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Cracks continue to form around a shear zone of the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, as observed by satellites between 2002 and 2022. A team of researchers from the University of Manitoba wrote in a paper, "Over the past two decades, the shelf has experienced progressive fracturing around a prominent shear zone upstream of its pinning point, gradually compromising its structural integrity." They noted that the “total area length of fractures” grew from around 100 miles to over 200 miles in two decades. There are also hints that major new stresses are acting on the glacier since the average length did not actually increase.&nbsp;Another study published by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) also confirmed that the large cracks in the ice shelf continue to weaken its structural integrity. The Thwaites Glacier is also called the Doomsday Glacier because it is at risk of imminent collapse, and when that happens, the sea levels could rise by 11 feet. Thwaites Glacier is often referred to as the "weak underbelly" of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet because the damage to it cannot be reversed, and it will collapse even under little stress. The Thwaites Ice Shelf holds the eastern portion of Thwaites Glacier and is expected to collapse by 2032. Once this shelf goes, the outflow from the glacier will speed up, leading to a complete breakdown.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-antarctic-ice-sheet-witnessed-a-catastrophe-9-000-years-ago-it-was-hotter-1766667493987">Scientists reveal Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a catastrophe 9,000 years ago - It was hotter</a><h2>Warming oceans are melting glaciers faster</h2>Thwaites is not the only glacier that could ultimately crash down, triggering a rise in sea levels. A recent study highlighted how warming ocean waters are melting ice shelves, and the changes are so clear that they can be noticed in mere hours and days. Meanwhile, circular currents of water measuring nearly 10 kilometres are digging underneath the glaciers. The warm, salty current flows hundreds of feet below the surface and moves upwards and onto the continental shelf. A positive feedback loop is created where new cold water from the ice shelf mixes with warmer, saltier ocean waters. The resultant ocean turbulence causes even more ice to melt.&nbsp;

The Thwaites Glacier, or the Doomsday Glacier, is showing more signs of damage and is inching closer to its end. New studies have noticed that the cracks have spread to a larger area, and scientists think more stressors are at play.

Cracks continue to form around a shear zone of the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, as observed by satellites between 2002 and 2022. A team of researchers from the University of Manitoba wrote in a paper, "Over the past two decades, the shelf has experienced progressive fracturing around a prominent shear zone upstream of its pinning point, gradually compromising its structural integrity." They noted that the “total area length of fractures” grew from around 100 miles to over 200 miles in two decades. There are also hints that major new stresses are acting on the glacier since the average length did not actually increase. Another study published by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) also confirmed that the large cracks in the ice shelf continue to weaken its structural integrity. The Thwaites Glacier is also called the Doomsday Glacier because it is at risk of imminent collapse, and when that happens, the sea levels could rise by 11 feet. Thwaites Glacier is often referred to as the "weak underbelly" of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet because the damage to it cannot be reversed, and it will collapse even under little stress. The Thwaites Ice Shelf holds the eastern portion of Thwaites Glacier and is expected to collapse by 2032. Once this shelf goes, the outflow from the glacier will speed up, leading to a complete breakdown. Also Read: Scientists reveal Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a catastrophe 9,000 years ago - It was hotter Warming oceans are melting glaciers faster Thwaites is not the only glacier that could ultimately crash down, triggering a rise in sea levels. A recent study highlighted how warming ocean waters are melting ice shelves, and the changes are so clear that they can be noticed in mere hours and days. Meanwhile, circular currents of water measuring nearly 10 kilometres are digging underneath the glaciers. The warm, salty current flows hundreds of feet below the surface and moves upwards and onto the continental shelf. A positive feedback loop is created where new cold water from the ice shelf mixes with warmer, saltier ocean waters. The resultant ocean turbulence causes even more ice to melt.

The Thwaites Glacier, or the Doomsday Glacier, is showing more signs of damage and is inching closer to its end. New studies have noticed that the cracks have spread to a larger area, and scientists think more stressors are at play.

Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed an exoplanet unlike any previously studied, opening fresh questions about how worlds form and what their atmospheres can contain. Officially named as PSR J2322-2650b, this distant world orbits a pulsar , a rapidly spinning neutron star left over after a massive star’s supernova. Scientists using the James Webb observed through it's infrared instruments that this Jupiter-mass planet is stretched into a lemon-like shape by extreme gravitational forces and has an atmospheric composition that defies existing models. Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research. The paper appeared on Tuesday in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>A Planet Around an Unusual Host</h2> According to Live Science, PSR J2322-2650b is located some 750 light-years from Earth and completes a full orbit around its star in just 7.8 hours because it lies extremely close to it, only about one million miles. This contrasts sharply with planets in our own Solar System, such as Jupiter, which orbits much farther from the Sun. Earth’s distance from the Sun is about 100 million miles. Gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar stretch the planet pulling it so much that it resembles a lemon, rather than a near-spherical shape typical of most planets. Webb’s ability to observe the planet without interference from the pulsar’s intense gamma radiation has been key to studying its distinct environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>An Atmosphere That Defies Expectation</h2> The composition of this exoplanet’s atmosphere challenges current understanding. Unlike many exoplanets, PSR J2322-2650b’s outer layers are dominated by helium and carbon, with little to no oxygen or nitrogen detected. This unusual mix means that common molecules like water, methane or carbon dioxide, typically expected in planetary atmospheres, are absent. Webb’s data suggest soot clouds likely float through the air, and deep within the planet, these carbon clouds can condense and form diamonds.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The planet orbits a star that's completely bizarre — the mass of the Sun, but the size of a city,” according to the principal investigator on this study, Michael Zhang. Standard planetary formation theories do not predict a world with such chemistry in this environment, particularly around a pulsar, a host rarely observed with planets at all. Together, the star and exoplanet may be considered a “black widow” system, though not a typical example. In such scenarios, a pulsar strips material from a companion star, but even this model does not fully explain the observed composition and structure. But in this case, the companion is officially considered an exoplanet, not a star. The discovery highlights how Webb’s capabilities are revealing planetary phenomena that were previously invisible, prompting a reevaluation of how diverse planetary systems can be. Of the 6,000 known exoplanets, this is the only one reminiscent of a gas giant (with mass, radius, and temperature similar to a hot Jupiter) orbiting a pulsar.

Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research. 

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed an exoplanet unlike any previously studied, opening fresh questions about how worlds form and what their atmospheres can contain. Officially named as PSR J2322-2650b, this distant world orbits a pulsar , a rapidly spinning neutron star left over after a massive star’s supernova. Scientists using the James Webb observed through it's infrared instruments that this Jupiter-mass planet is stretched into a lemon-like shape by extreme gravitational forces and has an atmospheric composition that defies existing models. Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research. The paper appeared on Tuesday in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. A Planet Around an Unusual Host According to Live Science, PSR J2322-2650b is located some 750 light-years from Earth and completes a full orbit around its star in just 7.8 hours because it lies extremely close to it, only about one million miles. This contrasts sharply with planets in our own Solar System, such as Jupiter, which orbits much farther from the Sun. Earth’s distance from the Sun is about 100 million miles. Gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar stretch the planet pulling it so much that it resembles a lemon, rather than a near-spherical shape typical of most planets. Webb’s ability to observe the planet without interference from the pulsar’s intense gamma radiation has been key to studying its distinct environment. An Atmosphere That Defies Expectation The composition of this exoplanet’s atmosphere challenges current understanding. Unlike many exoplanets, PSR J2322-2650b’s outer layers are dominated by helium and carbon, with little to no oxygen or nitrogen detected. This unusual mix means that common molecules like water, methane or carbon dioxide, typically expected in planetary atmospheres, are absent. Webb’s data suggest soot clouds likely float through the air, and deep within the planet, these carbon clouds can condense and form diamonds. “The planet orbits a star that's completely bizarre — the mass of the Sun, but the size of a city,” according to the principal investigator on this study, Michael Zhang. Standard planetary formation theories do not predict a world with such chemistry in this environment, particularly around a pulsar, a host rarely observed with planets at all. Together, the star and exoplanet may be considered a “black widow” system, though not a typical example. In such scenarios, a pulsar strips material from a companion star, but even this model does not fully explain the observed composition and structure. But in this case, the companion is officially considered an exoplanet, not a star. The discovery highlights how Webb’s capabilities are revealing planetary phenomena that were previously invisible, prompting a reevaluation of how diverse planetary systems can be. Of the 6,000 known exoplanets, this is the only one reminiscent of a gas giant (with mass, radius, and temperature similar to a hot Jupiter) orbiting a pulsar.

Scientists describe the findings as unexpected and puzzling, making this discovery a milestone in exoplanet research.&nbsp;

NASA'S James Webb telescope observes a bizarre lemon-shaped exoplanet with unexplained atmosphere

An international team of astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected a supernova that exploded when the universe was only about 730 million years old, placing it deep in the era of reionization according to Phys.org. It also provided the most distant direct evidence yet of a stellar explosion from the early cosmos. This was the period when the first stars and galaxies were forming and transforming the newborn universe. The event was associated with a bright burst of gamma-ray labelled GRB 250314A.&nbsp;Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.&nbsp;<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

NIRCam Image

&nbsp;<h2>How the explosion was found</h2> The supernova was initially flagged in March 2025 by a gamma-ray burst detected by the space-based Variable Objects Monitor. Gamma-ray bursts are explained as, intense flashes of high-energy radiation often linked to catastrophic events such as the collapse of massive stars. Follow-up observations with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO/VLT) in Chile, confirmed the extreme distance implied by the signal. Details of the discovery are described in a study recently published in the journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics. Roughly 110 days after the initial burst, JWST captured near-infrared images using its NIRCam instrument, thus enabling scientists to isolate the light from the supernova itself and study its properties despite the enormous cosmic distance.&nbsp;<h2>Significance of the discovery</h2> This supernova is not just the most distant ever directly observed but also closely resembles certain similar explosions seen in the nearby universe, such as the well-studied GRB-associated supernova, SN 1998bw. Analysis indicates that the massive star which exploded in the early universe had spectral and brightness characteristics comparable to those of long-duration gamma-ray burst-associated supernovae seen much closer to Earth today. The findings challenge the assumptions that the early stars, formed under environments with extremely low metallicity conditions, would behave very differently from their modern counterparts.&nbsp;The research team, according to phys.org, plans to secure a second epoch of JWST observations in the next one to two years. By that time, the light of the supernova is expected to have faded significantly, thus, allowing the team of astronomer to completely characterise the properties of the faint host galaxy thus, confirming the contribution of the supernova.

Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.

An international team of astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected a supernova that exploded when the universe was only about 730 million years old, placing it deep in the era of reionization according to Phys.org. It also provided the most distant direct evidence yet of a stellar explosion from the early cosmos. This was the period when the first stars and galaxies were forming and transforming the newborn universe. The event was associated with a bright burst of gamma-ray labelled GRB 250314A. Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.

Webb’s sensitive infrared observations helped in detecting and distinguishing the fading light of the explosion from its faint host galaxy.

NASA’s James Webb telescope captured supernova from the dawn of universe

The West Antarctica ice sheet is at risk of collapse owing to climate change. Now, a study has revealed that the East Antarctica ice sheet completely collapsed 9,000 years ago because of the warming ocean water. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is a vast body of land ice in East Antarctica. Researchers found evidence in seafloor sediments near Japan’s Syowa Station that proves that the collapse happened because of warm deep ocean currents. The study was led by Professor Yusuke Suganuma of the National Institute of Polar Research (NiPR). Scientists have warned in the past that if Antarctic ice melts, global water levels will rise by several feet.&nbsp;To understand future sea level changes, Suganuma set out on a quest to learn how the Antarctic ice sheets responded to a warming climate in the past. His team took sediment cores from Lutzow-Holm Bay’s seafloor. The layers of sediment showed proof of changes during an extremely hot period on Earth when temperatures were higher than they are today. This period was known as the early Holocene, a time span that started after the last ice age.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-alarmed-at-noticing-a-scary-feeding-trait-in-the-only-antarctic-bug-1765445210475">Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug</a>&nbsp;Rare beryllium isotopes and tiny marine fossils were measured to reveal the timing of this collapse. All the data suggested that the East Antarctic ice sheet broke up 9,000 years ago. The culprit was the circumpolar deep water, a warm, salty current that flows hundreds of feet below the surface. This water moved upwards and onto the continental shelf, cutting away the ice shelves. The fracture in these shelves left the ice with no structural support, causing the inland ice to flow faster towards the ocean.<h2>Ice sheet collapse was rapid</h2>The researchers noted that the ice and ocean formed a positive feedback loop. The surface ocean turned fresh from the meltwater from the Antarctic regions. The warm deep water moved towards the land, creating a "cascading positive feedback". Lighter water moved above the heavier water; hence, the cooler surface water did not mix with the downward water. The collapse occurred rapidly owing to several factors, such as the rising sea level and the shape of the seafloor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered that the Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a rapid collapse thousands of years ago. This was also because of the warming climate. The warm ocean water triggered an effect that led to the massive East Antarctic ice sheet falling apart.

