Kate Middleton, Prince William celebrate King Charles' 78th birthday with a special social media post

Macron’s awkward embrace with Iceland PM Kristrún Frostadóttir goes viral – What happened?

‘I hope you die…’: Jensen Huang told Indian-origin Nvidia VP in an outburst during meeting

US flight chaos: Transport chief warns 'some delays, cancellations' to continue as thousands stranded after flight disruption

Why is the United States trying to control China's access to advanced AI chips?

Mumbai: 20-year-old arrested for allegedly surveying 26/11 target Chabad House, probe points to overseas links

IND vs NZ: New Zealand tour ends in disappointment as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli fall cheaply in 5th ODI

Iran plotting to target Trump? Report claims Mossad shared intel with CIA

US-Iran war | Iran: Targeted US early-warning radar in Bahrain

Why are liquid-cooled GPUs becoming important for modern AI data centres?

ASEAN Summit 2026: PM Modi to Grace 3-Day ASEAN-India & East Asia Summit in Manila

Shape-shifting UFO sighting in Oregon leaves mother-daughter sick: 'Fell like a dead bird'

‘Outstanding day for Indian cricket’: PM Modi congratulates U19 team on Asia Cup win

'Currently has no role...': Megaspeed breaks silence on former boss Alice Huang and Nvidia CEO's affair

Who owns Jalsa, and who is Ramola Bachchan? Sister-in-law of Amitabh Bachchan questioning the 1993 gift deed

'Democracy was destroyed in 2014': Rahul Gandhi questions legitimacy of elections at Bharat Summit in Hyderabad

Why do AI GPUs consume so much electricity?

Netanyahu warns against Eisenkot's minority government plans

'I don’t negotiate with terrorists'- US school district faces lawsuit over teacher's remark to student

Indian ambassador to ASEAN Srinivas Gotru backs freedom of navigation in South China Sea, opposes isolating Myanmar

IndiGo flight makes emergency landing in Pune after mid-air scare – What happened?

AUS vs ENG: Perth hero Mahli Beardman rested for 2nd ODI; Nathan Ellis ruled out of T20I series

How is China trying to build its own Nvidia to challenge the US chip industry?

Blasts, sirens rock Bahrain as Iran claims drone attack on US military base

Oak Ridge Boys' Richard Sterban dies at 83 after battle with cancer, tributes pour in

Jensen Huang seen with wife Lori in Paris in photos shared by daughter Madison

'No civic sense': Viral video shows family bursting crackers inside highway tunnel, sparks outrage | Watch

Why do Nvidia and Apple depend so heavily on Taiwan?

Paris protests | Interior Ministry: 106,000 take part in protests, 121 arrested

WATCH | SpaceX catches Starship spacecraft midair for first time after 22-hour orbital flight

Meta fined €805 million in Italy over alleged access to users’ phone galleries

Israel elections: Netanyahu urges Eisenkot to join unity government, says only a coalition can eliminate Iran threat 'once and for all'

'It exploded in his mouth': Man dies after friend gives him bomb disguised as rasgulla on Diwali in Madhya Pradesh's Dindori

'He promised me a green card': Lebanese woman accuses Texas ICE officer of sexually assaulting her in detention

Aaryavir Sehwag chants ‘Sita Ram’ to stay calm during India-Pakistan U19 Asia Cup final | WATCH

Israel-Gaza war: Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital kills 6, wounds 20

First game after Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement ends in Portugal's 4-1 loss to Denmark

Indian student sentenced to 30 years in UK for online grooming of over 70 children

Harry Potter: HBO series unveils new Hogwarts scene, Dumbledore's conversation with McGonagall grabs attention

Clean energy is being touted as the next best thing to reverse climate change. Solar power is one of the main sources of energy production today, and governments worldwide are working to expand it. However, even this source comes at an environmental cost. Solar panels require large plots of land, almost what agricultural land would also need - which is flat, gets enough sunlight and is close to infrastructure. This has created a tussle between the two, creating a paradox of sorts where one is being sacrificed for the other. If solar panels are given preference, we risk giving up food security and hitting rural economies. If the right land is not given to solar energy, then a major source of renewable energy fails to work.&nbsp;A solution to this problem has now emerged in the form of agrivoltaics - dual-use solar or agrisolar. In this system, solar panels and agriculture form a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial for both of them. The highlights are the four-legged creatures that graze underneath the elevated solar panels. The humble sheep is the star of the show that makes agrivoltaics work as they nibble on the grass below.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-environment-day-data-centres-are-coming-to-india-but-at-what-cost-1780567891256">World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres?</a><h2>Solar panels and weed</h2> Solar farms suffer from a major logistical headache - weeds. If they grow too high, they cast shadows on the panels, which can drastically reduce electrical output. Removing extra grass and vegetation from the ground below is crucial to ensuring that the solar panels work to their full potential. Companies have the option to use traditional lawnmowers and heavy machinery to remove the weeds. However, that will kick up rocks, which can damage the multi-million-dollar glass arrays. Using chemical weedkillers creates another problem, as they can contaminate the local water table.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-could-chug-water-enough-to-sustain-all-8-1-billion-people-on-earth-for-over-a-year-un-report-warns-1780583211386">World Environment Day: AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns</a>&nbsp;So solar power companies are partnering with shepherds. Yes, their sheep are the solution to their problem. They can be small, which means they can easily walk through the vegetation and standard racking systems. They are not afraid of the high-voltage infrastructure above them. The sheep eat the grass and weeds and keep them at the optimal length, avoiding adverse effects on the panels. It is a win-win situation for the shepherds who can have their sheep fill their tummies while earning passive income.&nbsp;The dual-use solar also has a third beneficiary - crop cultivation. Global heatwaves can become a bane for agriculture. Agricultural scientists say that crops need sunlight, but too much of it can harm them. Partial shade is actually the need of the hour, which these solar panels provide. They cut off excess heat and help plants survive in the age of global warming. Regional trials have shown that plants like tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, and berries don’t just survive under solar arrays, but actually produce higher&nbsp;yields than those grown in direct sunlight.&nbsp;<h2>Benefits of agrivoltaics</h2> Water conservation The solar panels offer physical shade to the ground below, reducing soil water evaporation by up to 30-40 per cent. This can drastically cut down irrigation needs in drought-prone regions.Increased Solar Efficiency Solar panels need sunlight to work, but they can get damaged if they get too hot. Plans have moisture naturally, which can cool down the panels, boosting electricity generation.Crop protection Vegetation is also at risk of damage from extreme rain, frost, hail, and other weather events. With solar panels above them offering protection, this threat is drastically reduced. &nbsp;

World Environment Day: Solar panels are affected by vegetation and weeds growing underneath, affecting efficiency when covered by them. A unique solution is offered in the form of sheep. The animals can keep the grass short, and in turn, the shepherds make money by offering their livestock.

Clean energy is being touted as the next best thing to reverse climate change. Solar power is one of the main sources of energy production today, and governments worldwide are working to expand it. However, even this source comes at an environmental cost. Solar panels require large plots of land, almost what agricultural land would also need - which is flat, gets enough sunlight and is close to infrastructure. This has created a tussle between the two, creating a paradox of sorts where one is being sacrificed for the other. If solar panels are given preference, we risk giving up food security and hitting rural economies. If the right land is not given to solar energy, then a major source of renewable energy fails to work. A solution to this problem has now emerged in the form of agrivoltaics - dual-use solar or agrisolar. In this system, solar panels and agriculture form a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial for both of them. The highlights are the four-legged creatures that graze underneath the elevated solar panels. The humble sheep is the star of the show that makes agrivoltaics work as they nibble on the grass below. Also Read: World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres? Solar panels and weed Solar farms suffer from a major logistical headache - weeds. If they grow too high, they cast shadows on the panels, which can drastically reduce electrical output. Removing extra grass and vegetation from the ground below is crucial to ensuring that the solar panels work to their full potential. Companies have the option to use traditional lawnmowers and heavy machinery to remove the weeds. However, that will kick up rocks, which can damage the multi-million-dollar glass arrays. Using chemical weedkillers creates another problem, as they can contaminate the local water table. Also Read: World Environment Day: AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns So solar power companies are partnering with shepherds. Yes, their sheep are the solution to their problem. They can be small, which means they can easily walk through the vegetation and standard racking systems. They are not afraid of the high-voltage infrastructure above them. The sheep eat the grass and weeds and keep them at the optimal length, avoiding adverse effects on the panels. It is a win-win situation for the shepherds who can have their sheep fill their tummies while earning passive income. The dual-use solar also has a third beneficiary - crop cultivation. Global heatwaves can become a bane for agriculture. Agricultural scientists say that crops need sunlight, but too much of it can harm them. Partial shade is actually the need of the hour, which these solar panels provide. They cut off excess heat and help plants survive in the age of global warming. Regional trials have shown that plants like tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, and berries don’t just survive under solar arrays, but actually produce higher yields than those grown in direct sunlight. Benefits of agrivoltaics Water conservation The solar panels offer physical shade to the ground below, reducing soil water evaporation by up to 30-40 per cent. This can drastically cut down irrigation needs in drought-prone regions. Increased Solar Efficiency Solar panels need sunlight to work, but they can get damaged if they get too hot. Plans have moisture naturally, which can cool down the panels, boosting electricity generation. Crop protection Vegetation is also at risk of damage from extreme rain, frost, hail, and other weather events. With solar panels above them offering protection, this threat is drastically reduced.

World Environment Day: Solar panels are affected by vegetation and weeds growing underneath, affecting efficiency when covered by them. A unique solution is offered in the form of sheep. The animals can keep the grass short, and in turn, the shepherds make money by offering their livestock.

World Environment Day: Sheep are 'making hay while the sun shines', fixing a major solar panel problem

On the occasion of World Environment Day, there is no topic more important that AI that we need to talk about this year. Humans want to save Earth from climate change and global warming. Yet, we are pushing AI like there is no tomorrow. Data centres are at the centre of a major battle across the world because of the carbon emissions and the amount of water they use. A new study has also found that AI could consume nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity by 2030, and use as much water as can quench the thirst of every human on Earth for more than a year and a half. The carbon emissions will be equivalent to what the United Kingdom emitted in 2025. The electronic waste will be similar to throwing 250 Eiffel Towers annually.&nbsp;&nbsp;Water is becoming a problem as complaints about dirty and muddy water in homes near data centres have soared. Data centres have large fans and chillers that work constantly to keep the systems cool, and in the process use tonnes of fresh water. Data Centres are now coming to India, a country with the highest population in the world, where most of them are struggling to gain access to basic needs like water.&nbsp;Is the environmental impact of AI data centres being ignored in favour of advancing technology? Can humans afford to push a product that could make resources scarce for them as it grows? Here is how AI data centres are impacting the environment.<h2>Energy strain of data centres</h2> Data suggests that data centres globally consume 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. This makes them the world's 11th largest electricity consumer, using more power than the entire nation of Saudi Arabia. The emissions based on this number are 208 million tons of CO2, almost the same as the annual emissions of Argentina. However, with more of them planned, the situation is expected to get worse. By 2030, their power consumption is projected to nearly double to 945 TWh, nearly 3% to 4% of all global electricity.&nbsp;Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, says, "Data centres place tremendous pressure on energy grids through continuous high-power consumption, intense carbon emissions where electricity is sourced from fossil fuel generators, consume vast quantities of freshwater for cooling, and generate significant electronic waste due to rapid hardware obsolescence."&nbsp;To meet energy demands, tech companies have started building their own on-site fossil fuel plants. For example, xAI’s "Colossus" data center in Memphis installed over 30 natural gas turbines for daily use. This has caused a sudden surge in air pollution, leading to scrutiny and lawsuits.<h2> AI data centres and the water footprint</h2> This is one of the biggest problems posed by data centres. They require massive amounts of physical water to prevent processors from melting. Asking an LLM 30 to 50 questions leads to half a litre of fresh water vanishing. By 2030, AI's water footprint could reach the same as that of the annual domestic water needs of 1.3 billion people. The amount of water they use has triggered widespread protests. An average data centre can consume up to 5 million gallons of water a day. In the US, these data centres have largely been built in areas where water is already scarce, such as Arizona, Texas, and the Colorado River Basin.&nbsp;<h2>Data centres and the water crisis in India</h2> In India, a data centre project is being planned in the Tarluvada village in Visakhapatnam district, a water-stressed region. "The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the data centres that support it demands careful scrutiny, particularly in a country like India, where water scarcity is already a growing crisis," Jabir Karat, Founder &amp; CEO of Green Worms Waste Management Pvt. Ltd, told WION.&nbsp;"The gap between water demand and supply continues to widen, while groundwater levels in many regions are declining at an alarming rate due to overextraction. Several cities have come close to experiencing a “Day Zero” scenario, and at least one has already faced severe water shortages. In this context, it is essential to evaluate the extent to which India can afford the environmental costs associated with the large-scale expansion of data centre infrastructure," he added.&nbsp;<h2>Reaching equilibrium - Solution to environmental impact of data centres</h2> Experts say stringent environmental compliance and carbon accounting standards are needed to mitigate the situation. "Governments and industry must mandate renewable-energy-powered data centres, adopt advanced liquid and immersion cooling technologies to minimise water consumption, and implement circular-economy practices for recycling and refurbishing electronic components," Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar says.&nbsp;"Responsible development requires that environmental considerations remain central to decision-making. We must ensure that resource conservation and the well-being of future generations are not compromised in the pursuit of technological advancement without appropriate regulations and safeguards," Karat said. &nbsp;

World Environment Day: For decades, humans have been holding meetings and conferences to talk about reducing carbon emissions and reducing global warming. But with AI data centres, it seems we have forgotten that this is the world where we need to live, are practically killing it ourselves.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, there is no topic more important that AI that we need to talk about this year. Humans want to save Earth from climate change and global warming. Yet, we are pushing AI like there is no tomorrow. Data centres are at the centre of a major battle across the world because of the carbon emissions and the amount of water they use. A new study has also found that AI could consume nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity by 2030, and use as much water as can quench the thirst of every human on Earth for more than a year and a half. The carbon emissions will be equivalent to what the United Kingdom emitted in 2025. The electronic waste will be similar to throwing 250 Eiffel Towers annually. Water is becoming a problem as complaints about dirty and muddy water in homes near data centres have soared. Data centres have large fans and chillers that work constantly to keep the systems cool, and in the process use tonnes of fresh water. Data Centres are now coming to India, a country with the highest population in the world, where most of them are struggling to gain access to basic needs like water. Is the environmental impact of AI data centres being ignored in favour of advancing technology? Can humans afford to push a product that could make resources scarce for them as it grows? Here is how AI data centres are impacting the environment. Energy strain of data centres Data suggests that data centres globally consume 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. This makes them the world's 11th largest electricity consumer, using more power than the entire nation of Saudi Arabia. The emissions based on this number are 208 million tons of CO2, almost the same as the annual emissions of Argentina. However, with more of them planned, the situation is expected to get worse. By 2030, their power consumption is projected to nearly double to 945 TWh, nearly 3% to 4% of all global electricity. Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, says, "Data centres place tremendous pressure on energy grids through continuous high-power consumption, intense carbon emissions where electricity is sourced from fossil fuel generators, consume vast quantities of freshwater for cooling, and generate significant electronic waste due to rapid hardware obsolescence." To meet energy demands, tech companies have started building their own on-site fossil fuel plants. For example, xAI’s "Colossus" data center in Memphis installed over 30 natural gas turbines for daily use. This has caused a sudden surge in air pollution, leading to scrutiny and lawsuits. AI data centres and the water footprint This is one of the biggest problems posed by data centres. They require massive amounts of physical water to prevent processors from melting. Asking an LLM 30 to 50 questions leads to half a litre of fresh water vanishing. By 2030, AI's water footprint could reach the same as that of the annual domestic water needs of 1.3 billion people. The amount of water they use has triggered widespread protests. An average data centre can consume up to 5 million gallons of water a day. In the US, these data centres have largely been built in areas where water is already scarce, such as Arizona, Texas, and the Colorado River Basin. Data centres and the water crisis in India In India, a data centre project is being planned in the Tarluvada village in Visakhapatnam district, a water-stressed region. "The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the data centres that support it demands careful scrutiny, particularly in a country like India, where water scarcity is already a growing crisis," Jabir Karat, Founder & CEO of Green Worms Waste Management Pvt. Ltd, told WION. "The gap between water demand and supply continues to widen, while groundwater levels in many regions are declining at an alarming rate due to overextraction. Several cities have come close to experiencing a “Day Zero” scenario, and at least one has already faced severe water shortages. In this context, it is essential to evaluate the extent to which India can afford the environmental costs associated with the large-scale expansion of data centre infrastructure," he added. Reaching equilibrium - Solution to environmental impact of data centres Experts say stringent environmental compliance and carbon accounting standards are needed to mitigate the situation. "Governments and industry must mandate renewable-energy-powered data centres, adopt advanced liquid and immersion cooling technologies to minimise water consumption, and implement circular-economy practices for recycling and refurbishing electronic components," Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar says. "Responsible development requires that environmental considerations remain central to decision-making. We must ensure that resource conservation and the well-being of future generations are not compromised in the pursuit of technological advancement without appropriate regulations and safeguards," Karat said.

