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The Supreme Court of India has held that administering stem cell therapy for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is unethical and amounts to medical malpractice if it is outside an approved and monitored clinical trial. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ruled that stem cell therapy is not recognised as a sound and relevant medical practice due to the lack of scientific support and empirical evidence on its efficacy.“Therefore, every use of stem cells in patients outside an approved clinical trial is unethical and shall be considered as malpractice,” the Supreme Court ruled.The stem cell therapy is permissible only for approved and monitored clinical trials with the intent to advance science, the bench added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-slams-powell-says-unnecessary-high-interest-rates-hurting-economy-national-security-1769702026051">Trump slams Powell, says unnecessary high interest rates hurting economy, national security</a><h2>‘Mere classification of stem cells as drugs not enough’</h2>&nbsp;The court also made it clear that the mere classification of stem cells as “drugs” under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, does not make their therapeutic use for autism permissible as a clinical service.“Although the stem cells administered for therapeutic use in ASD are characterised as drugs under the Drugs Act, 1940, the same by itself is not determinative of the fact that it is permissible to be administered as a clinical service,” the bench said.If doctors offer such treatment as a routine clinical service, they fail to meet the reasonable standard of care owed to patients.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/economic-survey-flags-rising-digital-addiction-among-kids-youth-in-india-will-govt-put-curbs-1769688736105">Economic Survey flags rising digital addiction among kids, youth in India. Will govt put curbs?</a><h2>‘Every medical practitioner owes a duty to…’</h2>&nbsp;The bench observed that every medical practitioner owes a duty to exercise a reasonable degree of care, skill and knowledge expected of a prudent practitioner in the field.&nbsp;It further said that this standard is breached when doctors administer interventions that lack credible scientific backing or are expressly discouraged by authoritative medical bodies.“A medical practitioner cannot be said to meet the standard of reasonable care if he administers an intervention that lacks credible scientific evidence of safety and efficacy or where authoritative medical bodies unequivocally state that such a form of treatment is not recommended,” the judgment said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/menstrual-hygiene-is-fundamental-right-supreme-court-orders-free-pads-for-school-girls-1769770333164">Menstrual hygiene is fundamental right: Supreme Court orders free pads for school girls</a><h2>‘Consent invalid if it is not based on…’</h2>&nbsp;After examining the recommendations of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the National Medical Commission dated December 6, 2022, read with the Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Social Science Research, the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017, and the National Ethical Guidelines formulated by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the court noted that these documents clearly state that stem cell therapy for autism is not recognised as a sound or relevant medical practice.“It is categorically mentioned therein that any stem cell use in patients must only be done within the purview of an approved and monitored clinical trial with the intent to advance science and medicine and not offering it as therapy,” the bench said.&nbsp;The court also held that consent is invalid if it is not based on adequate and credible scientific information.The court noted that offering a choice between no treatment and an unproven therapy does not amount to valid consent, especially when families are emotionally vulnerable.

The court said that consent is invalid if it is not based on adequate and credible scientific information, and it further noted that offering a choice between no treatment and an unproven therapy does not amount to valid consent, especially when families are emotionally vulnerable.

The Supreme Court of India has held that administering stem cell therapy for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is unethical and amounts to medical malpractice if it is outside an approved and monitored clinical trial. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ruled that stem cell therapy is not recognised as a sound and relevant medical practice due to the lack of scientific support and empirical evidence on its efficacy. “Therefore, every use of stem cells in patients outside an approved clinical trial is unethical and shall be considered as malpractice,” the Supreme Court ruled. The stem cell therapy is permissible only for approved and monitored clinical trials with the intent to advance science, the bench added. Also Read: Trump slams Powell, says unnecessary high interest rates hurting economy, national security ‘Mere classification of stem cells as drugs not enough’ The court also made it clear that the mere classification of stem cells as “drugs” under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, does not make their therapeutic use for autism permissible as a clinical service. “Although the stem cells administered for therapeutic use in ASD are characterised as drugs under the Drugs Act, 1940, the same by itself is not determinative of the fact that it is permissible to be administered as a clinical service,” the bench said. If doctors offer such treatment as a routine clinical service, they fail to meet the reasonable standard of care owed to patients. Also Read: Economic Survey flags rising digital addiction among kids, youth in India. Will govt put curbs? ‘Every medical practitioner owes a duty to…’ The bench observed that every medical practitioner owes a duty to exercise a reasonable degree of care, skill and knowledge expected of a prudent practitioner in the field. It further said that this standard is breached when doctors administer interventions that lack credible scientific backing or are expressly discouraged by authoritative medical bodies. “A medical practitioner cannot be said to meet the standard of reasonable care if he administers an intervention that lacks credible scientific evidence of safety and efficacy or where authoritative medical bodies unequivocally state that such a form of treatment is not recommended,” the judgment said. Also Read: Menstrual hygiene is fundamental right: Supreme Court orders free pads for school girls ‘Consent invalid if it is not based on…’ After examining the recommendations of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the National Medical Commission dated December 6, 2022, read with the Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Social Science Research, the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017, and the National Ethical Guidelines formulated by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the court noted that these documents clearly state that stem cell therapy for autism is not recognised as a sound or relevant medical practice. “It is categorically mentioned therein that any stem cell use in patients must only be done within the purview of an approved and monitored clinical trial with the intent to advance science and medicine and not offering it as therapy,” the bench said. The court also held that consent is invalid if it is not based on adequate and credible scientific information. The court noted that offering a choice between no treatment and an unproven therapy does not amount to valid consent, especially when families are emotionally vulnerable.

The court said that consent is invalid if it is not based on adequate and credible scientific information, and it further noted that offering a choice between no treatment and an unproven therapy does not amount to valid consent, especially when families are emotionally vulnerable.

‘Stem cell therapy for autism is unethical, medical malpractice,’ says Supreme Court

Russian scientists at Troitsk Institute are testing a propulsion system, a prototype plasma rocket engine for deep space exploration. This is not a conventional chemical rocket; it uses plasma, accelerated by electromagnetic fields, to generate continuous thrust. The engine is being developed by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. It could reduce the interplanetary travel time from several months to less than a month.<h2>Plasma rockets vs chemical rockets</h2>Plasma rockets are fundamentally different from conventional chemical rockets. For hundreds of years, space exploration has depended on chemical rockets. Chemical rockets pack fuel into a tank and combust it for thrust the rocket upwards. The method is destructive. It is brute force, not elegance, an idea born out of necessity, not imagination. Each rocket consumes a gigantic amount of energy. The system has its drawbacks, such as burning an excessive amount of fuel for long missions.&nbsp;Plasma rockets, on the other hand has high fuel efficiency; they rely on electromagnetic fields to accelerate charged hydrogen particles, requiring less than 1/10 of the original fuel required. The field has gained increased attention from scientists. Contrary to chemical rockets, Plasma rockets generate much lower thrusts but can travel for a longer duration, gradually building up a higher speed that can travel for a longer duration. If the Russian system reaches a longer distance, then it will have significant implications for space exploration. Plasma rockets require an onboard nuclear reactor to provide a constant energy supply. The expectation is that in space, there is abundant hydrogen, so it will be useful for SITU refuelling.&nbsp;<h2>What is the Russian Media claiming about the plasma engine?</h2>The prototype engine is currently being tested inside a 14m long vacuum chamber designed to simulate space conditions. According to the Russian newspaper Izvestia, the engine operates at a power level of 300 kilowatts in a pulsed periodic mode and has demonstrated a lifespan of 2,400 hours, which would be enough for a Mars travel, including the acceleration and deceleration phase. Researchers claim that the engine accelerates charged hydrogen particles, including protons and electrons, to speeds reaching 100 km per second, compared to the exhaust velocities of 4.5 km per second of a traditional rocket.&nbsp;However, plasma engines already exist on many satellites in orbits, including systems on OneWeb aircraft and NASA’s Psyche mission launched in 2023. Most of them have an exhaust velocity of 30-50 km per second. The Russian claim of 100 km per second marks a significant step forward.&nbsp;

Russian scientists are testing a plasma rocket engine that uses electromagnetic fields instead of fuel combustion, potentially cutting Mars travel time to under a month.

Russian scientists at Troitsk Institute are testing a propulsion system, a prototype plasma rocket engine for deep space exploration. This is not a conventional chemical rocket; it uses plasma, accelerated by electromagnetic fields, to generate continuous thrust. The engine is being developed by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. It could reduce the interplanetary travel time from several months to less than a month. Plasma rockets vs chemical rockets Plasma rockets are fundamentally different from conventional chemical rockets. For hundreds of years, space exploration has depended on chemical rockets. Chemical rockets pack fuel into a tank and combust it for thrust the rocket upwards. The method is destructive. It is brute force, not elegance, an idea born out of necessity, not imagination. Each rocket consumes a gigantic amount of energy. The system has its drawbacks, such as burning an excessive amount of fuel for long missions. Plasma rockets, on the other hand has high fuel efficiency; they rely on electromagnetic fields to accelerate charged hydrogen particles, requiring less than 1/10 of the original fuel required. The field has gained increased attention from scientists. Contrary to chemical rockets, Plasma rockets generate much lower thrusts but can travel for a longer duration, gradually building up a higher speed that can travel for a longer duration. If the Russian system reaches a longer distance, then it will have significant implications for space exploration. Plasma rockets require an onboard nuclear reactor to provide a constant energy supply. The expectation is that in space, there is abundant hydrogen, so it will be useful for SITU refuelling. What is the Russian Media claiming about the plasma engine? The prototype engine is currently being tested inside a 14m long vacuum chamber designed to simulate space conditions. According to the Russian newspaper Izvestia, the engine operates at a power level of 300 kilowatts in a pulsed periodic mode and has demonstrated a lifespan of 2,400 hours, which would be enough for a Mars travel, including the acceleration and deceleration phase. Researchers claim that the engine accelerates charged hydrogen particles, including protons and electrons, to speeds reaching 100 km per second, compared to the exhaust velocities of 4.5 km per second of a traditional rocket. However, plasma engines already exist on many satellites in orbits, including systems on OneWeb aircraft and NASA’s Psyche mission launched in 2023. Most of them have an exhaust velocity of 30-50 km per second. The Russian claim of 100 km per second marks a significant step forward.

Russian scientists are testing a plasma rocket engine that uses electromagnetic fields instead of fuel combustion, potentially cutting Mars travel time to under a month.

Russian scientists test plasma engine that could cut Mars travel to about 30 Days

Polar Bears are getting fatter as the ice in the arctics are melting quickly, and scientists suggest “a fat bear is a healthy bear”. This observation is contrary to the earlier notion that shrinking ice caps put them at risk of losing their habitat. At least in the Svalbard region, scientists have observed that Polar Bears are getting enough carbs to gain body fat.&nbsp;The Barents Sea has experienced a greater increase in temperature than any other region in the Arctic in the past four decades. It is a shallow marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean that borders the Svalbard archipelago. The area has lost sea habitat twice as fast as any other area in the Arctic.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iaf-helicopters-forest-fire-anjaw-arunachal-pradesh-1769751495066">Indian Air Force's Mi-17V5 helicopters dropped 12,000 litres of water in the rarefied Himalayan air</a>"And I would have expected to see a decline in body condition when the loss of sea ice has been so profound," said Jon Aars.Jon Aars, a scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute have tracked and measured 770 adult polar bears in Svalbard between 1992 and 2019 have seen that they have become plumper by feasting on land-based prey such as reindeer and walruses, species that had recovered after being over-exploited by humans. He reasoned that warmer temperatures have also made it easier for the polar bear to hunt, as seals have smaller areas of sea ice available to them, often gathering collectively in those areas, providing a hunting ground for them. Researchers have also found that melting ice is pushing polar bears to get creative on land.&nbsp;“Some of them would be on land as much as 90% of the time now, which is a lot,” said Jon Aars.&nbsp;However, the similar dynamics can not be attributed to polar bears in Hudson Bay, north-eastern Canada. Sarah Cubaynes, a researcher at the French environmental research centre, has said that the Svalbard findings are surprising as polar bears in other regions have greatly lost their body mass.&nbsp;

Scientists studying polar bears in Norway’s Svalbard region found them fat and healthy despite rapid Arctic ice loss, challenging climate assumptions.

