Scientists in new research found a piece of rock which is likely to hold the answers to the mysteries of our planet and tell the world about its uniqueness. The researchers stumbled upon a part of the Earth’s crust which is likely to have been hidden for more than 3 billion years in Northern Europe’s oldest mountains in Finland.

Scientists in new research found a piece of rock which is likely to hold the answers to the mysteries of our planet and tell the world about its uniqueness. The researchers stumbled upon a part of the Earth’s crust which is likely to have been hidden for more than 3 billion years in Northern Europe’s oldest mountains in Finland. The discovery emphasises the formation of the continent and even suggests that the birth of Denmark and Scandinavia actually took place some 3.75 billion years ago in Greenland. “Our data suggest that the oldest part of Earth’s crust beneath Scandinavia originates in Greenland and is about 250 million years older than we previously thought,” said Professor Tod Waight, who is a geologist at the University of Copenhagen, in a statement. The traces of the ancient crust were first found in the mineral zircon by Waight and his colleagues and then its chemical fingerprint matched with some of the oldest rocks on the planet which were found in West Greenland. “The zircon crystals we found in river sand and rocks from Finland have signatures that point towards them being much older than anything ever found in Scandinavia while matching the age of Greenlandic rock sample,” said researcher Andreas Petersson, who was part of the study. “At the same time, the results of three independent isotope analyses confirm that Scandinavia’s bedrock was most likely linked to Greenland," he added. Also Read: Delving deep: Earth's crust holds more water than its ice caps, reveals study Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark sit above a section of the Earth’s crust which is called the Fennoscandian Shield, or the Baltic Shield. According to the scientists, this shield got detached from Greenland as a “seed” and moved for hundreds of millions of years till it “took root” where Finland exists today. The plate continued to develop here as new geological material accumulated near it and it slowly became Scandinavia. Earth existed like a watery planet when the crust got detached: Study The study emphasises that when the crust got detached from Greenland, the planet was very different from what it looks now. “Earth was probably a watery planet, like in the movie Waterworld, but without any oxygen in the atmosphere and without emergent crust,” said Prof Waight. “But, because that’s so far back in time, we can’t really be sure about what it actually looked like," he added. Watch: Melting polar ice is slowing earth's rotation As per his team, Earth stands out from its galactic neighbours because of the continental crust which is composed of granite. “This is unique in our solar system,” Petersson said. “And, evidence of liquid water and a granite crust are key factors when trying to identify habitable exoplanets and the possibility of life beyond Earth," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

A hidden Earth's crust suggests Scandinavia was born some 3.75 billion years ago in Greenland

The massive halls of Houghton Library at Harvard University have had a&nbsp;book on one of its shelves that was bound using human skin for nearly a century now.&nbsp;

The book, which has been part of the Ivy League's collection of 20 million books, has now recently gone through the removal of the binding after the university took the decision.&nbsp;

In 1879, Arsene Houssaye’s "Des destinées de l’âme" was published and the volume which has been in question was bound using human skin by French physician Dr Ludovic Bouland and it has been part of the University's collection since 1934, as per the Harvard&nbsp;announcement on Wednesday (Mar 27).

The book speaks about the soul and life after death and also has a handwritten note by Bouland as part of the volume, which states that "a book about the human soul deserved to have a human covering," as per the University.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-universities-get-most-of-their-fees-from-foreign-students-report-704012">British universities get most of their fees from foreign students: Report</a>

<h2>No consent was taken to bind the book using human skin</h2>

According to the university, the book was bound with the skin of a human by Dr Bouland "without consent" from the dead body of an unidentified female patient. She used to live in a French psychiatric hospital where the doctor used to work.

The human skin's removal from the book took place after a review was done by Houghton Library which was prompted after the recommendations were made by the Harvard University Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections in the Fall 2022 report.

<h2>The open letter triggered the removal of a book?</h2>

Prominent scholar and Harvard alumni Paul Needham, while speaking to ABC News, said that the decision was taken after 10 years of consistent calls to remove the binding as well as the publishing of an open letter which was co-authored by him.&nbsp;

"I first raised the question with the library almost 10 years ago, in June 2014. And I requested they should have the human skin respectfully removed and given a decent burial," said Needham.&nbsp;

"I think that the open letter is what finally moved them really to take action and make a statement because until yesterday we have not gotten the university to say a single word about binding in almost 10 years," he added.

The University, in 2014, publicly confirmed that human skin was used for binding, however, it was available to "anyone who asked for it," said Harvard in the statement, adding that "regardless of their reason for wishing to consult it."

<h2>Harvard University apologises&nbsp;</h2>

Harvard's associate university librarian for archives Tom Hyry, speaking about the "past failures in our stewardship of the book", apologised and said&nbsp;that the University is "determined to move forward with care."

Watch:&nbsp;US: Cherry blossom season in Washington University

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"We apologise on behalf of Harvard Library for past failures in our stewardship of the book that further objectified and compromised the dignity of the human being at the centre," said Hyry.&nbsp;

"We are determined to move forward with care, sensitivity, and ethical responsibility and are committed to best practices in the field, including reflection and correcting historical errors," he added.&nbsp;

In March, the human skin binding was removed from the book and has been currently kept in secure storage at the Harvard Library as it is "consulting with appropriate authorities at the University and in France to determine an appropriate and respectful way of laying the remains to rest."

(With inputs from agencies)

The massive halls of Houghton Library at Harvard University have had a book on one of its shelves that was bound using human skin for nearly a century now. The book, which has been part of the Ivy League's collection of 20 million books, has now recently gone through the removal of the binding after the university took the decision.