World Environment Day: For decades, humans have been holding meetings and conferences to talk about reducing carbon emissions and reducing global warming. But with AI data centres, it seems we have forgotten that this is the world where we need to live, are practically killing it ourselves.

World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres?

Humans seem to have dug their own graves with Artificial Intelligence, as a new study has found that the technology would take a massive toll on the climate in the next few years. According to a new report, by 2030, AI will need nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity to function. The carbon emissions will be the same as that of United Kingdom in 2025, and electronic waste will be equivalent to trashing 250 Eiffel Towers every year. The most stark observation is about water, as the amount it would need will be enough to quench the thirst of every person on Earth for more than a year and a half. That's a pretty grim picture of the future painted by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.&nbsp;Researchers say carbon emissions are only a part of the toll AI takes on the climate, and reducing the harm AI would cause to the environment would depend on several more factors than just that. "Low-carbon is not automatically low-water or low-land,” the report states. Data centres consumed an estimated 448 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, with AI processes accounting for around 20 per cent of it. By 2034, AI-related electricity use could reach 40 per cent, or 374 terawatt-hours.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-environment-day-data-centres-are-coming-to-india-but-at-what-cost-1780567891256">World Environment Day in the age of AI - Have humans given up on saving the climate for data centres?</a><h2>AI used 9.3 trillion litres of water in 2025</h2>These data centres run 24*7 and need massive amounts of water to cool the systems. The data centre totals could double to 945 terawatt-hours, which can power 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa for over five years. The consumption of water, a major problem linked with data centres, will also considerably rise. In 2025, they used an estimated 9.3 trillion litres of water. This water can meet the needs of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for more than a year and a half.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/company-ends-up-spending-rs-4-800-crore-on-claude-ai-in-a-month-because-of-a-tiny-oversight-1780048597729">Company accidentally blows away Rs 4,800 crore on Claude AI in a month because of a tiny oversight</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/need-another-reason-to-hate-ai-chatgpt-does-not-think-older-adults-fit-new-job-roles-1780407645776">Need another reason to hate AI? ChatGPT thinks older adults can't do today's jobs</a><h2>How much electricity ChatGPT uses?</h2>The report further states that the cost of daily use of ChatGPT has exceeded the environmental cost of training. Training a model like ChatGPT-5 requires around 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity, one billion litres of water and a piece of land as large as 215 football fields. However, with an estimated 2.5 billion prompts per day, the consumption has gone way beyond the line. Researchers found that a concise response mode can reduce ChatGPT's output by 30 per cent, saving as much electricity as would be needed by nearly 760,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa in a year. Avoiding the use of words like please or thank you further helps.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/kill-ai-american-actor-ronny-chieng-says-at-harvard-to-roaring-applause-it-will-make-people-dumber-1780319629020">'Kill AI', American comedian Ronny Chieng says at Harvard to roaring applause: ‘It will make people dumber’</a><h2>Switching to green energy creates another problem</h2>However, the biggest problem is with AI-generated videos. The report states that a single high-resolution AI video clip requires more than 415 watt-hours of electricity, way more than what hundreds of AI images would need. The report further found that using renewable energy to power the data centres does not solve the problem. Switching from coal to bioenergy drops carbon emissions by 72 per cent, but increases the water footprint 30-fold and the land footprint 100-fold due to the agriculture required.

World Environment Day: A report by the United Nations has painted a scary picture of the future in the age of Artificial Intelligence. The water it uses can quench the thirst of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year. Electricity, carbon emissions and electronic waste will skyrocket.

Humans seem to have dug their own graves with Artificial Intelligence, as a new study has found that the technology would take a massive toll on the climate in the next few years. According to a new report, by 2030, AI will need nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity to function. The carbon emissions will be the same as that of United Kingdom in 2025, and electronic waste will be equivalent to trashing 250 Eiffel Towers every year. The most stark observation is about water, as the amount it would need will be enough to quench the thirst of every person on Earth for more than a year and a half. That's a pretty grim picture of the future painted by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. Researchers say carbon emissions are only a part of the toll AI takes on the climate, and reducing the harm AI would cause to the environment would depend on several more factors than just that. "Low-carbon is not automatically low-water or low-land,” the report states. Data centres consumed an estimated 448 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, with AI processes accounting for around 20 per cent of it. By 2034, AI-related electricity use could reach 40 per cent, or 374 terawatt-hours. Also Read: World Environment Day in the age of AI - Have humans given up on saving the climate for data centres? AI used 9.3 trillion litres of water in 2025 These data centres run 24*7 and need massive amounts of water to cool the systems. The data centre totals could double to 945 terawatt-hours, which can power 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa for over five years. The consumption of water, a major problem linked with data centres, will also considerably rise. In 2025, they used an estimated 9.3 trillion litres of water. This water can meet the needs of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for more than a year and a half. Also Read: Company accidentally blows away Rs 4,800 crore on Claude AI in a month because of a tiny oversight Also Read: Need another reason to hate AI? ChatGPT thinks older adults can't do today's jobs How much electricity ChatGPT uses? The report further states that the cost of daily use of ChatGPT has exceeded the environmental cost of training. Training a model like ChatGPT-5 requires around 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity, one billion litres of water and a piece of land as large as 215 football fields. However, with an estimated 2.5 billion prompts per day, the consumption has gone way beyond the line. Researchers found that a concise response mode can reduce ChatGPT's output by 30 per cent, saving as much electricity as would be needed by nearly 760,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa in a year. Avoiding the use of words like please or thank you further helps. Also Read: 'Kill AI', American comedian Ronny Chieng says at Harvard to roaring applause: ‘It will make people dumber’ Switching to green energy creates another problem However, the biggest problem is with AI-generated videos. The report states that a single high-resolution AI video clip requires more than 415 watt-hours of electricity, way more than what hundreds of AI images would need. The report further found that using renewable energy to power the data centres does not solve the problem. Switching from coal to bioenergy drops carbon emissions by 72 per cent, but increases the water footprint 30-fold and the land footprint 100-fold due to the agriculture required.

World Environment Day: A report by the United Nations has painted a scary picture of the future in the age of Artificial Intelligence. The water it uses can quench the thirst of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year. Electricity, carbon emissions and electronic waste will skyrocket.

World Environment Day: AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns

As China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft closes in on asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, scientists are increasingly divided over a question that could reshape understanding of near-Earth objects: is the asteroid a fragment blasted from the Moon, or did it originate in the main asteroid belt? The answer may come sooner than expected. Tianwen-2, launched in 2025, is scheduled to rendezvous with Kamoʻoalewa in 2026 and return samples to Earth, offering researchers their first direct opportunity to examine the object's composition. The mission is widely seen as the most important test yet of competing theories surrounding one of the Solar System's most unusual asteroids.&nbsp;Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth. Measuring roughly 40 to 100 metres across, it completes a rotation every 28 minutes and follows a path remarkably similar to Earth's, making it one of the planet's most stable known co-orbitals.&nbsp;ALSO READ: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/single-exit-sealed-windows-illegal-expansion-inside-the-chain-of-failures-behind-delhi-s-malviya-nagar-fire-that-killed-21-1780476775102">'Single exit, sealed windows, illegal expansion': Inside the chain of failures behind Delhi's Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21</a><h2>Spectral clues point to an asteroid origin</h2>According to Phys.org, the lunar-origin theory was largely based on the asteroid's unusually red spectrum, which resembles heavily weathered lunar soil. But a team led by planetary scientist Yang Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found evidence that challenges that interpretation. Researchers reanalysed the asteroid's reflected light and identified a spectral feature more commonly associated with LL chondrites, a class of stony meteorites, than with lunar material.&nbsp;To test their hypothesis, the team ground an LL chondrite meteorite into powder and subjected it to laser pulses designed to mimic millions of years of space weathering caused by micrometeoroid impacts and solar wind. The altered material gradually developed a colour remarkably similar to that observed on Kamoʻoalewa. The findings suggest that asteroid surfaces can become as red as lunar soil after prolonged exposure to the space environment, weakening a key argument for a lunar origin.&nbsp;ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-eyes-largest-ever-drone-order-2-billion-military-purchase-to-boost-domestic-industry-industry-body-says-1780490500139">India eyes largest-ever drone order! $2 billion military purchase to boost domestic industry</a><h2>Tianwen-2 may finally settle the debate</h2>The researchers also searched asteroid catalogues and identified several silicate-rich asteroids with similarly red spectral signatures, indicating that Kamoʻoalewa may not be unique. Using orbital simulations, the team proposed that the asteroid may have originated from the Flora asteroid family before evolving into its current orbit. They suggested it could possess a surface composition similar to asteroid Itokawa, which was sampled by Japan's Hayabusa mission in 2010.&nbsp;However, the scientists stopped short of ruling out a lunar origin entirely. In the study, they wrote that while they support the view that Kamoʻoalewa's surface is dominated by highly space-weathered LL chondrite material, they "do not completely close the door of lunar composition". That uncertainty is precisely why Tianwen-2 is attracting global attention. By returning samples directly from Kamoʻoalewa, the mission could finally determine whether the asteroid is a long-lost piece of the Moon or an unusually weathered visitor from the asteroid belt.

Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth. 

As China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft closes in on asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, scientists are increasingly divided over a question that could reshape understanding of near-Earth objects: is the asteroid a fragment blasted from the Moon, or did it originate in the main asteroid belt? The answer may come sooner than expected. Tianwen-2, launched in 2025, is scheduled to rendezvous with Kamoʻoalewa in 2026 and return samples to Earth, offering researchers their first direct opportunity to examine the object's composition. The mission is widely seen as the most important test yet of competing theories surrounding one of the Solar System's most unusual asteroids. Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth. Measuring roughly 40 to 100 metres across, it completes a rotation every 28 minutes and follows a path remarkably similar to Earth's, making it one of the planet's most stable known co-orbitals. ALSO READ: 'Single exit, sealed windows, illegal expansion': Inside the chain of failures behind Delhi's Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21 Spectral clues point to an asteroid origin According to Phys.org, the lunar-origin theory was largely based on the asteroid's unusually red spectrum, which resembles heavily weathered lunar soil. But a team led by planetary scientist Yang Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found evidence that challenges that interpretation. Researchers reanalysed the asteroid's reflected light and identified a spectral feature more commonly associated with LL chondrites, a class of stony meteorites, than with lunar material. To test their hypothesis, the team ground an LL chondrite meteorite into powder and subjected it to laser pulses designed to mimic millions of years of space weathering caused by micrometeoroid impacts and solar wind. The altered material gradually developed a colour remarkably similar to that observed on Kamoʻoalewa. The findings suggest that asteroid surfaces can become as red as lunar soil after prolonged exposure to the space environment, weakening a key argument for a lunar origin. ALSO READ: India eyes largest-ever drone order! $2 billion military purchase to boost domestic industry Tianwen-2 may finally settle the debate The researchers also searched asteroid catalogues and identified several silicate-rich asteroids with similarly red spectral signatures, indicating that Kamoʻoalewa may not be unique. Using orbital simulations, the team proposed that the asteroid may have originated from the Flora asteroid family before evolving into its current orbit. They suggested it could possess a surface composition similar to asteroid Itokawa, which was sampled by Japan's Hayabusa mission in 2010. However, the scientists stopped short of ruling out a lunar origin entirely. In the study, they wrote that while they support the view that Kamoʻoalewa's surface is dominated by highly space-weathered LL chondrite material, they "do not completely close the door of lunar composition". That uncertainty is precisely why Tianwen-2 is attracting global attention. By returning samples directly from Kamoʻoalewa, the mission could finally determine whether the asteroid is a long-lost piece of the Moon or an unusually weathered visitor from the asteroid belt.

Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth.&nbsp;

A moon fragment or something else? Tianwen-2 is closing in on Kamoʻoalewa, but its true origins remain uncertain

Seneca Lake in New York has been a source of rumours and nightmares for over three centuries because of the eerie sounds emanating from it. People as far as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and even Florida have heard them. People have reported hearing loud booms similar to cannon shots coming from deep inside this water body. Scientists have come up with several theories to explain these strange sounds, as have the common people. They were named “Seneca guns” or “Seneca drums" after the local Seneca Tribe, which believed that it was the shouts of an angry Manitou, the Great Spirit. European settlers heard them too and thought that it was the noise of the ghosts of Seneca warriors. Some even believed that an alien spacecraft was making the sounds. Top secret government projects being tested inside the lake were also believed to be one explanation. However, people have been hearing it since 1700, and so a scientific explanation doesn't seem plausible.&nbsp;But scientists have now finally figured out the source of these sounds. In the early 19th century, experts said that the mysterious booms could be explosions of gas trapped in the lakebed. Geologist Herman Fairchild said in 1934 that bubbles of natural gas escaping from a layer of sandstone inside the earth were bursting with a booming sound as it came up. In 1971, geoscientist William F. Ahrnsbrak also said methane was possibly bursting under the lake. Researcher Tim Morin, of SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry) in Syracuse, New York, concurs with what Fairchild said.Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ice-shelf-size-of-indian-capital-city-delhi-will-detach-from-doomsday-glacier-in-2026-1779976277943"> Ice shelf the size of Indian capital city Delhi will detach from 'Doomsday Glacier' in 2026</a> &nbsp;Moring and researchers from Cornell University were studying the lake's shipwrecks when they found 144 huge craters on the bed. Each was nearly 30 feet deep and 400 feet wide. An analysis of the lake water and material collected from deep pockets of sediment finally explained what was causing the creepy sounds. They found traces of methane and other gases, which showed what was actually happening deep inside the lake.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/underwater-volcano-erupting-for-weeks-could-birth-a-new-island-in-the-pacific-1779972961751">Underwater volcano erupting for weeks could birth a new island in the Pacific</a><h2>What is happening Seneca Lake?</h2> The lake was formed from an ancient glacier that melted after the last Ice Age. The team found that pressure builds up under the lakebed for years, and when it is released, bubbles of methane erupt from under it. As this happened, the force not only left behind craters, but also sent a shockwave that travelled several kilometres and sounded like a cannon firing. The lake's design itself was something that amplified the sound - It has about 4.2 trillion gallons of water, 618 feet deep in some places and a lakebed that is 200 feet below sea level.Experts say that the methane released from the lake is not lethal for humans. But the same phenomenon could be going on in many other similar lakes, and some of them could pose a threat.

A lake in New York has been screeching for hundreds of years, leading to speculations ranging from aliens to secret government tests. However, scientists have now uncovered the source of these strange sounds, and they are linked to the pockmarked seabed.