Polar Bears are getting fatter as the ice in the arctics are melting quickly, and scientists suggest “a fat bear is a healthy bear”. This observation is contrary to the earlier notion that shrinking ice caps put them at risk of losing their habitat. At least in the Svalbard region, scientists have observed that Polar Bears are getting enough carbs to gain body fat. The Barents Sea has experienced a greater increase in temperature than any other region in the Arctic in the past four decades. It is a shallow marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean that borders the Svalbard archipelago. The area has lost sea habitat twice as fast as any other area in the Arctic. Also Read: Indian Air Force's Mi-17V5 helicopters dropped 12,000 litres of water in the rarefied Himalayan air "And I would have expected to see a decline in body condition when the loss of sea ice has been so profound," said Jon Aars. Jon Aars, a scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute have tracked and measured 770 adult polar bears in Svalbard between 1992 and 2019 have seen that they have become plumper by feasting on land-based prey such as reindeer and walruses, species that had recovered after being over-exploited by humans. He reasoned that warmer temperatures have also made it easier for the polar bear to hunt, as seals have smaller areas of sea ice available to them, often gathering collectively in those areas, providing a hunting ground for them. Researchers have also found that melting ice is pushing polar bears to get creative on land. “Some of them would be on land as much as 90% of the time now, which is a lot,” said Jon Aars. However, the similar dynamics can not be attributed to polar bears in Hudson Bay, north-eastern Canada. Sarah Cubaynes, a researcher at the French environmental research centre, has said that the Svalbard findings are surprising as polar bears in other regions have greatly lost their body mass.

Scientists studying polar bears in Norway’s Svalbard region found them fat and healthy despite rapid Arctic ice loss, challenging climate assumptions.

Polar bears in Norway found fat and healthy despite rapid Arctic ice loss

Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, can produce underwater tsunamis ranging from 30 to more than 300 feet, according to researchers. This happens when glaciers collapse, creating a wave that could reach extreme heights. We know that iceberg calving happens, but what happens underneath the water at this time? "These big underwater waves, with amplitudes of 10s to possibly hundreds of meters, what that can do is mix deep water with water closer to the surface. We have to understand that in order to make those better predictions about sea ice melt,” said British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Oceanographer Dr Alex Brearley.&nbsp;&nbsp;Scientists are using underwater torpedo drones to observe the occurrences under the glaciers. When calving events happen in the Thwaites Glacier, underwater tsunamis are triggered. These tsunamis are speeding up the mixing of cold and warm waters, rising sea levels, etc. All of which could be an indicator of what’s to come, should environmental catastrophe strike.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/doomsday-gets-closer-cracks-on-thwaites-glacier-have-doubled-in-two-decades-1766981007538">Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades</a><h2>Why does this matter?</h2> These underwater tsunamis are dangerous because they mix warm and cold water. As the ocean churns, deep, warm water moves upwards to the surface. This warm water slams into the bottom of the glacier and the surrounding sea ice. This causes the ice to melt much faster than scientists previously predicted.<h2>Doomsday Glacier and sea level rise</h2> Thwaites Glacier is a major risk to the world's coastlines. Studies estimate that if it collapses entirely, it could raise global sea levels by about two feet. This event could then act as a catalyst and cause the rest of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to fall as well, raising sea levels by 10 feet<h2>How are they studying it?</h2> Humans can't study these tsunamis closely. So scientists are using underwater "torpedo" drones to measure the waves caused by the calving events. These hidden "underwater tsunamis" are a newly discovered gear in the climate change machine that is accelerating how fast our oceans are rising. &nbsp;

 Doomsday Glacier is producing underwater tsunamis, which are not easy to study. Scientists have found a way to observe and analyse them. As the glacier melts, more of these waves will occur. How is it changing?

Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, can produce underwater tsunamis ranging from 30 to more than 300 feet, according to researchers. This happens when glaciers collapse, creating a wave that could reach extreme heights. We know that iceberg calving happens, but what happens underneath the water at this time? "These big underwater waves, with amplitudes of 10s to possibly hundreds of meters, what that can do is mix deep water with water closer to the surface. We have to understand that in order to make those better predictions about sea ice melt,” said British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Oceanographer Dr Alex Brearley. Scientists are using underwater torpedo drones to observe the occurrences under the glaciers. When calving events happen in the Thwaites Glacier, underwater tsunamis are triggered. These tsunamis are speeding up the mixing of cold and warm waters, rising sea levels, etc. All of which could be an indicator of what’s to come, should environmental catastrophe strike. Also Read: Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades Why does this matter? These underwater tsunamis are dangerous because they mix warm and cold water. As the ocean churns, deep, warm water moves upwards to the surface. This warm water slams into the bottom of the glacier and the surrounding sea ice. This causes the ice to melt much faster than scientists previously predicted. Doomsday Glacier and sea level rise Thwaites Glacier is a major risk to the world's coastlines. Studies estimate that if it collapses entirely, it could raise global sea levels by about two feet. This event could then act as a catalyst and cause the rest of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to fall as well, raising sea levels by 10 feet How are they studying it? Humans can't study these tsunamis closely. So scientists are using underwater "torpedo" drones to measure the waves caused by the calving events. These hidden "underwater tsunamis" are a newly discovered gear in the climate change machine that is accelerating how fast our oceans are rising.

Doomsday Glacier is producing underwater tsunamis, which are not easy to study. Scientists have found a way to observe and analyse them. As the glacier melts, more of these waves will occur. How is it changing?

300 foot underwater tsunamis triggered by Doomsday Glacier threaten the world

Scientists have managed to establish human presence on the Thwaites Glacier to understand everything about it before it vanishes. Also known as Doomsday Glacier, Thwaites is melting extremely fast and is estimated to disappear fully by the early 22nd century. The New York Times reported, that a camp was set up on the glacier on January 19, with roughly 17 tons of gear and drilling personnel ready to look deep inside it. The expedition aims to drill a hole in the ice and place instruments in the warming ocean waters below. This will reveal to the world how the sea is slowly killing the massive glacier. The program will continue for the next few weeks and won't be an easy one. Reaching the glacier was itself an arduous affair because of the weather. Although the researchers reached Thwaites earlier this month, helicopters from the ship could not land them on the glacier because of the invisibility caused by the clouds over the ice. But a lucky break in the weather allowed them to land cargo and erect a campsite.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/major-catastrophe-unfolding-in-antarctica-as-hundreds-of-earthquakes-slam-doomsday-glacier-1767680441864">Major catastrophe unfolding in Antarctica as hundreds of earthquakes slam Doomsday Glacier</a><h2>Setting camp on Thwaites Glacier - Why it matters</h2>The 10-member team does not have a lot of time on Thwaites and must battle the bad weather to finish their task - place monitoring equipment inside the glacier. Their ship, Araon, needs to leave for New Zealand by February 7 as it has another Antarctic voyage to take. Setting up on the glacier would have taken a week, which leaves them with only about 10-12 days. One of the team members told the outlet that it is important to stay safe, and they are hopeful of returning with "some hard-hitting scientific results that speak about our planet." If the scientists are successful in placing the equipment, they would be able to gather data on the sea temperature and the thinning ice remotely.<h2>What will happen if Doomsday Glacier collapses</h2>If the Doomsday Glacier collapses entirely, global sea levels could rise by 10 feet. Fresh studies have also shown that the glacier has been struck by hundreds of iceberg earthquakes between 2010 and 2023, making it extremely unstable. According to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, 362 glacial earthquakes were recorded in Antarctica during this time period, and 245 of them slammed the Doomsday Glacier. Such tremors, known as glacial earthquakes, were first detected in 2003 along the coast of Greenland. They occur when large icebergs collapse. Scientists assumed that they were happening in Antarctica, but their lower magnitude made them hard to detect.&nbsp;

Thwaites, or the 'Doomsday Glacier' is melting away. Scientists have set up a campsite complete with bathrooms and other amenities on the glacier and will install equipment deep inside the ice. They need to do this before February 7.

Scientists have managed to establish human presence on the Thwaites Glacier to understand everything about it before it vanishes. Also known as Doomsday Glacier, Thwaites is melting extremely fast and is estimated to disappear fully by the early 22nd century. The New York Times reported, that a camp was set up on the glacier on January 19, with roughly 17 tons of gear and drilling personnel ready to look deep inside it. The expedition aims to drill a hole in the ice and place instruments in the warming ocean waters below. This will reveal to the world how the sea is slowly killing the massive glacier. The program will continue for the next few weeks and won't be an easy one. Reaching the glacier was itself an arduous affair because of the weather. Although the researchers reached Thwaites earlier this month, helicopters from the ship could not land them on the glacier because of the invisibility caused by the clouds over the ice. But a lucky break in the weather allowed them to land cargo and erect a campsite. Also Read: Major catastrophe unfolding in Antarctica as hundreds of earthquakes slam Doomsday Glacier Setting camp on Thwaites Glacier - Why it matters The 10-member team does not have a lot of time on Thwaites and must battle the bad weather to finish their task - place monitoring equipment inside the glacier. Their ship, Araon, needs to leave for New Zealand by February 7 as it has another Antarctic voyage to take. Setting up on the glacier would have taken a week, which leaves them with only about 10-12 days. One of the team members told the outlet that it is important to stay safe, and they are hopeful of returning with "some hard-hitting scientific results that speak about our planet." If the scientists are successful in placing the equipment, they would be able to gather data on the sea temperature and the thinning ice remotely. What will happen if Doomsday Glacier collapses If the Doomsday Glacier collapses entirely, global sea levels could rise by 10 feet. Fresh studies have also shown that the glacier has been struck by hundreds of iceberg earthquakes between 2010 and 2023, making it extremely unstable. According to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, 362 glacial earthquakes were recorded in Antarctica during this time period, and 245 of them slammed the Doomsday Glacier. Such tremors, known as glacial earthquakes, were first detected in 2003 along the coast of Greenland. They occur when large icebergs collapse. Scientists assumed that they were happening in Antarctica, but their lower magnitude made them hard to detect.

Thwaites, or the 'Doomsday Glacier' is melting away. Scientists have set up a campsite complete with bathrooms and other amenities on the glacier and will install equipment deep inside the ice. They need to do this before February 7.

Scientists set up camp on 'Doomsday Glacier', but they are on a tight deadline: Here is why it matters

Full Snow Moon 2026: The full moon of February will rise soon. It will create a rare visual spectacle as a famous star cluster will make an appearance next to it. The night will be bright, surpassing any supermoon night.  

Full Snow Moon 2026: No Supermoon, but it would still be one of the brightest nights. Here's why

Cold Earth candidate HD 137010 b is similar to our planet in size. It orbits around its star in 355 days, meaning it is almost the same distance from its star as Earth is from the Sun. However, it is colder than Mars because its star is colder than the Sun. 

Retired Kepler Telescope was hiding a 'cold Earth' candidate 146 light-years away. Here is why it matters

New research indicates that Eilmer of Malmesbury, an 11th-century English Benedictine monk, was the first person to observe Halley’s Comet over 600 years before Edmond Halley. He saw the comet twice in his lifetime - 989 CE and 1066 CE - and recognised its periodic nature. This has been documented by the 12th-century chronicler William of Malmesbury, which makes Eilmer, and not Edmond Halley, the first person see the comet and recognise that it returns after a certain number of years. Today, we know that Halley's comet makes an appearance approximately every 76 years. Professor Simon Portegies Zwart from <a href="https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2026/01/halleys-comet-wrongly-named-11th-century-english-monk-predates-british-astronomer">Leiden University</a>, along with other astronomers, states in research that Eilmer's achievement has remained unrecognised by historians. While the monk saw the comet in 989 and then again 77 years later, Edmond Halley caught a glimpse in 1705. Zwart, Lewis and others published their research in the book "Dorestad and Everything After. Ports, townscapes &amp; travellers in Europe, 800-1100".&nbsp;Eilmer, or Aethelmaer, was extremely young when he saw the comet for the first time. Gesta Regum Anglorum (Deeds of the Kings of the English) by William of Malmesbury also mentions Eilmer's exact words upon the comet's return: "You've come, have you? ... It is long since I saw you... You source of tears to many mothers." The chronicle shows that Eilmer knew it was the same comet he had seen as a young boy. However, Edmond Halley was the one who scientifically proved that the comet returns every 76 years or so. He analysed observations of bright comets in 1531, 1607, and 1682 using Isaac Newton's newly published theory of gravitation. He calculated that these were not three separate comets, but only one with an elliptical orbit with a period of approximately 76 years. He predicted its return in 1758, and it did. However, he passed away in 1742 and could not witness his prediction coming true.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-star-vanished-in-andromeda-galaxy-now-a-strange-red-source-is-puzzling-astronomers-1769174134762">A star vanished in Andromeda galaxy. Now a strange red source is puzzling astronomers</a>&nbsp;<h2>Why the Halley's Comet discovery matters</h2>The revelation that Halley's Comet was seen several years before proves that medieval scholars were far more observant and analytical regarding the natural world than previously thought. It challenges the narrative that rigorous scientific observation only began with the Enlightenment.<h2>Halley's Comet observations in 1066</h2> Historical records indicate that the comet remained visible in China for over two months in 1066. It reached peak brightness on 22 April, and was not seen in Brittany and the British Isles until 24 April. The comet was illustrated on the Bayeux Tapestry.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/webb-peers-deep-inside-the-eye-of-god-spotting-core-of-a-dead-star-1768999408201">Webb peers deep inside the Eye of God, spotting core of a dead star</a><h2>Halley's Comet omens and beliefs</h2> In ancient times, comets were associated with bad occurrences. When Halley's Comet visited in 1066, King Harold Godwinson ruled England for a short time from 6 January to 14 October. Before this, records retrieved by the researchers suggested that a comet was seen five times over centuries around this time, and all those appearances were linked to the deaths of kings, war or famine in the British Isles. There is even a comet not mentioned in the chronicles that came right before the death of Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury in 995. Leiden researchers say it is a historical equivalent of fake news.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Halley's Comet might be named after Edmond Halley, but it was a British monk, Eilmer of Malmesbury, who first saw it centuries ago. He saw it as a young boy, and then years later, saw it again and doled out some ominous words.

