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Artemis II will fly four astronauts to the moon for the first time in nearly 60 years, with the launch scheduled for April 1. The mission is being compared to the Apollo 8 mission that preceded Apollo 11, which ultimately landed the first humans on the lunar surface. Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders were the first to fly this far from Earth, from where they could not see their home planet. It was the first human space mission to break free from Earth’s gravitational pull and the first to carry astronauts to the Moon. This is what will happen with Artemis II as well. The mission will take astronauts to the moon on a short voyage, similar to Apollo 8. They will circle the moon and return to Earth, setting the stage for a future landing. Here is what you should know about Artemis II and how it compares with Apollo 8.<h2>Artemis II launch date</h2> The Artemis II moon mission is currently slated to take off on April 1. It was previously scheduled for a February 6 launch, but fuel leakage issues led the launch to be moved forward. The April Fool's Day launch has become the talk of the town, a day that will once again change humanity's relationship with the universe.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-goes-the-apollo-way-plans-yearly-moon-landings-starting-with-2-in-2028-1772538309531">NASA goes the Apollo way, plans yearly moon landings, starting with 2 in 2028</a><h2>Artemis II astronauts</h2> Three NASA and one Canadian astronaut will board the Orion capsule and take off on a 10-day mission. The Artemis II crew includes NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman (mission commander), &nbsp;Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist), who will fly to space for the first time.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nasa-picks-april-1-as-artemis-2-launch-date-netizens-ask-why-april-fools-1773405980723">NASA picks April 1 as Artemis 2 launch date, and everyone is wondering, 'Why April Fool's...?'</a><h2>Apollo 8 mission and Artemis II comparison</h2> Apollo 8 was the first time humans ever left Earth's gravity and the first to reach the Moon. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders were the three astronauts aboard the Saturn V rocket. They reached the Moon in 68 hours and orbited the Moon ten times over 20 hours. They also travelled to the far side of the Moon and were fortunate to see an Earthrise. They also held a television broadcast on Christmas. What Apollo 8 did for Apollo 11, Artemis II will do for the Artemis IV mission. Astronauts will go to the moon and hover over it, scanning and photographing it. They will go nearly 9,000 kilometres beyond the far side of the moon, which will let them see such portions that even the Apollo 8 crew did not witness. This will mark the farthest humans have ever travelled from our home planet.&nbsp;Both missions are similar in the sense that they precede planned human landings to the moon. Apollo 8 was the first mission to take humans to the moon before the main mission. Artemis 2 is also the first mission to take humans to the moon before a landing occurs in 2028.&nbsp;

Apollo 8 and Artemis II are similar missions in many ways. Humans are trying to reach the moon once again. The first human landing in nearly 60 years has been planned for 2028. But before that, Artemis II will undertake a crucial mission. 

Artemis II will fly four astronauts to the moon for the first time in nearly 60 years, with the launch scheduled for April 1. The mission is being compared to the Apollo 8 mission that preceded Apollo 11, which ultimately landed the first humans on the lunar surface. Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders were the first to fly this far from Earth, from where they could not see their home planet. It was the first human space mission to break free from Earth’s gravitational pull and the first to carry astronauts to the Moon. This is what will happen with Artemis II as well. The mission will take astronauts to the moon on a short voyage, similar to Apollo 8. They will circle the moon and return to Earth, setting the stage for a future landing. Here is what you should know about Artemis II and how it compares with Apollo 8. Artemis II launch date The Artemis II moon mission is currently slated to take off on April 1. It was previously scheduled for a February 6 launch, but fuel leakage issues led the launch to be moved forward. The April Fool's Day launch has become the talk of the town, a day that will once again change humanity's relationship with the universe. Also Read: NASA goes the Apollo way, plans yearly moon landings, starting with 2 in 2028 Artemis II astronauts Three NASA and one Canadian astronaut will board the Orion capsule and take off on a 10-day mission. The Artemis II crew includes NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman (mission commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist), who will fly to space for the first time. Also Read: NASA picks April 1 as Artemis 2 launch date, and everyone is wondering, 'Why April Fool's...?' Apollo 8 mission and Artemis II comparison Apollo 8 was the first time humans ever left Earth's gravity and the first to reach the Moon. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders were the three astronauts aboard the Saturn V rocket. They reached the Moon in 68 hours and orbited the Moon ten times over 20 hours. They also travelled to the far side of the Moon and were fortunate to see an Earthrise. They also held a television broadcast on Christmas. What Apollo 8 did for Apollo 11, Artemis II will do for the Artemis IV mission. Astronauts will go to the moon and hover over it, scanning and photographing it. They will go nearly 9,000 kilometres beyond the far side of the moon, which will let them see such portions that even the Apollo 8 crew did not witness. This will mark the farthest humans have ever travelled from our home planet. Both missions are similar in the sense that they precede planned human landings to the moon. Apollo 8 was the first mission to take humans to the moon before the main mission. Artemis 2 is also the first mission to take humans to the moon before a landing occurs in 2028.

Apollo 8 and Artemis II are similar missions in many ways. Humans are trying to reach the moon once again. The first human landing in nearly 60 years has been planned for 2028. But before that, Artemis II will undertake a crucial mission.&nbsp;

Artemis II and Apollo 8: The 'ultimate test drive' for humanity’s return to the moon

The Indian Government's Department of Space(DoS) is "actively working for operationalisation of NAVIC and associated satellite systems for providing secure navigation service," the country's Space Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said in Parliament on Wednesday (25th March). His comments come at a time when the NAVIC satellite fleet, India's own system to provide Position, Navigation &amp; Timing services, has gone defunct. Executed by the Space agency ISRO(which operates under the Department of Space), NAVIC is a strategic Indian Government project meant to serve civilian and defence applications within India and 1,500 km beyond Indian borders. Confirming what has already been known about NAVIC, Minister Singh stated in Parliament that only eight of the eleven NAVIC satellites are functional. Of these eight, only three satellites are broadcasting navigation signals, while five satellites are capable of broadcasting signals for one-way messaging, it was added. Back in July 2025, this author had reported that NAVIC faced the risk of going defunct, as multiple failure-hit satellites were not being replaced in a timely manner. On 13th March 2026, space agency ISRO officially revealed that another NAVIC satellite had stopped functioning, which left only three NAVIC satellites operational for providing Position, Navigation &amp; Timing services. NAVIC requires a bare minimum of four satellites for providing Position, Navigation &amp; Timing.<h3>Why NAVIC failed and what remains now...</h3>According to data shared by ISRO, six NAVIC satellites suffered failure in all three on-board atomic clocks. Atomic clocks are highly precise and sophisticated timekeeping instruments, which are fundamental to the operation of Navigation satellites. When all atomic clocks in a satellite fail, it implies a total loss of that satellite's capability to offer Position, Navigation &amp; Timing. According to the Indian Government, these imported atomic clocks were made by the Swiss firm SpectraTime. SpectraTime's atomic clocks that were used in Europe's Galileo satellite fleet had also suffered failures, it was added. &nbsp;Even among the three satellites that are presently functional, two satellites are at the end of life: IRNSS-1B has exceeded its expected life of 10 years, while IRNSS-1I has about two years of life remaining and faces the risk of premature failure. Considering long-term utility, only the NVS-01 is truly functional. Launched in May 2023, NVS-01 has at least ten years of life ahead of it, provided it functions glitch-free. Therefore, NAVIC is effectively reduced to one satellite, NVS-01, when it needs at least four. "The roadmap for further strengthening satellite navigation architecture includes completion of the NAVIC base layer constellation and suitable enhancement in services to meet the user requirements, and induction of indigenous technologies, including a space-grade atomic clock for technological self-reliance," Minister Singh said in Parliament. However, the Minister did not specify by when this would be accomplished.<h3>How many satellites are needed to revive NAVIC?</h3>If the Indian Government wishes to revive and sustain NAVIC in its basic form, it must have a total of four satellites. For this, the country's Space agency ISRO must urgently launch three satellites: NVS-03, NVS-04 and NVS-05, which can work together with the existing NVS-01. Launched in the year 2025, the NVS-02 satellite has been stuck in its initial orbit and is unable to fulfil its core purpose. Having a fleet of four operational satellites (NVS-01, 03, 04, 05) is just the basic requirement. For higher reliability and coverage, India would have to rapidly build and launch backup satellites in the NVS-series. Eventually, a fleet of six or seven NVS-series satellites would have to be maintained to reliably operate a regional Navigation system such as NAVIC.<h3>About American and Chinese Navigation systems</h3>For context, the American Global Positioning System(GPS), which supports trillion-dollar civilian and military applications worldwide, requires a fleet of 24 satellites in orbit for optimum performance and round-the-clock global coverage. Considering how crucial GPS is to the global economy, the US Government maintains at least 30 GPS satellites in orbit at any given point in time. The six additional satellites are meant to ensure that the service remains reliable and robust, even when a few satellites fail or encounter unexpected glitches. To meet its own national requirements, China operates a fleet of Beidou satellites, which serve as an alternative to America's GPS. While Beidou's global network requires a fleet of 30 satellites in orbit, around 35 satellites are believed to be in orbit. Likewise, India too must have a proportional number of satellites.<h3>Sluggish launch pace threatens NAVIC's revival</h3>In July 2025, the Indian Government had said in Parliament that the remaining NVS-series satellites would be launched by the end of 2026. However, this seems like an unrealistic timeline, given ISRO's pace so far. ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023; NVS-02 was launched in January 2025, which shows a gap of 19 months between the two launches. It has been more than a year since the NVS-02 failure, and its successor, NVS-03, has not been launched. ISRO has also faced three failures in six missions executed between January 2025 and January 2026, further slowing down the overall pace of activity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/60x-further-5x-faster-china-just-shook-starlink-with-a-tiny-laser-that-shattered-speed-records-1774274595342">China just shook Starlink with a 5 times faster laser from a distance of 36,000km</a>

Executed by the Space agency ISRO(which operates under the Department of Space), NAVIC is a strategic Indian Government project meant to serve civilian and defence applications within India and 1,500 km beyond Indian borders.

The Indian Government's Department of Space(DoS) is "actively working for operationalisation of NAVIC and associated satellite systems for providing secure navigation service," the country's Space Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said in Parliament on Wednesday (25th March). His comments come at a time when the NAVIC satellite fleet, India's own system to provide Position, Navigation & Timing services, has gone defunct. Executed by the Space agency ISRO(which operates under the Department of Space), NAVIC is a strategic Indian Government project meant to serve civilian and defence applications within India and 1,500 km beyond Indian borders. Confirming what has already been known about NAVIC, Minister Singh stated in Parliament that only eight of the eleven NAVIC satellites are functional. Of these eight, only three satellites are broadcasting navigation signals, while five satellites are capable of broadcasting signals for one-way messaging, it was added. Back in July 2025, this author had reported that NAVIC faced the risk of going defunct, as multiple failure-hit satellites were not being replaced in a timely manner. On 13th March 2026, space agency ISRO officially revealed that another NAVIC satellite had stopped functioning, which left only three NAVIC satellites operational for providing Position, Navigation & Timing services. NAVIC requires a bare minimum of four satellites for providing Position, Navigation & Timing. Why NAVIC failed and what remains now... According to data shared by ISRO, six NAVIC satellites suffered failure in all three on-board atomic clocks. Atomic clocks are highly precise and sophisticated timekeeping instruments, which are fundamental to the operation of Navigation satellites. When all atomic clocks in a satellite fail, it implies a total loss of that satellite's capability to offer Position, Navigation & Timing. According to the Indian Government, these imported atomic clocks were made by the Swiss firm SpectraTime. SpectraTime's atomic clocks that were used in Europe's Galileo satellite fleet had also suffered failures, it was added. Even among the three satellites that are presently functional, two satellites are at the end of life: IRNSS-1B has exceeded its expected life of 10 years, while IRNSS-1I has about two years of life remaining and faces the risk of premature failure. Considering long-term utility, only the NVS-01 is truly functional. Launched in May 2023, NVS-01 has at least ten years of life ahead of it, provided it functions glitch-free. Therefore, NAVIC is effectively reduced to one satellite, NVS-01, when it needs at least four. "The roadmap for further strengthening satellite navigation architecture includes completion of the NAVIC base layer constellation and suitable enhancement in services to meet the user requirements, and induction of indigenous technologies, including a space-grade atomic clock for technological self-reliance," Minister Singh said in Parliament. However, the Minister did not specify by when this would be accomplished. How many satellites are needed to revive NAVIC? If the Indian Government wishes to revive and sustain NAVIC in its basic form, it must have a total of four satellites. For this, the country's Space agency ISRO must urgently launch three satellites: NVS-03, NVS-04 and NVS-05, which can work together with the existing NVS-01. Launched in the year 2025, the NVS-02 satellite has been stuck in its initial orbit and is unable to fulfil its core purpose. Having a fleet of four operational satellites (NVS-01, 03, 04, 05) is just the basic requirement. For higher reliability and coverage, India would have to rapidly build and launch backup satellites in the NVS-series. Eventually, a fleet of six or seven NVS-series satellites would have to be maintained to reliably operate a regional Navigation system such as NAVIC. About American and Chinese Navigation systems For context, the American Global Positioning System(GPS), which supports trillion-dollar civilian and military applications worldwide, requires a fleet of 24 satellites in orbit for optimum performance and round-the-clock global coverage. Considering how crucial GPS is to the global economy, the US Government maintains at least 30 GPS satellites in orbit at any given point in time. The six additional satellites are meant to ensure that the service remains reliable and robust, even when a few satellites fail or encounter unexpected glitches. To meet its own national requirements, China operates a fleet of Beidou satellites, which serve as an alternative to America's GPS. While Beidou's global network requires a fleet of 30 satellites in orbit, around 35 satellites are believed to be in orbit. Likewise, India too must have a proportional number of satellites. Sluggish launch pace threatens NAVIC's revival In July 2025, the Indian Government had said in Parliament that the remaining NVS-series satellites would be launched by the end of 2026. However, this seems like an unrealistic timeline, given ISRO's pace so far. ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023; NVS-02 was launched in January 2025, which shows a gap of 19 months between the two launches. It has been more than a year since the NVS-02 failure, and its successor, NVS-03, has not been launched. ISRO has also faced three failures in six missions executed between January 2025 and January 2026, further slowing down the overall pace of activity. Also read: China just shook Starlink with a 5 times faster laser from a distance of 36,000km

Executed by the Space agency ISRO(which operates under the Department of Space), NAVIC is a strategic Indian Government project meant to serve civilian and defence applications within India and 1,500 km beyond Indian borders.

'Working for operationalization,' Indian Govt says on defunct NAVIC satellite fleet

China has achieved a remarkable feat in the field of satellite communications. From a satellite parked in the geostationary orbit (GEO)—approximately 36,000 km above Earth — scientists successfully established a 1Gbps laser downlink using only a 2-watt laser. They beat Starlink with this achievement whose satellites operate in low-Earth orbit, only a few hundred kilometres above Earth. The beam from the satellite did not arrive neat and steady, and instead scattered and changed form in the atmosphere. The Chinese signal travelled over 60 times further than a Starlink satellite, and yet was around five times faster than the speeds Elon Musk's company has managed to achieve. Chinese researchers from Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications and the Chinese Academy of Sciences achieved clean data in a receiver from a beam that witnessed atmospheric distortion.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/chinese-scientists-have-supposedly-found-a-flaw-in-the-b-21-raider-bomber-1773925835054">Chinese scientists have supposedly found a flaw in US' B-21 Raider Bomber</a><h2>Making distorted signal clean and usable</h2>Even though the laser link was travelling from a much farther distance than regular satellites, that wasn't the main challenge. The researchers had to get a stable, high-speed downlink that could survive the last stretch through the moving air above the observatory. Here, the beam lost its clean form, and the download could have become unusable. For this, they used a specialised ground system at the Lijiang Observatory. They placed a 1.8-meter telescope equipped with 357 micro-mirrors that were adjusted in real-time to reshape the incoming light and correct for atmospheric distortion. They combined adaptive optics that corrects distortions with mode diversity reception that collects and processes scattered signal components. The system split the signal into eight channels, identified the strongest paths, and combined them for decoding. The proportion of usable signal increased from 72% to 91.1%.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-tells-nasa-we-are-about-to-collide-for-the-first-time-ever-what-it-means-1762502544849">China tells NASA, 'we are about to collide', for the first time ever — What it means</a><h2>Distance of the laser signal</h2>The other commendable aspect is the speed with which the signal reached Earth despite how far it was coming from. According to the research led by Wu Jian and published in &nbsp;Acta Optica Sinica, the team recorded a 1Gbps laser downlink from geostationary orbit using a 2-watt laser. This was five times faster than Starlink, and like sending an HD movie from Shanghai to Los Angeles in less than five seconds, Daily Galaxy reported. The power level was another standout aspect, as a 2-watt transmitter compares to a night light. Long-range communications systems require much heavier power. &nbsp;

Chinese researchers achieve a 1Gbps satellite laser downlink from 36,000 kilometres above Earth using a 2-watt laser. This achievement has placed them far ahead of Starlink speeds with record-breaking efficiency. 