Seneca Lake in New York has been a source of rumours and nightmares for over three centuries because of the eerie sounds emanating from it. People as far as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and even Florida have heard them. People have reported hearing loud booms similar to cannon shots coming from deep inside this water body. Scientists have come up with several theories to explain these strange sounds, as have the common people. They were named “Seneca guns” or “Seneca drums" after the local Seneca Tribe, which believed that it was the shouts of an angry Manitou, the Great Spirit. European settlers heard them too and thought that it was the noise of the ghosts of Seneca warriors. Some even believed that an alien spacecraft was making the sounds. Top secret government projects being tested inside the lake were also believed to be one explanation. However, people have been hearing it since 1700, and so a scientific explanation doesn't seem plausible. But scientists have now finally figured out the source of these sounds. In the early 19th century, experts said that the mysterious booms could be explosions of gas trapped in the lakebed. Geologist Herman Fairchild said in 1934 that bubbles of natural gas escaping from a layer of sandstone inside the earth were bursting with a booming sound as it came up. In 1971, geoscientist William F. Ahrnsbrak also said methane was possibly bursting under the lake. Researcher Tim Morin, of SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry) in Syracuse, New York, concurs with what Fairchild said. Also Read: Ice shelf the size of Indian capital city Delhi will detach from 'Doomsday Glacier' in 2026 Moring and researchers from Cornell University were studying the lake's shipwrecks when they found 144 huge craters on the bed. Each was nearly 30 feet deep and 400 feet wide. An analysis of the lake water and material collected from deep pockets of sediment finally explained what was causing the creepy sounds. They found traces of methane and other gases, which showed what was actually happening deep inside the lake. Also Read: Underwater volcano erupting for weeks could birth a new island in the Pacific What is happening Seneca Lake? The lake was formed from an ancient glacier that melted after the last Ice Age. The team found that pressure builds up under the lakebed for years, and when it is released, bubbles of methane erupt from under it. As this happened, the force not only left behind craters, but also sent a shockwave that travelled several kilometres and sounded like a cannon firing. The lake's design itself was something that amplified the sound - It has about 4.2 trillion gallons of water, 618 feet deep in some places and a lakebed that is 200 feet below sea level. Experts say that the methane released from the lake is not lethal for humans. But the same phenomenon could be going on in many other similar lakes, and some of them could pose a threat.

A lake in New York has been screeching for hundreds of years, leading to speculations ranging from aliens to secret government tests. However, scientists have now uncovered the source of these strange sounds, and they are linked to the pockmarked seabed.

Scientists stumble upon hundreds of craters in New York lake, solving a 'booming' puzzle

Scientists at Mass General Brigham have discovered that the thymus, a small immune system organ which is believed to lose its relevance after childhood, likely plays a significant role in adult health. Two new studies have revealed that adults with healthier thymuses are expected to live longer and are less likely to develop serious diseases. In addition, they also suggested that thymic health might influence how well cancer patients respond to immunotherapy. The findings were published in the issue of "Nature and challenge decades of assumptions about the thymus". The results suggested that the organ remains significant throughout adulthood and could eventually assist in preventing diseases, strategies and decisions of cancer treatment. "The thymus has been overlooked for decades and may be a missing piece in explaining why people age differently, and why cancer treatments fail in some patients," said Hugo Aerts, PhD, corresponding author on the papers and director of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Program at Mass General Brigham. "Our findings suggest thymic health deserves much more attention and may open new avenues for understanding how to protect the immune system as we age."<h3>How thymus function in our body?</h3>The chest-located thymus trains disease-fighting T cells; however, its post-puberty shrinkage leads scientists to assume it plays a minimal role in adult health. Consequently, large population studies historically ignored the organ. While past research linked T cell diversity to ageing and fading immunity, those studies were small and limited to blood samples. Breaking this trend, a new, broader study analysed data from over 25,000 adults in a national lung cancer screening trial, alongside more than 2,500 healthy participants from the long-running Framingham Heart Study to better understand the organ's long-term health impact.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/would-you-eat-it-scientists-baked-bread-using-yeast-found-in-5-300-year-old-mummy-s-gut-1780485472041">Would you eat it? Scientists baked bread using yeast found in 5,300-year-old mummy's gut</a><h3>AI Reveals Links to Longevity and Disease Risk</h3>Using AI, the researchers measured the size, structure, and composition of the thymus to evaluate routine CT scans, creating a "thymic health" score. Researchers have also found that people with healthier thymus glands had markedly better long-term health outcomes. Those with higher thymic health scores were about 50% less likely to die from any cause, 63 per cent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and 36 per cent less likely to develop lung cancer compared with those with poorer thymic health. The associations remained strong even after adjusting for age and other health factors. Scientists believe declining thymic health reduces T-cell diversity, weakening the immune system's ability to fight diseases. Chronic inflammation, smoking, and higher body weight were identified as key factors linked to poorer thymic health. In a separate study, after examining CT scans and clinical outcomes from over 1,200 cancer patients treated with immunotherapy, the team found that patients with healthier thymuses tended to respond better to treatment. They experienced about a 37 per cent lower risk of cancer progression and a 44 per cent lower risk of death, even after adjustment for differences in patients, tumours, and treatment approaches. These findings also underscore a potentially important role, along with previously underrecognised, for the thymus in finding how effectively modern cancer immunotherapies work.<h3>Scientists react to assessing thymic health</h3>Researchers caution that further studies are needed to confirm the findings, and the imaging method used to assess thymic health is not yet suitable for routine clinical use. While lifestyle factors were linked to thymic health, it remains unclear whether changing them can improve thymus function. Ongoing research is also examining whether incidental radiation exposure during lung cancer treatment affects thymic health and patient outcomes. "Improving our understanding and monitoring of thymic health could eventually help physicians better assess disease risk and guide treatment decisions," said Aerts.

Scientists at Mass General Brigham found that the thymus organ significantly impacts adult health. Studies show adults with healthier thymuses live longer, resist diseases better, and respond more effectively to cancer immunotherapy, reversing decades of medical assumptions.

Scientists at Mass General Brigham have discovered that the thymus, a small immune system organ which is believed to lose its relevance after childhood, likely plays a significant role in adult health. Two new studies have revealed that adults with healthier thymuses are expected to live longer and are less likely to develop serious diseases. In addition, they also suggested that thymic health might influence how well cancer patients respond to immunotherapy. The findings were published in the issue of "Nature and challenge decades of assumptions about the thymus". The results suggested that the organ remains significant throughout adulthood and could eventually assist in preventing diseases, strategies and decisions of cancer treatment. "The thymus has been overlooked for decades and may be a missing piece in explaining why people age differently, and why cancer treatments fail in some patients," said Hugo Aerts, PhD, corresponding author on the papers and director of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Program at Mass General Brigham. "Our findings suggest thymic health deserves much more attention and may open new avenues for understanding how to protect the immune system as we age." How thymus function in our body? The chest-located thymus trains disease-fighting T cells; however, its post-puberty shrinkage leads scientists to assume it plays a minimal role in adult health. Consequently, large population studies historically ignored the organ. While past research linked T cell diversity to ageing and fading immunity, those studies were small and limited to blood samples. Breaking this trend, a new, broader study analysed data from over 25,000 adults in a national lung cancer screening trial, alongside more than 2,500 healthy participants from the long-running Framingham Heart Study to better understand the organ's long-term health impact. Also read: Would you eat it? Scientists baked bread using yeast found in 5,300-year-old mummy's gut AI Reveals Links to Longevity and Disease Risk Using AI, the researchers measured the size, structure, and composition of the thymus to evaluate routine CT scans, creating a "thymic health" score. Researchers have also found that people with healthier thymus glands had markedly better long-term health outcomes. Those with higher thymic health scores were about 50% less likely to die from any cause, 63 per cent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and 36 per cent less likely to develop lung cancer compared with those with poorer thymic health. The associations remained strong even after adjusting for age and other health factors. Scientists believe declining thymic health reduces T-cell diversity, weakening the immune system's ability to fight diseases. Chronic inflammation, smoking, and higher body weight were identified as key factors linked to poorer thymic health. In a separate study, after examining CT scans and clinical outcomes from over 1,200 cancer patients treated with immunotherapy, the team found that patients with healthier thymuses tended to respond better to treatment. They experienced about a 37 per cent lower risk of cancer progression and a 44 per cent lower risk of death, even after adjustment for differences in patients, tumours, and treatment approaches. These findings also underscore a potentially important role, along with previously underrecognised, for the thymus in finding how effectively modern cancer immunotherapies work. Scientists react to assessing thymic health Researchers caution that further studies are needed to confirm the findings, and the imaging method used to assess thymic health is not yet suitable for routine clinical use. While lifestyle factors were linked to thymic health, it remains unclear whether changing them can improve thymus function. Ongoing research is also examining whether incidental radiation exposure during lung cancer treatment affects thymic health and patient outcomes. "Improving our understanding and monitoring of thymic health could eventually help physicians better assess disease risk and guide treatment decisions," said Aerts.

Scientists at Mass General Brigham found that the thymus organ significantly impacts adult health. Studies show adults with healthier thymuses live longer, resist diseases better, and respond more effectively to cancer immunotherapy, reversing decades of medical assumptions. &nbsp;

Hidden system, big impact: THIS forgotten organ could predict how long you live, study finds

Scientists have discovered yeast which grown in the guts of a frozen mummy called Oetzi the Iceman for thousands of years. The grown yeast was used by scientists to make a tasty sourdough bread. Oezti died over 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built, when he was moving aimlessly through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy, after he was killed by an arrow in the back. His body remained trapped in ice for thousands of years until two German hikers discovered the naturally mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol. Since its recovery, the mummy has been well-preserved at a constant temperature of minus six degrees Celsius, matching the conditions of its original icy resting place. The exceptional state of preservation has enabled researchers to gain unique insights into prehistoric human life through the study of Oetzi, often referred to as the Iceman. In their latest findings, published on Wednesday in the journal Microbiome, a team of researchers based in Italy reported evidence that both ancient and contemporary microorganisms remain active within the frozen remains. "What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research institute in the Italian city of Bolzano told AFP. The study identified four species of cold-adapted yeasts in samples taken from Ötzi's intestines, skin and the brownish meltwater produced when parts of the mummy were temporarily thawed for examination. Because these yeasts are typically found only in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctica, researchers believe they entered the body after Oetzi's death. Genetic analysis showed levels of DNA degradation similar to those found in the original gut microbes, suggesting the yeasts colonised the remains relatively soon after death, according to the researchers. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," study co-author Frank Maixner said in a statement. Later, the scientists have reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask: Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. So they tried to make a sourdough loaf. "Initially, it didn't work," the microbiologist admitted. After three months of continuous effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough," Sarhan claimed with a laugh. When asked about the scientists' consideration over the use of yeast to brew beer, he responded, "It's on the list."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ancient-humans-had-a-mining-factory-in-the-mountains-7-000-years-ago-for-5-000-years-1780474673699">Ancient humans had a mining factory in the mountains 7,000 years ago, for 5,000 years</a><h3>Yeast breaks down chemicals&nbsp;</h3>The research also highlighted potentially significant practical applications for the yeast. After Oetzi's discovery in 1991, the mummy was initially handled like a conventional human body, and a chemical known as phenol was applied to prevent fungal growth. Researchers found that the cold-adapted yeast was capable of breaking down phenol, raising the possibility that it could one day be used to help clean up environments contaminated by the chemical. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The study concluded that the Iceman should not be viewed as a biologically static "time capsule" but rather as a dynamic ecosystem hosting a variety of microbial life. However, researchers cautioned that it remains unclear whether the newly identified yeast poses any risk to the preservation of the mummy and said further investigation is needed.&nbsp;

Scientists have revived ancient yeast found in the remains of Oetzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Alps, and used it to bake sourdough bread. Researchers say the cold-loving yeast could also help break down pollutants, offering insights into both ancient life.

Scientists have discovered yeast which grown in the guts of a frozen mummy called Oetzi the Iceman for thousands of years. The grown yeast was used by scientists to make a tasty sourdough bread. Oezti died over 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built, when he was moving aimlessly through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy, after he was killed by an arrow in the back. His body remained trapped in ice for thousands of years until two German hikers discovered the naturally mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol. Since its recovery, the mummy has been well-preserved at a constant temperature of minus six degrees Celsius, matching the conditions of its original icy resting place. The exceptional state of preservation has enabled researchers to gain unique insights into prehistoric human life through the study of Oetzi, often referred to as the Iceman. In their latest findings, published on Wednesday in the journal Microbiome, a team of researchers based in Italy reported evidence that both ancient and contemporary microorganisms remain active within the frozen remains. "What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research institute in the Italian city of Bolzano told AFP. The study identified four species of cold-adapted yeasts in samples taken from Ötzi's intestines, skin and the brownish meltwater produced when parts of the mummy were temporarily thawed for examination. Because these yeasts are typically found only in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctica, researchers believe they entered the body after Oetzi's death. Genetic analysis showed levels of DNA degradation similar to those found in the original gut microbes, suggesting the yeasts colonised the remains relatively soon after death, according to the researchers. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," study co-author Frank Maixner said in a statement. Later, the scientists have reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask: Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. So they tried to make a sourdough loaf. "Initially, it didn't work," the microbiologist admitted. After three months of continuous effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough," Sarhan claimed with a laugh. When asked about the scientists' consideration over the use of yeast to brew beer, he responded, "It's on the list." Also read: Ancient humans had a mining factory in the mountains 7,000 years ago, for 5,000 years Yeast breaks down chemicals The research also highlighted potentially significant practical applications for the yeast. After Oetzi's discovery in 1991, the mummy was initially handled like a conventional human body, and a chemical known as phenol was applied to prevent fungal growth. Researchers found that the cold-adapted yeast was capable of breaking down phenol, raising the possibility that it could one day be used to help clean up environments contaminated by the chemical. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The study concluded that the Iceman should not be viewed as a biologically static "time capsule" but rather as a dynamic ecosystem hosting a variety of microbial life. However, researchers cautioned that it remains unclear whether the newly identified yeast poses any risk to the preservation of the mummy and said further investigation is needed.

Scientists have revived ancient yeast found in the remains of Oetzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Alps, and used it to bake sourdough bread. Researchers say the cold-loving yeast could also help break down pollutants, offering insights into both ancient life.

Would you eat it? Scientists baked bread using yeast found in 5,300-year-old mummy's gut

Red dwarf stars are capable of swallowing entire planets, as shown by a new study. Scientists from Keele University and the University of Exeter recently revealed that they spotted signs that at least six such stars ate up nearby planets. Red dwarfs are the most common, smallest, and longest-lived stars in the universe. They published their findings in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, stating that these stars were 50 to 200 million years old and ate Earth-like rocky planets. Even though our Sun has never been a red dwarf and will never be in the future either, it also ate planets when it was still young. Lead author of the study, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, says it is highly likely that our Sun also did this 4.5 billion years ago. "It is possible and even probable, according to some theoretical models, that our own Sun may have engulfed planetary material (or even planets) early in its life," he told WION.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/six-red-dwarf-stars-ate-rocky-worlds-like-earth-the-fingerprints-exposed-them-1780395245368">Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them</a><h2>The chemical “fingerprint” that revealed the cannibal red dwarf stars</h2>The study focussed on a group of sibling stars all born from the same gas cloud. The main element that gave away six of them as "cannibals" was the presence of lithium. During the initial stages of formation, the intense nuclear reactions would instantly kill all the lithium, leaving them devoid of any. When the researchers scanned through the data of thousands of these stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey, they noticed that six of them had high lithium content. This fresh lithium could have only come from another body, hinting that these six red dwarf stars pulled in large amounts of material from 3 to 10 Earth-like planets.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-says-this-dark-comet-could-be-a-human-probe-what-avi-loeb-told-wion-1780306270065">Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us</a>&nbsp;Even though the researchers only found six red dwarf stars that exhibited lithium in their atmosphere, chances are that many more of them could have engulfed planetary material. "Our findings put a lower limit of 2-3% on the frequency of this phenomenon in low-mass red dwarfs. But, it could be higher than this if the engulfed lithium is subsequently destroyed in nuclear fusion reactions," he said.<h2>Why this study matters?</h2>&nbsp;Jeffries says this finding has at least two major implications. First, it can help us understand the formation of our own solar system. "Understanding these early stages of planetary system formation is important in understanding the formation of our own Solar System and whether it is common or unusual," he told WION. Second, it is also vital to know whether munching on planetary material can affect the star itself. “It is important more broadly to understand whether the observed chemical composition of the stars can be affected by planetary engulfment.”<h2>Could this happen to Earth in the future?</h2> The Sun is expected to swallow Earth in approximately 5 billion years. But despite red dwarf stars being most prevalent in the universe, with our own galaxy hosting 75 billion to 160 billion, Earth is never going to fall prey to any of them, says Jeffries.&nbsp;

A recent study has found that red dwarf stars can eat planets. Even though our Sun is not a red dwarf, it also gobbled up several planets during its youth, according to several theories and models. What are the implications of the findings on red dwarfs? 

