A mystery surrounding a tomato lost in space came to an end after eight months, as the vegetable (or fruit) surprisingly showed up on the International Space Station (ISS). After an off-Earth harvest in March, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio had lost the remains of a tiny tomato.&nbsp; 
 
"Our good friend Frank Rubio, who headed home [already], has been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato. But we can exonerate him. We found the tomato," said NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, while speaking in a live-streamed event on Wednesday (Dec. 6) which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ISS. &nbsp;

The minor incident of losing the tomato became a large inside joke for Rubio in NASA. The 1-inch-wide (2.5 centimetres) Red Robin dwarf tomato was among the Veg-05 experiment's final harvest that was tended by Rubio himself through some growing pains.

The samples of the tomatoes were received by each ISS astronaut after March 29. However, Rubio's share was kept in a Ziploc bag and it floated away before he could take a bite from it.&nbsp;

<h4>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/as-halleys-comet-completes-75-years-of-journey-heres-how-it-can-be-visible-in-your-lifetime-667184">Halley’s Comet is gearing up for a return journey towards us. The wait is quite long though</a></h4>

&nbsp;

On September 13, the astronauts first discussed the missing tomato publicly when Rubio held his own event in space which marked a United States astronaut's unexpected record year in orbit.

"I spent so many hours looking for that thing," joked Rubio, amid the ISS livestream in September. "I'm sure the desiccated tomato will show up at some point and vindicate me, years in the future," he added.&nbsp;

<h2>Rubio looked for lost tomato for 18 to 20 hours&nbsp;</h2>

The ISS is bigger than a six-bedroom house and things can float away easily to unexpected corners in microgravity. NASA usually follows the procedure of checking vent intakes for such objects. However, in a station filled with 25 years of stuff, it is easy to lose some items. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;European Space Agency released first images taken by Euclid's telescope

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-space-agency-released-first-images-taken-by-euclids-telescope-656604/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On October 13, Rubio was asked by reporters regarding the lost tomato, nearly two weeks after he returned home safely with his delayed crew after spending 371 days in space.&nbsp;

Rubio said that the tomato was never found despite "18 to 20 hours of my own time looking for that."&nbsp;

"The reality of the problem, you know — the humidity up there is like 17 per cent. It's probably desiccated to the point where you couldn't tell what it was, and somebody just threw away the bag," said Rubio, adding, "Hopefully somebody will find it someday: a little, shrivelled thing."

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

A mystery surrounding a tomato lost in space came to an end after eight months, as the vegetable (or fruit) surprisingly showed up on the International Space Station (ISS).

A mystery surrounding a tomato lost in space came to an end after eight months, as the vegetable (or fruit) surprisingly showed up on the International Space Station (ISS). After an off-Earth harvest in March, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio had lost the remains of a tiny tomato. "Our good friend Frank Rubio, who headed home [already], has been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato. But we can exonerate him. We found the tomato," said NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, while speaking in a live-streamed event on Wednesday (Dec. 6) which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ISS. The minor incident of losing the tomato became a large inside joke for Rubio in NASA. The 1-inch-wide (2.5 centimetres) Red Robin dwarf tomato was among the Veg-05 experiment's final harvest that was tended by Rubio himself through some growing pains. The samples of the tomatoes were received by each ISS astronaut after March 29. However, Rubio's share was kept in a Ziploc bag and it floated away before he could take a bite from it. Also read: Halley’s Comet is gearing up for a return journey towards us. The wait is quite long though On September 13, the astronauts first discussed the missing tomato publicly when Rubio held his own event in space which marked a United States astronaut's unexpected record year in orbit. "I spent so many hours looking for that thing," joked Rubio, amid the ISS livestream in September. "I'm sure the desiccated tomato will show up at some point and vindicate me, years in the future," he added. Rubio looked for lost tomato for 18 to 20 hours The ISS is bigger than a six-bedroom house and things can float away easily to unexpected corners in microgravity. NASA usually follows the procedure of checking vent intakes for such objects. However, in a station filled with 25 years of stuff, it is easy to lose some items. Watch: European Space Agency released first images taken by Euclid's telescope On October 13, Rubio was asked by reporters regarding the lost tomato, nearly two weeks after he returned home safely with his delayed crew after spending 371 days in space. Rubio said that the tomato was never found despite "18 to 20 hours of my own time looking for that." "The reality of the problem, you know — the humidity up there is like 17 per cent. It's probably desiccated to the point where you couldn't tell what it was, and somebody just threw away the bag," said Rubio, adding, "Hopefully somebody will find it someday: a little, shrivelled thing." (With inputs from agencies)

A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal

In a rare chance, astronaut Andreas Mogensen captured the unique and elusive "red sprite" from the International Space Station (ISS).&nbsp;

The ISS has been orbiting Earth at a height of nearly 250 miles which means that the space station takes around 16 trips around Earth every single day.&nbsp;

As the rare lightning phenomenon, called a red sprite, made a sudden appearance, the astronaut from the European Space Agency snapped an incredible photo and a timelapse video. &nbsp;

The space station's Davis camera was used by Andreas Mogensen as he spotted a thunderstorm brewing over Earth.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/iss-discovers-tomato-which-remained-lost-in-space-for-eight-months-667098">A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal</a>

"Beyond the clouds is a fascinating world," he wrote in the caption, as he posted the photos of the phenomena on X (formerly Twitter).

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Beyond the clouds is a fascinating world. 
 