The West Antarctica ice sheet is at risk of collapse owing to climate change. Now, a study has revealed that the East Antarctica ice sheet completely collapsed 9,000 years ago because of the warming ocean water. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is a vast body of land ice in East Antarctica. Researchers found evidence in seafloor sediments near Japan’s Syowa Station that proves that the collapse happened because of warm deep ocean currents. The study was led by Professor Yusuke Suganuma of the National Institute of Polar Research (NiPR). Scientists have warned in the past that if Antarctic ice melts, global water levels will rise by several feet. To understand future sea level changes, Suganuma set out on a quest to learn how the Antarctic ice sheets responded to a warming climate in the past. His team took sediment cores from Lutzow-Holm Bay’s seafloor. The layers of sediment showed proof of changes during an extremely hot period on Earth when temperatures were higher than they are today. This period was known as the early Holocene, a time span that started after the last ice age. Also Read: Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug Rare beryllium isotopes and tiny marine fossils were measured to reveal the timing of this collapse. All the data suggested that the East Antarctic ice sheet broke up 9,000 years ago. The culprit was the circumpolar deep water, a warm, salty current that flows hundreds of feet below the surface. This water moved upwards and onto the continental shelf, cutting away the ice shelves. The fracture in these shelves left the ice with no structural support, causing the inland ice to flow faster towards the ocean. Ice sheet collapse was rapid The researchers noted that the ice and ocean formed a positive feedback loop. The surface ocean turned fresh from the meltwater from the Antarctic regions. The warm deep water moved towards the land, creating a "cascading positive feedback". Lighter water moved above the heavier water; hence, the cooler surface water did not mix with the downward water. The collapse occurred rapidly owing to several factors, such as the rising sea level and the shape of the seafloor.

Scientists have discovered that the Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a rapid collapse thousands of years ago. This was also because of the warming climate. The warm ocean water triggered an effect that led to the massive East Antarctic ice sheet falling apart.

Scientists reveal Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a catastrophe 9,000 years ago - It was hotter

India has carried out a major demonstration of its undersea nuclear strike capability with the successful test of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from INS Arighaat. The launch took place in the Bay of Bengal, off the Visakhapatnam coast, on Tuesday (December 23). Capable of striking targets up to 3,500 km away, the K-4 significantly enhances India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence. Defence sources confirmed that the missile was tested for its full operational range.&nbsp;INS Arighaat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was inducted into service last year. With this test, India further consolidates its position among a select group of nations that possess a fully operational nuclear triad, land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems. The K-4 SLBM, inducted into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024, is derived from the Agni-III ballistic missile. The system has been extensively adapted for underwater launch, enabling it to eject from a submarine silo, rise through the water column, and ignite its rocket motor once it breaches the surface.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/prayers-hymns-and-unity-pm-modi-attends-christmas-morning-service-in-delhi-watch-1766660184271">Prayers, hymns and unity: PM Modi attends Christmas morning service in Delhi | WATCH</a>&nbsp;Designed to carry a nuclear payload weighing up to 2.5 tonnes, the missile can be deployed from Arihant-class submarines. These platforms are engineered for prolonged stealth patrols, remaining undetected in vast oceanic stretches, thereby ensuring a credible second-strike capability.&nbsp;As the most concealed component of India’s nuclear arsenal, submarine-launched missiles like the K-4 play a critical role in deterrence, especially in scenarios where land-based assets may be compromised in a first strike. The K-4 also fills the capability gap between the shorter-range K-15 missile and the longer-range SLBMs currently under development for future deployments. The ‘K’ series of missiles is named in honour of former India President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was instrumental in shaping India’s missile development programme.

Undersea powerplay: India successfully test-fires K-4 missile from nuclear submarine INS Arighaat

India has carried out a major demonstration of its undersea nuclear strike capability with the successful test of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from INS Arighaat. The launch took place in the Bay of Bengal, off the Visakhapatnam coast, on Tuesday (December 23). Capable of striking targets up to 3,500 km away, the K-4 significantly enhances India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence. Defence sources confirmed that the missile was tested for its full operational range. INS Arighaat, India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was inducted into service last year. With this test, India further consolidates its position among a select group of nations that possess a fully operational nuclear triad, land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems. The K-4 SLBM, inducted into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024, is derived from the Agni-III ballistic missile. The system has been extensively adapted for underwater launch, enabling it to eject from a submarine silo, rise through the water column, and ignite its rocket motor once it breaches the surface. Also Read: Prayers, hymns and unity: PM Modi attends Christmas morning service in Delhi | WATCH Designed to carry a nuclear payload weighing up to 2.5 tonnes, the missile can be deployed from Arihant-class submarines. These platforms are engineered for prolonged stealth patrols, remaining undetected in vast oceanic stretches, thereby ensuring a credible second-strike capability. As the most concealed component of India’s nuclear arsenal, submarine-launched missiles like the K-4 play a critical role in deterrence, especially in scenarios where land-based assets may be compromised in a first strike. The K-4 also fills the capability gap between the shorter-range K-15 missile and the longer-range SLBMs currently under development for future deployments. The ‘K’ series of missiles is named in honour of former India President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was instrumental in shaping India’s missile development programme.

India successfully tested the 3,500-km range K-4 missile from nuclear submarine INS Arighaat, reinforcing its sea-based nuclear deterrence

Russia has announced a twist to its plans of building its own space station. The current space observatory is due to retire by 2030, and will be dragged down by Earth's atmosphere. Initially, Roscosmos had plans to launch brand new modules for the Russian Orbital Space Station, nicknamed ROSS. This was to commence in 2027. But its latest plans have revealed that it will reuse its segment of the ISS. The country has revealed that it would not launch seven new modules into orbit. Instead, it wants to keep its current segments in orbit and will use them for its station. Oleg Orlov, director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems at the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced, "The Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos supported this proposal and approved the deployment of a Russian orbital station as part of the Russian segment of the ISS as the main possible scenario."&nbsp;Orlov said that it has assigned a special commission for ROSS, and they have been working on the concept for the past several months. As part of it, Russia's segments of the space station will be separate to create ROSS after the ISS is retired in 2030. The new modules will be attached to it later on. Initial plans called for a habitable station by 2028, with the first module scheduled to be launched in 2027. Three more modules were to be launched by 2030 and another three by 2035.&nbsp;The Russian Zvezda module of the space station was launched to low Earth orbit in July 2000. It has witnessed some problems, such as an air leak in 2019. It was traced to the vestibule, named PrK, that connects a docking port to Zvezda. This air leak has gone up from one pound a day to about two pounds. In June, the Axiom 4 mission to the ISS had to be postponed because of a new pressure signal in the Zvezda module.

Russia has revealed its plan for its space station, saying that it plans to keep its section of the ISS in orbit. It will add modules to it and wants to create a habitable observatory by 2028.

Russia has announced a twist to its plans of building its own space station. The current space observatory is due to retire by 2030, and will be dragged down by Earth's atmosphere. Initially, Roscosmos had plans to launch brand new modules for the Russian Orbital Space Station, nicknamed ROSS. This was to commence in 2027. But its latest plans have revealed that it will reuse its segment of the ISS. The country has revealed that it would not launch seven new modules into orbit. Instead, it wants to keep its current segments in orbit and will use them for its station. Oleg Orlov, director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems at the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced, "The Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos supported this proposal and approved the deployment of a Russian orbital station as part of the Russian segment of the ISS as the main possible scenario." Orlov said that it has assigned a special commission for ROSS, and they have been working on the concept for the past several months. As part of it, Russia's segments of the space station will be separate to create ROSS after the ISS is retired in 2030. The new modules will be attached to it later on. Initial plans called for a habitable station by 2028, with the first module scheduled to be launched in 2027. Three more modules were to be launched by 2030 and another three by 2035. The Russian Zvezda module of the space station was launched to low Earth orbit in July 2000. It has witnessed some problems, such as an air leak in 2019. It was traced to the vestibule, named PrK, that connects a docking port to Zvezda. This air leak has gone up from one pound a day to about two pounds. In June, the Axiom 4 mission to the ISS had to be postponed because of a new pressure signal in the Zvezda module.

Russia has revealed its plan for its space station, saying that it plans to keep its section of the ISS in orbit. It will add modules to it and wants to create a habitable observatory by 2028.

Entire ISS would not crash down on Earth, as Russia reveals its plans for ROSS

NASA's Hubble Telescope has discovered the largest known planet-forming disk located 1,000 light-years from Earth. It spans over 600 billion kilometres, around 40 times the diameter of our solar system. Scientists said it is way more "active and chaotic" than they expected. IRAS 23077+6707, nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito,” has a young star at its centre, which scientists believe may be either a hot, massive star or could even be a pair of stars. This protoplanetary disk is "unexpectedly chaotic and turbulent, with wisps of material stretching much farther above and below the disk than astronomers have seen in any similar system", NASA wrote in its blog. This messy environment and the extraordinary size of the disk nearly obscured the star.&nbsp;Lead author of the study, &nbsp;Kristina Monsch of the Center for Astrophysics, said, "We’re seeing this disk nearly edge-on, and its wispy upper layers and asymmetric features are especially striking. Both Hubble and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have glimpsed similar structures in other disks, but IRAS 23077+6707 provides us with an exceptional perspective." This discovery is unique, and a “new laboratory for studying planet formation and the environments where it happens.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/british-space-scientist-is-sure-alien-life-will-be-discovered-by-this-year-why-would-it-just-1766486452730">British space scientist is sure alien life will be discovered by THIS year: 'Why would it just...'</a><h2>Planetary disk is lopsided and building new planets</h2>This disk is also asymmetrical, with different features on either side. It has vertically imposing filament-like features on just one side, while the other side appears to have a sharp edge and no visible filaments. This suggests that it is interacting in a different way with its surroundings. “We were stunned to see how asymmetric this disk is,” co-investigator Joshua Bennett Lovell said. “Hubble has given us a front row seat to the chaotic processes that are shaping disks as they build new planets — processes that we don’t yet fully understand but can now study in a whole new way.”Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-update-parker-solar-probe-saw-interstellar-comet-when-it-was-invisible-from-earth-1766463450282"> 3I/ATLAS update: Parker Solar Probe saw interstellar comet when it was invisible from Earth</a>&nbsp;NASA said that Dracula’s Chivito could represent a scaled-up version of our early solar system since its disk mass is estimated at 10 to 30 times that of Jupiter. Our solar system was also once a chaotic region, with cosmic material swirling around, and several bodies crashing into each other. But over time, things settled down, and we got our current home. This is how IRAS 23077+6707 is also expected to develop over millions or billions of years. “In theory, IRAS 23077+6707 could host a vast planetary system. While planet formation may differ in such massive environments, the underlying processes are likely similar," Monsch said.&nbsp; &nbsp;

A disk 40 times the diameter of our solar system has been discovered by the Hubble Telescope, which is likely an image of what our solar system once looked like. Named Dracula’s Chivito, it is located 1,000 light-years from Earth and is extremely chaotic.