Red dwarf stars are capable of swallowing entire planets, as shown by a new study. Scientists from Keele University and the University of Exeter recently revealed that they spotted signs that at least six such stars ate up nearby planets. Red dwarfs are the most common, smallest, and longest-lived stars in the universe. They published their findings in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, stating that these stars were 50 to 200 million years old and ate Earth-like rocky planets. Even though our Sun has never been a red dwarf and will never be in the future either, it also ate planets when it was still young. Lead author of the study, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, says it is highly likely that our Sun also did this 4.5 billion years ago. "It is possible and even probable, according to some theoretical models, that our own Sun may have engulfed planetary material (or even planets) early in its life," he told WION. Also Read: Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them The chemical “fingerprint” that revealed the cannibal red dwarf stars The study focussed on a group of sibling stars all born from the same gas cloud. The main element that gave away six of them as "cannibals" was the presence of lithium. During the initial stages of formation, the intense nuclear reactions would instantly kill all the lithium, leaving them devoid of any. When the researchers scanned through the data of thousands of these stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey, they noticed that six of them had high lithium content. This fresh lithium could have only come from another body, hinting that these six red dwarf stars pulled in large amounts of material from 3 to 10 Earth-like planets. Also Read: Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us Even though the researchers only found six red dwarf stars that exhibited lithium in their atmosphere, chances are that many more of them could have engulfed planetary material. "Our findings put a lower limit of 2-3% on the frequency of this phenomenon in low-mass red dwarfs. But, it could be higher than this if the engulfed lithium is subsequently destroyed in nuclear fusion reactions," he said. Why this study matters? Jeffries says this finding has at least two major implications. First, it can help us understand the formation of our own solar system. "Understanding these early stages of planetary system formation is important in understanding the formation of our own Solar System and whether it is common or unusual," he told WION. Second, it is also vital to know whether munching on planetary material can affect the star itself. “It is important more broadly to understand whether the observed chemical composition of the stars can be affected by planetary engulfment.” Could this happen to Earth in the future? The Sun is expected to swallow Earth in approximately 5 billion years. But despite red dwarf stars being most prevalent in the universe, with our own galaxy hosting 75 billion to 160 billion, Earth is never going to fall prey to any of them, says Jeffries.

A recent study has found that red dwarf stars can eat planets. Even though our Sun is not a red dwarf, it also gobbled up several planets during its youth, according to several theories and models. What are the implications of the findings on red dwarfs?&nbsp;

Scientists just discovered cannibal stars. Our Sun also once ate Earth-like planets - WION Special

Blue Origin’s launchpad sustained considerable damage after the New Glenn rocket exploded recently, and NASA chief Jared Isaacman does not think it can be restored until 2028. Talking to CNBC, he said it will “take some serious time”. That is a huge hit to the company's space mission as well as to the American space agency. But the unintended beneficiary of this incident could be SpaceX. NASA needs to send a lander to the moon by the end of this year, which was supposed to piggyback on New Glenn. However, Isaacman has hinted that they might have to go to Falcon 9, SpaceX's rocket, for this mission.<h2>What happened to New Glenn rocket?</h2>&nbsp;The rocket erupted into a fireball during a hot-fire test on Thursday at a Space Force launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, said it was a "very rough day" and promised to rebuild it as soon as possible. NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $188 million contract to help build a Moon Base and ferry two lunar rovers in 2028. Isaacman believes that the latter is still achievable on the current timeline. “A couple of them were rovers that are meant to go to the moon on Blue Origin through their Mark 1, leveraging New Glenn, but that’s a 2028 time frame,” he said.&nbsp;Blue Origin and Isaacman are now working to salvage the company's reputation and what's at stake. Isaacman told the outlet, “We’re all getting organized generally around the idea that we certainly want to see Blue Origin be very successful. &nbsp;Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp also posted on X, saying that they can "fly before the end of this year", informing that the site’s support tower is damaged, but “it can be repaired in place" and doesn't need to be torn down or replaced. Notably, Blue Origin was scheduled to launch an uncrewed Blue Origin cargo lander - Mark 1 - atop New Glenn later this year to deliver scientific cargo to the lunar south pole.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-blue-origin-s-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-launch-pad-during-hotfire-test-what-happened-video-1780021155966">Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad ‘hotfire test’</a>&nbsp;Watch New Glenn exploding into a fireball

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Jeff Bezos&#39; New Glenn rocket exploded in &quot;anomaly&quot; at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. <a href="https://t.co/zQbNZBvLqc">pic.twitter.com/zQbNZBvLqc</a>&mdash; Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) <a href="https://x.com/BowesChay/status/2060264434526822746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>The monopoly in space race</h2> The company is in a pickle if you look at the missions it was supposed to undertake as part of NASA's vision to land humans on the Moon. Besides, this could also hand an edge to SpaceX, whose super heavy-lift rocket Falcon 9 can carry a significant amount of mass. Isaacman said NASA will likely have to go in “Falcon Heavy land" for the lander because of its carrying capabilities. “In terms of heavy lift, you know, real heavy lift, you’ve got SpaceX and Blue Origin, and obviously one of them is down a pad right now,” Isaacman said. NASA deliberately chose Blue Origin to provide a competitive alternative to SpaceX's Starship HLS. However, NASA is racing to beat China in the race to reach the Moon, and so would have to rely on SpaceX if Blue Origin's launchpad is not restored on time.<h2>Deadline for dress rehearsal of lander hit</h2> Blue Origin is also working on a New Glenn launchpad at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, but it is still under development. It was under a strict timeline to launch an uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 cargo lander before the crewed Artemis IV mission in 2028. However, industry experts note that hitting the necessary milestones by 2027 to stay on track for the 2028 landing now seems highly unlikely.

The New Glenn explosion has created a multitude of problems for Blue Origin. Even though the company thinks it can fly by the end of this year, experts believe it will impact major deadlines, especially regarding the Mark 1, which was to deliver cargo to lunar south pole at the end of 2026.

Blue Origin’s launchpad sustained considerable damage after the New Glenn rocket exploded recently, and NASA chief Jared Isaacman does not think it can be restored until 2028. Talking to CNBC, he said it will “take some serious time”. That is a huge hit to the company's space mission as well as to the American space agency. But the unintended beneficiary of this incident could be SpaceX. NASA needs to send a lander to the moon by the end of this year, which was supposed to piggyback on New Glenn. However, Isaacman has hinted that they might have to go to Falcon 9, SpaceX's rocket, for this mission. What happened to New Glenn rocket? The rocket erupted into a fireball during a hot-fire test on Thursday at a Space Force launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, said it was a "very rough day" and promised to rebuild it as soon as possible. NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $188 million contract to help build a Moon Base and ferry two lunar rovers in 2028. Isaacman believes that the latter is still achievable on the current timeline. “A couple of them were rovers that are meant to go to the moon on Blue Origin through their Mark 1, leveraging New Glenn, but that’s a 2028 time frame,” he said. Blue Origin and Isaacman are now working to salvage the company's reputation and what's at stake. Isaacman told the outlet, “We’re all getting organized generally around the idea that we certainly want to see Blue Origin be very successful. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp also posted on X, saying that they can "fly before the end of this year", informing that the site’s support tower is damaged, but “it can be repaired in place" and doesn't need to be torn down or replaced. Notably, Blue Origin was scheduled to launch an uncrewed Blue Origin cargo lander - Mark 1 - atop New Glenn later this year to deliver scientific cargo to the lunar south pole. Also Read: Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad ‘hotfire test’ Watch New Glenn exploding into a fireball

The New Glenn explosion has created a multitude of problems for Blue Origin. Even though the company thinks it can fly by the end of this year, experts believe it will impact major deadlines, especially regarding the Mark 1, which was to deliver cargo to lunar south pole at the end of 2026.

How New Glenn explosion hands Elon Musk's SpaceX an edge, and whitewashes NASA's plans

Yeast has been growing in the guts of Otzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old frozen mummy, scientists have discovered, and they used it to bake a sourdough bread. Otzi was strolling through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy more than 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built. Two German hikers stumbled across his mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol, and his well-preserved body has since been kept at minus six degrees Celsius, the same temperature as his icy tomb.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/2400-old-mummy-taken-out-of-box-and-rescued-from-rains-in-jaipurs-albert-hall-museum-321658/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/2400-old-mummy-taken-out-of-box-and-rescued-from-rains-in-jaipurs-albert-hall-museum-321658/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;For the latest research, published in the Microbiome journal on Wednesday (June 3), an Italy-based team found evidence that both ancient and modern microbial life remain active in the frozen body."What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research Institute in Bolzano told news agency AFP.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/scientists-reveal-what-ancient-mummies-smell-like-1751621606660">Scientists reveal what ancient mummies smell like</a>&nbsp;The scientists discovered four different cold-surviving yeasts in Oetzi's guts, skin and meltwater. Genetic analysis revealed DNA damage levels comparable to the original microbes in his guts, suggesting the yeast entered his body soon after death. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," co-author Frank Maixner said.&nbsp;The scientists then reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask, 'Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. After three months of effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough", he said with a laugh. When asked about brewing beer, he responded: "It's on the list."&nbsp;The study also flagged practical applications. When the mummy was found in 1991, phenol was used to prevent fungal growth, but the yeast was able to consume the chemical, suggesting future use in breaking down phenol in contaminated environments.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/egypt-pyramids-age-origin-construction-study-1769684617337">Egypt's pyramids could be 40,000 years old, controversial study suggests</a>&nbsp;Beyond yeast, analysis of Oetzi's microbiome revealed gut bacteria nearly absent in modern industrialised humans but still found among tribes in Africa and South America and in 3,000-year-old faeces from a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria.&nbsp;The study concluded the Iceman is “not a biologically 'frozen' time-capsule but rather a complex ecosystem.” However, Nikolay Oskolkov of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis cautioned that yeast samples were only taken in 2010 and 2019, providing "very little evidence that the yeasts have been multiplying over millennia," suggesting they were "relatively recent colonists of the mummy's body."&nbsp;

Researchers have extracted thousands-of-years-old yeast from the gut of Otzi the Iceman and used the revived ancient strain to bake a fresh loaf of bread.

Yeast has been growing in the guts of Otzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old frozen mummy, scientists have discovered, and they used it to bake a sourdough bread. Otzi was strolling through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy more than 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built. Two German hikers stumbled across his mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol, and his well-preserved body has since been kept at minus six degrees Celsius, the same temperature as his icy tomb. https://www.wionews.com/videos/2400-old-mummy-taken-out-of-box-and-rescued-from-rains-in-jaipurs-albert-hall-museum-321658/embed For the latest research, published in the Microbiome journal on Wednesday (June 3), an Italy-based team found evidence that both ancient and modern microbial life remain active in the frozen body. "What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research Institute in Bolzano told news agency AFP. Also read: Scientists reveal what ancient mummies smell like The scientists discovered four different cold-surviving yeasts in Oetzi's guts, skin and meltwater. Genetic analysis revealed DNA damage levels comparable to the original microbes in his guts, suggesting the yeast entered his body soon after death. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," co-author Frank Maixner said. The scientists then reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask, 'Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. After three months of effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough", he said with a laugh. When asked about brewing beer, he responded: "It's on the list." The study also flagged practical applications. When the mummy was found in 1991, phenol was used to prevent fungal growth, but the yeast was able to consume the chemical, suggesting future use in breaking down phenol in contaminated environments. Also read: Egypt's pyramids could be 40,000 years old, controversial study suggests Beyond yeast, analysis of Oetzi's microbiome revealed gut bacteria nearly absent in modern industrialised humans but still found among tribes in Africa and South America and in 3,000-year-old faeces from a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria. The study concluded the Iceman is “not a biologically 'frozen' time-capsule but rather a complex ecosystem.” However, Nikolay Oskolkov of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis cautioned that yeast samples were only taken in 2010 and 2019, providing "very little evidence that the yeasts have been multiplying over millennia," suggesting they were "relatively recent colonists of the mummy's body."

Researchers have extracted thousands-of-years-old yeast from the gut of Otzi the Iceman and used the revived ancient strain to bake a fresh loaf of bread.

Scientists extract yeast from 5,300-year-old Iceman Otzi to bake bread

NASA's Perseverance rover has captured a stunning panoramic view of Mars with clear skies in the background. The photo is of a location named "Falbreen" and was produced after piecing together 96 different images. It shows the rocky surface of the Red Planet, with tall hills in the background and extremely clear blue skies (enhanced-colour version). The actual natural photo shows the rusty red colour of the planet's sky. The stunning and sharp 360-degree panorama was taken on May 26, 2025 and released by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Captured by the Mastcam-Z instrument, it covers an expanse spreading up to 65 kilometres. Mastcam-Z can zoom in on specific regions targeted by the rover and is also enabled to take 3D images and video.&nbsp; The real catch of the photo is just how clear and devoid of dust the Martian sky was at the time the photo was taken. "The relatively dust-free skies provide a clear view of the surrounding terrain," Jim Bell, Mastcam-Z’s principal investigator at Arizona State University in Tempe, said. Talking about the enhanced version, Bell said, "In this particular mosaic, we have enhanced the colour contrast, which accentuates the differences in the terrain and sky."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/six-red-dwarf-stars-ate-rocky-worlds-like-earth-the-fingerprints-exposed-them-1780395245368">Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260603/image-1780461159341.webp"></figure>Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260603/image-1780461170216.webp"></figure>Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS<h2>What does the new photo from Mars show?</h2> The latest photo from Mars is filled with several features and items spread across the terrain.1. The 43rd Abrasion Patch: Left of centre and near the bottom, a bright white, 2-inch circle can be seen. The top of this object was ground by Perseverance on May 22, 2025, using its diamond-dust-tipped Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT). Dust was removed from the top layer to analyse the fresh rock beneath. The team on Earth got a closer look to decide whether to take a core sample and store it in the rover's sample tubes.&nbsp;2. Float rock: A large rock is visible on top of a dark, crescent-shaped sand ripple to the right of centre in the image. It's a float rock, named so because it is believed to have formed in one location and then transported to a new location by processes such as landslide, water or wind. NASA says it was about 14 feet away from the rover at the time the image was captured.&nbsp;3. Geologic Contact Line: About halfway up the horizon, the landscape splits in half, and a clear boundary dividing the image can be seen. The lighter, flat rocks closer to the rover are rich in the mineral olivine, while the darker rocks further away transition into older, clay-bearing units. &nbsp;&nbsp;4. Rover Tracks: On the far right edge, the tracks left by Perseverance's wheels are visible. They turn left about 300 feet away and disappear behind a previous science stop named "Kenmore." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perseverance rover has been exploring a region named Falbreen on Mars. Last year, it captured a panorama of the landscape, revealing a clear red sky minus any dust. The colour-enhanced version shows blue skies, similar to what is seen on Earth.

NASA's Perseverance rover has captured a stunning panoramic view of Mars with clear skies in the background. The photo is of a location named "Falbreen" and was produced after piecing together 96 different images. It shows the rocky surface of the Red Planet, with tall hills in the background and extremely clear blue skies (enhanced-colour version). The actual natural photo shows the rusty red colour of the planet's sky. The stunning and sharp 360-degree panorama was taken on May 26, 2025 and released by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Captured by the Mastcam-Z instrument, it covers an expanse spreading up to 65 kilometres. Mastcam-Z can zoom in on specific regions targeted by the rover and is also enabled to take 3D images and video. The real catch of the photo is just how clear and devoid of dust the Martian sky was at the time the photo was taken. "The relatively dust-free skies provide a clear view of the surrounding terrain," Jim Bell, Mastcam-Z’s principal investigator at Arizona State University in Tempe, said. Talking about the enhanced version, Bell said, "In this particular mosaic, we have enhanced the colour contrast, which accentuates the differences in the terrain and sky." Also Read: Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS What does the new photo from Mars show? The latest photo from Mars is filled with several features and items spread across the terrain. 1. The 43rd Abrasion Patch: Left of centre and near the bottom, a bright white, 2-inch circle can be seen. The top of this object was ground by Perseverance on May 22, 2025, using its diamond-dust-tipped Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT). Dust was removed from the top layer to analyse the fresh rock beneath. The team on Earth got a closer look to decide whether to take a core sample and store it in the rover's sample tubes. 2. Float rock: A large rock is visible on top of a dark, crescent-shaped sand ripple to the right of centre in the image. It's a float rock, named so because it is believed to have formed in one location and then transported to a new location by processes such as landslide, water or wind. NASA says it was about 14 feet away from the rover at the time the image was captured. 3. Geologic Contact Line: About halfway up the horizon, the landscape splits in half, and a clear boundary dividing the image can be seen. The lighter, flat rocks closer to the rover are rich in the mineral olivine, while the darker rocks further away transition into older, clay-bearing units. 4. Rover Tracks: On the far right edge, the tracks left by Perseverance's wheels are visible. They turn left about 300 feet away and disappear behind a previous science stop named "Kenmore."