What you see here is a picture of a red sprite over a thunder cloud that I took as part of the Thor-Davis experiment from <a href="https://twitter.com/DTUSpace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DTUSpace</a> ⚡Red sprites are part of the rare phenomena known as Transient Luminous Events, often shortened TLEs,… <a href="https://t.co/AA4h8anUIf">pic.twitter.com/AA4h8anUIf</a>
— Andreas Mogensen (@Astro_Andreas) <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Andreas/status/1728093596430012775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Since August, Mogensen has been staying on the ISS and has been clicking photos of Earth from the space station's Cupola every Saturday. &nbsp;

<h2>Davis camera captures magic of 'red sprite'</h2>

The astronaut last week managed to capture footage of a red sprite over a thundercloud.&nbsp;

"Red sprites are part of the rare phenomena known as Transient Luminous Events, often shortened TLEs, that can appear over thunder clouds," wrote Mogensen on X.

"The red sprites form around 40 to 80 km [24 to 48 miles] above ground and as you can see in the video from the Davis camera, the red sprites appear after the thunder has struck and much higher up," he added.

Watch:&nbsp;Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gaganyaan-indias-first-mission-to-send-astronauts-to-space-648224/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Red sprites are one kind of electrical bursts of light which generally appear above highly active thunderstorms.

The Davis camera of ISS is an event camera which functions like&nbsp;the human eye and senses change in contrast.&nbsp;

"These images taken by Andreas are fantastic," said Olivier Chanrion, who is a lead scientist for this experiment and DTU Space senior researcher.&nbsp;

"The Davis camera works well and gives us the high temporal resolution necessary to capture the quick processes in the lightning," he added.

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

In a rare chance, astronaut Andreas Mogensen captured the unique and elusive "red sprite" from the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS has been orbiting Earth at a height of nearly 250 miles which means that the space station takes around 16 trips around Earth every single day.

In a rare chance, astronaut Andreas Mogensen captured the unique and elusive "red sprite" from the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS has been orbiting Earth at a height of nearly 250 miles which means that the space station takes around 16 trips around Earth every single day. As the rare lightning phenomenon, called a red sprite, made a sudden appearance, the astronaut from the European Space Agency snapped an incredible photo and a timelapse video. The space station's Davis camera was used by Andreas Mogensen as he spotted a thunderstorm brewing over Earth. Also read: A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal "Beyond the clouds is a fascinating world," he wrote in the caption, as he posted the photos of the phenomena on X (formerly Twitter). Beyond the clouds is a fascinating world. What you see here is a picture of a red sprite over a thunder cloud that I took as part of the Thor-Davis experiment from @DTUSpace ⚡Red sprites are part of the rare phenomena known as Transient Luminous Events, often shortened TLEs,… pic.twitter.com/AA4h8anUIf — Andreas Mogensen (@Astro_Andreas) November 24, 2023 × Since August, Mogensen has been staying on the ISS and has been clicking photos of Earth from the space station's Cupola every Saturday. Davis camera captures magic of 'red sprite' The astronaut last week managed to capture footage of a red sprite over a thundercloud. "Red sprites are part of the rare phenomena known as Transient Luminous Events, often shortened TLEs, that can appear over thunder clouds," wrote Mogensen on X. "The red sprites form around 40 to 80 km [24 to 48 miles] above ground and as you can see in the video from the Davis camera, the red sprites appear after the thunder has struck and much higher up," he added. Watch: Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space Red sprites are one kind of electrical bursts of light which generally appear above highly active thunderstorms. The Davis camera of ISS is an event camera which functions like the human eye and senses change in contrast. "These images taken by Andreas are fantastic," said Olivier Chanrion, who is a lead scientist for this experiment and DTU Space senior researcher. "The Davis camera works well and gives us the high temporal resolution necessary to capture the quick processes in the lightning," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Rare, elusive 'red sprite' snapped: Astronaut captures unique view from ISS

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Wednesday (Nov 6) added Iftar,&nbsp;the meal that Muslims take to break the daytime fast during the holy month of Ramzan, on the list of intangible cultural heritage.

Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan jointly submitted the application for the inclusion of iftar to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.

“Iftar (also called Eftari or Iftor) is observed by Muslims at sunset in the month of Ramazan, upon completion of all religious and ceremonial rites,” stated UNESCO.

Iftar, which takes place after the sunset call to prayer in Ramazan, is related to gatherings “strengthening family and community ties and promoting charity, solidarity and social exchange,” it said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmiri-muslim-family-prepares-thousand-of-diwali-diyas-for-the-festival-656110">Kashmiri Muslim family prepares thousands of Diwali diyas for the Hindu festival</a>

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which has been holding meetings in Botswana since Monday, recognised the age-old traditional Muslim observance.

In many Muslim nations, it is customary that the people mark iftar by eating a date along with drinking tea. The recipes of pastries and dishes, however, vary greatly from one country to another.

The UN body said, “Iftar practice is typically transmitted within families, and children and youth are often entrusted with preparing components of traditional meals.”

<h2>Italian opera singing also part of the list</h2>

Italian opera singing - which is an art “transmitted only orally” between pupil and maestro that attracts students globally - has also been added by UNESCO to the list of intangible global heritage.&nbsp;

“This is an official confirmation of what we already knew: opera singing is a world excellence,” said Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, after UNESCO's decision.

Watch:&nbsp;Kashmiri Muslim family prepares thousands of Diwali diyas for the Hindu festival

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kashmiri-muslim-family-prepares-thousands-of-diwali-diyas-for-the-hindu-festival-656839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Opera started in Italy, which is home to Verdi and Scarlatti. Italian patriots sang the opera and some of the world’s greatest arias came from the peninsula.

Italian opera is “a physiologically controlled way of singing that enhances the carrying power of the voice in acoustic spaces such as amphitheatres and churches,” stated UNESCO.