The massive halls of Houghton Library at Harvard University have had a book on one of its shelves that was bound using human skin for nearly a century now. The book, which has been part of the Ivy League's collection of 20 million books, has now recently gone through the removal of the binding after the university took the decision. In 1879, Arsene Houssaye’s "Des destinées de l’âme" was published and the volume which has been in question was bound using human skin by French physician Dr Ludovic Bouland and it has been part of the University's collection since 1934, as per the Harvard announcement on Wednesday (Mar 27). The book speaks about the soul and life after death and also has a handwritten note by Bouland as part of the volume, which states that "a book about the human soul deserved to have a human covering," as per the University. Also Read: British universities get most of their fees from foreign students: Report No consent was taken to bind the book using human skin According to the university, the book was bound with the skin of a human by Dr Bouland "without consent" from the dead body of an unidentified female patient. She used to live in a French psychiatric hospital where the doctor used to work. The human skin's removal from the book took place after a review was done by Houghton Library which was prompted after the recommendations were made by the Harvard University Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections in the Fall 2022 report. The open letter triggered the removal of a book? Prominent scholar and Harvard alumni Paul Needham, while speaking to ABC News, said that the decision was taken after 10 years of consistent calls to remove the binding as well as the publishing of an open letter which was co-authored by him. "I first raised the question with the library almost 10 years ago, in June 2014. And I requested they should have the human skin respectfully removed and given a decent burial," said Needham. "I think that the open letter is what finally moved them really to take action and make a statement because until yesterday we have not gotten the university to say a single word about binding in almost 10 years," he added. The University, in 2014, publicly confirmed that human skin was used for binding, however, it was available to "anyone who asked for it," said Harvard in the statement, adding that "regardless of their reason for wishing to consult it." Harvard University apologises Harvard's associate university librarian for archives Tom Hyry, speaking about the "past failures in our stewardship of the book", apologised and said that the University is "determined to move forward with care." Watch: US: Cherry blossom season in Washington University "We apologise on behalf of Harvard Library for past failures in our stewardship of the book that further objectified and compromised the dignity of the human being at the centre," said Hyry. "We are determined to move forward with care, sensitivity, and ethical responsibility and are committed to best practices in the field, including reflection and correcting historical errors," he added. In March, the human skin binding was removed from the book and has been currently kept in secure storage at the Harvard Library as it is "consulting with appropriate authorities at the University and in France to determine an appropriate and respectful way of laying the remains to rest." (With inputs from agencies)

A book bound by human skin has been on Harvard library shelf for 90 years. Not any longer

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari on Thursday (Mar 28) claimed that poison was added to his father's food which led to his sudden death and said that they would move the court.&nbsp;

Ansari reportedly fell unconscious in the district jail and was rushed to the hospital in Banda where he died of cardiac arrest in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

According to Rani Durgavati Medical College's principal Suneel Kaushal, Ansari was brought in “an unconscious state” from the district jail and he died while he was receiving treatment for cardiac arrest, reported news agency PTI.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jailed-gangster-politician-mukhtar-ansari-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-at-63-705341">India: Jailed gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest at 63</a>

"I was not told anything from the administration side. I came to know about it through the media... But now, the entire nation knows everything... Two days ago, I came to meet him, but I was not allowed... We said earlier also and even today, we will say the same about the allegation of giving slow poison. On March 19, he was poisoned in the dinner. We will move to the judiciary, we have full faith in it...," said Umar Ansari, as quoted by ANI.

<h2>Hospital to conduct post-mortem of Mukhtar Ansari's body</h2>

Meanwhile, the officials have sent his&nbsp;body for post-mortem to Banda Medical College Hospital. A panel of two doctors will conduct the post-mortem, which will be videographed.

“The post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow (March 29), after that, they will give us the body. We will then follow with the further process (cremation)... My father alleged being given a slow poison... Around five doctors panel has been made (for carrying out the post-mortem),” said Umar Ansari.

Earlier, Ghazipur MP and Ansari's brother Afzal Ansari on Tuesday (Mar 26) alleged that the officials have been subjecting him to “slow poisoning” in jail, an allegation which was refuted by the authorities.

"Mukhtar said that he was given a poisonous substance in his food in jail. This happened for the second time. He was given poison around 40 days ago as well. And, recently, on March 19, he was again given this (poison) due to which his condition was bad," said his brother Afzal Ansari, as quoted by PTI.

<h2>UP Police imposes Section 144&nbsp;</h2>

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said that they have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC across the state and the Central Reserve Police Force teams as well as local police have been deployed in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur and Varanasi. The police officials also conducted a flag march.

Watch:&nbsp;India Elections 2024: The campaign road

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63-year-old Mukhtar Ansari was a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar. He has been arrested several times in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005. More than 60 criminal cases are pending against the gangster.

Meanwhile, a magisterial investigation will be conducted into the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari by a three-member team.

(With inputs from agencies)

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari on Thursday (Mar 28) claimed that poison was added to his father's food which led to his sudden death and said that they would move the court.