Perseverance rover has been exploring a region named Falbreen on Mars. Last year, it captured a panorama of the landscape, revealing a clear red sky minus any dust. The colour-enhanced version shows blue skies, similar to what is seen on Earth.

Check out these 4 features in the new 360-degree Mars photo taken by NASA's Perseverance rover

Physicists at ETH Zurich achieved perfect randomness using entanglement in quantum mechanics. The breakthrough is huge for cryptography, passwords, and security keys. 

Physicists at ETH Zurich achieved perfect randomness using entanglement in quantum mechanics. The breakthrough is huge for cryptography, passwords, and security keys.&nbsp;

Physicists achieve 'perfect randomness'. Here is why it matters

We have all heard that one day our Sun will expand to such a massive size that it will gobble up Earth and every other planet in the solar system. Scientists have now actually found proof that this happened in other places in the universe, to be precise, six different red dwarfs in three separate clusters. Researchers from Keele University and the University of Exeter state in their study that they have found proof that young stars are capable of eating nearby worlds as planetary systems form. Published in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, the study presents six cases where they found that six different red dwarfs had swallowed Earth-like rocky planets. Their ages were 50 to 200 million years, right around the Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS). Lead author, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, said the team detected the chemical fingerprint which gave away the red dwarfs as planet eaters. “We found that a few of the red dwarf stars we studied contained lithium, a chemical element that should not be there,” he said.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/interstellar-inspired-study-proves-it-is-possible-to-send-messages-back-in-time-1780067491280">‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time</a>&nbsp;Red dwarfs are cool on the outside and extremely hot on the inside. They are smaller than even our Sun, but have the potential to consume planetesimals. The nuclear reactions going on inside a red dwarf would destroy all the lithium right after they are born. Identifying hints of lithium in their atmosphere would mean that they likely engulfed lithium-rich material from a surrounding planetary system. Scientists went through the data on thousands of stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey and found that six red dwarfs have much higher lithium content. These sibling stars were born at the same time from the exact same initial gas cloud. Most of them had no lithium, while six early M-dwarfs had anomalous, high-abundance "fingerprints" of lithium.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-says-this-dark-comet-could-be-a-human-probe-what-avi-loeb-told-wion-1780306270065">Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us</a>&nbsp;The study states that this is proof that they either dramatically “swallowed” surrounding Earth-like planets or chomped down three to 10 Earth masses of planetary material, which led to a fresh lithium infusion. Earlier papers have theorised that similar events could be common in early planetary system formation, and our solar system was likely no exception. If this explanation is correct, it opens a new window into the youth of planetary systems, letting us investigate how often and when planetary engulfment occurs.

Scientists studied thousands of stars born at the same time from the same initial gas cloud and found that six red dwarfs had much higher lithium content. This gave away their past activity, where they had swallowed nearly 10 Earth-like planets.

We have all heard that one day our Sun will expand to such a massive size that it will gobble up Earth and every other planet in the solar system. Scientists have now actually found proof that this happened in other places in the universe, to be precise, six different red dwarfs in three separate clusters. Researchers from Keele University and the University of Exeter state in their study that they have found proof that young stars are capable of eating nearby worlds as planetary systems form. Published in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, the study presents six cases where they found that six different red dwarfs had swallowed Earth-like rocky planets. Their ages were 50 to 200 million years, right around the Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS). Lead author, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, said the team detected the chemical fingerprint which gave away the red dwarfs as planet eaters. “We found that a few of the red dwarf stars we studied contained lithium, a chemical element that should not be there,” he said. Also Read: ‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time Red dwarfs are cool on the outside and extremely hot on the inside. They are smaller than even our Sun, but have the potential to consume planetesimals. The nuclear reactions going on inside a red dwarf would destroy all the lithium right after they are born. Identifying hints of lithium in their atmosphere would mean that they likely engulfed lithium-rich material from a surrounding planetary system. Scientists went through the data on thousands of stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey and found that six red dwarfs have much higher lithium content. These sibling stars were born at the same time from the exact same initial gas cloud. Most of them had no lithium, while six early M-dwarfs had anomalous, high-abundance "fingerprints" of lithium. Also Read: Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us The study states that this is proof that they either dramatically “swallowed” surrounding Earth-like planets or chomped down three to 10 Earth masses of planetary material, which led to a fresh lithium infusion. Earlier papers have theorised that similar events could be common in early planetary system formation, and our solar system was likely no exception. If this explanation is correct, it opens a new window into the youth of planetary systems, letting us investigate how often and when planetary engulfment occurs.

Scientists studied thousands of stars born at the same time from the same initial gas cloud and found that six red dwarfs had much higher lithium content. This gave away their past activity, where they had swallowed nearly 10 Earth-like planets.

Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them

Scientists have discovered that the molten iron churning deep inside Earth abruptly changed directions around 2010. This goes against the common belief that this liquid outer core only travels westwards. The findings were made by researchers from the University of Edinburgh and published in the Journal of Studies of Earth’s Deep Interior. This molten iron surrounds the solid inner core and is the reason why life is possible on Earth. It creates the magnetic field that cocoons our planet and protects it from the harsh solar radiation. But it switched directions around the equatorial Pacific 16 years ago, leaving scientists questioning everything they know about this layer of Earth.&nbsp;“Scientists now want to understand whether the reversal represents a short-lived fluctuation, part of a repeating oscillation, or a new stable equilibrium for core circulation," lead author of the study, Frederik Dahl Madsen, said in a statement. He added that this discovery "raises new questions about the behaviour of Earth’s deep interior." The team gathered 30 years' worth of data from ground observations and satellites for the study. ESA’s CryoSat and Swarm missions, and the German-launched CHAMP and Ørsted satellites, provided crucial information on the molten layer and its movements.&nbsp;&nbsp;The combined analysis revealed a clear flow reversal in the Pacific Ocean. They noted that its westward movement was weak from 1997 until roughly 2010, and then it turned and started moving eastward. They clarified that this change does not alter Earth's protective layer, the magnetic field.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-says-this-dark-comet-could-be-a-human-probe-what-avi-loeb-told-wion-1780306270065">Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us</a>&nbsp;They further stated that this reverse movement started to slow down in 2020, and could be tied to the inner core. "This study shows that regional changes can emerge rapidly within just a decade," ESA’s Elisabetta Iorfida said in a press statement. This information can also help scientists understand "possible interactions between Earth’s outer core, inner core, lower mantle", and offer insights into "core-mantle boundary."&nbsp;Meanwhile, &nbsp;ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager Anja Stromm said that "long-duration satellite magnetic measurements allow researchers to follow changes in the geodynamo in near-real time and improve models of Earth’s magnetic field evolution." &nbsp;

Scientists studied 30 years of data linked to Earth's inner processes and found that the liquid outer core changed direction in 2010. Ten years later, the movement started slowing down and could again go westward. This layer is what created Earth's magnetic field. 

Scientists have discovered that the molten iron churning deep inside Earth abruptly changed directions around 2010. This goes against the common belief that this liquid outer core only travels westwards. The findings were made by researchers from the University of Edinburgh and published in the Journal of Studies of Earth’s Deep Interior. This molten iron surrounds the solid inner core and is the reason why life is possible on Earth. It creates the magnetic field that cocoons our planet and protects it from the harsh solar radiation. But it switched directions around the equatorial Pacific 16 years ago, leaving scientists questioning everything they know about this layer of Earth. “Scientists now want to understand whether the reversal represents a short-lived fluctuation, part of a repeating oscillation, or a new stable equilibrium for core circulation," lead author of the study, Frederik Dahl Madsen, said in a statement. He added that this discovery "raises new questions about the behaviour of Earth’s deep interior." The team gathered 30 years' worth of data from ground observations and satellites for the study. ESA’s CryoSat and Swarm missions, and the German-launched CHAMP and Ørsted satellites, provided crucial information on the molten layer and its movements. The combined analysis revealed a clear flow reversal in the Pacific Ocean. They noted that its westward movement was weak from 1997 until roughly 2010, and then it turned and started moving eastward. They clarified that this change does not alter Earth's protective layer, the magnetic field. Also Read: Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us They further stated that this reverse movement started to slow down in 2020, and could be tied to the inner core. "This study shows that regional changes can emerge rapidly within just a decade," ESA’s Elisabetta Iorfida said in a press statement. This information can also help scientists understand "possible interactions between Earth’s outer core, inner core, lower mantle", and offer insights into "core-mantle boundary." Meanwhile, ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager Anja Stromm said that "long-duration satellite magnetic measurements allow researchers to follow changes in the geodynamo in near-real time and improve models of Earth’s magnetic field evolution."

Scientists studied 30 years of data linked to Earth's inner processes and found that the liquid outer core changed direction in 2010. Ten years later, the movement started slowing down and could again go westward. This layer is what created Earth's magnetic field.&nbsp;

Earth's 'river of liquid iron' shields us from space radiation. But something changed 16 years ago

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has proposed that the dark comet 1998 KY26 could actually be the failed Soviet Union spacecraft Phobos 1. In his new paper, Loeb presents evidence to back this claim. Working alongside Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl, and Carlos Olea, he states that instead of a dark comet, 1998 KY26 could actually be technological in origin. In fact, it took off from Earth in 1988, nearly 40 years ago. In the paper, the researchers list six reasons to cement their claim that it is not a dark comet but actually Phobos 1, the Russian mission to Mars, which could not make it to the Red Planet. Loeb told WION in an email, “The dark comet is likely the entire Phobos 1 spacecraft.”<h2>What is a dark comet?</h2> Dark comets are considered hybrids between comets and asteroids. Even though they display significant non-gravitational accelerations, there is no outgassing involved, and there is no tail or coma either. At least 14 bodies have so far been identified as dark comets.<h2>What Loeb's paper suggests</h2> The professor wrote in his blog that 1998 KY26 is most likely a "sturdy monolithic object," as suggested by its high reflectance, its size and an exceedingly short rotation period. If it were merely a rubble pile, it would have broken apart from the associated centrifugal force, he says. It is possible that it is technological in origin, "potentially a relic of a historical Russian mission to Mars, the Phobos 1 probe".Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/interstellar-inspired-study-proves-it-is-possible-to-send-messages-back-in-time-1780067491280">‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time</a><h2>What went wrong with Phobos 1?</h2> The spacecraft was intended to study Mars and its moon Phobos. It was expected to take 200 days to reach its position. But a faulty command led to the mission being cut short. "On September&nbsp;2, 1988, Phobos 1 stopped transmitting signals towards&nbsp;Earth. This was traced to a faulty key command that was sent unintentionally by a technician on August&nbsp;28 from ground control in Yevpatoria, leaving out a single hyphen in one of the keyed commands," Loeb told WION. "This deactivated the attitude thrusters,&nbsp;causing the spacecraft to lose the lock of its solar arrays on the Sun, depleting its batteries," he added.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deep-space-signal-that-lasted-25-000-seconds-gets-a-possible-explanation-1779876010241">Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation</a><h2>Why 1998 KY26 could be Phobos 1?</h2> Loeb and his team present six reasons why this is possible. Orbits of Phobos 1 and 1998 KY26 are similar; they "converge and are statistically compatible". The second proof is that the "difference between these two orbits is compatible energetically with the overall velocity thrust (∆V) envelope available to Phobos 1." This means that, assuming it is the spacecraft Phobos 1, it would have enough fuel and engine power to transition from the first orbit to the second orbit. "There is a historical record in support of the hypothesis that a propulsive velocity thrust (∆V) was delivered shortly after loss of mission. The Phobos 1 mission was lost early on in the probe’s transit to Mars, enabling a large ∆V capability," the next two points read.&nbsp;The physical properties of the dark comet 1998 KY26 - small size (10 metres), high albedo (the shiny appearance) and unusually large spin - also support their theory. The object also appears to be "elongated", which he says is "expected" for Phobos 1.&nbsp;When asked which are the strongest indications that this dark comet could be Phobos 1, he said, “The strongest support for the association of 1998 KY26 with Phobos 1 is the similarity of their orbits as well as the measured small size (10-meter scale), high reflectance (52%) and unusually large spin (5.4 minutes rotation period), which would break up a rubble pile asteroid.”<h2>Japan to probe dark comet 1998 KY26</h2>&nbsp;The Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) plans to study the dark comet with Hayabusa2, which is expected to land in 2031. It studied the asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2018, brought samples back in 2020 and was sent to analyse 1998 KY26. With this mission, astronomers plan to learn about the nature of outgassing from a dark comet.

A dark comet, 1998 KY26, that is the target of a probe planned for landing in 2031, could be a lost spacecraft. According to a team of scientists, there are quite a few reasons to theorise that this comet is actually a failed Martian probe. 

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has proposed that the dark comet 1998 KY26 could actually be the failed Soviet Union spacecraft Phobos 1. In his new paper, Loeb presents evidence to back this claim. Working alongside Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl, and Carlos Olea, he states that instead of a dark comet, 1998 KY26 could actually be technological in origin. In fact, it took off from Earth in 1988, nearly 40 years ago. In the paper, the researchers list six reasons to cement their claim that it is not a dark comet but actually Phobos 1, the Russian mission to Mars, which could not make it to the Red Planet. Loeb told WION in an email, “The dark comet is likely the entire Phobos 1 spacecraft.” What is a dark comet? Dark comets are considered hybrids between comets and asteroids. Even though they display significant non-gravitational accelerations, there is no outgassing involved, and there is no tail or coma either. At least 14 bodies have so far been identified as dark comets. What Loeb's paper suggests The professor wrote in his blog that 1998 KY26 is most likely a "sturdy monolithic object," as suggested by its high reflectance, its size and an exceedingly short rotation period. If it were merely a rubble pile, it would have broken apart from the associated centrifugal force, he says. It is possible that it is technological in origin, "potentially a relic of a historical Russian mission to Mars, the Phobos 1 probe". Also Read: ‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time What went wrong with Phobos 1? The spacecraft was intended to study Mars and its moon Phobos. It was expected to take 200 days to reach its position. But a faulty command led to the mission being cut short. "On September 2, 1988, Phobos 1 stopped transmitting signals towards Earth. This was traced to a faulty key command that was sent unintentionally by a technician on August 28 from ground control in Yevpatoria, leaving out a single hyphen in one of the keyed commands," Loeb told WION. "This deactivated the attitude thrusters, causing the spacecraft to lose the lock of its solar arrays on the Sun, depleting its batteries," he added. Also Read: Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation Why 1998 KY26 could be Phobos 1? Loeb and his team present six reasons why this is possible. Orbits of Phobos 1 and 1998 KY26 are similar; they "converge and are statistically compatible". The second proof is that the "difference between these two orbits is compatible energetically with the overall velocity thrust (∆V) envelope available to Phobos 1." This means that, assuming it is the spacecraft Phobos 1, it would have enough fuel and engine power to transition from the first orbit to the second orbit. "There is a historical record in support of the hypothesis that a propulsive velocity thrust (∆V) was delivered shortly after loss of mission. The Phobos 1 mission was lost early on in the probe’s transit to Mars, enabling a large ∆V capability," the next two points read. The physical properties of the dark comet 1998 KY26 - small size (10 metres), high albedo (the shiny appearance) and unusually large spin - also support their theory. The object also appears to be "elongated", which he says is "expected" for Phobos 1. When asked which are the strongest indications that this dark comet could be Phobos 1, he said, “The strongest support for the association of 1998 KY26 with Phobos 1 is the similarity of their orbits as well as the measured small size (10-meter scale), high reflectance (52%) and unusually large spin (5.4 minutes rotation period), which would break up a rubble pile asteroid.” Japan to probe dark comet 1998 KY26 The Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) plans to study the dark comet with Hayabusa2, which is expected to land in 2031. It studied the asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2018, brought samples back in 2020 and was sent to analyse 1998 KY26. With this mission, astronomers plan to learn about the nature of outgassing from a dark comet.