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Wednesday (Nov 6) added Iftar, the meal that Muslims take to break the daytime fast during the holy month of Ramzan, on the list of intangible cultural heritage.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Wednesday (Nov 6) added Iftar, the meal that Muslims take to break the daytime fast during the holy month of Ramzan, on the list of intangible cultural heritage. Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan jointly submitted the application for the inclusion of iftar to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. “Iftar (also called Eftari or Iftor) is observed by Muslims at sunset in the month of Ramazan, upon completion of all religious and ceremonial rites,” stated UNESCO. Iftar, which takes place after the sunset call to prayer in Ramazan, is related to gatherings “strengthening family and community ties and promoting charity, solidarity and social exchange,” it said. Also read: Kashmiri Muslim family prepares thousands of Diwali diyas for the Hindu festival The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which has been holding meetings in Botswana since Monday, recognised the age-old traditional Muslim observance. In many Muslim nations, it is customary that the people mark iftar by eating a date along with drinking tea. The recipes of pastries and dishes, however, vary greatly from one country to another. The UN body said, “Iftar practice is typically transmitted within families, and children and youth are often entrusted with preparing components of traditional meals.” Italian opera singing also part of the list Italian opera singing - which is an art “transmitted only orally” between pupil and maestro that attracts students globally - has also been added by UNESCO to the list of intangible global heritage. “This is an official confirmation of what we already knew: opera singing is a world excellence,” said Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, after UNESCO's decision. Watch: Kashmiri Muslim family prepares thousands of Diwali diyas for the Hindu festival Opera started in Italy, which is home to Verdi and Scarlatti. Italian patriots sang the opera and some of the world’s greatest arias came from the peninsula. Italian opera is “a physiologically controlled way of singing that enhances the carrying power of the voice in acoustic spaces such as amphitheatres and churches,” stated UNESCO. (With inputs from agencies)

UNESCO adds iftar, a daytime meal in Ramzan, to cultural heritage list

If reports are to be believed,&nbsp;Israel's spies and military commanders held late-night meetings to discuss a likely attack by Hamas and the threat being faced by the Supernova music festival, just hours before the assault was carried out on October 7.&nbsp;

As per the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the first meeting was held close to midnight and the second around 3 am (local time). However, those who attended the meetings concluded that a training exercise was being held by Hamas on the Gaza border and that they were not preparing for a terror attack.&nbsp;

The warnings weren't taken as seriously and the Israeli troops were asked to increase drone surveillance flights and a unit known as “Team Tequila” - &nbsp;which was trained specifically to prevent abductions - was deployed to Nahal Oz, a kibbutz close to the border with Gaza. The officials also alerted two commando teams about the possibility of an incursion.

However, no warnings were given to the organisers of the Supernova festival which was being held near Kibbutz Re’im, just three miles from Gaza, where eventually 360 people were killed and around 40 were taken hostage.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-approves-minimal-increase-in-fuel-supply-to-gaza-to-prevent-humanitarian-collapse-667004">&nbsp;Israel approves 'minimal' increase in fuel supply to Gaza to prevent 'humanitarian collapse'</a>

The organisers said that if the warning was given to them even an hour before the attack took place, they would have been able to carry out the evacuation of the site.

The festival was organised in close cooperation with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and was approved by the northern brigade of the Gaza division.

<h2>'Fend for yourselves', IDF told festival organisers&nbsp;</h2>

The army units on duty were not aware of the festival which was being held near the border.

When the organisers of the event called the IDF on the morning of the massacre, they were asked to fend for themselves, according to the report.&nbsp;

The IDF reached the site of the festival by around 3 pm (local time) and by then, the surviving festivalgoers had fled or played dead for hours.

Watch:&nbsp;Israel pounds southern Gaza after US warning on civilian deaths

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-pounds-southern-gaza-after-us-warning-on-civilian-deaths-667046/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The festival will be among the most highly-scrutinised parts of an inquiry being held into the October 7 attacks, an exercise which the IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both maintained can only take place once the Gaza war ends.

“The military understands that the Re’im festival will be at the centre of the inquiry commissions that will be established at the end of the war,” said an unnamed IDF source, while speaking to Haaretz.

“This massacre should have been prevented," he added.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

If reports are to be believed, Israel's spies and military commanders held late-night meetings to discuss a likely attack by Hamas and the threat being faced by the Supernova music festival, just hours before the assault was carried out on October 7.

If reports are to be believed, Israel's spies and military commanders held late-night meetings to discuss a likely attack by Hamas and the threat being faced by the Supernova music festival, just hours before the assault was carried out on October 7. As per the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the first meeting was held close to midnight and the second around 3 am (local time). However, those who attended the meetings concluded that a training exercise was being held by Hamas on the Gaza border and that they were not preparing for a terror attack. The warnings weren't taken as seriously and the Israeli troops were asked to increase drone surveillance flights and a unit known as “Team Tequila” - which was trained specifically to prevent abductions - was deployed to Nahal Oz, a kibbutz close to the border with Gaza. The officials also alerted two commando teams about the possibility of an incursion. However, no warnings were given to the organisers of the Supernova festival which was being held near Kibbutz Re’im, just three miles from Gaza, where eventually 360 people were killed and around 40 were taken hostage. Also read: Israel approves 'minimal' increase in fuel supply to Gaza to prevent 'humanitarian collapse' The organisers said that if the warning was given to them even an hour before the attack took place, they would have been able to carry out the evacuation of the site. The festival was organised in close cooperation with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and was approved by the northern brigade of the Gaza division. 'Fend for yourselves', IDF told festival organisers The army units on duty were not aware of the festival which was being held near the border. When the organisers of the event called the IDF on the morning of the massacre, they were asked to fend for themselves, according to the report. The IDF reached the site of the festival by around 3 pm (local time) and by then, the surviving festivalgoers had fled or played dead for hours. Watch: Israel pounds southern Gaza after US warning on civilian deaths The festival will be among the most highly-scrutinised parts of an inquiry being held into the October 7 attacks, an exercise which the IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both maintained can only take place once the Gaza war ends. “The military understands that the Re’im festival will be at the centre of the inquiry commissions that will be established at the end of the war,” said an unnamed IDF source, while speaking to Haaretz. “This massacre should have been prevented," he added. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli intelligence agency was aware of Hamas attack, failed to warn Supernova fest organisers: Reports

7 Home-Made Drinks Which Boost Iron Level

Beetroots are rich in iron and oranges are a good source of vitamin C. A combination of the two helps in boosting iron levels.