NASA's Hubble Telescope has discovered the largest known planet-forming disk located 1,000 light-years from Earth. It spans over 600 billion kilometres, around 40 times the diameter of our solar system. Scientists said it is way more "active and chaotic" than they expected. IRAS 23077+6707, nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito,” has a young star at its centre, which scientists believe may be either a hot, massive star or could even be a pair of stars. This protoplanetary disk is "unexpectedly chaotic and turbulent, with wisps of material stretching much farther above and below the disk than astronomers have seen in any similar system", NASA wrote in its blog. This messy environment and the extraordinary size of the disk nearly obscured the star. Lead author of the study, Kristina Monsch of the Center for Astrophysics, said, "We’re seeing this disk nearly edge-on, and its wispy upper layers and asymmetric features are especially striking. Both Hubble and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have glimpsed similar structures in other disks, but IRAS 23077+6707 provides us with an exceptional perspective." This discovery is unique, and a “new laboratory for studying planet formation and the environments where it happens.” Also Read: British space scientist is sure alien life will be discovered by THIS year: 'Why would it just...' Planetary disk is lopsided and building new planets This disk is also asymmetrical, with different features on either side. It has vertically imposing filament-like features on just one side, while the other side appears to have a sharp edge and no visible filaments. This suggests that it is interacting in a different way with its surroundings. “We were stunned to see how asymmetric this disk is,” co-investigator Joshua Bennett Lovell said. “Hubble has given us a front row seat to the chaotic processes that are shaping disks as they build new planets — processes that we don’t yet fully understand but can now study in a whole new way.” Also Read: 3I/ATLAS update: Parker Solar Probe saw interstellar comet when it was invisible from Earth NASA said that Dracula’s Chivito could represent a scaled-up version of our early solar system since its disk mass is estimated at 10 to 30 times that of Jupiter. Our solar system was also once a chaotic region, with cosmic material swirling around, and several bodies crashing into each other. But over time, things settled down, and we got our current home. This is how IRAS 23077+6707 is also expected to develop over millions or billions of years. “In theory, IRAS 23077+6707 could host a vast planetary system. While planet formation may differ in such massive environments, the underlying processes are likely similar," Monsch said.

A disk 40 times the diameter of our solar system has been discovered by the Hubble Telescope, which is likely an image of what our solar system once looked like. Named Dracula’s Chivito, it is located 1,000 light-years from Earth and is extremely chaotic.

Hubble spots 600bn km wide scaled-up version of our early solar system: Dracula’s Chivito shocks scientists

Satellite images released by NASA show a figure that resembles a snowman in one of the most remote corners of the Russian Arctic. The photo was taken on June 16, 2025, by the Operational Land Imager aboard the Landsat 8 satellite. However, the image is actually of a chain of frozen lagoons spread over an area of 22 kilometres near the village of Billings and Cape Billings on Russia’s Chukchi Peninsula. They occur in such a sequence and dimensions that it looks like a snowman. According to researchers, it is a result of natural geological processes, with ice, wind and water playing a role. The Landsat data shown in the photo is from the US Geological Survey.&nbsp;This area of Billings in Russia remains frozen for the majority of the year. The minimum temperature, even during June, stays below the freezing point. “Although June is one of the warmest months in Billings, ice cover is routine even then. Mean daily minimum temperatures are just minus 0.6 degrees Celsius (30.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in June,” according to met data. The frigid conditions give rise to certain phenomena that contribute to the formation of these frozen lagoons. In this case, five main lagoon basins are visible, each frozen and stacked to create a familiar structure.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are the result of what is known as "thermokarst" activity, where buried ice wedges melt and cause the overlying soil to collapse. Shallow depressions are created, which later fill up with meltwater. Wind and wave movement stretch the lake to create oval shapes. The boundaries between underground ice wedges are the thin ridges that appear in the image.&nbsp;Billings is a remote area in Russia that is hard to reach in both winter and summer. However, the cold months make for better access since the lakes and rivers freeze, creating a surface that can be used to move around. In the summer months, the ground thaws and waterlogging prevents easy movement. The only way to reach it is by a helicopter in summer and a snow road in winter. Billings is located on the coast of the East Siberian Sea and has a population of around 200 people. It is one of the few inhabited places in this region of Russia.&nbsp;

In a remote region of Russia, NASA satellites have captured what appears to be a snowman. Billings experiences freezing temperatures throughout the year. This snowman is a result of natural phenomena linked to the cold conditions.

Satellite images released by NASA show a figure that resembles a snowman in one of the most remote corners of the Russian Arctic. The photo was taken on June 16, 2025, by the Operational Land Imager aboard the Landsat 8 satellite. However, the image is actually of a chain of frozen lagoons spread over an area of 22 kilometres near the village of Billings and Cape Billings on Russia’s Chukchi Peninsula. They occur in such a sequence and dimensions that it looks like a snowman. According to researchers, it is a result of natural geological processes, with ice, wind and water playing a role. The Landsat data shown in the photo is from the US Geological Survey. This area of Billings in Russia remains frozen for the majority of the year. The minimum temperature, even during June, stays below the freezing point. “Although June is one of the warmest months in Billings, ice cover is routine even then. Mean daily minimum temperatures are just minus 0.6 degrees Celsius (30.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in June,” according to met data. The frigid conditions give rise to certain phenomena that contribute to the formation of these frozen lagoons. In this case, five main lagoon basins are visible, each frozen and stacked to create a familiar structure. These are the result of what is known as "thermokarst" activity, where buried ice wedges melt and cause the overlying soil to collapse. Shallow depressions are created, which later fill up with meltwater. Wind and wave movement stretch the lake to create oval shapes. The boundaries between underground ice wedges are the thin ridges that appear in the image. Billings is a remote area in Russia that is hard to reach in both winter and summer. However, the cold months make for better access since the lakes and rivers freeze, creating a surface that can be used to move around. In the summer months, the ground thaws and waterlogging prevents easy movement. The only way to reach it is by a helicopter in summer and a snow road in winter. Billings is located on the coast of the East Siberian Sea and has a population of around 200 people. It is one of the few inhabited places in this region of Russia.

In a remote region of Russia, NASA satellites have captured what appears to be a snowman. Billings experiences freezing temperatures throughout the year. This snowman is a result of natural phenomena linked to the cold conditions.

NASA captures a 'Siberian snowman' in remote Russian region from space

Most of 2025 was filled with alien talk, UFOs, UAPs, whether or not extraterrestrials exist out in the universe or not, and they could someday visit us. With 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object visiting us, the chatter grew louder as some scientists theorised that it is on such a perfect path that it is possible it could be an "alien spaceship". Now, a top space scientist in Britain has joined in, declaring that she is "absolutely convinced" that aliens exist in the universe. She has also given a timeline for their discovery, saying they will be found within the next 50 years, Daily Mail reported. Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock, from University College London's Department of Physics and Astronomy, says humans will find life on another planet by 2075.&nbsp;One thing that almost every other scientist agrees on is that whenever an alien species is discovered, it would be technologically superior to us. This is what Dame Maggie also says, adding that they would be much older than us. She told the publication that around 200 billion galaxies are believed to be present in the universe. With these odds, Earth cannot be the only place where ingredients for life are present. "I'm absolutely convinced that there's life out there, because with so many stars, so many planets, why would it just occur here?" she said.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jwst-sees-a-supersonic-supermassive-black-hole-screaming-through-space-1766065205143">1,000km/second: JWST sees a supersonic supermassive black hole screaming through space</a><h2>Exoplanets in the universe</h2>The scientist put forward the Drake equation, which states that the sheer number of galaxies in the universe shows that we are not alone. The Milky Way alone has over 300 billion stars, all of them like our Sun, some even bigger. Astronomers have discovered thousands of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. NASA alone has confirmed at least 6,000 exoplanets.&nbsp;<h2>Earth-like planet with signs of life</h2>K2–18b, 124 light–years from Earth, is one such exoplanet that made headlines in 2025. It is larger than Earth and orbits a red dwarf in its habitable zone. Scientists have detected molecules in the planet's atmosphere that are only possible if some form of life exists there. Experts believe the planet could harbour an ocean, and living organisms possibly live there. When asked about the timeline of detecting alien life, Dame Maggie said that a positive discovery should be made in the next 50 years. &nbsp;

British space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock is sure that life is present on some other planet in the universe. Citing the sheer number of cosmic bodies and galaxies, she says there has to be someone else out there.

Most of 2025 was filled with alien talk, UFOs, UAPs, whether or not extraterrestrials exist out in the universe or not, and they could someday visit us. With 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object visiting us, the chatter grew louder as some scientists theorised that it is on such a perfect path that it is possible it could be an "alien spaceship". Now, a top space scientist in Britain has joined in, declaring that she is "absolutely convinced" that aliens exist in the universe. She has also given a timeline for their discovery, saying they will be found within the next 50 years, Daily Mail reported. Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock, from University College London's Department of Physics and Astronomy, says humans will find life on another planet by 2075. One thing that almost every other scientist agrees on is that whenever an alien species is discovered, it would be technologically superior to us. This is what Dame Maggie also says, adding that they would be much older than us. She told the publication that around 200 billion galaxies are believed to be present in the universe. With these odds, Earth cannot be the only place where ingredients for life are present. "I'm absolutely convinced that there's life out there, because with so many stars, so many planets, why would it just occur here?" she said. Also Read: 1,000km/second: JWST sees a supersonic supermassive black hole screaming through space Exoplanets in the universe The scientist put forward the Drake equation, which states that the sheer number of galaxies in the universe shows that we are not alone. The Milky Way alone has over 300 billion stars, all of them like our Sun, some even bigger. Astronomers have discovered thousands of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. NASA alone has confirmed at least 6,000 exoplanets. Earth-like planet with signs of life K2–18b, 124 light–years from Earth, is one such exoplanet that made headlines in 2025. It is larger than Earth and orbits a red dwarf in its habitable zone. Scientists have detected molecules in the planet's atmosphere that are only possible if some form of life exists there. Experts believe the planet could harbour an ocean, and living organisms possibly live there. When asked about the timeline of detecting alien life, Dame Maggie said that a positive discovery should be made in the next 50 years.

British space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin–Pocock is sure that life is present on some other planet in the universe. Citing the sheer number of cosmic bodies and galaxies, she says there has to be someone else out there.

British space scientist is sure alien life will be discovered by THIS year: 'Why would it just...'

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday (Dec 22) approved the first daily pill version of Novo Nordisk’s popular weight loss drug Wegovy, revolutionising the way to treat obesity. The move has also given the drugmaker an edge over its rival Eli Lilly, whose oral drug orforglipron, is still under review. The GLP-1 drug uses the same active ingredient, semaglutide, that powers Wegovy and its sister drug Ozempic, which is used for diabetes.Both Wegovy and Ozempic are widely used as injections. The drug mimics a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness. While the FDA had already approved a pill to be used for treating diabetes, the approval of the weight loss drug will allow doctors to prescribe the pill to patients with obesity or those who are overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as a heart condition, the company said.“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said in a statement.According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40 per cent of American adults have a prevalence of obesity. The new development was lauded by the US Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN), a nonprofit advocacy group for adults with obesity.“This development represents an important opportunity for people living with obesity, offering an alternative for those hesitant to begin injectable therapy and providing a potentially lower-cost option,” the group said in a statement to AFP.According to Novo Nordisk, the Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks. The availability of oral pills could also expand the market for weight loss treatments and reduce costs, CBS reported, citing experts.During a clinical trial, the oral Wegovy resulted in a weight loss of 13.6 per cent of the total body weight of participants in about 15 months, which is nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15 per cent.

