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Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a phenomenon where individuals experience a tingling sensation, often described as a 'brain massage,' typically on the scalp, neck, and spine. This response is triggered by specific auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli, such as whispering, tapping, or personal attention scenarios. While ASMR has gained popularity online, particularly through YouTube videos, its potential therapeutic effects, especially concerning anxiety, remain a topic of scientific inquiry.&nbsp;<h2>The Science Behind ASMR's Calming Effects</h2>&nbsp;Research indicates that ASMR can induce a state of relaxation, potentially alleviating symptoms of anxiety and stress. A study by researchers at The University of Sheffield, published in Psychology Today found that individuals who experience ASMR report lower heart rates and blood pressure during ASMR sessions, suggesting a physiological response that promotes calmness. Additionally, ASMR has been associated with the release of dopamine and oxytocin, neurotransmitters linked to pleasure and social bonding, which may contribute to its calming effects.&nbsp;While ASMR is not a substitute for professional mental health treatments, it may serve as a complementary tool for managing anxiety. According to a report from ReachLink, ASMR's ability to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality can support overall mental wellness. The immersive nature of ASMR content, which often includes soothing sounds and personal attention role-plays, can provide a comforting experience for individuals seeking relief from anxiety symptoms.It's important to note that ASMR does not affect everyone in the same way. Only a subset of the population experiences the characteristic tingling sensation and associated calming effects. Factors such as personality traits, openness to new experiences, and susceptibility to sensory stimuli may influence an individual's response to ASMR content.&nbsp;<h2>Potential Applications Beyond Anxiety Relief</h2>&nbsp;Beyond anxiety, ASMR has been explored for its potential benefits in other areas of mental health. Studies suggest that ASMR may aid in improving sleep quality, reducing symptoms of depression, and enhancing cognitive functions like attention and memory. However, these findings are preliminary, and further research is needed to establish ASMR's efficacy across diverse populations and conditions.&nbsp;In conclusion, while ASMR shows promise as a tool for alleviating anxiety and promoting relaxation, its effects are highly individual. For those who experience the tingling sensation and find comfort in ASMR content, it may offer a valuable addition to their self-care practices.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While ASMR has gained popularity online, particularly through YouTube videos, its potential therapeutic effects, especially concerning anxiety, remain a topic of scientific inquiry.

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a phenomenon where individuals experience a tingling sensation, often described as a 'brain massage,' typically on the scalp, neck, and spine. This response is triggered by specific auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli, such as whispering, tapping, or personal attention scenarios. While ASMR has gained popularity online, particularly through YouTube videos, its potential therapeutic effects, especially concerning anxiety, remain a topic of scientific inquiry. The Science Behind ASMR's Calming Effects Research indicates that ASMR can induce a state of relaxation, potentially alleviating symptoms of anxiety and stress. A study by researchers at The University of Sheffield, published in Psychology Today found that individuals who experience ASMR report lower heart rates and blood pressure during ASMR sessions, suggesting a physiological response that promotes calmness. Additionally, ASMR has been associated with the release of dopamine and oxytocin, neurotransmitters linked to pleasure and social bonding, which may contribute to its calming effects. While ASMR is not a substitute for professional mental health treatments, it may serve as a complementary tool for managing anxiety. According to a report from ReachLink, ASMR's ability to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality can support overall mental wellness. The immersive nature of ASMR content, which often includes soothing sounds and personal attention role-plays, can provide a comforting experience for individuals seeking relief from anxiety symptoms. It's important to note that ASMR does not affect everyone in the same way. Only a subset of the population experiences the characteristic tingling sensation and associated calming effects. Factors such as personality traits, openness to new experiences, and susceptibility to sensory stimuli may influence an individual's response to ASMR content. Potential Applications Beyond Anxiety Relief Beyond anxiety, ASMR has been explored for its potential benefits in other areas of mental health. Studies suggest that ASMR may aid in improving sleep quality, reducing symptoms of depression, and enhancing cognitive functions like attention and memory. However, these findings are preliminary, and further research is needed to establish ASMR's efficacy across diverse populations and conditions. In conclusion, while ASMR shows promise as a tool for alleviating anxiety and promoting relaxation, its effects are highly individual. For those who experience the tingling sensation and find comfort in ASMR content, it may offer a valuable addition to their self-care practices.

While ASMR has gained popularity online, particularly through YouTube videos, its potential therapeutic effects, especially concerning anxiety, remain a topic of scientific inquiry.

Does ASMR really reduce anxiety? Experts reveal how whispering videos affects your brain

On September 6, 2025, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy captured an unprecedented image of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket transiting the Sun’s chromosphere. Taken from a Florida wildlife refuge eight miles west of Cape Canaveral, the photograph shows the rocket’s silhouette cutting through the Sun’s turbulent plasma in hydrogen-alpha light. This is believed to be the first image of its kind, revealing intricate details of the chromosphere, the dynamic, superheated layer just above the Sun’s surface, never before seen in such a context. Described the shot, McCarthy told PetaPixel, ‘a different perspective on space,’ blending science and art to inspire curiosity about the universe.<h2>Technical Mastery and Precise Timing</h2>Unlike traditional white-light solar images, which show a relatively flat solar disk, McCarthy’s hydrogen-alpha photograph captures fiery shockwaves in the Sun’s plasma, enhanced by light scattered and diffused through the rocket’s plume. To achieve this, McCarthy used a specially designed solar telescope and an astronomy camera, while also recording a secondary image in white light with a Canon R5 camera and solar filter. The launch in question was part of the Starlink 10-57 mission, marking the 27th flight of Booster 1069 carrying 28 satellites to low Earth orbit. McCarthy relied on careful coordination with fellow rocket photographers to calculate the precise position, timing, and angle needed to capture the rocket’s transit across the Sun.<h2>Science Meets Art in a Unique Perspective</h2>The resulting image is more than just a photograph; it is a rare intersection of science and artistry. The Falcon 9 appears as a crisp, black silhouette cutting across a vibrant, restless Sun, with the chromosphere’s molten plasma providing a dramatic, almost surreal backdrop. The hydrogen-alpha wavelength highlights the Sun’s turbulent features in a way white light cannot, making this capture a historic achievement in astrophotography and space observation. McCarthy’s photograph not only illustrates the technical prowess required for such a shot but also underscores the poetic convergence of human technology and the fiery grandeur of our nearest star, creating a visual record that may never be replicated.&nbsp;

This is believed to be the first image of its kind, revealing intricate details of the chromosphere, the dynamic, superheated layer just above the Sun’s surface, never before seen in such a context. 

On September 6, 2025, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy captured an unprecedented image of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket transiting the Sun’s chromosphere. Taken from a Florida wildlife refuge eight miles west of Cape Canaveral, the photograph shows the rocket’s silhouette cutting through the Sun’s turbulent plasma in hydrogen-alpha light. This is believed to be the first image of its kind, revealing intricate details of the chromosphere, the dynamic, superheated layer just above the Sun’s surface, never before seen in such a context. Described the shot, McCarthy told PetaPixel, ‘a different perspective on space,’ blending science and art to inspire curiosity about the universe. Technical Mastery and Precise Timing Unlike traditional white-light solar images, which show a relatively flat solar disk, McCarthy’s hydrogen-alpha photograph captures fiery shockwaves in the Sun’s plasma, enhanced by light scattered and diffused through the rocket’s plume. To achieve this, McCarthy used a specially designed solar telescope and an astronomy camera, while also recording a secondary image in white light with a Canon R5 camera and solar filter. The launch in question was part of the Starlink 10-57 mission, marking the 27th flight of Booster 1069 carrying 28 satellites to low Earth orbit. McCarthy relied on careful coordination with fellow rocket photographers to calculate the precise position, timing, and angle needed to capture the rocket’s transit across the Sun. Science Meets Art in a Unique Perspective The resulting image is more than just a photograph; it is a rare intersection of science and artistry. The Falcon 9 appears as a crisp, black silhouette cutting across a vibrant, restless Sun, with the chromosphere’s molten plasma providing a dramatic, almost surreal backdrop. The hydrogen-alpha wavelength highlights the Sun’s turbulent features in a way white light cannot, making this capture a historic achievement in astrophotography and space observation. McCarthy’s photograph not only illustrates the technical prowess required for such a shot but also underscores the poetic convergence of human technology and the fiery grandeur of our nearest star, creating a visual record that may never be replicated.

This is believed to be the first image of its kind, revealing intricate details of the chromosphere, the dynamic, superheated layer just above the Sun’s surface, never before seen in such a context.&nbsp;

Historic! Astrophotographer captures SpaceX Falcon 9 cutting through solar chromosphere

On July 22, 2009, India experienced one of the most extraordinary astronomical spectacles of modern times: the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century. During this rare alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth, the Moon’s shadow swept across the subcontinent, plunging many cities into complete darkness for several minutes. At its peak, the eclipse lasted an exceptional six minutes and thirty-nine seconds, a duration unmatched by any other solar eclipse in this century. The event drew scientists, astronomers, and millions of ordinary people who gathered in streets, riverbanks and open spaces to witness a phenomenon that transformed daylight into an eerie night.&nbsp;There are three main types of solar eclipses, each defined by how much of the Sun is obscured:Total Solar Eclipse: The Moon completely covers the Sun, revealing the Sun’s corona and turning day into darkness.Partial Solar Eclipse: The Moon only covers part of the Sun, creating a shadow that looks like a visible crescent.Annular Solar Eclipse: The Moon appears smaller than the Sun and leaves a glowing “ring of fire” around its edge.&nbsp;<h2>Where &amp; How It Was Seen in India</h2><h2>&nbsp;</h2>The eclipse’s path of totality began in western India near the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat and travelled across cities including Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi and Patna before moving eastward through Nepal, Bangladesh and China. While much of northern and eastern India experienced the rare sight of totality, large parts of the country observed it as a partial eclipse. In cities along the Ganges such as Varanasi, vast crowds assembled before dawn to observe traditional rituals by the river, while scientists set up camps to study the atmospheric changes, the sudden drop in temperature, and even the behaviour of animals during the brief darkness. For many, the event was both a spiritual occurrence and a remarkable natural spectacle, reminding people of the deep cultural and religious associations solar eclipses have held in India for centuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Why the Duration Was Exceptional</h2><h2>&nbsp;</h2>What made the 2009 eclipse especially long was a combination of astronomical factors. The Moon was close to its perigee, its nearest point to Earth, which made it appear slightly larger in the sky. At the same time, Earth was near aphelion, the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun, making the Sun appear fractionally smaller. This unique coincidence allowed the Moon to cover the Sun more fully and for longer than usual.&nbsp;The geometry of the eclipse path further extended the duration of totality, ensuring that observers in India and across Asia experienced a spectacle not seen in generations. Though later eclipses, such as the one expected on August 2, 2027, are predicted to last impressively long in other parts of the world, within India none surpass the grandeur of July 22, 2009. That morning’s darkness at dawn remains etched in the collective memory as the country’s longest and most remarkable solar eclipse of the century, blending science, culture and spirituality into a moment of rare cosmic significance.

The event drew scientists, astronomers, and millions of ordinary people who gathered in streets, riverbanks and open spaces to witness a phenomenon that transformed daylight into an eerie night.

On July 22, 2009, India experienced one of the most extraordinary astronomical spectacles of modern times: the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century. During this rare alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth, the Moon’s shadow swept across the subcontinent, plunging many cities into complete darkness for several minutes. At its peak, the eclipse lasted an exceptional six minutes and thirty-nine seconds, a duration unmatched by any other solar eclipse in this century. The event drew scientists, astronomers, and millions of ordinary people who gathered in streets, riverbanks and open spaces to witness a phenomenon that transformed daylight into an eerie night. There are three main types of solar eclipses, each defined by how much of the Sun is obscured: Total Solar Eclipse: The Moon completely covers the Sun, revealing the Sun’s corona and turning day into darkness. Partial Solar Eclipse: The Moon only covers part of the Sun, creating a shadow that looks like a visible crescent. Annular Solar Eclipse: The Moon appears smaller than the Sun and leaves a glowing “ring of fire” around its edge. Where & How It Was Seen in India The eclipse’s path of totality began in western India near the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat and travelled across cities including Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi and Patna before moving eastward through Nepal, Bangladesh and China. While much of northern and eastern India experienced the rare sight of totality, large parts of the country observed it as a partial eclipse. In cities along the Ganges such as Varanasi, vast crowds assembled before dawn to observe traditional rituals by the river, while scientists set up camps to study the atmospheric changes, the sudden drop in temperature, and even the behaviour of animals during the brief darkness. For many, the event was both a spiritual occurrence and a remarkable natural spectacle, reminding people of the deep cultural and religious associations solar eclipses have held in India for centuries. Why the Duration Was Exceptional What made the 2009 eclipse especially long was a combination of astronomical factors. The Moon was close to its perigee, its nearest point to Earth, which made it appear slightly larger in the sky. At the same time, Earth was near aphelion, the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun, making the Sun appear fractionally smaller. This unique coincidence allowed the Moon to cover the Sun more fully and for longer than usual. The geometry of the eclipse path further extended the duration of totality, ensuring that observers in India and across Asia experienced a spectacle not seen in generations. Though later eclipses, such as the one expected on August 2, 2027, are predicted to last impressively long in other parts of the world, within India none surpass the grandeur of July 22, 2009. That morning’s darkness at dawn remains etched in the collective memory as the country’s longest and most remarkable solar eclipse of the century, blending science, culture and spirituality into a moment of rare cosmic significance.

The event drew scientists, astronomers, and millions of ordinary people who gathered in streets, riverbanks and open spaces to witness a phenomenon that transformed daylight into an eerie night.

The day India went dark for 6 minutes 39 seconds: The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century

A team of doctors in China successfully implanted a pig's lung into a human for the first time. They connected a gene-edited pig lung to a man who had been pronounced brain dead. The implanted lung functioned for 9 days and transported oxygen into the blood till the immune system destroyed it.&nbsp;The transplantation was part of xenotransplantation, a process in which the use of animal organs took place to help people who required transplants. This method plays a significant role for humankind, as several patients die waiting for an organ if their lungs fail.&nbsp;Researchers documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period, according to a report in Earth.com.&nbsp;The operation and analysis were directed by the lead surgeon, Jianxing He of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, whose group works in lung surgery and transplant research in Guangzhou, China. According to a report in OPTN, the United States performed 3,340 lung transplants in 2024. Despite the increase, the demand remains high, and waiting lists are long.<h3>How a pig’s lung was implanted into a man</h3>In this experimental surgery, doctors removed the left lung of a genetically modified Bama Xiang pig, a small native Chinese breed commonly used in xenotransplantation because its organs closely match human sizes. Then they attached the pig's organ to a 39-year-old brain-dead man after the lung was edited multiple times with the help of CRISPR technology, a tool that changes DNA in precise ways.&nbsp;Scientists modified the pig lung by deleting three genes that typically trigger strong immune reactions and inserting three human genes that regulate blood clotting and the complement system. The lung was surgically attached to the patient’s airway and blood vessels using standard transplant methods, while the other natural lung was left intact to maintain stability and allow safe data collection.&nbsp;Once blood flow resumed, the lung began exchanging gases and readings from its vein confirmed normal oxygen levels, indicating that the organ was functioning at a basic level. The most serious issue emerged within the first 24 hours—fluid build-up in the tissue, resembling primary graft dysfunction, a complication often seen after lung transplants.&nbsp;By the third and sixth days, tests revealed antibody activity and complement system attacks that were damaging the tissue. Although some improvements were noted by day nine, the researchers chose to end the experiment and remove the lung for further study.<h3>How will the implantation help patients?</h3>Recent developments with pig kidney transplants in humans have shown remarkable results. One patient has successfully lived for more than six months with a transplanted pig kidney.&nbsp;However, lungs pose a greater risk due to different biological complexities, so kidney progress does not transfer directly. Still, the kidney breakthrough shows that carefully designed genetic modifications and tailored drug therapies can extend the acceptance of animal organs.&nbsp;If researchers succeed in identifying the right balance of gene edits and medicines for lung transplants, it could be transformative. Patients suffering from conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or severe emphysema could get options that are currently unavailable.&nbsp;

Doctors documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period.

