

Space
NASA’s Curiosity rover discovers interesting Martian organics
NASA’s Curiosity rover touched down on the red planet, tasked with one major goal: to assess the habitability of Mars.
The rover landed in Gale Crater in 2012. The 96-mile-wide (154 km) crater was once the site of an ancient lake. Curiosity has returned evidence that not was this once a freshwater oasis, but it could have contained microbial life.
The roaming science lab has shown that dried up mud in the region contains organic molecules. Now this doesn’t mean that Curiosity found life. But it does mean that these molecules could have a biological origin. Or maybe not.
The mud samples were collected by the rover back in 2018 and scientists have been busy analyzing them. Scientists at Washington State University believe they have identified a group of interesting molecules, called thiophenes.
Thiophenes are particularly interesting because while they form through physical processes unrelated to living organisms, their ingredients could in fact have a biological origin. The molecules are composed of hydrocarbons and sulfur; when temperatures are greater than 248 °Fahrenheit (120 °C), they react through a process called thermochemical sulphate reduction (TSR).
On Earth thiopenes are found in incredibly interesting areas: crude oil deposits (which are made from dead organisms) and in coal (made from compressed, dead plants).
So how do they form on Mars? This is the question researchers have tried to answer.
“We identified several biological pathways for thiophenes that seem more likely than chemical ones, but we still need proof,” said astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch of Washington State University.
It’s entirely possible that sometime in Mars’ past, when the planet was warmer and wetter, that bacteria and other life forms could have thrived in its surface. They may have even left their mark in the mud. As such, it’s easy to assume these molecules are biological but we can’t just assume. We need hard evidence.
According to Schulze-Makuch, the presence of thiophenes has a number of explanations, not all of which are biological. For instance, the thiophenes could have been delivered by meteorites bombarding the planet, or they could form from geological processes like volcanism. Mars is seismically active and hosts a number of volcanoes, so this could be a likely explanation.
Here’s where the next-generation Mars rovers come into play. Both NASA and the European Space Agency are sending rovers to Mars this summer, in search of life. These two rovers are equipped with specialized instruments (that Curiosity lacks) that will be able to better analyze samples on the Martian surface.
But Schulze-Makuch thinks it will take sending people to Mars before we will find any definitive proof of life.
“I think the proof will really require that we actually send people there, and an astronaut looks through a microscope and sees a moving microbe,” he said.
News
Starlink Direct to Cell to boost remote businesses in Chile
Entel teams up with Starlink Direct to Cell to power SMEs & industries in Chile’s remote regions. Remote businesses get a major tech upgrade.

Entel will provide Starlink Direct to Cell services to businesses in Chile and Peru, boosting connectivity in underserved regions.
Entel is Chile’s leading telecommunications provider. Its strategic collaboration leverages Starlink’s Direct to Cell service by offering advanced internet solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations.
The partnership targets industries like mining, agriculture, and forestry, which often face connectivity challenges in remote areas. By tapping into Starlink’s low-latency satellite constellation, Entel aims to bridge these gaps, driving innovation and competitiveness.
The collaboration with Entel follows Starlink’s April expansion in Brazil, where its internet was integrated into John Deere’s agricultural equipment. Through its mobile app, Starlink provided Brazilian farmers with live video feeds, sensor data, and real-time sharing.
Entel’s Starlink Direct to Cell service includes value-added features such as 24/7 network monitoring, proactive management, and dedicated technical support. An observability feature will allow businesses to track real-time connectivity performance through web or mobile applications, enhancing operational efficiency.
The service’s accessibility to SMEs is a key focus. Starlink Direct to Cell is expected to empower small businesses to engage in e-commerce, improve customer communication, and expand digital operations.
Starlink’s Direct to Cell expansion into Peru underscores Entel’s regional ambitions, positioning it as a leader in Latin America’s business connectivity landscape. While details of the Peruvian rollout remain forthcoming, the move aligns with the region’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Reliable internet is critical for businesses to adopt cloud-based technologies and access global markets.
Starlink’s growing influence in Latin America highlights its role in transforming connectivity for underserved areas. Entel’s partnership strengthens its portfolio and helps businesses navigate a digital economy. As industries in Chile and Peru leverage Starlink’s capabilities, the collaboration could set a precedent for regional telecom providers, fostering innovation and economic growth across diverse sectors.
News
SpaceX’s Starlink Router Mini targets home Wi-Fi dead zones for $40
The Starlink Router Mini tackles home Wi-Fi dead zones for just $40. Compact & mesh-compatible, it’s built for basic setups.