New research indicates that Eilmer of Malmesbury, an 11th-century English Benedictine monk, was the first person to observe Halley’s Comet over 600 years before Edmond Halley. He saw the comet twice in his lifetime - 989 CE and 1066 CE - and recognised its periodic nature. This has been documented by the 12th-century chronicler William of Malmesbury, which makes Eilmer, and not Edmond Halley, the first person see the comet and recognise that it returns after a certain number of years. Today, we know that Halley's comet makes an appearance approximately every 76 years. Professor Simon Portegies Zwart from Leiden University, along with other astronomers, states in research that Eilmer's achievement has remained unrecognised by historians. While the monk saw the comet in 989 and then again 77 years later, Edmond Halley caught a glimpse in 1705. Zwart, Lewis and others published their research in the book "Dorestad and Everything After. Ports, townscapes & travellers in Europe, 800-1100". Eilmer, or Aethelmaer, was extremely young when he saw the comet for the first time. Gesta Regum Anglorum (Deeds of the Kings of the English) by William of Malmesbury also mentions Eilmer's exact words upon the comet's return: "You've come, have you? ... It is long since I saw you... You source of tears to many mothers." The chronicle shows that Eilmer knew it was the same comet he had seen as a young boy. However, Edmond Halley was the one who scientifically proved that the comet returns every 76 years or so. He analysed observations of bright comets in 1531, 1607, and 1682 using Isaac Newton's newly published theory of gravitation. He calculated that these were not three separate comets, but only one with an elliptical orbit with a period of approximately 76 years. He predicted its return in 1758, and it did. However, he passed away in 1742 and could not witness his prediction coming true. Also Read: A star vanished in Andromeda galaxy. Now a strange red source is puzzling astronomers Why the Halley's Comet discovery matters The revelation that Halley's Comet was seen several years before proves that medieval scholars were far more observant and analytical regarding the natural world than previously thought. It challenges the narrative that rigorous scientific observation only began with the Enlightenment. Halley's Comet observations in 1066 Historical records indicate that the comet remained visible in China for over two months in 1066. It reached peak brightness on 22 April, and was not seen in Brittany and the British Isles until 24 April. The comet was illustrated on the Bayeux Tapestry. Also Read: Webb peers deep inside the Eye of God, spotting core of a dead star Halley's Comet omens and beliefs In ancient times, comets were associated with bad occurrences. When Halley's Comet visited in 1066, King Harold Godwinson ruled England for a short time from 6 January to 14 October. Before this, records retrieved by the researchers suggested that a comet was seen five times over centuries around this time, and all those appearances were linked to the deaths of kings, war or famine in the British Isles. There is even a comet not mentioned in the chronicles that came right before the death of Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury in 995. Leiden researchers say it is a historical equivalent of fake news.

Halley's Comet might be named after Edmond Halley, but it was a British monk, Eilmer of Malmesbury, who first saw it centuries ago. He saw it as a young boy, and then years later, saw it again and doled out some ominous words.

'You source of tears...': A monk saw the 76-year comet TWICE 600 years before Edmond Halley did

Two total solar eclipses with long paths of totality are due to occur in 2026 and 2027. One of them will last for over 6 minutes and will be spread over a long area. The year 2028 will also witness another total solar eclipse.

3 total solar eclipses in 3 years: Where and how to see, and paths of totality

NASA's James Webb Telescope reveals the sharpest-ever map of dark matter, confirming its role as the universe's "invisible scaffolding." Discover how dark matter's gravity shaped galaxies and paved the way for life on Earth.

How dark matter acts like the universe's web: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope sees 800,000 galaxies

A yellow supergiant star, M31-2014-DS1, vanished from the Andromeda Galaxy between 2014 and 2018, and astronomers don't have an answer about what happened to it. Two teams of researchers studied the event and recently came up with possible explanations for its disappearance, IFL Science reported. One of the teams used the James Webb Space Telescope to understand what could have happened to the star that was observed shining brightly in 2014. They state in their preprint, which has yet to be peer reviewed, that it likely turned into a black hole without undergoing a supernova, the explosive death of a star. These bright bodies in the cosmos have a way to end their lives. Once their fuel runs out, they burst into a supernova, putting on an extremely bright show. However, nothing of the sort was seen with M31-2014-DS1. The researchers think that it was a failed supernova.&nbsp;Explaining the two scenarios, they wrote that "stellar-mass black holes (BHs) are understood to represent the end states of massive stellar evolution". Theoretically speaking, there are "multiple pathways to their formation. These include both successful terminal explosions – in which the progenitor star ejects most of its core and outer envelope in a core-collapse supernova – and failed explosions, where the star undergoes near-complete implosion with little accompanying mass ejection."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/4-25bn-years-ago-an-impact-gave-a-dramatic-makeover-to-the-far-side-of-moon-1768823215663">4.25bn years ago, an impact gave a dramatic makeover to the far side of Moon</a><h2>Red light in place of missing star</h2>The team used &nbsp;JWST and the Chandra X-ray Observatory to see what was left and found an "extremely red source" in place of the star. Its brightness is only around 7–8 per cent of the original star. There is also a shell of dust surrounding the red source that stretches out to a whopping 40-200 times the distance between Earth and Sun. The team thinks the red spot is material ejected by the star that is now falling back into a newly formed black hole. However, the accretion is not seen in X-ray observations, making the failed supernova theory questionable.Another team made observations that challenge the failed supernova theory.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/cyanide-icy-cobwebs-origin-of-life-1769090271947">Strange poisonous 'icy cobwebs' may have been the engines that sparked life on Earth</a><h2>Why it could not be a failed supernova</h2>&nbsp;"Several observational details challenge the interpretation of M31-2014-DS1 as a failed SN," the team wrote in their paper. They say that if it went directly from being a star to a black hole without a supernova, then the luminosity from fallback accretion should decline as the accretion rate decreases. But not much of a fall has been noticed in the brightness of the source. They used the Chandra telescope to find the X-rays, but none were detected. Both studies have been posted on the pre-print server arXiv.&nbsp;Scientists say the dust could be hampering a proper view of the zone. Which brings them to a second explanation - a stellar merger. The team says it is possible that two stars collided and created this dust which is making it hard to see what is going on there. They believe once the dust settles, the main source might become visible.&nbsp;

A missing star in the Andromeda Galaxy has become a mystery to astronomers. This star suddenly vanished without any traces of a supernova. All that is visible is red light source, and they do not know what it could be.

A yellow supergiant star, M31-2014-DS1, vanished from the Andromeda Galaxy between 2014 and 2018, and astronomers don't have an answer about what happened to it. Two teams of researchers studied the event and recently came up with possible explanations for its disappearance, IFL Science reported. One of the teams used the James Webb Space Telescope to understand what could have happened to the star that was observed shining brightly in 2014. They state in their preprint, which has yet to be peer reviewed, that it likely turned into a black hole without undergoing a supernova, the explosive death of a star. These bright bodies in the cosmos have a way to end their lives. Once their fuel runs out, they burst into a supernova, putting on an extremely bright show. However, nothing of the sort was seen with M31-2014-DS1. The researchers think that it was a failed supernova. Explaining the two scenarios, they wrote that "stellar-mass black holes (BHs) are understood to represent the end states of massive stellar evolution". Theoretically speaking, there are "multiple pathways to their formation. These include both successful terminal explosions – in which the progenitor star ejects most of its core and outer envelope in a core-collapse supernova – and failed explosions, where the star undergoes near-complete implosion with little accompanying mass ejection." Also Read: 4.25bn years ago, an impact gave a dramatic makeover to the far side of Moon Red light in place of missing star The team used JWST and the Chandra X-ray Observatory to see what was left and found an "extremely red source" in place of the star. Its brightness is only around 7–8 per cent of the original star. There is also a shell of dust surrounding the red source that stretches out to a whopping 40-200 times the distance between Earth and Sun. The team thinks the red spot is material ejected by the star that is now falling back into a newly formed black hole. However, the accretion is not seen in X-ray observations, making the failed supernova theory questionable. Another team made observations that challenge the failed supernova theory. Also Read: Strange poisonous 'icy cobwebs' may have been the engines that sparked life on Earth Why it could not be a failed supernova "Several observational details challenge the interpretation of M31-2014-DS1 as a failed SN," the team wrote in their paper. They say that if it went directly from being a star to a black hole without a supernova, then the luminosity from fallback accretion should decline as the accretion rate decreases. But not much of a fall has been noticed in the brightness of the source. They used the Chandra telescope to find the X-rays, but none were detected. Both studies have been posted on the pre-print server arXiv. Scientists say the dust could be hampering a proper view of the zone. Which brings them to a second explanation - a stellar merger. The team says it is possible that two stars collided and created this dust which is making it hard to see what is going on there. They believe once the dust settles, the main source might become visible.

A missing star in the Andromeda Galaxy has become a mystery to astronomers. This star suddenly vanished without any traces of a supernova. All that is visible is a red light source, and they do not know what it could be.

A star vanished in Andromeda galaxy. Now a strange red source is puzzling astronomers

NASA is set to send a crewed mission to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Artemis 2 is expected to take flight on February 6 this year, sending four astronauts outside low Earth orbit and into space. The Artemis 2 team is taking with it some priceless items linked to America's space journey, NASA announced. Several artefacts will be placed on the Orion spacecraft that will celebrate the American space agency's work in the field. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement, "This mission will bring together pieces of our earliest achievements in aviation, defining moments from human spaceflight, and symbols of where we’re headed next." He added, "Orion will carry astronauts around the Moon while also carrying our history forward into the next chapter beyond Earth."&nbsp;One of the artefacts on the Artemis 2 flight kit will be from the first powered flight performed by the Wright brothers in 1903. It is one square inch of muslin fabric from the original Wright Flyer. This aircraft was the world’s first powered flying machine. The fabric has been loaned by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. A smaller piece of the fabric was launched into space in 1985 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. Artemis 2 will also carry a small American flag that has been on previous missions. It was on STS-1, the first shuttle mission, and then STS-135, the last shuttle mission. NASA’s first crewed test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft also took the same flag to space.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nasa-artemis-ii-launch-date-announced-humanity-returns-to-the-moon-after-53-years-1768364901950">Artemis II launch date announced: Humanity returns to the Moon after 53 years</a><h2>American flag in space&nbsp;</h2>An American flag that was scheduled to fly into space as part of the Apollo 18 mission in 1970 will finally take the much-awaited trip. The mission never took off, and it was never out on any other spacecraft as well. An artefact from the 1964 Ranger 7 mission, which led NASA to make its first successful contact with the lunar surface after 13 failed attempts, will also be part of the kit. Ranger 7 returned 4,300 images of the lunar surface back to Earth, and a copy of one of the photo negatives from it will be added to the Artemis 2 kit. The SLS and Orion spacecraft rolled onto NASA’s Kennedy Space Center launchpad on January 1,7 and final preparations are underway before the bid day.

The Artemis 2 mission will carry several pieces of history with it to the Moon when it is launched in February. There is a piece from the Wright Brothers' aircraft and an American flag that has waited 56 years to go to space.