A team of doctors in China successfully implanted a pig's lung into a human for the first time. They connected a gene-edited pig lung to a man who had been pronounced brain dead. The implanted lung functioned for 9 days and transported oxygen into the blood till the immune system destroyed it. The transplantation was part of xenotransplantation, a process in which the use of animal organs took place to help people who required transplants. This method plays a significant role for humankind, as several patients die waiting for an organ if their lungs fail. Researchers documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period, according to a report in Earth.com. The operation and analysis were directed by the lead surgeon, Jianxing He of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, whose group works in lung surgery and transplant research in Guangzhou, China. According to a report in OPTN, the United States performed 3,340 lung transplants in 2024. Despite the increase, the demand remains high, and waiting lists are long. How a pig’s lung was implanted into a man In this experimental surgery, doctors removed the left lung of a genetically modified Bama Xiang pig, a small native Chinese breed commonly used in xenotransplantation because its organs closely match human sizes. Then they attached the pig's organ to a 39-year-old brain-dead man after the lung was edited multiple times with the help of CRISPR technology, a tool that changes DNA in precise ways. Scientists modified the pig lung by deleting three genes that typically trigger strong immune reactions and inserting three human genes that regulate blood clotting and the complement system. The lung was surgically attached to the patient’s airway and blood vessels using standard transplant methods, while the other natural lung was left intact to maintain stability and allow safe data collection. Once blood flow resumed, the lung began exchanging gases and readings from its vein confirmed normal oxygen levels, indicating that the organ was functioning at a basic level. The most serious issue emerged within the first 24 hours—fluid build-up in the tissue, resembling primary graft dysfunction, a complication often seen after lung transplants. By the third and sixth days, tests revealed antibody activity and complement system attacks that were damaging the tissue. Although some improvements were noted by day nine, the researchers chose to end the experiment and remove the lung for further study. How will the implantation help patients? Recent developments with pig kidney transplants in humans have shown remarkable results. One patient has successfully lived for more than six months with a transplanted pig kidney. However, lungs pose a greater risk due to different biological complexities, so kidney progress does not transfer directly. Still, the kidney breakthrough shows that carefully designed genetic modifications and tailored drug therapies can extend the acceptance of animal organs. If researchers succeed in identifying the right balance of gene edits and medicines for lung transplants, it could be transformative. Patients suffering from conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or severe emphysema could get options that are currently unavailable.

Doctors documented the case in a peer-reviewed paper, tracking the transplanted pig lung for 216 hours, or nine days. The development allowed doctors to observe how the human immune system responds to a pig organ over an extended period.

Doctors in China successfully implant Pig’s lung into a human in historic first

Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, already renowned for its successful sample return from asteroid Ryugu in 2020, faces an unprecedented challenge in its extended mission. New astronomical observations have revealed that asteroid 1998 KY26, the target for Hayabusa2’s 2031 rendezvous, is far smaller and faster than previously believed. Initially thought to be about 30 metres wide and rotating once every 10 minutes, KY26 has now been found to measure just 11 metres across and spins once every five minutes. The findings were published on Thursday, following observations by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile.&nbsp;“We found that the reality of the object is completely different from what it was previously described as,” said Toni Santana-Ros, astronomer at the University of Alicante and the University of Barcelona, who led the study using the VLT.<h2>Challenges for Hayabusa2’s extended mission</h2>Hayabusa2’s mission extension was approved after its return from Ryugu, allowing the spacecraft to continue towards KY26. While it has enough fuel to make the journey, the new revelations raise serious complications. The asteroid’s size is comparable to the spacecraft itself, complicating efforts to orbit and potentially land on its surface. Its rapid spin further intensifies the challenge, as completing one rotation in just five minutes makes maintaining proximity and stability extremely difficult.Olivier Hainaut, astronomer at the European Southern Observatory, emphasised the complexity: “The smaller size and faster rotation now measured will make Hayabusa2's visit even more interesting, but also even more challenging.”&nbsp;This marks the first mission ever to attempt exploration of an asteroid this small, and the encounter will demand precision unlike any previous planetary mission. Astronomers had to wait until KY26’s close pass to Earth to refine their calculations, highlighting just how elusive such small space rocks are.<h2>Scientific value and broader implications</h2>Despite the technical hurdles, studying KY26 carries enormous scientific value. Its bright surface suggests it could be a solid monolithic rock, though it might also be a loosely bound rubble pile. Understanding such objects is crucial, not just for planetary science but also for planetary defence. Asteroids of similar size have struck Earth before, such as the Chelyabinsk event in 2013, which caused widespread damage and injuries.&nbsp;As Santana-Ros explained, “We have never seen a 10-metre-size asteroid in situ, so we don't really know what to expect and how it will look.” This mission could therefore provide vital insights into how small asteroids are structured and how they behave in space. Hayabusa2’s work at KY26 will also inform future missions involving asteroid mining and strategies to mitigate potential threats to Earth.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Hayabusa2 mission is now poised to make history once again, this time by attempting to characterise the smallest asteroid ever targeted by a spacecraft. While the new findings make the mission more complex, they also promise to expand humanity’s understanding of small near-Earth objects.&nbsp;

Initially thought to be about 30 metres wide and rotating once every 10 minutes, KY26 has now been found to measure just 11 metres across and spins once every five minutes. 

Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, already renowned for its successful sample return from asteroid Ryugu in 2020, faces an unprecedented challenge in its extended mission. New astronomical observations have revealed that asteroid 1998 KY26, the target for Hayabusa2’s 2031 rendezvous, is far smaller and faster than previously believed. Initially thought to be about 30 metres wide and rotating once every 10 minutes, KY26 has now been found to measure just 11 metres across and spins once every five minutes. The findings were published on Thursday, following observations by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. “We found that the reality of the object is completely different from what it was previously described as,” said Toni Santana-Ros, astronomer at the University of Alicante and the University of Barcelona, who led the study using the VLT. Challenges for Hayabusa2’s extended mission Hayabusa2’s mission extension was approved after its return from Ryugu, allowing the spacecraft to continue towards KY26. While it has enough fuel to make the journey, the new revelations raise serious complications. The asteroid’s size is comparable to the spacecraft itself, complicating efforts to orbit and potentially land on its surface. Its rapid spin further intensifies the challenge, as completing one rotation in just five minutes makes maintaining proximity and stability extremely difficult. Olivier Hainaut, astronomer at the European Southern Observatory, emphasised the complexity: “The smaller size and faster rotation now measured will make Hayabusa2's visit even more interesting, but also even more challenging.” This marks the first mission ever to attempt exploration of an asteroid this small, and the encounter will demand precision unlike any previous planetary mission. Astronomers had to wait until KY26’s close pass to Earth to refine their calculations, highlighting just how elusive such small space rocks are. Scientific value and broader implications Despite the technical hurdles, studying KY26 carries enormous scientific value. Its bright surface suggests it could be a solid monolithic rock, though it might also be a loosely bound rubble pile. Understanding such objects is crucial, not just for planetary science but also for planetary defence. Asteroids of similar size have struck Earth before, such as the Chelyabinsk event in 2013, which caused widespread damage and injuries. As Santana-Ros explained, “We have never seen a 10-metre-size asteroid in situ, so we don't really know what to expect and how it will look.” This mission could therefore provide vital insights into how small asteroids are structured and how they behave in space. Hayabusa2’s work at KY26 will also inform future missions involving asteroid mining and strategies to mitigate potential threats to Earth. The Hayabusa2 mission is now poised to make history once again, this time by attempting to characterise the smallest asteroid ever targeted by a spacecraft. While the new findings make the mission more complex, they also promise to expand humanity’s understanding of small near-Earth objects.

Initially thought to be about 30 metres wide and rotating once every 10 minutes, KY26 has now been found to measure just 11 metres across and spins once every five minutes.&nbsp;

Asteroid KY26 smaller and faster than expected, new challenge for Japan’s Hayabusa2

The interstellar comet-like object 3I/ATLAS, which is approaching the solar system at 210,000 km/h, will pass close to four planets (but not Earth) and the Sun in its cosmic journey. The pop culture's fascination with interstellar visitors makes the leap from ‘I don’t know what it is' to 'alien spaceship' relatively smooth. Harvard‑trained astrophysicist and the popular host of the show ‘Cosmos’ has weighed in on the conversation. He said that cosmic mystery should be a call to weigh in more data.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/latest-update-on-3i-atlas-interstellar-comet-is-getting-brighter-1758273179867">Latest update on 3I/ATLAS: Interstellar comet is getting brighter</a><h2>Alien spaceship theory for 3I/Atlas</h2>Harvard Professor Avi Loeb made headlines when he came up with some intriguing properties of the interstellar object that didn't match the usual known model of a comet or asteroid. 3I/ATLAS, just like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), is coming from outside the solar system. Its unusual high speed suggests that it is not rotating in the solar system bound by the sun's gravity. &nbsp;Like Oumuamua, 3I/ATLAS has non-gravitational acceleration and has an unusual shape and brightness.&nbsp;“If it doesn’t behave like a comet or asteroid, we should at least consider an artificial explanation instead of ruling it out”, said Loeb. Some speculation suggests that it just has enough time to observe the solar system while staying hidden from the Earth due to its flight path.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/everything-we-know-about-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-size-speed-origin-arrival-and-alien-speculations-explained-1757413577593">All you should know about interstellar object 3I/Atlas: Size, origin, arrival, and why has it turned green</a><h2>Neil deGrasse Tyson weighs in on the debate</h2>Tyson says that we have recently discovered technology to observe fast-moving objects like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), and 3I/ATLAS. He says, “They have some weird properties. The brightness, the rotation rate, and so they don’t match some of our models for what comets and asteroids should do.” But he also warns that the explanation of All-powerful aliens should not be a substitute for the ‘I don’t know what it is.’&nbsp;He evoked that 'the God of the Gaps' has been replaced by the ‘alien of the gaps.’&nbsp;In early times, when people didn't understand something, for example, “What causes the weather? The ancient Greeks said it was the rage of Poseidon. Why do orbits deviate over time? Newton said it was the power of God.” Historians called it ‘the God of the Gaps’. Now, when people do not understand something like the Egyptian Pyramid or 3I/ATLAS. It's related to Aliens. Tyson said that “There’s a lot we still don’t know about the ancient Egyptians, and archaeologists should continue to study them.”Similarly, for 3I/ATLAS, “The moment you say, ‘I don’t know what I’m looking at, therefore I know what I’m looking at. I’m looking at aliens.’ That is a leap.” Instead, scientists should try to collect more data. Something Loeb also echoed in his statement, which could be possible from the satellite orbiting the Red planet.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/origin-of-3i-atlas-scientists-claim-the-interstellar-visitor-is-travelling-from-this-point-in-space-1757338521926">Origin of 3I/ATLAS: Scientists claim the interstellar visitor is travelling from THIS point in space</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Harvard’s Avi Loeb and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson weigh in on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS and the rising alien spaceship theories.

The interstellar comet-like object 3I/ATLAS, which is approaching the solar system at 210,000 km/h, will pass close to four planets (but not Earth) and the Sun in its cosmic journey. The pop culture's fascination with interstellar visitors makes the leap from ‘I don’t know what it is' to 'alien spaceship' relatively smooth. Harvard‑trained astrophysicist and the popular host of the show ‘Cosmos’ has weighed in on the conversation. He said that cosmic mystery should be a call to weigh in more data. Also Read: Latest update on 3I/ATLAS: Interstellar comet is getting brighter Alien spaceship theory for 3I/Atlas Harvard Professor Avi Loeb made headlines when he came up with some intriguing properties of the interstellar object that didn't match the usual known model of a comet or asteroid. 3I/ATLAS, just like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), is coming from outside the solar system. Its unusual high speed suggests that it is not rotating in the solar system bound by the sun's gravity. Like Oumuamua, 3I/ATLAS has non-gravitational acceleration and has an unusual shape and brightness. “If it doesn’t behave like a comet or asteroid, we should at least consider an artificial explanation instead of ruling it out”, said Loeb. Some speculation suggests that it just has enough time to observe the solar system while staying hidden from the Earth due to its flight path. Also Read: All you should know about interstellar object 3I/Atlas: Size, origin, arrival, and why has it turned green Neil deGrasse Tyson weighs in on the debate Tyson says that we have recently discovered technology to observe fast-moving objects like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), and 3I/ATLAS. He says, “They have some weird properties. The brightness, the rotation rate, and so they don’t match some of our models for what comets and asteroids should do.” But he also warns that the explanation of All-powerful aliens should not be a substitute for the ‘I don’t know what it is.’ He evoked that 'the God of the Gaps' has been replaced by the ‘alien of the gaps.’ In early times, when people didn't understand something, for example, “What causes the weather? The ancient Greeks said it was the rage of Poseidon. Why do orbits deviate over time? Newton said it was the power of God.” Historians called it ‘the God of the Gaps’. Now, when people do not understand something like the Egyptian Pyramid or 3I/ATLAS. It's related to Aliens. Tyson said that “There’s a lot we still don’t know about the ancient Egyptians, and archaeologists should continue to study them.”Similarly, for 3I/ATLAS, “The moment you say, ‘I don’t know what I’m looking at, therefore I know what I’m looking at. I’m looking at aliens.’ That is a leap.” Instead, scientists should try to collect more data. Something Loeb also echoed in his statement, which could be possible from the satellite orbiting the Red planet. Also Read: Origin of 3I/ATLAS: Scientists claim the interstellar visitor is travelling from THIS point in space

Harvard’s Avi Loeb and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson weigh in on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS and the rising alien spaceship theories.