SpaceX’s Starlink Router Mini recently launched to enhance home Wi-Fi connectivity by addressing dead zones at home, offering a budget-friendly option for customers. The Starlink Router Mini is a $40 mesh-compatible device.
The Router Mini targets users seeking affordable solutions to extend coverage in smaller spaces. SpaceX describes the new Starlink router as a lower-performance device suited for “basic Wi-Fi needs” in compact setups.
“It works well in most basic residential setups and is a good option for extending coverage. However, in homes where rooms have multiple barriers between them (mirrors, multiple walls, brick or stone walls), you may notice a drop in performance unless you use wired connections,” the company noted.
In contrast, the Gen 3 router, now priced at $120 after dropping from $199, delivers stronger performance for larger homes with multiple devices. The Router Mini complements the Gen 3 router, which comes bundled with the standard Starlink dish and supports mesh networking.
“If you need simple, reliable Wi-Fi and want to keep costs down, the Router Mini is a solid option. But if you’re looking for stronger, more consistent performance across a larger or busier home, the Gen 3 Router is the way to go,” SpaceX explained.
Both routers support Wi-Fi 6 speeds and can operate in wired or wireless mesh modes, though the dual-band Starlink Router Mini has fewer antennas (“2×2 2.4 GHz, 2×3 5 GHz MU-MIMO”) compared to the tri-band Gen 3’s four-plus antenna setup.
The Router Mini’s debut follows its appearance in an FCC filing and a Starlink app update referencing a “mini mesh” device. It also connects to the Starlink Mini dish, boosting its limited Wi-Fi range. The device’s affordability and mesh compatibility make it an attractive option for customers looking to optimize their Starlink setup without investing in additional Gen 3 routers.
As Starlink continues to expand its global broadband network, the Router Mini addresses growing demand for flexible, cost-effective home connectivity solutions. By offering a cheaper mesh device, SpaceX strengthens its ecosystem, catering to diverse user needs while maintaining its lead in satellite internet innovation.
News
SpaceX secures FAA approval for 25 annual Starship launches
SpaceX scored FAA approval for up to 25 Starship launches annually. The agency found no major environmental impact, but critics remain skeptical.

SpaceX secured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to launch and land Starship rockets and Super Heavy boosters from its Starbase spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas, up to 25 times a year. The FAA’s decision was announced on Tuesday, marking a pivotal step for SpaceX’s ambitious space exploration goals.
The FAA’s SpaceX approval is part of its ongoing license review. The agency noted that “there are other licensing requirements still to be completed,” including evaluations of policy, payload, safety, financial responsibility, and environmental impacts.“Once the evaluation process is complete, the FAA will make a determination to approve or deny the license application,” the agency added.
The FAA’s final environmental assessment concluded that SpaceX’s expanded launch plans would have “no significant impact” on the surrounding environment, defying a history of legal disputes with environmental groups.
The ruling follows a significant weekend for Starbase, where residents—mostly SpaceX employees—voted to incorporate the area as a city. Starbasee City includes a mayor and two commissioners from the aerospace company’s ranks. The FAA’s decision amplifies SpaceX’s momentum but has sparked concerns among environmentalists.
Christopher Basaldu of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network called the environmental assessment premature.
“You’re bragging about the big slot rocket in history, and then you’re also trying to claim that it makes no environmental impact; that’s impossible. So they’re lying. So what the FAA needs to do is they need to go all the way back to square one,” Basaldu said.
Basaldu highlighted potential harm to marine life, pollution risks to the nearby Rio Grande, and disruptions from noise and night operations coming from SpaceX launches.
“A lot of noise pollution. That’s not a lot of night pollution, because they try to continue working through the night, while SpaceX is going to shut down the road for half of the year.”
As SpaceX pushes to scale Starship operations, the FAA’s approval underscores Starbase’s growing role in space exploration. However, ongoing environmental reviews and local concerns signal challenges ahead, balancing innovation with ecological and community impacts.
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