NASA is set to send a crewed mission to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Artemis 2 is expected to take flight on February 6 this year, sending four astronauts outside low Earth orbit and into space. The Artemis 2 team is taking with it some priceless items linked to America's space journey, NASA announced. Several artefacts will be placed on the Orion spacecraft that will celebrate the American space agency's work in the field. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement, "This mission will bring together pieces of our earliest achievements in aviation, defining moments from human spaceflight, and symbols of where we’re headed next." He added, "Orion will carry astronauts around the Moon while also carrying our history forward into the next chapter beyond Earth." One of the artefacts on the Artemis 2 flight kit will be from the first powered flight performed by the Wright brothers in 1903. It is one square inch of muslin fabric from the original Wright Flyer. This aircraft was the world’s first powered flying machine. The fabric has been loaned by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. A smaller piece of the fabric was launched into space in 1985 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. Artemis 2 will also carry a small American flag that has been on previous missions. It was on STS-1, the first shuttle mission, and then STS-135, the last shuttle mission. NASA’s first crewed test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft also took the same flag to space. Also Read: Artemis II launch date announced: Humanity returns to the Moon after 53 years American flag in space An American flag that was scheduled to fly into space as part of the Apollo 18 mission in 1970 will finally take the much-awaited trip. The mission never took off, and it was never out on any other spacecraft as well. An artefact from the 1964 Ranger 7 mission, which led NASA to make its first successful contact with the lunar surface after 13 failed attempts, will also be part of the kit. Ranger 7 returned 4,300 images of the lunar surface back to Earth, and a copy of one of the photo negatives from it will be added to the Artemis 2 kit. The SLS and Orion spacecraft rolled onto NASA’s Kennedy Space Center launchpad on January 1,7 and final preparations are underway before the bid day.

The Artemis 2 mission will carry several pieces of history with it to the Moon when it is launched in February. There is a piece from the Wright Brothers' aircraft and an American flag that has waited 56 years to go to space.

An American flag that has waited 56 years to go to space finally gets its chance with Artemis 2

Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) might be a lethal poison today, but it may have been the essential "spark" that kick-started life on Earth and potentially other icy worlds like Saturn’s moon, Titan. Scientists have discovered that at extremely low temperatures, hydrogen cyanide transforms into unique, needle-like crystals that resemble "icy cobwebs." The chemical properties of these crystals change this poisonous substance into a key building block to make the components of DNA. The new study published in the journal ACS Central Science states that the deadly chemical might have been essential for all life to start on Earth. Martin Rahm, a co-author of the study from Chalmers University of Technology, said, "Hydrogen cyanide is likely one source of this chemical complexity, and we show that it can react surprisingly quickly in cold places." Rahm and his team found that when it is frozen, HCN crystal surfaces could trigger chemical reactions that might not be otherwise possible in cold environments.&nbsp;They state that these surfaces generate permanent electric fields that act as a "chemical engine" to lower the energy barriers for certain reactions. According to the researchers, these electric fields can transform HCN into the more reactive hydrogen isocyanide (HNC). This more reactive version is a key building block for complex prebiotic molecules like amino acids and nucleic acids. The study contradicts previous findings that suggest life originated in warm, liquid environments. Life's precursors could have emerged in cryogenic conditions, making the ultra-cold surface of comets or icy moons the perfect candidates.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/webb-peers-deep-inside-the-eye-of-god-spotting-core-of-a-dead-star-1768999408201">Webb peers deep inside the Eye of God, spotting core of a dead star</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-some-asteroids-could-become-even-more-lethal-as-they-enter-earth-1768826705999">Scientists reveal some asteroids could become even more lethal as they enter Earth</a><h2>Why is Titan a potential candidate for alien life?</h2>This research by Rahm and his colleagues also solves the mystery of why Titan's atmosphere contains an "anomalous" abundance of these reactive chemicals. Titan could be a massive "chemical laboratory" for the processes that happened on early Earth.&nbsp;“Aside from its utility as an industrial chemical, its abundance makes it of interest in planetary science, in astrochemistry and as a plausible key building block for the chemistry that preceded the origins of life,” the authors wrote.&nbsp;It also answers the question of where to look for life in space. NASA and other space agencies can work to locate cyanide crystals on other cosmic bodies, as it is likely a potential catalyst for life. This would narrow down options for the search for life as astronomers would know the specific "chemical fingerprints" to look for on other frozen planets. &nbsp;

Scientists have discovered that hydrogen cyanide forms strange "icy cobwebs" at low temperatures. These structures act as a chemical engine, creating the prebiotic building blocks for the origin of life.

Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) might be a lethal poison today, but it may have been the essential "spark" that kick-started life on Earth and potentially other icy worlds like Saturn’s moon, Titan. Scientists have discovered that at extremely low temperatures, hydrogen cyanide transforms into unique, needle-like crystals that resemble "icy cobwebs." The chemical properties of these crystals change this poisonous substance into a key building block to make the components of DNA. The new study published in the journal ACS Central Science states that the deadly chemical might have been essential for all life to start on Earth. Martin Rahm, a co-author of the study from Chalmers University of Technology, said, "Hydrogen cyanide is likely one source of this chemical complexity, and we show that it can react surprisingly quickly in cold places." Rahm and his team found that when it is frozen, HCN crystal surfaces could trigger chemical reactions that might not be otherwise possible in cold environments. They state that these surfaces generate permanent electric fields that act as a "chemical engine" to lower the energy barriers for certain reactions. According to the researchers, these electric fields can transform HCN into the more reactive hydrogen isocyanide (HNC). This more reactive version is a key building block for complex prebiotic molecules like amino acids and nucleic acids. The study contradicts previous findings that suggest life originated in warm, liquid environments. Life's precursors could have emerged in cryogenic conditions, making the ultra-cold surface of comets or icy moons the perfect candidates. Also Read: Webb peers deep inside the Eye of God, spotting core of a dead star Also Read: Scientists reveal some asteroids could become even more lethal as they enter Earth Why is Titan a potential candidate for alien life? This research by Rahm and his colleagues also solves the mystery of why Titan's atmosphere contains an "anomalous" abundance of these reactive chemicals. Titan could be a massive "chemical laboratory" for the processes that happened on early Earth. “Aside from its utility as an industrial chemical, its abundance makes it of interest in planetary science, in astrochemistry and as a plausible key building block for the chemistry that preceded the origins of life,” the authors wrote. It also answers the question of where to look for life in space. NASA and other space agencies can work to locate cyanide crystals on other cosmic bodies, as it is likely a potential catalyst for life. This would narrow down options for the search for life as astronomers would know the specific "chemical fingerprints" to look for on other frozen planets.

A deadly poison could have been responsible for starting life on Earth, according to a study. Hydrogen Cyanide could have formed “icy cobwebs” that acted as a catalyst. The findings can help focus searches for alien life on bodies where this chemical is present.&nbsp;

Strange poisonous 'icy cobwebs' may have been the engines that sparked life on Earth

New research from Penn State University found that quantum computers are exposed to serious security risks, despite the promise to revolutionise science and industry with their unmatched processing power. Researchers also said that securing quantum computers requires more than protecting software, adding that it must also be treated as a critical part of any defence strategy.&nbsp;"Quantum computers are expected to deliver extraordinary speed and computing power, with the potential to transform scientific research and business operations. That same power also makes them especially appealing targets for cyberattacks," said Swaroop Ghosh, a professor of computer science and electrical engineering at the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.&nbsp;“Quantum computers need to be safeguarded from the ground up. At the device level, developers should focus on mitigating crosstalk and other sources of noise -- external interference -- that may leak information or impede effective information transfer. At the circuit level, techniques like scrambling and information encoding must be used to protect the data built into the system. At the system level, hardware needs to be compartmentalised by dividing business data into different groups, granting users specific access based on their roles and adding a layer of protection to the information. New software techniques and extensions need to be developed to detect and fortify quantum programs against security threats,” he added.&nbsp;He said, unlike traditional computers, which rely on bits that exist as either zero or one, quantum computers operate using quantum bits, or qubits. These qubits can exist as zero, one or both at the same time through a phenomenon known as superposition. They can also be linked through entanglement, allowing quantum machines to process exponentially larger amounts of data compared with classical systems.&nbsp;This capability makes quantum computers highly attractive for industries such as pharmaceuticals, where they could dramatically speed up drug discovery and development. However, the same complexity introduces unique security challenges.<h3>Interconnected qubits and unwanted interactions</h3>Meanwhile, another researcher from the university, Suryansh Upadhyay, claimed that there is currently no efficient way to verify the integrity of quantum programs and compilers, many of which are developed by third parties. This leaves sensitive corporate and personal data vulnerable to theft or manipulation. He also warned that intellectual property is often embedded directly into quantum circuits, meaning exposed circuits could allow attackers to extract proprietary algorithms, financial data or even critical infrastructure details.&nbsp;Another risk stems from the very feature that gives quantum computers their power: interconnected qubits. Unwanted interactions, known as crosstalk, can leak information or disrupt computations, especially when multiple users share the same quantum processor. "Since quantum computers are still a relatively new technology, there is not much incentive for attackers to target them, but as the computers are integrated into industry and our day-to-day life, they will become a prime target," Upadhyay said.&nbsp;The researchers argued that current cybersecurity techniques, which are used in classical computing, are largely ineffective for quantum systems. They added that the commercial providers are currently focused on making quantum computers reliable rather than secure, leaving critical assets such as circuit designs and encoded data without full protection.&nbsp;In order to solve these risks, Ghosh said security must be designed into quantum computers from the ground up. This includes reducing noise and crosstalk at the hardware level, protecting data at the circuit level using encoding and scrambling, and compartmentalising information at the system level. In addition, he highlighted that new software tools will also be required to detect and counter emerging quantum-specific threats as the technology moves closer to widespread use. &nbsp;

The researchers said that current cybersecurity techniques, which are used in classical computing, are largely ineffective for quantum systems. They added that the commercial providers are currently focused on making quantum computers reliable rather than secure.

New research from Penn State University found that quantum computers are exposed to serious security risks, despite the promise to revolutionise science and industry with their unmatched processing power. Researchers also said that securing quantum computers requires more than protecting software, adding that it must also be treated as a critical part of any defence strategy. "Quantum computers are expected to deliver extraordinary speed and computing power, with the potential to transform scientific research and business operations. That same power also makes them especially appealing targets for cyberattacks," said Swaroop Ghosh, a professor of computer science and electrical engineering at the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “Quantum computers need to be safeguarded from the ground up. At the device level, developers should focus on mitigating crosstalk and other sources of noise -- external interference -- that may leak information or impede effective information transfer. At the circuit level, techniques like scrambling and information encoding must be used to protect the data built into the system. At the system level, hardware needs to be compartmentalised by dividing business data into different groups, granting users specific access based on their roles and adding a layer of protection to the information. New software techniques and extensions need to be developed to detect and fortify quantum programs against security threats,” he added. He said, unlike traditional computers, which rely on bits that exist as either zero or one, quantum computers operate using quantum bits, or qubits. These qubits can exist as zero, one or both at the same time through a phenomenon known as superposition. They can also be linked through entanglement, allowing quantum machines to process exponentially larger amounts of data compared with classical systems. This capability makes quantum computers highly attractive for industries such as pharmaceuticals, where they could dramatically speed up drug discovery and development. However, the same complexity introduces unique security challenges. Interconnected qubits and unwanted interactions Meanwhile, another researcher from the university, Suryansh Upadhyay, claimed that there is currently no efficient way to verify the integrity of quantum programs and compilers, many of which are developed by third parties. This leaves sensitive corporate and personal data vulnerable to theft or manipulation. He also warned that intellectual property is often embedded directly into quantum circuits, meaning exposed circuits could allow attackers to extract proprietary algorithms, financial data or even critical infrastructure details. Another risk stems from the very feature that gives quantum computers their power: interconnected qubits. Unwanted interactions, known as crosstalk, can leak information or disrupt computations, especially when multiple users share the same quantum processor. "Since quantum computers are still a relatively new technology, there is not much incentive for attackers to target them, but as the computers are integrated into industry and our day-to-day life, they will become a prime target," Upadhyay said. The researchers argued that current cybersecurity techniques, which are used in classical computing, are largely ineffective for quantum systems. They added that the commercial providers are currently focused on making quantum computers reliable rather than secure, leaving critical assets such as circuit designs and encoded data without full protection. In order to solve these risks, Ghosh said security must be designed into quantum computers from the ground up. This includes reducing noise and crosstalk at the hardware level, protecting data at the circuit level using encoding and scrambling, and compartmentalising information at the system level. In addition, he highlighted that new software tools will also be required to detect and counter emerging quantum-specific threats as the technology moves closer to widespread use.

The researchers said that current cybersecurity techniques, which are used in classical computing, are largely ineffective for quantum systems. They added that the commercial providers are currently focused on making quantum computers reliable rather than secure.