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari on Thursday (Mar 28) claimed that poison was added to his father's food which led to his sudden death and said that they would move the court. Ansari reportedly fell unconscious in the district jail and was rushed to the hospital in Banda where he died of cardiac arrest in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. According to Rani Durgavati Medical College's principal Suneel Kaushal, Ansari was brought in “an unconscious state” from the district jail and he died while he was receiving treatment for cardiac arrest, reported news agency PTI. Also Read: India: Jailed gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest at 63 "I was not told anything from the administration side. I came to know about it through the media... But now, the entire nation knows everything... Two days ago, I came to meet him, but I was not allowed... We said earlier also and even today, we will say the same about the allegation of giving slow poison. On March 19, he was poisoned in the dinner. We will move to the judiciary, we have full faith in it...," said Umar Ansari, as quoted by ANI. Hospital to conduct post-mortem of Mukhtar Ansari's body Meanwhile, the officials have sent his body for post-mortem to Banda Medical College Hospital. A panel of two doctors will conduct the post-mortem, which will be videographed. “The post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow (March 29), after that, they will give us the body. We will then follow with the further process (cremation)... My father alleged being given a slow poison... Around five doctors panel has been made (for carrying out the post-mortem),” said Umar Ansari. Earlier, Ghazipur MP and Ansari's brother Afzal Ansari on Tuesday (Mar 26) alleged that the officials have been subjecting him to “slow poisoning” in jail, an allegation which was refuted by the authorities. "Mukhtar said that he was given a poisonous substance in his food in jail. This happened for the second time. He was given poison around 40 days ago as well. And, recently, on March 19, he was again given this (poison) due to which his condition was bad," said his brother Afzal Ansari, as quoted by PTI. UP Police imposes Section 144 Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said that they have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC across the state and the Central Reserve Police Force teams as well as local police have been deployed in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur and Varanasi. The police officials also conducted a flag march. Watch: India Elections 2024: The campaign road 63-year-old Mukhtar Ansari was a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar. He has been arrested several times in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005. More than 60 criminal cases are pending against the gangster. Meanwhile, a magisterial investigation will be conducted into the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari by a three-member team. (With inputs from agencies)

Mukhtar Ansari's son alleges father was administered 'slow poison' through food

7 Superfoods That Help You Sleep Sound At Night

Bananas are filled with potassium and magnesium which naturally help in calming the muscles. Consuming bananas helps in relaxing and falling asleep easily.


Cherries contain melatonin which is the hormone that controls sleep-wake cycles. Consuming cherries helps in raising the melatonin levels of the body and improves sleep.

Almonds are filled with tryptophan which is an amino acid that works as a precursor to both serotonin and melatonin and they are also a strong source of magnesium.

Oats are filled with complex carbs and help boost serotonin levels in the brain. The consumption of oatmeal may help relax and improve sleep quality since serotonin plays a role in regulating mood and sleep.

Fatty fish like Salmon has abundant omega-3 fatty acids which are connected with better sleep quality. The acids contain serotonin-regulating and anti-inflammatory properties which improve sleep.

Leafy greens like kale and spinach are filled with magnesium which are important for rest and sleep regulation. Eating leafy greens like spinach and kale helps in relaxing the muscles and quiets the nervous system.

The herbal drinks, like chamomile and valerian root, are all-natural cures for insomnia and also help in sleep disorders. Apigenin, which is an antioxidant discovered in chamomile, binds to specific brain receptors and helps decrease anxiety and induce calm.


Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.


5 Planets Which Are Fastest In The Solar System

Orbital speed is the object's instantaneous speed at a certain point in its orbit or the average speed of the object through its course. These are the fastest planets in the solar system:


Mercury is the fastest planet in the solar system and has a speed of 87.97 Earth days or 47.87km/s approximately.

Venus orbits around the Sun for 225 days and is the second fastest planet in the solar system.


Earth revolves around the sun in 365 days and has an average speed of 29.78 kilometres per second. 

Mars takes 687 days to complete one round of the sun and moves at an average speed of 24.07km/s.



Jupiter is the slowest planet among the five and takes 12 years to complete a solar orbit period with a speed of 13.07km/s.


Supriya Shrinate, the digital media chief of Congress, has been dropped as candidate in Lok Sabha elections days after being slammed for a derogatory post against BJP candidate and Bollywood actress Kangana Renaut.

Supriya Shrinate, the digital media chief of Congress, has been dropped as candidate in Lok Sabha elections days after being slammed for a derogatory post against BJP candidate and Bollywood actress Kangana Renaut. Shrinate's name was not included in the eight list of party candidates after she made the controversial post which led to a political uproar. In the 2019 elections, Shrinate unsuccessfully fought in the Maharajganj seat in Uttar Pradesh. However, this time around, her name was nowhere on the Congress party's list for the Lok Sabha election. Incidentally, Maharajganj is near Rae Bareilly, the pocket burrow constituency of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, which she will not contest this time around. Virendra Chaudhary has been fielded from Maharajganj seat by the Congress this year. Also Read: Kangana Ranaut derogatory post row: National Commission for Women demands action against Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate-Kangana Ranaut controversy Supriya Shrinate allegedly posted an offensive comment against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mandi candidate Kangana Ranaut and later deleted the post. She initially claimed that someone with access to her Instagram account had made the post. After a political furor erupted, she posted on social media: "Anyone who knows me will know I would never say that for a woman. However, a parody account that I have just discovered misusing my name is being run on Twitter ( @Supriyaparody ) which started the whole mischief, and is being reported." Ranaut said that the post was hurtful to her. Speaking to ANI news agency, the actress said, "Every woman deserves dignity, no matter what profession she is in...The most I am hurt by is the 'Mandi' thing, which is known as Chota Kashi and has been the land of several Rishis". Taking to X, Ranaut posted, "Dear Supriya ji, in the last 20 years of my career as an artist, I have played all kinds of women. From a naive girl in Queen to a seductive spy in Dhaakad, from a goddess in Manikarnika to a demon in Chandramukhi, from a prostitute in Rajjo to a revolutionary leader in Thalaivii". Watch: India Election 2024: Kangana Ranaut hits back at Supriya Shrinate Congress leader Sandeep Dixit concurred that such language and remarks have no place in the political battle and said that Supriya Shrinate has given clarification for the position. The Election Commission, meanwhile, issued show-cause notices to Supriya Shrinate and asked her to respond by March 29. The poll panel stated that the remark was violative of the Model Code of Conduct. (With inputs from agencies)