Spinach is also known as a good source of iron and pineapple has plenty of vitamin C.

Prune is rich in iron, potassium and vitamin A and is a convenient way to ensure a daily dose of iron.

Pomegranates have iron and dates are a good source of potassium and fibre. This smoothie also has vitamins K and C.

Consuming green juice is a good way to get a number of nutrients, which includes iron. Greens like kale, spinach and collard greens are good sources of iron.

Tomato contains iron and lycopene present in it helps in protecting us from cancer and heart disease.

Pumpkin contains iron and is also a good source of vitamins A, C and E.  

7 Foods To Eat When You Are Suffering From Cold

Chicken Soup is famous for its soothing properties in cold as it hydrates the body and relieves congestion.

Citrus fruits like limes, grapefruits, lemons and oranges are rich in vitamin C which helps in supporting the immune system.

Garlic has compounds which boost the immune system and help in fighting off colds.

Ginger contains anti-inflammatory properties and helps in easing sore throat and nausea.

Honey has a soothing effect on the sore throat and contains antimicrobial properties.

Turmeric is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which help in cold.

The probiotics in the yoghurt boost the immune system and help fight cold.


More than 50 Indian companies which manufacture cough syrups did not pass quality tests, according to a government report. 
 
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) released the report which stated that out of 2,104 test reports, 128 of them which belonged to 54 companies failed to meet the standard quality requirements. The failed test reports comprised 6 per cent of the total test reports. 
 
The test reports are from the laboratory examinations which were conducted across various states after reports emerged that connected the cough syrups – produced domestically in India – to the deaths of 141 children across the world. 
 
According to the media reports, the test report highlighted some specific cases where the samples of cough syrup were found to have substandard quality.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-witnessed-a-climate-disaster-almost-everyday-this-year-cyclone-michaung-is-one-more-to-that-tally-666523">Data lab: India saw at least one major weather event each day in 2023. Cyclone Michaung adds to the tally</a>

For example, 385 samples were analysed by the Food and Drug Laboratory Gujarat, out of which 51&nbsp;belonging to 20 manufacturers did not pass the quality tests. In the same manner, 523 samples were analysed by the Central Drugs Testing Laboratory in Mumbai, out of which 18 samples belonging to 10 firms failed the tests. 
 
Meanwhile, 284 test reports were released by the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory in Chandigarh, out of which 23 samples belonging to 10 firms were discovered to be of substandard quality. 
 
Nearly 502 reports were released by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission in Ghaziabad in which 29 samples from nine companies failed the quality tests.

<h2>WHO raises alarm over Indian cough syrups</h2>

The concerns regarding Indian-manufactured cough syrups were raised after it was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) that nearly 70 children in Gambia lost their lives due to acute kidney injury (AKI), which was linked potentially to cough and cold syrups which were produced by Indian manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Watch:&nbsp;Cyclone Michaung makes landfall in Bapatla, Andha Pradesh along India's Eastern Coast | WION

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyclone-michaung-makes-landfall-in-bapatla-andha-pradesh-along-indias-eastern-coast-wion-666446/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

While responding to the WHO report, the state drug controllers were instructed by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to prioritise the analysis of samples which were received from cough syrup manufacturers for export. 
 
It was also made mandatory for exporters to get their cough syrups tested at government laboratories and receive a certificate of analysis (CoA) before exporting them, starting June 1, by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

(With inputs from agencies)

More than 50 Indian companies which manufacture cough syrups did not pass quality tests, according to a government report. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) released the report which stated that out of 2,104 test reports, 128 of them which belonged to 54 companies failed to meet the standard quality requirements.

More than 50 Indian companies which manufacture cough syrups did not pass quality tests, according to a government report. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) released the report which stated that out of 2,104 test reports, 128 of them which belonged to 54 companies failed to meet the standard quality requirements. The failed test reports comprised 6 per cent of the total test reports. The test reports are from the laboratory examinations which were conducted across various states after reports emerged that connected the cough syrups – produced domestically in India – to the deaths of 141 children across the world. According to the media reports, the test report highlighted some specific cases where the samples of cough syrup were found to have substandard quality. Also read: Data lab: India saw at least one major weather event each day in 2023. Cyclone Michaung adds to the tally For example, 385 samples were analysed by the Food and Drug Laboratory Gujarat, out of which 51 belonging to 20 manufacturers did not pass the quality tests. In the same manner, 523 samples were analysed by the Central Drugs Testing Laboratory in Mumbai, out of which 18 samples belonging to 10 firms failed the tests. Meanwhile, 284 test reports were released by the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory in Chandigarh, out of which 23 samples belonging to 10 firms were discovered to be of substandard quality. Nearly 502 reports were released by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission in Ghaziabad in which 29 samples from nine companies failed the quality tests. WHO raises alarm over Indian cough syrups The concerns regarding Indian-manufactured cough syrups were raised after it was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) that nearly 70 children in Gambia lost their lives due to acute kidney injury (AKI), which was linked potentially to cough and cold syrups which were produced by Indian manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Watch: Cyclone Michaung makes landfall in Bapatla, Andha Pradesh along India's Eastern Coast | WION While responding to the WHO report, the state drug controllers were instructed by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to prioritise the analysis of samples which were received from cough syrup manufacturers for export. It was also made mandatory for exporters to get their cough syrups tested at government laboratories and receive a certificate of analysis (CoA) before exporting them, starting June 1, by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). (With inputs from agencies)

50 Indian cough syrup manufacturers fail to clear quality tests: Report

Billionaire Elon Musk, who has time and again warned about the potential dangers of AI technology and how it threatens humanity, is now seeking to raise a billion dollars for his artificial intelligence startup,&nbsp;xAI, with which he is hoping to compete with Open AI's ChatGPT. 
 