According to Novo Nordisk, the Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks. The availability of oral pills could also expand the market for weight loss treatments and reduce costs

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday (Dec 22) approved the first daily pill version of Novo Nordisk’s popular weight loss drug Wegovy, revolutionising the way to treat obesity. The move has also given the drugmaker an edge over its rival Eli Lilly, whose oral drug orforglipron, is still under review. The GLP-1 drug uses the same active ingredient, semaglutide, that powers Wegovy and its sister drug Ozempic, which is used for diabetes. Both Wegovy and Ozempic are widely used as injections. The drug mimics a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness. While the FDA had already approved a pill to be used for treating diabetes, the approval of the weight loss drug will allow doctors to prescribe the pill to patients with obesity or those who are overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as a heart condition, the company said. “With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said in a statement. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40 per cent of American adults have a prevalence of obesity. The new development was lauded by the US Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN), a nonprofit advocacy group for adults with obesity. “This development represents an important opportunity for people living with obesity, offering an alternative for those hesitant to begin injectable therapy and providing a potentially lower-cost option,” the group said in a statement to AFP. According to Novo Nordisk, the Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks. The availability of oral pills could also expand the market for weight loss treatments and reduce costs, CBS reported, citing experts. During a clinical trial, the oral Wegovy resulted in a weight loss of 13.6 per cent of the total body weight of participants in about 15 months, which is nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15 per cent.

According to Novo Nordisk, the Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks. The availability of oral pills could also expand the market for weight loss treatments and reduce costs.

No injections needed! FDA approves THIS ‘once-daily’ oral weight loss pill – All you need to know

The Parker Solar Probe is the latest man-made spacecraft to observe 3I/ATLAS. The WISPR instrument on board the NASA probe took photos of the comet from October 18 to November 5. Members of the WISPR team said in a statement, “Parker Solar Probe snapped around 10 images of the comet per day." They added that during this time, Parker was speeding away from the Sun after undertaking its 25th solar flyby on September 15. At this time, the solar probe was at a point from where it spotted 3I/ATLAS going behind the Sun. “At the time, the comet was near its closest point to the Sun, at a distance of about 209 million km (130 million miles), placing it just outside the orbit of Mars," the Parker probe team added. Notably, the comet reached perihelion on October 29.&nbsp;

This observation is one of its kind since 3I/ATLAS had become invisible from Earth as it sped towards the sun. The glare of our star hid it from us, and none of the telescopes could see it. But this is right when Parker saw it, revealing what was going on with the comet. "The images offer a valuable look at the comet over a period when it couldn’t be seen from Earth because it appeared too close to the Sun from Earth’s perspective," the team said.<h2>3I/ATLAS image near Sun captured by Parker</h2>Notably, some scientists, who have been claiming that 3I/ATLAS could be an extraterrestrial probe sent by intelligent beings, had proposed that the object might use its time behind the Sun to slingshot itself using its gravity towards Earth. This is because it was practically invisible for days. However, thanks to Parker, we now have pictures of the comet from its time behind the Sun. The WISPR team is currently processing these images to remove stray sunlight and compensate for exposure times. It also appears to change brightness because of the difference in exposure times, the researchers added. Once the images are processed, the Parker team hopes to get a better insight into 3I/ATLAS.

3I/ATLAS latest update: The Parker Solar Probe saw the interstellar comet racing behind the Sun. It took photos of 3I/ATLAS at a time when it had become invisible from Earth because of the glare from the Sun. The images are being processed to get a better look at the comet. 

The Parker Solar Probe is the latest man-made spacecraft to observe 3I/ATLAS. The WISPR instrument on board the NASA probe took photos of the comet from October 18 to November 5. Members of the WISPR team said in a statement, “Parker Solar Probe snapped around 10 images of the comet per day." They added that during this time, Parker was speeding away from the Sun after undertaking its 25th solar flyby on September 15. At this time, the solar probe was at a point from where it spotted 3I/ATLAS going behind the Sun. “At the time, the comet was near its closest point to the Sun, at a distance of about 209 million km (130 million miles), placing it just outside the orbit of Mars," the Parker probe team added. Notably, the comet reached perihelion on October 29.

3I/ATLAS latest update: The Parker Solar Probe saw the interstellar comet racing behind the Sun. It took photos of 3I/ATLAS at a time when it had become invisible from Earth because of the glare from the Sun. The images are being processed to get a better look at the comet.&nbsp;

3I/ATLAS update: Parker Solar Probe saw interstellar comet when it was invisible from Earth

Indian space agency ISRO has commenced the 24-hour countdown to the Wednesday, (24th Dec) launch of US firm AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird-6 satellite aboard the LVM3 rocket. The three-stage LVM3 rocket, India's most capable spacefaring vehicle is to liftoff from the second launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 8:54am Indian Time, Wednesday. The satellite would be injected into orbit 520kms above the Earth, barely 16 minutes after launch.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">⏳ 24 hours to go! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVM3M6?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVM3M6</a> is set to launch the BlueBird Block-2 spacecraft tomorrow from SDSC SHAR. Final countdown begins. Stay tuned for live updates. Launch on 24 Dec 2025 at 08:54 IST. Youtube Livestreaming link:<a href="https://t.co/FMYCs31L3j">https://t.co/FMYCs31L3j</a> 🗓️ 24 Dec 2025 | 🕗 08:24 IST… <a href="https://t.co/tKoVu8rDUq">pic.twitter.com/tKoVu8rDUq</a>&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/2003306159927869784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The countdown to a rocket launch involves sequential tasks like fueling, system checks, and approvals, synchronizing hundreds of people and automated systems. It's a crucial operational checklist during which all processes are validated.&nbsp;The 6,100kg BlueBird 6 satellite is the heaviest payload to be lifted by the LVM3 vehicle in its operational history. Therefore, this satellite would be the heaviest payload to be carried by an Indian rocket. LVM3 has a track record of having delivered success in all its eight missions to date.&nbsp;This mission is being executed as part of a commercial deal between ISRO's business arm NewSpace India Limited(NSIL) and the Texas-based AST SpaceMobile. As a launch services provider(rocket builder and operator), ISRO launches foreign-origin satellites to space on a commercial basis. Facilitated by NSIL, these commercial space missions are like a taxi ferrying a passenger. In this case, the passenger is the US firm, which pays the Indian Government for the launch service.&nbsp;This is the third commercial mission of LVM3, and the first time that the Indian LVM3 rocket is executing the mission for an American customer. Earlier, it had executed two launches for a European customer OneWeb(now Eutelsat OneWeb).<h2>About AST SpaceMobile and their internet-beaming satellites</h2>AST SpaceMobile is a Texas-based telecom company that aims to build and launch a fleet of satellites that can directly provide internet connectivity to mobile phones. Typically, only purpose-built satellite phones can facilitate satellite communication. These traditional satellite phone handsets are bulky and require visible antennas, they offer voice connectivity, and low-bandwidth texting and data services. Such services are offered by firms such as Iridium, Thuraya, among others. They are widely used in the defence and maritime sectors for providing connectivity where no communication infrastructure exists.&nbsp;Firms like AST and Starlink are attempting to change this by ensuring direct connectivity between smartphones and satellites. They intend to ensure that Android and Apple devices available in the market can communicate directly with satellites, without any modifications or special hardware. Thanks to the global coverage planned using a fleet of satellites, such services would eventually enable cell phone connectivity almost anywhere on Earth. In simple terms, one need not worry about being "not reachable" or "out of coverage area".&nbsp;As per reports, AST presently has a fleet of five first-generation (Block-1) satellites in orbit. The firm plans to launch a fleet of 45-60 second-generation (Block-2)satellites to offer services in major global regions, it is said.&nbsp;The firm has announced that they have a series of satellites that will be launching in the coming months. BlueBird 7 has shipped to the Cape Canaveral, Florida launch site this month, BlueBirds 8-16 are in various stages of production, with launches planned every 1-2 months on average during 2025 and 2026, the firm announced.&nbsp;They expect to have 45-60 satellites in orbit by year-end 2026. It is touted that these BlueBird satellites(by size) will be the largest commercial satellites ever deployed in Low Earth orbit (about 600kms above earth). Each of these satellites would carry a 2,400sq feet phased array antenna with true direct-to-cell broadband, with a claimed capability of up to 10,000 MHz of processing bandwidth and claimed peak speeds of 120 Mbps per cell.&nbsp;The firm says they have partnered with 50+ mobile network operators serving nearly 3 billion subscribers, "supported by a flexible spectrum strategy blending our own licensed spectrum with partner spectrum".&nbsp;While the launch of Bluebird-6 is being carried out from India, it must be noted that such direct-to-mobile satellite internet services have not been approved by the Indian Government. Firms like Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb that are also into providing LEO satellite-based high-speed internet connectivity are in the process of seeking approvals from various departments of the Indian government. &nbsp;

ISRO has begun the countdown for launching AST SpaceMobile’s 6,100 kg BlueBird-6 satellite aboard its LVM3 rocket on Dec 24 from Sriharikota. This marks LVM3’s heaviest payload and first commercial mission for a US customer.

Indian space agency ISRO has commenced the 24-hour countdown to the Wednesday, (24th Dec) launch of US firm AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird-6 satellite aboard the LVM3 rocket. The three-stage LVM3 rocket, India's most capable spacefaring vehicle is to liftoff from the second launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 8:54am Indian Time, Wednesday. The satellite would be injected into orbit 520kms above the Earth, barely 16 minutes after launch.

ISRO has begun the countdown for launching AST SpaceMobile’s 6,100 kg BlueBird-6 satellite aboard its LVM3 rocket on Dec 24 from Sriharikota. This marks LVM3’s heaviest payload and first commercial mission for a US customer.

Countdown starts for ISRO's launch tomorrow

In groundbreaking research, Australian scientists found that venom from honeybees is able to destroy aggressive breast cancer cells in a laboratory experiment. Describing the discovery as 'exciting', scientists cautioned that further studies are needed before it is used in the medical treatment of the most common cancer affecting women around the world.&nbsp;The bee venom, along with a compound in it called melittin, was used against two cancer types, which are the most difficult to treat: triple-negative and HER2-enriched.&nbsp;The combination was found potent in reducing viability of these cells “We found both honeybee venom and melittin significantly, selectively and rapidly reduced the viability of triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells,” Ciara Duffy, a 25-year-old PhD researcher who led the study.&nbsp;The study, conducted by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Western Australia, was published in Nature Precision Oncology, a peer-reviewed journal.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/no-longer-need-cement-for-building-dirt-water-and-waste-based-material-could-be-future-of-construction-1766249070294">No longer need cement for building: Dirt, water and waste-based material could be the future of construction</a>&nbsp;<h2>Major findings of the study</h2>Dr Ciara Duffy studied the effects of venom taken from 312 honeybees and bumblebees in Western Australia, Ireland, and England on different types of breast cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer, which has few treatment options.&nbsp;The study found that one specific concentration of the venom was able to kill cancer cells within an hour while causing minimal damage to healthy cells. However, higher doses were found to be more toxic.&nbsp;Researchers also discovered that melittin, a compound found in honeybee venom, was effective on its own in stopping or disrupting the growth of cancer cells. Although melittin occurs naturally in honeybee venom, it can also be produced synthetically.&nbsp;“We tested a very small, positively charged peptide in honeybee venom called melittin, which we could reproduce synthetically, and found that the synthetic product explained the majority of the anti-cancer effects of honeybee venom", Dr Ciara said&nbsp;Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of the disease and is usually treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. It accounts for about 10–15% of all breast cancer cases.&nbsp;

A team of scientists in Australia has found that honeybee venom and a compound in it called melittin are extremely effective in destroying breast cancer cells, the most common cancer affecting women worldwide.