Neil deGrasse Tyson on 3I/ATLAS: ‘Alien of the Gaps’ theory isn’t science

In a global space launch ecosystem that is defined and dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX and their vertical landing Falcon-series and Starship rockets, which perform over 100 launches annually, many entities are trying to join the club. China, Japan, Europe are the major contenders in this effort, with their respective private entities or government-backed entities making efforts towards developing re-usable rockets, which would eventually help them save on precious hardware, reduce launch-to-launch turnaround time, increase launch frequency, and reduce launch costs significantly.&nbsp;&nbsp;China is rapidly developing its capacity to build and launch re-usable vertical landing rockets via its Government entities and private ones. Several Chinese vertical landing rockets have been tested over the last three years. There are high hopes on entities such as Space Pioneer with its Tianlong-3 rocket, LandSpace with its Zhuque-3 rocket, and the Chinese government's Long March 12-A. All three rockets share a similar design, and capability-wise are quite similar to SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another Chinese firm SpaceEpoch has been testing their Hiker-1 vertical landing rocket and conducted a successful initial trial at sea. With multiple competing players in the fray, China has the overall edge among the nations that are trying to master this new-age technological capability.&nbsp;&nbsp;In June 2025, Japan's Honda R&amp;D, a research and development subsidiary of Honda Motor Co, conducted a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket. The test vehicle stood 6.3 meters tall, measured 85 cm in diameter, and had a 1,312 kg mass including fuel. Developed independently by Honda, the test was completed successfully, and marked the first time Honda landed a rocket after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters.&nbsp;According to the firm, Honda started rocket research based on the belief that it has the potential to contribute more to people’s daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets, that could lead to various services that are also compatible with other Honda businesses. Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilizing Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems, based on a belief that reusable rockets will contribute to achieving sustainable transportation.&nbsp;Although Honda's rocket research is still in the fundamental research phase, and no decisions have been made regarding commercialization of these rocket technologies, Honda will continue making progress in the fundamental research with a technology development goal of having technological capability to enable a suborbital launch by 2029, the firm says.&nbsp;&nbsp;The latest entrant is Europe's ArianeGroup, which announced on Friday, 19th September, that the first Themis reusable rocket demonstrator has been fully integrated and is standing on its own four legs on a launch pad in Sweden. The demonstrator will now be put through a combined test campaign before an initial low-altitude hop test is performed. Hop tests are the baby steps in the long and technologically sophisticated journey to building a vertical landing rocket.&nbsp;European Space Agency(ESA )Member States adopted the Themis programme in November 2019 with the aim of developing and maturing key technologies for future reusable rockets. The reusable rocket first stage demonstrator stands 30 metres tall and is powered by a Prometheus rocket engine, which is being developed by ArianeGroup as part of a separate ESA-funded project and is capable of producing approximately 100 tonnes of thrust.&nbsp;In addition to funding from the European Space Agency, the project is also being funded through a European Union initiative called SALTO. According to ArianeGroup, the €39 million project aims to facilitate the first flight tests of the Themis reusable stage demonstrator at the Esrange Space Center in Sweden.

Europes Themis reusable rocket demonstrator has been fully integrated and is standing on its own four legs on a launch pad in Sweden.

In a global space launch ecosystem that is defined and dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX and their vertical landing Falcon-series and Starship rockets, which perform over 100 launches annually, many entities are trying to join the club. China, Japan, Europe are the major contenders in this effort, with their respective private entities or government-backed entities making efforts towards developing re-usable rockets, which would eventually help them save on precious hardware, reduce launch-to-launch turnaround time, increase launch frequency, and reduce launch costs significantly. China is rapidly developing its capacity to build and launch re-usable vertical landing rockets via its Government entities and private ones. Several Chinese vertical landing rockets have been tested over the last three years. There are high hopes on entities such as Space Pioneer with its Tianlong-3 rocket, LandSpace with its Zhuque-3 rocket, and the Chinese government's Long March 12-A. All three rockets share a similar design, and capability-wise are quite similar to SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. Another Chinese firm SpaceEpoch has been testing their Hiker-1 vertical landing rocket and conducted a successful initial trial at sea. With multiple competing players in the fray, China has the overall edge among the nations that are trying to master this new-age technological capability. In June 2025, Japan's Honda R&D, a research and development subsidiary of Honda Motor Co, conducted a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket. The test vehicle stood 6.3 meters tall, measured 85 cm in diameter, and had a 1,312 kg mass including fuel. Developed independently by Honda, the test was completed successfully, and marked the first time Honda landed a rocket after reaching an altitude of nearly 300 meters. According to the firm, Honda started rocket research based on the belief that it has the potential to contribute more to people’s daily lives by launching satellites with its own rockets, that could lead to various services that are also compatible with other Honda businesses. Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilizing Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems, based on a belief that reusable rockets will contribute to achieving sustainable transportation. Although Honda's rocket research is still in the fundamental research phase, and no decisions have been made regarding commercialization of these rocket technologies, Honda will continue making progress in the fundamental research with a technology development goal of having technological capability to enable a suborbital launch by 2029, the firm says. The latest entrant is Europe's ArianeGroup, which announced on Friday, 19th September, that the first Themis reusable rocket demonstrator has been fully integrated and is standing on its own four legs on a launch pad in Sweden. The demonstrator will now be put through a combined test campaign before an initial low-altitude hop test is performed. Hop tests are the baby steps in the long and technologically sophisticated journey to building a vertical landing rocket. European Space Agency(ESA )Member States adopted the Themis programme in November 2019 with the aim of developing and maturing key technologies for future reusable rockets. The reusable rocket first stage demonstrator stands 30 metres tall and is powered by a Prometheus rocket engine, which is being developed by ArianeGroup as part of a separate ESA-funded project and is capable of producing approximately 100 tonnes of thrust. In addition to funding from the European Space Agency, the project is also being funded through a European Union initiative called SALTO. According to ArianeGroup, the €39 million project aims to facilitate the first flight tests of the Themis reusable stage demonstrator at the Esrange Space Center in Sweden.

Europe's Themis reusable rocket demonstrator has been fully integrated and is standing on its own four legs on a launch pad in Sweden.

Like China and Japan, Europe working on vertical landing rockets

Scientists have discovered rich deposits of nickel, manganese, copper, zinc, and cobalt 13,123 feet below the surface of the ocean between Hawaii and the western coast of Mexico. This zone is known as the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), and stretches in a 4.5 million-kilometre-square area. Besides the vibrant ecosystem, this region also contains rocks known as polymetallic nodules. These rocks are filled with these precious metals that can help power green energy. However, a study has found that these metals are also capable of producing oxygen in the darkest regions of the oceans. Researchers call it dark oxygen, as it is born in a region where sunlight doesn't reach. They say that this discovery can change the belief about how life began on Earth, and also how it might be born on other bodies in the Solar System, such as &nbsp;Enceladus or Europa, Saturn and Jupiter's icy moons, respectively. The research was published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/thousands-of-barrels-with-mysterious-chemical-dumped-off-the-coast-of-california-are-making-halo-rings-1757582289880">Thousands of barrels with mysterious chemical found in the ocean in California cause major scare</a>&nbsp;The study authors said that past research has shown that Earth’s oxygen supply began with photosynthetic organisms. “For aerobic life to begin on the planet, there had to be oxygen," Andrew Sweetman, deep-sea ecologist with the Scottish Association for Marine Science and lead author of the study, said in a statement. But now that they know that oxygen can also be produced in the deep sea, where there is no sunlight, scientists say they need to reconsider where aerobic life could have begun. Nearly 10 years ago, Sweetman noted that oxygen levels decreased as they went deeper into the ocean. But then, in 2013, scientists noticed higher levels of oxygen in the CCZ. At the time, there was a glitch in the data or a fault with the systems. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-surprised-to-see-organism-alive-and-moving-inside-arctic-ocean-that-they-thought-was-dead-1757656476816">Scientists surprised to see organism 'alive and moving' inside Arctic Ocean that they thought was dead</a><h2>“Battery in a rock” located deep inside the ocean?</h2>However, later analysis and further research showed that the region was producing oxygen. Mining companies refer to these rocks with metals as a “battery in a rock.” This kicked off a new idea in Sweetman's mind. He proposed that these nodules were, for some reason, acting as a kind of “geobattery”. This was supposedly being done by separating hydrogen and oxygen via seawater electrolysis. Then in 2023, he recreated the condition in a lab after a study found that various bacteria and archaea can create “dark oxygen." He killed any microorganisms with mercury chloride, and was surprised to see that oxygen levels were rising. Sweetman also found a voltage of roughly 0.95 volts on the surface of these nodules.&nbsp;This has further added fuel to the debate that these nodules can solve the world's energy problems. Mining companies want to extract these metals, but experts from 25 countries have asked the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council to press pause on any operations until the consequences of such an extraction are clear.

The discovery of dark oxygen deep inside the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) between Hawaii and the western coast of Mexico has stumped scientists. It could offer clues about life in other parts of the solar system.

Scientists have discovered rich deposits of nickel, manganese, copper, zinc, and cobalt 13,123 feet below the surface of the ocean between Hawaii and the western coast of Mexico. This zone is known as the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), and stretches in a 4.5 million-kilometre-square area. Besides the vibrant ecosystem, this region also contains rocks known as polymetallic nodules. These rocks are filled with these precious metals that can help power green energy. However, a study has found that these metals are also capable of producing oxygen in the darkest regions of the oceans. Researchers call it dark oxygen, as it is born in a region where sunlight doesn't reach. They say that this discovery can change the belief about how life began on Earth, and also how it might be born on other bodies in the Solar System, such as Enceladus or Europa, Saturn and Jupiter's icy moons, respectively. The research was published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Also Read: Thousands of barrels with mysterious chemical found in the ocean in California cause major scare The study authors said that past research has shown that Earth’s oxygen supply began with photosynthetic organisms. “For aerobic life to begin on the planet, there had to be oxygen," Andrew Sweetman, deep-sea ecologist with the Scottish Association for Marine Science and lead author of the study, said in a statement. But now that they know that oxygen can also be produced in the deep sea, where there is no sunlight, scientists say they need to reconsider where aerobic life could have begun. Nearly 10 years ago, Sweetman noted that oxygen levels decreased as they went deeper into the ocean. But then, in 2013, scientists noticed higher levels of oxygen in the CCZ. At the time, there was a glitch in the data or a fault with the systems. Also Read: Scientists surprised to see organism 'alive and moving' inside Arctic Ocean that they thought was dead “Battery in a rock” located deep inside the ocean? However, later analysis and further research showed that the region was producing oxygen. Mining companies refer to these rocks with metals as a “battery in a rock.” This kicked off a new idea in Sweetman's mind. He proposed that these nodules were, for some reason, acting as a kind of “geobattery”. This was supposedly being done by separating hydrogen and oxygen via seawater electrolysis. Then in 2023, he recreated the condition in a lab after a study found that various bacteria and archaea can create “dark oxygen." He killed any microorganisms with mercury chloride, and was surprised to see that oxygen levels were rising. Sweetman also found a voltage of roughly 0.95 volts on the surface of these nodules. This has further added fuel to the debate that these nodules can solve the world's energy problems. Mining companies want to extract these metals, but experts from 25 countries have asked the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council to press pause on any operations until the consequences of such an extraction are clear.

The discovery of dark oxygen deep inside the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) between Hawaii and the western coast of Mexico has stumped scientists. It could offer clues about life in other parts of the solar system.

13,000ft-deep secret: Scientists discover oxygen in the darkest region where it shouldn't exist

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is brightening unexpectedly, new observations have shown. The object has been creating a lot of buzz for its strange appearance and the absence of a tail in initial images. However, it now has a cometary tail and is also becoming more active. As comets start coming closer to the Sun, they begin to get brighter. But, mid-September observations show that 3I/Atlas is rising above the upward-sloping line of brightening. However, the brightness might lower or go even more upwards in the coming weeks. Comets are known to behave unpredictably, so there is no way to know how 3I/Atlas will behave. As the comet gets closer to the sun, the water ice on its surface will sublimate, a process during which dust particles are ejected. This gas and dust is the bright, fuzzy coma at the centre of the comet, and elongates to form the tail of the comet. Earlier, the interstellar object caused quite a storm in the astronomy community after it was first spotted in July. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/origin-of-3i-atlas-scientists-claim-the-interstellar-visitor-is-travelling-from-this-point-in-space-1757338521926">Origin of 3I/ATLAS: Scientists claim the interstellar visitor is travelling from THIS point in space</a><h2>NASA's TESS also caught 3I/Atlas in May, precovery data show</h2>3I/Atlas had a strange trajectory, which led scientists to conclude that it was not a resident of our solar system and had come from interstellar space. Harvard scientists Avi Loeb cited several things about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/everything-we-know-about-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-size-speed-origin-arrival-and-alien-speculations-explained-1757413577593">3I/Atlas</a> to claim it could be an alien spaceship coming to probe Earth and the other planets in the solar system. However, the rest of the community is sure that it is a comet. However, all of them agree that 3I/Atlas has been behaving strangely. After it was officially spotted by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station at Río Hurtado, Chile, scientists went back through more data on other telescopes. They found &nbsp;NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) had captured it in May, and between May 7 and June 3, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/has-a-telescope-in-chile-captured-evidence-that-3i-atlas-is-a-comet-1757052461880">3I/ATLAS</a> suddenly became five times brighter.&nbsp;3I/ATLAS will fly by Mars on October 3, and this would be a good chance to get a peek at the comet. The HiRISE camera onboard the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/loeb-says-mars-reconnaissance-orbiter-hirise-could-spy-on-3i-atlas-to-reveal-if-it-is-an-alien-probe-or-just-a-comet-1756814643185">Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter</a> can capture images of the comet during this period. The comet will be at a distance of 29 million kilometres from Mars, and get as close as 2.7 million kilometres in a couple of days. China's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/all-the-ways-humans-can-intercept-3i-atlas-before-it-slips-away-alien-spaceship-or-comet-1756878424334">Tianwen-1 mission to Mars</a> also has a high-resolution camera that can be used to monitor the comet. The CaSSIS camera on ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the Mars Express’s High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) are slated to check in on 3I/Atlas on October 3.<h2>3I/ATLAS arrival near Earth</h2>Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is moving through the solar system at a staggering speed of 210,000 km/hour. It will do a flyby of Mars on October 3 and reach perihelion, that is, come closest to the Sun, on 29 October 2025. It will come nearest to Earth on December 19, 2025, when it will be 269 million km from our planet. It is expected to leave our solar system after wowing Earthlings.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is fast racing towards the inner solar system. It now has a cometary tail and a bright coma. Fresh observations show that the comet is getting brighter, meaning it is becoming more active. 