In the US Securities and Exchange Commission's official filing on Tuesday, it was revealed that Musk's company had gathered $134.7 million earlier this year and plans to raise around $1 billion overall. 
 
It added that there was a firm agreement for increasing the full funds required to meet the target, which indicated that Musk may have finalised some major deals, amounting to billions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/go-f-yourself-elon-musks-profanity-laden-answer-to-advertisers-suspending-ads-on-x-watch-664464">'Go f**k yourself': Elon Musk's profanity-laden answer to advertisers suspending ads on X - WATCH</a>

Last month, Musk offered a preview of his company's chatbot called "Grok", which is similar to ChatGPT and which he stated has been trained on the basis of data collected from X, which was bought by Musk a year ago for $44 billion. 
 
The founder of Tesla and one of the most famous wealthy entrepreneurs started xAI in July and engaged researchers from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, the University of Toronto and Tesla. 
 
Musk said that the company was missioned to "understand the true nature of the universe".

<h2>Musk says AI can destroy human colony on Mars</h2>

The rampant steps which are being taken by Musk to grow his AI startup come in the wake of his continuous warning against the dangers of AI. 
 
In a conversation with DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis, Musk had said he was hoping that humans could colonise Mars and avoid the threats posed by Earth. However, he had said that the plan may not work if AI was involved.

Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk hits back at advertisers who left X

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elon-musk-hits-back-at-advertisers-who-left-x-664815/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

At that time, Hassabis had said that AI, if accompanied by humans, could actually result in the destruction of the colony. Later, Musk invested in Hassabis' AI company so that he could learn about the new technology before launching his own start-up. 
 
In recent weeks, the chatbot was asked by a user to roast the billionaire with one word. The user was left amused when Musk was described by the AI bot as “overrated”. 
 
The screenshot of the conversation was shared on X and caught the attention of Musk who replied to the post saying that Grok is "accurate".

(With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire Elon Musk, who has time and again warned about the potential dangers of AI technology and how it threatens humanity, is now seeking to raise a billion dollars for his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, with which he is hoping to compete with Open AI's ChatGPT.

Billionaire Elon Musk, who has time and again warned about the potential dangers of AI technology and how it threatens humanity, is now seeking to raise a billion dollars for his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, with which he is hoping to compete with Open AI's ChatGPT. In the US Securities and Exchange Commission's official filing on Tuesday, it was revealed that Musk's company had gathered $134.7 million earlier this year and plans to raise around $1 billion overall. It added that there was a firm agreement for increasing the full funds required to meet the target, which indicated that Musk may have finalised some major deals, amounting to billions. Also read: 'Go f**k yourself': Elon Musk's profanity-laden answer to advertisers suspending ads on X - WATCH Last month, Musk offered a preview of his company's chatbot called "Grok", which is similar to ChatGPT and which he stated has been trained on the basis of data collected from X, which was bought by Musk a year ago for $44 billion. The founder of Tesla and one of the most famous wealthy entrepreneurs started xAI in July and engaged researchers from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, the University of Toronto and Tesla. Musk said that the company was missioned to "understand the true nature of the universe". Musk says AI can destroy human colony on Mars The rampant steps which are being taken by Musk to grow his AI startup come in the wake of his continuous warning against the dangers of AI. In a conversation with DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis, Musk had said he was hoping that humans could colonise Mars and avoid the threats posed by Earth. However, he had said that the plan may not work if AI was involved. Watch: Elon Musk hits back at advertisers who left X At that time, Hassabis had said that AI, if accompanied by humans, could actually result in the destruction of the colony. Later, Musk invested in Hassabis' AI company so that he could learn about the new technology before launching his own start-up. In recent weeks, the chatbot was asked by a user to roast the billionaire with one word. The user was left amused when Musk was described by the AI bot as “overrated”. The screenshot of the conversation was shared on X and caught the attention of Musk who replied to the post saying that Grok is "accurate". (With inputs from agencies)

Musk, who warned about 'threats' of AI, seeks to raise $1 billion for his chatbot

In an unbelievable moment, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un was seen bursting into tears in front of thousands of “mothers” of the country and begging them to give birth to more babies so that the rapid decline in the birth rate of the country can be stopped. 
 
While delivering the highly choreographed plea to the women who had gathered to attend the National Mothers’ Meeting in Pyongyang on Sunday (Dec 3), the dictator could be seen dabbing his eyes using a handkerchief. 
 
Kim Jong-un, while addressing the women as “Dear Mothers”, said, “Preventing a decline in birth rates and good childcare are all of our housekeeping duties we need to handle while working with mothers.” 
 
He said that his country was being confronted with a host of “social tasks that our mothers should join to tackle.”

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NEW: North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un starts crying as he begs North Koreans to have more babies. 
 
North Korean birth rates are about to skyrocket 📈 
 
The incident happened at the National Mothers Meeting hosted by the dictator who started dabbing his eyes in an effort to get… <a href="https://t.co/F8xg0dZ05J">pic.twitter.com/F8xg0dZ05J</a>
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“These tasks include bringing up their children so that they will steadfastly carry forward our revolution, eliminating the recently-increasing non-socialist practices, promoting family harmony and social unity, establishing a sound way of cultural and moral life, making the communist virtues and traits of helping and leading one another forward prevail over our society, stopping the declining birth rate, and taking good care of children and educating them effectively,” said Kim Jong-un.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-calls-for-military-preparedness-as-us-slaps-fresh-sanctions-664853">Kim Jong Un calls for military preparedness as US slaps fresh sanctions</a>

“These belong to our common family affairs, which we need to deal with by joining hands with our mothers,” he added.

