximately 38,000 km—an event that occurs on average only once every 7,500 years, offering an unprecedented opportunity for planetary science and planetary defense. However, significant uncertainties remain regarding the physical parameters of Apophis, such as its shape, spin state, internal structure, and material composition, and predictions of tidal effects—including potential orbital changes, spin acceleration, surface material displacement, and dust ejection during the flyby—are highly dependent on model assumptions. Although multiple nations have planned exploration missions, how to coordinate global observational resources within the limited time window, optimize rapid-response mission architectures, and translate scientific understanding into effective planetary defense strategies remain critical challenges to be addressed.

Expensive high-resolution spectral cameras hold back precise crop monitoring for farmers. A new unsupervised AI network called UDAMSR Net offers a cheap software fix. It upgrades blurry low-resolution aerial and ground crop images without matching high-quality training data. Tested on wheat across two farm sites, the tool sharpens leaf textures, preserves true spectral signals, and restores accurate chlorophyll prediction results across different sensors and flight heights. Keep reading to learn how this model cuts hardware costs for agricultural remote sensing.

Surface ozone has overtaken fine particles as China’s top air pollutant despite falling PM₂.₅ levels. This new analysis in Engineering unpacks the tricky chemical link between NOₓ, VOCs and rising ozone, plus two practical fixes. Deep cuts to nitrogen oxides offer an immediate, workable control path for cities, while energy-free catalytic wall coatings can locally break down ozone cheaply. Read on to learn how these dual strategies ease nationwide ozone pollution.

Autonomous vehicles promise greener, smoother urban travel, yet their environmental pros and cons are far more complicated than many assume. This new analysis from Engineering breaks down dual carbon trade-offs: AVs cut traffic emissions via platooning and shared fleets, but heavier electric trucks and repeated vehicle platoons speed up road wear and raise infrastructure carbon costs. It also outlines targeted vehicle, road and policy fixes to balance efficiency gains and infrastructure burdens for sustainable automated mobility.

This study, published in Eye & ENT Research, compared LASIK surgery and contact lenses for myopia correction through a systematic review and meta-analysis of four studies with 2,141 participants. The key findings show that LASIK users report much higher satisfaction (88% vs. 54%) and have fewer complications (6.7%–9.5% vs. 19.9%) than contact lens wearers. However, LASIK causes more acute dry eye after surgery, while contact lenses lead to more chronic dry eye over time. Quality of life results were unclear due to differences in how studies measured it.

Analysis of 115 NASA photographs from 13 astronauts, published in Eye & ENT Research, showed that spaceflight consistently elevates the lower eyelid, reducing MRD2 (margin reflex distance 2) by a mean of 1.0 mm (p < 0.001). All astronauts exhibited this “reverse ptosis,” with 62% showing a clinically significant change (≥ 1 mm). The effect appears to occur rapidly and persist throughout missions, likely driven by cephalad fluid shift and elastic recoil of facial tissues. The study was retrospective and limited by image quality and lack of symptom data; future research with standardized imaging is needed to explore mechanisms and potential impacts on ocular health during long-duration spaceflight.

Want to test soil fertility instantly on farmland without sending samples to labs? This new Engineering commentary breaks down four mainstream field sensors tracking soil nutrients, from portable colorimetric kits to laser and γ-ray detectors. Each tool carries unique flaws: model failure across farmlands, air element interference and heavy calibration needs. Scientists now turn to AI to boost sensor performance, targeting simple, buryable detectors that measure crop-absorbable nitrogen on-site for smarter precision farming.