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is brightening unexpectedly, new observations have shown. The object has been creating a lot of buzz for its strange appearance and the absence of a tail in initial images. However, it now has a cometary tail and is also becoming more active. As comets start coming closer to the Sun, they begin to get brighter. But, mid-September observations show that 3I/Atlas is rising above the upward-sloping line of brightening. However, the brightness might lower or go even more upwards in the coming weeks. Comets are known to behave unpredictably, so there is no way to know how 3I/Atlas will behave. As the comet gets closer to the sun, the water ice on its surface will sublimate, a process during which dust particles are ejected. This gas and dust is the bright, fuzzy coma at the centre of the comet, and elongates to form the tail of the comet. Earlier, the interstellar object caused quite a storm in the astronomy community after it was first spotted in July. Also Read: Origin of 3I/ATLAS: Scientists claim the interstellar visitor is travelling from THIS point in space NASA's TESS also caught 3I/Atlas in May, precovery data show 3I/Atlas had a strange trajectory, which led scientists to conclude that it was not a resident of our solar system and had come from interstellar space. Harvard scientists Avi Loeb cited several things about 3I/Atlas to claim it could be an alien spaceship coming to probe Earth and the other planets in the solar system. However, the rest of the community is sure that it is a comet. However, all of them agree that 3I/Atlas has been behaving strangely. After it was officially spotted by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station at Río Hurtado, Chile, scientists went back through more data on other telescopes. They found NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) had captured it in May, and between May 7 and June 3, 3I/ATLAS suddenly became five times brighter. 3I/ATLAS will fly by Mars on October 3, and this would be a good chance to get a peek at the comet. The HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter can capture images of the comet during this period. The comet will be at a distance of 29 million kilometres from Mars, and get as close as 2.7 million kilometres in a couple of days. China's Tianwen-1 mission to Mars also has a high-resolution camera that can be used to monitor the comet. The CaSSIS camera on ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the Mars Express’s High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) are slated to check in on 3I/Atlas on October 3. 3I/ATLAS arrival near Earth Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is moving through the solar system at a staggering speed of 210,000 km/hour. It will do a flyby of Mars on October 3 and reach perihelion, that is, come closest to the Sun, on 29 October 2025. It will come nearest to Earth on December 19, 2025, when it will be 269 million km from our planet. It is expected to leave our solar system after wowing Earthlings.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is fast racing towards the inner solar system. It now has a cometary tail and a bright coma. Fresh observations show that the comet is getting brighter, meaning it is becoming more active.&nbsp;

Latest update on 3I/ATLAS: Interstellar comet is getting brighter

A key US vaccine advisory panel has recommended against giving a combined vaccine that protects against preventable diseases like measles and chickenpox to children aged four or under. This recommendation comes just days after reports emerged that the Trump administration plans to link 25 child deaths to Covid vaccines. The move aligns with the anti-vaccine stance of current Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, even as medical experts warn that such actions could cause confusion, reduce vaccine uptake, and lead to a resurgence of preventable childhood diseases across America.<h2>What did the vaccine panel say about the MMRV vaccine?</h2>The MMRV vaccine is a combination shot that protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). On Thursday (Sep 18), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) — an expert panel under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — voted 8-3 to recommend that children aged four and under not receive the combined MMRV vaccine. Instead, they recommended giving separate MMR and varicella (chickenpox) shots. The panel cited a slightly increased risk of febrile seizures in children aged 12 to 23 months when given the combined MMRV shot, compared to receiving the MMR and varicella vaccines separately. While these seizures are rare and typically not dangerous, the panel used this data to support their recommendation.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-planning-to-link-covid-vaccine-shots-to-child-deaths-in-controversial-anti-vax-push-1757746954672">Trump administration planning to link COVID vaccine shots to child deaths in controversial anti-vax push</a>They also proposed reconsidering the timing of other childhood vaccinations, including the hepatitis B vaccine, which is usually given at birth, and delaying its administration where possible.The seizure risk associated with MMRV has been acknowledged in prior CDC guidance, though the risk is rare—about one additional seizure per 2,300 to 2,600 vaccinated children.<h2>US plans to link Covid-19 vaccines to child deaths</h2>These changes came just days after multiple US media outlets reported that the Trump administration plans to present data allegedly linking 25 child deaths to Covid-19 vaccines at an upcoming ACIP meeting. The claims are said to be based on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a national vaccine safety surveillance programme in the US. However, public health experts have repeatedly cautioned that VAERS reports do not prove causality. Anyone can submit a VAERS report, and these reports are not verified. The existence of a report does not mean the vaccine caused the death or adverse event.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cancer-immunotherapy-breakthrough-russian-vaccine-enteromix-demonstrates-100-per-cent-efficacy-in-trials-ready-for-rollout-1757226810346">Cancer immunotherapy breakthrough: Russian vaccine Enteromix demonstrates 100 per cent efficacy in trials, ready for rollout</a><h2>Public health experts warn of eroding trust in vaccines</h2>Experts warn that these anti-vaccine shifts risk undermining decades of public health progress. Altering long-standing vaccine schedules—particularly under political influence—could fuel vaccine hesitancy. If uptake drops due to confusion or fear, diseases like measles, mumps, and chickenpox—which mainly affect children—could resurge. Measles is particularly contagious and had been nearly eradicated in parts of the world due to widespread immunisation.While the CDC’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) programme will still cover MMRV in many cases, there is concern that insurance coverage, Medicaid, and logistics (more clinic visits, more injections) may complicate vaccine uptake.Meanwhile, amid allegations of politicising the CDC, critics have noted that the composition of the ACIP panel has recently changed, with several vaccine-sceptic members added—raising concerns about the scientific rigour of decisions being made.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-to-lose-covid-vaccine-trump-rfk-jr-planning-to-pull-covid-vaccine-from-us-market-within-months-report-1756121006138">America to lose COVID vaccine? Trump, RFK Jr. planning to pull COVID vaccine from US market 'within months': Report</a><h2>How risky is replacing MMRV with separate shots?</h2>The medical risk of switching from MMRV to separate MMR and varicella vaccines is small. The cited seizure risk, while slightly elevated with MMRV, is rare (roughly 1 in 2,500) and almost all children recover fully.However, logistical challenges arise with more appointments and injections, increasing the likelihood that children miss or delay one of the shots. These delays can reduce immunity and increase vulnerability to outbreaks.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-scientists-express-concern-over-russias-new-cancer-vaccine-785420/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-scientists-express-concern-over-russias-new-cancer-vaccine-785420/embed</a><h2>Policy confusion could reduce protection for American children</h2>Restricting or de-prioritising combined vaccines like MMRV could result in fewer children receiving timely and complete immunisation. This increases the likelihood of outbreaks of serious, preventable illnesses. Similarly, misleading the public by citing unverified VAERS reports to link vaccines to child deaths—without scientific evidence—could influence parents to delay or skip vaccinations.There is no established causal link between Covid vaccines and child deaths as claimed. Official reviews from the CDC, FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and independent panels have not validated such a link.Historical data shows that when vaccine uptake drops or schedules are disrupted, outbreaks of diseases like measles or whooping cough follow—often with serious consequences for children.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/cancer-treatment-with-just-one-vaccine-nhs-rolls-out-5-minute-super-jab-that-will-truly-transform-livescancer-treatment-with-just-one-vaccine-nhs-rolls-out-5-minute-super-jab-that-will-truly-transform-lives-9021485">Cancer treatment with just one vaccine: NHS rolls out 5-minute ‘super-jab’ that will ‘truly transform lives’</a><h2>Politics is the biggest disease affecting Americans</h2>There is growing concern that recent actions by the Trump administration—particularly through the restructured CDC advisory panel and its vaccine recommendations—may be prioritising political ideology over medical science.While individual risk factors should always be carefully considered, public health experts stress that these policy changes may lead to lower immunisation rates, greater public confusion, and preventable disease outbreaks—effectively putting American children at greater risk.&nbsp;

A CDC panel under Trump administration has advised against MMRV vaccine for kids aged under four. This is sparking fears of lower vaccine uptake and disease outbreaks. The move came amid reports that CDS is going to link Covid vaccines to children's deaths.



A key US vaccine advisory panel has recommended against giving a combined vaccine that protects against preventable diseases like measles and chickenpox to children aged four or under. This recommendation comes just days after reports emerged that the Trump administration plans to link 25 child deaths to Covid vaccines. The move aligns with the anti-vaccine stance of current Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, even as medical experts warn that such actions could cause confusion, reduce vaccine uptake, and lead to a resurgence of preventable childhood diseases across America. What did the vaccine panel say about the MMRV vaccine? The MMRV vaccine is a combination shot that protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). On Thursday (Sep 18), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) — an expert panel under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — voted 8-3 to recommend that children aged four and under not receive the combined MMRV vaccine. Instead, they recommended giving separate MMR and varicella (chickenpox) shots. The panel cited a slightly increased risk of febrile seizures in children aged 12 to 23 months when given the combined MMRV shot, compared to receiving the MMR and varicella vaccines separately. While these seizures are rare and typically not dangerous, the panel used this data to support their recommendation. Also read: Trump administration planning to link COVID vaccine shots to child deaths in controversial anti-vax push They also proposed reconsidering the timing of other childhood vaccinations, including the hepatitis B vaccine, which is usually given at birth, and delaying its administration where possible. The seizure risk associated with MMRV has been acknowledged in prior CDC guidance, though the risk is rare—about one additional seizure per 2,300 to 2,600 vaccinated children. US plans to link Covid-19 vaccines to child deaths These changes came just days after multiple US media outlets reported that the Trump administration plans to present data allegedly linking 25 child deaths to Covid-19 vaccines at an upcoming ACIP meeting. The claims are said to be based on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a national vaccine safety surveillance programme in the US. However, public health experts have repeatedly cautioned that VAERS reports do not prove causality. Anyone can submit a VAERS report, and these reports are not verified. The existence of a report does not mean the vaccine caused the death or adverse event. Also read: Cancer immunotherapy breakthrough: Russian vaccine Enteromix demonstrates 100 per cent efficacy in trials, ready for rollout Public health experts warn of eroding trust in vaccines Experts warn that these anti-vaccine shifts risk undermining decades of public health progress. Altering long-standing vaccine schedules—particularly under political influence—could fuel vaccine hesitancy. If uptake drops due to confusion or fear, diseases like measles, mumps, and chickenpox—which mainly affect children—could resurge. Measles is particularly contagious and had been nearly eradicated in parts of the world due to widespread immunisation. While the CDC’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) programme will still cover MMRV in many cases, there is concern that insurance coverage, Medicaid, and logistics (more clinic visits, more injections) may complicate vaccine uptake. Meanwhile, amid allegations of politicising the CDC, critics have noted that the composition of the ACIP panel has recently changed, with several vaccine-sceptic members added—raising concerns about the scientific rigour of decisions being made. Also read: America to lose COVID vaccine? Trump, RFK Jr. planning to pull COVID vaccine from US market 'within months': Report How risky is replacing MMRV with separate shots? The medical risk of switching from MMRV to separate MMR and varicella vaccines is small. The cited seizure risk, while slightly elevated with MMRV, is rare (roughly 1 in 2,500) and almost all children recover fully. However, logistical challenges arise with more appointments and injections, increasing the likelihood that children miss or delay one of the shots. These delays can reduce immunity and increase vulnerability to outbreaks. https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-scientists-express-concern-over-russias-new-cancer-vaccine-785420/embed Policy confusion could reduce protection for American children Restricting or de-prioritising combined vaccines like MMRV could result in fewer children receiving timely and complete immunisation. This increases the likelihood of outbreaks of serious, preventable illnesses. Similarly, misleading the public by citing unverified VAERS reports to link vaccines to child deaths—without scientific evidence—could influence parents to delay or skip vaccinations. There is no established causal link between Covid vaccines and child deaths as claimed. Official reviews from the CDC, FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and independent panels have not validated such a link. Historical data shows that when vaccine uptake drops or schedules are disrupted, outbreaks of diseases like measles or whooping cough follow—often with serious consequences for children. Also read: Cancer treatment with just one vaccine: NHS rolls out 5-minute ‘super-jab’ that will ‘truly transform lives’ Politics is the biggest disease affecting Americans There is growing concern that recent actions by the Trump administration—particularly through the restructured CDC advisory panel and its vaccine recommendations—may be prioritising political ideology over medical science. While individual risk factors should always be carefully considered, public health experts stress that these policy changes may lead to lower immunisation rates, greater public confusion, and preventable disease outbreaks—effectively putting American children at greater risk.

A CDC panel under Trump administration has advised against MMRV vaccine for kids aged under four. This is sparking fears of lower vaccine uptake and disease outbreaks. The move came amid reports that CDS is going to link Covid vaccines to children's deaths.&nbsp;

Trump govt putting American kids in danger? CDC panel suggests curbs to vaccine that prevents measles and chickenpox, amid 'Covid shot deaths' probe

