The Rock

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is in the news again, with NASA Science publishing new material about the space rock. The asteroid drew worldwide attention after astronomers briefly flagged a small chance it could hit Earth in 2032, before further observations reduced that risk. Interest now centres on updated NASA assessments of its trajectory.

Attention is building around the Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Australia's famous race that stops the nation. JP McManus has backed Hopewell Rock to win the A$10m prize, while tipster Edward Sadler has published his analysis and verdict for the race. Punters are weighing the field as betting interest climbs.

NASA has published images and details of a slice of Teghaza 001, a meteorite from Mars held in its science collections. The rock offers researchers a direct sample of Martian material that landed on Earth, helping scientists study the planet's composition and history. Interest is growing around the rare specimen and what it reveals about the Red Planet.

A clip circulating on social media shows China's Z-10 attack helicopter executing a pendulum swing, a dramatic manoeuvre where the aircraft rocks back and forth at low altitude. Aviation watchers are sharing and commenting on the footage, weighing in on the pilot skill and aerobatic capability it demonstrates for a dedicated attack helicopter like the Z-10.

A new book review, published as part of an ongoing numbered series, takes on a title billed as a 'Big American Writer'. The review appears on Rock and the Beat Generation, a site focused on music and counterculture writing. Beyond the headline, no further details about the book, its author, or the review's verdict are available, and there is little visible engagement so far.

A Martian meteorite discovered in the Sahara Desert has been dated at 4.1 billion years old, according to Reuters. The find offers scientists a rare chance to study ancient material from Mars and better understand the planet's early geological history. Interest is growing around what the ancient rock may reveal.

Kishida Shigeru, frontman of the Japanese rock band Quruli, is trending in online searches in Japan. No specific new event has been confirmed behind the interest. Fans appear to be checking latest news about the musician, who remains a familiar figure in Japanese rock and media appearances.

Ian Gillan, the frontman of British rock band Deep Purple, has been hospitalised, forcing the band to cancel scheduled concerts. The news broke via Austrian outlet Der Standard and is spreading across German-language media. Fans are expressing concern for the 79-year-old singer's health and awaiting updates on his condition and whether remaining tour dates will go ahead.

Kannada cinema star Yash, known as the 'Rocking Star' and for the KGF films, is playing Ravana in the big-budget two-part Ramayana adaptation. In interviews he spoke about the reported 4,000-crore production, saying that in India people tend to pull each other down, and defended taking on the antagonist role in the mythological epic.

Rock act El Pillin has released a new song titled 'Me Cagas', shared as new rock music in the rock and metal scene. Listeners are picking it up as a new-release pick of the day, tagging it under new rock, metal and rock'n'roll. No further details about the release, such as an album or tour, are provided.

A rock slide has closed Route 209 near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, cutting off access to the popular tourist town and forcing the Lehigh Gorge scenic train rides to shut down. Local coverage from The Morning Call reports the closure, and travelers are being warned to expect disruption on a key route through the Poconos.

An explainer on why the oceans stay on top of the seabed rather than draining into the Earth has drawn a large audience. The answer lies in geology: beneath the ocean floor, dense rock and layers of sediment act as a barrier, while the enormous pressure and the structure of the crust limit how far water can penetrate. Some water does seep into hydrothermal systems at mid-ocean ridges, but the cycle is balanced by water returning through volcanic vents.

Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson is scheduled to perform two nights in Las Vegas in June as part of his Surfilmusic Tour, according to entertainment briefs from local coverage. The announcement gives fans in the region a chance to catch the Hawaii-born artist, known for his laid-back acoustic surf-rock style, live on tour.

Two climbers were left hanging for hours on a sheer rock face in northern Italy on Saturday before being rescued. A fire service helicopter crew reached the pair on the Corna delle Capre route above Zone and lifted them off the wall, ending a prolonged and dangerous ordeal on the mountain.

Tadej Pogačar is making headlines across Europe after speaking publicly for the first time about his serious crash at La Vuelta, saying he 'hit rock bottom' and was simply glad to be alive and standing. Reports say the Slovenian will return to racing in November after missing the World and European Championships, while the 2027 Tour de France route promises explosive Pyrenean stages for him, and Pogačar has included the 2027 Vuelta a España in his plans.

Commenters are arguing that nuclear weapons cannot simply be treated as a universal solution, stressing limits on what they can achieve. One widely shared argument notes that destroying hardened, deeply buried targets requires a weapon to penetrate rock before detonating, and that even a 300-kiloton blast, roughly ten times Hiroshima, detonated a few metres underground may not generate enough seismic force to succeed. The discussion frames the problem as technically very difficult, dismissing the idea that yield alone solves it.

William Shatner, the 93-year-old Star Trek legend, is trending across the US, Canada, the UK and Australia after news of a heavy metal collaboration with Britt Lightning, guitarist for the all-female rock band Vixen. Britt Lightning discussed the project in a television interview, sparking renewed interest in Shatner's unlikely musical career, which has previously spanned spoken-word albums and covers.