China has achieved a remarkable feat in the field of satellite communications. From a satellite parked in the geostationary orbit (GEO)—approximately 36,000 km above Earth — scientists successfully established a 1Gbps laser downlink using only a 2-watt laser. They beat Starlink with this achievement whose satellites operate in low-Earth orbit, only a few hundred kilometres above Earth. The beam from the satellite did not arrive neat and steady, and instead scattered and changed form in the atmosphere. The Chinese signal travelled over 60 times further than a Starlink satellite, and yet was around five times faster than the speeds Elon Musk's company has managed to achieve. Chinese researchers from Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications and the Chinese Academy of Sciences achieved clean data in a receiver from a beam that witnessed atmospheric distortion. Also Read: Chinese scientists have supposedly found a flaw in US' B-21 Raider Bomber Making distorted signal clean and usable Even though the laser link was travelling from a much farther distance than regular satellites, that wasn't the main challenge. The researchers had to get a stable, high-speed downlink that could survive the last stretch through the moving air above the observatory. Here, the beam lost its clean form, and the download could have become unusable. For this, they used a specialised ground system at the Lijiang Observatory. They placed a 1.8-meter telescope equipped with 357 micro-mirrors that were adjusted in real-time to reshape the incoming light and correct for atmospheric distortion. They combined adaptive optics that corrects distortions with mode diversity reception that collects and processes scattered signal components. The system split the signal into eight channels, identified the strongest paths, and combined them for decoding. The proportion of usable signal increased from 72% to 91.1%. Also Read: China tells NASA, 'we are about to collide', for the first time ever — What it means Distance of the laser signal The other commendable aspect is the speed with which the signal reached Earth despite how far it was coming from. According to the research led by Wu Jian and published in Acta Optica Sinica, the team recorded a 1Gbps laser downlink from geostationary orbit using a 2-watt laser. This was five times faster than Starlink, and like sending an HD movie from Shanghai to Los Angeles in less than five seconds, Daily Galaxy reported. The power level was another standout aspect, as a 2-watt transmitter compares to a night light. Long-range communications systems require much heavier power.

Chinese researchers achieve a 1Gbps satellite laser downlink from 36,000 kilometres above Earth using a 2-watt laser. This achievement has placed them far ahead of Starlink speeds with record-breaking efficiency.&nbsp;

China just shook Starlink with a 5 times faster laser from a distance of 36,000km

Scientists have found that the world warmed at an average rate of 0.35 degrees Celsius in the past decade, much higher than the &nbsp;0.2 degrees Celsius increase typically recorded in the past 50 years. Climate change experts previously noted that Earth will permanently pass the 1.5-degree warming threshold by the end of the decade. But the study shows that humans might have totally miscalculated how bad things are. Global temperature measurement datasets from five major organisations, including NASA and NOAA, were analysed by a team of researchers to determine the rate at which Earth was warming. This excluded natural influences like El Niño events, volcanic eruptions and solar heating. Study co-author Stefan Rahmstorf, a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, said, "The adjusted data show an acceleration of global warming since 2015 with a statistical certainty of over 98 per cent, consistent across all data sets examined and independent of the analysis method chosen."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/doomsday-thwaites-glacier-underwater-tsunamis-1769682393034">300-foot underwater tsunamis triggered by Doomsday Glacier threaten the world</a>&nbsp;The alarming finding means that all climate thresholds that scientists have set will be reached much faster than expected. Previous studies have also shown that the world has been heating at a rate of 0.27 degrees Celsius, only a tad higher than the prevalent estimate. But to put the figure at 0.35, minus the influence of Solar Maximum and El Niño weather events, presents a scary picture. Robert Rohde, chief scientist at Berkeley Earth, told Nature that removing the natural influences can present "imperfect" estimates, but even lowering the estimate would put the figure at 0.30 degrees Celsius.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>Reducing global warming&nbsp;</h2>"How quickly the Earth continues to warm ultimately depends on how rapidly we reduce global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels to zero," Rahmstorf said in a statement. To control climate change, there is an urgent need to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Reliance on fossil fuels needs to go down completely, and countries should proactively start investing in green energy. Ice caps and glaciers are melting, which could raise sea levels, triggering concerns for coastal areas. Weather cycles have drastically changed in several parts of the world because of climate change. The Doomsday Glacier, or the Thwaites Glacier, could melt completely by 2100, putting major areas underwater. Experts have been calling for urgent action, and now the latest study shows we might already be too late.

Climate change is occurring at a much faster rate than expected, as data shows that the rate at which Earth heated in the past decade dramatically changed compared to past years. This puts Earth at risk of a catastrophe that could happen sooner than thought.     

Scientists have found that the world warmed at an average rate of 0.35 degrees Celsius in the past decade, much higher than the 0.2 degrees Celsius increase typically recorded in the past 50 years. Climate change experts previously noted that Earth will permanently pass the 1.5-degree warming threshold by the end of the decade. But the study shows that humans might have totally miscalculated how bad things are. Global temperature measurement datasets from five major organisations, including NASA and NOAA, were analysed by a team of researchers to determine the rate at which Earth was warming. This excluded natural influences like El Niño events, volcanic eruptions and solar heating. Study co-author Stefan Rahmstorf, a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, said, "The adjusted data show an acceleration of global warming since 2015 with a statistical certainty of over 98 per cent, consistent across all data sets examined and independent of the analysis method chosen." Also Read: 300-foot underwater tsunamis triggered by Doomsday Glacier threaten the world The alarming finding means that all climate thresholds that scientists have set will be reached much faster than expected. Previous studies have also shown that the world has been heating at a rate of 0.27 degrees Celsius, only a tad higher than the prevalent estimate. But to put the figure at 0.35, minus the influence of Solar Maximum and El Niño weather events, presents a scary picture. Robert Rohde, chief scientist at Berkeley Earth, told Nature that removing the natural influences can present "imperfect" estimates, but even lowering the estimate would put the figure at 0.30 degrees Celsius. 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 Reducing global warming "How quickly the Earth continues to warm ultimately depends on how rapidly we reduce global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels to zero," Rahmstorf said in a statement. To control climate change, there is an urgent need to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Reliance on fossil fuels needs to go down completely, and countries should proactively start investing in green energy. Ice caps and glaciers are melting, which could raise sea levels, triggering concerns for coastal areas. Weather cycles have drastically changed in several parts of the world because of climate change. The Doomsday Glacier, or the Thwaites Glacier, could melt completely by 2100, putting major areas underwater. Experts have been calling for urgent action, and now the latest study shows we might already be too late.

Climate change is occurring at a much faster rate than expected, as data shows that the rate at which Earth heated in the past decade dramatically changed compared to past years. This puts Earth at risk of a catastrophe that could happen sooner than thought. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists find Earth did not warm as expected from 2015. In fact, it was way worse

Researchers in their new study have detected Caffeine, cocaine, and painkillers, among other drugs, in the blood of sharks swimming near the coast of the Bahamas. The team led by biologist Natascha Wosnick found after analysing blood samples from 85 sharks near Eleuthera Island. Out of these, nearly one-third have tested positive for caffeine, anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen and diclofenac, and in one case, cocaine.&nbsp;"This represents the first report concerning contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) and potentially associated physiological responses in sharks from The Bahamas, pointing to the urgent need to address marine pollution in ecosystems often perceived as pristine," the study published in the journal Environmental Pollution confirmed.<h3>Are divers the main culprit?</h3>A biologist with the Federal University of Parana, identified as Wosnick, said the traces of the drug could reach marine environments through water currents carrying sewage or other water. However, he suggested that divers are the most likely source of sharks being exposed to these substances. Most of the sharks studied were found near an inactive fish farm that is frequently visited by divers. “It's mostly because people are going there, peeing in the water and dumping their sewage in the water,” Wosnick said, ScienceNews reported. "They bite things to investigate and end up exposed [to substances]," added Wosnick. In addition to detecting pharmaceuticals and cocaine, researchers observed changes in the sharks’ metabolic markers. While it is still uncertain whether these changes are harmful, they could potentially influence the animals’ behaviour. "The very limited information on how CECs interact with the unique physiology and detoxification systems of elasmobranchs (sharks) represents a major barrier to assessing ecological risks and population-level impacts, hindering the development of effective conservation strategies for this already high-at-risk group," the study authors stated.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/meat-blood-milk-and-almost-no-water-mutation-that-helped-kenyan-tribe-survive-for-centuries-1773986257798">Meat, blood, milk, and almost no water: Scientists find what helped Kenyan tribe survive on extreme diet for centuries</a>

A biologist with the Federal University of Parana said the traces of the drug could reach marine environments through water currents carrying sewage or other water. However, he suggested that divers are the most likely source of sharks being exposed to these substances. 

Researchers in their new study have detected Caffeine, cocaine, and painkillers, among other drugs, in the blood of sharks swimming near the coast of the Bahamas. The team led by biologist Natascha Wosnick found after analysing blood samples from 85 sharks near Eleuthera Island. Out of these, nearly one-third have tested positive for caffeine, anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen and diclofenac, and in one case, cocaine. "This represents the first report concerning contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) and potentially associated physiological responses in sharks from The Bahamas, pointing to the urgent need to address marine pollution in ecosystems often perceived as pristine," the study published in the journal Environmental Pollution confirmed. Are divers the main culprit? A biologist with the Federal University of Parana, identified as Wosnick, said the traces of the drug could reach marine environments through water currents carrying sewage or other water. However, he suggested that divers are the most likely source of sharks being exposed to these substances. Most of the sharks studied were found near an inactive fish farm that is frequently visited by divers. “It's mostly because people are going there, peeing in the water and dumping their sewage in the water,” Wosnick said, ScienceNews reported. "They bite things to investigate and end up exposed [to substances]," added Wosnick. In addition to detecting pharmaceuticals and cocaine, researchers observed changes in the sharks’ metabolic markers. While it is still uncertain whether these changes are harmful, they could potentially influence the animals’ behaviour. "The very limited information on how CECs interact with the unique physiology and detoxification systems of elasmobranchs (sharks) represents a major barrier to assessing ecological risks and population-level impacts, hindering the development of effective conservation strategies for this already high-at-risk group," the study authors stated. Also read: Meat, blood, milk, and almost no water: Scientists find what helped Kenyan tribe survive on extreme diet for centuries

A biologist with the Federal University of Parana said the traces of the drug could reach marine environments through water currents carrying sewage or other water. However, he suggested that divers are the most likely source of sharks being exposed to these substances.&nbsp;

What’s in water? Sharks near Bahamas found with Cocaine & Caffeine in blood, study reveals

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a cutting-edge catalyst that transforms CO2 gas into methanol more efficiently. Despite using a cluster of metal atoms, they designed a system where each single indium atom actively leads the chemical reaction. Let's have a look at the applied method.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a cutting-edge catalyst that transforms CO2 gas into methanol more efficiently. Despite using a cluster of metal atoms, they designed a system where each single indium atom actively leads the chemical reaction. Let's have a look at the applied method.

CO2 to fuel? Scientists convert greenhouse gas into clean energy: Here's how

Ratnesh Kumar, Executive Director at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), said on Wednesday (Mar 18) that India’s energy transition must follow a balanced approach, stressing that decarbonisation should focus on “phase down” rather than a complete “phase out” of conventional energy sources.Speaking at the WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi, Ratnesh Kumar highlighted that coal continues to play a crucial role in India’s energy mix, particularly in ensuring grid stability and meeting rising power demand. "For de-carbonisastion, instead of phasing out, you have to go phase down. The current energy mix of India indicates that coal is still the backbone of our energy. For grid power, we also need power. In terms of renewable energy, it now comprises 51 per cent, which is more than the installed capacity. Alone, solar and wind can't do it; we need a battery, a storage system and PSP."<h3>ONGC shifts towards renewable energy</h3>Responding to a question on whether climate diplomacy is increasingly shaped by geopolitics rather than planetary urgency, Kumar underscored the need for a balanced and sustainable approach.He said, “As Mahatma Gandhi has said, 'Nature has sufficient to provide everyone's need, not everyone's greed.' So, nature has its own way of balancing everything. However, a change has come, and we are looking to decarbonise our operation and focus more on renewable energy. We incorporated ONGC Green Limited in 2024 and acquired Ana Power with 2.4 GW capacity. Our target is 10 GW by 2030. We are diversifying into NSMR (Nuclear Small Model Reactor), solar, wind and Geo-thermal other than oil producing.”Kumar’s remarks reflect India’s broader strategy of balancing energy security with sustainability, as the country continues to expand its renewable energy capacity while maintaining reliance on conventional sources to meet growing demand.&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/wion-world-pulse-ai-is-new-geopolitical-power-nitin-pai-on-india-s-strategy-towards-new-tech-1773829495043"> WION World Pulse | 'AI is new geopolitical power': Nitin Pai on India’s strategy towards new technologies</a> &nbsp;

Executive Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Ratnesh Kumar, underscored the need for a balanced and sustainable approach when questioned on whether climate diplomacy is increasingly shaped by geopolitics rather than planetary urgency.

Ratnesh Kumar, Executive Director at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), said on Wednesday (Mar 18) that India’s energy transition must follow a balanced approach, stressing that decarbonisation should focus on “phase down” rather than a complete “phase out” of conventional energy sources. Speaking at the WION World Pulse summit in New Delhi, Ratnesh Kumar highlighted that coal continues to play a crucial role in India’s energy mix, particularly in ensuring grid stability and meeting rising power demand. "For de-carbonisastion, instead of phasing out, you have to go phase down. The current energy mix of India indicates that coal is still the backbone of our energy. For grid power, we also need power. In terms of renewable energy, it now comprises 51 per cent, which is more than the installed capacity. Alone, solar and wind can't do it; we need a battery, a storage system and PSP." ONGC shifts towards renewable energy Responding to a question on whether climate diplomacy is increasingly shaped by geopolitics rather than planetary urgency, Kumar underscored the need for a balanced and sustainable approach. He said, “As Mahatma Gandhi has said, 'Nature has sufficient to provide everyone's need, not everyone's greed.' So, nature has its own way of balancing everything. However, a change has come, and we are looking to decarbonise our operation and focus more on renewable energy. We incorporated ONGC Green Limited in 2024 and acquired Ana Power with 2.4 GW capacity. Our target is 10 GW by 2030. We are diversifying into NSMR (Nuclear Small Model Reactor), solar, wind and Geo-thermal other than oil producing.” Kumar’s remarks reflect India’s broader strategy of balancing energy security with sustainability, as the country continues to expand its renewable energy capacity while maintaining reliance on conventional sources to meet growing demand. Also read: WION World Pulse | 'AI is new geopolitical power': Nitin Pai on India’s strategy towards new technologies

Executive Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Ratnesh Kumar, underscored the need for a balanced and sustainable approach when questioned on whether climate diplomacy is increasingly shaped by geopolitics rather than planetary urgency.

Coal still backbone of India’s energy, says ONGC Executive Director Ratnesh Kumar at WION World Pulse summit

A pyramid-like structure first seen on Mars in 2001 has renewed debate on whether human-like creatures inhabited the planet billions of years ago. The image was captured by NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) and found by researcher Keith Laney while he was scanning the data. He believes that this three-sided pyramid on the Martian surface is possibly an artificial structure. Expressing surprise, he said, "Were this found anywhere on Earth, we'd surely be digging into it." The NASA photo is generating interest on social media 25 years later, after it was reshared by documentary filmmaker Brian Dobbs. "On Mars, there is a three-sided pyramid the size of the Great Pyramid in Egypt," he said. The photo of this pyramid would not have reached a lot of people in 2001. But now, it is grabbing eyeballs because the photo truly is amazing.&nbsp;This pyramid-like structure is located in the western region of canyon Candor Chasma inside Valles Marineris, a canyon system which scientists say is the second-largest in our solar system. It has been clicked at least five times by NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions between 2001 and 2016. Dobbs told Daily Mail that it is not proof of past life on Mars, but it definitely raises questions about the history of the red planet. Meanwhile, NASA says that since the canyon system is riddled with steep cliffs and witnesses landslides, it is possible for unusual and highly geometric surface features to take shape.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-just-saved-a-precious-drill-on-mars-from-212-million-kilometres-away-1767174556834">NASA just saved a precious drill stuck on Mars since 8 months from 212 million kilometres away</a><h2>Photos of the pyramid on Mars</h2>The first photo was taken in 2001, with sunlight falling in such a way that only one side of the structure was visible. In April 2002, a three-sided shape was seen once again. &nbsp;Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took a high-resolution photo in 2007 and showed more features for the first time. More images in 2014 and 2016 highlighted the geometrical features even more clearly. What was striking in all these images was that, irrespective of sunlight, shadow, image quality, and conditions, the three-sided structure appeared identical each time. The three lines seen from above the structure appear perfectly straight.&nbsp;Mars researcher George Haas wrote in a research paper, that the three-sided pyramid "exhibits a level of geometry and symmetry that supports a high probability of artificial origins." Reports suggest that CIA carried out mysterious experiments regarding Mars, and documents show that an ancient civilisation that built at least one pyramid once lived on the Red Planet. "Project Stargate" seemingly had the agency send a person's consciousness back in time who described a pyramid and a road, suggesting the presence of a civilisation. Today, people like Elon Musk believe that Mars is humanity's next home. However, that aspiration faces a lot of hurdles today.