A dark comet, 1998 KY26, that is the target of a probe planned for landing in 2031, could be a lost spacecraft. According to a team of scientists, there are quite a few reasons to theorise that this comet is actually a failed Martian probe.&nbsp;

Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us

Nvidia on Monday (Jun 1) unveiled a powerful laptop chip for Windows laptops, entering the market for AI-powered PC that is dominated by established players such as Intel, AMD and Qualcomm. The move marks Nvidia’s most significant push into personal computing in more than a decade and comes as the company seeks to extend its dominance beyond data centres and into devices.According to analysts, Nvidia’s entry into the personal computer processor market puts it in direct competition with industry heavyweights such as Apple, Intel and AMD. However, they expect the AI-focused devices to launch at premium price points. Although the company also plans to introduce more affordable versions of the technology in the future.The move also reflects Nvidia's broader strategy to expand beyond its dominant data centre business and strengthen its presence in the consumer technology market. The company, which has emerged as the world’s most valuable firm amid the artificial intelligence boom, continues to benefit from surging demand for its AI chips from major global technology companies.Speaking at the Computex technology exhibition, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described the new RTX Spark Superchip as a transformative step for personal computing.“Microsoft and Nvidia are going to reinvent the PC. This is going to be the new PC,” Huang said during the launch event.Highlighting the system’s capabilities, Huang said the platform would be powerful enough to handle a wide range of demanding workloads, from digital biology and seismic analysis to astrophysics research.“If you want to run digital biology, no problem. If you want to do seismic processing, no problem. You want astrophysics, no problem,” Huang said.He added that years of collaboration between Microsoft and Nvidia had resulted in a platform capable of running virtually all existing software while also supporting advanced AI agents and next-generation artificial intelligence applications.“Microsoft and Nvidia meticulously optimised everything so that this computer literally runs everything the world has ever created, while also enabling powerful AI agents,” Huang said, calling it “an incredible computer.”

Nvidia unveils AI-powered laptop chip for Windows PCs, challenging Intel, AMD and Qualcomm, as CEO Jensen Huang calls it the “new PC” revolution.

Nvidia on Monday (Jun 1) unveiled a powerful laptop chip for Windows laptops, entering the market for AI-powered PC that is dominated by established players such as Intel, AMD and Qualcomm. The move marks Nvidia’s most significant push into personal computing in more than a decade and comes as the company seeks to extend its dominance beyond data centres and into devices. According to analysts, Nvidia’s entry into the personal computer processor market puts it in direct competition with industry heavyweights such as Apple, Intel and AMD. However, they expect the AI-focused devices to launch at premium price points. Although the company also plans to introduce more affordable versions of the technology in the future. The move also reflects Nvidia's broader strategy to expand beyond its dominant data centre business and strengthen its presence in the consumer technology market. The company, which has emerged as the world’s most valuable firm amid the artificial intelligence boom, continues to benefit from surging demand for its AI chips from major global technology companies. Speaking at the Computex technology exhibition, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described the new RTX Spark Superchip as a transformative step for personal computing. “Microsoft and Nvidia are going to reinvent the PC. This is going to be the new PC,” Huang said during the launch event. Highlighting the system’s capabilities, Huang said the platform would be powerful enough to handle a wide range of demanding workloads, from digital biology and seismic analysis to astrophysics research. “If you want to run digital biology, no problem. If you want to do seismic processing, no problem. You want astrophysics, no problem,” Huang said. He added that years of collaboration between Microsoft and Nvidia had resulted in a platform capable of running virtually all existing software while also supporting advanced AI agents and next-generation artificial intelligence applications. “Microsoft and Nvidia meticulously optimised everything so that this computer literally runs everything the world has ever created, while also enabling powerful AI agents,” Huang said, calling it “an incredible computer.”

Nvidia unveils AI-powered laptop chip for Windows PCs, challenging Intel, AMD and Qualcomm, as CEO Jensen Huang calls it the “new PC” revolution.

‘Reinventing PC’: Nvidia unveils new chip for Windows laptops, challenging Intel, AMD

Humanoid robots joined human models on a Seoul runway, wearing matching designer outfits in a futuristic fashion show exploring how humans and AI-powered machines could coexist in everyday life.

Humanoid robots joined human models on a Seoul runway, wearing matching designer outfits in a futuristic fashion show exploring how humans and AI-powered machines could coexist in everyday life.

‘Robots need clothes too’: Humanoids join human models at Seoul fashion show

For decades, astronomers have worked on the assumption that galaxies came first. In the conventional picture, stars form within galaxies, exhaust their fuel and collapse into black holes, which gradually grow by consuming surrounding matter and merging with other black holes. Yet a new discovery by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is challenging that sequence, offering evidence that some supermassive black holes may have formed before the galaxies around them.&nbsp;The findings, published in Nature and the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, centre on a distant object known as Abell2744-QSO1, or QSO1, a ‘Little Red Dot’ that existed just 700 million years after the Big Bang. Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process.<h2>A Tiny Object With an Enormous Black Hole</h2>QSO1 is only about 1,300 light-years across, but its light has travelled for more than 13 billion years to reach Earth. The object is magnified by the gravitational lensing effect of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, also known as Pandora’s Cluster, making it easier to study than many similar early-universe objects.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/blue-origin-s-new-glenn-programme-hit-by-months-of-delays-after-launch-pad-explosion-1780145007586">Blue Origin's New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion</a>&nbsp;Initial observations suggested that QSO1 consisted largely of hydrogen and helium gas orbiting a black hole estimated to be tens of millions of times the mass of the Sun. However, researchers needed a direct way to confirm that estimate.“Before now, all of the mass measurements of black holes in the early universe have been indirect, based on assumptions from what we know about them in the local universe,” said Francesco D’Eugenio of the University of Cambridge. “We didn’t know if those assumptions really apply to the distant universe.”<h2>Webb Maps the Motion of Gas</h2>Using the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) aboard Webb, scientists mapped the motion of hydrogen gas around the black hole. The gas displayed Keplerian motion, orbiting the central object in the same way planets orbit the Sun.“This is important because it tells us that most of the mass of QSO1 is concentrated in the black hole at the centre,” said researcher Ignas Juodžbalis. “If the mass were more distributed, as it would be if there were a lot of stars, the gas would not have this perfect Keplerian rotation.”&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-hiding-inside-the-antennae-galaxies-scientists-uncover-evidence-of-a-possible-supermassive-black-hole-1780132935399">What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The observations enabled the first direct measurement of a black hole mass within the universe’s first billion years. Researchers calculated the object’s mass at roughly 50 million times that of the Sun.<h2>A Challenge to Existing Theories</h2>Perhaps the most striking result is that the black hole accounts for at least two-thirds of QSO1’s total mass, far higher than in nearby galaxies, where black holes typically represent only a tiny fraction of the host galaxy’s mass. The surrounding gas was also found to be almost entirely hydrogen and helium, with a metallicity below 0.5 per cent of the Sun, making QSO1 one of the most chemically pristine galactic environments ever observed.&nbsp;“It seems that we have found a black hole that does not have a substantial host galaxy and that has predated stellar processes,” said Juodžbalis. “This is very exciting because it is evidence for primordial black holes or direct collapse black holes, which have been theorised but not confirmed.” Calling the discovery “a paradigm shift”, co-author Roberto Maiolino said: “It’s a total revisiting of the classical scenarios of how black holes form and grow.”

Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process.

For decades, astronomers have worked on the assumption that galaxies came first. In the conventional picture, stars form within galaxies, exhaust their fuel and collapse into black holes, which gradually grow by consuming surrounding matter and merging with other black holes. Yet a new discovery by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is challenging that sequence, offering evidence that some supermassive black holes may have formed before the galaxies around them. The findings, published in Nature and the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, centre on a distant object known as Abell2744-QSO1, or QSO1, a ‘Little Red Dot’ that existed just 700 million years after the Big Bang. Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process. A Tiny Object With an Enormous Black Hole QSO1 is only about 1,300 light-years across, but its light has travelled for more than 13 billion years to reach Earth. The object is magnified by the gravitational lensing effect of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, also known as Pandora’s Cluster, making it easier to study than many similar early-universe objects. ALSO READ: Blue Origin's New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion Initial observations suggested that QSO1 consisted largely of hydrogen and helium gas orbiting a black hole estimated to be tens of millions of times the mass of the Sun. However, researchers needed a direct way to confirm that estimate. “Before now, all of the mass measurements of black holes in the early universe have been indirect, based on assumptions from what we know about them in the local universe,” said Francesco D’Eugenio of the University of Cambridge. “We didn’t know if those assumptions really apply to the distant universe.” Webb Maps the Motion of Gas Using the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) aboard Webb, scientists mapped the motion of hydrogen gas around the black hole. The gas displayed Keplerian motion, orbiting the central object in the same way planets orbit the Sun. “This is important because it tells us that most of the mass of QSO1 is concentrated in the black hole at the centre,” said researcher Ignas Juodžbalis. “If the mass were more distributed, as it would be if there were a lot of stars, the gas would not have this perfect Keplerian rotation.” ALSO READ: What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole The observations enabled the first direct measurement of a black hole mass within the universe’s first billion years. Researchers calculated the object’s mass at roughly 50 million times that of the Sun. A Challenge to Existing Theories Perhaps the most striking result is that the black hole accounts for at least two-thirds of QSO1’s total mass, far higher than in nearby galaxies, where black holes typically represent only a tiny fraction of the host galaxy’s mass. The surrounding gas was also found to be almost entirely hydrogen and helium, with a metallicity below 0.5 per cent of the Sun, making QSO1 one of the most chemically pristine galactic environments ever observed. “It seems that we have found a black hole that does not have a substantial host galaxy and that has predated stellar processes,” said Juodžbalis. “This is very exciting because it is evidence for primordial black holes or direct collapse black holes, which have been theorised but not confirmed.” Calling the discovery “a paradigm shift”, co-author Roberto Maiolino said: “It’s a total revisiting of the classical scenarios of how black holes form and grow.”

Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process.

Which came first—the black hole or the galaxy? Webb discovery questions a key theory of galaxy formation

Blue Origin is facing a major operational setback after an explosion during a pre-launch engine test severely damaged a launch pad used for its New Glenn rocket, potentially delaying missions for months and disrupting key plans for Amazon’s satellite broadband network and NASA’s lunar programme.&nbsp;The incident occurred on Thursday during a test firing ahead of a scheduled New Glenn launch next week. According to company and industry sources cited by Reuters, the booster involved was named 'o, It’s Necessary', a reference to a line from the film Interstellar. A person familiar with the matter said the launch pad was ‘practically destroyed’, with engineers expecting at least six months of disruption, if not longer. The setback comes at a critical time for Jeff Bezos’ space ambitions, as Blue Origin seeks to establish New Glenn as a credible rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX in both the heavy-lift launch and satellite internet markets.<h2>Launch Delays Threaten Amazon’s Satellite Plans</h2>The damage could significantly affect Amazon’s satellite deployment schedule. Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-hiding-inside-the-antennae-galaxies-scientists-uncover-evidence-of-a-possible-supermassive-black-hole-1780132935399">What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;“An extended grounding by the FAA will severely threaten the timeline,” the report noted. According to Antoine Grenier, partner and head of space consulting at Analysys Mason, Amazon has already secured much of the near-term launch capacity available from alternative providers. “It's only been a year since the SpaceX Starship also exploded on the launch pad and Blue Origin can also recover. But it will take months to rebuild,” Grenier said, according to Reuters.<h2>SpaceX Gains Ground</h2>While Amazon has diversified its launch contracts by signing agreements with multiple providers, including SpaceX, New Glenn was expected to play a central role in the constellation rollout. Grenier noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry roughly half as many Kuiper satellites per mission as New Glenn, meaning a shift in launch strategy would likely require substantially more flights.&nbsp;Following the explosion, Musk posted on X: “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.” He later added, “Ad astra per aspera,” a Latin phrase commonly translated as “through hardships to the stars”.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-thought-i-was-protecting-them-war-torn-gaza-sees-surge-in-early-marriages-reports-say-1780131386993">‘I thought I was protecting them’: War-torn Gaza sees surge in early marriages, reports say</a><h2>Questions for NASA and the Wider Space Industry</h2>The damaged rocket was also due to launch Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon lunar lander later this year. Just days before the incident, NASA awarded the company a contract to deliver two lunar rovers ahead of the Artemis 4 mission in 2028.NASA said it would assess any near-term impact on its Artemis and Moon Base programmes. However, the US Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office reaffirmed their commitment to Blue Origin’s recently awarded national security launch contract despite the explosion.&nbsp;“Long term, the market still needs viable alternatives, so this strengthens SpaceX’s position at the margin, but doesn't change the broader trajectory toward a multi-provider ecosystem,” said Seraphim Space chief executive Mark Boggett.

Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.

Blue Origin is facing a major operational setback after an explosion during a pre-launch engine test severely damaged a launch pad used for its New Glenn rocket, potentially delaying missions for months and disrupting key plans for Amazon’s satellite broadband network and NASA’s lunar programme. The incident occurred on Thursday during a test firing ahead of a scheduled New Glenn launch next week. According to company and industry sources cited by Reuters, the booster involved was named 'o, It’s Necessary', a reference to a line from the film Interstellar. A person familiar with the matter said the launch pad was ‘practically destroyed’, with engineers expecting at least six months of disruption, if not longer. The setback comes at a critical time for Jeff Bezos’ space ambitions, as Blue Origin seeks to establish New Glenn as a credible rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX in both the heavy-lift launch and satellite internet markets. Launch Delays Threaten Amazon’s Satellite Plans The damage could significantly affect Amazon’s satellite deployment schedule. Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements. ALSO READ: What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole “An extended grounding by the FAA will severely threaten the timeline,” the report noted. According to Antoine Grenier, partner and head of space consulting at Analysys Mason, Amazon has already secured much of the near-term launch capacity available from alternative providers. “It's only been a year since the SpaceX Starship also exploded on the launch pad and Blue Origin can also recover. But it will take months to rebuild,” Grenier said, according to Reuters. SpaceX Gains Ground While Amazon has diversified its launch contracts by signing agreements with multiple providers, including SpaceX, New Glenn was expected to play a central role in the constellation rollout. Grenier noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry roughly half as many Kuiper satellites per mission as New Glenn, meaning a shift in launch strategy would likely require substantially more flights. Following the explosion, Musk posted on X: “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.” He later added, “Ad astra per aspera,” a Latin phrase commonly translated as “through hardships to the stars”. ALSO READ: ‘I thought I was protecting them’: War-torn Gaza sees surge in early marriages, reports say Questions for NASA and the Wider Space Industry The damaged rocket was also due to launch Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon lunar lander later this year. Just days before the incident, NASA awarded the company a contract to deliver two lunar rovers ahead of the Artemis 4 mission in 2028. NASA said it would assess any near-term impact on its Artemis and Moon Base programmes. However, the US Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office reaffirmed their commitment to Blue Origin’s recently awarded national security launch contract despite the explosion. “Long term, the market still needs viable alternatives, so this strengthens SpaceX’s position at the margin, but doesn't change the broader trajectory toward a multi-provider ecosystem,” said Seraphim Space chief executive Mark Boggett.

Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.

Blue Origin's New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion

Astronomers may have uncovered evidence of a previously hidden supermassive black hole inside the Antennae galaxies, one of the most studied galaxy mergers in the nearby universe. The findings, detailed in a paper posted to the arXiv preprint server on May 21, suggest that a compact source within the merging galaxy NGC 4039 could be harbouring an actively feeding black hole concealed by intense star-forming activity.&nbsp;Located around 70 million light-years from Earth, the Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039) are the nearest known example of two gas-rich galaxies in the process of merging. Their name comes from the long streams of stars, gas and dust pulled out by the collision, resembling an insect's antennae.&nbsp;<h3>What Are the Antennae Galaxies?</h3>&nbsp;According to NASA, the merger began a few hundred million years ago and has triggered intense star formation, creating thousands of young star clusters and billions of new stars as the galaxies gradually combine into a single larger system.&nbsp;<h3>A Potentially Hidden Black Hole</h3>&nbsp;Galaxy mergers can channel gas towards galactic centres, feeding supermassive black holes and turning them into active galactic nuclei (AGN). However, the Antennae galaxies have so far appeared dominated by starburst activity, with little evidence that either central black hole was actively accreting material. According to Phys.org, to investigate further, a team led by Shinya Komugi of Kogakuin University in Japan used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe the system at 100 GHz. According to Phys.org, the researchers monitored the galaxies 52 times over roughly two and a half months, searching for changes in brightness.&nbsp;<h3>Why Source S4 Is Drawing Attention</h3>&nbsp;The study focused on two compact sources near the centre of NGC 4039, known as S3 and S4. While S3 appeared unusually luminous, it showed no significant variability and may be linked to a young, massive star cluster.&nbsp;S4, however, exhibited changes in brightness over just 13 days. Such rapid variability limits the emitting region to less than 13 light-days, or around 0.01 parsecs across. According to the researchers, this region is too compact to be explained by a star-forming region, supernova remnant or dust cloud. Instead, the size constraint is consistent with a supermassive black hole containing roughly 10 million times the mass of the Sun. While further observations are needed, the findings provide one of the strongest indications yet that a hidden active black hole may be lurking within the Antennae galaxies.