<h2>North Korea's declining birth rate</h2>

As per the estimates of the United Nations Population Fund, North Korea's average fertility rate or the average number of children born stood at 1.8 in 2023, amid an increasing decline in the birth rate during recent decades. 
 
The fertility rate has been comparatively higher in some neighbourhoods of North Korea, compared to other areas which have been facing a similar downward trend.

Watch:&nbsp;North Korea's Kim Jong-un examines spy satellite images of major target regions

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-examines-spy-satellite-images-of-major-target-regions-662729/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The fertility rate also dropped in South Korea to a record low of 0.78 last year, while Japan's figure of fertility rate dwindled to 1.26. 
 
The declining birth rates in South Korea have further led to a shortage of paediatricians, and those present in the city have been organising matchmaking events to boost birth rates. 
 
“Given North Korea lacks resources and technological advancements, it could face difficulties to revive and develop its manufacturing industry if sufficient labour forces are not provided,” said a report prepared by Seoul-based Hyundai Research Institute.

(With inputs from agencies)

In an unbelievable moment, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un was seen bursting into tears in front of thousands of “mothers” of the country and begging them to give birth to more babies so that the rapid decline in the birth rate of the country can be stopped.

In an unbelievable moment, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un was seen bursting into tears in front of thousands of “mothers” of the country and begging them to give birth to more babies so that the rapid decline in the birth rate of the country can be stopped. While delivering the highly choreographed plea to the women who had gathered to attend the National Mothers’ Meeting in Pyongyang on Sunday (Dec 3), the dictator could be seen dabbing his eyes using a handkerchief. Kim Jong-un, while addressing the women as “Dear Mothers”, said, “Preventing a decline in birth rates and good childcare are all of our housekeeping duties we need to handle while working with mothers.” He said that his country was being confronted with a host of “social tasks that our mothers should join to tackle.” NEW: North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un starts crying as he begs North Koreans to have more babies. North Korean birth rates are about to skyrocket 📈 The incident happened at the National Mothers Meeting hosted by the dictator who started dabbing his eyes in an effort to get… pic.twitter.com/F8xg0dZ05J — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 5, 2023 × “These tasks include bringing up their children so that they will steadfastly carry forward our revolution, eliminating the recently-increasing non-socialist practices, promoting family harmony and social unity, establishing a sound way of cultural and moral life, making the communist virtues and traits of helping and leading one another forward prevail over our society, stopping the declining birth rate, and taking good care of children and educating them effectively,” said Kim Jong-un. Also read: Kim Jong Un calls for military preparedness as US slaps fresh sanctions “These belong to our common family affairs, which we need to deal with by joining hands with our mothers,” he added. North Korea's declining birth rate As per the estimates of the United Nations Population Fund, North Korea's average fertility rate or the average number of children born stood at 1.8 in 2023, amid an increasing decline in the birth rate during recent decades. The fertility rate has been comparatively higher in some neighbourhoods of North Korea, compared to other areas which have been facing a similar downward trend. Watch: North Korea's Kim Jong-un examines spy satellite images of major target regions The fertility rate also dropped in South Korea to a record low of 0.78 last year, while Japan's figure of fertility rate dwindled to 1.26. The declining birth rates in South Korea have further led to a shortage of paediatricians, and those present in the city have been organising matchmaking events to boost birth rates. “Given North Korea lacks resources and technological advancements, it could face difficulties to revive and develop its manufacturing industry if sufficient labour forces are not provided,” said a report prepared by Seoul-based Hyundai Research Institute. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: North Korea's Kim Jong-un's teary-eyed appeal to arrest declining birth rate

In what appears to be a new challenge for astronomers, a gigantic dark hole has been created on the surface of the sun and is releasing powerful streams of fast radiation, also called solar wind, right towards the Earth. 
 
The temporary gap's size and orientation, which is wider than 60 Earths, remains unprecedented at the solar cycle's current stage, as per the scientists. 
 
The sun's giant dark patch, which is known as a coronal hole, appeared near the equator of the sun on December 2 and in 24 hours, it reached its maximum width of nearly 497,000 miles (800,000 kilometres), reported Spaceweather.com. Since December 4, the big void in the sun has been pointing directly at Earth. 
 
Initially, it was predicted by the experts that this most recent hole could cause a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm, which can trigger radio blackouts and the world may witness strong auroral displays for the next few days.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/suns-rampant-activity-cycle-likely-to-peak-january-2024-scientists-analysing-its-dangers-say-664781">Sun's rampant activity cycle likely to peak January 2024, scientists analysing its dangers say</a>

The solar wind, however, remained less intense than expected and hence, the resulting storm has only been weak (G1) till now, according to Spaceweather.com. However, there are formation of auroras at high latitudes. 
 
It remains unclear how long will it take for the hole to disappear from the sun, however, as per previous records the coronal holes have remained for more than a single solar rotation (27 days), as per the NOAA. The hole, however, will soon rotate away from Earth.

<h2>Why do coronal holes get created in the sun?</h2>

Coronal holes are created when the magnetic fields holding the sun in a place open up suddenly and cause content present in the upper surface of the sun to stream away in the form of solar wind, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 
 
Coronal holes look like dark patches on the sun because they are less dense and cooler in comparison to the surrounding plasma. This is equivalent to why sunspots appear to be black, however, unlike sunspots, one cannot see coronal holes unless they are viewed in ultraviolet light.

Watch:&nbsp;New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller, says report&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-evidence-suggests-size-of-the-sun-could-be-smaller-says-report-world-news-wion-656872/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to NOOA, the radiation streams which are released from coronal holes are much faster in comparison to the normal solar wind and often lead to disturbances in the magnetic shield of the Earth, called as geomagnetic storms. 
 
The last coronal hole, which was seen in March, had released the most powerful geomagnetic storm to have hit Earth in the last six years.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what appears to be a new challenge for astronomers, a gigantic dark hole has been created on the surface of the sun and is releasing powerful streams of fast radiation, also called solar wind, right towards the Earth.