A photo showing a pyramid-like structure on Mars, taken by NASA's spacecraft several times, is grabbing attention on social media. It is raising questions about whether the Red Planet was ever home to an ancient civilisation.

A pyramid-like structure first seen on Mars in 2001 has renewed debate on whether human-like creatures inhabited the planet billions of years ago. The image was captured by NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) and found by researcher Keith Laney while he was scanning the data. He believes that this three-sided pyramid on the Martian surface is possibly an artificial structure. Expressing surprise, he said, "Were this found anywhere on Earth, we'd surely be digging into it." The NASA photo is generating interest on social media 25 years later, after it was reshared by documentary filmmaker Brian Dobbs. "On Mars, there is a three-sided pyramid the size of the Great Pyramid in Egypt," he said. The photo of this pyramid would not have reached a lot of people in 2001. But now, it is grabbing eyeballs because the photo truly is amazing. This pyramid-like structure is located in the western region of canyon Candor Chasma inside Valles Marineris, a canyon system which scientists say is the second-largest in our solar system. It has been clicked at least five times by NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions between 2001 and 2016. Dobbs told Daily Mail that it is not proof of past life on Mars, but it definitely raises questions about the history of the red planet. Meanwhile, NASA says that since the canyon system is riddled with steep cliffs and witnesses landslides, it is possible for unusual and highly geometric surface features to take shape. Also Read: NASA just saved a precious drill stuck on Mars since 8 months from 212 million kilometres away Photos of the pyramid on Mars The first photo was taken in 2001, with sunlight falling in such a way that only one side of the structure was visible. In April 2002, a three-sided shape was seen once again. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took a high-resolution photo in 2007 and showed more features for the first time. More images in 2014 and 2016 highlighted the geometrical features even more clearly. What was striking in all these images was that, irrespective of sunlight, shadow, image quality, and conditions, the three-sided structure appeared identical each time. The three lines seen from above the structure appear perfectly straight. Mars researcher George Haas wrote in a research paper, that the three-sided pyramid "exhibits a level of geometry and symmetry that supports a high probability of artificial origins." Reports suggest that CIA carried out mysterious experiments regarding Mars, and documents show that an ancient civilisation that built at least one pyramid once lived on the Red Planet. "Project Stargate" seemingly had the agency send a person's consciousness back in time who described a pyramid and a road, suggesting the presence of a civilisation. Today, people like Elon Musk believe that Mars is humanity's next home. However, that aspiration faces a lot of hurdles today.

A photo showing a pyramid-like structure on Mars, taken by NASA's spacecraft several times, is grabbing attention on social media. It is raising questions about whether the Red Planet was ever home to an ancient civilisation.

Three-side pyramid-like structure seen on Mars triggers debate - Natural or artificial?

A Shanghai-based start-up, Carbonology, has claimed it has developed a low-cost method to produce synthetic petroleum using air and water, as China ramps up efforts to find alternatives to traditional fossil fuels amid the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, according to the South China Morning Post. According to Chinese media reports, the company has developed a method that converts the carbon dioxide extracted from air and water into artificial fuel using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. A member of staff at the firm has confirmed that the report was true; however, he refused to give further details. The firm, co-founded in 2024 by a former Tesla vice president, said it has reduced production costs enough to offer synthetic petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha at prices competitive with market prices. The report added that the firm plans to roll out “large-scale production capacity in China”. Carbonology is part of a growing group of Chinese companies exploring technologies that capture carbon dioxide directly from the air, an industry that is advancing but still viewed with caution by some experts. Over the past decade, direct air capture (DAC) methods have progressed from experimental stages to practical use. However, most of the captured greenhouse gases have so far been stored underground instead of being converted into usable fuel.&nbsp;According to the SCMP, this development is part of China’s broader effort to cut its dependence on imported crude oil. Currently, the country imports more than 70 per cent of its oil, a large portion of which comes from the Middle East. Ongoing conflicts in the region have disrupted supplies and caused price fluctuations, highlighting the need for alternative energy sources.<h3>How is it produced?</h3>Scientists produce synthetic fuel (e-fuel) from air and water by capturing atmospheric carbon and splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy. These components are then combined through thermochemical processes, such as Fischer-Tropsch or methanol synthesis, to create hydrocarbon fuels (gasoline, diesel) that are compatible with existing engines.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nuclear-base-strange-lights-and-a-horn-ex-officer-claims-intelligent-non-humans-saved-earth-from-holocaust-1773730631613">Nuclear base, strange lights, and POOF: Ex-Air Force officer claims 'intelligent non-humans' saved Earth</a>

The company has developed a method that converts the carbon dioxide extracted from air and water into artificial fuel using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. A member of staff at the firm has confirmed that the report was true; however, he refused to give further details.

A Shanghai-based start-up, Carbonology, has claimed it has developed a low-cost method to produce synthetic petroleum using air and water, as China ramps up efforts to find alternatives to traditional fossil fuels amid the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, according to the South China Morning Post. According to Chinese media reports, the company has developed a method that converts the carbon dioxide extracted from air and water into artificial fuel using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. A member of staff at the firm has confirmed that the report was true; however, he refused to give further details. The firm, co-founded in 2024 by a former Tesla vice president, said it has reduced production costs enough to offer synthetic petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha at prices competitive with market prices. The report added that the firm plans to roll out “large-scale production capacity in China”. Carbonology is part of a growing group of Chinese companies exploring technologies that capture carbon dioxide directly from the air, an industry that is advancing but still viewed with caution by some experts. Over the past decade, direct air capture (DAC) methods have progressed from experimental stages to practical use. However, most of the captured greenhouse gases have so far been stored underground instead of being converted into usable fuel. According to the SCMP, this development is part of China’s broader effort to cut its dependence on imported crude oil. Currently, the country imports more than 70 per cent of its oil, a large portion of which comes from the Middle East. Ongoing conflicts in the region have disrupted supplies and caused price fluctuations, highlighting the need for alternative energy sources. How is it produced? Scientists produce synthetic fuel (e-fuel) from air and water by capturing atmospheric carbon and splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy. These components are then combined through thermochemical processes, such as Fischer-Tropsch or methanol synthesis, to create hydrocarbon fuels (gasoline, diesel) that are compatible with existing engines. Also read: Nuclear base, strange lights, and POOF: Ex-Air Force officer claims 'intelligent non-humans' saved Earth

The company has developed a method that converts the carbon dioxide extracted from air and water into artificial fuel using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. A member of staff at the firm has confirmed that the report was true; however, he refused to give further details.

No oil, no problem? Chinese start-up claims it can produce synthetic petroleum from air and water

Scientists have captured two planets smashing into each other, giving a rare insight into how our own planet, Earth and the Moon might have formed. The exciting event happened around Gaia20ehk, a star similar to our sun, located 11,000 light-years from Earth. The star and its planets reside near the constellation Puppis, or the "poop deck". A planetary collision has only been seen a few times in the past, but this one is different since astronomers say it is almost like seeing our own planet's history. Lead author of the study, Anastasios Tzanidakis, a doctoral candidate in astronomy at the University of Washington, said that several telescopes around the world "caught the impact in real time." He added, "There are only a few other planetary collisions of any kind on record, and none that bear so many similarities to the impact that created the Earth and moon." The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on March 11.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-pin-source-of-three-mysterious-signals-from-centre-of-milky-way-to-excited-dark-matter-1772794076955">Scientists pin source of three mysterious signals coming from centre of Milky Way to…</a><h2>How did scientists know that two planets had collided?</h2>It is not like planets rarely collide with each other. In fact, every young star system is a chaotic place with debris flying all around, crashing and smashing before coalescing to form planets and moons. However, to see these events from Earth is not easy. To witness the violent cosmic episodes, the planets' orbits must take them directly in front of their home star. When this happens, their debris blocks part of the star's light, and the telescopes detect and measure it in visible and infrared light. Tzanidakis was scanning through NASA's SPHEREx mission when he saw something strange. In 2016, the star Gaia20ehk was stable and just like any other fireball in the universe. However, five years later, it dimmed by three times its original light, and chaos started. "Right around 2021, it went completely bonkers," Tzanidakis said, adding that stars like our sun do not experience such weird alterations.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-is-safe-jwst-pulls-off-near-impossible-feat-locates-asteroid-2024-yr4-1772796801306">JWST pulls off near-impossible feat, locates asteroid that had gone into hiding</a><h2>Star got hotter and hotter, creating an infrared glow</h2>Further observations showed that something repeatedly passing in front of the star was blocking part of its light. However, visible-light data was not enough to conclude. This could be happening because of anything - from a stellar explosion to a planet being gobbled up by a supermassive black hole. An analysis of Gaia20ehk's emission in the infrared spectrum showed that its infrared signal shot up even though the star's light dipped. This means it was getting hotter, and in fact, whatever material was blocking it was also extremely hot, as proven by the infrared glow.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-days-are-getting-longer-it-has-not-happened-in-3-6-million-years-1773408587727">Earth days are getting longer. It has not happened in 3.6 million years</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientist-claims-heaven-lies-in-the-physical-universe-and-tells-its-exact-location-1771939781638">Scientist claims heaven lies in the physical universe, and tells its EXACT location</a>&nbsp;The researchers concluded that what they were seeing was a collision between two planets, since such an event could throw out hot dust and rock into an orbit, perfectly aligning with their findings. However, it was likely not a one-time head-on collision. Scientists think they initially grazed each other, which is when the star's light dimmed. "Then, they had their big catastrophic collision, and the infrared really ramped up," Tzanidakis said. The study states that the event resembles our moon's past since the debris cloud around Gaia20ehk is around one astronomical unit from its star, almost the same distance as Earth orbits the sun.&nbsp;

A collision between two planets was seen from Earth, an event that has only been seen a handful of times in the past. Scientists noticed chaos and temperatures running extremely high near the constellation Puppis, and were surprised when they found the reason.

Scientists have captured two planets smashing into each other, giving a rare insight into how our own planet, Earth and the Moon might have formed. The exciting event happened around Gaia20ehk, a star similar to our sun, located 11,000 light-years from Earth. The star and its planets reside near the constellation Puppis, or the "poop deck". A planetary collision has only been seen a few times in the past, but this one is different since astronomers say it is almost like seeing our own planet's history. Lead author of the study, Anastasios Tzanidakis, a doctoral candidate in astronomy at the University of Washington, said that several telescopes around the world "caught the impact in real time." He added, "There are only a few other planetary collisions of any kind on record, and none that bear so many similarities to the impact that created the Earth and moon." The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on March 11. Also Read: Scientists pin source of three mysterious signals coming from centre of Milky Way to… How did scientists know that two planets had collided? It is not like planets rarely collide with each other. In fact, every young star system is a chaotic place with debris flying all around, crashing and smashing before coalescing to form planets and moons. However, to see these events from Earth is not easy. To witness the violent cosmic episodes, the planets' orbits must take them directly in front of their home star. When this happens, their debris blocks part of the star's light, and the telescopes detect and measure it in visible and infrared light. Tzanidakis was scanning through NASA's SPHEREx mission when he saw something strange. In 2016, the star Gaia20ehk was stable and just like any other fireball in the universe. However, five years later, it dimmed by three times its original light, and chaos started. "Right around 2021, it went completely bonkers," Tzanidakis said, adding that stars like our sun do not experience such weird alterations. Also Read: JWST pulls off near-impossible feat, locates asteroid that had gone into hiding Star got hotter and hotter, creating an infrared glow Further observations showed that something repeatedly passing in front of the star was blocking part of its light. However, visible-light data was not enough to conclude. This could be happening because of anything - from a stellar explosion to a planet being gobbled up by a supermassive black hole. An analysis of Gaia20ehk's emission in the infrared spectrum showed that its infrared signal shot up even though the star's light dipped. This means it was getting hotter, and in fact, whatever material was blocking it was also extremely hot, as proven by the infrared glow. Also Read: Earth days are getting longer. It has not happened in 3.6 million years Also Read: Scientist claims heaven lies in the physical universe, and tells its EXACT location The researchers concluded that what they were seeing was a collision between two planets, since such an event could throw out hot dust and rock into an orbit, perfectly aligning with their findings. However, it was likely not a one-time head-on collision. Scientists think they initially grazed each other, which is when the star's light dimmed. "Then, they had their big catastrophic collision, and the infrared really ramped up," Tzanidakis said. The study states that the event resembles our moon's past since the debris cloud around Gaia20ehk is around one astronomical unit from its star, almost the same distance as Earth orbits the sun.

A collision between two planets was seen from Earth, an event that has only been seen a handful of times in the past. Scientists noticed chaos and temperatures running extremely high near the constellation Puppis, and were surprised when they found the reason.

Chaos, heat and a star that went bonkers: Scientists see major collision between two planets