Kangana Ranaut post row costs Supriya Shrinate a Congress seat in Lok Sabha elections 2024

A dashcam footage is doing the rounds on social media, purportedly capturing the moment when a suicide blast rocked Bisham in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on March 26, killing five Chinese nationals as well as their driver.

In the footage that has since gone viral, a bus could seen riding on the street in Bisham followed by sudden blasts that fill the area with smoke.

The entire incident was recorded in the dashcam of the vehicle behind the bus.&nbsp;

Six people, including five Chinese engineers who were involved in the Dasu dam project, were killed in the suicide bombing&nbsp;in Shangla District’s Bisham after the bomber crashed into the bus in which the Chinese were travelling.

The bus was heading from Islamabad to Kohistan when the attack happened on the Karakoram Highway.&nbsp;

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Watch: Dashcam footage of suicide bomb attack in Pakistan on 26th March, that claimed the lives of five Chinese engineers and two Pakistanis in Besham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. <a href="https://t.co/54QqeL6Sdo">pic.twitter.com/54QqeL6Sdo</a>
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Disclaimer: WION cannot vouch for the authenticity of videos sourced from social media.

Speaking to Dawn News, Bisham Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Juma Rehman said, “It was a suicide attack on the Chinese convoy and an explosive-laden vehicle approaching from Kohistan hit the bus.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-five-chinese-nationals-local-driver-killed-in-suicide-bomb-attack-in-pakistan-reports-704377">Five Chinese engineers, local driver killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan</a>

After the suicide blast, the bus caught fire and fell down into the river. &nbsp;

“A huge amount of explosives were used in the attack, the force of which threw the bus into the ravine. We have also collected body parts of the suspected suicide bomber from the site," said Juma Rehman.&nbsp;

<h2>Pakistan investigates suicide blast</h2>

After the attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese embassy with some cabinet members and ensured that the blast would be investigated.

He also chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday (Mar 27), attended by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.&nbsp;

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar&nbsp;appealed for the requirement of a “unified policy” against the rising terrorism in Pakistan, reported Dawn News.

&nbsp;“And today the nation was given a message of unity […] that we unite when there is an attack on our interests […] we know how to protect ourselves and our friends," said the minister.

Watch:&nbsp;China calls for probe after five Chinese engineers killed in attack in Pakistan

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-calls-for-probe-after-five-chinese-engineers-killed-in-attack-in-pakistan-704997/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Tarar further said that they will form a joint investigation team (JIT).&nbsp;

“This is our clear message — that we will not rest until terrorism is eradicated. The premier expressed this resolve and we want to give the message that be it our Chinese friends, our sensitive installations our any Pakistani citizen — all possible steps will be taken for their protection and no effort will be spared to root out terrorism," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A dashcam footage is doing the rounds on social media, purportedly capturing the moment when a suicide blast rocked Bisham in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on March 26, killing five Chinese nationals as well as their driver.

A dashcam footage is doing the rounds on social media, purportedly capturing the moment when a suicide blast rocked Bisham in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on March 26, killing five Chinese nationals as well as their driver. In the footage that has since gone viral, a bus could seen riding on the street in Bisham followed by sudden blasts that fill the area with smoke. The entire incident was recorded in the dashcam of the vehicle behind the bus. Six people, including five Chinese engineers who were involved in the Dasu dam project, were killed in the suicide bombing in Shangla District’s Bisham after the bomber crashed into the bus in which the Chinese were travelling. The bus was heading from Islamabad to Kohistan when the attack happened on the Karakoram Highway. Watch: Dashcam footage of suicide bomb attack in Pakistan on 26th March, that claimed the lives of five Chinese engineers and two Pakistanis in Besham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. pic.twitter.com/54QqeL6Sdo — IANS (@ians_india) March 27, 2024 × Disclaimer: WION cannot vouch for the authenticity of videos sourced from social media. Speaking to Dawn News, Bisham Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Juma Rehman said, “It was a suicide attack on the Chinese convoy and an explosive-laden vehicle approaching from Kohistan hit the bus.” Also Read: Five Chinese engineers, local driver killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan After the suicide blast, the bus caught fire and fell down into the river. “A huge amount of explosives were used in the attack, the force of which threw the bus into the ravine. We have also collected body parts of the suspected suicide bomber from the site," said Juma Rehman. Pakistan investigates suicide blast After the attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese embassy with some cabinet members and ensured that the blast would be investigated. He also chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday (Mar 27), attended by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. Information Minister Ataullah Tarar appealed for the requirement of a “unified policy” against the rising terrorism in Pakistan, reported Dawn News. “And today the nation was given a message of unity […] that we unite when there is an attack on our interests […] we know how to protect ourselves and our friends," said the minister. Watch: China calls for probe after five Chinese engineers killed in attack in Pakistan Tarar further said that they will form a joint investigation team (JIT). “This is our clear message — that we will not rest until terrorism is eradicated. The premier expressed this resolve and we want to give the message that be it our Chinese friends, our sensitive installations our any Pakistani citizen — all possible steps will be taken for their protection and no effort will be spared to root out terrorism," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

VIDEO I Pakistan terror attack: Dashcam captures suicide bombing that killed Chinese nationals

In a stunning discovery, a group of scientists working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in California found that a single meteorite led to the creation of two billion craters on the Martian surface.