Quantum computers have serious security flaws? Here's what researchers warn

Archaeologists have found 79 new pieces of inscriptions scratched into the walls of an alley in Pompeii using a technology that made "invisible" graffiti visible. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) technology helped them see what had remained hidden all these years. The previously unpublished inscriptions have been added to the bank of around 200 that were already known and are famous worldwide. This particular portion likely served as a urinal during those times. Graffiti, messages and all sorts of doodles are common in today's public bathrooms, and this is exactly how ancient Romans behaved as well. The ones found in Pompeii range from crude sex jokes to love and even bowel movements. The findings were published in the e-Journal <a href="https://pompeiisites.org/e-journal-degli-scavi-di-pompei/bruits-de-couloir-shedding-new-light-on-ancient-graffiti/">degli Scavi di Pompei</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the messages talks about a sex tale, and not a very nice one. &nbsp;Pompeii's Theatre Corridor is an alley that connects two theatres and acts as a space where people could hang out. While they were doing this, some of them scratched doodles and graffiti without any inhibitions. There is the common one, which reads "Erato Amat..." ( 'Erato Loves...'), with the name of Erato's lover no longer visible. Erato was a common name for female slaves and freedwomen in those times.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/pot-of-gold-buried-900-years-ago-unearthed-in-a-karnataka-village-now-there-is-a-fuss-over-who-owns-it-1768376950848">Pot of gold buried 900 years ago unearthed in a Karnataka village. Now there is a fuss over who owns it</a><h2>Images on Pompeii alley wall</h2>Another message mentions that a sex worker named Tyche was taken "to this place" and had sex with three men. Researchers know that a side of the corridor likely served as an open–air urinal because of the traces of guttering. The graffiti on the 27–metre–long and 3–metre–wide alleyway was first noticed when the place was excavated in 1794. However, not all of it was clearly visible. Technology has now allowed archaeologists to clearly see more of it, with 79 new messages now showing up.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/2-000-year-old-coins-discovery-in-pakistan-from-time-of-king-vasudeva-prove-something-about-religious-belief-1767949138481">2,000-year-old coins discovery in Pakistan from time of King Vasudeva prove something about religious belief</a><h2>The messages on Pompeii wall</h2>Researchers from the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Quebec used a technique called Reflectance Transformation Imaging to take a better look at the walls. They positioned a special camera setup to shed light on the wall from different angles. Whatever little detail was present that could not be seen otherwise, was detected by a computer program. Over 300 pieces of graffiti were picked up by the system, and 79 of them had never been seen before. There are messages of love, like the one by Erato, and another that reads, “I'm in a hurry; take care, my Sava, make sure you love me!”&nbsp;One of the more yucky ones reads, "Miccio, your father ruptured his belly when he was defecating; look at how he is, Miccio!" There are also some crude and sexual drawings, while some people showed off their artistic skills in detail. Another illustration shows two gladiators in combat, and the researchers think that the details in the image show the artists likely witnessed a real fight and recreated it from memory. &nbsp;

New Pompeii graffiti has been found, which shows that human behaviour never changes. The pictures show gladiators fighting, a message of love, a goodbye and a story about a sex worker.

Archaeologists have found 79 new pieces of inscriptions scratched into the walls of an alley in Pompeii using a technology that made "invisible" graffiti visible. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) technology helped them see what had remained hidden all these years. The previously unpublished inscriptions have been added to the bank of around 200 that were already known and are famous worldwide. This particular portion likely served as a urinal during those times. Graffiti, messages and all sorts of doodles are common in today's public bathrooms, and this is exactly how ancient Romans behaved as well. The ones found in Pompeii range from crude sex jokes to love and even bowel movements. The findings were published in the e-Journal degli Scavi di Pompei. One of the messages talks about a sex tale, and not a very nice one. Pompeii's Theatre Corridor is an alley that connects two theatres and acts as a space where people could hang out. While they were doing this, some of them scratched doodles and graffiti without any inhibitions. There is the common one, which reads "Erato Amat..." ( 'Erato Loves...'), with the name of Erato's lover no longer visible. Erato was a common name for female slaves and freedwomen in those times. Also Read: Pot of gold buried 900 years ago unearthed in a Karnataka village. Now there is a fuss over who owns it Images on Pompeii alley wall Another message mentions that a sex worker named Tyche was taken "to this place" and had sex with three men. Researchers know that a side of the corridor likely served as an open–air urinal because of the traces of guttering. The graffiti on the 27–metre–long and 3–metre–wide alleyway was first noticed when the place was excavated in 1794. However, not all of it was clearly visible. Technology has now allowed archaeologists to clearly see more of it, with 79 new messages now showing up. Also Read: 2,000-year-old coins discovery in Pakistan from time of King Vasudeva prove something about religious belief The messages on Pompeii wall Researchers from the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Quebec used a technique called Reflectance Transformation Imaging to take a better look at the walls. They positioned a special camera setup to shed light on the wall from different angles. Whatever little detail was present that could not be seen otherwise, was detected by a computer program. Over 300 pieces of graffiti were picked up by the system, and 79 of them had never been seen before. There are messages of love, like the one by Erato, and another that reads, “I'm in a hurry; take care, my Sava, make sure you love me!” One of the more yucky ones reads, "Miccio, your father ruptured his belly when he was defecating; look at how he is, Miccio!" There are also some crude and sexual drawings, while some people showed off their artistic skills in detail. Another illustration shows two gladiators in combat, and the researchers think that the details in the image show the artists likely witnessed a real fight and recreated it from memory.

New Pompeii graffiti has been found, which shows that human behaviour never changes. The pictures show gladiators fighting, a message of love, a goodbye and a story about a sex worker.

A Pompeii alley unearthed in 1794 reveals previously unknown graffiti using a special camera setup

A new study has allayed fears of microplastics intrusion, claiming that the problem is not as dire as previously thought. Researchers from the University of Vienna say that microplastic emissions are up to 10,000 times lower than the estimates made by various studies. The latest analysis was carried out differently from previous studies, most of which used models based on human activity or data from one region. Vienna scientists took 2,782 measurements of microplastic concentrations from 283 locations between 2014 and 2024. The new figures were compared with existing models to estimate the world's microplastic footprint. The findings were published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09998-6">Nature</a>. The revelations were different on various levels. For example, the scientists noted that land sources add 20 times more microplastic particles to the air than the seas. This means that about six hundred quadrillion particles of microplastics get added to the air from land per year. The study was published in the journal Nature. “Our model simulations show two to four orders of magnitude overestimation of the measured global median atmospheric MP concentrations,” the authors wrote.<h2>Localised microplastic emission starkly varies &nbsp;</h2>The researchers noted that they went global and took measurements from various places instead of relying on data from one place. When they did this, they found that microplastic concentrations in the atmosphere varied from place to place. In fact, the difference in localised measurements varied immensely. On the southeast coast of China, measurements ranged from just 0.004 particles per metre cubed to 190 particles per metre cubed. The rate at which microplastics are added to the atmosphere was also different in different regions. In some of China's biggest cities, just 50 particles per square metre per day of emissions were found. However, in the urban locations of the UK, up to 3,100 particles were recorded.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/plastic-clouds-found-hovering-over-two-major-chinese-cities-shock-scientists-1768897982806">Plastic clouds found hovering over two major Chinese cities shock scientists</a><h2>Significantly less microplastics present in air</h2>Scientists say estimating how many microplastic particles are emitted into the atmosphere each year becomes hard when there are such huge differences in localised data. Using new models, they concluded that six hundred and ten quadrillion particles are released from land and twenty–six quadrillion from oceans every year. Lead author Dr Ionna Evangelou said that the team found they have reached a new total estimate that is between 100 and 10,000 times lower than earlier suggestions. However, this does not mean that humans can get complacent about them, as microplastics are still a major hazard to human health. Lower numbers do not mean less harm as "health impacts also depend on the particle size, shape, the additives or attached pollutants, and, of course, the exposure duration."

Microplastics might be wreaking havoc on the environment, but a new study states that the number of such particles in the atmosphere isn't as much as previously feared. However, they remain a major hazard to human health.

A new study has allayed fears of microplastics intrusion, claiming that the problem is not as dire as previously thought. Researchers from the University of Vienna say that microplastic emissions are up to 10,000 times lower than the estimates made by various studies. The latest analysis was carried out differently from previous studies, most of which used models based on human activity or data from one region. Vienna scientists took 2,782 measurements of microplastic concentrations from 283 locations between 2014 and 2024. The new figures were compared with existing models to estimate the world's microplastic footprint. The findings were published in the journal Nature. The revelations were different on various levels. For example, the scientists noted that land sources add 20 times more microplastic particles to the air than the seas. This means that about six hundred quadrillion particles of microplastics get added to the air from land per year. The study was published in the journal Nature. “Our model simulations show two to four orders of magnitude overestimation of the measured global median atmospheric MP concentrations,” the authors wrote. Localised microplastic emission starkly varies The researchers noted that they went global and took measurements from various places instead of relying on data from one place. When they did this, they found that microplastic concentrations in the atmosphere varied from place to place. In fact, the difference in localised measurements varied immensely. On the southeast coast of China, measurements ranged from just 0.004 particles per metre cubed to 190 particles per metre cubed. The rate at which microplastics are added to the atmosphere was also different in different regions. In some of China's biggest cities, just 50 particles per square metre per day of emissions were found. However, in the urban locations of the UK, up to 3,100 particles were recorded. Also Read: Plastic clouds found hovering over two major Chinese cities shock scientists Significantly less microplastics present in air Scientists say estimating how many microplastic particles are emitted into the atmosphere each year becomes hard when there are such huge differences in localised data. Using new models, they concluded that six hundred and ten quadrillion particles are released from land and twenty–six quadrillion from oceans every year. Lead author Dr Ionna Evangelou said that the team found they have reached a new total estimate that is between 100 and 10,000 times lower than earlier suggestions. However, this does not mean that humans can get complacent about them, as microplastics are still a major hazard to human health. Lower numbers do not mean less harm as "health impacts also depend on the particle size, shape, the additives or attached pollutants, and, of course, the exposure duration."

Microplastics might be wreaking havoc on the environment, but a new study states that the number of such particles in the atmosphere isn't as much as previously feared. However, they remain a major hazard to human health.

Microplastics in air could be much less than previous estimates: Study

3I/ATLAS is entering a rare alignment on January 22, 2026, which will offer a chance to study not only the comet, but also its anti-tail that is directed towards the sun. This jet has been a mystery, and no one knows how it has been holding up. 

3I/ATLAS, Earth and Sun enter rare alignment on January 22: Here is why it matters

The James Webb Space Telescope has taken a closer look at the Eye of Sauron or Eye of God. Layers of gas shed by a dying star can be seen in new images of the Helix nebula, with a white dwarf, the remnant of the core of a dead star, clearly visible. This white dwarf is shedding a ton of hot material that is crashing into the cold shell of gas and dust. Everything that this dead star is releasing will become the source for the formation of new planets and stars. This is exactly what will happen to our Sun also one day, billions of years from now, when it will die. Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) got a good look at a tiny portion of the nebula to reveal knots in it that appear like comets, along with gas and stellar winds. Inside an expanding shell of gas are cloudy pillars that look like flames. The nebula's unique shape comes from how the hot gas interacts with the cold shell.&nbsp;Fast-moving fiery gas collides with the slower, colder shells of gas and dust that were shed by the star way back. Deep inside the heart of this nebula lies the white dwarf. It is extremely bright because of the intense radiation being released by it. This acts as a cosmic spotlight, illuminating stellar material discarded in the past that is present in layers. Near the white dwarf is hot ionised gas, with cooler molecular hydrogen farther out. Dust clouds contain pockets where, in the future, more complex molecules will form, providing the raw material for planets and star systems.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-some-asteroids-could-become-even-more-lethal-as-they-enter-earth-1768826705999">Scientists reveal some asteroids could become even more lethal as they enter Earth</a><h2>Eye of Sauron nebula</h2>Sharing details of the image of the Eye of God, &nbsp;NASA said that the blue hue shows the hottest gas in this field, energised by intense ultraviolet light from the white dwarf. The cool has is represented in the yellow regions where hydrogen atoms join into molecules. At the edges of the nebula, the reddish colour shows the coolest material. The Helix Nebula, or NGC 7293, resides in the constellation Aquarius, 650 light-years from Earth. It looks like a giant eye in space, thus lending it this iconic name.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Eye of Sauron nebula, the Helix nebula, has a giant white dwarf, and the Webb telescope has just got a good look at it. New images taken by the NASA telescope show stellar winds and gas clouds that will birth future stars and planets.