In what appears to be a new challenge for astronomers, a gigantic dark hole has been created on the surface of the sun and is releasing powerful streams of fast radiation, also called solar wind, right towards the Earth. The temporary gap's size and orientation, which is wider than 60 Earths, remains unprecedented at the solar cycle's current stage, as per the scientists. The sun's giant dark patch, which is known as a coronal hole, appeared near the equator of the sun on December 2 and in 24 hours, it reached its maximum width of nearly 497,000 miles (800,000 kilometres), reported Spaceweather.com. Since December 4, the big void in the sun has been pointing directly at Earth. Initially, it was predicted by the experts that this most recent hole could cause a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm, which can trigger radio blackouts and the world may witness strong auroral displays for the next few days. Also read: Sun's rampant activity cycle likely to peak January 2024, scientists analysing its dangers say The solar wind, however, remained less intense than expected and hence, the resulting storm has only been weak (G1) till now, according to Spaceweather.com. However, there are formation of auroras at high latitudes. It remains unclear how long will it take for the hole to disappear from the sun, however, as per previous records the coronal holes have remained for more than a single solar rotation (27 days), as per the NOAA. The hole, however, will soon rotate away from Earth. Why do coronal holes get created in the sun? Coronal holes are created when the magnetic fields holding the sun in a place open up suddenly and cause content present in the upper surface of the sun to stream away in the form of solar wind, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Coronal holes look like dark patches on the sun because they are less dense and cooler in comparison to the surrounding plasma. This is equivalent to why sunspots appear to be black, however, unlike sunspots, one cannot see coronal holes unless they are viewed in ultraviolet light. Watch: New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller, says report According to NOOA, the radiation streams which are released from coronal holes are much faster in comparison to the normal solar wind and often lead to disturbances in the magnetic shield of the Earth, called as geomagnetic storms. The last coronal hole, which was seen in March, had released the most powerful geomagnetic storm to have hit Earth in the last six years. (With inputs from agencies)

Monstrous dark hole in Sun releasing superfast solar wind towards Earth. Scientists warn...

Scientists have time and again emphasised how the sun will become boiling hot in around a billion years and all the oceans present on Earth will be dried and eventually, the existence of life will come to an end. 
 
Till now, scientists have believed that the fate of life on Earth has been more or less definitive. However, a new theory has emerged which suggests that a rogue star passing close to the planet may be able to save Earth. 
 
As per a new study carried out by scientists from the University of Bordeaux, France, and the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, the passing star can turn out to be an unlikely saviour. 
 
More than 12,000 simulations were run by the researchers to understand what can happen if a star passes within 100 astronomical units (about 9.3 billion miles) from Earth.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-will-collide-with-moon-this-is-what-a-rogue-star-can-do-to-our-solar-system-664214">A rogue star can send Earth smashing into Moon, wiping out all life, study finds</a>

After creating the simulations, the scientists observed that the solar system is remarkably stable. In around 92 per cent of cases, it was observed that the solar system would remain almost intact even if a star passed by the solar system. 
 
"I thought more would happen," said Sean Raymond, who is a study author from the University of Bordeaux in France, while speaking to New Scientist. "It's really not that easy to mess with planets' orbits – a star has to get really into another star's business to mess with its planets,” he added.

<h2>A slim chance to save Earth</h2>

In a blog post, Raymond said, “Still, there's a chance the passing star could pull our planet out of harm's way – albeit a slim one. In 0.28 per cent of the simulations, the star pulled the Earth out of its orbit and into a more temperate region.” 
 
In a few simulations, Earth remained inside the solar system, however, the planet was pulled to a region beyond Pluto which is about 10 per cent cooler compared to our current orbit. 
 
In other simulations, the planet was pushed into interstellar space and it got placed in the Oort cloud which is around 2 billion light years away, or became a free-floating planet in space. 
 
In the blog post, Raymon said, “As bizarre as it might seem, this may not be the worst-case scenario. It is much harder to un-roast a fried planet than to heat up a frozen world.”

Watch:&nbsp;European Space Agency released first images taken by Euclid's telescope

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-space-agency-released-first-images-taken-by-euclids-telescope-656604/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"If they possess modestly thick hydrogen atmospheres, free-floating planets can trap enough heat to maintain liquid water on the surface," he added. 
 
There is just a one per cent chance of a star flying by our solar system in the next billion years, and as per the simulations, a 1 in 350 chance of Earth getting kicked into a habitable orbit. 
 
"So taken together, that's a 1 in 35,000 chance that the long-term prospects for life on Earth will be rescued by a passing star," added Raymond. 
 
"That's about the same odds as randomly pulling the ace of spades from two separate decks of cards while also rolling a combined 10 with two dice. Not the best odds," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have time and again emphasised how the sun will become boiling hot in around a billion years and all the oceans present on Earth will be dried and eventually, the existence of life will come to an end.