In a stunning discovery, a group of scientists working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in California found that a single meteorite led to the creation of two billion craters on the Martian surface. Along with the 2.3 million-year-old crater, known as Corinto, which is spread over the 8.6 miles surface of the planet, the asteroid also led to the creation of several billion secondary craters after it hit the Martian Surface and sent up a huge plume of rocks, reported New Scientist. A chain reaction was triggered by these rocks and even more craters were added as they came crashing down. After analysing the satellite images, JPL's Matthew Golombek and his teammates tried to get an idea of the number of craters which may have been triggered by the blast. They found that Corinto had between 1.3 and 3 billion "secondaries," and each of them was at least 33 feet apart from the other. "Corinto is a fresh impact crater in Elysium Panitia that produced one of the most extensive systems of…secondary craters on Mars," wrote the researchers, in the study, which was released at the conference. Also Read: Major breakthrough! Giant volcano found on Mars with glacier ice beneath it. What could it mean for humans? The study can help scientists understand complex geological processes which take place on the Martian surface and how its composition and landscapes have changed over time. Falling Rocks The area, which has been pockmarked by billions of craters, is very massive and spreads out in 540,000 square miles — which coincidentally also includes NASA's InSight Mars lander landing spot. "The observed differences…with distance from the crater likely result from variations in impact velocity and size of ejecta," said the researchers, in the study. "Quantifying the number of secondaries is important to better understand how a relatively small crater could possibly eject that much material during the cratering process," said Golombek, while speaking to New Scientist. Watch: UN 'red alert' for planet earth | Flash floods wreak havoc in Iraqi city Meanwhile, more recent meteorite impacts have also helped scientists make fascinating discoveries. In 2022, a massive marsquake was detected by InSight which was found to be the result of one of the biggest observed meteors which is said to have hit Mars. The meteors' impact was said to be so powerful that it blasted up chunks of underground ice. (With inputs from agencies)

Massive asteroid led to two billion craters on surface of Mars, claim scientists

In a never-heard situation, global warming and melting of polar ice are slowing down the rotation of Earth and this can affect how time is measured.&nbsp;

In a study published on Wednesday (Mar 27), it was discovered that the melting of polar ice, which has been happening continuously due to climate change, has slowed down the spinning of Earth.&nbsp;

The study's author Duncan Agnew, who is a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, said&nbsp;the rapid melting of ice on the poles changes where the mass of the Earth is concentrated.&nbsp;

In turn, the change affects the angular velocity of the planet as the presence of less solid ice at the poles will lead to more mass around the equator.&nbsp;

Speaking to NBC News, Thomas Herring, a professor of geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was not part of the new study said, “What you’re doing with the ice melt is you’re taking water that’s frozen solid in places like Antarctica and Greenland, and that frozen water is melting, and you move the fluids to other places on the planet. The water flows off towards the equator.”&nbsp;

The groundbreaking study has showcased how humans have been capable of doing something never thought was in control of humanity.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-plan-to-suck-out-water-from-earths-atmosphere-to-fight-climate-change-695106">Scientists plan to suck out water from Earth's atmosphere to fight climate change</a>

“It’s kind of impressive, even to me, that we’ve done something that measurably changes how fast the Earth rotates. Things are happening that are unprecedented," Agnew said.&nbsp;

<h2>So, why will time stop in 2029?</h2>

It is universally known that an extra day gets added in the month of February once every four years, which is known as a leap year.&nbsp;

However, after every few years, a 'leap second' also gets added which is usually at the end of December or June.

This happens because the speed at which Earth spins around its axis slightly fluctuates, which means one complete rotation is not exactly one day.&nbsp;

However, after the study, Agnew has called for a 'negative' leap second, which is the deletion of a second for the first time in history.&nbsp;

The professor suggested that the negative leap second should occur in 2029 to account the for fast spinning of the Earth, however, he warned that that this can cause 'unprecedented' problems in smartphones and computers.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Asteroid flew past Earth in near miss

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-asteroid-flew-past-earth-in-near-miss-690710/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Extrapolating the trends for the core and other relevant phenomena to predict future Earth orientation shows that Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as now defined will require a negative discontinuity by 2029," said Professor Agnew, in his new paper.&nbsp;

"This will pose an unprecedented problem for computer network timing and may require changes in UTC to be made earlier than is planned," he added.&nbsp;

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the ultra-precise 'atomic clock' which keeps ticking continuously and precisely around the world.&nbsp;

However, these atomic clocks fail to align with the observed 'solar time', as per which every day is the representation of a single rotation of the Earth.

If the rotation of the Earth is not slowed by the melting ice, there will be a requirement of the negative leap second three years earlier in 2026, said Professor Agnew.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a never-heard situation, global warming and melting of polar ice are slowing down the rotation of Earth and this can affect how time is measured. In a study published on Wednesday (Mar 27), it was discovered that the melting of polar ice, which has been happening continuously due to climate change, has slowed down the spinning of Earth.