The biohacking revolution is transforming how we understand and optimise health. From experimenting with CRISPR gene editing to everyday consumers monitoring their biomarkers through wearable devices, do-it-yourself (DIY) biology represents a democratisation of biological research&nbsp;This emerging movement encompasses everything from simple dietary modifications and sleep optimisation to complex genetic engineering techniques. According to market research by Grand View Research, the global biohacking market was valued at £15.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 19.42 per cent from 2024 to 2030.But as biohackers push the boundaries of what's possible with human enhancement, regulatory bodies worldwide are grappling with how to balance innovation with safety, which is most important. The implications extend far beyond individual health choices, raising fundamental questions about human enhancement, genetic equity, and the future of healthcare itself.&nbsp;<h2>Popular Biohacking Trends</h2>The biohacking landscape encompasses a diverse range of practices, from relatively simple lifestyle modifications to sophisticated biotechnological interventions. That leads to the charge are nootropics cognitive enhancement supplements that have garnered widespread attention among Silicon Valley executives and students alike."Smart drugs" such as modafinil and racetams promise improved focus, memory, and mental clarity. Research published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement suggests that certain nootropics can indeed enhance cognitive performance, though long-term safety data remains limited. The global nootropics market is expected to reach £7.8 billion by 2025, according to Transparency Market Research.&nbsp;Wearable technology represents another major trend, with devices monitoring everything from heart rate variability to continuous glucose levels. Companies like Oura, Whoop, and Eight Sleep provide detailed biometric feedback, enabling users to optimise their sleep, exercise, and recovery patterns. The World Health Organisation acknowledges that such devices can promote health awareness, though they caution against over-reliance on unvalidated metrics.More controversial are the DIY genetic testing and modification efforts. Biohacker Josiah Zayner gained international attention for live-streaming himself injecting CRISPR DNA into his arm, attempting to enhance muscle growth. Whilst such extreme examples remain rare, home genetic testing kits have made basic genetic analysis accessible to millions of consumers.&nbsp;Cryotherapy, intermittent fasting, and red light therapy round out popular biohacking interventions. Each promises optimised health outcomes through precise biological manipulation, supported by varying degrees of scientific evidence.<h2>Ethics and Legal Dilemmas</h2>The democratisation of biological enhancement raises profound ethical questions that regulatory frameworks are struggling to address. The distinction between therapeutic intervention and human enhancement sits at the heart of these debates.&nbsp;Germline editing - modifications that can be passed to future generations - represents perhaps the most contentious frontier. Whilst somatic cell editing affects only the individual, germline modifications could fundamentally alter human evolution. The infamous case of Chinese scientist He Jiankui, who created the world's first gene-edited babies in 2018, highlighted the urgent need for international oversight.&nbsp;The European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration have taken increasingly strict positions on DIY genetic modification. The FDA issued warning letters to companies selling DIY CRISPR kits, citing safety concerns and lack of regulatory approval.&nbsp;Privacy concerns also loom large. Genetic testing companies have faced scrutiny over data sharing with law enforcement and insurance companies. The National Center for Biotechnology Information warns that genetic discrimination could become a significant issue as biohacking becomes more mainstream.&nbsp;"The line between treatment and enhancement is becoming increasingly blurred," notes Dr Sarah Chen, a bioethicist at King's College London. "We need robust ethical frameworks that can keep pace with technological advancement whilst protecting individual autonomy."&nbsp;Cultural and religious perspectives further complicate the landscape. Some view human enhancement as playing God, whilst others see it as fulfilling humanity's potential. These diverse viewpoints must be considered in developing comprehensive regulatory approaches.<h2>Health and Regulatory Risks</h2>While biohacking offers promising avenues for health optimisation, it also presents significant risks that regulatory bodies are working to address. The lack of clinical oversight in many biohacking practices creates potential for harm, particularly when individuals attempt complex interventions without medical supervision.The FDA has documented numerous cases of adverse effects from unregulated nootropics and enhancement supplements. Heavy metal contamination, undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients, and dangerous drug interactions have all been reported. The agency's 2024 consumer advisory highlighted 47 supplement-related hospitalisations linked to unregulated cognitive enhancers.&nbsp;DIY genetic modification poses even greater risks. Without proper sterile technique, quality control, or medical oversight, attempts at genetic enhancement can result in infection, immune reactions, or unintended genetic changes. The National Institutes of Health have called for increased education about these risks amongst the biohacking community.&nbsp;Regulatory responses vary significantly across jurisdictions. The European Union's Medical Device Regulation requires rigorous testing for health-monitoring devices, whilst the US takes a more permissive approach to wellness technologies. The World Health Organisation is developing international guidelines for human genetic enhancement, though enforcement remains challenging.The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has taken a cautious but research-friendly stance, allowing limited research into genetic modification whilst maintaining strict therapeutic boundaries. In contrast, countries like Germany and France have banned most forms of genetic enhancement research.&nbsp;Industry self-regulation is emerging as a complementary approach. The Biohacker Safety Coalition, formed in 2023, promotes safety standards and ethical practices within the community. However, critics argue that voluntary guidelines are insufficient given the potential risks involved.Future regulation will likely focus on risk-based approaches, distinguishing between low-risk interventions like dietary supplements and high-risk practices like genetic modification. The challenge lies in creating frameworks that protect public safety without stifling beneficial innovation.&nbsp;As biohacking continues to evolve, the balance between innovation and regulation remains delicate. Success will require ongoing collaboration between researchers, regulators, and the biohacking community to ensure that the promise of enhanced human health can be realised safely and equitably.

From CRISPR gene editing to nootropic supplements, Biohacking is changing how people manage health. From smart wearables to DIY gene editing. But as this trend grows, so do the risks and ethical questions. Know how the biohacking is reshaping health, science, and regulation worldwide.

The biohacking revolution is transforming how we understand and optimise health. From experimenting with CRISPR gene editing to everyday consumers monitoring their biomarkers through wearable devices, do-it-yourself (DIY) biology represents a democratisation of biological research This emerging movement encompasses everything from simple dietary modifications and sleep optimisation to complex genetic engineering techniques. According to market research by Grand View Research, the global biohacking market was valued at £15.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 19.42 per cent from 2024 to 2030. But as biohackers push the boundaries of what's possible with human enhancement, regulatory bodies worldwide are grappling with how to balance innovation with safety, which is most important. The implications extend far beyond individual health choices, raising fundamental questions about human enhancement, genetic equity, and the future of healthcare itself. Popular Biohacking Trends The biohacking landscape encompasses a diverse range of practices, from relatively simple lifestyle modifications to sophisticated biotechnological interventions. That leads to the charge are nootropics cognitive enhancement supplements that have garnered widespread attention among Silicon Valley executives and students alike. "Smart drugs" such as modafinil and racetams promise improved focus, memory, and mental clarity. Research published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement suggests that certain nootropics can indeed enhance cognitive performance, though long-term safety data remains limited. The global nootropics market is expected to reach £7.8 billion by 2025, according to Transparency Market Research. Wearable technology represents another major trend, with devices monitoring everything from heart rate variability to continuous glucose levels. Companies like Oura, Whoop, and Eight Sleep provide detailed biometric feedback, enabling users to optimise their sleep, exercise, and recovery patterns. The World Health Organisation acknowledges that such devices can promote health awareness, though they caution against over-reliance on unvalidated metrics. More controversial are the DIY genetic testing and modification efforts. Biohacker Josiah Zayner gained international attention for live-streaming himself injecting CRISPR DNA into his arm, attempting to enhance muscle growth. Whilst such extreme examples remain rare, home genetic testing kits have made basic genetic analysis accessible to millions of consumers. Cryotherapy, intermittent fasting, and red light therapy round out popular biohacking interventions. Each promises optimised health outcomes through precise biological manipulation, supported by varying degrees of scientific evidence. Ethics and Legal Dilemmas The democratisation of biological enhancement raises profound ethical questions that regulatory frameworks are struggling to address. The distinction between therapeutic intervention and human enhancement sits at the heart of these debates. Germline editing - modifications that can be passed to future generations - represents perhaps the most contentious frontier. Whilst somatic cell editing affects only the individual, germline modifications could fundamentally alter human evolution. The infamous case of Chinese scientist He Jiankui, who created the world's first gene-edited babies in 2018, highlighted the urgent need for international oversight. The European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration have taken increasingly strict positions on DIY genetic modification. The FDA issued warning letters to companies selling DIY CRISPR kits, citing safety concerns and lack of regulatory approval. Privacy concerns also loom large. Genetic testing companies have faced scrutiny over data sharing with law enforcement and insurance companies. The National Center for Biotechnology Information warns that genetic discrimination could become a significant issue as biohacking becomes more mainstream. "The line between treatment and enhancement is becoming increasingly blurred," notes Dr Sarah Chen, a bioethicist at King's College London. "We need robust ethical frameworks that can keep pace with technological advancement whilst protecting individual autonomy." Cultural and religious perspectives further complicate the landscape. Some view human enhancement as playing God, whilst others see it as fulfilling humanity's potential. These diverse viewpoints must be considered in developing comprehensive regulatory approaches. Health and Regulatory Risks While biohacking offers promising avenues for health optimisation, it also presents significant risks that regulatory bodies are working to address. The lack of clinical oversight in many biohacking practices creates potential for harm, particularly when individuals attempt complex interventions without medical supervision. The FDA has documented numerous cases of adverse effects from unregulated nootropics and enhancement supplements. Heavy metal contamination, undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients, and dangerous drug interactions have all been reported. The agency's 2024 consumer advisory highlighted 47 supplement-related hospitalisations linked to unregulated cognitive enhancers. DIY genetic modification poses even greater risks. Without proper sterile technique, quality control, or medical oversight, attempts at genetic enhancement can result in infection, immune reactions, or unintended genetic changes. The National Institutes of Health have called for increased education about these risks amongst the biohacking community. Regulatory responses vary significantly across jurisdictions. The European Union's Medical Device Regulation requires rigorous testing for health-monitoring devices, whilst the US takes a more permissive approach to wellness technologies. The World Health Organisation is developing international guidelines for human genetic enhancement, though enforcement remains challenging. The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has taken a cautious but research-friendly stance, allowing limited research into genetic modification whilst maintaining strict therapeutic boundaries. In contrast, countries like Germany and France have banned most forms of genetic enhancement research. Industry self-regulation is emerging as a complementary approach. The Biohacker Safety Coalition, formed in 2023, promotes safety standards and ethical practices within the community. However, critics argue that voluntary guidelines are insufficient given the potential risks involved. Future regulation will likely focus on risk-based approaches, distinguishing between low-risk interventions like dietary supplements and high-risk practices like genetic modification. The challenge lies in creating frameworks that protect public safety without stifling beneficial innovation. As biohacking continues to evolve, the balance between innovation and regulation remains delicate. Success will require ongoing collaboration between researchers, regulators, and the biohacking community to ensure that the promise of enhanced human health can be realised safely and equitably.

From CRISPR gene editing to nootropic supplements, Biohacking is changing how people manage health. From smart wearables to DIY gene editing. But as this trend grows, so do the risks and ethical questions. Know how the biohacking is reshaping health, science, and regulation worldwide.

The rise of biohacking: How DIY biology could transform healthcare

What is the Dark Forest Hypothesis? This theory is linked to aliens and that other civilisations in the universe might be hiding and keeping their existence a secret to prevent another group of aliens from attacking them.

What is the Dark Forest Hypothesis? This theory is linked to aliens and that other civilisations in the universe might be hiding and keeping their existence a secret to prevent another group of aliens from attacking them.

Dark Forest Hypothesis - Are aliens hiding because they are afraid? Cosmic silence explained

A new study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters talks about the discovery of mysterious gamma rays that scientists are struggling to explain. Typically, such bursts happen when a star dies. They unleash a huge amount of energy, more than anything ever released in the universe. This gamma ray burst is being repeated multiple times in a single day. It indicates a stellar death that happened not once, not twice, but several times. How is it possible for a star to come back to life after being annihilated? The study authors are confused about this event. Martin-Carrillo, an astronomer at University College Dublin, Ireland, and coauthor of the study, said, "This event is unlike any other seen in 50 years of GRB observations. "GRBs are catastrophic events, so they are expected to go off just once because the source that produced them does not survive the dramatic explosion." Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-an-einstein-cross-fifth-image-in-rare-cosmic-formation-points-fingers-at-a-mysterious-hidden-force-1758179626678">Dark matter breakthrough? Einstein Cross with five images stuns scientists. What is it?</a>&nbsp;This is not the first time that astronomers have seen a star exploding multiple times. That happened in the case of a binary star system where a white dwarf and an ordinary star are locked to each other. When they get too close, the white dwarf starts drawing the energy of the star, ultimately triggering a thermonuclear explosion that kills them both. But before the main supernova, several smaller blasts occur. But that won't generate a double or triple GRB. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-identify-trappist-1e-as-a-potential-earth-like-world-here-s-why-1757851563033">Scientists identify TRAPPIST-1e as a potential Earth-like world, here’s why</a><h2>Longer and periodic gamma-ray burst</h2>This is why GRB 250702B has stumped scientists ever since it was first spotted on July 2 by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. There were three distinct bursts. Surprisingly, Einstein Probe, an X-ray telescope, also detected the gamma ray a day before Fermi. "This is 100-1000 times longer than most GRBs," co-lead author and Radboud University astronomer Andrew Levan said in the statement. Another aspect, as pointed out by Martin-Carrillo, is that the gamma ray is periodic, something they have never seen happen before. To learn its origins, scientists used a wide-field infrared camera called the HAWK-I on the Very Large Telescope in Chile. It found that the gamma ray was coming from a distance of billions of light-years.&nbsp;A few possible theories floated by the experts include a massive star that seems could be imploding under its own weight as some material keeps it powered, Martin-Carrillo said. However, in this case, the GRB would only last a few seconds. It could also be a scenario where a black hole is eating a star. But going by the GRB, it would have to be an "unusual" star and an equally "unusual" black hole. But there are only speculations, and it might be a long time before the true origins of the gamma ray are revealed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A strange gamma ray burst has baffled scientists who do not know what it is. It is unlike anything they have ever recorded. The cosmic event likely occurred billions of light years away, and the rays managed to reach Earth, implying it was extremely powerful. 

A new study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters talks about the discovery of mysterious gamma rays that scientists are struggling to explain. Typically, such bursts happen when a star dies. They unleash a huge amount of energy, more than anything ever released in the universe. This gamma ray burst is being repeated multiple times in a single day. It indicates a stellar death that happened not once, not twice, but several times. How is it possible for a star to come back to life after being annihilated? The study authors are confused about this event. Martin-Carrillo, an astronomer at University College Dublin, Ireland, and coauthor of the study, said, "This event is unlike any other seen in 50 years of GRB observations. "GRBs are catastrophic events, so they are expected to go off just once because the source that produced them does not survive the dramatic explosion." Also Read: Dark matter breakthrough? Einstein Cross with five images stuns scientists. What is it? This is not the first time that astronomers have seen a star exploding multiple times. That happened in the case of a binary star system where a white dwarf and an ordinary star are locked to each other. When they get too close, the white dwarf starts drawing the energy of the star, ultimately triggering a thermonuclear explosion that kills them both. But before the main supernova, several smaller blasts occur. But that won't generate a double or triple GRB. Also Read: Scientists identify TRAPPIST-1e as a potential Earth-like world, here’s why Longer and periodic gamma-ray burst This is why GRB 250702B has stumped scientists ever since it was first spotted on July 2 by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. There were three distinct bursts. Surprisingly, Einstein Probe, an X-ray telescope, also detected the gamma ray a day before Fermi. "This is 100-1000 times longer than most GRBs," co-lead author and Radboud University astronomer Andrew Levan said in the statement. Another aspect, as pointed out by Martin-Carrillo, is that the gamma ray is periodic, something they have never seen happen before. To learn its origins, scientists used a wide-field infrared camera called the HAWK-I on the Very Large Telescope in Chile. It found that the gamma ray was coming from a distance of billions of light-years. A few possible theories floated by the experts include a massive star that seems could be imploding under its own weight as some material keeps it powered, Martin-Carrillo said. However, in this case, the GRB would only last a few seconds. It could also be a scenario where a black hole is eating a star. But going by the GRB, it would have to be an "unusual" star and an equally "unusual" black hole. But there are only speculations, and it might be a long time before the true origins of the gamma ray are revealed.

A strange gamma-ray burst has baffled scientists who don't know what it is. It is unlike anything they have ever recorded. The cosmic event likely occurred billions of light-years away, and the rays managed to reach Earth, implying it was extremely powerful.&nbsp;

One star, multiple deaths? Mysterious gamma-ray burst that keeps repeating stumps scientists

Crescent sunrise solar eclipse: A partial solar eclipse within the same 24-hour period as Septembers equinox will occur this weekend (September 21-22). Some parts of New Zealand, and major portions of Antarctica, will witness a crescent sunrise.

Crescent sunrise solar eclipse: A partial solar eclipse within the same 24-hour period as September's equinox will occur this weekend (September 21-22). Some parts of New Zealand, and major portions of Antarctica, will witness a crescent sunrise.