India's strategic NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) series of satellites, designed, built and maintained by the national Space agency ISRO, are defunct. The NAVIC series of satellites is meant to provide Position, Navigation &amp; Timing services for civilian and military users within India and 1,500 km beyond the country's borders. Theoretically, a bare minimum of four satellites is required for the functioning of NAVIC. At present, barely 3 of 11 NAVIC satellites are fulfilling their core purpose, publicly available information reveals. Even among these 3 satellites, one could fail anytime, as it has well exceeded its expected life. &nbsp;<h3>What is NAVIC?</h3>India faced GPS-denial (reduced GPS accuracy) during the 1999 war against Pakistan, which hindered the Indian military from deftly navigating the treacherous Himalayan region, and affected the ability to conduct precision strikes at will on enemy positions. Faced with this strategic vulnerability and foreign dependence, the Indian Government planned to set up its own alternative to the American GPS.&nbsp;America operates GPS, China operates Beidou, Europe operates Galileo, and Russia operates GLONASS. NAVIC was designed to be India's sovereign alternative to these services. While the aforementioned services are available globally, India's NAVIC is meant to function only in the Indian subcontinent region(within Indian borders and 1,500 km beyond them).&nbsp;Between 2013 and 2018, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the first-generation Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS) series satellites. IRNSS was later known as NAVIC.<h3>How IRNSS-series satellites failed en masse...</h3>According to ISRO, the IRNSS first-generation was meant to have seven satellites. To fulfil this requirement, ISRO launched nine IRNSS satellites(IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I) between 2013 and 2018. Of the nine, only eight satellites were successfully placed in orbit. IRNSS-1I could not be placed in orbit due to a rocket failure.&nbsp;Of the eight that were placed in space, five satellites suffered failures in critical components known as atomic clocks. Atomic clocks are highly precise and sophisticated timekeeping instruments, which are fundamental to the operation of Navigation satellites. When all atomic clocks in a satellite fail, it implies a total failure of that satellite's capability to offer Position, Navigation &amp; Timing.&nbsp;In 2025, responding to a Right to Information(RTI) query, ISRO said that five(1A, 1C, 1D, 1E,1G) of eight IRNSS satellites suffered failure in all three on-board atomic clocks.&nbsp;With atomic clock failures in five of eight first-generation satellites, only three(1B, 1F, 1I) satellites remained operational. Even among these three remaining satellites, IRNSS-1B has exceeded its mission life of 10years and is now in its 11th year. Two atomic clocks onboard IRNSS-1F had failed earlier, while its third and final atomic clock failed this week. Launched in 2018, IRNSS-1I is expected to be operational until 2028.&nbsp;In a statement issued on Friday,(13th March), ISRO said that its "IRNSS-1F satellite launched in March 2016 has completed its design mission life of 10 years on 10th March 2026." On 13th March 2026, the procured on-board Atomic clock stopped functioning. However, the satellite will continue to function in-orbit for various societal applications to provide one-way broadcast messaging services, it was added.&nbsp;This implies that only two satellites IRNSS-1B and IRNSS-1I, from the first-generation are in some state of operation, but they face a high risk of failure anytime.&nbsp;During launch, ISRO had estimated that each IRNSS-series satellite could operate in space for 10years. Theoretically, these satellites could live longer, if they have fuel in their tanks for performing essential manoeuvres, and their crucial systems are functional. However, the premature atomic clock failures in six of eight satellites have been a big setback. ISRO admitted that all these atomic clocks were imported.<h3>ISRO's NVS-series satellites began to replace the IRNSS-series</h3>With the costly lessons learnt from the IRNSS-series(first -generation NAVIC) failures, which is India's first attempt at developing a constellation of GPS-like satellites, ISRO decided to build and launch larger satellites under the NVS-series. The NVS-series was meant to replace the IRNSS-series. In simple terms, the NVS-series is the second-generation, advanced fleet of NAVIC satellites. ISRO said that the NVS-series would comprise a total of five satellites.<h3>One of two Second Generation NAVIC satellites failed</h3>ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023, and that satellite has been working as designed, as per the agency. However, its successor satellite, NVS-02, which was launched in January 2025, failed to reach its designated orbit. The satellite remains stuck in its initial orbit, as the satellite's onboard engine could not fire to lift it higher. Stuck in the initial orbit, NVS-02 cannot provide Position, Navigation, Timing services. Therefore, India has only one fully functional NVS-series satellite(NVS-02) in orbit, when it requires five of them.<h3>ISRO's timelines are disconnected from reality</h3>In 2025, the Indian Government had said in Parliament that ISRO would launch the remaining NVS satellites by the end of 2026. However, this seems like an unrealistic timeline, given ISRO's pace so far. ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023; NVS-02 was launched in January 2025, which shows a gap of 19 months between the two launches. It has been more than a year after the NVS-02 failure, and its successor, NVS-03, has not been launched. ISRO has also faced three failures in six missions executed between January 2025 and January 2026, further slowing down the overall pace of activity and affecting morale.<h3>How do America's GPS and China's Beidou compare?</h3>The American Global Positioning System(GPS), which supports trillion-dollar civilian and military applications worldwide, requires a fleet of 24 satellites in orbit for optimum performance and round-the-clock global coverage. Considering how crucial GPS is to the global economy, the US Government maintains at least 30 GPS satellites in orbit at any given point in time. The six additional satellites are meant to ensure that the service remains reliable and robust, even when a few satellites fail or encounter unexpected glitches.&nbsp;To meet its own national requirements, China operates a fleet of Beidou satellites, which serve as an alternative to America's GPS. While Beidou requires a fleet of 30 satellites in orbit, around 35 satellites are believed to be in orbit.Meanwhile, after decades of scientific effort and billions of taxpayer Rupees spent, India's ambitious desi-GPS project NAVIC remains in a defunct state. While NAVIC requires a bare minimum of four satellites, it is presently down to three.&nbsp;Pitiably, two of the paltry three NAVIC satellites are counting down to age-related obsolescence. The present reality of NAVIC is a stark reminder that- even a quarter of a century after the Kargil War- India does not have an operational fleet of Position, Navigation &amp; Timing satellites for its strategic purposes.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nasa-picks-april-1-as-artemis-2-launch-date-netizens-ask-why-april-fools-1773405980723">NASA picks April 1 as Artemis 2 launch date, and everyone is wondering, 'Why April Fool's...?'</a>

At present, barely 3 of 11 NAVIC satellites are fulfilling their core purpose, publicly available information reveals. Even among these 3 satellites, one could fail anytime, as it has well exceeded its expected life.  

India's strategic NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) series of satellites, designed, built and maintained by the national Space agency ISRO, are defunct. The NAVIC series of satellites is meant to provide Position, Navigation & Timing services for civilian and military users within India and 1,500 km beyond the country's borders. Theoretically, a bare minimum of four satellites is required for the functioning of NAVIC. At present, barely 3 of 11 NAVIC satellites are fulfilling their core purpose, publicly available information reveals. Even among these 3 satellites, one could fail anytime, as it has well exceeded its expected life. What is NAVIC? India faced GPS-denial (reduced GPS accuracy) during the 1999 war against Pakistan, which hindered the Indian military from deftly navigating the treacherous Himalayan region, and affected the ability to conduct precision strikes at will on enemy positions. Faced with this strategic vulnerability and foreign dependence, the Indian Government planned to set up its own alternative to the American GPS. America operates GPS, China operates Beidou, Europe operates Galileo, and Russia operates GLONASS. NAVIC was designed to be India's sovereign alternative to these services. While the aforementioned services are available globally, India's NAVIC is meant to function only in the Indian subcontinent region(within Indian borders and 1,500 km beyond them). Between 2013 and 2018, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the first-generation Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS) series satellites. IRNSS was later known as NAVIC. How IRNSS-series satellites failed en masse... According to ISRO, the IRNSS first-generation was meant to have seven satellites. To fulfil this requirement, ISRO launched nine IRNSS satellites(IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I) between 2013 and 2018. Of the nine, only eight satellites were successfully placed in orbit. IRNSS-1I could not be placed in orbit due to a rocket failure. Of the eight that were placed in space, five satellites suffered failures in critical components known as atomic clocks. Atomic clocks are highly precise and sophisticated timekeeping instruments, which are fundamental to the operation of Navigation satellites. When all atomic clocks in a satellite fail, it implies a total failure of that satellite's capability to offer Position, Navigation & Timing. In 2025, responding to a Right to Information(RTI) query, ISRO said that five(1A, 1C, 1D, 1E,1G) of eight IRNSS satellites suffered failure in all three on-board atomic clocks. With atomic clock failures in five of eight first-generation satellites, only three(1B, 1F, 1I) satellites remained operational. Even among these three remaining satellites, IRNSS-1B has exceeded its mission life of 10years and is now in its 11th year. Two atomic clocks onboard IRNSS-1F had failed earlier, while its third and final atomic clock failed this week. Launched in 2018, IRNSS-1I is expected to be operational until 2028. In a statement issued on Friday,(13th March), ISRO said that its "IRNSS-1F satellite launched in March 2016 has completed its design mission life of 10 years on 10th March 2026." On 13th March 2026, the procured on-board Atomic clock stopped functioning. However, the satellite will continue to function in-orbit for various societal applications to provide one-way broadcast messaging services, it was added. This implies that only two satellites IRNSS-1B and IRNSS-1I, from the first-generation are in some state of operation, but they face a high risk of failure anytime. During launch, ISRO had estimated that each IRNSS-series satellite could operate in space for 10years. Theoretically, these satellites could live longer, if they have fuel in their tanks for performing essential manoeuvres, and their crucial systems are functional. However, the premature atomic clock failures in six of eight satellites have been a big setback. ISRO admitted that all these atomic clocks were imported. ISRO's NVS-series satellites began to replace the IRNSS-series With the costly lessons learnt from the IRNSS-series(first -generation NAVIC) failures, which is India's first attempt at developing a constellation of GPS-like satellites, ISRO decided to build and launch larger satellites under the NVS-series. The NVS-series was meant to replace the IRNSS-series. In simple terms, the NVS-series is the second-generation, advanced fleet of NAVIC satellites. ISRO said that the NVS-series would comprise a total of five satellites. One of two Second Generation NAVIC satellites failed ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023, and that satellite has been working as designed, as per the agency. However, its successor satellite, NVS-02, which was launched in January 2025, failed to reach its designated orbit. The satellite remains stuck in its initial orbit, as the satellite's onboard engine could not fire to lift it higher. Stuck in the initial orbit, NVS-02 cannot provide Position, Navigation, Timing services. Therefore, India has only one fully functional NVS-series satellite(NVS-02) in orbit, when it requires five of them. ISRO's timelines are disconnected from reality In 2025, the Indian Government had said in Parliament that ISRO would launch the remaining NVS satellites by the end of 2026. However, this seems like an unrealistic timeline, given ISRO's pace so far. ISRO launched NVS-01 in May 2023; NVS-02 was launched in January 2025, which shows a gap of 19 months between the two launches. It has been more than a year after the NVS-02 failure, and its successor, NVS-03, has not been launched. ISRO has also faced three failures in six missions executed between January 2025 and January 2026, further slowing down the overall pace of activity and affecting morale. How do America's GPS and China's Beidou compare? The American Global Positioning System(GPS), which supports trillion-dollar civilian and military applications worldwide, requires a fleet of 24 satellites in orbit for optimum performance and round-the-clock global coverage. Considering how crucial GPS is to the global economy, the US Government maintains at least 30 GPS satellites in orbit at any given point in time. The six additional satellites are meant to ensure that the service remains reliable and robust, even when a few satellites fail or encounter unexpected glitches. To meet its own national requirements, China operates a fleet of Beidou satellites, which serve as an alternative to America's GPS. While Beidou requires a fleet of 30 satellites in orbit, around 35 satellites are believed to be in orbit. Meanwhile, after decades of scientific effort and billions of taxpayer Rupees spent, India's ambitious desi-GPS project NAVIC remains in a defunct state. While NAVIC requires a bare minimum of four satellites, it is presently down to three. Pitiably, two of the paltry three NAVIC satellites are counting down to age-related obsolescence. The present reality of NAVIC is a stark reminder that- even a quarter of a century after the Kargil War- India does not have an operational fleet of Position, Navigation & Timing satellites for its strategic purposes. Also read: NASA picks April 1 as Artemis 2 launch date, and everyone is wondering, 'Why April Fool's...?'

At present, barely 3 of 11 NAVIC satellites are fulfilling their core purpose, publicly available information reveals. Even among these 3 satellites, one could fail anytime, as it has well exceeded its expected life. &nbsp;

Explained: India's desi-GPS NAVIC is defunct; strategic capability lost

Days on Earth are getting longer. While you might think that cosmic forces are responsible for this change, in reality, humans are to blame in this case. Scientists have pointed out that our planet's spin has slowed down, making days slightly longer. Typically, the gravitational pull of the Moon and forces inside Earth itself and in the atmosphere can create conditions for a faster spin. In July and August 2025, this is what happened, and we had around 1.25 milliseconds chopped off our days. This happened because of a change in the Moon's proximity to Earth. However, now humans are doing something so drastic to the planet that our rotation is slowing down. And since this problem has become a major challenge, our planet's spin might keep reducing. Our planet is warming at an unprecedented rate, causing glaciers and even permafrost to melt. The sea level is rising, and this is directly affecting the rate at which the Earth spins.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/earth-witnesses-its-third-shortest-day-in-a-month-as-experts-warn-of-catastrophe-1754369655534">Earth witnesses its third shortest day in a month as experts warn a catastrophe could be unfolding</a><h2>Earth's history over millions of years&nbsp;</h2>This melting water spreads across the globe, redistributing Earth's mass. This change is tugging on Earth and slowing down its spin, thus adding milliseconds to our days. Scientists from the University of Vienna and ETH Zurich tried to understand whether this change is as dramatic as it sounds, or whether Earth has witnessed similar occurrences in its past. They checked Earth's history since the Late Pliocene to look for instances when the length of a day changed at such a rapid pace. Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi, study author from the University of Vienna’s Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, said in a statement, "In our earlier work, we showed that the accelerated melting of polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers in the 21st century is raising sea levels, which slows Earth's rotation and therefore lengthens the day. What remained unclear was whether there were earlier periods when climate increased day length at a similarly rapid pace."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-extraterrestrial-object-slammed-into-brazil-6-3mn-years-ago-but-left-no-crater-there-is-another-proof-1772099549598">Scientists say extraterrestrial object slammed into Brazil 6.3mn years ago, but left no crater. There is another proof</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-radio-signal-every-22-minutes-cosmic-oxymoron-1771576248446">Every 22 minutes, a strange object has been sending a signal to Earth for 38 years</a><h2>A change in Earth's spin not seen in 3.6 million years</h2>They found that days on Earth are increasing by about 1.33 milliseconds every 100 years. The more shocking revelation was that this had not happened in the past 3.6 million years. Since Earth continues to warm, the spin is only going to slow down. "This rapid increase in day length implies that the rate of modern climate change has been unprecedented at least since the late Pliocene, 3.6 million years ago," Benedikt Soja, Professor of Space Geodesy at ETH Zurich, said, adding, "This can be attributed primarily to human influences." While the change is too small to feel for humans, it would affect GPS satellites, space navigation, and complex financial networks.&nbsp;

Days on Earth are becoming longer, not because of the moon or other forces humans can't control, but because of how hot our planet has become. Climate change is responsible for slowing the spin of our planet so much that something like this has not been seen in millions of years.

Days on Earth are getting longer. While you might think that cosmic forces are responsible for this change, in reality, humans are to blame in this case. Scientists have pointed out that our planet's spin has slowed down, making days slightly longer. Typically, the gravitational pull of the Moon and forces inside Earth itself and in the atmosphere can create conditions for a faster spin. In July and August 2025, this is what happened, and we had around 1.25 milliseconds chopped off our days. This happened because of a change in the Moon's proximity to Earth. However, now humans are doing something so drastic to the planet that our rotation is slowing down. And since this problem has become a major challenge, our planet's spin might keep reducing. Our planet is warming at an unprecedented rate, causing glaciers and even permafrost to melt. The sea level is rising, and this is directly affecting the rate at which the Earth spins. Also Read: Earth witnesses its third shortest day in a month as experts warn a catastrophe could be unfolding Earth's history over millions of years This melting water spreads across the globe, redistributing Earth's mass. This change is tugging on Earth and slowing down its spin, thus adding milliseconds to our days. Scientists from the University of Vienna and ETH Zurich tried to understand whether this change is as dramatic as it sounds, or whether Earth has witnessed similar occurrences in its past. They checked Earth's history since the Late Pliocene to look for instances when the length of a day changed at such a rapid pace. Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi, study author from the University of Vienna’s Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, said in a statement, "In our earlier work, we showed that the accelerated melting of polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers in the 21st century is raising sea levels, which slows Earth's rotation and therefore lengthens the day. What remained unclear was whether there were earlier periods when climate increased day length at a similarly rapid pace." Also Read: Scientists say extraterrestrial object slammed into Brazil 6.3mn years ago, but left no crater. There is another proof Also Read: Every 22 minutes, a strange object has been sending a signal to Earth for 38 years A change in Earth's spin not seen in 3.6 million years They found that days on Earth are increasing by about 1.33 milliseconds every 100 years. The more shocking revelation was that this had not happened in the past 3.6 million years. Since Earth continues to warm, the spin is only going to slow down. "This rapid increase in day length implies that the rate of modern climate change has been unprecedented at least since the late Pliocene, 3.6 million years ago," Benedikt Soja, Professor of Space Geodesy at ETH Zurich, said, adding, "This can be attributed primarily to human influences." While the change is too small to feel for humans, it would affect GPS satellites, space navigation, and complex financial networks.

Days on Earth are becoming longer, not because of the moon or other forces humans can't control, but because of how hot our planet has become. Climate change is responsible for slowing the spin of our planet so much that something like this has not been seen in millions of years.

Earth days are getting longer. It has not happened in 3.6 million years

NASA has announced that the Artemis 2 mission will finally launch on April 1. While it is something to be happy about, some people on social media are sceptical. Yes, because it is April 1, best known as April Fool's Day. The ambitious space endeavour will take humans to the moon after over 50 years. The spacecraft Orion will hover over the moon during a 10-day trip. The launch has been pushed forward several times due to hydrogen leaks and helium blockages. The first date of launch was February 6. &nbsp;A "wet rehearsal" started on February 2, which was also moved forward by a few days because of cold weather. Artemis 2 mission's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was filled with 2.65 million litres of cryogenic liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) but faced leaks. Another wet rehearsal took place on February 19 that was largely successful, but a post-test inspection revealed a helium flow issue in the rocket’s upper stage (ICPS). The rocket was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to fix the issue, and later, NASA picked April 1 as the launch date.<h2>What NASA said of Artemis 2 launch?</h2>Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said, "The next time we tank the vehicle will be when we're attempting to launch. I am comfortable, and the agency is comfortable with targeting April 1 as our first opportunity." NASA also confirmed in an X post that it is targeting a six–day window at the start of April. If things do not work out, it has April 30 scheduled as another potential launch window. The mission has faced several problems and delays, and netizens can't help but mock the choice of date.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-goes-the-apollo-way-plans-yearly-moon-landings-starting-with-2-in-2028-1772538309531">NASA goes the Apollo way, plans yearly moon landings, starting with 2 in 2028</a><h2>April Fool's Day prank? ‘No one is going to believe…’</h2>"They are going to say April Fools if they have to push the launch," a user wrote on X, with another saying, "'Artemis II performs a perfect launch on all fools day.' No one is going to believe that..." One user wrote, "April 1st might be the most perfectly coded launch date possible. Half the internet will think it’s a prank." They added, “Meanwhile, humans are being sent around the Moon for the first time in 50+ years. Plot twist: It’s not April Fools Day anymore.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-american-flag-that-has-waited-56-years-to-go-to-space-finally-gets-its-chance-with-artemis-2-1769173675138">An American flag that has waited 56 years to go to space finally gets its chance with Artemis 2</a><h2>NASA changes Artemis moon mission&nbsp;</h2>Artemis 2 is already running behind schedule by at least two years. During the Artemis 1 mission, problems were seen with Orion's heat shield. NASA is now on a tight deadline it set for itself - the end of April 2026. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen have been gearing up to write history. Meanwhile, the space agency has made some changes in the Artemis programme. Artemis 3 will no longer land humans on the moon, but will test communications, propulsion systems, and the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits in space. The moon landing will now happen in 2028 with Artemis 4. &nbsp;

NASA has announced April 1 as the new launch date for Artemis 2. The internet has welcomed the news not just because it would be a revolutionary date for humanity, but because it is April Fool's Day. People are asking, why would NASA launch a historic moon mission on April Fool's?