In a never-heard situation, global warming and melting of polar ice are slowing down the rotation of Earth and this can affect how time is measured. In a study published on Wednesday (Mar 27), it was discovered that the melting of polar ice, which has been happening continuously due to climate change, has slowed down the spinning of Earth. The study's author Duncan Agnew, who is a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, said the rapid melting of ice on the poles changes where the mass of the Earth is concentrated. In turn, the change affects the angular velocity of the planet as the presence of less solid ice at the poles will lead to more mass around the equator. Speaking to NBC News, Thomas Herring, a professor of geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was not part of the new study said, “What you’re doing with the ice melt is you’re taking water that’s frozen solid in places like Antarctica and Greenland, and that frozen water is melting, and you move the fluids to other places on the planet. The water flows off towards the equator.” The groundbreaking study has showcased how humans have been capable of doing something never thought was in control of humanity. Also Read: Scientists plan to suck out water from Earth's atmosphere to fight climate change “It’s kind of impressive, even to me, that we’ve done something that measurably changes how fast the Earth rotates. Things are happening that are unprecedented," Agnew said. So, why will time stop in 2029? It is universally known that an extra day gets added in the month of February once every four years, which is known as a leap year. However, after every few years, a 'leap second' also gets added which is usually at the end of December or June. This happens because the speed at which Earth spins around its axis slightly fluctuates, which means one complete rotation is not exactly one day. However, after the study, Agnew has called for a 'negative' leap second, which is the deletion of a second for the first time in history. The professor suggested that the negative leap second should occur in 2029 to account the for fast spinning of the Earth, however, he warned that that this can cause 'unprecedented' problems in smartphones and computers. Watch: Gravitas: Asteroid flew past Earth in near miss "Extrapolating the trends for the core and other relevant phenomena to predict future Earth orientation shows that Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as now defined will require a negative discontinuity by 2029," said Professor Agnew, in his new paper. "This will pose an unprecedented problem for computer network timing and may require changes in UTC to be made earlier than is planned," he added. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the ultra-precise 'atomic clock' which keeps ticking continuously and precisely around the world. However, these atomic clocks fail to align with the observed 'solar time', as per which every day is the representation of a single rotation of the Earth. If the rotation of the Earth is not slowed by the melting ice, there will be a requirement of the negative leap second three years earlier in 2026, said Professor Agnew. (With inputs from agencies)

Time will stop in 2029? Melting polar ice slows Earth's rotation, scientists warn...

Nine lemons, which were considered sacred after being kept on the deity's spear at a temple in south Indian state of&nbsp;Tamil Nadu were auctioned at Rs 236,000 (approx. $28,309) by the authorities on Tuesday (Mar 26).&nbsp;

The lemons were sold at such a hefty price because the devotees believed that consuming them would bring prosperity to the families and cure infertility.&nbsp;

Devotees of the temple in Villupuram believe that consuming lemonade made from these lemons cures infertility and brings prosperity to families.

"The temple is famous for its sacred lemons. People strongly believe that the lemons spiked in Lord Muruga's spear have magical powers," a villager was quoted as saying by The Times Of India.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/285-year-old-lemon-discovered-in-dead-mans-cabinet-goes-viral-heres-how-it-looks-686283">285-year-old lemon discovered in dead man's cabinet goes viral. Here's how it looks</a>

<h2>Childless couples, traders purchase lemons</h2>

During the annual Panguni Uthiram festival, childless couples flock to Lord Muruga's small temple, which is situated at the confluence of two hillocks at Tiruvanainallur village, Villupuram.&nbsp;

The temple's management during this festival auctions the sacred lemons at whopping prices, as reported by The Times Of India.&nbsp;

During the nine-day festival, the lemons - which are spiked on the spear on the first day and considered to be the "most auspicious and powerful" of all - are sold to the devotees at an exorbitant price. This year, the lemon was purchased by a couple for Rs50,500 ($599).&nbsp;

As per the report, one lemon is spiked on the spear of the deity each day by the priests for nine days.&nbsp;

One lemon is spiked on the deity's spear by priests on each day of the nine-day temple festival, the report said.

Watch:&nbsp;Archaeologists try to unearth ‘India’s oldest temple’ in Madhya Pradesh

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/archaeologists-try-to-unearth-indias-oldest-temple-in-madhya-pradesh-702638/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Childless couples buy the lemons as there is a strong belief that the lemon cures infertility. Traders and businessmen buy the lemon seeking prosperity in their business ventures," another villager said while speaking to The Times Of India.

As per the villagers, not just childless couples but even traders and businessmen try to buy these lemons which are believed to attract good fortune.&nbsp;

People, who are successful in bidding for these lemons, have to take a holy bath and are handed over the lemons after they kneel before the temple priests. For years, the temple has been celebrating this festival.

The festival, which is steeped in faith and tradition, continues to remain as a major cultural event which ensures that age-old customs and beliefs are still alive among the people.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nine lemons, which were considered sacred after being kept on the deity's spear at a temple in south Indian state of Tamil Nadu were auctioned at Rs 236,000 (approx.