Get ready for a crescent sunrise solar eclipse this weekend: Path, timing and other details

Japanese Space agency JAXA officially announced conduct of the termination procedure of their Venus Climate Orbiter “Akatsuki” (PLANET-C)&nbsp; on Thursday, September 18th, 2025, thereby ending humanity's only active Venus-circling probe's operations. Akatsuki was launched from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center on May 21st, 2010, aboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 17. After launch, the craft had to overcome a malfunction in its main engine, and it successfully began circling around Venus in December 2015.&nbsp;&nbsp;Akatsuki had completed its regular two-year operation that started in April 2016, after which its operation was extended to another three-year period as there still remained fuel for controlling its attitude. During its lifetime, Akatsuki continuously observed Venusian atmosphere, weather systems, volcanic activity for more than eight years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Communication with “Akatsuki” was lost in the end ofApril 2024, at a time when the spacecraft was in an unstable orientation. Although JAXA attemped recovery operations to restore communication, there has been no luck so far. Considering the fact that the spacecraft has aged, well exceeding its designed lifetime, and was already in the late-stage operation phase, it has been decided to terminate operations, JAXA officially announced.&nbsp;&nbsp;In recent years, Akatsuki has been the only active Venus orbiter. This means that humanity will have to wait for the next Venus-study mission to continue to learn about the planet.&nbsp; &nbsp;What's so special and mysterious about Venus ?Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is a terrestrial planet that has a rocky, volcanic surface like earth and is almost as vast as Earth. However, its similarities with our home planet end there. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, and has an atmosphere densely packed with Carbon dioxide and corrosive clouds of suphuric acid. The pressure on the surface of Venus is 92 times as much as that on Earth's surface, which means anything that isn't built to withstand high pressure would be crushed on Venus. For perspective, the pressure on the surface of Venus is similar to the pressure experienced 1kilometer beneath Earth's oceans.&nbsp;&nbsp;Major discoveries by Akatsuki&nbsp;Akatsuki was equipped with five cameras to photograph the Venusian atmosphere using infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet rays, and also uses other instruments to measure how temperature on the planet varies with altitude. AKATSUK had provided the world’s first data on how temperature varies between altitudes of 40 and 85 kilometers for the entire planet of Venus. Another discovery was on the great mystery regarding how the super rotation of Venus’ atmosphere was being maintained. On Venus, the upper atmosphere spins 60-times faster than the planet's surface, a phenomenon known as super rotation. On Earth, the atmosphere spins at pretty much the planet's speed. JAXA scientists and Japanese academia helped better humanity's understanding of these mysteries.&nbsp;&nbsp;When the Soviets landed their probes on Venus… &nbsp;While the harsh environment of Venus is unthinkable for habitation, humanity has landed multiple robotic probes on Venus, all of them were carried out by the Soviet Union, during the 1980s. The Soviet Venera-series of Venus landers are the only ones to have ever landed on the planet. In fact, the Venera 7 was the first craft to land on another planet and transmit data back, while its successor missions sent bac surface photos from Venus, temperature data, audio of wind, chemical analysis of rocks, soil and more. SInce then, no lander has touched down on Venus, but there are future missions planned by NASA.&nbsp;

Akatsuki had completed its regular two-year operation that started in April 2016, after which its operation was extended to another three-year period as there still remained fuel for controlling its attitude.

Japanese Space agency JAXA officially announced conduct of the termination procedure of their Venus Climate Orbiter “Akatsuki” (PLANET-C) on Thursday, September 18th, 2025, thereby ending humanity's only active Venus-circling probe's operations. Akatsuki was launched from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center on May 21st, 2010, aboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 17. After launch, the craft had to overcome a malfunction in its main engine, and it successfully began circling around Venus in December 2015. Akatsuki had completed its regular two-year operation that started in April 2016, after which its operation was extended to another three-year period as there still remained fuel for controlling its attitude. During its lifetime, Akatsuki continuously observed Venusian atmosphere, weather systems, volcanic activity for more than eight years. Communication with “Akatsuki” was lost in the end ofApril 2024, at a time when the spacecraft was in an unstable orientation. Although JAXA attemped recovery operations to restore communication, there has been no luck so far. Considering the fact that the spacecraft has aged, well exceeding its designed lifetime, and was already in the late-stage operation phase, it has been decided to terminate operations, JAXA officially announced. In recent years, Akatsuki has been the only active Venus orbiter. This means that humanity will have to wait for the next Venus-study mission to continue to learn about the planet. What's so special and mysterious about Venus ? Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is a terrestrial planet that has a rocky, volcanic surface like earth and is almost as vast as Earth. However, its similarities with our home planet end there. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, and has an atmosphere densely packed with Carbon dioxide and corrosive clouds of suphuric acid. The pressure on the surface of Venus is 92 times as much as that on Earth's surface, which means anything that isn't built to withstand high pressure would be crushed on Venus. For perspective, the pressure on the surface of Venus is similar to the pressure experienced 1kilometer beneath Earth's oceans. Major discoveries by Akatsuki Akatsuki was equipped with five cameras to photograph the Venusian atmosphere using infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet rays, and also uses other instruments to measure how temperature on the planet varies with altitude. AKATSUK had provided the world’s first data on how temperature varies between altitudes of 40 and 85 kilometers for the entire planet of Venus. Another discovery was on the great mystery regarding how the super rotation of Venus’ atmosphere was being maintained. On Venus, the upper atmosphere spins 60-times faster than the planet's surface, a phenomenon known as super rotation. On Earth, the atmosphere spins at pretty much the planet's speed. JAXA scientists and Japanese academia helped better humanity's understanding of these mysteries. When the Soviets landed their probes on Venus… While the harsh environment of Venus is unthinkable for habitation, humanity has landed multiple robotic probes on Venus, all of them were carried out by the Soviet Union, during the 1980s. The Soviet Venera-series of Venus landers are the only ones to have ever landed on the planet. In fact, the Venera 7 was the first craft to land on another planet and transmit data back, while its successor missions sent bac surface photos from Venus, temperature data, audio of wind, chemical analysis of rocks, soil and more. SInce then, no lander has touched down on Venus, but there are future missions planned by NASA.

Akatsuki had completed its regular two-year operation that started in April 2016, after which its operation was extended to another three-year period as there still remained fuel for controlling its attitude.

Humanity's only active Venus orbiter, Japan's Akatsuki is no more...

Australia, one of the largest polluters per capita in the world, has announced plans to slash its carbon emissions by at least 62 per cent compared to 2005 levels within the next decade. The new goal marks a sharp increase from its earlier pledge of a 43 per cent cut by 2030, as the country faced mounting criticism for its continued reliance on fossil fuels&nbsp;Unveiling the new target on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “This is a responsible target supported by science and a practical plan to get there, built on proven technology.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">We’re taking action on climate change. <a href="https://t.co/RsBLopzWC5">pic.twitter.com/RsBLopzWC5</a>&mdash; Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1968514064142975107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As per the BBC report, a government-commissioned risk assessment released this week warned that man-made climate change is set to bring harsher and severe weather conditions in Australia. Meeting the new target to reduce emissions from 2005 levels forms part of its commitment for Australia under the obligation of the Paris Climate Agreement.&nbsp;Albanese also confirmed the new target in line with an emission reduction benchmark range between 62 per cent and 70 per cent. This benchmark was recommended by the Climate Change Authority, a government body which provides climate policy advice. By later of this month, the PM will confirm the commitment at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York.<h3>What is the commitment of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement?</h3>The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement committed world leaders to limit global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, a threshold seen as vital to averting the worst effects of climate change. In recent years, like other nations, Australia has also faced an increasing number of climate-related weather extremes, including severe drought, historic bushfires and successive years of record-breaking floods.&nbsp;The rise of ocean temperature has also triggered mass coral bleaching at the iconic Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and at Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef. In a landmark report, recently released on Monday discovered that Australia has already surpassed 1.5 °C of warming, with no community immune from "cascading, compounding and concurrent" climate risks.&nbsp;The study also warned that without stronger government action, the country faces escalating heatwave deaths, declining water quality from floods and fires, sea level rises threatening 1.5 million people, and a potential property value loss of A$611 billion ($406bn; £300bn).

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the new target in line with an emission reduction benchmark range between 62 per cent and 70 per cent. It was recommended by the Climate Change Authority, a government body which provides climate policy advice. 

Australia, one of the largest polluters per capita in the world, has announced plans to slash its carbon emissions by at least 62 per cent compared to 2005 levels within the next decade. The new goal marks a sharp increase from its earlier pledge of a 43 per cent cut by 2030, as the country faced mounting criticism for its continued reliance on fossil fuels Unveiling the new target on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “This is a responsible target supported by science and a practical plan to get there, built on proven technology.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the new target in line with an emission reduction benchmark range between 62 per cent and 70 per cent. It was recommended by the Climate Change Authority, a government body which provides climate policy advice.&nbsp;

Australia raises 'climate ambition goal', pledges 62–70% emissions cut by 2035

A team of international scientists has discovered a rare cosmic formation which has never been seen before. Only about a dozen Einstein Crosses have been found in the universe to date. This makes them rare, yet the latest discovery makes them even more intriguing. An Einstein Cross only has four images. But this one has an extra image in the middle. Researchers at Rutgers University were shocked when a French astronomer sent them the photo. Pierre Cox, a French astronomer, Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the study's lead author, first spotted the anomaly. He thought it was a glitch or that something was wrong with the instrument.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nasa-is-no-longer-a-space-agency-its-new-official-status-is-pretty-shocking-here-s-what-happened-1758101223444">NASA is no longer a space agency. Its new official status is pretty shocking. Here's what happened</a><h2>What is an Einstein Cross?</h2> Einstein Cross is a rare cosmic configuration. When the light from a distant galaxy is bent by the gravity of galaxies in front of it, four images are created that sit at about 90 degrees from each other. The gravity of the foreground body warps space-time, making it act like a lens.&nbsp;Andrew Baker, a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers, showed the photo of the Einstein Cross to his colleague, theoretical astrophysicist Charles Keeton, and asked, "Have you ever seen an Einstein Cross with an image in the middle?" Keeton was surprised. "You can't get a fifth image in the centre unless something unusual is going on with the mass that's bending the light," Keeton said. There had to be something at the centre that was making this fifth image.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-says-a-new-island-has-emerged-in-alaska-in-just-40-years-1758021271478">NASA says a new island has emerged in Alaska in just 40 years</a>&nbsp;A regular Einstein Cross has four objects, while the fifth image is present too close to the central lensing object, which makes it invisible. However, this time it showed up. Pierre Cox, a French astronomer, Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the study's lead author, first spotted the anomaly.&nbsp;Cox saw the Einstein Cross while studying a distant, dusty galaxy called HerS-3. He was using the Northern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) of radio telescopes in the French Alps and the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescopes in Chile when he saw the light from HerS-3 split into five images. He tried to make the fifth image go away, but it wouldn't.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/photos-new-comet-c-2025-r2-swan-that-will-next-visit-us-in-year-24-579-is-here-when-to-watch-1758023023771">Photos: New comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) that will next visit us in year 24,579 is here | When to watch</a>&nbsp;<h2>No explanation for fifth image</h2>The team at Rutgers carried out computer modelling of the gravitational lens to understand what was going on. The four visible foreground galaxies causing the gravitational bending failed to explain the details of the five-image pattern. "We tried every reasonable configuration using just the visible galaxies, and none of them worked," said Keeton.&nbsp;<h2>Dark matter created fifth image in Einstein Cross?</h2>However, it all came together when they added a dark matter halo. "That's the power of modelling. It helps reveal what you can't see," Keeton said. Dark matter is believed to make up most of the universe, but it has never been seen. "We only know it's there because of how it affects the things we can see, like the way it bends light from distant galaxies," said Baker, adding, "This discovery gives us a rare chance to study that invisible structure in detail."&nbsp;The discovery made by Cox, Keeton, Baker and a &nbsp;Rutgers graduate student, Lana Eid, will soon be published in The Astrophysical Journal.

What is an Einstein Cross? Foreground galaxies warp space-time and bend the light from a distant galaxy to create four distinct images. But scientists were shocked when they saw a fifth image while observing a new galaxy. What was it?

A team of international scientists has discovered a rare cosmic formation which has never been seen before. Only about a dozen Einstein Crosses have been found in the universe to date. This makes them rare, yet the latest discovery makes them even more intriguing. An Einstein Cross only has four images. But this one has an extra image in the middle. Researchers at Rutgers University were shocked when a French astronomer sent them the photo. Pierre Cox, a French astronomer, Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the study's lead author, first spotted the anomaly. He thought it was a glitch or that something was wrong with the instrument. Also Read: NASA is no longer a space agency. Its new official status is pretty shocking. Here's what happened What is an Einstein Cross? Einstein Cross is a rare cosmic configuration. When the light from a distant galaxy is bent by the gravity of galaxies in front of it, four images are created that sit at about 90 degrees from each other. The gravity of the foreground body warps space-time, making it act like a lens. Andrew Baker, a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers, showed the photo of the Einstein Cross to his colleague, theoretical astrophysicist Charles Keeton, and asked, "Have you ever seen an Einstein Cross with an image in the middle?" Keeton was surprised. "You can't get a fifth image in the centre unless something unusual is going on with the mass that's bending the light," Keeton said. There had to be something at the centre that was making this fifth image. Also Read: NASA says a new island has emerged in Alaska in just 40 years A regular Einstein Cross has four objects, while the fifth image is present too close to the central lensing object, which makes it invisible. However, this time it showed up. Pierre Cox, a French astronomer, Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the study's lead author, first spotted the anomaly. Cox saw the Einstein Cross while studying a distant, dusty galaxy called HerS-3. He was using the Northern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) of radio telescopes in the French Alps and the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescopes in Chile when he saw the light from HerS-3 split into five images. He tried to make the fifth image go away, but it wouldn't. Also Read: Photos: New comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) that will next visit us in year 24,579 is here | When to watch No explanation for fifth image The team at Rutgers carried out computer modelling of the gravitational lens to understand what was going on. The four visible foreground galaxies causing the gravitational bending failed to explain the details of the five-image pattern. "We tried every reasonable configuration using just the visible galaxies, and none of them worked," said Keeton. Dark matter created fifth image in Einstein Cross? However, it all came together when they added a dark matter halo. "That's the power of modelling. It helps reveal what you can't see," Keeton said. Dark matter is believed to make up most of the universe, but it has never been seen. "We only know it's there because of how it affects the things we can see, like the way it bends light from distant galaxies," said Baker, adding, "This discovery gives us a rare chance to study that invisible structure in detail." The discovery made by Cox, Keeton, Baker and a Rutgers graduate student, Lana Eid, will soon be published in The Astrophysical Journal.

What is an Einstein Cross? Foreground galaxies warp space-time and bend the light from a distant galaxy to create four distinct images. But scientists were shocked when they saw a fifth image while observing a new galaxy. What was it?

Dark matter breakthrough? Einstein Cross with five images stuns scientists. What is it?

The best way to counter an asteroid on a collision course with Earth is not simply to hit it, but to strike it in such a spot that it will move to a safe spot. Otherwise, it could return to take a second shot at Earth.