The James Webb Space Telescope has taken a closer look at the Eye of Sauron or Eye of God. Layers of gas shed by a dying star can be seen in new images of the Helix nebula, with a white dwarf, the remnant of the core of a dead star, clearly visible. This white dwarf is shedding a ton of hot material that is crashing into the cold shell of gas and dust. Everything that this dead star is releasing will become the source for the formation of new planets and stars. This is exactly what will happen to our Sun also one day, billions of years from now, when it will die. Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) got a good look at a tiny portion of the nebula to reveal knots in it that appear like comets, along with gas and stellar winds. Inside an expanding shell of gas are cloudy pillars that look like flames. The nebula's unique shape comes from how the hot gas interacts with the cold shell. Fast-moving fiery gas collides with the slower, colder shells of gas and dust that were shed by the star way back. Deep inside the heart of this nebula lies the white dwarf. It is extremely bright because of the intense radiation being released by it. This acts as a cosmic spotlight, illuminating stellar material discarded in the past that is present in layers. Near the white dwarf is hot ionised gas, with cooler molecular hydrogen farther out. Dust clouds contain pockets where, in the future, more complex molecules will form, providing the raw material for planets and star systems. Also Read: Scientists reveal some asteroids could become even more lethal as they enter Earth Eye of Sauron nebula Sharing details of the image of the Eye of God, NASA said that the blue hue shows the hottest gas in this field, energised by intense ultraviolet light from the white dwarf. The cool has is represented in the yellow regions where hydrogen atoms join into molecules. At the edges of the nebula, the reddish colour shows the coolest material. The Helix Nebula, or NGC 7293, resides in the constellation Aquarius, 650 light-years from Earth. It looks like a giant eye in space, thus lending it this iconic name.

The Eye of Sauron nebula, the Helix nebula, has a giant white dwarf, and the Webb telescope has just got a good look at it. New images taken by the NASA telescope show stellar winds and gas clouds that will birth future stars and planets.

Webb peers deep inside the Eye of God, spotting core of a dead star

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired from her duties after 27 years with the space agency. Her retirement is effective December 27, NASA said in a statement. Williams is a former Navy pilot and joined NASA in 1998. "Suni Williams has been a trailblazer in human spaceflight, shaping the future of exploration through her leadership aboard the space station and paving the way for commercial missions to low Earth orbit,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in the statement. The Indian-American took her first trip to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on December 9, 2006. She performed her first extra-vehicular activity, or a spacewalk, during the same mission. However, her trip to the ISS in 2024 aboard the Boeing Starliner is what caught the most attention. She was only supposed to stay there for a week in June, but could only return in March 2025 after the Starliner faced difficulties.<h2>Sunita Williams spacetime and spacewalks</h2>Williams was stranded in space along with Butch Wilmore after they launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024,&nbsp;for its first crewed flight. However, the spacecraft experienced troubles, and they became Expedition 71/72 crewmembers. NASA contemplated several ways to return them, but nothing worked. The Starliner was finally brought back empty. The duo was stuck for nine months before they finally returned in March 2025 as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Williams' illustrious career includes 62 hours and 6 minutes of total spacewalk time, the most of any female astronaut, and fourth on NASA’s all-time list. She has logged 608 days in space over her three flights.<h2>Sunita Williams joins NASA</h2>Sunita Williams was chosen as an astronaut by NASA in June 1998. After completing her training, she worked in Moscow with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the space station. She also lived underwater for nine days as a NEEMO2 crew member in the Aquarius habitat. She took her first trip to space as part of Expedition 14/15, from December 9, 2006, to June 22, 2007, as Flight Engineer. She set a record for female astronauts at the time for four spacewalks totalling 29 hours and 17 minutes.&nbsp;In 2012, Williams launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, along with Russian Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko and Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. She spent four months on the space station and carried out scientific research. This time, she performed three spacewalks to replace a component that relays power from the space station’s solar arrays to its systems, and repair an ammonia leak on a station radiator. &nbsp;

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired, saying goodbye to her glorious journey of 27 years. She took three flights to space, spent more than 600 days and did a few spacewalks.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired from her duties after 27 years with the space agency. Her retirement is effective December 27, NASA said in a statement. Williams is a former Navy pilot and joined NASA in 1998. "Suni Williams has been a trailblazer in human spaceflight, shaping the future of exploration through her leadership aboard the space station and paving the way for commercial missions to low Earth orbit,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in the statement. The Indian-American took her first trip to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on December 9, 2006. She performed her first extra-vehicular activity, or a spacewalk, during the same mission. However, her trip to the ISS in 2024 aboard the Boeing Starliner is what caught the most attention. She was only supposed to stay there for a week in June, but could only return in March 2025 after the Starliner faced difficulties. Sunita Williams spacetime and spacewalks Williams was stranded in space along with Butch Wilmore after they launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, for its first crewed flight. However, the spacecraft experienced troubles, and they became Expedition 71/72 crewmembers. NASA contemplated several ways to return them, but nothing worked. The Starliner was finally brought back empty. The duo was stuck for nine months before they finally returned in March 2025 as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Williams' illustrious career includes 62 hours and 6 minutes of total spacewalk time, the most of any female astronaut, and fourth on NASA’s all-time list. She has logged 608 days in space over her three flights. Sunita Williams joins NASA Sunita Williams was chosen as an astronaut by NASA in June 1998. After completing her training, she worked in Moscow with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the space station. She also lived underwater for nine days as a NEEMO2 crew member in the Aquarius habitat. She took her first trip to space as part of Expedition 14/15, from December 9, 2006, to June 22, 2007, as Flight Engineer. She set a record for female astronauts at the time for four spacewalks totalling 29 hours and 17 minutes. In 2012, Williams launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, along with Russian Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko and Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. She spent four months on the space station and carried out scientific research. This time, she performed three spacewalks to replace a component that relays power from the space station’s solar arrays to its systems, and repair an ammonia leak on a station radiator.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired, saying goodbye to her glorious journey of 27 years. She took three flights to space, spent more than 600 days and did a few spacewalks.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams bids adieu to her space endeavours after 27 years

Two major Chinese cities are sitting under clouds of plastic, a study has found, revealing that plastic is present in enormous amounts in the air. Guangzhou and Xi’an have such a massive cover of microplastics over them that they are now triggering the formation of clouds. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences tracked microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in the Earth’s atmosphere above these cities and were shocked by the findings. They noted in the study published in the journal Science Advances that the total suspended particulates and dustfall fluxes were two to six times higher than previous estimates reached using visual-based analytical methods. This shows that plastic pollution is way higher than what was known. “Over the past two decades, plastic as an emerging pollutant has become a global issue because of its widespread distribution in every environmental compartment of the Earth system,” the study authors wrote. The team developed a microanalytical method using a computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy system, as opposed to the visual-based analytical methods.<h2>Plastics could rain down and spread to other areas</h2>The study, reported by The Independent, states that even when the wind conditions are stable, traffic acts as a potentially major source of atmospheric MPs and NPs. Road dust is continuously re-suspended into the atmosphere, and the plastic particles can hang onto the environment for a long time because of their small size. Their presence for extended periods in the atmosphere also triggers cloud formation. When they rain down, the plastic particles are distributed to areas where they weren't originally released. So, along with road dust, rain also acts as a way of spreading it to distant places. “Using an innovative method capable of detecting plastic particles as small as 200 nanometers, we quantified MPs and NPs in aerosols, dry and wet deposition, and resuspension in two Chinese megacities, Guangzhou and Xi’an,” the researchers wrote in the study.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/8-million-tons-of-plastic-is-ripping-through-the-oceans-like-tornadoes-1765960224158">8 million tons of plastic is ripping through the oceans like tornadoes</a>&nbsp;The study does not state whether these plastic particles are transforming the global climate in any major way; it stresses that they are a dominant force in cloud formation. The study offers an insight into MPs and NPs in urban atmospheric processes and their potential implications for climate, ecosystems, and human health. Microplastics have reached the oceans, our food and even organs in the human body. But their activity and presence in the atmosphere remain the least understood. &nbsp;

An analysis of the air above two major Chinese cities has revealed the presence of a toxic element that has ripped through the world. Microplastics and nanoplastics have been hovering for so long that they are even triggering the formation of plastic clouds.

Two major Chinese cities are sitting under clouds of plastic, a study has found, revealing that plastic is present in enormous amounts in the air. Guangzhou and Xi’an have such a massive cover of microplastics over them that they are now triggering the formation of clouds. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences tracked microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in the Earth’s atmosphere above these cities and were shocked by the findings. They noted in the study published in the journal Science Advances that the total suspended particulates and dustfall fluxes were two to six times higher than previous estimates reached using visual-based analytical methods. This shows that plastic pollution is way higher than what was known. “Over the past two decades, plastic as an emerging pollutant has become a global issue because of its widespread distribution in every environmental compartment of the Earth system,” the study authors wrote. The team developed a microanalytical method using a computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy system, as opposed to the visual-based analytical methods. Plastics could rain down and spread to other areas The study, reported by The Independent, states that even when the wind conditions are stable, traffic acts as a potentially major source of atmospheric MPs and NPs. Road dust is continuously re-suspended into the atmosphere, and the plastic particles can hang onto the environment for a long time because of their small size. Their presence for extended periods in the atmosphere also triggers cloud formation. When they rain down, the plastic particles are distributed to areas where they weren't originally released. So, along with road dust, rain also acts as a way of spreading it to distant places. “Using an innovative method capable of detecting plastic particles as small as 200 nanometers, we quantified MPs and NPs in aerosols, dry and wet deposition, and resuspension in two Chinese megacities, Guangzhou and Xi’an,” the researchers wrote in the study. Also Read: 8 million tons of plastic is ripping through the oceans like tornadoes The study does not state whether these plastic particles are transforming the global climate in any major way; it stresses that they are a dominant force in cloud formation. The study offers an insight into MPs and NPs in urban atmospheric processes and their potential implications for climate, ecosystems, and human health. Microplastics have reached the oceans, our food and even organs in the human body. But their activity and presence in the atmosphere remain the least understood.

An analysis of the air above two major Chinese cities has revealed the presence of a toxic element that has ripped through the world. Microplastics and nanoplastics have been hovering for so long that they are even triggering the formation of plastic clouds.

Plastic clouds found hovering over two major Chinese cities shock scientists

The 7-second gravity loss scare on August 12 has gone viral. People are panicking at the thought of what could happen on this day ever since social media was set abuzz with rumours that Earth's gravity could collapse on this day in 2026. While several people have dismissed it as a mere conspiracy theory, stating that it is impossible to happen, others are scared and wondering about it. NASA's name has been dragged into it as posts claim that the space agency has known about it for years and has been working on Project Anchor in preparation for this day. While NASA hasn't officially commented on the reports, a spokesman told fact–checking website Snopes, "The Earth will not lose gravity on August 12, 2026." The person explained why this cannot happen, especially because the reason being cited could never affect the planet's gravity. "Earth's gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass. The only way for the Earth to lose gravity would be for the Earth system, the combined mass of its core, mantle, crust, ocean, terrestrial water, and atmosphere, to lose mass."&nbsp;The rumours of Earth losing its gravity have been doing the rounds on social media for a few days now. According to them, two black holes will collide and emit gravitational waves, which will cause Earth to lose gravity. It is not clear from where these reports first emerged, although now there are tons of them talking about this alleged incident. It is being said that on August 12, 2026, Earth will lose gravity for exactly seven seconds at 14:33 UTC (8:03 pm IST).&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/earth-to-lose-gravity-for-7-seconds-in-august-wild-claims-blame-two-black-holes-1768448696209">Earth to lose gravity for 7 seconds in August? Wild claims blame two black holes for alleged glitch</a><h2>Social media posts on Earth's gravity loss in August</h2>Chaos will ensue as everything that is not tied down will rise up, float for seven seconds and then crash down. The posts say NASA has known about it for years and started "Project Anchor" in 2014. A budget of $89 billion has been allocated to ensure survival. The posts further claim that 40-60 million could die when this happens. Bunkers are reportedly being built to keep "essential personnel" safe.&nbsp;The wild claims have no backing, and no one in an official capacity has confirmed it. Gravity is created by mass - the more mass an object has, the stronger the gravitational pull. This is why Jupiter has a stronger pull, and so does Sun. Earth's gravity is what keeps Moon in orbit around it and everything and everyone grounded on the planet. A black hole interaction, or any other cosmic event, can have no impact on Earth's gravity.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Earth gravity loss rumours have gone viral on the internet. Claims are being made that two black holes will cause a collapse on August 12. However, it is a scientific improbability and can only happen if the entire Earth system loses mass. 