Nine lemons, which were considered sacred after being kept on the deity's spear at a temple in south Indian state of Tamil Nadu were auctioned at Rs 236,000 (approx. $28,309) by the authorities on Tuesday (Mar 26). The lemons were sold at such a hefty price because the devotees believed that consuming them would bring prosperity to the families and cure infertility. Devotees of the temple in Villupuram believe that consuming lemonade made from these lemons cures infertility and brings prosperity to families. "The temple is famous for its sacred lemons. People strongly believe that the lemons spiked in Lord Muruga's spear have magical powers," a villager was quoted as saying by The Times Of India. Also Read: 285-year-old lemon discovered in dead man's cabinet goes viral. Here's how it looks Childless couples, traders purchase lemons During the annual Panguni Uthiram festival, childless couples flock to Lord Muruga's small temple, which is situated at the confluence of two hillocks at Tiruvanainallur village, Villupuram. The temple's management during this festival auctions the sacred lemons at whopping prices, as reported by The Times Of India. During the nine-day festival, the lemons - which are spiked on the spear on the first day and considered to be the "most auspicious and powerful" of all - are sold to the devotees at an exorbitant price. This year, the lemon was purchased by a couple for Rs50,500 ($599). As per the report, one lemon is spiked on the spear of the deity each day by the priests for nine days. One lemon is spiked on the deity's spear by priests on each day of the nine-day temple festival, the report said. Watch: Archaeologists try to unearth ‘India’s oldest temple’ in Madhya Pradesh "Childless couples buy the lemons as there is a strong belief that the lemon cures infertility. Traders and businessmen buy the lemon seeking prosperity in their business ventures," another villager said while speaking to The Times Of India. As per the villagers, not just childless couples but even traders and businessmen try to buy these lemons which are believed to attract good fortune. People, who are successful in bidding for these lemons, have to take a holy bath and are handed over the lemons after they kneel before the temple priests. For years, the temple has been celebrating this festival. The festival, which is steeped in faith and tradition, continues to remain as a major cultural event which ensures that age-old customs and beliefs are still alive among the people. (With inputs from agencies)

Sacred nine lemons, believed to cure infertility, sell at hefty prices in Indian temple

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the state will sue a teenage girl who falsely accused her headteacher of using violence during a heated argument over wearing an Islamic head covering. The teacher has now quit following death threats on social media.

The headteacher had asked the girl to remove the head covering inside the school premises, as per French law.

After the killing of two teachers in the past years, any kind of Islamist threats sent to French schools is considered extremely serious in the country.&nbsp;

In 2020, Samuel Paty was decapitated in Paris and five months ago, Dominique Bernard was murdered inside his school.&nbsp;

The headteacher, whose identity has not been revealed to the public, sent a resignation email to his colleagues at the Maurice Ravel Lycee in Paris on Friday (Mar 22).&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-launches-several-anti-drug-raids-across-country-in-major-crackdown-ahead-of-elections-704213">France launches several anti-drug raids across country in major crackdown ahead of elections</a>

"I have finally taken the decision to quit my functions," the teacher said, adding, "out of concern for my own safety and that of the establishment."

"I leave after seven years, rich and intense, spent at your side, and after 45 years in public education," he added.

The teacher also thanked his colleagues for extending their support to him in the past three weeks.

<h2>How the row over Islamic veil started in school</h2>

The incident occurred on February 28 when the teacher asked three female pupils to follow French law and remove their head scarves inside the school premises.&nbsp;

The two students followed the rule, but the third one did not obey, which led to an altercation.

In subsequent days,&nbsp;the head teacher received death threats on social media platforms, which were sent by the school to an interior ministry hotline.

As per prosecutors, two people were detained after the death threats were investigated.

The identities of the detainees were not revealed, but the education ministry said they had no connection with the school.&nbsp;

Police officials also patrolled around the school premises and Education Minister Nicole Belloubet also paid a visit.

No evidence was found by the officers which proved that the girl was hit by the headteacher and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal also stepped into the issue and said that she would be sued for making false allegations.

Watch:&nbsp;Brazil, France launch $1.1 billion programme to protect Amazon

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"The state... will always stand with these officials, those who are on the frontline faced with these breaches of secularism, these attempts of Islamist entryism in our education establishments," Attal said.

Meanwhile, the politicians also expressed their anger at the hate campaign on the Internet against the teacher.

Taking to X, Marine Le Pen of the hard-right National Rally said, "This government is incapable of protecting our schools."

"It is defeat for the state… and the gangrene of Islamism gains yet more ground," her niece Marion Maréchal of the rival hard-right party Reconquest said.&nbsp;

"This is where you end up when your policy is 'don't make waves'. This is where all those little surrenders lead to," stated Bruno Retailleau of the centre-right Republicans.

(With inputs from agencies)

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the state will sue a teenage girl who falsely accused her headteacher of using violence during a heated argument over wearing an Islamic head covering.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the state will sue a teenage girl who falsely accused her headteacher of using violence during a heated argument over wearing an Islamic head covering. The teacher has now quit following death threats on social media. The headteacher had asked the girl to remove the head covering inside the school premises, as per French law. After the killing of two teachers in the past years, any kind of Islamist threats sent to French schools is considered extremely serious in the country. In 2020, Samuel Paty was decapitated in Paris and five months ago, Dominique Bernard was murdered inside his school. The headteacher, whose identity has not been revealed to the public, sent a resignation email to his colleagues at the Maurice Ravel Lycee in Paris on Friday (Mar 22). Also Read: France launches several anti-drug raids across country in major crackdown ahead of elections "I have finally taken the decision to quit my functions," the teacher said, adding, "out of concern for my own safety and that of the establishment." "I leave after seven years, rich and intense, spent at your side, and after 45 years in public education," he added. The teacher also thanked his colleagues for extending their support to him in the past three weeks. How the row over Islamic veil started in school The incident occurred on February 28 when the teacher asked three female pupils to follow French law and remove their head scarves inside the school premises. The two students followed the rule, but the third one did not obey, which led to an altercation. In subsequent days, the head teacher received death threats on social media platforms, which were sent by the school to an interior ministry hotline. As per prosecutors, two people were detained after the death threats were investigated. The identities of the detainees were not revealed, but the education ministry said they had no connection with the school. Police officials also patrolled around the school premises and Education Minister Nicole Belloubet also paid a visit. No evidence was found by the officers which proved that the girl was hit by the headteacher and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal also stepped into the issue and said that she would be sued for making false allegations. Watch: Brazil, France launch $1.1 billion programme to protect Amazon "The state... will always stand with these officials, those who are on the frontline faced with these breaches of secularism, these attempts of Islamist entryism in our education establishments," Attal said. Meanwhile, the politicians also expressed their anger at the hate campaign on the Internet against the teacher. Taking to X, Marine Le Pen of the hard-right National Rally said, "This government is incapable of protecting our schools." "It is defeat for the state… and the gangrene of Islamism gains yet more ground," her niece Marion Maréchal of the rival hard-right party Reconquest said. "This is where you end up when your policy is 'don't make waves'. This is where all those little surrenders lead to," stated Bruno Retailleau of the centre-right Republicans. (With inputs from agencies)