Located around 70 million light-years from Earth, the Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039) are the nearest known example of two gas-rich galaxies in the process of merging. 

Astronomers may have uncovered evidence of a previously hidden supermassive black hole inside the Antennae galaxies, one of the most studied galaxy mergers in the nearby universe. The findings, detailed in a paper posted to the arXiv preprint server on May 21, suggest that a compact source within the merging galaxy NGC 4039 could be harbouring an actively feeding black hole concealed by intense star-forming activity. Located around 70 million light-years from Earth, the Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039) are the nearest known example of two gas-rich galaxies in the process of merging. Their name comes from the long streams of stars, gas and dust pulled out by the collision, resembling an insect's antennae. What Are the Antennae Galaxies? According to NASA, the merger began a few hundred million years ago and has triggered intense star formation, creating thousands of young star clusters and billions of new stars as the galaxies gradually combine into a single larger system. A Potentially Hidden Black Hole Galaxy mergers can channel gas towards galactic centres, feeding supermassive black holes and turning them into active galactic nuclei (AGN). However, the Antennae galaxies have so far appeared dominated by starburst activity, with little evidence that either central black hole was actively accreting material. According to Phys.org, to investigate further, a team led by Shinya Komugi of Kogakuin University in Japan used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe the system at 100 GHz. According to Phys.org, the researchers monitored the galaxies 52 times over roughly two and a half months, searching for changes in brightness. Why Source S4 Is Drawing Attention The study focused on two compact sources near the centre of NGC 4039, known as S3 and S4. While S3 appeared unusually luminous, it showed no significant variability and may be linked to a young, massive star cluster. S4, however, exhibited changes in brightness over just 13 days. Such rapid variability limits the emitting region to less than 13 light-days, or around 0.01 parsecs across. According to the researchers, this region is too compact to be explained by a star-forming region, supernova remnant or dust cloud. Instead, the size constraint is consistent with a supermassive black hole containing roughly 10 million times the mass of the Sun. While further observations are needed, the findings provide one of the strongest indications yet that a hidden active black hole may be lurking within the Antennae galaxies.

Located around 70 million light-years from Earth, the Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039) are the nearest known example of two gas-rich galaxies in the process of merging.

What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole

SpaceX has received a major boost ahead of its expected stock market debut after winning contracts worth a combined $6.45 billion from the US Space Force. The latest agreements further strengthen the company's position as one of the US government's most important space and defence partners. The contracts also highlight how government business continues to play a significant role in SpaceX's growth strategy as investors closely watch its anticipated initial public offering (IPO).<h2>What are the new Space Force contracts?</h2>The largest contract, worth $4.16 billion, was announced by the US Space Force on Friday. Under the agreement, SpaceX will help build satellites that will form part of a missile and air defence network linked to President Donald Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" defence initiative. Earlier in the same week, SpaceX received another Space Force contract worth $2.29 billion. That project involves developing a communications network in low-Earth orbit designed to support military and government operations.Together, the two agreements bring the total value of recent Space Force contracts awarded to SpaceX to approximately $6.45 billion.<h2>Why are these contracts important?</h2>The deals underline SpaceX's growing role in national security and defence infrastructure. Over the past decade, the company has become a dominant force in the global launch market through its Falcon rockets and satellite services. Government agencies increasingly rely on SpaceX for satellite launches, communications systems and space-based defence projects. Industry analysts say these latest contracts demonstrate the confidence US defence agencies have in SpaceX's technological capabilities and ability to deliver large-scale space programmes. The agreements also provide a significant source of future revenue as the company prepares for what many analysts expect could become one of the largest IPOs in history.<h2>How dependent is SpaceX on government business?</h2>While SpaceX has expanded its commercial operations through Starlink and private launch services, government contracts remain a major part of its business. According to information disclosed in the company's IPO filing, approximately 20 per cent of SpaceX's revenue in 2025 came from government customers. That includes contracts from agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense and the US Space Force. The company acknowledged in its filing that government business remains important to its financial performance. At the same time, it warned investors that government spending priorities can change depending on political decisions, regulations and budget allocations.<h2>What is the Golden Dome project?</h2>The proposed Golden Dome programme is intended to strengthen US missile defence capabilities through advanced space-based systems. While details remain limited, the initiative is expected to involve a network of satellites capable of improving missile detection, tracking and defence coordination. Space-based defence systems have become increasingly important as countries invest in hypersonic weapons, advanced missile technology and next-generation military capabilities. The latest contract positions SpaceX as one of the key companies involved in developing parts of that infrastructure.<h2>Investors are watching closely</h2>The contracts arrive at an important moment for SpaceX.The company is reportedly preparing for a public listing, an event that has been anticipated by investors for years. As part of that process, analysts are examining the company's revenue streams, growth opportunities and long-term business model. Government contracts offer predictable revenue and long-term project commitments, which many investors view positively. However, they also create exposure to changes in government policy and spending priorities. This balance was highlighted in SpaceX's IPO filing, where the company noted that future government funding decisions could affect parts of its business.The latest contracts further strengthen SpaceX's position in both the commercial space industry and the defence sector. As governments around the world increase spending on satellite technology, communications networks and space-based security systems, SpaceX appears well placed to benefit from growing demand. At the same time, investors will continue to watch how much of the company's future growth comes from government projects compared with commercial businesses such as Starlink, launch services and artificial intelligence infrastructure. With a potential IPO approaching and billions of dollars in new contracts secured, SpaceX enters the next phase of its growth with a stronger order book and a deeper role in US space and defence programmes.

SpaceX has received a major boost ahead of its expected stock market debut after winning contracts worth a combined $6.45 billion from the US Space Force.

SpaceX has received a major boost ahead of its expected stock market debut after winning contracts worth a combined $6.45 billion from the US Space Force. The latest agreements further strengthen the company's position as one of the US government's most important space and defence partners. The contracts also highlight how government business continues to play a significant role in SpaceX's growth strategy as investors closely watch its anticipated initial public offering (IPO). What are the new Space Force contracts? The largest contract, worth $4.16 billion, was announced by the US Space Force on Friday. Under the agreement, SpaceX will help build satellites that will form part of a missile and air defence network linked to President Donald Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" defence initiative. Earlier in the same week, SpaceX received another Space Force contract worth $2.29 billion. That project involves developing a communications network in low-Earth orbit designed to support military and government operations. Together, the two agreements bring the total value of recent Space Force contracts awarded to SpaceX to approximately $6.45 billion. Why are these contracts important? The deals underline SpaceX's growing role in national security and defence infrastructure. Over the past decade, the company has become a dominant force in the global launch market through its Falcon rockets and satellite services. Government agencies increasingly rely on SpaceX for satellite launches, communications systems and space-based defence projects. Industry analysts say these latest contracts demonstrate the confidence US defence agencies have in SpaceX's technological capabilities and ability to deliver large-scale space programmes. The agreements also provide a significant source of future revenue as the company prepares for what many analysts expect could become one of the largest IPOs in history. How dependent is SpaceX on government business? While SpaceX has expanded its commercial operations through Starlink and private launch services, government contracts remain a major part of its business. According to information disclosed in the company's IPO filing, approximately 20 per cent of SpaceX's revenue in 2025 came from government customers. That includes contracts from agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense and the US Space Force. The company acknowledged in its filing that government business remains important to its financial performance. At the same time, it warned investors that government spending priorities can change depending on political decisions, regulations and budget allocations. What is the Golden Dome project? The proposed Golden Dome programme is intended to strengthen US missile defence capabilities through advanced space-based systems. While details remain limited, the initiative is expected to involve a network of satellites capable of improving missile detection, tracking and defence coordination. Space-based defence systems have become increasingly important as countries invest in hypersonic weapons, advanced missile technology and next-generation military capabilities. The latest contract positions SpaceX as one of the key companies involved in developing parts of that infrastructure. Investors are watching closely The contracts arrive at an important moment for SpaceX. The company is reportedly preparing for a public listing, an event that has been anticipated by investors for years. As part of that process, analysts are examining the company's revenue streams, growth opportunities and long-term business model. Government contracts offer predictable revenue and long-term project commitments, which many investors view positively. However, they also create exposure to changes in government policy and spending priorities. This balance was highlighted in SpaceX's IPO filing, where the company noted that future government funding decisions could affect parts of its business. The latest contracts further strengthen SpaceX's position in both the commercial space industry and the defence sector. As governments around the world increase spending on satellite technology, communications networks and space-based security systems, SpaceX appears well placed to benefit from growing demand. At the same time, investors will continue to watch how much of the company's future growth comes from government projects compared with commercial businesses such as Starlink, launch services and artificial intelligence infrastructure. With a potential IPO approaching and billions of dollars in new contracts secured, SpaceX enters the next phase of its growth with a stronger order book and a deeper role in US space and defence programmes.

SpaceX has received a major boost ahead of its expected stock market debut after winning contracts worth a combined $6.45 billion from the US Space Force.

What SpaceX's $6.45 billion defence deals mean before its IPO

Christopher Nolan's iconic film Interstellar has served as inspiration for a new study that analyses whether we can send messages to someone in the past. They noted that this is possible, but only a limited amount of information would be filtered through a noisy channel. Physicists from Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated and started from the scene where Cooper is sending messages to his daughter back in time after falling into a black hole. The team treated this scenario as math and found that this is not merely fiction. Researchers Kaiyuan Ji and Seth Lloyd have successfully calculated the exact mathematical limit of how many "bits" of data can reliably survive being sent through a noisy, imperfect backwards-time loop.<h2>Defeating the Grandfather Paradox</h2>What the scientists needed to get past was the Grandfather Paradox, which states that if an action in the past is changed because of a message from the future, then the message never really gets sent in the first place. The two created a self-consistent "causal loop" to fix this problem. In the past, the receiver stored a quantum-linked particle. Years later, the sender attaches a message to this receiver and uses a process called amplified probabilistic teleportation to send it. The quantum math filters out anything that erases its own cause and creates inconsistencies. The future loop itself automatically boosts the odds of the correct, non-paradoxical message arriving perfectly intact.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hellish-super-earth-kua-kua-is-closer-to-the-moon-than-our-home-planet-jwst-finds-1780065167278">Hellish 'super-Earth' Kua'kua is closer to the Moon than our home planet, JWST finds</a><h2>Why the receiver comes first</h2>While sending a letter, the sender writes it first, and the recipient gets it later. In this experiment, the quantum trick completely flips the order. The daughter takes a pair of quantumly linked particles, keeps half of the pair and puts it in storage, leaving a quantum hint waiting in the past. In the future, the father retrieves that stored quantum particle and links it to the actual message he wants to send. This forces the quantum loop to lock into place. In this case, the receiver comes first, already leaving a hint. The sender picks up that hint and makes sure the loop fits perfectly.&nbsp;The main question the paper tries to answer is how many bits the backward channel can carry. How well the information is saved, and how much is corrupted, are the two quantities. The noisier channels carry less information, and the formula created by the scientists shows how much less. This math has a massive impact on understanding black holes. The "black hole information paradox" has been a source of debate for decades, and for the first time, this new formula gives scientists a concrete tool to calculate exactly how much information could escape a collapsing black hole.

Can you send messages in the past to someone? Time travel messages come with a paradox: if you send a message to the past which changes the future, no one is really sending the messages in the first place. A paper shows that time travel messages are possible.

Christopher Nolan's iconic film Interstellar has served as inspiration for a new study that analyses whether we can send messages to someone in the past. They noted that this is possible, but only a limited amount of information would be filtered through a noisy channel. Physicists from Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated and started from the scene where Cooper is sending messages to his daughter back in time after falling into a black hole. The team treated this scenario as math and found that this is not merely fiction. Researchers Kaiyuan Ji and Seth Lloyd have successfully calculated the exact mathematical limit of how many "bits" of data can reliably survive being sent through a noisy, imperfect backwards-time loop. Defeating the Grandfather Paradox What the scientists needed to get past was the Grandfather Paradox, which states that if an action in the past is changed because of a message from the future, then the message never really gets sent in the first place. The two created a self-consistent "causal loop" to fix this problem. In the past, the receiver stored a quantum-linked particle. Years later, the sender attaches a message to this receiver and uses a process called amplified probabilistic teleportation to send it. The quantum math filters out anything that erases its own cause and creates inconsistencies. The future loop itself automatically boosts the odds of the correct, non-paradoxical message arriving perfectly intact. Also Read: Hellish 'super-Earth' Kua'kua is closer to the Moon than our home planet, JWST finds Why the receiver comes first While sending a letter, the sender writes it first, and the recipient gets it later. In this experiment, the quantum trick completely flips the order. The daughter takes a pair of quantumly linked particles, keeps half of the pair and puts it in storage, leaving a quantum hint waiting in the past. In the future, the father retrieves that stored quantum particle and links it to the actual message he wants to send. This forces the quantum loop to lock into place. In this case, the receiver comes first, already leaving a hint. The sender picks up that hint and makes sure the loop fits perfectly. The main question the paper tries to answer is how many bits the backward channel can carry. How well the information is saved, and how much is corrupted, are the two quantities. The noisier channels carry less information, and the formula created by the scientists shows how much less. This math has a massive impact on understanding black holes. The "black hole information paradox" has been a source of debate for decades, and for the first time, this new formula gives scientists a concrete tool to calculate exactly how much information could escape a collapsing black hole.

Can you send messages in the past to someone? Time travel messages come with a paradox: if you send a message to the past which changes the future, no one is really sending the messages in the first place. A paper shows that time travel messages are possible.

‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has studied a planet that is essentially a rocky planet 48 light-years away. LHS 3844 b was first discovered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in 2018. It was revealed to be a tidally locked planet, meaning its one side was always facing its star. It was named Kua'kua, after a Central American Bribri word for "butterfly", and is about 30 per cent bigger than Earth. It completes one orbit of its red dwarf star host named Batsu in 11 hours. Being too close to its star means it is constantly burning at a temperature of 1000 Kelvin. That was all the information scientists had, until now. A team of researchers used the Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on JWST to analyse Kua'kua's surface composition, and found that this planet is actually the complete opposite of Earth, Universe Today reported.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-released-a-record-breaking-radio-burst-for-19-days-nasa-and-esa-probes-reveal-what-happened-1779873159921">Record-breaking solar radio burst lasted 19 days. NASA and ESA probes reveal what happened</a>&nbsp;Scientists from Harvard Center for Astrophysics and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy detected "light coming directly from the surface of this distant rocky planet." Laura Kreidberg said they spotted "a dark, hot, barren rock, devoid of any atmosphere." The team studied the infrared radiation reflecting from the sizzling dayside of the planet to understand more about its surface. They compared the JWST data with the rocks and minerals from Earth, the Moon, and Mars. They were able to deduce what could be producing the infrared signatures seen at Kua'kua.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deep-space-signal-that-lasted-25-000-seconds-gets-a-possible-explanation-1779876010241">Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation</a><h2>Kua'kua is different from Earth's crust</h2>They were sure that Kua'kua's is nothing like Earth’s crust, which is made of silicate-rich rocks such as granite. "Since LHS 3844 b lacks such a silicate crust, one may conclude that Earth-like plate tectonics does not apply to this planet, or it is ineffective,” said PhD student Sebastian Zieba. There is also likely very little water on this planet. The silicate-rich crust found on Earth is the result of tectonic activity, which also uses water, and repeats over several years. No signs of any such activity have been found on Kua'kua. The lack of atmosphere also proves that it has been geologically inactive for a long time.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-space-telescope-rock-clouds-on-hot-jupiter-1779722150175">Rock clouds on Hot Jupiter 700 light-years from Earth form in the morning and disappear by evening</a>&nbsp;Scientists suggest two scenarios for Kua'kua’s surface. Volcanic activity could have covered its surface with dark, solid rock, and this fresh lava has not yet been heavily altered by space environments. In the second scenario, such a dark surface could have been laid down millions of years ago, with harsh space radiation and meteorites darkening the regolith layers. This is similar to the surface of our Moon.