The best way to counter an asteroid on a collision course with Earth is not simply to hit it, but to strike it in such a spot that it will move to a safe spot. Otherwise, it could return to take a second shot at Earth.

Oops! DART got ONE thing wrong about blowing up an asteroid...and it could spell doom for Earth

Arjuna 2025 PN7 has been discovered in the Arjuna asteroid belt. It has been here for a long time. Is it a quasi moon or a mini moon? What is the difference?

&nbsp;Arjuna 2025 PN7 has been discovered in the Arjuna asteroid belt. It has been here for a long time. Is it a quasi moon or a mini moon? What is the difference?

Scientists thought alien space probe was watching Earth in 1991. It turned out to be...

The H3N2 virus is spreading rapidly across Delhi and nearby areas of NCR cities, where several people are suffering from common flu-like symptoms. A recent health report released by the Local Circles survey indicated that there has been a staggering increase in the H3N2 virus from 50-70 per cent of households, where at least one member fell sick with flu-like symptoms over the past few months in Delhi-NCR.&nbsp;&nbsp;Multiple hospitals and doctors are observing an increased in number of patients with this virus, particularly people with respiratory problems, children and the elderly. Reports also indicated that the main culprit for this significant jump is influenza, which is leading to prolonged fevers, hospitalisation and even respiratory issues among individuals.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a survey of 11,000 people across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad discovered that at least one family member in many households was either currently ill or had recently suffered from fever, cough, and fatigue. This reflects a sharp increase from March 2025, when only 54 per cent of families reported flu-like illnesses.<h3>What is the H3N2 virus?</h3>H3N2 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus, which is categorised by surface proteins (haemagglutinin "H" and neuraminidase "N") referring to type-3 H and type-2 N. H3N2 is a seasonal flu which circulates in humans, mutates over time, and it also differs in severity each year. It tends to cause more severe symptoms in high-risk populations, which include Children, Older adults, Pregnant women, People with weakened immune systems, and someone who are suffering from asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.<h3>What are the symptoms of the H3N2 virus?</h3><ul><li>Fever (often above 38-39 Celsius)</li><li>Dry or wet cough</li><li>Sore throat</li><li>Fatigue and muscle aches</li><li>Chills</li><li>Vomiting and loose motions (occasional)</li><li>In children, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea</li><li>Many patients in the current outbreak have reported fever lasting over 5–7 days, with cough persisting even after other signs subside.</li></ul><h3>What are risk related to H3N2 virus?</h3>The main risks of the H3N2 virus are severe illness, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and worsening of chronic conditions, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or lung disorders.<h3>How to prevent the spread of the H3N2 virus?</h3><ul><li>Get vaccinated every year</li><li>Use masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places</li><li>Maintain good hygiene</li><li>Support the immune system</li><li>Avoid close contact with sick people; if someone at home is ill, try to isolate them</li></ul>

As per the Local Circles survey report, there has been a staggering increase in the H3N2 virus from 50-70 per cent of households, where at least one member fell sick with flu-like symptoms over the past few months in Delhi-NCR. 

The H3N2 virus is spreading rapidly across Delhi and nearby areas of NCR cities, where several people are suffering from common flu-like symptoms. A recent health report released by the Local Circles survey indicated that there has been a staggering increase in the H3N2 virus from 50-70 per cent of households, where at least one member fell sick with flu-like symptoms over the past few months in Delhi-NCR. Multiple hospitals and doctors are observing an increased in number of patients with this virus, particularly people with respiratory problems, children and the elderly. Reports also indicated that the main culprit for this significant jump is influenza, which is leading to prolonged fevers, hospitalisation and even respiratory issues among individuals. In a survey of 11,000 people across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad discovered that at least one family member in many households was either currently ill or had recently suffered from fever, cough, and fatigue. This reflects a sharp increase from March 2025, when only 54 per cent of families reported flu-like illnesses. What is the H3N2 virus? H3N2 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus, which is categorised by surface proteins (haemagglutinin "H" and neuraminidase "N") referring to type-3 H and type-2 N. H3N2 is a seasonal flu which circulates in humans, mutates over time, and it also differs in severity each year. It tends to cause more severe symptoms in high-risk populations, which include Children, Older adults, Pregnant women, People with weakened immune systems, and someone who are suffering from asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. What are the symptoms of the H3N2 virus? Fever (often above 38-39 Celsius) Dry or wet cough Sore throat Fatigue and muscle aches Chills Vomiting and loose motions (occasional) In children, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea Many patients in the current outbreak have reported fever lasting over 5–7 days, with cough persisting even after other signs subside. What are risk related to H3N2 virus? The main risks of the H3N2 virus are severe illness, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and worsening of chronic conditions, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or lung disorders. How to prevent the spread of the H3N2 virus? Get vaccinated every year Use masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places Maintain good hygiene Support the immune system Avoid close contact with sick people; if someone at home is ill, try to isolate them

As per the Local Circles survey report, there has been a staggering increase in the H3N2 virus from 50-70 per cent of households, where at least one member fell sick with flu-like symptoms over the past few months in Delhi-NCR.&nbsp;

What is H3N2 virus? Affected nearly 70% of Delhi-NCR. Know its symptoms, risks and treatment

A new order by the Trump administration issued late last month states that NASA will operate as a national intelligence and security agency. According to it, the space agency will now have a different set of primary functions, which includes "intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work." The revelation was made by NASA Watch founder Keith Cowing, as the issue didn't exactly make headlines at the time. Keith was once a scientist at the space agency, and now closely watches everything that happens there. So, does this mean that NASA will go forward and develop spycraft instead of spacecraft? According to reports, the order is more about labour concerns rather than about the work NASA does. A report from Futurism states that the order adds "NASA to the Federal Service Labour-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS), excluding it from collective bargaining representation."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-says-a-new-island-has-emerged-in-alaska-in-just-40-years-1758021271478">NASA says a new island has emerged in Alaska in just 40 years</a>&nbsp;This sparked discontent among NASA employees, who staged a protest outside NASA's Washington, DC, headquarters earlier this week. The change in the status of the space agency came as the president eliminated the union rights for thousands of federal employees. Several lawsuits had been filed to stop the order. As this news made headlines, the thing about NASA becoming a spy agency was sidelined. However, that is expected to have labour implications for the people working at the agency. Government Executive quoted the vice president of the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association, Monica Gorman, as telling those gathered at the protest, “A huge part of the reason that I have that independence, and that my colleagues do, is that as a union-represented worker I know that I am protected from unfair retaliation.”Also Read: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-no-way-not-going-to-happen-acting-nasa-chief-duffy-says-china-will-not-beat-us-to-the-moon-1757520784597">No way, not going to happen': Acting NASA chief Duffy says China will not beat US to the Moon</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-president-loves-space-he-asked-me-us-will-reach-the-moon-under-trump-asserts-nasa-chief-1757566924166">'President loves space. He asked me...' — NASA has enough budget to reach the Moon, asserts acting chief</a>&nbsp;<h2>Trump administration's budget for NASA</h2>Donald Trump has already announced a lower budget for NASA in the year 2026. On May 2, the Trump administration proposed cutting NASA funding by nearly 25 per cent. This will reduce the money allocated from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. Most of this reduction will affect the agency's science programs. According to The Planetary Society, a nonprofit exploration advocacy organisation, the 2026 budget would be the agency's lowest since 1961.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump is instead interested in militarising space, as appears from his "Golden Dome" missile defence program. According to Sean Duffy, the acting chief of NASA, Trump wants to send men to the Moon before China. He said during a press conference that Trump is also eager to reach for Mars. Just last month, Duffy said that NASA will give up on "all of these Earth sciences." Duffy recently stressed that NASA's Artemis mission is a go, although there are fears that China will make it there before the US.&nbsp;

NASA is not a space agency any more, at least not on paper. An executive order quietly changed things for NASA. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has lowered the budget for NASA for 2026, but the president wants to reach the Moon and Mars.

A new order by the Trump administration issued late last month states that NASA will operate as a national intelligence and security agency. According to it, the space agency will now have a different set of primary functions, which includes "intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work." The revelation was made by NASA Watch founder Keith Cowing, as the issue didn't exactly make headlines at the time. Keith was once a scientist at the space agency, and now closely watches everything that happens there. So, does this mean that NASA will go forward and develop spycraft instead of spacecraft? According to reports, the order is more about labour concerns rather than about the work NASA does. A report from Futurism states that the order adds "NASA to the Federal Service Labour-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS), excluding it from collective bargaining representation." Also Read: NASA says a new island has emerged in Alaska in just 40 years This sparked discontent among NASA employees, who staged a protest outside NASA's Washington, DC, headquarters earlier this week. The change in the status of the space agency came as the president eliminated the union rights for thousands of federal employees. Several lawsuits had been filed to stop the order. As this news made headlines, the thing about NASA becoming a spy agency was sidelined. However, that is expected to have labour implications for the people working at the agency. Government Executive quoted the vice president of the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association, Monica Gorman, as telling those gathered at the protest, “A huge part of the reason that I have that independence, and that my colleagues do, is that as a union-represented worker I know that I am protected from unfair retaliation.” Also Read: 'No way, not going to happen': Acting NASA chief Duffy says China will not beat US to the Moon Also Read: 'President loves space. He asked me...' — NASA has enough budget to reach the Moon, asserts acting chief Trump administration's budget for NASA Donald Trump has already announced a lower budget for NASA in the year 2026. On May 2, the Trump administration proposed cutting NASA funding by nearly 25 per cent. This will reduce the money allocated from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. Most of this reduction will affect the agency's science programs. According to The Planetary Society, a nonprofit exploration advocacy organisation, the 2026 budget would be the agency's lowest since 1961. Trump is instead interested in militarising space, as appears from his "Golden Dome" missile defence program. According to Sean Duffy, the acting chief of NASA, Trump wants to send men to the Moon before China. He said during a press conference that Trump is also eager to reach for Mars. Just last month, Duffy said that NASA will give up on "all of these Earth sciences." Duffy recently stressed that NASA's Artemis mission is a go, although there are fears that China will make it there before the US.

NASA is not a space agency any more, at least not on paper. An executive order quietly changed things for NASA. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has lowered the budget for NASA for 2026, but the president wants to reach the Moon and Mars.

NASA is no longer a space agency. Its new official status is pretty shocking. Here's what happened

North America was covered by a centuries-long winter after a catastrophic event 12,800 years ago. Scientists have found evidence that proves this event killed the Ice Age animals and led to a decline in the population of people who lived here.

North America was covered by a centuries-long winter after a catastrophic event 12,800 years ago. Scientists have found evidence that proves this event killed the Ice Age animals and led to a decline in the population of people who lived here.

Did a 'doomsday comet' unleash catastrophe in US 12,800 years ago? Scientists say...

A new comet is in the sky, and it was only discovered on Friday, September 12, 2025. Officially named C/2025 R2 (SWAN), it was detected by the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument on the SOHO spacecraft. The comet is quite bright, at around magnitude 7. It has a long tail that stretches across 2 degrees in the sky. Right now, you cannot see it with the naked eye, although powerful binoculars might offer you a glimpse of the celestial visitor. Scientists say that C/2025 R2 (SWAN) originated from the direction of the Sun relative to Earth, and this is why it wasn't spotted until recently. After discovering this visitor. NASA/JPL worked to understand its orbit around the Sun. Their calculations show that the comet completes an orbit around the sun every 22,554 years. So the next time it will pay us a visit will be in the year 24,579. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-to-hit-earth-nasa-says-space-rock-bigger-than-qutub-minar-is-moving-toward-earth-1757922614708">Asteroid to hit Earth? NASA says space rock bigger than 'Qutub Minar' is moving toward Earth</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Superb image of Comet C/2025 R2 SWAN. Date: 15 09 2025 UT 17h38m Location: Farm Tivoli, Namibia Credit Gerald Rhemann, Michael Jäger <a href="https://t.co/Hdi1x6fQa2">pic.twitter.com/Hdi1x6fQa2</a>&mdash; Con Stoitsis (@vivstoitsis) <a href="https://twitter.com/vivstoitsis/status/1967699421845655976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Astronomy Picture of the Day 2025 September 16 New Comet SWAN25B over Mexico Image Credit &amp; Copyright: Daniel Korona Explanation: A newly discovered comet is already visible with binoculars. The comet, C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and nicknamed SWAN25B, is brightening significantly as it… <a href="https://t.co/4aILWYbv78">pic.twitter.com/4aILWYbv78</a>&mdash; Peter Aruwa, JESUS FIRST (@YESUENLWANDANA) <a href="https://twitter.com/YESUENLWANDANA/status/1967919440588313084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:57sa7ath7q5u43maxn5xlwm6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyq5ux75ks2q" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreibfpom6btxa44gckwhsljeu47jdcr4fjs5apr6mf5icrdzjvl7c7i" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system">On 2025-09-13 I confirmed new bright comet SWAN25B remotely at iTelescope.Net T59 (0.51-m f/6.8
reflector) in Australia.

I measured: coma +8.9 mag. 2 arcmin., tail=18 arcmin, PA=112°

Images: 3x10s. (RGB), 60s. (Lum)

@astrodave.bsky.social
@davidbflower.bsky.social
#PhotoHour #StormHour #astronomy <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:57sa7ath7q5u43maxn5xlwm6/post/3lyq5ux75ks2q?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a>&mdash; Filipp Romanov (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:57sa7ath7q5u43maxn5xlwm6?ref_src=embed">@filipp-romanov.bsky.social</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:57sa7ath7q5u43maxn5xlwm6/post/3lyq5ux75ks2q?ref_src=embed">13 September 2025 at 21:37</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>When will comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) come near Earth?</h2>The comet reached perihelion, or its closest point to the Sun, on September 12, 2025, at a distance of 75 million kilometres. Data suggests that Earth will cross the comet’s orbit on October 5, 2025. This might also lead to a meteor shower. According to the International Astronomical Union, comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) will make its closest approach to Earth at a distance of 39 million kilometres sometime between October 12 – 19, 2025. If it survives, the comet will go far away for thousands of years, reaching its farthest distance from the Sun at 86 AU, somewhere within the outer Kuiper belt.&nbsp;Australian comet expert Michael Matiazzo took a photo of the comet on September 14 and spotted a 2.5-degree-long tail. However, this tail will not be visible through binoculars. The comet is expected to be visible in the southern US soon, as it is currently very low on the western horizon. EarthSky reported several comet hunters, experts and astrophotographers had already captured several images of the new comet.

Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) is visible from some parts of Earth right now. It was only discovered on September 12, as all this time it was suspected to be too near the Sun. Here is when to watch the new comet.