NASA has announced that the Artemis 2 mission will finally launch on April 1. While it is something to be happy about, some people on social media are sceptical. Yes, because it is April 1, best known as April Fool's Day. The ambitious space endeavour will take humans to the moon after over 50 years. The spacecraft Orion will hover over the moon during a 10-day trip. The launch has been pushed forward several times due to hydrogen leaks and helium blockages. The first date of launch was February 6. A "wet rehearsal" started on February 2, which was also moved forward by a few days because of cold weather. Artemis 2 mission's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was filled with 2.65 million litres of cryogenic liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) but faced leaks. Another wet rehearsal took place on February 19 that was largely successful, but a post-test inspection revealed a helium flow issue in the rocket’s upper stage (ICPS). The rocket was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to fix the issue, and later, NASA picked April 1 as the launch date. What NASA said of Artemis 2 launch? Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said, "The next time we tank the vehicle will be when we're attempting to launch. I am comfortable, and the agency is comfortable with targeting April 1 as our first opportunity." NASA also confirmed in an X post that it is targeting a six–day window at the start of April. If things do not work out, it has April 30 scheduled as another potential launch window. The mission has faced several problems and delays, and netizens can't help but mock the choice of date. Also Read: NASA goes the Apollo way, plans yearly moon landings, starting with 2 in 2028 April Fool's Day prank? ‘No one is going to believe…’ "They are going to say April Fools if they have to push the launch," a user wrote on X, with another saying, "'Artemis II performs a perfect launch on all fools day.' No one is going to believe that..." One user wrote, "April 1st might be the most perfectly coded launch date possible. Half the internet will think it’s a prank." They added, “Meanwhile, humans are being sent around the Moon for the first time in 50+ years. Plot twist: It’s not April Fools Day anymore.” Also Read: An American flag that has waited 56 years to go to space finally gets its chance with Artemis 2 NASA changes Artemis moon mission Artemis 2 is already running behind schedule by at least two years. During the Artemis 1 mission, problems were seen with Orion's heat shield. NASA is now on a tight deadline it set for itself - the end of April 2026. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen have been gearing up to write history. Meanwhile, the space agency has made some changes in the Artemis programme. Artemis 3 will no longer land humans on the moon, but will test communications, propulsion systems, and the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits in space. The moon landing will now happen in 2028 with Artemis 4.

NASA has announced April 1 as the new launch date for Artemis 2. The internet has welcomed the news not just because it would be a revolutionary date for humanity, but because it is April Fool's Day. People are asking, why would NASA launch a historic moon mission on April Fool's?

NASA picks April 1 as Artemis 2 launch date, and everyone is wondering, 'Why April Fool's...?'

Scientists have successfully brought a frozen brain back to life with neurons perfectly generating electrical activity, the mitochondria functioning without any signs of damage and other delicate membranes intact. This is a revolutionary occurrence in the field of cryopreservation. A team of neurologists at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in Germany managed to overcome a major hurdle - &nbsp;freezing complex biological tissue without damaging it irreversibly. Cryopreserving brains has been deemed particularly hard because of the formation of ice crystals. As the water freezes, crystals form and expand and can disrupt the delicate network of neurons which are responsible for thought, memory and consciousness. When the brain is thawed, it is incapable of working in the same way as before because of damaged tissues. Scientists in Erlangen–Nuremberg came up with a technique known as vitrification. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).<h2>How was the brain frozen and then thawed?</h2>Using this process, they were able to prevent the formation of ice crystals. All liquids freeze so rapidly that crystallisation does not occur, and the liquids inside and around the cells transform into a glass-like state. All molecular motion instantly stops, and the tissue's inherent structure remains as it is. They tested the technology on thin slices of mouse hippocampus, a region in the brain linked to learning and memory. Liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius was used to freeze the brain portions. They were then stored for 10 minutes to a week. Thawing them was just as important, and the warming was done quickly to prevent ice from forming. Researchers checked for any signs of life.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/shake-off-the-pain-turns-out-even-nature-favours-the-men-and-no-it-is-not-about-emotions-1772195515303">Shake off the pain? We can't. Turns out, even nature favours the men. And no, it is not about emotions</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/7-second-gravity-collapse-on-earth-august-12-nasa-scientists-1768886441014">7-second gravity collapse on Earth could never happen, unless…</a><h2>How was the brain responding?&nbsp;</h2>They found that delicate neuronal and synaptic membranes showed no changes. The mitochondria, the energy source inside cells, were functioning, and the neurons showed electrical activity. The complex, functional circuitry that forms the basis of cognition was also intact. Only a slight difference was seen in how the he cells responded to electrical stimuli. Mrityunjay Kothari, a mechanical engineer specialising in cryobiology, told Nature, "This kind of progress is what gradually turns science fiction into scientific possibility." However, he conceded that long-term banking of large organs or mammals remains "far beyond the capabilities of the study." What it can do is pave the way for further research on protecting the brain after severe injury or during disease. &nbsp;

German scientists froze a brain and then brought it back to life in almost the way it was before. Cryopreservation companies have been freezing the brain, but no one knows whether they would ever be revived. But this new method might prove to be a game-changer.

Scientists have successfully brought a frozen brain back to life with neurons perfectly generating electrical activity, the mitochondria functioning without any signs of damage and other delicate membranes intact. This is a revolutionary occurrence in the field of cryopreservation. A team of neurologists at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in Germany managed to overcome a major hurdle - freezing complex biological tissue without damaging it irreversibly. Cryopreserving brains has been deemed particularly hard because of the formation of ice crystals. As the water freezes, crystals form and expand and can disrupt the delicate network of neurons which are responsible for thought, memory and consciousness. When the brain is thawed, it is incapable of working in the same way as before because of damaged tissues. Scientists in Erlangen–Nuremberg came up with a technique known as vitrification. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). How was the brain frozen and then thawed? Using this process, they were able to prevent the formation of ice crystals. All liquids freeze so rapidly that crystallisation does not occur, and the liquids inside and around the cells transform into a glass-like state. All molecular motion instantly stops, and the tissue's inherent structure remains as it is. They tested the technology on thin slices of mouse hippocampus, a region in the brain linked to learning and memory. Liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius was used to freeze the brain portions. They were then stored for 10 minutes to a week. Thawing them was just as important, and the warming was done quickly to prevent ice from forming. Researchers checked for any signs of life. Also Read: Shake off the pain? We can't. Turns out, even nature favours the men. And no, it is not about emotions Also Read: 7-second gravity collapse on Earth could never happen, unless… How was the brain responding? They found that delicate neuronal and synaptic membranes showed no changes. The mitochondria, the energy source inside cells, were functioning, and the neurons showed electrical activity. The complex, functional circuitry that forms the basis of cognition was also intact. Only a slight difference was seen in how the he cells responded to electrical stimuli. Mrityunjay Kothari, a mechanical engineer specialising in cryobiology, told Nature, "This kind of progress is what gradually turns science fiction into scientific possibility." However, he conceded that long-term banking of large organs or mammals remains "far beyond the capabilities of the study." What it can do is pave the way for further research on protecting the brain after severe injury or during disease.

German scientists froze a brain and then brought it back to life in almost the way it was before. Cryopreservation companies have been freezing the brain, but no one knows whether they would ever be revived. But this new method might prove to be a game-changer.

Science fiction turns real  as frozen brain wakes up in near-perfect form

We finally have an image of 3I/ATLAS that was captured by the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft in November 2025. It took nearly four months to see what JUICE saw from near Jupiter. The photo shows a trail of gas and dust behind the bright coma of the comet. Official findings will be announced later this month. ESA said on February 26, 2026, that the image was captured on November 6 last year. JUICE captured a bright coma around a small nucleus and jets, streams and filaments of gas and dust stretching behind the comet. On October 29, 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to the Sun, and seven days later, the JANUS camera aboard JUICE took several snapshots of the interstellar comet. The spacecraft was 66 million km from the comet at this time. The optical camera was designed to take images of Jupiter and its moons. However, scientists pointed JUICE towards 3I/ATLAS when it calculated that the comet's trajectory would bring it into its proximity.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-mission-to-study-interstellar-comet-2035-and-2085-1771249095341">Why wait 60 years? Sun can help us reach 3I/ATLAS in the year 2085, if we launch in 2035</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3iatlas-latest-update-nasa-tess-images-jupiter-1769745274633">NASA's TESS captures 3I/ATLAS once again. But some data is missing. Here's what happened</a><h2>Why was there a 4-month delay in JUICE data on 3I/ATLAS?&nbsp;</h2>Besides the JANUS camera, four other instruments on JUICE were also used to observe the interstellar comet. ESA is believed to have downloaded a huge trove of information on 3I/ATLAS. But it took a long time before ESA scientists could lay their hands on the mysteries of the comet. The four-month wait was because JUICE was on the other side of the Sun when it observed the visitor. From this position, it could only use its smaller, medium-gain antenna to relay the data since the high-gain antenna was shielding it from the sun. This meant a slower rate of transmission, which only reached ESA in the second-to-last week of February.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/3iatlas-interstellar-objects-35-million-avi-loeb-solar-system-1770972758535">Scientist claims 35 million interstellar objects reside between Sun and Earth - '100 trillion metric tons...'</a>&nbsp;Different teams are studying various things about 3I/ATLAS. The MAJIS and UVS teams at the space agency have started analysing the data, the SWI team is studying the comet’s composition, and the PEP team is looking at the particle data. The final findings will be announced towards the end of March. 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object seen in our solar system. It was discovered on July 1, 2025 and is believed to be 7-13 billion years old. On December 19, 2025, it made its closest approach to Earth and is now on its way out of the solar system.&nbsp;

3I/ATLAS is still in our solar system, but now we have a photo that was taken four months ago. The JUICE probe took the image in November last year, but ESA received it only in February. This was because of a technicality and the hot Sun. 

We finally have an image of 3I/ATLAS that was captured by the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft in November 2025. It took nearly four months to see what JUICE saw from near Jupiter. The photo shows a trail of gas and dust behind the bright coma of the comet. Official findings will be announced later this month. ESA said on February 26, 2026, that the image was captured on November 6 last year. JUICE captured a bright coma around a small nucleus and jets, streams and filaments of gas and dust stretching behind the comet. On October 29, 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to the Sun, and seven days later, the JANUS camera aboard JUICE took several snapshots of the interstellar comet. The spacecraft was 66 million km from the comet at this time. The optical camera was designed to take images of Jupiter and its moons. However, scientists pointed JUICE towards 3I/ATLAS when it calculated that the comet's trajectory would bring it into its proximity. Also Read: Why wait 60 years? Sun can help us reach 3I/ATLAS in the year 2085, if we launch in 2035 Also Read: NASA's TESS captures 3I/ATLAS once again. But some data is missing. Here's what happened Why was there a 4-month delay in JUICE data on 3I/ATLAS? Besides the JANUS camera, four other instruments on JUICE were also used to observe the interstellar comet. ESA is believed to have downloaded a huge trove of information on 3I/ATLAS. But it took a long time before ESA scientists could lay their hands on the mysteries of the comet. The four-month wait was because JUICE was on the other side of the Sun when it observed the visitor. From this position, it could only use its smaller, medium-gain antenna to relay the data since the high-gain antenna was shielding it from the sun. This meant a slower rate of transmission, which only reached ESA in the second-to-last week of February. Also Read: Scientist claims 35 million interstellar objects reside between Sun and Earth - '100 trillion metric tons...' Different teams are studying various things about 3I/ATLAS. The MAJIS and UVS teams at the space agency have started analysing the data, the SWI team is studying the comet’s composition, and the PEP team is looking at the particle data. The final findings will be announced towards the end of March. 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object seen in our solar system. It was discovered on July 1, 2025 and is believed to be 7-13 billion years old. On December 19, 2025, it made its closest approach to Earth and is now on its way out of the solar system.

3I/ATLAS is still in our solar system, but now we have a photo that was taken four months ago. The JUICE probe took the image in November last year, but ESA received it only in February. This was because of a technicality and the hot Sun.&nbsp;

3I/ATLAS photo from November 2025 just reached Earth. What caused the 4-month delay?

Van Allen Probe A is tumbling down and will soon crash somewhere on Earth, although the expectation is that most of the satellite will burn up in the atmosphere, and the fragments will fall into the ocean. The probe was supposed to stay in orbit for another eight years at least. So, what prompted its early re-entry? The answer lies in its orbit. Van Allen Probe A and its twin satellite B were launched in 2012 to study a zone that protects Earth from the sun's radiation. The first layers that protect Earth are the Van Allen Belts, named after American physicist James Van Allen, who discovered them in 1958. They form an invisible shield around Earth and are our first line of defence. This region is shaped like a doughnut and comprises protons and electrons trapped by Earth's magnetic field. They remain at altitudes varying from a few hundred to nearly 96,000 kilometres above the surface. The Van Allen probes had one purpose - to study this area above Earth.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-is-safe-jwst-pulls-off-near-impossible-feat-locates-asteroid-2024-yr4-1772796801306">JWST pulls off near-impossible feat, locates asteroid that had gone into hiding</a><h2>Why understanding the Van Allen belt is important&nbsp;</h2>If humans want to return to the Moon and travel beyond, they will have to cross this dangerous region. This is why it was important to study it, and so the Van Allen probes set out on their mission. This region is unlike the low-Earth orbit where most of our satellites are. Since these belts form a shield, trapping and deflecting cosmic radiation, any spacecraft here endures extreme damage. When the Sun is at its maximum and unleashes plasma and coronal mass ejections, the belts swell, affecting satellites and communication systems. The probes were on a two-year mission, which eventually extended to seven. In 2019, the probes stopped functioning. NASA estimated that they will drag down on their own in the next few years, with Van Allen Probe A given time till 2034. However, since the sun has been extremely active in the past few years, the timeline changed.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-pin-source-of-three-mysterious-signals-from-centre-of-milky-way-to-excited-dark-matter-1772794076955">Scientists pin source of three mysterious signals coming from centre of Milky Way to…</a><h2>How the sun led Van Allen probe A to return six years early</h2>Solar maximum inflated Earth's upper atmosphere, causing more drag on satellites. Van Allen Probe A's orbit started decaying and this meant it would crash down much earlier than anticipated. The 600-kilogram spacecraft was expected to return by the evening of March 10, with NASA saying the window could extend by up to 24 hours. Can it cause any destruction on Earth? Experts say the chances of the satellite harming anyone are roughly 1 in 4,200. The odds of the debris and remaining fragments falling into the ocean are much higher since Earth is mostly covered with water. Meanwhile, Van Allen Probe B, which was given time till 2030, might also follow its twin in the coming months.

Van Allen Belt shields Earth from solar radiation. The satellite sent to study this zone is now crashing down way before it was supposed to. Ironically, Van Allen probe A was supposed to study the sun's behaviour, and now the sun is what has led it to return early.