In groundbreaking research, Australian scientists found that venom from honeybees is able to destroy aggressive breast cancer cells in a laboratory experiment. Describing the discovery as 'exciting', scientists cautioned that further studies are needed before it is used in the medical treatment of the most common cancer affecting women around the world. The bee venom, along with a compound in it called melittin, was used against two cancer types, which are the most difficult to treat: triple-negative and HER2-enriched. The combination was found potent in reducing viability of these cells “We found both honeybee venom and melittin significantly, selectively and rapidly reduced the viability of triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells,” Ciara Duffy, a 25-year-old PhD researcher who led the study. The study, conducted by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Western Australia, was published in Nature Precision Oncology, a peer-reviewed journal. Also Read: No longer need cement for building: Dirt, water and waste-based material could be the future of construction Major findings of the study Dr Ciara Duffy studied the effects of venom taken from 312 honeybees and bumblebees in Western Australia, Ireland, and England on different types of breast cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer, which has few treatment options. The study found that one specific concentration of the venom was able to kill cancer cells within an hour while causing minimal damage to healthy cells. However, higher doses were found to be more toxic. Researchers also discovered that melittin, a compound found in honeybee venom, was effective on its own in stopping or disrupting the growth of cancer cells. Although melittin occurs naturally in honeybee venom, it can also be produced synthetically. “We tested a very small, positively charged peptide in honeybee venom called melittin, which we could reproduce synthetically, and found that the synthetic product explained the majority of the anti-cancer effects of honeybee venom", Dr Ciara said Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of the disease and is usually treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. It accounts for about 10–15% of all breast cancer cases.

A team of scientists in Australia has found that honeybee venom and a compound in it called melittin are extremely effective in destroying breast cancer cells, the most common cancer affecting women worldwide.

Australian study finds honeybee venom fights aggressive breast cancer, promising future therapies

Scientists studying whales, wild humpback, sperm and fin whales in northern Norway, have registered a double win. They have identified a deadly whale virus, known as cetacean morbillivirus, circulating above the Arctic Circle, by just studying their exhaled breath, also known as "blow". This is a breakthrough in non-invasive health monitoring methods for these creatures in Arctic regions. This was done using drones, and scientists say such methods can help detect the virus early, as it has been linked to several mass strandings of whales and dolphins worldwide. &nbsp;King's College London and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in the UK were part of the study, and they published their findings in BMC Veterinary Research.&nbsp;Consumer drones equipped with sterile Petri dishes hovered over whale blowholes to capture respiratory droplets between 2016 and 2025. The samples were taken from humpback, sperm, and fin whales across the Northeast Atlantic, including northern Norway, Iceland, and Cape Verde. Along with blow samples, skin biopsies, and an organ sample were screened for infectious agents in the lab. "Drone blow sampling is a game-changer. It allows us to monitor pathogens in live whales without stress or harm, providing critical insights into diseases in rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems," co-author of the study, Professor Terry Dawson of the Department of Geography, King's College London, said.<h2>Virus is linked to many mass mortality events</h2>They found cetacean morbillivirus in humpback whale groups in northern Norway, a sperm whale, and a stranded pilot whale. A strain of this virus was first identified in dolphins. The highly pathogenic virus infecting whales, dolphins and porpoises, researchers said. Since its discovery in 1987, the virus has triggered multiple mass mortality events in cetacean populations. It causes respiratory issues in the animals, along with neurological and immune damage.&nbsp;Scientists are worried that the virus can spread during feeding interactions in winter when humans and birds come in contact with the whales. They also found herpesviruses in the whales, but no traces of avian influenza virus or the bacteria Brucella were detected. Helena Costa, lead author at Nord University, said, "Going forward, the priority is to continue using these methods for long-term surveillance."&nbsp;

Scientists have detected a deadly whale virus, known as cetacean morbillivirus, in the animals in Norway using a method where they simply collected samples from whale blow, the droplets from their breath. 

Scientists studying whales, wild humpback, sperm and fin whales in northern Norway, have registered a double win. They have identified a deadly whale virus, known as cetacean morbillivirus, circulating above the Arctic Circle, by just studying their exhaled breath, also known as "blow". This is a breakthrough in non-invasive health monitoring methods for these creatures in Arctic regions. This was done using drones, and scientists say such methods can help detect the virus early, as it has been linked to several mass strandings of whales and dolphins worldwide. King's College London and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in the UK were part of the study, and they published their findings in BMC Veterinary Research. Consumer drones equipped with sterile Petri dishes hovered over whale blowholes to capture respiratory droplets between 2016 and 2025. The samples were taken from humpback, sperm, and fin whales across the Northeast Atlantic, including northern Norway, Iceland, and Cape Verde. Along with blow samples, skin biopsies, and an organ sample were screened for infectious agents in the lab. "Drone blow sampling is a game-changer. It allows us to monitor pathogens in live whales without stress or harm, providing critical insights into diseases in rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems," co-author of the study, Professor Terry Dawson of the Department of Geography, King's College London, said. Virus is linked to many mass mortality events They found cetacean morbillivirus in humpback whale groups in northern Norway, a sperm whale, and a stranded pilot whale. A strain of this virus was first identified in dolphins. The highly pathogenic virus infecting whales, dolphins and porpoises, researchers said. Since its discovery in 1987, the virus has triggered multiple mass mortality events in cetacean populations. It causes respiratory issues in the animals, along with neurological and immune damage. Scientists are worried that the virus can spread during feeding interactions in winter when humans and birds come in contact with the whales. They also found herpesviruses in the whales, but no traces of avian influenza virus or the bacteria Brucella were detected. Helena Costa, lead author at Nord University, said, "Going forward, the priority is to continue using these methods for long-term surveillance."

Scientists have detected a deadly whale virus, known as cetacean morbillivirus, in the animals in Norway using a method where they simply collected samples from whale blow, the droplets from their breath.&nbsp;

Scientists identify deadly whale virus linked to mass strandings from just their breath

US President Donald Trump wants NASA to present a plan to ensure America leads the space race. This includes returning astronauts to the moon, nuclear reactors in space and more. Here are the details of the “Ensuring American Space Superiority” order.

Nuclear reactors, Golden Dome and more: How Trump wants US to win the space race

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a black hole that was booted out of its galaxy and is now zooming through space at a staggering speed of 1,000 kilometres per second. The runaway supermassive black hole is at least 10 million times the mass of the Sun. It is now the first confirmed runaway supermassive black hole, leaving scientists wondering about the strength of the gravitational kick that caused it to move at such an unimaginable speed through the cosmos. "The forces that are needed to dislodge such a massive black hole from its home are enormous. And yet, it was predicted that such escapes should occur!" team leader Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University told Space.com.&nbsp;RBH-1, first reported in 2023, comes from a pair of galaxies named the "Cosmic Owl". It is moving at 3,000 times the speed of sound at sea level here on Earth. It has a massive bow shock, the size of an entire galaxy, in front of it, with a star formation extending for 200,000 light-years tailing behind it. What led the black hole to leave its galaxy? The researchers wrote in a preprint uploaded to arXiv that it possibly happened because of gravitational recoil from a supermassive black hole merger.<h2>How did the researchers see the black hole?</h2>The researchers wrote that "the wake is powered by a supersonic runaway supermassive black hole, a long-predicted consequence of gravitational-wave recoil or multi-body ejection from galactic nuclei." Like any other black hole, it also has an event horizon that traps light, making it difficult to see. RBH-"drives a shock wave in the gas that is moving through, and it is this shock wave, and the wake of the shock wave behind the black hole, that we see," van Dokkum said.&nbsp;As it steers through space, the supermassive black hole pushes the gas sideways "away from the supermassive black hole at a velocity of hundreds of km per second. This dynamical signature was observed with JWST. The black hole likely went rogue as two galaxies merged, and each of their black holes also came together. This gives a "powerful kick to the newly formed black hole" leading it to move at "a speed of 1,000 km/s, enough to eject the black hole."&nbsp;The three-body interaction is also possible, as one galaxy could have had a pair of binary black holes at its centre. In this scenario, when the third black hole enters the scene, one of them is kicked out. van Dokkum thinks the first reason is more likely in the case of this runaway supermassive black hole.

A supermassive black hole has been spotted in the universe, zooming at an unbelievable speed of 1,000km/second. It comes from the Owl galaxy, and scientists are trying to understand why it was kicked out and the reason for its mind-blowing speed. 

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a black hole that was booted out of its galaxy and is now zooming through space at a staggering speed of 1,000 kilometres per second. The runaway supermassive black hole is at least 10 million times the mass of the Sun. It is now the first confirmed runaway supermassive black hole, leaving scientists wondering about the strength of the gravitational kick that caused it to move at such an unimaginable speed through the cosmos. "The forces that are needed to dislodge such a massive black hole from its home are enormous. And yet, it was predicted that such escapes should occur!" team leader Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University told Space.com. RBH-1, first reported in 2023, comes from a pair of galaxies named the "Cosmic Owl". It is moving at 3,000 times the speed of sound at sea level here on Earth. It has a massive bow shock, the size of an entire galaxy, in front of it, with a star formation extending for 200,000 light-years tailing behind it. What led the black hole to leave its galaxy? The researchers wrote in a preprint uploaded to arXiv that it possibly happened because of gravitational recoil from a supermassive black hole merger. How did the researchers see the black hole? The researchers wrote that "the wake is powered by a supersonic runaway supermassive black hole, a long-predicted consequence of gravitational-wave recoil or multi-body ejection from galactic nuclei." Like any other black hole, it also has an event horizon that traps light, making it difficult to see. RBH-"drives a shock wave in the gas that is moving through, and it is this shock wave, and the wake of the shock wave behind the black hole, that we see," van Dokkum said. As it steers through space, the supermassive black hole pushes the gas sideways "away from the supermassive black hole at a velocity of hundreds of km per second. This dynamical signature was observed with JWST. The black hole likely went rogue as two galaxies merged, and each of their black holes also came together. This gives a "powerful kick to the newly formed black hole" leading it to move at "a speed of 1,000 km/s, enough to eject the black hole." The three-body interaction is also possible, as one galaxy could have had a pair of binary black holes at its centre. In this scenario, when the third black hole enters the scene, one of them is kicked out. van Dokkum thinks the first reason is more likely in the case of this runaway supermassive black hole.

A supermassive black hole has been spotted in the universe, zooming at an unbelievable speed of 1,000km/second. It comes from the Owl galaxy, and scientists are trying to understand why it was kicked out and the reason for its mind-blowing speed.&nbsp;

1,000km/second: JWST sees a supersonic supermassive black hole screaming through space

3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar comet seen in our solar system, will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19. However, it isn't coming that close, and will be 270 million kilometres away. That is nearly twice the average distance between Earth and the sun. But it is still a prominent occurrence for astronomers who have been waiting for the comet to reach this point. Over the past few weeks, 3I/ATLAS has displayed a spectacular show, as astronomers across the world saw it on their telescopes and astrophotographers captured images of the mysterious visitor before it leaves forever. If you are also interested in watching the alien comet, here are some ways to do it.<h2>3I/ATLAS live stream</h2>You might be able to see 3I/ATLAS with your telescopes, although only one that is 8 inches or larger can spot it. Even then, it will appear as a faint and fuzzy ball of light. But if you want to see it in real-time, check out the Virtual Telescope Project page, as it will host a free livestream starting at 11 pm EST on December 18, or 9:30 am IST on December 19. It will be sharing real-time telescope views of comet 3I/ATLAS from its observatories in Manciano, Italy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/11/19/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-aka-c-2025-n1-atlas-closest-approach-to-the-earth-online-observation-19-dec-2025/">See 3I/ATLAS live here</a>&nbsp;The Virtual Telescope Project page hosted a live-stream of 3I/ATLAS in November as well. This would be the best way to see the visitor before it disappears forever. After rendezvousing with Earth, 3I/ATLAS will start to make its way out of the solar system. But it will remain visible for some more time, and is also set to fly by Jupiter on March 16, 2026. This would be when NASA's Juno spacecraft, orbiting Jupiter, would be able to observe the comet.&nbsp;The European Space Agency's Juice probe has already scanned 3I/ATLAS and sent back partial data a few weeks ago. A photo of the comet was released earlier this month, showing a glowing halo of gas and dust. Its entire observations will reach Earth only by February, as it is using its main high-gain antenna to protect itself from the Sun's heat and radiation.

3I/ATLAS live stream: The interstellar comet is set to make its closest flyby on December 19, a date everyone has been waiting for. You can catch the comet on a live stream that will continue for several hours. Here is where to watch 3I/ATLAS.