A new comet is in the sky, and it was only discovered on Friday, September 12, 2025. Officially named C/2025 R2 (SWAN), it was detected by the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument on the SOHO spacecraft. The comet is quite bright, at around magnitude 7. It has a long tail that stretches across 2 degrees in the sky. Right now, you cannot see it with the naked eye, although powerful binoculars might offer you a glimpse of the celestial visitor. Scientists say that C/2025 R2 (SWAN) originated from the direction of the Sun relative to Earth, and this is why it wasn't spotted until recently. After discovering this visitor. NASA/JPL worked to understand its orbit around the Sun. Their calculations show that the comet completes an orbit around the sun every 22,554 years. So the next time it will pay us a visit will be in the year 24,579. Also Read: Asteroid to hit Earth? NASA says space rock bigger than 'Qutub Minar' is moving toward Earth

Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) is visible from some parts of Earth right now. It was only discovered on September 12, as all this time it was suspected to be too near the Sun. Here is when to watch the new comet.

Photos: New comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) that will next visit us in year 24,579 is here | When to watch

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has reported that the Earth's protective ozone layer is on track to recover to 1980s levels by mid-century, with the Antarctic ozone hole in 2024 recorded as smaller than in recent years. According to the WMO Ozone Bulletin 2024, the reduced depletion is partly due to natural atmospheric variations, but overall progress highlights the effectiveness of the global effort to protect the ozone.<h3>How is the Ozone layer healing?</h3>The ozone layer is steadily healing because of the Montreal Protocol (1987), which helped in phasing out 99% of ozone-depleting chemicals like CFCs. According to the WMO and UNEP, the layer is projected to return to 1980s levels by mid-century, reducing risks of UV-related health and environmental damage.&nbsp;The report released on World Ozone Day also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention, the landmark agreement that paved the way for international cooperation on ozone protection. "Forty years ago, nations came together to take the first step in protecting the ozone layer, guided by science, united in action," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to WMO Ozone Bulletin.&nbsp;"The Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol became a landmark of multilateral success. Today, the ozone layer is healing. This achievement reminds us that when nations heed the warnings of science, progress is possible," he also said.&nbsp;Over 99% of controlled ozone-depleting substances have already been phased out by the Montreal Protocol. These substances were widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, firefighting foam and hairspray. Following the phased ozone-depleting substances, the layer is likely to recover to 1980s levels by mid-century. It will reduce risks of skin cancer, cataracts, and ecosystem damage, the WMO bulletin said.&nbsp;"The theme for World Ozone Day is From Science to Global Action. It mirrors WMO's 75th anniversary slogan, Science for Action. This is no coincidence," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.<h3>Need of the hour</h3>Matt Tully, Chair of WMO's Scientific Advisory Group on Ozone and Solar UV Radiation, stated that even after the success of the Montreal Protocol in helping reduce the depletion of the ozone layer, there remain several essential needs to be systematically monitored.&nbsp;"Despite the great success of the Montreal Protocol in the intervening decades, this work is not yet finished, and there remains an essential need for the world to continue careful systematic monitoring of both stratospheric ozone and of ozone-depleting substances and their replacements, "Tully said.&nbsp;The WMO reported that overall stratospheric ozone levels were greater in 2024 compared to previous years. The Antarctic ozone hole reached its peak on September 29, with a maximum ozone mass deficit of 46.1 million tonnes—smaller than the extensive holes recorded between 2020 and 2023.&nbsp;This year, the depletion began later than usual in September and was followed by a swift recovery. "This persistent later onset has been identified as a robust indication of initial recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole," the bulletin said.

As per the report by the WMO and UNEP, the layer is projected to return to 1980s levels by mid-century, reducing risks of UV-related health and environmental damage.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has reported that the Earth's protective ozone layer is on track to recover to 1980s levels by mid-century, with the Antarctic ozone hole in 2024 recorded as smaller than in recent years. According to the WMO Ozone Bulletin 2024, the reduced depletion is partly due to natural atmospheric variations, but overall progress highlights the effectiveness of the global effort to protect the ozone. How is the Ozone layer healing? The ozone layer is steadily healing because of the Montreal Protocol (1987), which helped in phasing out 99% of ozone-depleting chemicals like CFCs. According to the WMO and UNEP, the layer is projected to return to 1980s levels by mid-century, reducing risks of UV-related health and environmental damage. The report released on World Ozone Day also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention, the landmark agreement that paved the way for international cooperation on ozone protection. "Forty years ago, nations came together to take the first step in protecting the ozone layer, guided by science, united in action," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to WMO Ozone Bulletin. "The Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol became a landmark of multilateral success. Today, the ozone layer is healing. This achievement reminds us that when nations heed the warnings of science, progress is possible," he also said. Over 99% of controlled ozone-depleting substances have already been phased out by the Montreal Protocol. These substances were widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, firefighting foam and hairspray. Following the phased ozone-depleting substances, the layer is likely to recover to 1980s levels by mid-century. It will reduce risks of skin cancer, cataracts, and ecosystem damage, the WMO bulletin said. "The theme for World Ozone Day is From Science to Global Action. It mirrors WMO's 75th anniversary slogan, Science for Action. This is no coincidence," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. Need of the hour Matt Tully, Chair of WMO's Scientific Advisory Group on Ozone and Solar UV Radiation, stated that even after the success of the Montreal Protocol in helping reduce the depletion of the ozone layer, there remain several essential needs to be systematically monitored. "Despite the great success of the Montreal Protocol in the intervening decades, this work is not yet finished, and there remains an essential need for the world to continue careful systematic monitoring of both stratospheric ozone and of ozone-depleting substances and their replacements, "Tully said. The WMO reported that overall stratospheric ozone levels were greater in 2024 compared to previous years. The Antarctic ozone hole reached its peak on September 29, with a maximum ozone mass deficit of 46.1 million tonnes—smaller than the extensive holes recorded between 2020 and 2023. This year, the depletion began later than usual in September and was followed by a swift recovery. "This persistent later onset has been identified as a robust indication of initial recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole," the bulletin said.

As per the report by the WMO and UNEP, the layer is projected to return to 1980s levels by mid-century, reducing risks of UV-related health and environmental damage.

Is Ozone layer healing? Report suggests recovery of layer back to 1980 levels by mid-century

NASA has revealed that a new island has popped up in Alaska, and it took only about four decades to form. A typical island is created by vast tectonic plate movement over centuries, sometimes even thousands of years. It is only about a five square km piece of land and is known as Prow Knob, which was once surrounded by the deep ice of the Alsek Glacier. The space agency has released satellite images that show the new island, which experts say is a result of climate change. NASA says the small mountain is completely cut off from the mainland and has lost all contact with the Alsek Glacier. It says human action that affected the climate has led to the emergence of this new island. The images were taken by the Landsat 8 satellite in August. NASA's Earth Observatory said that this landmass turned into an island sometime between July 13 and August 6. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-surprised-to-see-organism-alive-and-moving-inside-arctic-ocean-that-they-thought-was-dead-1757656476816">Scientists surprised to see organism 'alive and moving' inside Arctic Ocean that they thought was dead</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Lindsey Doermann with the NASA Earth Observatory, said in a statement, "Along the coastal plain of southeastern Alaska, water is rapidly replacing ice." Earliest records of the Alsek glacier that date back to 1894 show that the Alsek Glacier once entirely covered what is today Alsek Lake. Reports from 1907 describe the glacier as being "anchored to a nunatak", a rocky region surrounded by flowing glacial ice on all sides. This nunatak was named Prow Knob since it resembled a ship's prow and was surrounded by an ice face that was about 164 feet high. This ice was visible even in the photos taken in the 1960s.However, the warming climate has changed the conditions and caused the glacier to weaken.&nbsp;<h2>Climate change triggered glacial retreat</h2>Doermann says, "Glaciers in this area are thinning and retreating, with meltwater proglacial lakes forming off their fronts." The changes in the glacier were first noticed in 1984 when an aerial photo taken by NASA's &nbsp;Landsat 5 satellite revealed that the glacier's westernmost edge had turned into a &nbsp;lake shore. As the glacier continued to retreat, more portions of the mountain started becoming visible. The process accelerated in the 1990s, and the glacier's northerly arm cut off from a small island. This made it vulnerable to glacial calving, after which two glacial tributaries to the north and the south retreated.&nbsp;The glacier was no longer getting any new ice. From 2018 to now, the glacial retreat sped up even more, and Prow Knob was soon left with water on all sides. The Alsek Lake, the Harlequin and Grand Plateau lakes have more than doubled in size in the last 40 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A new island has emerged in Alaska as a once-stable glacier melted because of climate change. NASA has released photos of the island that was covered by ice on all sides until 1984, which slowly started breaking off as photos showed a lake shore.

NASA has revealed that a new island has popped up in Alaska, and it took only about four decades to form. A typical island is created by vast tectonic plate movement over centuries, sometimes even thousands of years. It is only about a five square km piece of land and is known as Prow Knob, which was once surrounded by the deep ice of the Alsek Glacier. The space agency has released satellite images that show the new island, which experts say is a result of climate change. NASA says the small mountain is completely cut off from the mainland and has lost all contact with the Alsek Glacier. It says human action that affected the climate has led to the emergence of this new island. The images were taken by the Landsat 8 satellite in August. NASA's Earth Observatory said that this landmass turned into an island sometime between July 13 and August 6. Also Read: Scientists surprised to see organism 'alive and moving' inside Arctic Ocean that they thought was dead Lindsey Doermann with the NASA Earth Observatory, said in a statement, "Along the coastal plain of southeastern Alaska, water is rapidly replacing ice." Earliest records of the Alsek glacier that date back to 1894 show that the Alsek Glacier once entirely covered what is today Alsek Lake. Reports from 1907 describe the glacier as being "anchored to a nunatak", a rocky region surrounded by flowing glacial ice on all sides. This nunatak was named Prow Knob since it resembled a ship's prow and was surrounded by an ice face that was about 164 feet high. This ice was visible even in the photos taken in the 1960s. However, the warming climate has changed the conditions and caused the glacier to weaken. Climate change triggered glacial retreat Doermann says, "Glaciers in this area are thinning and retreating, with meltwater proglacial lakes forming off their fronts." The changes in the glacier were first noticed in 1984 when an aerial photo taken by NASA's Landsat 5 satellite revealed that the glacier's westernmost edge had turned into a lake shore. As the glacier continued to retreat, more portions of the mountain started becoming visible. The process accelerated in the 1990s, and the glacier's northerly arm cut off from a small island. This made it vulnerable to glacial calving, after which two glacial tributaries to the north and the south retreated. The glacier was no longer getting any new ice. From 2018 to now, the glacial retreat sped up even more, and Prow Knob was soon left with water on all sides. The Alsek Lake, the Harlequin and Grand Plateau lakes have more than doubled in size in the last 40 years.

A new island has emerged in Alaska as a once-stable glacier melted because of climate change. NASA has released photos of the island that was covered by ice on all sides until 1984, which slowly started breaking off as photos showed a lake shore.

NASA says a new island has emerged in Alaska in just 40 years

When most people think of mummies, they think of the Ancient Egyptians and the many, many movies about the bandage-wrapped ancient dead. However, new research shows that the Egyptians may not be the first to preserve their dead this way. The practice of preserving the dead actually began much earlier — and far from the Nile, suggests new research. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that communities in southern China were mummifying their dead nearly 12,000 years ago, making it the earliest known example of the practice.<h2>Scientists discover shocking truth about mummification</h2>A study, led by researchers at the Australian National University, analysed skeletal remains from 95 pre-Neolithic sites. They found that many of the bodies had been deliberately smoke-dried before burial.What they found was very different from what we know about how Egyptians made mummies. The bones found in China bore signs of exposure to low heat. These mummies were found in tightly crouched burial positions, which suggested corpses had been bound and desiccated rather than interred fresh. In several cases, there was even a little separation of bones, a tell-tale sign the bodies were preserved before decomposition.Here's what the process may have looked like:<figure class="image"><img src="https://www.pnas.org/cms/10.1073/pnas.2515103122/asset/5c7e53be-6e86-4ddf-b8a6-fbd08f2ee27c/assets/images/large/pnas.2515103122fig09.jpg" alt="The illustration shows the multi-step process of smoke-drying mummification, as ascertained through the study. (Image credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) "></figure>The process, researchers say, was strikingly similar to traditions recorded in Indigenous Australian and Highland New Guinea societies. Corpses were bound in hyper-flexed postures, suspended above smouldering fires for extended periods, then kept in homes, huts, or caves before eventual burial.<h2>Why were corpses smoked?</h2>According to scientists, the technique was not only practical — it slowed the decay in tropical climates where heat and humidity destroy soft tissue quickly — but also deeply symbolic. Communities believed the spirit of the dead could move freely during the day and return to the preserved body at night, while others linked the practice to hopes of immortality.The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, push back the origins of mummification by thousands of years, predating both Ancient Egypt and the Chinchorro culture of Chile.What this really shows, the authors say, is that the desire to preserve the dead — and the belief that the body still mattered long after death — is one of humanity's oldest and most enduring cultural traditions.

New research suggests that the practice of mummification originated in southern China and Southeast Asia nearly 12,000 years ago, thousands of years before the famous mummies of Ancient Egypt.

When most people think of mummies, they think of the Ancient Egyptians and the many, many movies about the bandage-wrapped ancient dead. However, new research shows that the Egyptians may not be the first to preserve their dead this way. The practice of preserving the dead actually began much earlier — and far from the Nile, suggests new research. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that communities in southern China were mummifying their dead nearly 12,000 years ago, making it the earliest known example of the practice. Scientists discover shocking truth about mummification A study, led by researchers at the Australian National University, analysed skeletal remains from 95 pre-Neolithic sites. They found that many of the bodies had been deliberately smoke-dried before burial. What they found was very different from what we know about how Egyptians made mummies. The bones found in China bore signs of exposure to low heat. These mummies were found in tightly crouched burial positions, which suggested corpses had been bound and desiccated rather than interred fresh. In several cases, there was even a little separation of bones, a tell-tale sign the bodies were preserved before decomposition. Here's what the process may have looked like: The process, researchers say, was strikingly similar to traditions recorded in Indigenous Australian and Highland New Guinea societies. Corpses were bound in hyper-flexed postures, suspended above smouldering fires for extended periods, then kept in homes, huts, or caves before eventual burial. Why were corpses smoked? According to scientists, the technique was not only practical — it slowed the decay in tropical climates where heat and humidity destroy soft tissue quickly — but also deeply symbolic. Communities believed the spirit of the dead could move freely during the day and return to the preserved body at night, while others linked the practice to hopes of immortality. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, push back the origins of mummification by thousands of years, predating both Ancient Egypt and the Chinchorro culture of Chile. What this really shows, the authors say, is that the desire to preserve the dead — and the belief that the body still mattered long after death — is one of humanity's oldest and most enduring cultural traditions.

New research suggests that the practice of mummification originated in southern China and Southeast Asia nearly 12,000 years ago, thousands of years before the famous mummies of Ancient Egypt.

Smoked like meat? Scientists reveal shocking 12,000-year-old truth about the world's first mummies

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Is Ozone layer healing? Report suggests recovery of layer back to 1980 levels