France hijab row: School head quits over death threats, govt to prosecute teen for false accusations

In a new study, astronomers have discovered that some of the hottest and brightest stars in the universe are likely to have been formed by the collision of two other stars.&nbsp;

For years, scientists have remained mystified by the formation of these intensely bright stars, known as blue supergiants.

As per the new research published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the scientists have found that most blue supergiants get formed by the merging of two smaller stars which once orbited each other in a binary system.&nbsp;

Blue supergiants are the luminous, huge stars which are some of the most massive to be ever found in the universe. They typically are 16 to 40 times the mass of the sun.&nbsp;

These stars have hot surface temperatures and are often 10,000 times more hotter and luminous than the sun.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-spot-black-hole-devouring-star-at-close-proximity-to-earth-700055">Scientists spot black hole devouring star at close proximity to Earth</a>

In the new research, the scientists analysed 59 early B-type blue supergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.

"We simulated the mergers of evolved giant stars with their smaller stellar companions over a wide range of parameters, taking into account the interaction and mixing of the two stars during the merger. The newly-born stars live as blue supergiants throughout the second-longest phase of a star's life, when it burns helium in its core," said study author Athira Menon, who is an astrophysicist at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in Spain, in a statement.

<h2>Slamming of binary stars lead to creation of huge stars: Study</h2>

In the research, it was found that these huge stars were created after two binary stars slammed into each other and combined to form one massive sun.

"The results obtained explain why blue supergiants are found in the so-called 'evolutionary gap' from classical stellar physics, a phase of their evolution where we would not expect to find stars," said study co-author Artemio Herrero, an IAC researcher, in the statement.

This theory also goes along with blue supergiants' observed properties across the universe.

Watch:&nbsp;Space Race: India and China reach for the stars

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/space-race-india-and-china-reach-for-the-stars-701819/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Remarkably, we found that stars born from such mergers have greater success in reproducing the surface composition, particularly the nitrogen and helium enhancement, of a large fraction of the sample than conventional stellar models. This indicates that mergers may be the dominant channel to produce blue supergiants," said study co-author Danny Lennon, an IAC researcher, in the statement.

The researchers plan to investigate the role of the merging stars in the creation of galaxies and their stars across the cosmos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new study, astronomers have discovered that some of the hottest and brightest stars in the universe are likely to have been formed by the collision of two other stars.

In a new study, astronomers have discovered that some of the hottest and brightest stars in the universe are likely to have been formed by the collision of two other stars. For years, scientists have remained mystified by the formation of these intensely bright stars, known as blue supergiants. As per the new research published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the scientists have found that most blue supergiants get formed by the merging of two smaller stars which once orbited each other in a binary system. Blue supergiants are the luminous, huge stars which are some of the most massive to be ever found in the universe. They typically are 16 to 40 times the mass of the sun. These stars have hot surface temperatures and are often 10,000 times more hotter and luminous than the sun. Also Read: Scientists spot black hole devouring star at close proximity to Earth In the new research, the scientists analysed 59 early B-type blue supergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. "We simulated the mergers of evolved giant stars with their smaller stellar companions over a wide range of parameters, taking into account the interaction and mixing of the two stars during the merger. The newly-born stars live as blue supergiants throughout the second-longest phase of a star's life, when it burns helium in its core," said study author Athira Menon, who is an astrophysicist at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in Spain, in a statement. Slamming of binary stars lead to creation of huge stars: Study In the research, it was found that these huge stars were created after two binary stars slammed into each other and combined to form one massive sun. "The results obtained explain why blue supergiants are found in the so-called 'evolutionary gap' from classical stellar physics, a phase of their evolution where we would not expect to find stars," said study co-author Artemio Herrero, an IAC researcher, in the statement. This theory also goes along with blue supergiants' observed properties across the universe. Watch: Space Race: India and China reach for the stars "Remarkably, we found that stars born from such mergers have greater success in reproducing the surface composition, particularly the nitrogen and helium enhancement, of a large fraction of the sample than conventional stellar models. This indicates that mergers may be the dominant channel to produce blue supergiants," said study co-author Danny Lennon, an IAC researcher, in the statement. The researchers plan to investigate the role of the merging stars in the creation of galaxies and their stars across the cosmos. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists likely to solve decades-old mystery around formation of ‘brightest stars’

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