3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar comet seen in our solar system, will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19. However, it isn't coming that close, and will be 270 million kilometres away. That is nearly twice the average distance between Earth and the sun. But it is still a prominent occurrence for astronomers who have been waiting for the comet to reach this point. Over the past few weeks, 3I/ATLAS has displayed a spectacular show, as astronomers across the world saw it on their telescopes and astrophotographers captured images of the mysterious visitor before it leaves forever. If you are also interested in watching the alien comet, here are some ways to do it. 3I/ATLAS live stream You might be able to see 3I/ATLAS with your telescopes, although only one that is 8 inches or larger can spot it. Even then, it will appear as a faint and fuzzy ball of light. But if you want to see it in real-time, check out the Virtual Telescope Project page, as it will host a free livestream starting at 11 pm EST on December 18, or 9:30 am IST on December 19. It will be sharing real-time telescope views of comet 3I/ATLAS from its observatories in Manciano, Italy. See 3I/ATLAS live here The Virtual Telescope Project page hosted a live-stream of 3I/ATLAS in November as well. This would be the best way to see the visitor before it disappears forever. After rendezvousing with Earth, 3I/ATLAS will start to make its way out of the solar system. But it will remain visible for some more time, and is also set to fly by Jupiter on March 16, 2026. This would be when NASA's Juno spacecraft, orbiting Jupiter, would be able to observe the comet. The European Space Agency's Juice probe has already scanned 3I/ATLAS and sent back partial data a few weeks ago. A photo of the comet was released earlier this month, showing a glowing halo of gas and dust. Its entire observations will reach Earth only by February, as it is using its main high-gain antenna to protect itself from the Sun's heat and radiation.

3I/ATLAS live stream: The interstellar comet is set to make its closest flyby on December 19, a date everyone has been waiting for. You can catch the comet on a live stream that will continue for several hours. Here is where to watch 3I/ATLAS.

3I/ATLAS live stream: Here is where to see the comet as it comes near Earth

Scientists have found a new species of worm in the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and they believe this creature only resides in this body of water and is not anywhere else in the world. This is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, and the species is endemic to it, according to a study. Researchers from the University of Utah say that it is a nematode, or roundworm, and has been named Diplolaimelloides woaabi. The worm was given this name by Shoshone elders, as the lake is a part of their ancestral lands. The new species is believed to play an important role in the ecology of the lake, just like other nematodes in different ecosystems, according to the researchers. The presence of this worm in the Utah lake could also be a bioindicator of environmental change in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nematodes are found in abundance in the world and reside in all kinds of ecological systems. From oceans to gardens, these worms are found in many places. There are more than 250,000 known species of nematodes, and 90 per cent of all animals found on the ocean floor are nematodes. The existence of this new species in the lake remained a secret until 2022. Lead author of the study, Julie Jung, set out on an expedition and collected the worms from microbialites, stony mounds formed by algae and microbes on the lakebed.<h2>The Utah lake is extremely saline</h2>Jung, a researcher at Weber State University, said they were almost sure that it was a new species of nematode from the beginning. However, it took "three years of additional work to taxonomically confirm that suspicion." The Utah lake has a hostile hypersaline environment and was home to only two multicellular animals till the discovery of these nematodes. Brine shrimp and brine flies are the other two creatures found in the Great Salt Lake.&nbsp;Scientists also tried to figure out how these worms reached the lake. One possibility is that their ancestors were stranded here millions of years ago. Co-author of the study, Michael Werner, says that northern Utah had a vast freshwater lake 20,000 and 30,000 years ago. “If the nematode has been endemic since 100 million years ago, it has survived through these dramatic shifts in salinity at least once, probably a few times.” Another possibility is that these worms were carried by migratory birds from saline lakes in South America.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Scientists have discovered only the third multicellular animal in the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This creature should not exist here, so how did it reach this lake? It took the researchers three years to confirm it was a new species of a previously known animal. 

Scientists have found a new species of worm in the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and they believe this creature only resides in this body of water and is not anywhere else in the world. This is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, and the species is endemic to it, according to a study. Researchers from the University of Utah say that it is a nematode, or roundworm, and has been named Diplolaimelloides woaabi. The worm was given this name by Shoshone elders, as the lake is a part of their ancestral lands. The new species is believed to play an important role in the ecology of the lake, just like other nematodes in different ecosystems, according to the researchers. The presence of this worm in the Utah lake could also be a bioindicator of environmental change in the region. Nematodes are found in abundance in the world and reside in all kinds of ecological systems. From oceans to gardens, these worms are found in many places. There are more than 250,000 known species of nematodes, and 90 per cent of all animals found on the ocean floor are nematodes. The existence of this new species in the lake remained a secret until 2022. Lead author of the study, Julie Jung, set out on an expedition and collected the worms from microbialites, stony mounds formed by algae and microbes on the lakebed. The Utah lake is extremely saline Jung, a researcher at Weber State University, said they were almost sure that it was a new species of nematode from the beginning. However, it took "three years of additional work to taxonomically confirm that suspicion." The Utah lake has a hostile hypersaline environment and was home to only two multicellular animals till the discovery of these nematodes. Brine shrimp and brine flies are the other two creatures found in the Great Salt Lake. Scientists also tried to figure out how these worms reached the lake. One possibility is that their ancestors were stranded here millions of years ago. Co-author of the study, Michael Werner, says that northern Utah had a vast freshwater lake 20,000 and 30,000 years ago. “If the nematode has been endemic since 100 million years ago, it has survived through these dramatic shifts in salinity at least once, probably a few times.” Another possibility is that these worms were carried by migratory birds from saline lakes in South America.

Scientists have discovered only the third multicellular animal in the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This creature should not exist here, so how did it reach this lake? It took the researchers three years to confirm it was a new species of a previously known animal.&nbsp;

Utah lake houses a creature that should not be here. It is not found anywhere else on Earth

Once upon a time, Earth was a hot planet with magma flowing in one vast ocean. When our home was born 4.6 billion years ago, space was not the kindest place. The chaotic environment and the constant bombardment caused the planet’s surface and interior to remain in a near-constant molten state. So if magma was spread everywhere, where was water? According to a study, Earth was hiding it all deep within a mineral in the mantle. This was a time when the flowing magma turned the planet into a blazing furnace. &nbsp;Over millions of years, Earth transitioned from being a hot piece of cosmic body in a molten state to a cool and calm solid planet. The oceans were filled with water, which was hiding somewhere on the planet.&nbsp;Professor Zhixue Du from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (GIGCAS) tried to decode this mystery of the hiding place of Earth's water. According to the researchers on his team, large quantities of water were effectively "locked away" deep inside Earth’s mantle. A mineral found abundantly in the mantle acted like a microscopic "water container" as the planet solidified. Their findings have been published in Science.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/earth-has-a-tail-flowing-for-millions-of-kilometres-into-space-on-its-dark-side-1765431481520">Earth has a tail, flowing for millions of kilometres into space on its dark side</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/catastrophe-in-2-8-days-scientists-say-earth-at-risk-of-disastrous-chain-reaction-in-space-1765868167625">Catastrophe in 2.8 days: Scientists say Earth at risk of disastrous chain reaction in space</a><h2>Simulation revealed something new about the water-absorbing mineral</h2>This water reservoir is what helped Earth transform from a fiery planet into the habitable world we know today. &nbsp;The team set out to test a previous theory, according to which bridgmanite had limited water storage capacity in low-temperature conditions. They built a diamond anvil cell experimental setup equipped with laser heating and high-temperature imaging to understand the extreme conditions at depths exceeding 660 kilometres, and detect water signals in bridgmanite samples. They gradually raised temperatures to approximately 4,100 degrees Celsius, which helped them learn how it affects the ability of minerals to pull in water.&nbsp;This simulation revealed that bridgmanite’s “water-locking” capacity increased with rising temperature. This means that during Earth’s hottest “magma ocean” phase, it had changed to retain a lot more water. After the magma ocean solidified, the lower mantle became the largest water reservoir in the solid mantle. Gradually, this water reached the surface through magmatic activity.

Earth was once a fireball with magma flowing in one giant ocean. But, even at this time, it had water. However, it was not present on the surface, but hid somewhere deep inside the planet. What could hold so much water? Scientists have now revealed.

Once upon a time, Earth was a hot planet with magma flowing in one vast ocean. When our home was born 4.6 billion years ago, space was not the kindest place. The chaotic environment and the constant bombardment caused the planet’s surface and interior to remain in a near-constant molten state. So if magma was spread everywhere, where was water? According to a study, Earth was hiding it all deep within a mineral in the mantle. This was a time when the flowing magma turned the planet into a blazing furnace. Over millions of years, Earth transitioned from being a hot piece of cosmic body in a molten state to a cool and calm solid planet. The oceans were filled with water, which was hiding somewhere on the planet. Professor Zhixue Du from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (GIGCAS) tried to decode this mystery of the hiding place of Earth's water. According to the researchers on his team, large quantities of water were effectively "locked away" deep inside Earth’s mantle. A mineral found abundantly in the mantle acted like a microscopic "water container" as the planet solidified. Their findings have been published in Science. Also Read: Earth has a tail, flowing for millions of kilometres into space on its dark side Also Read: Catastrophe in 2.8 days: Scientists say Earth at risk of disastrous chain reaction in space Simulation revealed something new about the water-absorbing mineral This water reservoir is what helped Earth transform from a fiery planet into the habitable world we know today. The team set out to test a previous theory, according to which bridgmanite had limited water storage capacity in low-temperature conditions. They built a diamond anvil cell experimental setup equipped with laser heating and high-temperature imaging to understand the extreme conditions at depths exceeding 660 kilometres, and detect water signals in bridgmanite samples. They gradually raised temperatures to approximately 4,100 degrees Celsius, which helped them learn how it affects the ability of minerals to pull in water. This simulation revealed that bridgmanite’s “water-locking” capacity increased with rising temperature. This means that during Earth’s hottest “magma ocean” phase, it had changed to retain a lot more water. After the magma ocean solidified, the lower mantle became the largest water reservoir in the solid mantle. Gradually, this water reached the surface through magmatic activity.

Earth was once a fireball with magma flowing in one giant ocean. But, even at this time, it had water. However, it was not present on the surface, but hid somewhere deep inside the planet. What could hold so much water? Scientists have now revealed.

Scientists reveal the hiding place of all the water on Earth 4.6 billion years ago

The longest-running evolution experiment in human history has been going on since 1988, and yet it has already seen 80,000 generations. The "Long-Term Evolution Experiment" (LTTE) involves Escherichia coli (E. coli) and tracking genetic changes in 12 colonies of the same strain of non-pathogenic bacteria. Richard Lenski started the experiment at the University of California on February 24, 1988. It requires taking 1 per cent of the latest descendants of the ancestor strain and transferring them into a new dilute sugary solution, where they grow further. Lenski states on the website dedicated to the experiment that" bacteria easily grow 100-fold in a few hours." They continue to sit there until the next day, and again, 1 per cent of each population is transferred into fresh medium.&nbsp;"Bacteria reproduce by binary fission: one cell grows and, after it has doubled in size, divides to produce two daughter cells; the two daughter cells then replicate to make four cells; and so on," Lenski mentions on the website. This 100-fold growth translates to "about 6 and 2/3 doublings, or generations, each day." Once 500 generations are achieved, the E.coli that won't be used are frozen after being shielded by a cryoprotectant. The advantage of using E.coli is that it grows and mutates quickly, and the frozen strains can be thawed later for analysis.<h2>The LTTE experiment decodes evolution by natural selection</h2>Lenski says it is like "time travel in a scientifically meaningful way". &nbsp;He says this helps them directly compare the current LTEE bacteria with their ancestors. The evolved lines can be pitted against their ancestors to see how they have adapted and evolved by natural selection. The experiment is crucial as it throws light on certain processes that aren't observable in nature. Whether natural selection is slow or fast, does it dip at some point, how fit the organism gets and is there a limit to it, are some of the questions the LTTE experiment helps answer.&nbsp;"Six of the 12 LTEE populations evolved to be so-called 'hypermutators' by 50,000 generations," Lenski says. &nbsp; The 10,000th transfer of the experiment happened on March 13, 2017, and in August 2024, the LTEE populations passed 80,000 generations. The experiment is still on and will reveal a lot more about evolution in the near future.