Van Allen Probe A is tumbling down and will soon crash somewhere on Earth, although the expectation is that most of the satellite will burn up in the atmosphere, and the fragments will fall into the ocean. The probe was supposed to stay in orbit for another eight years at least. So, what prompted its early re-entry? The answer lies in its orbit. Van Allen Probe A and its twin satellite B were launched in 2012 to study a zone that protects Earth from the sun's radiation. The first layers that protect Earth are the Van Allen Belts, named after American physicist James Van Allen, who discovered them in 1958. They form an invisible shield around Earth and are our first line of defence. This region is shaped like a doughnut and comprises protons and electrons trapped by Earth's magnetic field. They remain at altitudes varying from a few hundred to nearly 96,000 kilometres above the surface. The Van Allen probes had one purpose - to study this area above Earth. Also Read: JWST pulls off near-impossible feat, locates asteroid that had gone into hiding Why understanding the Van Allen belt is important If humans want to return to the Moon and travel beyond, they will have to cross this dangerous region. This is why it was important to study it, and so the Van Allen probes set out on their mission. This region is unlike the low-Earth orbit where most of our satellites are. Since these belts form a shield, trapping and deflecting cosmic radiation, any spacecraft here endures extreme damage. When the Sun is at its maximum and unleashes plasma and coronal mass ejections, the belts swell, affecting satellites and communication systems. The probes were on a two-year mission, which eventually extended to seven. In 2019, the probes stopped functioning. NASA estimated that they will drag down on their own in the next few years, with Van Allen Probe A given time till 2034. However, since the sun has been extremely active in the past few years, the timeline changed. Also Read: Scientists pin source of three mysterious signals coming from centre of Milky Way to… How the sun led Van Allen probe A to return six years early Solar maximum inflated Earth's upper atmosphere, causing more drag on satellites. Van Allen Probe A's orbit started decaying and this meant it would crash down much earlier than anticipated. The 600-kilogram spacecraft was expected to return by the evening of March 10, with NASA saying the window could extend by up to 24 hours. Can it cause any destruction on Earth? Experts say the chances of the satellite harming anyone are roughly 1 in 4,200. The odds of the debris and remaining fragments falling into the ocean are much higher since Earth is mostly covered with water. Meanwhile, Van Allen Probe B, which was given time till 2030, might also follow its twin in the coming months.

Van Allen Belt shields Earth from solar radiation. The satellite sent to study this zone is now crashing down way before it was supposed to. Ironically, Van Allen probe A was supposed to study the sun's behaviour, and now the sun is what has led it to return early.

Van Allen probe A returns: How solar maximum caused it to crash years ahead of schedule

A cancer patient in Gibraltar was operated upon by an expert surgeon in London, 1,500 miles away, with the assistance of a robot specialised for the task, marking a major success for remote robotic surgery. The surgical procedure involved prostate removal that helped save the life of 62-year-old cancer patient and football fan Paul Buxton.&nbsp;In the operating theatre at St. Bernard’s Hospital, the only hospital in the British overseas territory, a high-tech four-armed robot equipped with a 3D camera carried out the removal of Buxton’s prostate, guided by the surgeon in London. The British patient has lived in Gibraltar for four decades.&nbsp;Prof. Prokar Dasgupta, a leading urology specialist who leads the robotic centre of excellence at The London Clinic, remotely conducted the surgery from about 1,500 miles away in London’s Harley Street district.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-iran-using-decoys-to-fool-enemies-internet-says-israel-bombed-a-helicopter-painting-1772792063782">Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting</a>&nbsp;With the help of technology services provider Presidio, Dasgupta used a console in London to guide the Toumai Robotic System, made by Microport, through an intricate sequence of steps to successfully give Buxton a prostatectomy, a surgical removal of the prostate gland.The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. Buxton said he felt “fantastic” within days of the unique experience.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-hand-over-power-immediately-without-violence-reza-pahlavi-tells-iranian-officials-1772726613022">‘Hand over power immediately, without violence’: Reza Pahlavi tells Iranian officials</a>&nbsp;“And it is pioneering for Gibraltar, because you don’t need to leave Gibraltar. Normally, any major surgeries, apart from minor stuff, maybe hernias and things like that, you end up having to go to either London or Madrid.”He added: “It’s been a privilege to be part of medical history.”&nbsp;Buxton said many people questioned whether he would really go ahead with the procedure.&nbsp;“A lot of people actually said to me: ‘You’re not going to do it, are you?’” Buxton said. “I thought, I’m giving something back here.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-home-to-india-s-silicon-valley-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-16-cm-siddaramaiah-1772795908734">Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for children under 16</a>&nbsp;“I love football – we’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.”&nbsp;Buxton, who is originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, said it was a “no-brainer” for him to decide, telling the Press Association that he was happy to be the “guinea pig”.&nbsp;After his cancer diagnosis, Buxton had expected to join the NHS waiting list and travel to England because of the complex nature of the operation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/balendra-shah-s-gen-z-backed-rsp-headed-towards-landslide-victory-in-nepal-1772807169582">Rapper-mayor Balendra Shah’s Gen Z-backed RSP headed towards landslide victory in Nepal</a>&nbsp;But then he got the opportunity to undergo the surgery remotely and jumped at the chance.&nbsp;“If I hadn’t gone for the telesurgery in Gibraltar, then I would have had to have flown to London, I would have had to go on the NHS waiting list, get the procedure done and I would have probably been in London for three weeks. So I thought: ‘This is a no-brainer,’” Buxton said.

The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. The cancer patient Paul Buxton, a football fan, said, “We’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.”

A cancer patient in Gibraltar was operated upon by an expert surgeon in London, 1,500 miles away, with the assistance of a robot specialised for the task, marking a major success for remote robotic surgery. The surgical procedure involved prostate removal that helped save the life of 62-year-old cancer patient and football fan Paul Buxton. In the operating theatre at St. Bernard’s Hospital, the only hospital in the British overseas territory, a high-tech four-armed robot equipped with a 3D camera carried out the removal of Buxton’s prostate, guided by the surgeon in London. The British patient has lived in Gibraltar for four decades. Prof. Prokar Dasgupta, a leading urology specialist who leads the robotic centre of excellence at The London Clinic, remotely conducted the surgery from about 1,500 miles away in London’s Harley Street district. Also Read: Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting With the help of technology services provider Presidio, Dasgupta used a console in London to guide the Toumai Robotic System, made by Microport, through an intricate sequence of steps to successfully give Buxton a prostatectomy, a surgical removal of the prostate gland. The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. Buxton said he felt “fantastic” within days of the unique experience. Also Read: ‘Hand over power immediately, without violence’: Reza Pahlavi tells Iranian officials “And it is pioneering for Gibraltar, because you don’t need to leave Gibraltar. Normally, any major surgeries, apart from minor stuff, maybe hernias and things like that, you end up having to go to either London or Madrid.” He added: “It’s been a privilege to be part of medical history.” Buxton said many people questioned whether he would really go ahead with the procedure. “A lot of people actually said to me: ‘You’re not going to do it, are you?’” Buxton said. “I thought, I’m giving something back here. Also Read: Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for children under 16 “I love football – we’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.” Buxton, who is originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, said it was a “no-brainer” for him to decide, telling the Press Association that he was happy to be the “guinea pig”. After his cancer diagnosis, Buxton had expected to join the NHS waiting list and travel to England because of the complex nature of the operation. Also Read: Rapper-mayor Balendra Shah’s Gen Z-backed RSP headed towards landslide victory in Nepal But then he got the opportunity to undergo the surgery remotely and jumped at the chance. “If I hadn’t gone for the telesurgery in Gibraltar, then I would have had to have flown to London, I would have had to go on the NHS waiting list, get the procedure done and I would have probably been in London for three weeks. So I thought: ‘This is a no-brainer,’” Buxton said.

The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. The cancer patient Paul Buxton, a football fan, said, “We’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.”

Surgeon in UK guides robot to perform prostate removal surgery in Gibraltar

Japan has cleared two pioneering stem-cell therapies, one for Parkinson’s disease and another for severe heart failure, according to the manufacturer and local media reports on Friday (March 6). The treatments could begin reaching patients within months. Pharmaceutical firm Sumitomo Pharma announced it had received approval to produce and sell Amchepry, a Parkinson’s therapy that involves transplanting stem-cell-derived cells directly into a patient’s brain.At the same time, Japan’s health ministry approved ReHeart, a regenerative treatment created by medical startup Cuorips. The therapy uses sheets of heart muscle cells to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels and improve heart function in patients with severe heart failure.&nbsp;Reports indicate the treatments could become available to patients as soon as this summer. If launched, they would be the first commercially available medical products based on induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 for discovering iPS cells, which can develop into almost any type of cell in the human body. "I hope this will bring relief to patients not only in Japan but around the world," health minister Kenichiro Ueno told a press conference. "We will promptly carry out all necessary procedures to ensure it reaches all patients without fail."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-is-safe-jwst-pulls-off-near-impossible-feat-locates-asteroid-2024-yr4-1772796801306">Moon is safe - JWST pulls off near-impossible feat, locates asteroid that had gone into hiding</a>&nbsp;In a statement, Sumitomo Pharma said it received "conditional and time-limited approval" to manufacture and market Amchepry under a regulatory framework designed to speed innovative treatments to patients. According to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, the authorization functions as a provisional license. The safety and effectiveness of the therapy were evaluated using a smaller number of patients than typically required in standard drug trials. A clinical study conducted by researchers at Kyoto University suggested the treatment was safe and helped improve symptoms in some patients. The trial included seven Parkinson’s patients aged between 50 and 69. Each received either five million or 10 million cells implanted on both sides of the brain.&nbsp;Researchers used iPS cells from healthy donors and converted them into precursor cells that produce dopamine—cells that are gradually lost in people living with Parkinson's disease. Patients were monitored for two years, and researchers reported no major adverse effects. Four of the seven participants showed measurable improvement in their symptoms.Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement and commonly causes tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with coordination.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vs-pentagon-anthropic-to-challenge-pentagon-supply-chain-risk-label-1772799261381/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vs-pentagon-anthropic-to-challenge-pentagon-supply-chain-risk-label-1772799261381/embed</a>&nbsp;Globally, around 10 million people are living with the condition, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Current treatments mainly help manage symptoms but do not stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Induced pluripotent stem cells are produced by reprogramming mature, specialized cells back into a youthful, versatile state, allowing them to transform into many different cell types without the use of embryos. This technology remains one of the most promising areas of modern medical research.

Japan approves world’s first iPS stem-cell treatments for Parkinson’s and heart failure

Japan has cleared two pioneering stem-cell therapies, one for Parkinson’s disease and another for severe heart failure, according to the manufacturer and local media reports on Friday (March 6). The treatments could begin reaching patients within months. Pharmaceutical firm Sumitomo Pharma announced it had received approval to produce and sell Amchepry, a Parkinson’s therapy that involves transplanting stem-cell-derived cells directly into a patient’s brain. At the same time, Japan’s health ministry approved ReHeart, a regenerative treatment created by medical startup Cuorips. The therapy uses sheets of heart muscle cells to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels and improve heart function in patients with severe heart failure. Reports indicate the treatments could become available to patients as soon as this summer. If launched, they would be the first commercially available medical products based on induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 for discovering iPS cells, which can develop into almost any type of cell in the human body. "I hope this will bring relief to patients not only in Japan but around the world," health minister Kenichiro Ueno told a press conference. "We will promptly carry out all necessary procedures to ensure it reaches all patients without fail." Also Read: Moon is safe - JWST pulls off near-impossible feat, locates asteroid that had gone into hiding In a statement, Sumitomo Pharma said it received "conditional and time-limited approval" to manufacture and market Amchepry under a regulatory framework designed to speed innovative treatments to patients. According to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, the authorization functions as a provisional license. The safety and effectiveness of the therapy were evaluated using a smaller number of patients than typically required in standard drug trials. A clinical study conducted by researchers at Kyoto University suggested the treatment was safe and helped improve symptoms in some patients. The trial included seven Parkinson’s patients aged between 50 and 69. Each received either five million or 10 million cells implanted on both sides of the brain. Researchers used iPS cells from healthy donors and converted them into precursor cells that produce dopamine—cells that are gradually lost in people living with Parkinson's disease. Patients were monitored for two years, and researchers reported no major adverse effects. Four of the seven participants showed measurable improvement in their symptoms. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement and commonly causes tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with coordination. https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vs-pentagon-anthropic-to-challenge-pentagon-supply-chain-risk-label-1772799261381/embed Globally, around 10 million people are living with the condition, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Current treatments mainly help manage symptoms but do not stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Induced pluripotent stem cells are produced by reprogramming mature, specialized cells back into a youthful, versatile state, allowing them to transform into many different cell types without the use of embryos. This technology remains one of the most promising areas of modern medical research.

Japan approves world-first iPS stem-cell therapies for Parkinson’s and heart failure, potentially bringing regenerative treatments to patients within months

Asteroid 2024 YR4 will not hit the moon in 2032, NASA has confirmed. The space rock made a lot of noise after being discovered over a year ago. First, it triggered panic when scientists calculated its trajectory and found that it could collide with Earth. Later, more observations cancelled this threat, but pointed out that there is a high chance of it smashing into the moon. The probability of this happening kept increasing, and until January this year, it had a four per cent chance of hitting the Moon on December 22, 2032. But now NASA and ESA have confirmed that this is not happening. New observations made by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope show that it will pass the moon at a safe distance of more than 20 000 km. JWST pulled off an amazing feat when it observed the asteroid through narrow windows on February 18 and 26.&nbsp;The asteroid is around 200 feet in diameter, around the size of a 15-story building. It had gone out of sight in the spring of 2025, leaving astronomers in a lull and without options to trace it until at least 2028. It was believed to have hidden from view for three years. But ESA’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre, NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies and the Webb mission huddled together to come up with a solution.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/7-years-2-asteroids-and-tonnes-of-shooting-meteorites-are-earth-astronauts-and-satellites-really-safe-1751364306598">City killer asteroid can shoot meteorites like bullets at Earth in 2032. Who is at risk?</a><h2>How James Webb helped calculate path of asteroid</h2>They knew JWST could locate it, but they were also aware that it would be tough. &nbsp;An international team of astronomers found that they had two chances to still catch the asteroid that was not bigger than a tiny speck of dust in the vast universe at this time. Their calculations showed that the asteroid could be detected against a sparse backdrop of stars, whose position was known because of ESA’s Gaia mission.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/asteroid-impact-in-2032-scientists-are-preparing-for-a-potential-hit-8669829">Asteroid to hit Earth in 2032? Scientists warn of space rock that can cause ‘severe damage’</a>&nbsp;They now had to track an almost invisible object millions of kilometres away, and precisely predict where it would be after seven years. JWST has a very small field of view as it is meant to scan cosmic objects billions of light-years away. The team was successfully able to achieve the exact precision needed to find and observe asteroid 2024 YR4. They were able to measure its orbit accurately and have ruled out a collision in 2032.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-nasa-nuking-an-asteroid-real-life-armageddon-could-happen-by-2031-details-1759238690934">Is NASA nuking an asteroid? Real-life Armageddon could happen by 2031 | Details</a>&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/moon-in-crosshairs-4-chance-of-massive-asteroid-hit-1769745979134/embed<h2>Asteroid 2024 YR4 impact on moon</h2>Previously, scientists had warned that if the asteroid collides with the moon, it could carve a two-kilometre-wide crater and release tonnes of micrometeoroids that could threaten satellites and astronauts at the International Space Station. They even stated that this event could create the moon's very own meteor shower.&nbsp;

Asteroid 2024 YR4 will miss the moon in 2032. Scientists have calculated that not only will it miss Earth, but it will also not collide with the moon anymore, an event that had a high chance of happening until recently. James Webb Space Telescope takes the honours.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 will not hit the moon in 2032, NASA has confirmed. The space rock made a lot of noise after being discovered over a year ago. First, it triggered panic when scientists calculated its trajectory and found that it could collide with Earth. Later, more observations cancelled this threat, but pointed out that there is a high chance of it smashing into the moon. The probability of this happening kept increasing, and until January this year, it had a four per cent chance of hitting the Moon on December 22, 2032. But now NASA and ESA have confirmed that this is not happening. New observations made by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope show that it will pass the moon at a safe distance of more than 20 000 km. JWST pulled off an amazing feat when it observed the asteroid through narrow windows on February 18 and 26. The asteroid is around 200 feet in diameter, around the size of a 15-story building. It had gone out of sight in the spring of 2025, leaving astronomers in a lull and without options to trace it until at least 2028. It was believed to have hidden from view for three years. But ESA’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre, NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies and the Webb mission huddled together to come up with a solution. Also Read: City killer asteroid can shoot meteorites like bullets at Earth in 2032. Who is at risk? How James Webb helped calculate path of asteroid They knew JWST could locate it, but they were also aware that it would be tough. An international team of astronomers found that they had two chances to still catch the asteroid that was not bigger than a tiny speck of dust in the vast universe at this time. Their calculations showed that the asteroid could be detected against a sparse backdrop of stars, whose position was known because of ESA’s Gaia mission. Also Read: Asteroid to hit Earth in 2032? Scientists warn of space rock that can cause ‘severe damage’ They now had to track an almost invisible object millions of kilometres away, and precisely predict where it would be after seven years. JWST has a very small field of view as it is meant to scan cosmic objects billions of light-years away. The team was successfully able to achieve the exact precision needed to find and observe asteroid 2024 YR4. They were able to measure its orbit accurately and have ruled out a collision in 2032. Also Read: Is NASA nuking an asteroid? Real-life Armageddon could happen by 2031 | Details https://www.wionews.com/videos/moon-in-crosshairs-4-chance-of-massive-asteroid-hit-1769745979134/embed Asteroid 2024 YR4 impact on moon Previously, scientists had warned that if the asteroid collides with the moon, it could carve a two-kilometre-wide crater and release tonnes of micrometeoroids that could threaten satellites and astronauts at the International Space Station. They even stated that this event could create the moon's very own meteor shower.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 will miss the moon in 2032. Scientists have calculated that not only will it miss Earth, but it will also not collide with the moon anymore, an event that had a high chance of happening until recently. James Webb Space Telescope takes the honours.