The 7-second gravity loss scare on August 12 has gone viral. People are panicking at the thought of what could happen on this day ever since social media was set abuzz with rumours that Earth's gravity could collapse on this day in 2026. While several people have dismissed it as a mere conspiracy theory, stating that it is impossible to happen, others are scared and wondering about it. NASA's name has been dragged into it as posts claim that the space agency has known about it for years and has been working on Project Anchor in preparation for this day. While NASA hasn't officially commented on the reports, a spokesman told fact–checking website Snopes, "The Earth will not lose gravity on August 12, 2026." The person explained why this cannot happen, especially because the reason being cited could never affect the planet's gravity. "Earth's gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass. The only way for the Earth to lose gravity would be for the Earth system, the combined mass of its core, mantle, crust, ocean, terrestrial water, and atmosphere, to lose mass." The rumours of Earth losing its gravity have been doing the rounds on social media for a few days now. According to them, two black holes will collide and emit gravitational waves, which will cause Earth to lose gravity. It is not clear from where these reports first emerged, although now there are tons of them talking about this alleged incident. It is being said that on August 12, 2026, Earth will lose gravity for exactly seven seconds at 14:33 UTC (8:03 pm IST). Also Read: Earth to lose gravity for 7 seconds in August? Wild claims blame two black holes for alleged glitch Social media posts on Earth's gravity loss in August Chaos will ensue as everything that is not tied down will rise up, float for seven seconds and then crash down. The posts say NASA has known about it for years and started "Project Anchor" in 2014. A budget of $89 billion has been allocated to ensure survival. The posts further claim that 40-60 million could die when this happens. Bunkers are reportedly being built to keep "essential personnel" safe. The wild claims have no backing, and no one in an official capacity has confirmed it. Gravity is created by mass - the more mass an object has, the stronger the gravitational pull. This is why Jupiter has a stronger pull, and so does Sun. Earth's gravity is what keeps Moon in orbit around it and everything and everyone grounded on the planet. A black hole interaction, or any other cosmic event, can have no impact on Earth's gravity.

Earth gravity loss rumours have gone viral on the internet. Claims are being made that two black holes will cause a collapse on August 12. However, it is a scientific improbability and can only happen if the entire Earth system loses mass.&nbsp;

7-second gravity collapse on Earth could never happen, unless...

Iron-rich asteroids and meteorites can pose a larger risk to Earth as compared to other space rocks, a new study by a team of international scientists has revealed. There are innumerable bodies inside our solar system, and some of them come in close proximity to Earth. The Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) are 37,000 at the moment, while 120 short-period near-Earth comets (NECs) are known to humans. Asteroid warning systems are in place to monitor these rocks. NASA and other space agencies keep a close watch on them to be aware if any of them could pose a danger to Earth. Scientists say that Earth is completely safe from Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs) for at least the next 100 years. However, studies on these rocks are an ongoing process. A team of international scientists studied how a paritcualr type of asteroids could threaten Earth and found something shocking.<h2>How iron meteorites react to stress of entering Earth</h2>They conducted a simulation that showed M-type asteroids, or those rich in metals, can absorb significantly more energy without breaking apart and may even become tougher in the process. The study was published in Nature Communications. Using CERN's High Radiation to Materials (HiRadMat) facility, they irradiated a sample of an iron meteorite to see how much stress metal-rich asteroids (M-type) can withstand as they enter Earth's atmosphere. They subjected a sample of the Campo del Cielo iron meteorite to extremely energetic 440 GeV proton beams. They captured real-time data using Doppler vibrometry on how the material responded as the stress increased.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/4-25bn-years-ago-an-impact-gave-a-dramatic-makeover-to-the-far-side-of-moon-1768823215663">4.25bn years ago, an impact gave a dramatic makeover to the far side of Moon</a><h2>Iron meteorites grow stronger</h2>They noted that as stress levels increased, the meteorite gave away more energy. The researchers say that their findings show that energy likely travels deep inside an asteroid, and the internal structure of asteroids changes to amplify the stress. Study co-author Professor Gianluca Gregori (Department of Physics, University of Oxford) said, “This is the first time we have been able to observe, non-destructively and in real time, how an actual meteorite sample deforms, strengthens, and adapts under extreme conditions.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/2-300-foot-asteroid-spinning-every-1-88-minutes-leaves-scientists-stunned-1767961166669">Why this asteroid discovered by Vera Rubin is giving scientists a headache</a>&nbsp;This finding can have major implications for asteroid deflection missions if certain types of asteroids grow stronger under stress instead of splitting up. This means that if such an asteroid were to hit Earth, we cannot rely on it to fragment when it enters the atmosphere. Instead, there is a chance that it might become stronger under stress.

An asteroid impact would be devastating for Earth, but certain types of space rocks can be even more damaging, as, instead of breaking apart, they could become stronger. Scientists say this could have major implications for asteroid deflection missions.

Iron-rich asteroids and meteorites can pose a larger risk to Earth as compared to other space rocks, a new study by a team of international scientists has revealed. There are innumerable bodies inside our solar system, and some of them come in close proximity to Earth. The Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) are 37,000 at the moment, while 120 short-period near-Earth comets (NECs) are known to humans. Asteroid warning systems are in place to monitor these rocks. NASA and other space agencies keep a close watch on them to be aware if any of them could pose a danger to Earth. Scientists say that Earth is completely safe from Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs) for at least the next 100 years. However, studies on these rocks are an ongoing process. A team of international scientists studied how a paritcualr type of asteroids could threaten Earth and found something shocking. How iron meteorites react to stress of entering Earth They conducted a simulation that showed M-type asteroids, or those rich in metals, can absorb significantly more energy without breaking apart and may even become tougher in the process. The study was published in Nature Communications. Using CERN's High Radiation to Materials (HiRadMat) facility, they irradiated a sample of an iron meteorite to see how much stress metal-rich asteroids (M-type) can withstand as they enter Earth's atmosphere. They subjected a sample of the Campo del Cielo iron meteorite to extremely energetic 440 GeV proton beams. They captured real-time data using Doppler vibrometry on how the material responded as the stress increased. Also Read: 4.25bn years ago, an impact gave a dramatic makeover to the far side of Moon Iron meteorites grow stronger They noted that as stress levels increased, the meteorite gave away more energy. The researchers say that their findings show that energy likely travels deep inside an asteroid, and the internal structure of asteroids changes to amplify the stress. Study co-author Professor Gianluca Gregori (Department of Physics, University of Oxford) said, “This is the first time we have been able to observe, non-destructively and in real time, how an actual meteorite sample deforms, strengthens, and adapts under extreme conditions.” Also Read: Why this asteroid discovered by Vera Rubin is giving scientists a headache This finding can have major implications for asteroid deflection missions if certain types of asteroids grow stronger under stress instead of splitting up. This means that if such an asteroid were to hit Earth, we cannot rely on it to fragment when it enters the atmosphere. Instead, there is a chance that it might become stronger under stress.

An asteroid impact would be devastating for Earth, but certain types of space rocks can be even more damaging, as, instead of breaking apart, they could become stronger. Scientists say this could have major implications for asteroid deflection missions.

Scientists reveal some asteroids could become even more lethal as they enter Earth

China's Chang'e-6 mission brought back lunar samples from the Moon for the first time in 2024, and this regolith has now revealed something. Around 1,935.3 grams of lunar soil reached Earth in June of the year. Chinese scientists say that an analysis has shed light on the Moon's composition and geological history, and reveals the clear difference between the far and near sides. The researchers say that they finally know how a massive impact in the South Pole-Aitken Basin 4.25 billion years ago shaped the Moon's deep interior and reshaped the surface. NASA, ESA and China are exploring using this region as a potential building site since it has permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) that contain vast amounts of water ice. The latest findings can help provide crucial data in the quest to do so. Chinese scientists from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) studied the basalt samples returned by the Chang'e-6 lander.&nbsp;They say that the impact not only created the basin, but also caused materials seated deep inside the moon to lose certain volatile elements. High-precision isotope analysis helped them detect minute variations in isotope ratios and showed what was left behind after the impact. On the Moon, impacts are what shape the surface over several years, contrary to the tectonic movements on Earth. They say that the impact altered the potassium isotope composition in the deep lunar mantle. &nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/half-of-mars-was-covered-with-an-ocean-as-big-as-the-arctic-3-billion-years-ago-1768566494909">3 billion years ago, Mars had a huge ocean that covered half the planet</a><h2>How loss of elements stopped volcanoes on Moon</h2>The high-temperature environment had an impact on moderately volatile elements like potassium, zinc, and gallium. The extreme heat generated by the event created extreme conditions that led to the loss of the lighter potassium-39 isotope and the enrichment of the heavier potassium-41 isotope. Besides, this loss also suppressed volcanic activity on the Moon's far side.&nbsp;They also noted that the samples obtained by the Chang'e-6 mission were different from those brought back by Apollo astronauts from the near-side of the Moon. The basalt sample on the far side had a higher proportion of the heavier potassium-41 isotope, which they say could have been caused by factors like cosmic rays, volcanic activity, and impactor deposition. Scientists now know that the two sides of the Moon had a different evolutionary histories.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Moon's far side and near side are different from each other. China's Chang'e-6 mission has revealed how an ancient impact changed the far side of the Moon, and how its composition varies from the near side.

China's Chang'e-6 mission brought back lunar samples from the Moon for the first time in 2024, and this regolith has now revealed something. Around 1,935.3 grams of lunar soil reached Earth in June of the year. Chinese scientists say that an analysis has shed light on the Moon's composition and geological history, and reveals the clear difference between the far and near sides. The researchers say that they finally know how a massive impact in the South Pole-Aitken Basin 4.25 billion years ago shaped the Moon's deep interior and reshaped the surface. NASA, ESA and China are exploring using this region as a potential building site since it has permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) that contain vast amounts of water ice. The latest findings can help provide crucial data in the quest to do so. Chinese scientists from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) studied the basalt samples returned by the Chang'e-6 lander. They say that the impact not only created the basin, but also caused materials seated deep inside the moon to lose certain volatile elements. High-precision isotope analysis helped them detect minute variations in isotope ratios and showed what was left behind after the impact. On the Moon, impacts are what shape the surface over several years, contrary to the tectonic movements on Earth. They say that the impact altered the potassium isotope composition in the deep lunar mantle. Also Read: 3 billion years ago, Mars had a huge ocean that covered half the planet How loss of elements stopped volcanoes on Moon The high-temperature environment had an impact on moderately volatile elements like potassium, zinc, and gallium. The extreme heat generated by the event created extreme conditions that led to the loss of the lighter potassium-39 isotope and the enrichment of the heavier potassium-41 isotope. Besides, this loss also suppressed volcanic activity on the Moon's far side. They also noted that the samples obtained by the Chang'e-6 mission were different from those brought back by Apollo astronauts from the near-side of the Moon. The basalt sample on the far side had a higher proportion of the heavier potassium-41 isotope, which they say could have been caused by factors like cosmic rays, volcanic activity, and impactor deposition. Scientists now know that the two sides of the Moon had a different evolutionary histories.

The Moon's far side and near side are different from each other. China's Chang'e-6 mission has revealed how an ancient impact changed the far side of the Moon, and how its composition varies from the near side.

4.25bn years ago, an impact gave a dramatic makeover to the far side of Moon

An iceberg that has been on a journey for 40 years, drifting away in the cold waters, getting stuck, freeing itself and then threatening an entire island as it reached its end time. Latest images of A23a, formerly the world's largest iceberg, show that it has turned into a blob of "blue mush" with stripes on it, signalling that it will soon vanish. The iceberg broke off from Antarctica's Filchner-Ronne Ice Sheet in the summer of 1986. It was three times larger than New York City, and was dubbed the "queen of icebergs." But now, it is on the verge of disappearing forever as it travels through the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean. After A23a started floating freely in 1986, it got stuck on the ocean floor and remained there till 2020. After breaking free, it once again set out on an unknown trip and kept moving farther away from Antarctica. However, it got caught in a massive ocean current, or gyre, and kept spinning in one place before finally breaking free in December 2024.&nbsp;In 2025, it threatened to crash into the island of South Georgia. Thankfully, it broke apart before it could reach the island. As it moved towards South America, the warmer Atlantic waters have led to it melting away. NASA's Terra satellite captured new images of iceberg A23a on December 26, looking nothing like its former self. The startling images show that it is only around a third of its original size and is covered with pools of blue water. Thick borders of white ice, dubbed "ramparts", surround the waters around the iceberg. A pool of grey sludge, known as ice melange, seems to have leaked from under the iceberg and can be seen in the images. Hundreds of smaller bergs have broken off its edges and can be seen in the waters.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/major-catastrophe-unfolding-in-antarctica-as-hundreds-of-earthquakes-slam-doomsday-glacier-1767680441864">Major catastrophe unfolding in Antarctica as hundreds of earthquakes slam Doomsday Glacier</a> Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/doomsday-gets-closer-cracks-on-thwaites-glacier-have-doubled-in-two-decades-1766981007538">Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades</a><h2>What is blue mush seen on A23a iceberg?</h2>The "blue mush" is evidence that the iceberg is nearing its death. When surface ice loses its structural integrity, melt ponds form, which is what the blue mush is, according to Ted Scambos, a climate scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder. He added in a NASA statement that the streaks are likely caused by the "weight of the water sitting inside cracks in the ice and forcing them open." The underside of the iceberg has grooves carved over several hundred years as it moved over the ground while still attached to the Filchner-Ronne Ice Sheet. A23a has been named the "world's largest iceberg" throughout its lifespan, and as recently as 2023.&nbsp;

Iceberg A23a could die any time now, as the latest photos from NASA show it covered with a blue mush that forms from meltwater. Once the world's largest iceberg, it has been moving for 40 years after breaking away from Antarctica.