The Long-Term Evolution Experiment (LTTE) tries to answer questions about evolution and how the process of natural selection works, whether it is slow or fast and does the curve changes at certain points. It has been going on for nearly 40 years, but it has seen thousands of generations.

The longest-running evolution experiment in human history has been going on since 1988, and yet it has already seen 80,000 generations. The "Long-Term Evolution Experiment" (LTTE) involves Escherichia coli (E. coli) and tracking genetic changes in 12 colonies of the same strain of non-pathogenic bacteria. Richard Lenski started the experiment at the University of California on February 24, 1988. It requires taking 1 per cent of the latest descendants of the ancestor strain and transferring them into a new dilute sugary solution, where they grow further. Lenski states on the website dedicated to the experiment that" bacteria easily grow 100-fold in a few hours." They continue to sit there until the next day, and again, 1 per cent of each population is transferred into fresh medium. "Bacteria reproduce by binary fission: one cell grows and, after it has doubled in size, divides to produce two daughter cells; the two daughter cells then replicate to make four cells; and so on," Lenski mentions on the website. This 100-fold growth translates to "about 6 and 2/3 doublings, or generations, each day." Once 500 generations are achieved, the E.coli that won't be used are frozen after being shielded by a cryoprotectant. The advantage of using E.coli is that it grows and mutates quickly, and the frozen strains can be thawed later for analysis. The LTTE experiment decodes evolution by natural selection Lenski says it is like "time travel in a scientifically meaningful way". He says this helps them directly compare the current LTEE bacteria with their ancestors. The evolved lines can be pitted against their ancestors to see how they have adapted and evolved by natural selection. The experiment is crucial as it throws light on certain processes that aren't observable in nature. Whether natural selection is slow or fast, does it dip at some point, how fit the organism gets and is there a limit to it, are some of the questions the LTTE experiment helps answer. "Six of the 12 LTEE populations evolved to be so-called 'hypermutators' by 50,000 generations," Lenski says. The 10,000th transfer of the experiment happened on March 13, 2017, and in August 2024, the LTEE populations passed 80,000 generations. The experiment is still on and will reveal a lot more about evolution in the near future.

The "Long-Term Evolution Experiment" (LTTE) tries to answer questions about evolution and how the process of natural selection works, whether it is slow or fast and does the curve changes at certain points. It has been going on for nearly 40 years, but it has seen thousands of generations.

World's longest evolution experiment started 37 years ago, but has already seen 80,000 generations

From Quantum‑centric supercomputing to AI Boost Sperm Selection, there have been multiple scientific discoveries in 2025 spanning space, medicine, and quantum tech. Let's have a look at the top 7 scientific discoveries in the world that shocked humankind.

Year-Ender 2025: Top 7 scientific discoveries that shook the world

NASA's Voyager 2 probe flew by Uranus in 1986, providing the first observation of the ice giant that lives in the farthest reaches of the solar system. This event proved historic as scientists learned about what the planet was like, its moons and also raised certain mysteries. One of them was the presence of an electron belt of a much higher energy level than expected. Since then, scientists have been puzzled about how the Uranian system supports such an enormous amount of trapped electron radiation. They also studied other gas giants outside the solar system and compared the phenomenon observed on Uranus. Turns out, it was all for nothing. A study has found that Voyager 2 simply scanned the planet at a time when another cosmic occurrence was also going on, causing the mysterious observation.&nbsp;Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have pointed out that what Voyager 2 saw was happening because of a solar wind structure. They suggest that a "co-rotating interaction region" was passing through the system right when Voyager 2 made the flyby. Space physicist and the Lead Scientist of the SwRI's Space Sciences Division, Dr Robert C. Allen, led the study and was assisted by SwRI Lead Scientist Sarah Vines. They published their findings in Geophysical Research Letters.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/believe-it-or-not-uranus-initial-name-was-quite-controversial-and-so-it-was-renamed-1764238501728">Believe it or not, Uranus' initial name was quite controversial, and so it was renamed</a><h2>Voyager 2 encountered Uranus at the wrong time</h2>Voyager 2 measured the radiation environment at Uranus, which formed the basis for the scientific belief that it has a weaker ion radiation belt and a very intense electron radiation belt. But when Allen's team analysed the data again, they found that this observation was not made during normal solar wind conditions and that at the time, a transient solar wind event was passing through the system. According to them, Voyager 2 recorded the most powerful high-frequency waves at this point during its entire mission.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/voyager-1-at-one-light-day-spacecraft-to-hit-astonishing-milestone-after-49-years-1752561939383">Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years</a>&nbsp;"Science has come a long way since the Voyager 2 flyby. We decided to take a comparative approach, looking at the Voyager 2 data and comparing it to Earth observations we've made in the decades since," said Dr Allen in a statement. Something similar happened with Earth in 2019, when solar winds caused an "immense amount of radiation belt electron acceleration." This explains why "Voyager 2 saw all this unexpected additional energy," he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Voyager 2 observed unexpected additional energy at Uranus during its 1986 flyby. This observation confused scientists who did not know how to explain it. However, a study has now shown that it was merely wrong timing.

NASA's Voyager 2 probe flew by Uranus in 1986, providing the first observation of the ice giant that lives in the farthest reaches of the solar system. This event proved historic as scientists learned about what the planet was like, its moons and also raised certain mysteries. One of them was the presence of an electron belt of a much higher energy level than expected. Since then, scientists have been puzzled about how the Uranian system supports such an enormous amount of trapped electron radiation. They also studied other gas giants outside the solar system and compared the phenomenon observed on Uranus. Turns out, it was all for nothing. A study has found that Voyager 2 simply scanned the planet at a time when another cosmic occurrence was also going on, causing the mysterious observation. Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have pointed out that what Voyager 2 saw was happening because of a solar wind structure. They suggest that a "co-rotating interaction region" was passing through the system right when Voyager 2 made the flyby. Space physicist and the Lead Scientist of the SwRI's Space Sciences Division, Dr Robert C. Allen, led the study and was assisted by SwRI Lead Scientist Sarah Vines. They published their findings in Geophysical Research Letters. Also Read: Believe it or not, Uranus' initial name was quite controversial, and so it was renamed Voyager 2 encountered Uranus at the wrong time Voyager 2 measured the radiation environment at Uranus, which formed the basis for the scientific belief that it has a weaker ion radiation belt and a very intense electron radiation belt. But when Allen's team analysed the data again, they found that this observation was not made during normal solar wind conditions and that at the time, a transient solar wind event was passing through the system. According to them, Voyager 2 recorded the most powerful high-frequency waves at this point during its entire mission. Also Read: Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years "Science has come a long way since the Voyager 2 flyby. We decided to take a comparative approach, looking at the Voyager 2 data and comparing it to Earth observations we've made in the decades since," said Dr Allen in a statement. Something similar happened with Earth in 2019, when solar winds caused an "immense amount of radiation belt electron acceleration." This explains why "Voyager 2 saw all this unexpected additional energy," he said.

Voyager 2 observed unexpected additional energy at Uranus during its 1986 flyby. This observation confused scientists who did not know how to explain it. However, a study has now shown that it was merely wrong timing.

Voyager 2 erred about radiation environment on Uranus. Blame wrong timing

SpaceX's STARLINK-6079 satellite had a close encounter with the Chinese Kinetica 1 rocket, coming as close as 200 meters, sparking fear of a collision in low Earth orbit. “When satellite operators do not share ephemeris for their satellites, dangerously close approaches can occur in space,” said Starlink engineering VP Michael Nicolls.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When satellite operators do not share ephemeris for their satellites, dangerously close approaches can occur in space. A few days ago, 9 satellites were deployed from a launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwestern China. As far as we know, no coordination or…&mdash; Michael Nicolls (@michaelnicollsx) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelnicollsx/status/1999630601046097947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Chinese Kinetica rocket was launched on December 9, 2025, by the Guangzhou-based space company CAS Space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert. It carries six Chinese multifunctional satellites. “Our team is currently in contact for more details,” CAS Space tweeted. It asserted that all CAS space rockets use their launch window system with ground-based cooperation to avoid collision with space debris and other space objects. It also agreed with Nicholis for further collaboration to avoid orbital collisions. “This calls for re-establishing collaborations between the two New Space ecosystems,” wrote the CAS Space in a follow-up.&nbsp;<h2>Clusters of satellites are a ticking time bomb</h2>There are roughly 13,000 functioning satellites present in the Earth's orbit; among them, SpaceX alone has close to 9,300 satellites, almost ⅓ of which were launched in 2025. According to a Harvard Astrophysicist, Jonathan McDowell, there is at least one or two satellites that collapse every day. &nbsp;Nearly 54,000 space objects with a size of four inches remain as space debris in orbit, whereas nearly 140 million other pieces measuring between 0.04 inches and 0.39 inches are available in space. According to Leo Labs, this is a ticking time bomb. At any moment, just a single collision could set off a chain reaction dubbed the Kessler syndrome, potentially rendering orbits unusable for satellites and space travel for generations.

A SpaceX Starlink satellite narrowly avoided a collision with China’s Kinetica-1 rocket, coming within 200 metres in low Earth orbit. The incident has reignited concerns over space debris, satellite congestion, and the risk of a catastrophic Kessler syndrome.

SpaceX's STARLINK-6079 satellite had a close encounter with the Chinese Kinetica 1 rocket, coming as close as 200 meters, sparking fear of a collision in low Earth orbit. “When satellite operators do not share ephemeris for their satellites, dangerously close approaches can occur in space,” said Starlink engineering VP Michael Nicolls.

A SpaceX Starlink satellite narrowly avoided a collision with China’s Kinetica-1 rocket, coming within 200 metres in low Earth orbit. The incident has reignited concerns over space debris, satellite congestion, and the risk of a catastrophic Kessler syndrome.

Space X satellite and Chinese rocket had a disturbing close encounter as Earth's orbit gets overcrowded

Mosasaurs, an extinct group of aquatic squamate reptiles, adapted to a very different environment during the Late Cretaceous period, as discovered by a group of scientists. These marine predators have been known to hunt in the salty oceans, but now they have found that these mammoths adapted to a freshwater environment and even fed on dinosaurs. IFL Science reported that when Trissa Ford came across a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth in Hell Creek, North Dakota, in 2022, the careful digging led the group to another tooth. Dig leader Dr Clint Boyd knew it didn't belong to a T. rex, and reached out to marine reptile expert Dr Nathan Van Vranken of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He confirmed that it had come from a mosasaur of the Prognathodontini subfamily.&nbsp;This was strange since Hill Creek had never had an ocean, nor a salty lake. Hell Creek is almost 2,000 kilometres from the ocean, and &nbsp;Dr Melanie During, of Uppsala University, who helped the team solve the mystery, says the tooth had remained in the same place. There had also never been any saltwater source in the region. Her analysis revealed that this mosasaur was a descendant of a species that had adapted to living in river water. The study is published in BMC Zoology.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-giant-blue-dragon-monster-haunted-prehistoric-waters-of-the-pacific-ocean-72-million-years-ago-669185">A giant blue dragon mosasaur roamed the Pacific waters 72 million years ago</a><h2>Mosasaurs adapted to live in rivers</h2>Scientists have always believed that mosasaurs lived in salty waters. This is because the Western Interior Seaway, which divided North America into two parts, was connected to both the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and was presumably salty. Mosasaurs inhabited this waterway, which meant they were thriving in saltwater. However, it underwent a huge change at the end of the dinosaur era. Dr Melanie told the publication that mountains were forming at this time and the San Andreas fault was very active, leading the continent to lift upwards. The Seaway got blocked from both sides, cutting off access to the oceans. Gradually, rainwater flushed out all the salt, effectively turning the Hill Creek region into a network of rivers. &nbsp;This shows the mosasaurs underwent a major adaptation.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sea-monster-that-lived-85mn-years-ago-on-dry-land-that-was-once-an-ocean-760391">Sea monster lived 85mn years ago on Texas dry land that was once an ocean</a>&nbsp;She compared the mosasaurs to Australia’s giant saltwater crocodiles, which adapted to freshwater. Since the latter moved to also being able to live on land, could the mosasaurs also have done the same? She thinks it is possible.&nbsp;

Mosasaurs underwent a major lifestyle change during the late Cretaceous period and adapted to living in a completely new environment. Researchers found a tooth that led them to find something shocking about these giants.