Moon is safe - JWST pulls off near-impossible feat, locates asteroid that had gone into hiding

For years, scientists have been puzzled by three mysterious signals coming from the centre of the Milky Way, a chaotic and violent place where Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole, sits. A study has now found that they could be the result of "excited dark matter". The centre of our galaxy has been releasing sudden spikes in energy which deep–space telescopes, such as the European Space Agency's INTEGRAL mission, can detect. However, dark matter itself has never been directly observed. It is believed to form a quarter of our universe, but scientists have never found any proof. This hypothetical form of matter is believed to surround the galaxies but does not interact with light or electromagnetic forces, making detection impossible. Researchers of a new paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters say that the three signals coming from the centre of our galaxy are the result of a type of dark matter.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/another-study-claims-signals-at-heart-of-milky-way-triggered-by-dark-matter-1764154545112">Another study claims signals at heart of Milky Way triggered by dark matter</a><h2>Milky Way's chaotic centre&nbsp;</h2>Lead author Dr Shyam Balaji, of King's College London, says that regular cosmic events, such as stellar explosions, do not explain the "specific energy and shape observed coming from the centre of the Milky Way." But now, the "one excited dark matter model could account for at least two – possibly even three – of these kinds of unexplained signals at once." The vicious forces at work at the centre of the Milky Way trigger violent events where huge clouds of gas are crushed into stars. Besides, Sagittarius A* creates an extremely intense gravitational force. All these together release radiation that space telescopes have picked up. But not everything can be explained.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/eerie-glow-at-the-centre-of-milky-way-could-reveal-a-cosmic-giant-never-seen-before-1760700098843">Eerie glow at the centre of Milky Way could reveal a cosmic giant never seen before</a><h2>Mysterious 511–keV emission line</h2>One specific occurrence is a sharp spike in gamma–ray radiation at an extremely specific wavelength - the 511–keV emission line. Normal matter does not lead to something like this. The paper solves this mystery, theorising that "excited dark matter" is to blame. Harvard University describes it as an event that happens when dark matter particles collide and reach a higher-energy state before falling back to a lower energy state. This process releases energy in pairs of electrons and its anti-matter, a positron. Telescopes that sit outside Earth's radiation belts, like INTEGRAL, located at an altitude of 60,000 km, can detect this energy spike.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-extraterrestrial-object-slammed-into-brazil-6-3mn-years-ago-but-left-no-crater-there-is-another-proof-1772099549598">Scientists say extraterrestrial object slammed into Brazil 6.3mn years ago, but left no crater. There is another proof</a>&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/dark-matter-s-grip-on-the-milky-way-explained-1770470485519/embed&nbsp;Comparing this data to a model of how positrons might move through space showed the researchers that this exact phenomenon could lead to a spike in gamma–ray radiation, just like the mysterious 511–keV emission line they had observed. They think that excited dark matter can also explain other signals. Scientists think that a very high–energy light coming from the centre of the galaxy, known as the 2 MeV gamma–ray continuum, could also be originating from excited dark matter.&nbsp;

Milky Way's chaotic and violent heart has been producing three mysterious signals, which scientists say could be coming from a particular kind of dark matter. Could this hypothetical substance be the source of the extreme energy spikes?

For years, scientists have been puzzled by three mysterious signals coming from the centre of the Milky Way, a chaotic and violent place where Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole, sits. A study has now found that they could be the result of "excited dark matter". The centre of our galaxy has been releasing sudden spikes in energy which deep–space telescopes, such as the European Space Agency's INTEGRAL mission, can detect. However, dark matter itself has never been directly observed. It is believed to form a quarter of our universe, but scientists have never found any proof. This hypothetical form of matter is believed to surround the galaxies but does not interact with light or electromagnetic forces, making detection impossible. Researchers of a new paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters say that the three signals coming from the centre of our galaxy are the result of a type of dark matter. Also Read: Another study claims signals at heart of Milky Way triggered by dark matter Milky Way's chaotic centre Lead author Dr Shyam Balaji, of King's College London, says that regular cosmic events, such as stellar explosions, do not explain the "specific energy and shape observed coming from the centre of the Milky Way." But now, the "one excited dark matter model could account for at least two – possibly even three – of these kinds of unexplained signals at once." The vicious forces at work at the centre of the Milky Way trigger violent events where huge clouds of gas are crushed into stars. Besides, Sagittarius A* creates an extremely intense gravitational force. All these together release radiation that space telescopes have picked up. But not everything can be explained. Also Read: Eerie glow at the centre of Milky Way could reveal a cosmic giant never seen before Mysterious 511–keV emission line One specific occurrence is a sharp spike in gamma–ray radiation at an extremely specific wavelength - the 511–keV emission line. Normal matter does not lead to something like this. The paper solves this mystery, theorising that "excited dark matter" is to blame. Harvard University describes it as an event that happens when dark matter particles collide and reach a higher-energy state before falling back to a lower energy state. This process releases energy in pairs of electrons and its anti-matter, a positron. Telescopes that sit outside Earth's radiation belts, like INTEGRAL, located at an altitude of 60,000 km, can detect this energy spike. Also Read: Scientists say extraterrestrial object slammed into Brazil 6.3mn years ago, but left no crater. There is another proof https://www.wionews.com/videos/dark-matter-s-grip-on-the-milky-way-explained-1770470485519/embed Comparing this data to a model of how positrons might move through space showed the researchers that this exact phenomenon could lead to a spike in gamma–ray radiation, just like the mysterious 511–keV emission line they had observed. They think that excited dark matter can also explain other signals. Scientists think that a very high–energy light coming from the centre of the galaxy, known as the 2 MeV gamma–ray continuum, could also be originating from excited dark matter.

Milky Way's chaotic and violent heart has been producing three mysterious signals, which scientists say could be coming from a particular kind of dark matter. Could this hypothetical substance be the source of the extreme energy spikes?

Scientists pin source of three mysterious signals coming from centre of Milky Way to...

Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin, and the wetlands of Southeast Asia are basically carbon sinks holding ginormous amounts of it collected over thousands of years. Scientists always assumed that this carbon would only be released under special circumstances, such as droughts. However, after a recent study, they were surprised to find that one of these basins is already leaking and releasing carbon, which is a lot older than one would expect. Roughly one-third of all carbon on Earth is stored in tropical peatlands. Accessing these areas is almost impossible and has created a scarcity of information on how they influence the global carbon cycle and climate. ETH Zurich went ahead and studied the Congo Basin in Africa, which contains one of the largest and most important of these carbon reserves. While they could not access its central portion, they managed to uncover the Ruki River, one of the darkest blackwater rivers in the world.<h2>Blackwater lakes in basins are releasing carbon dioxide</h2>However, their analysis was focused on two darkly stained lakes filled with organic runoff - Lac Mai Ndombe, Africa’s largest blackwater lake, and Lac Tumba, a smaller, similar lake. The former is more than four times the size of Lake Constance, a 63km-long central European lake system in the Alps. These blackwater lakes are surrounded by swamp forests and lowland rainforest growing on deep peat soils. Organic material from these forests enters the lakes and turns the water into a dark brownish-blackish colour. When the results from both lakes were compared, some shocking results. Scientists found that they are emitting huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/butter-made-from-fats-made-in-a-lab-can-save-the-environment-bill-gates-claims-savor-1754989373391">Butter made from fats in a lab can save the environment, Bill Gates claims</a><h2>Thousands of years-old carbon is being emitted</h2>As mentioned above, this should not have happened in a regular scenario when the conditions are basically normal. However, what was even more surprising was the age of this carbon. The researchers estimated that while 60 per cent of the carbon comes from new compounds and peat, the rest can be traced to material accumulated thousands of years ago. They determined the age of dissolved carbon dioxide through radiocarbon dating. Lead author Travis Drake, a scientist in the Sustainable Agroecosystem (SAE) group led by ETH Professor Johan Six, said, "We were surprised to find that ancient carbon is being released via the lake."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/china-planted-66-billion-trees-around-taklamakan-desert-1770896430267">66bn trees in 48 years: China turns desert larger than Thar into a carbon sink</a><h2>Why are the lakes releasing old carbon?</h2>Co-author Matti Barthel, research technician in SAE, added, "The carbon reservoir has a leak, so to speak, from which ancient carbon is escaping." The team is stumped to see that old carbon is being released from undecomposed plant material, and they are not sure how it reaches the lakes. They are worried that this could be happening because of climate change and may signal broader environmental changes. If the conditions keep becoming drier, it could dry out peat soils more often, causing oxygen to penetrate deeper into the soil. This process would cause microorganisms to break down stable organic matter that was previously stored, thus releasing additional CO2 into the atmosphere from the store. This would create a scary situation for Earth, as more greenhouse gases mean a hotter climate.

Carbon emissions from blackwater lakes in the Congo Basin are becoming a cause of worry. Scientists say old carbon is being released from them, and they don't know how this is happening. But they think it could be linked to climate change.

Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin, and the wetlands of Southeast Asia are basically carbon sinks holding ginormous amounts of it collected over thousands of years. Scientists always assumed that this carbon would only be released under special circumstances, such as droughts. However, after a recent study, they were surprised to find that one of these basins is already leaking and releasing carbon, which is a lot older than one would expect. Roughly one-third of all carbon on Earth is stored in tropical peatlands. Accessing these areas is almost impossible and has created a scarcity of information on how they influence the global carbon cycle and climate. ETH Zurich went ahead and studied the Congo Basin in Africa, which contains one of the largest and most important of these carbon reserves. While they could not access its central portion, they managed to uncover the Ruki River, one of the darkest blackwater rivers in the world. Blackwater lakes in basins are releasing carbon dioxide However, their analysis was focused on two darkly stained lakes filled with organic runoff - Lac Mai Ndombe, Africa’s largest blackwater lake, and Lac Tumba, a smaller, similar lake. The former is more than four times the size of Lake Constance, a 63km-long central European lake system in the Alps. These blackwater lakes are surrounded by swamp forests and lowland rainforest growing on deep peat soils. Organic material from these forests enters the lakes and turns the water into a dark brownish-blackish colour. When the results from both lakes were compared, some shocking results. Scientists found that they are emitting huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Also Read: Butter made from fats in a lab can save the environment, Bill Gates claims Thousands of years-old carbon is being emitted As mentioned above, this should not have happened in a regular scenario when the conditions are basically normal. However, what was even more surprising was the age of this carbon. The researchers estimated that while 60 per cent of the carbon comes from new compounds and peat, the rest can be traced to material accumulated thousands of years ago. They determined the age of dissolved carbon dioxide through radiocarbon dating. Lead author Travis Drake, a scientist in the Sustainable Agroecosystem (SAE) group led by ETH Professor Johan Six, said, "We were surprised to find that ancient carbon is being released via the lake." Also Read: 66bn trees in 48 years: China turns desert larger than Thar into a carbon sink Why are the lakes releasing old carbon? Co-author Matti Barthel, research technician in SAE, added, "The carbon reservoir has a leak, so to speak, from which ancient carbon is escaping." The team is stumped to see that old carbon is being released from undecomposed plant material, and they are not sure how it reaches the lakes. They are worried that this could be happening because of climate change and may signal broader environmental changes. If the conditions keep becoming drier, it could dry out peat soils more often, causing oxygen to penetrate deeper into the soil. This process would cause microorganisms to break down stable organic matter that was previously stored, thus releasing additional CO2 into the atmosphere from the store. This would create a scary situation for Earth, as more greenhouse gases mean a hotter climate.

Carbon emissions from blackwater lakes in the Congo Basin are becoming a cause of worry. Scientists say old carbon is being released from them, and they don't know how this is happening. But they think it could be linked to climate change.

Scientists say African cellar is emitting ancient material. It has a deadly leak

NASA has delayed the return of humans to the moon by a year, adding another level to the Artemis programme before it finally makes the historic achievement. In addition, when we do go back to the moon, it won't be a one-time thing, only as yearly missions will be planned. The American space agency has changed Artemis 3 into a mission in which astronauts will carry out several technology tests in Low Earth orbit. It would be a preparation for the human landing that has been pushed to 2028 with the Artemis 4 mission.&nbsp;<h2>What will Artemis 3 do?</h2>The new mission will check out a host of things, one of which would be rendezvous and docking with one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. &nbsp;The docked vehicles will be tested in space, integrated checkout of life support will be carried out, besides testing communications, propulsion systems, and the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits. The 2027 mission also aims to standardise the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket "upper stage", the portion of the rocket that takes the spacecraft from Low Earth orbit towards the Moon.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-american-flag-that-has-waited-56-years-to-go-to-space-finally-gets-its-chance-with-artemis-2-1769173675138">An American flag that has waited 56 years to go to space finally gets its chance with Artemis 2</a><h2>When will Artemis 2 launch?</h2>It will be a crewed mission, and astronauts will be launched aboard the Orion crew capsule to Low Earth orbit. Artemis 2 has been delayed by fuel leak issues, and the timeline has been moved from February 19 to the first week of April. This mission will see NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen go to the moon on a 10-day trip during which time they will hover over it, but not enter orbit. After this, Artemis 3 was meant to land them on the moon. This meant crucial testing of various tech and systems was missing.Also Read: <a href="">Artemis 2 wet rehearsal faces leaks: NASA loads 2.65mn litres fuel on rocket. Why the fuel test matters?</a><h2>Why did NASA change Artemis programme?</h2>Experts say that adding a testing phase will allow NASA to carry out crucial tests before humans actually land on the moon. Testing the spacesuits designed by Axiom Space and checking if all communications and propulsion systems are working fine is important before we step on the moon again. This phase will lead to reduced safety risks and increase the chances of a successful moon landing. Once that happens, a second landing will happen in the same year, in 2028. Thereafter, one landing mission will be launched every year. Notably, the Apollo mission had 11 crewed landings in four years. &nbsp;

NASA has changed the Artemis programme to add another layer that will test crucial systems, communications and the spacesuits. The human landing will now happen in 2028 with Artemis 4, and the main punch is what happens thereafter.

NASA has delayed the return of humans to the moon by a year, adding another level to the Artemis programme before it finally makes the historic achievement. In addition, when we do go back to the moon, it won't be a one-time thing, only as yearly missions will be planned. The American space agency has changed Artemis 3 into a mission in which astronauts will carry out several technology tests in Low Earth orbit. It would be a preparation for the human landing that has been pushed to 2028 with the Artemis 4 mission. What will Artemis 3 do? The new mission will check out a host of things, one of which would be rendezvous and docking with one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. The docked vehicles will be tested in space, integrated checkout of life support will be carried out, besides testing communications, propulsion systems, and the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits. The 2027 mission also aims to standardise the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket "upper stage", the portion of the rocket that takes the spacecraft from Low Earth orbit towards the Moon. Also Read: An American flag that has waited 56 years to go to space finally gets its chance with Artemis 2 When will Artemis 2 launch? It will be a crewed mission, and astronauts will be launched aboard the Orion crew capsule to Low Earth orbit. Artemis 2 has been delayed by fuel leak issues, and the timeline has been moved from February 19 to the first week of April. This mission will see NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen go to the moon on a 10-day trip during which time they will hover over it, but not enter orbit. After this, Artemis 3 was meant to land them on the moon. This meant crucial testing of various tech and systems was missing. Also Read: Artemis 2 wet rehearsal faces leaks: NASA loads 2.65mn litres fuel on rocket. Why the fuel test matters? Why did NASA change Artemis programme? Experts say that adding a testing phase will allow NASA to carry out crucial tests before humans actually land on the moon. Testing the spacesuits designed by Axiom Space and checking if all communications and propulsion systems are working fine is important before we step on the moon again. This phase will lead to reduced safety risks and increase the chances of a successful moon landing. Once that happens, a second landing will happen in the same year, in 2028. Thereafter, one landing mission will be launched every year. Notably, the Apollo mission had 11 crewed landings in four years.