Scientists have time and again emphasised how the sun will become boiling hot in around a billion years and all the oceans present on Earth will be dried and eventually, the existence of life will come to an end. Till now, scientists have believed that the fate of life on Earth has been more or less definitive. However, a new theory has emerged which suggests that a rogue star passing close to the planet may be able to save Earth. As per a new study carried out by scientists from the University of Bordeaux, France, and the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, the passing star can turn out to be an unlikely saviour. More than 12,000 simulations were run by the researchers to understand what can happen if a star passes within 100 astronomical units (about 9.3 billion miles) from Earth. Also read: A rogue star can send Earth smashing into Moon, wiping out all life, study finds After creating the simulations, the scientists observed that the solar system is remarkably stable. In around 92 per cent of cases, it was observed that the solar system would remain almost intact even if a star passed by the solar system. "I thought more would happen," said Sean Raymond, who is a study author from the University of Bordeaux in France, while speaking to New Scientist. "It's really not that easy to mess with planets' orbits – a star has to get really into another star's business to mess with its planets,” he added. A slim chance to save Earth In a blog post, Raymond said, “Still, there's a chance the passing star could pull our planet out of harm's way – albeit a slim one. In 0.28 per cent of the simulations, the star pulled the Earth out of its orbit and into a more temperate region.” In a few simulations, Earth remained inside the solar system, however, the planet was pulled to a region beyond Pluto which is about 10 per cent cooler compared to our current orbit. In other simulations, the planet was pushed into interstellar space and it got placed in the Oort cloud which is around 2 billion light years away, or became a free-floating planet in space. In the blog post, Raymon said, “As bizarre as it might seem, this may not be the worst-case scenario. It is much harder to un-roast a fried planet than to heat up a frozen world.” Watch: European Space Agency released first images taken by Euclid's telescope "If they possess modestly thick hydrogen atmospheres, free-floating planets can trap enough heat to maintain liquid water on the surface," he added. There is just a one per cent chance of a star flying by our solar system in the next billion years, and as per the simulations, a 1 in 350 chance of Earth getting kicked into a habitable orbit. "So taken together, that's a 1 in 35,000 chance that the long-term prospects for life on Earth will be rescued by a passing star," added Raymond. "That's about the same odds as randomly pulling the ace of spades from two separate decks of cards while also rolling a combined 10 with two dice. Not the best odds," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Can a rogue star save Earth from its destined extinction? Scientists say...

According to researchers, more than 90 per cent of women who have been trying to conceive a baby have marginal or low levels of vitamins which are important for a healthy pregnancy and the problem is worsening with the growing popularity of vegetarian diets. 
 
The tests were carried out on more than 1,700 women in Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom who have been planning to conceive. In these tests, it was found that most of them were lacking nutrients which are found in abundance in dairy and meat products and are important for healthy development of foetus. 
 
“We were surprised at how common low or marginal status was for these micronutrients,” said Prof Keith Godfrey, who is the lead author of the study at the University of Southampton and an epidemiologist.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/children-develop-behavioural-issues-if-mothers-experience-high-stress-during-pregnancy-study-660254">Children develop behavioural issues if mothers experience high stress during pregnancy: Study</a>

“For the individual, the simple answer is that unless you’re following a really high-quality diet, you may need to consider taking a supplement,” he added, as reported by The Guardian.

<h2>Are supplements, and probiotics good options to increase the level of nutrients?</h2>

The women, who were between the age group of 18 to 38, were included in the Nipper study – which is an international trial that has been exploring whether combinations of nutrients as well as probiotics taken before and during pregnancy help in improving the health of the babies and their mothers. 
 
The blood levels of vital nutrients were measured by the doctors after the women were recruited and they were randomly assigned to either a standard vitamin supplement for pregnant women which contains folic acid, beta-carotene, iron, calcium and iodine, and an enhanced version which contained additional riboflavin, vitamins B6, B12 and D, probiotics, zinc and myo-inositol, which is a form of sugar.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: New study suggest advises mothers to talk to their baby bumps

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-new-study-suggest-advises-mothers-to-talk-to-their-baby-bumps-662094/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to a report in Plos Medicine, before conceiving, marginal or low levels of folate, riboflavin, vitamin B12 or vitamin D were found in nine out of 10 women and many suffered from vitamin B6 deficiency in late pregnancy. 
 
The supplements were found to improve vitamin levels in women, although not always to sufficient levels. “More work needs to be done to identify the ideal quantities, but certainly the amounts we gave, which you can purchase over the counter at the chemist, were sufficient to substantially reduce the prevalence of deficiency,” said Godfrey.

(With inputs from agencies)

According to researchers, more than 90 per cent of women who have been trying to conceive a baby have marginal or low levels of vitamins which are important for a healthy pregnancy and the problem is worsening with the growing popularity of vegetarian diets.

According to researchers, more than 90 per cent of women who have been trying to conceive a baby have marginal or low levels of vitamins which are important for a healthy pregnancy and the problem is worsening with the growing popularity of vegetarian diets. The tests were carried out on more than 1,700 women in Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom who have been planning to conceive. In these tests, it was found that most of them were lacking nutrients which are found in abundance in dairy and meat products and are important for healthy development of foetus. “We were surprised at how common low or marginal status was for these micronutrients,” said Prof Keith Godfrey, who is the lead author of the study at the University of Southampton and an epidemiologist. Also read: Children develop behavioural issues if mothers experience high stress during pregnancy: Study “For the individual, the simple answer is that unless you’re following a really high-quality diet, you may need to consider taking a supplement,” he added, as reported by The Guardian. Are supplements, and probiotics good options to increase the level of nutrients? The women, who were between the age group of 18 to 38, were included in the Nipper study – which is an international trial that has been exploring whether combinations of nutrients as well as probiotics taken before and during pregnancy help in improving the health of the babies and their mothers. The blood levels of vital nutrients were measured by the doctors after the women were recruited and they were randomly assigned to either a standard vitamin supplement for pregnant women which contains folic acid, beta-carotene, iron, calcium and iodine, and an enhanced version which contained additional riboflavin, vitamins B6, B12 and D, probiotics, zinc and myo-inositol, which is a form of sugar. Watch: Gravitas: New study suggest advises mothers to talk to their baby bumps According to a report in Plos Medicine, before conceiving, marginal or low levels of folate, riboflavin, vitamin B12 or vitamin D were found in nine out of 10 women and many suffered from vitamin B6 deficiency in late pregnancy. The supplements were found to improve vitamin levels in women, although not always to sufficient levels. “More work needs to be done to identify the ideal quantities, but certainly the amounts we gave, which you can purchase over the counter at the chemist, were sufficient to substantially reduce the prevalence of deficiency,” said Godfrey. (With inputs from agencies)

Vegan diet behind troubled pregnancy? Here's what researchers think

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