An iceberg that has been on a journey for 40 years, drifting away in the cold waters, getting stuck, freeing itself and then threatening an entire island as it reached its end time. Latest images of A23a, formerly the world's largest iceberg, show that it has turned into a blob of "blue mush" with stripes on it, signalling that it will soon vanish. The iceberg broke off from Antarctica's Filchner-Ronne Ice Sheet in the summer of 1986. It was three times larger than New York City, and was dubbed the "queen of icebergs." But now, it is on the verge of disappearing forever as it travels through the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean. After A23a started floating freely in 1986, it got stuck on the ocean floor and remained there till 2020. After breaking free, it once again set out on an unknown trip and kept moving farther away from Antarctica. However, it got caught in a massive ocean current, or gyre, and kept spinning in one place before finally breaking free in December 2024. In 2025, it threatened to crash into the island of South Georgia. Thankfully, it broke apart before it could reach the island. As it moved towards South America, the warmer Atlantic waters have led to it melting away. NASA's Terra satellite captured new images of iceberg A23a on December 26, looking nothing like its former self. The startling images show that it is only around a third of its original size and is covered with pools of blue water. Thick borders of white ice, dubbed "ramparts", surround the waters around the iceberg. A pool of grey sludge, known as ice melange, seems to have leaked from under the iceberg and can be seen in the images. Hundreds of smaller bergs have broken off its edges and can be seen in the waters. Also Read: Major catastrophe unfolding in Antarctica as hundreds of earthquakes slam Doomsday Glacier Also Read: Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades What is blue mush seen on A23a iceberg? The "blue mush" is evidence that the iceberg is nearing its death. When surface ice loses its structural integrity, melt ponds form, which is what the blue mush is, according to Ted Scambos, a climate scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder. He added in a NASA statement that the streaks are likely caused by the "weight of the water sitting inside cracks in the ice and forcing them open." The underside of the iceberg has grooves carved over several hundred years as it moved over the ground while still attached to the Filchner-Ronne Ice Sheet. A23a has been named the "world's largest iceberg" throughout its lifespan, and as recently as 2023.

Iceberg A23a could die any time now, as the latest photos from NASA show it covered with a blue mush that forms from meltwater. Once the world's largest iceberg, it has been moving for 40 years after breaking away from Antarctica.

NASA images show world's largest iceberg, on the move for 40 years, on the verge of vanishing

A new study carried out by Swiss scientists has proposed that Mars was once a "blue planet" just like Earth. Researchers of the latest study have found evidence of a vast ocean on Mars, similar in size to the Arctic Ocean. Previous observations have shown that the Red Planet once had major rivers and possibly oceans. Valles Marineris – the largest canyon system on Mars – has been identified as one of the regions near the equator where water was once present. Now, scientists from the University of Bern and the INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova have found proof of this vast ocean and a coastline. High-resolution images from cameras scanning Mars led them to find structures near the canyon system that resemble river deltas on Earth. They have come across what was once possibly the mouth of a river pouring into the ocean. They say their findings confirm previous research that Mars was covered with an ocean three billion years ago.&nbsp;The team says that this ocean is as large as the Arctic Ocean on Earth. Fritz Schlunegger, Professor of Exogenous Geology at the Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of Bern, said, "We are not the first to postulate the existence and size of the ocean. However, earlier claims were based on less precise data and partly on indirect arguments. Our reconstruction of the sea level, on the other hand, is based on clear evidence for such a coastline, as we were able to use high-resolution images." He added that their analysis provides evidence for the deepest and largest former ocean on Mars to date. This ocean stretched across the northern hemisphere of the planet, he said. Even though dusty dunes cover this region today, he says their original shape is still noticeable.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ancient-indian-texts-say-one-universe-ends-and-another-begins-is-this-what-big-bang-was-1768563626475">Ancient Indian texts say one universe ends, and another is born. Is this what Big Bang was?</a><h2>Mars had conditions that supported life?</h2>Ignatius Argadestya, PhD student at the Institute of Geological Sciences and the Physics Institute of the University of Bern, said that this finding shows that the Red Planet could have supported life at one time in its past. “We know Mars as a dry, red planet. However, our results show that it was a blue planet in the past, similar to Earth. This finding also shows that water is precious on a planet and could possibly disappear at some point,” Argadestya said.&nbsp;The researchers relied on the CaSSIS (Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System) camera on board the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, and data from ESA space probes Mars Express and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to investigate the structures. &nbsp;“The structures that we were able to identify in the images are clearly the mouth of a river into an ocean,” Schlunegger said.&nbsp;

Mars not only had rivers, but also a huge ocean billions of years ago. Scientists have now found evidence of a large body of water as big as the Arctic Ocean on Mars. Scientists say their findings prove that it was not always a dry and dusty planet.

A new study carried out by Swiss scientists has proposed that Mars was once a "blue planet" just like Earth. Researchers of the latest study have found evidence of a vast ocean on Mars, similar in size to the Arctic Ocean. Previous observations have shown that the Red Planet once had major rivers and possibly oceans. Valles Marineris – the largest canyon system on Mars – has been identified as one of the regions near the equator where water was once present. Now, scientists from the University of Bern and the INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova have found proof of this vast ocean and a coastline. High-resolution images from cameras scanning Mars led them to find structures near the canyon system that resemble river deltas on Earth. They have come across what was once possibly the mouth of a river pouring into the ocean. They say their findings confirm previous research that Mars was covered with an ocean three billion years ago. The team says that this ocean is as large as the Arctic Ocean on Earth. Fritz Schlunegger, Professor of Exogenous Geology at the Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of Bern, said, "We are not the first to postulate the existence and size of the ocean. However, earlier claims were based on less precise data and partly on indirect arguments. Our reconstruction of the sea level, on the other hand, is based on clear evidence for such a coastline, as we were able to use high-resolution images." He added that their analysis provides evidence for the deepest and largest former ocean on Mars to date. This ocean stretched across the northern hemisphere of the planet, he said. Even though dusty dunes cover this region today, he says their original shape is still noticeable. Also Read: Ancient Indian texts say one universe ends, and another is born. Is this what Big Bang was? Mars had conditions that supported life? Ignatius Argadestya, PhD student at the Institute of Geological Sciences and the Physics Institute of the University of Bern, said that this finding shows that the Red Planet could have supported life at one time in its past. “We know Mars as a dry, red planet. However, our results show that it was a blue planet in the past, similar to Earth. This finding also shows that water is precious on a planet and could possibly disappear at some point,” Argadestya said. The researchers relied on the CaSSIS (Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System) camera on board the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, and data from ESA space probes Mars Express and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to investigate the structures. “The structures that we were able to identify in the images are clearly the mouth of a river into an ocean,” Schlunegger said.

Mars used to have a vast ocean that spanned the entire Northern Hemisphere. This was the case three billion years ago, and yet today, it is nothing but an arid planet. Scientists have found conclusive proof that the Red Planet was once a Blue Planet.&nbsp;

3 billion years ago, Mars had a huge ocean that covered half the planet

Taking paracetamol during pregnancy is safe and does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or other developmental conditions in children, shows a major new scientific review. The findings are in direct contradiction of the controversial claims made by US President Donald Trump a few months back. In September, Trump told pregnant women in the United States to avoid Tylenol and “tough it out,” and tied the painkiller, which is known as paracetamol outside America, to autism. Researchers say the evidence presented in the latest review published in The Lancet journal is strong enough to put the debate to rest.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-s-on-trump-s-gaza-board-of-peace-from-tony-blair-to-jared-kushner-in-pics-1768634224725">Who’s on Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’? From Tony Blair to Jared Kushner | In Pics</a><h2>Findings contradict Trump claims</h2>The review directly contradicts comments made last year by Trump, who claimed paracetamol was dangerous in pregnancy and urged women to avoid it. In a speech that was reminiscent of his anti-vaccination push, Donald Trump repeatedly said, “Don’t take it (Tylenol),” adding that pregnant women should only consider acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, if battling an “extremely high fever.” He then told them to “fight like hell not to take it.”The US president claimed that, “There's a rumour—and I don't know if it's so or not—that Cuba, they don't have Tylenol because they don't have the money for Tylenol. And they have virtually no autism.” He also contended that the Amish, traditionalist people known for their horse-drawn carts and rejection of modern technology, "have essentially no autism".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-pregnant-women-to-tough-it-out-without-paracetamol-claims-amish-have-no-autism-because-they-lack-tylenol-1758589438052">Trump tells pregnant women to ‘tough it out’ without paracetamol, claims Amish have ‘no autism’ because they lack Tylenol</a>Those remarks drew sharp criticism from medical bodies worldwide and left many pregnant women uncertain about what pain relief was safe.<h2>What the research examined</h2>Experts say this latest research, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health, is among the most rigorous analyses ever conducted on the issue. The review analysed 43 high-quality studies involving hundreds of thousands of women. Crucially, it focused on robust comparisons, including sibling studies, which allow researchers to rule out different genes and family environments as explanations for developmental outcomes.The authors also prioritised studies with low risk of bias and those that followed children for more than five years. Across this data, they found no evidence linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.Lead author Professor Asma Khalil said, "When we did this analysis, we found no links, there was no association, there's no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism. The message is clear – paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided".<h2>Why this matters for mothers</h2>Medical guidance already warns that untreated pain or high fever during pregnancy can itself be harmful, increasing the risk of miscarriage, premature birth or developmental complications. Paracetamol is widely recommended as the first-line treatment because alternatives such as ibuprofen carry known risks later in pregnancy. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

A major new scientific review has put to rest fears around using paracetamol during pregnancy, directly contradicting claims made by US President Donald Trump last year. Here’s what this really means, and why it matters.

Taking paracetamol during pregnancy is safe and does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or other developmental conditions in children, shows a major new scientific review. The findings are in direct contradiction of the controversial claims made by US President Donald Trump a few months back. In September, Trump told pregnant women in the United States to avoid Tylenol and “tough it out,” and tied the painkiller, which is known as paracetamol outside America, to autism. Researchers say the evidence presented in the latest review published in The Lancet journal is strong enough to put the debate to rest. Also read | Who’s on Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’? From Tony Blair to Jared Kushner | In Pics Findings contradict Trump claims The review directly contradicts comments made last year by Trump, who claimed paracetamol was dangerous in pregnancy and urged women to avoid it. In a speech that was reminiscent of his anti-vaccination push, Donald Trump repeatedly said, “Don’t take it (Tylenol),” adding that pregnant women should only consider acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, if battling an “extremely high fever.” He then told them to “fight like hell not to take it.” The US president claimed that, “There's a rumour—and I don't know if it's so or not—that Cuba, they don't have Tylenol because they don't have the money for Tylenol. And they have virtually no autism.” He also contended that the Amish, traditionalist people known for their horse-drawn carts and rejection of modern technology, "have essentially no autism". Also read | Trump tells pregnant women to ‘tough it out’ without paracetamol, claims Amish have ‘no autism’ because they lack Tylenol Those remarks drew sharp criticism from medical bodies worldwide and left many pregnant women uncertain about what pain relief was safe. What the research examined Experts say this latest research, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health, is among the most rigorous analyses ever conducted on the issue. The review analysed 43 high-quality studies involving hundreds of thousands of women. Crucially, it focused on robust comparisons, including sibling studies, which allow researchers to rule out different genes and family environments as explanations for developmental outcomes. The authors also prioritised studies with low risk of bias and those that followed children for more than five years. Across this data, they found no evidence linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism, ADHD or intellectual disability. Lead author Professor Asma Khalil said, "When we did this analysis, we found no links, there was no association, there's no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism. The message is clear – paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided". Why this matters for mothers Medical guidance already warns that untreated pain or high fever during pregnancy can itself be harmful, increasing the risk of miscarriage, premature birth or developmental complications. Paracetamol is widely recommended as the first-line treatment because alternatives such as ibuprofen carry known risks later in pregnancy.

A major new scientific review has put to rest fears around using paracetamol during pregnancy, directly contradicting claims made by US President Donald Trump last year. Here’s what this really means, and why it matters.

Science debunks Trump's claim: Paracetamol in pregnancy not linked to autism, finds Lancet study

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Science debunks Trump: Paracetamol in pregnancy not linked to autism