The James Webb Space Telescope helped scientists study a super-Earth 48 light-years away. It was discovered in 2018, and only now have scientists been able to learn about its surface and atmosphere. They have found that this planet is only an Earth in name.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has studied a planet that is essentially a rocky planet 48 light-years away. LHS 3844 b was first discovered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in 2018. It was revealed to be a tidally locked planet, meaning its one side was always facing its star. It was named Kua'kua, after a Central American Bribri word for "butterfly", and is about 30 per cent bigger than Earth. It completes one orbit of its red dwarf star host named Batsu in 11 hours. Being too close to its star means it is constantly burning at a temperature of 1000 Kelvin. That was all the information scientists had, until now. A team of researchers used the Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on JWST to analyse Kua'kua's surface composition, and found that this planet is actually the complete opposite of Earth, Universe Today reported. Also Read: Record-breaking solar radio burst lasted 19 days. NASA and ESA probes reveal what happened Scientists from Harvard Center for Astrophysics and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy detected "light coming directly from the surface of this distant rocky planet." Laura Kreidberg said they spotted "a dark, hot, barren rock, devoid of any atmosphere." The team studied the infrared radiation reflecting from the sizzling dayside of the planet to understand more about its surface. They compared the JWST data with the rocks and minerals from Earth, the Moon, and Mars. They were able to deduce what could be producing the infrared signatures seen at Kua'kua. Also Read: Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation Kua'kua is different from Earth's crust They were sure that Kua'kua's is nothing like Earth’s crust, which is made of silicate-rich rocks such as granite. "Since LHS 3844 b lacks such a silicate crust, one may conclude that Earth-like plate tectonics does not apply to this planet, or it is ineffective,” said PhD student Sebastian Zieba. There is also likely very little water on this planet. The silicate-rich crust found on Earth is the result of tectonic activity, which also uses water, and repeats over several years. No signs of any such activity have been found on Kua'kua. The lack of atmosphere also proves that it has been geologically inactive for a long time. Also Read: Rock clouds on Hot Jupiter 700 light-years from Earth form in the morning and disappear by evening Scientists suggest two scenarios for Kua'kua’s surface. Volcanic activity could have covered its surface with dark, solid rock, and this fresh lava has not yet been heavily altered by space environments. In the second scenario, such a dark surface could have been laid down millions of years ago, with harsh space radiation and meteorites darkening the regolith layers. This is similar to the surface of our Moon.

The James Webb Space Telescope helped scientists study a super-Earth 48 light-years away. It was discovered in 2018, and only now have scientists been able to learn about its surface and atmosphere. They have found that this planet is only an Earth in name.

Hellish 'super-Earth' Kua'kua is closer to the Moon than our home planet, JWST finds

For decades, romantic partnership has been presented as a social milestone closely tied to happiness and emotional stability. Yet a major new study suggests that remaining single may be far healthier psychologically than staying in an unhappy relationship. Researchers tracking more than 12,000 people over several years found that individuals reported greater emotional well-being when single than when trapped in poor- or even moderate-quality relationships.The findings, published in the 2026 edition of the journal Personality and Individual Differences, challenge the long-standing assumption that being in a relationship is automatically better than being alone. Instead, researchers concluded that relationship quality, not relationship status itself, determines emotional health.&nbsp;<h2>Tracking Happiness Across Thousands of Lives</h2>&nbsp;The longitudinal study was led by Menelaos Apostolou of the University of Nicosia and Professor Elyakim Kislev of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and published by Phys.org. The researchers analysed 13 waves of data from the Pairfam study, a large representative survey involving around 12,000 participants in Germany. Their aim was to examine whether changes in relationship status directly influenced emotional well-being over time.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-appointees-push-proposal-for-250-us-bill-featuring-his-portrait-report-says-1779971661787">Trump on US dollar bill? Appointees push $250 banknote proposal ahead of 250th anniversary, report says</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;“What makes this study unique is that we followed participants over several years to see how their happiness shifted as their relationship status changed,” Prof Kislev explained. Although participants generally reported higher emotional well-being while in intimate relationships than when single, researchers found that relationship quality was the crucial factor.&nbsp;<h2>Why a Poor Relationship Can Be Worse Than Being Single</h2>&nbsp;The study found that people in poor- or moderate-quality relationships consistently experienced lower life satisfaction and fewer positive emotions than those who were single.&nbsp;ALSO READ: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-appointees-push-proposal-for-250-us-bill-featuring-his-portrait-report-says-1779971661787">Trump on US dollar bill? Appointees push $250 banknote proposal ahead of 250th anniversary, report says</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;“The results clearly indicate that it isn't simply about being coupled up,” said Prof Kislev, according to Phys.org. “The quality of the relationship is the deciding factor for our emotional health.” Researchers concluded that individuals in good-quality relationships recorded the highest emotional well-being overall. However, those in unhappy relationships experienced the lowest. The findings reinforce a growing body of psychological research suggesting that emotional strain, conflict and dissatisfaction inside relationships can create a measurable mental burden.&nbsp;<h2>Men and Women Experience Singlehood Differently</h2>&nbsp;The research also highlighted subtle gender differences. Men associated singlehood with slightly more negative emotions than women, although researchers described the difference as relatively small. Single women, meanwhile, reported feeling less secure than single men. Ultimately, the study argues that entering a fulfilling relationship improves emotional well-being, but settling for an unhealthy one can be more damaging than remaining single altogether.

The findings, published in the 2026 edition of the journal Personality and Individual Differences, challenge the long-standing assumption that being in a relationship is automatically better than being alone.

For decades, romantic partnership has been presented as a social milestone closely tied to happiness and emotional stability. Yet a major new study suggests that remaining single may be far healthier psychologically than staying in an unhappy relationship. Researchers tracking more than 12,000 people over several years found that individuals reported greater emotional well-being when single than when trapped in poor- or even moderate-quality relationships. The findings, published in the 2026 edition of the journal Personality and Individual Differences, challenge the long-standing assumption that being in a relationship is automatically better than being alone. Instead, researchers concluded that relationship quality, not relationship status itself, determines emotional health. Tracking Happiness Across Thousands of Lives The longitudinal study was led by Menelaos Apostolou of the University of Nicosia and Professor Elyakim Kislev of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and published by Phys.org. The researchers analysed 13 waves of data from the Pairfam study, a large representative survey involving around 12,000 participants in Germany. Their aim was to examine whether changes in relationship status directly influenced emotional well-being over time. ALSO READ: Trump on US dollar bill? Appointees push $250 banknote proposal ahead of 250th anniversary, report says “What makes this study unique is that we followed participants over several years to see how their happiness shifted as their relationship status changed,” Prof Kislev explained. Although participants generally reported higher emotional well-being while in intimate relationships than when single, researchers found that relationship quality was the crucial factor. Why a Poor Relationship Can Be Worse Than Being Single The study found that people in poor- or moderate-quality relationships consistently experienced lower life satisfaction and fewer positive emotions than those who were single. ALSO READ: Trump on US dollar bill? Appointees push $250 banknote proposal ahead of 250th anniversary, report says “The results clearly indicate that it isn't simply about being coupled up,” said Prof Kislev, according to Phys.org. “The quality of the relationship is the deciding factor for our emotional health.” Researchers concluded that individuals in good-quality relationships recorded the highest emotional well-being overall. However, those in unhappy relationships experienced the lowest. The findings reinforce a growing body of psychological research suggesting that emotional strain, conflict and dissatisfaction inside relationships can create a measurable mental burden. Men and Women Experience Singlehood Differently The research also highlighted subtle gender differences. Men associated singlehood with slightly more negative emotions than women, although researchers described the difference as relatively small. Single women, meanwhile, reported feeling less secure than single men. Ultimately, the study argues that entering a fulfilling relationship improves emotional well-being, but settling for an unhealthy one can be more damaging than remaining single altogether.

The findings, published in the 2026 edition of the journal Personality and Individual Differences, challenge the long-standing assumption that being in a relationship is automatically better than being alone.

Are couples always happier? New study finds bad relationships may be emotionally worse than being single

Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin suffered a major setback on Thursday (May 28) after its New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground test at Cape Canaveral in Florida, sending a huge fireball into the sky. The latest setback has triggered fresh questions about the future of the company's flagship launch vehicle. The explosion occurred during what Blue Origin described as a routine "hotfire test" of the rocket, a critical pre-launch procedure in which engines are ignited while the vehicle remains secured to the launch pad. "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test," said the company in a brief statement posted to X, adding that "all personnel have been accounted for."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-tower-of-babel-and-why-did-pope-leo-warn-about-it-while-talking-about-ai-wion-decodes-1779790151646">Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI?</a><h2>Dramatic videos show massive fireball</h2>

Dramatic videos circulating online showed smoke billowing from beneath the rocket moments before it erupted into a massive explosion, engulfing the launch pad in flames.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Blue Origin&#39;s New Glenn just blew up at LC-36 while attempting to Static Fire ahead of NG-4.<a href="https://t.co/tANS0dWyIH">https://t.co/tANS0dWyIH</a> <a href="https://t.co/PztxFoBqIw">pic.twitter.com/PztxFoBqIw</a>&mdash; NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/2060164928472854821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The company did not immediately disclose the extent of damage to the rocket or launch infrastructure. The incident drew an immediate response from Florida Congressman Mike Haridopolos, whose district includes Cape Canaveral. He said he had been in contact with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman following the explosion."I am grateful there were no reported injuries and thankful for the first responders, engineers, and launch crews who acted quickly," Haridopolos wrote on X.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tmc-leader-s-buried-cash-scandal-explodes-in-bengal-police-recover-over-20-million-from-dipankar-bhattacharya-s-farmland-1779962616557">TMC leader’s ‘buried cash’ scandal explodes in Bengal; police recover over 20 million from Dipankar Bhattacharya's farmland</a><h2>Another setback for Bezos' New Glenn programme</h2>The blast marks another blow for Blue Origin's ambitious New Glenn programme, which is designed to compete directly with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and Starship systems in the commercial launch market.Named after pioneering astronaut John Glenn, the heavy-lift rocket is central to Blue Origin's plans to become a major player in satellite launches, lunar missions and deep-space exploration.The explosion comes just weeks after another setback for the company. In April, a New Glenn mission failed to place a communications satellite into its intended orbit, prompting an internal investigation and renewed scrutiny of the programme. &nbsp;

Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes on launch pad during 'hotfire test'

Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin suffered a major setback on Thursday (May 28) after its New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground test at Cape Canaveral in Florida, sending a huge fireball into the sky. The latest setback has triggered fresh questions about the future of the company's flagship launch vehicle. The explosion occurred during what Blue Origin described as a routine "hotfire test" of the rocket, a critical pre-launch procedure in which engines are ignited while the vehicle remains secured to the launch pad. "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test," said the company in a brief statement posted to X, adding that "all personnel have been accounted for." Also read | Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI? Dramatic videos show massive fireball

Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket exploded in a fireball during a crucial launch pad test in Florida. Dramatic footage shows the rocket engulfed in flames moments after engine ignition. What happened? Here's all we know.

Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad 'hotfire test'

Scientists have discovered that mosquitoes can be trained to associate the smell of the world's most widely used insect repellent with a rewarding meal and can even develop a preference for biting people who have applied it. Despite the striking findings, lead study author Claudio Lazzari was quick to reassure the public that the results, obtained under highly controlled laboratory conditions, do not undermine the effectiveness of DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). The chemical compound has been in use since the 1940s and is considered the gold standard in repellents, recommended by the World Health Organisation in the fight against mosquito-borne illnesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, Lazzari, a professor emeritus at the University of Tours in France, noted that the world still needs newer, more environmentally friendly alternatives that cause fewer allergic reactions — and that requires a deeper understanding of why existing repellents work at all.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ice-shelf-size-of-indian-capital-city-delhi-will-detach-from-doomsday-glacier-in-2026-1779976277943">Ice shelf the size of Indian capital city Delhi will detach from 'Doomsday Glacier' in 2026</a>&nbsp;To investigate, an international research team applied a conditioning method similar to the one made famous by Pavlov's dog, the subject of classical conditioning. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carriers of dengue fever, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya were placed in a mesh enclosure and exposed to warm blood alongside the scent of DEET in repeated sessions. Initially, the insects retreated from the repellent as expected. But after just a few rounds of conditioning, more than 60 percent attempted to bite a DEET-scented surface even when no blood was present. When given a choice between a clean hand and one coated in DEET, the trained mosquitoes consistently preferred the treated one. Similar results were observed using sugar instead of blood.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/has-russia-developed-first-ever-vaccine-for-deadly-ebola-strain-behind-who-global-health-alert-that-killed-204-in-drc-1779851683958">Russia claims its Ebola vaccine may protect against strain behind DRC outbreak</a>&nbsp;The researchers concluded that DEET's repellent effect is not purely chemical but depends on how mosquitoes interpret and remember the scent. Co-author Clement Vinauger of Virginia Tech described this as a paradigm shift in understanding repellent behavior. The findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

A striking new laboratory study by the University of Tours reveals that mosquitoes can be trained to associate the smell of DEET with a meal. Discover why scientists say the gold-standard repellent still works—and why it's time to develop eco-friendly alternatives.

Scientists have discovered that mosquitoes can be trained to associate the smell of the world's most widely used insect repellent with a rewarding meal and can even develop a preference for biting people who have applied it. Despite the striking findings, lead study author Claudio Lazzari was quick to reassure the public that the results, obtained under highly controlled laboratory conditions, do not undermine the effectiveness of DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). The chemical compound has been in use since the 1940s and is considered the gold standard in repellents, recommended by the World Health Organisation in the fight against mosquito-borne illnesses. However, Lazzari, a professor emeritus at the University of Tours in France, noted that the world still needs newer, more environmentally friendly alternatives that cause fewer allergic reactions — and that requires a deeper understanding of why existing repellents work at all. Also read: Ice shelf the size of Indian capital city Delhi will detach from 'Doomsday Glacier' in 2026 To investigate, an international research team applied a conditioning method similar to the one made famous by Pavlov's dog, the subject of classical conditioning. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carriers of dengue fever, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya were placed in a mesh enclosure and exposed to warm blood alongside the scent of DEET in repeated sessions. Initially, the insects retreated from the repellent as expected. But after just a few rounds of conditioning, more than 60 percent attempted to bite a DEET-scented surface even when no blood was present. When given a choice between a clean hand and one coated in DEET, the trained mosquitoes consistently preferred the treated one. Similar results were observed using sugar instead of blood. Also read: Russia claims its Ebola vaccine may protect against strain behind DRC outbreak The researchers concluded that DEET's repellent effect is not purely chemical but depends on how mosquitoes interpret and remember the scent. Co-author Clement Vinauger of Virginia Tech described this as a paradigm shift in understanding repellent behavior. The findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

A striking new laboratory study by the University of Tours reveals that mosquitoes can be trained to associate the smell of DEET with a meal. Discover why scientists say the gold-standard repellent still works—and why it's time to develop eco-friendly alternatives.

Scientists trained mosquitoes to love repellent, but don't throw away your bug spray yet

science

Science, News on Science, stories on Science, articles on Science, Science stories at Wion, Science news, Science latest news

science

World Environment Day: Sheep are 'making hay while the sun shines', fixing a major solar panel problem

World Environment Day - Are humans sacrificing the climate for AI data centres?

AI could chug water enough to sustain 8.1bn people for over a year: UN report

As Tianwen-2 nears Kamoʻoalewa, scientists remain divided over its origins

Scientists stumble upon hundreds of craters in New York lake

Hidden system, big impact: THIS forgotten organ could predict how long you live

Scientists baked bread using yeast found in 5,300-year-old mummy's gut

Scientists just discovered cannibal stars. Our Sun also ate Earth-like planets

How New Glenn explosion hands Elon Musk's SpaceX a major edge

Scientists extract yeast from 5,300-year-old iceman Otzi to bake bread

Check out these 4 features in the 360-degree Mars photo taken by NASA rover

Physicists achieve 'perfect randomness'. Here is why it matters

Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them

Earth's 'river of liquid iron' shields us from space radiation. It has changed

Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a human probe - What Avi Loeb told us

Nvidia unveils new chip for Windows laptops, challenging Intel, AMD

‘Robots need clothes too’: Humanoids join human models at Seoul fashion show

Which came first— the black hole or galaxy? Webb discovery question key theory

New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion

Scientists find evidence of hidden supermassive black hole in Antennae galaxies

What SpaceX's $6.45 billion defence deals mean before its IPO

‘Interstellar’ inspired study shows it is possible to send messages back in time

Hellish 'super-Earth' Kua'kua is closer to the Moon than our planet, JWST finds

New study finds single people are happier than those in unhappy relationships