Mosasaurs, an extinct group of aquatic squamate reptiles, adapted to a very different environment during the Late Cretaceous period, as discovered by a group of scientists. These marine predators have been known to hunt in the salty oceans, but now they have found that these mammoths adapted to a freshwater environment and even fed on dinosaurs. IFL Science reported that when Trissa Ford came across a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth in Hell Creek, North Dakota, in 2022, the careful digging led the group to another tooth. Dig leader Dr Clint Boyd knew it didn't belong to a T. rex, and reached out to marine reptile expert Dr Nathan Van Vranken of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He confirmed that it had come from a mosasaur of the Prognathodontini subfamily. This was strange since Hill Creek had never had an ocean, nor a salty lake. Hell Creek is almost 2,000 kilometres from the ocean, and Dr Melanie During, of Uppsala University, who helped the team solve the mystery, says the tooth had remained in the same place. There had also never been any saltwater source in the region. Her analysis revealed that this mosasaur was a descendant of a species that had adapted to living in river water. The study is published in BMC Zoology. Also Read: A giant blue dragon mosasaur roamed the Pacific waters 72 million years ago Mosasaurs adapted to live in rivers Scientists have always believed that mosasaurs lived in salty waters. This is because the Western Interior Seaway, which divided North America into two parts, was connected to both the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and was presumably salty. Mosasaurs inhabited this waterway, which meant they were thriving in saltwater. However, it underwent a huge change at the end of the dinosaur era. Dr Melanie told the publication that mountains were forming at this time and the San Andreas fault was very active, leading the continent to lift upwards. The Seaway got blocked from both sides, cutting off access to the oceans. Gradually, rainwater flushed out all the salt, effectively turning the Hill Creek region into a network of rivers. This shows the mosasaurs underwent a major adaptation. Also Read: Sea monster lived 85mn years ago on Texas dry land that was once an ocean She compared the mosasaurs to Australia’s giant saltwater crocodiles, which adapted to freshwater. Since the latter moved to also being able to live on land, could the mosasaurs also have done the same? She thinks it is possible.

Mosasaurs underwent a major lifestyle change during the late Cretaceous period and adapted to living in a completely new environment. Researchers found a tooth that led them to find something shocking about these giants.

T. rex tooth leads scientists to make a shocking discovery about brute that ate dinosaurs

The current satellite mega-constellation system can crumble within days in case of an intense solar storm, according to a new paper. Low-Earth orbit is extremely crowded, with several satellites working there. According to data, two satellites make a “close approach”, that is, pass by each other at less than one kilometre distance, every 22 seconds. Scientists handle these satellites from Earth to avoid collisions between them. However, the paper by Sarah Thiele, a PhD student at Princeton, and he co-authors, analysed what would happen in "edge cases" that can cause system failures, specifically in the case of a solar storm, Universe Today reported. Solar storms can cause an increased drag on satellites and put them on a collision path with another, forcing manoeuvres to avoid them crashing into one another. But the bigger problem, according to the authors, is that solar storms can affect navigational and communications systems, which facilitate these manoeuvres. What would happen in this case?&nbsp;If humans lose control of satellites and are unable to move them around, the drag from the solar storm would put them in a precarious situation and trigger an immediate catastrophe. Using a new metric - the Collision Realization and Significant Harm (CRASH) Clock, the researchers calculated that if operators are unable to send commands for avoidance manoeuvres, a catastrophic collision will occur in around 2.8 days. This statistic holds true for June 2025, and is a stark change from 2018, when this time period was 121 days. If operators lose control for just 24 hours, there's a 30 per cent chance of a collision that can trigger a process leading to the Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where the orbit would be filled with a debris cloud, rendering satellites unworkable and preventing the launch of new satellites.&nbsp;Responding to a solar storm would need real-time action to keep satellites afloat and safe. However, if this system goes down, the window to fix it would be extremely small and failure to do so would result in the constellation crumbling like a "pack of cards". The researchers also noted that if a storm as intense as the Carrington Event of 1859 were to strike, humans would not be able to control the satellites for longer than three days, eventually wiping out our satellite infrastructure. &nbsp;

Scientists have flagged a catastrophic scenario waiting to unfold in low-Earth orbit, where a solar storm can trigger a collision between satellites, setting a chain reaction that ultimately leaves humans without access to them.

The current satellite mega-constellation system can crumble within days in case of an intense solar storm, according to a new paper. Low-Earth orbit is extremely crowded, with several satellites working there. According to data, two satellites make a “close approach”, that is, pass by each other at less than one kilometre distance, every 22 seconds. Scientists handle these satellites from Earth to avoid collisions between them. However, the paper by Sarah Thiele, a PhD student at Princeton, and he co-authors, analysed what would happen in "edge cases" that can cause system failures, specifically in the case of a solar storm, Universe Today reported. Solar storms can cause an increased drag on satellites and put them on a collision path with another, forcing manoeuvres to avoid them crashing into one another. But the bigger problem, according to the authors, is that solar storms can affect navigational and communications systems, which facilitate these manoeuvres. What would happen in this case? If humans lose control of satellites and are unable to move them around, the drag from the solar storm would put them in a precarious situation and trigger an immediate catastrophe. Using a new metric - the Collision Realization and Significant Harm (CRASH) Clock, the researchers calculated that if operators are unable to send commands for avoidance manoeuvres, a catastrophic collision will occur in around 2.8 days. This statistic holds true for June 2025, and is a stark change from 2018, when this time period was 121 days. If operators lose control for just 24 hours, there's a 30 per cent chance of a collision that can trigger a process leading to the Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where the orbit would be filled with a debris cloud, rendering satellites unworkable and preventing the launch of new satellites. Responding to a solar storm would need real-time action to keep satellites afloat and safe. However, if this system goes down, the window to fix it would be extremely small and failure to do so would result in the constellation crumbling like a "pack of cards". The researchers also noted that if a storm as intense as the Carrington Event of 1859 were to strike, humans would not be able to control the satellites for longer than three days, eventually wiping out our satellite infrastructure.

Scientists have flagged a catastrophic scenario waiting to unfold in low-Earth orbit, where a solar storm can trigger a collision between satellites, setting a chain reaction that ultimately leaves humans without access to them.

Catastrophe in 2.8 days: Scientists say Earth at risk of disastrous chain reaction in space

Grey hair is commonly associated with ageing, but when it appears much earlier in life it may reflect more than genetics. These can severely affect he self-esteem of an individual. Scientific research increasingly suggests that premature greying of hair (PGH), defined in Asians as the appearance of five or more white hairs before age 25, can be linked to underlying nutritional deficiencies and they also trace element imbalances in a person's body. Rather than being merely cosmetic, early greying could signal that essential nutrients are not reaching the hair follicle, potentially affecting broader health.&nbsp;Healthy hair is always seen as a sign of general well-being and youth. Understanding premature greying and nutrient links hair colour is determined by pigment-producing cells called melanocytes in the hair follicle. According to a study published in National Library of Medicine, human hair follicles contain two types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin. When these cells slow or stop production of melanin, hair starts turning grey.&nbsp;Another study that was published in the Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology in 2022 showed that individuals with premature grey hair often reflect very lower levels of key necessary micronutrients compared to those without early greying. Specifically, it talked about deficiencies in copper, zinc, iron, magnesium and Vitamin B12 were significantly more common in young people with premature canities, the technical term for early greying, than in controls of similar age and sex. Copper and zinc are directly involved in melanin synthesis, while iron and magnesium support cellular processes in rapidly dividing hair follicle cells.&nbsp;<h2>Vitamin B12 in particular showed notable differences</h2>&nbsp;The mean serum level of B12 in those with premature grey hair was significantly lower than in those without it, according to the IJPD study, and a high proportion of individuals with premature greying were found to have B12 deficiency. The study further recommended that these micronutrients be analysed in patients with premature canities when testing facilities are available, and that these deficiencies should be corrected through supplementation.&nbsp;<h2>Supporting evidence from trace-element research</h2> Additional research from the NCBI supported these findings. This showed that individuals with premature hair greying reflected not just lower serum iron but also copper and calcium levels than healthy controls, with the severity of greying correlating with the degree of mineral reduction. The authors of this study concluded that the reduced serum levels of all these necessary components were associated with early greying, and that supplementation might be useful for preventing the progression or potentially reverse some greying, although the mechanisms remain unclear and further research is needed.<h2>What this could mean for health</h2> These findings, thus, suggest that PGH may be a visible sign of nutritional imbalance rather than just an unavoidable consequence of ageing. If deficiencies such as low Vitamin B12, iron, zinc or copper or trace minerals go unchecked, they could severely affect other aspects of health beyond hair pigmentation, including energy metabolism and immune function.&nbsp;

Rather than being merely cosmetic, early greying could signal that essential nutrients are not reaching the hair follicle, potentially affecting broader health.

Grey hair is commonly associated with ageing, but when it appears much earlier in life it may reflect more than genetics. These can severely affect he self-esteem of an individual. Scientific research increasingly suggests that premature greying of hair (PGH), defined in Asians as the appearance of five or more white hairs before age 25, can be linked to underlying nutritional deficiencies and they also trace element imbalances in a person's body. Rather than being merely cosmetic, early greying could signal that essential nutrients are not reaching the hair follicle, potentially affecting broader health. Healthy hair is always seen as a sign of general well-being and youth. Understanding premature greying and nutrient links hair colour is determined by pigment-producing cells called melanocytes in the hair follicle. According to a study published in National Library of Medicine, human hair follicles contain two types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin. When these cells slow or stop production of melanin, hair starts turning grey. Another study that was published in the Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology in 2022 showed that individuals with premature grey hair often reflect very lower levels of key necessary micronutrients compared to those without early greying. Specifically, it talked about deficiencies in copper, zinc, iron, magnesium and Vitamin B12 were significantly more common in young people with premature canities, the technical term for early greying, than in controls of similar age and sex. Copper and zinc are directly involved in melanin synthesis, while iron and magnesium support cellular processes in rapidly dividing hair follicle cells. Vitamin B12 in particular showed notable differences The mean serum level of B12 in those with premature grey hair was significantly lower than in those without it, according to the IJPD study, and a high proportion of individuals with premature greying were found to have B12 deficiency. The study further recommended that these micronutrients be analysed in patients with premature canities when testing facilities are available, and that these deficiencies should be corrected through supplementation. Supporting evidence from trace-element research Additional research from the NCBI supported these findings. This showed that individuals with premature hair greying reflected not just lower serum iron but also copper and calcium levels than healthy controls, with the severity of greying correlating with the degree of mineral reduction. The authors of this study concluded that the reduced serum levels of all these necessary components were associated with early greying, and that supplementation might be useful for preventing the progression or potentially reverse some greying, although the mechanisms remain unclear and further research is needed. What this could mean for health These findings, thus, suggest that PGH may be a visible sign of nutritional imbalance rather than just an unavoidable consequence of ageing. If deficiencies such as low Vitamin B12, iron, zinc or copper or trace minerals go unchecked, they could severely affect other aspects of health beyond hair pigmentation, including energy metabolism and immune function.

Rather than being merely cosmetic, early greying could signal that essential nutrients are not reaching the hair follicle, potentially affecting broader health.

Your grey hair might be trying to tell you something about your health!

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Voyager 2 erred about radiation environment on Uranus. Blame wrong timing

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Scientists make shocking discovery about brute that ate dinosaurs

Catastrophe in 2.8 days: Scientists say Earth at risk of scary chain reaction

Your grey hair might be trying to tell you something about your health!