NASA has changed the Artemis programme to add another layer that will test crucial systems, communications and the spacesuits. The human landing will now happen in 2028 with Artemis 4, and the main punch is what happens thereafter.

NASA goes the Apollo way, plans yearly moon landings, starting with 2 in 2028

A total lunar eclipse that will turn the moon red in colour will rise on Tuesday night. This happens when the full moon hides in the Earth's darkest shadow, and it is a rare occurrence. Nearly 3 billion people will be able to watch the spectacle as the eclipse will be visible across North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia. The best views will be seen from the western half of North America, Australia and the Pacific. In the US, the blood moon would not be visible throughout totality, and you can catch a glimpse just before it sets. In India, the blood moon will be visible throughout the country. It will begin at 3:20 pm and end at 6:47 pm.&nbsp;<h2>Why does moon appear red today?</h2>The moon appears dark red on this night because of the Earth. Our planet moves directly between the Sun and the Moon in this eclipse. Since the moon does not have its own light, we see it reflecting the sunlight. Due to the position of Earth, a shadow known as the umbra is cast on the moon. The sunlight is filtered through the atmosphere, and the shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) are removed. Only the longer wavelengths of red and orange can pass through. This lends the moon a red hue, turning it a dark red, and thus lending the name Blood Moon.&nbsp;<h2>How dark red is the moon today?</h2>The depth of the colour red depends on the amount of dust, clouds, or volcanic ash in Earth's atmosphere. &nbsp;For this phenomenon to occur, you need a full Moon and the Sun, Earth, and Moon in a near-perfect alignment.<h2>Lunar eclipse and Blood Moon</h2> A blood moon only happens during a total lunar eclipse. In a partial eclipse, only a portion of the moon is covered, and the sunlight still comes through. The shadow only partially covers the moon's surface. We get a partial lunar eclipse, but not a blood moon.<h2>How often do Blood Moons occur?</h2> Each year, we can have two to four lunar eclipses, and about 29 per cent of them are total lunar eclipses. This means that they are not all that rare. On average, a total lunar eclipse can be seen from most places on Earth once every 2.5 years. A lot of them are not visible from most locations, but are still happening.<h2>Total lunar eclipses will end someday</h2> Earth is the only planet in the solar system that witnesses a total lunar eclipse. This is because both their sizes are just right, which makes it possible for the lunar body to be fully covered. However, we won't have these eclipses forever since the moon is moving away from us. Once it goes far enough, total lunar eclipses will stop occurring.

Blood Red Moon will be seen tonight in India and other parts of the world. A total lunar eclipse is occurring, and 3 billion people in North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia will be able to see it.

A total lunar eclipse that will turn the moon red in colour will rise on Tuesday night. This happens when the full moon hides in the Earth's darkest shadow, and it is a rare occurrence. Nearly 3 billion people will be able to watch the spectacle as the eclipse will be visible across North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia. The best views will be seen from the western half of North America, Australia and the Pacific. In the US, the blood moon would not be visible throughout totality, and you can catch a glimpse just before it sets. In India, the blood moon will be visible throughout the country. It will begin at 3:20 pm and end at 6:47 pm. Why does moon appear red today? The moon appears dark red on this night because of the Earth. Our planet moves directly between the Sun and the Moon in this eclipse. Since the moon does not have its own light, we see it reflecting the sunlight. Due to the position of Earth, a shadow known as the umbra is cast on the moon. The sunlight is filtered through the atmosphere, and the shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) are removed. Only the longer wavelengths of red and orange can pass through. This lends the moon a red hue, turning it a dark red, and thus lending the name Blood Moon. How dark red is the moon today? The depth of the colour red depends on the amount of dust, clouds, or volcanic ash in Earth's atmosphere. For this phenomenon to occur, you need a full Moon and the Sun, Earth, and Moon in a near-perfect alignment. Lunar eclipse and Blood Moon A blood moon only happens during a total lunar eclipse. In a partial eclipse, only a portion of the moon is covered, and the sunlight still comes through. The shadow only partially covers the moon's surface. We get a partial lunar eclipse, but not a blood moon. How often do Blood Moons occur? Each year, we can have two to four lunar eclipses, and about 29 per cent of them are total lunar eclipses. This means that they are not all that rare. On average, a total lunar eclipse can be seen from most places on Earth once every 2.5 years. A lot of them are not visible from most locations, but are still happening. Total lunar eclipses will end someday Earth is the only planet in the solar system that witnesses a total lunar eclipse. This is because both their sizes are just right, which makes it possible for the lunar body to be fully covered. However, we won't have these eclipses forever since the moon is moving away from us. Once it goes far enough, total lunar eclipses will stop occurring.

Blood Red Moon will be seen tonight in India and other parts of the world. A total lunar eclipse is occurring, and 3 billion people in North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia will be able to see it.

Total lunar eclipse tonight: See the moon turn blood red. Check timing in India

Blood Moon 2026: A total lunar eclipse is set to occur in March this year. The moon will appear red in colour. Why does this happen? How often do Blood Moons occur, and are all lunar eclipses Blood Moons?

Blood Moon 2026: A total lunar eclipse is set to occur in March this year. The moon will appear red in colour. Why does this happen? How often do Blood Moons occur, and are all lunar eclipses Blood Moons?

Blood Moon 2026: Do you know, Earth is the only planet to produce lunar eclipse?

NASA announced on Friday that it would revise its Artemis lunar programme, which has suffered multiple delays in recent years, to ensure Americans can return to the Moon’s surface by 2028. NASA will add missions between this spring’s Artemis 2 and the ultimate moonwalk, a strategic revision. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman told a briefing it would allow for improved launch “muscle memory”.&nbsp;&nbsp;The shift in plans comes as Artemis 2, which will see the first flyby of the Moon in more than half a century, has been afflicted with delays and technical difficulties. The overhaul includes standardising vehicle configuration, adding an additional mission in 2027, and undertaking at least one surface landing every year thereafter.As teams prepare to launch Artemis II in the weeks ahead, the Artemis III mission will be designed to test out systems and operational capabilities in low Earth orbit to prepare for an Artemis IV landing in 2028.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghanistan-warns-of-decisive-action-if-pakistan-continues-war-1772196518103">‘Our hand can reach their necks’: Afghanistan warns of ‘decisive’ action if Pakistan continues war</a>&nbsp;NASA is cancelling a multibillion-dollar Boeing Co. upgrade to the centrepiece SLS rocket and slotting in a test flight closer to Earth as the programme remains beset by delays and cost overruns. The changes mean that NASA is essentially swapping the actual moon landing for an additional test mission staged closer to Earth while insisting that the 2028 deadline for a lunar touchdown remains unchanged.&nbsp;Artemis III was supposed to be the moon landing but has now been pushed to 2027. It will see Boeing’s Space Launch System rocket launch a crew aboard Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Orion capsule. Artemis IV will land a crew on the moon a year later.&nbsp;NASA said the goal of the changed sequence is to fly more frequently in order to counteract one of the biggest criticisms of Artemis: the slow development pace of its SLS rocket.&nbsp;Boeing’s SLS rocket has been missing deadlines, and it’s not clear if the company will actually be able to meet this accelerated pace.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/canadian-pm-mark-carney-lands-in-mumbai-begins-his-four-day-india-visit-1772190849004">Canadian PM Mark Carney lands in Mumbai, begins his four-day India visit</a>&nbsp;Artemis has witnessed delays, mismanagement, and cost overruns, and NASA’s watchdog estimates that the programme to put humans back on the moon for the first time in more than half a century has cost roughly $93 billion so far.&nbsp;The setbacks and a complicated architecture comprising technology supplied by multiple companies has fuelled doubts that NASA will meet its 2028 target in a moon race against China which is inching closer to its 2030 crewed moon landing goal.&nbsp;“With credible competition from our greatest geopolitical adversary increasing by the day, we need to move faster, eliminate delays, and achieve our objectives,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-15-outposts-captured-40-pak-soldiers-killed-says-afghan-22-taliban-personnel-slain-in-retaliatory-action-claims-islamabad-1772133592010">‘15 outposts captured, 40 Pak soldiers killed,’ says Afghan; 22 Taliban personnel slain in retaliatory action, claims Islamabad</a>&nbsp;Boeing’s SLS rocket has a low launch rate, which creates more risk, as engineers and flight operators are unable to keep their launch skills sharp.&nbsp;NASA plans to find an alternative to Boeing’s Exploration Upper Stage, or EUS, a much more powerful upper portion of the SLS slated to debut on the rockets’ fourth launch.Besides being behind schedule, Boeing’s EUS also came under criticism for its ballooning cost, which NASA’s Inspector General says will hit nearly $2.8 billion through 2028.The agency has tasked Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to build landers to ferry humans to and from the moon. With the addition of another mission, the repurposed Artemis III flight will test rival lunar landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin in Earth orbit, thereby reducing risks.

NASA is essentially swapping the actual moon landing for an additional test mission staged closer to Earth while insisting that the 2028 deadline for a lunar touchdown remains unchanged. Artemis III was supposed to be the moon landing but has now been pushed to 2027.

NASA announced on Friday that it would revise its Artemis lunar programme, which has suffered multiple delays in recent years, to ensure Americans can return to the Moon’s surface by 2028. NASA will add missions between this spring’s Artemis 2 and the ultimate moonwalk, a strategic revision. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman told a briefing it would allow for improved launch “muscle memory”. The shift in plans comes as Artemis 2, which will see the first flyby of the Moon in more than half a century, has been afflicted with delays and technical difficulties. The overhaul includes standardising vehicle configuration, adding an additional mission in 2027, and undertaking at least one surface landing every year thereafter. As teams prepare to launch Artemis II in the weeks ahead, the Artemis III mission will be designed to test out systems and operational capabilities in low Earth orbit to prepare for an Artemis IV landing in 2028. Also Read: ‘Our hand can reach their necks’: Afghanistan warns of ‘decisive’ action if Pakistan continues war NASA is cancelling a multibillion-dollar Boeing Co. upgrade to the centrepiece SLS rocket and slotting in a test flight closer to Earth as the programme remains beset by delays and cost overruns. The changes mean that NASA is essentially swapping the actual moon landing for an additional test mission staged closer to Earth while insisting that the 2028 deadline for a lunar touchdown remains unchanged. Artemis III was supposed to be the moon landing but has now been pushed to 2027. It will see Boeing’s Space Launch System rocket launch a crew aboard Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Orion capsule. Artemis IV will land a crew on the moon a year later. NASA said the goal of the changed sequence is to fly more frequently in order to counteract one of the biggest criticisms of Artemis: the slow development pace of its SLS rocket. Boeing’s SLS rocket has been missing deadlines, and it’s not clear if the company will actually be able to meet this accelerated pace. Also Read: Canadian PM Mark Carney lands in Mumbai, begins his four-day India visit Artemis has witnessed delays, mismanagement, and cost overruns, and NASA’s watchdog estimates that the programme to put humans back on the moon for the first time in more than half a century has cost roughly $93 billion so far. The setbacks and a complicated architecture comprising technology supplied by multiple companies has fuelled doubts that NASA will meet its 2028 target in a moon race against China which is inching closer to its 2030 crewed moon landing goal. “With credible competition from our greatest geopolitical adversary increasing by the day, we need to move faster, eliminate delays, and achieve our objectives,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement. Also Read: ‘15 outposts captured, 40 Pak soldiers killed,’ says Afghan; 22 Taliban personnel slain in retaliatory action, claims Islamabad Boeing’s SLS rocket has a low launch rate, which creates more risk, as engineers and flight operators are unable to keep their launch skills sharp. NASA plans to find an alternative to Boeing’s Exploration Upper Stage, or EUS, a much more powerful upper portion of the SLS slated to debut on the rockets’ fourth launch. Besides being behind schedule, Boeing’s EUS also came under criticism for its ballooning cost, which NASA’s Inspector General says will hit nearly $2.8 billion through 2028. The agency has tasked Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to build landers to ferry humans to and from the moon. With the addition of another mission, the repurposed Artemis III flight will test rival lunar landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin in Earth orbit, thereby reducing risks.

NASA is essentially swapping the actual moon landing for an additional test mission staged closer to Earth while insisting that the 2028 deadline for a lunar touchdown remains unchanged. Artemis III was supposed to be the moon landing but has now been pushed to 2027.

NASA overhauls Artemis moon mission after delays, aims to cut both risks and costs

Pain lasts longer for women than men; this is a fact scientists have known for a long time. However, the exact reason for this has remained unclear. Scientists have attributed it to psychological, emotional or social factors. But science hasn't really looked into why women continue to feel pain when it subsides in a man much before them. When pain remains for more time than it should, it turns chronic, and this is something that needs to be dealt with. A new study has shed more light on the problem and states that the reason pain lasts longer in women is because of their immune system. A paper in The Conversation by neuroimmunologist Geoffroy Laumet suggests that immune cells are critical to helping pain resolve, and “differences in how these cells function between men and women may influence how quickly pain goes away.”<h2>Hormones help ease pain more quickly in men&nbsp;</h2>Laumet and his team set out to understand why women continue to be in pain long after the injury has healed. They combined data from experiments done on mice with that of people who had been in motor vehicle collisions. The researchers focused on a molecule called interleukin-10 that helps reduce inflammation. They found that this molecule not only calms inflammation, but also communicates with pain-sensing nerve cells to shut them down. But it behaved differently in males and females. In men, immune cells called monocytes were more likely to produce IL-10, but the same did not happen for women. The researchers also found that their production was linked to testosterone levels - the more testosterone, the higher the production of IL-10. This means that biology favours men while pain maintains a chokehold on women.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/hope-for-millions-china-shocks-the-world-with-breakthrough-diabetes-cure-here-s-how-it-succeeded-1772027132267">China shocks the world with breakthrough diabetes cure</a><h2>Immune system and pain</h2>Laumet says that the finding shows that the immune system needs to be viewed as a key player in resolving pain. While the study focused on men and women, differences in immune cell function could also be why some people recover more quickly than others, irrespective of sex. The finding can help invent new treatments that work to boost the body’s own pain resolution system. The study can help prevent and treat chronic pain and better understand how pain differs based on sex. &nbsp;

Why do women suffer more pain and for a longer time than men? It has nothing to do with their strength or stamina. Turns out, the human body is such that men are naturally at an advantage when it comes to pain, and women can't do anything about it.

Pain lasts longer for women than men; this is a fact scientists have known for a long time. However, the exact reason for this has remained unclear. Scientists have attributed it to psychological, emotional or social factors. But science hasn't really looked into why women continue to feel pain when it subsides in a man much before them. When pain remains for more time than it should, it turns chronic, and this is something that needs to be dealt with. A new study has shed more light on the problem and states that the reason pain lasts longer in women is because of their immune system. A paper in The Conversation by neuroimmunologist Geoffroy Laumet suggests that immune cells are critical to helping pain resolve, and “differences in how these cells function between men and women may influence how quickly pain goes away.” Hormones help ease pain more quickly in men Laumet and his team set out to understand why women continue to be in pain long after the injury has healed. They combined data from experiments done on mice with that of people who had been in motor vehicle collisions. The researchers focused on a molecule called interleukin-10 that helps reduce inflammation. They found that this molecule not only calms inflammation, but also communicates with pain-sensing nerve cells to shut them down. But it behaved differently in males and females. In men, immune cells called monocytes were more likely to produce IL-10, but the same did not happen for women. The researchers also found that their production was linked to testosterone levels - the more testosterone, the higher the production of IL-10. This means that biology favours men while pain maintains a chokehold on women. Also Read: China shocks the world with breakthrough diabetes cure Immune system and pain Laumet says that the finding shows that the immune system needs to be viewed as a key player in resolving pain. While the study focused on men and women, differences in immune cell function could also be why some people recover more quickly than others, irrespective of sex. The finding can help invent new treatments that work to boost the body’s own pain resolution system. The study can help prevent and treat chronic pain and better understand how pain differs based on sex.

Why do women suffer more pain and for a longer time than men? It has nothing to do with their strength or emotions. Turns out, the human body is such that men are naturally at an advantage when it comes to pain, and women can't do anything about it.

Shake off the pain? We can't. Turns out, even nature favours the men. And no, it is not about emotions

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