Carrier-based jets play multi-role missions for navies of the respective countries around the world. Have a look at these six strike fighters, which are considered top-notch in their class, with some unique abilities that set them apart from each other

Meet the top 6 aircraft carrier-based fighter jets in the world

A prehistoric lizard that roamed North America during the age of dinosaurs has been formally identified, more than fifteen years after its fossilised remains were first collected. Named Bolg amondol, this ancient reptile was an armoured, meat-eating member of the Monstersauria clade, the same lineage that today includes the Gila monster and beaded lizards. What makes the discovery remarkable is not only the creature itself, but the story behind how it came to light. The bones, excavated from the Kaiparowits Formation in southern Utah in 2005, sat unrecognised in a museum drawer until palaeontologist Hank Woolley re-examined them. The specimen had been labelled simply as 'lizard', but detailed study revealed distinctive features that set it apart as a new species.&nbsp;<h2>A lizard fit for Middle-earth</h2>&nbsp;The name Bolg amondol draws from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, with Bolg referring to the goblin prince in The Hobbit, and amondol meaning 'mound-headed' in Tolkien’s Elvish language. The reference is fitting: fossil evidence shows Bolg had a robust, bony skull with ridged armour plates, lending it a distinctive mound-like appearance.&nbsp;Living around 76 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous, Bolg amondol was roughly the size of a modern raccoon, measuring three to four feet in length. Its sharp teeth and protective osteoderms suggest it was a faunivorous predator, feeding on small animals, insects and possibly even dinosaur eggs. This places Bolg among the ranks of mid-sized reptilian hunters that shared the landscape with larger dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurs and ceratopsians.&nbsp;<h2>An unexpected transcontinental connection</h2>&nbsp;One of the most intriguing aspects of Bolg amondol is its evolutionary relationship. Though discovered in North America, its closest known relative is a prehistoric monstersaur from the Gobi Desert in Asia. This points to an ancient biogeographic link, suggesting that these armoured lizards once traversed land bridges connecting continents.The fossils’ discovery in the Kaiparowits Formation, a rich fossil site within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, helps fill gaps in our knowledge of Late Cretaceous ecosystems. While dinosaurs often dominate public imagination, finds like Bolg highlight the diversity of other reptiles that coexisted in these ancient environments.Bolg amondol lived approximately 76 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. It shared its world with some of the most famous dinosaurs, quietly thriving in the shadow of giants.&nbsp;<h2>Hiding in plain sight</h2>&nbsp;Despite being collected nearly two decades ago, Bolg amondol’s identity remained hidden until museum collections were revisited. This underscores how much untapped scientific value can lie in existing fossil collections, waiting to be recognised through careful study.&nbsp;The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, adds an important piece to the puzzle of Monstersauria evolution and expands our understanding of ancient reptilian life beyond the iconic dinosaurs. Bolg amondol stands as a reminder that even small fossils can tell stories as compelling as any mythical creature.&nbsp;

Named Bolg amondol, this ancient reptile was an armoured, meat-eating member of the Monstersauria clade, the same lineage that today includes the Gila monster and beaded lizards. 

A prehistoric lizard that roamed North America during the age of dinosaurs has been formally identified, more than fifteen years after its fossilised remains were first collected. Named Bolg amondol, this ancient reptile was an armoured, meat-eating member of the Monstersauria clade, the same lineage that today includes the Gila monster and beaded lizards. What makes the discovery remarkable is not only the creature itself, but the story behind how it came to light. The bones, excavated from the Kaiparowits Formation in southern Utah in 2005, sat unrecognised in a museum drawer until palaeontologist Hank Woolley re-examined them. The specimen had been labelled simply as 'lizard', but detailed study revealed distinctive features that set it apart as a new species. A lizard fit for Middle-earth The name Bolg amondol draws from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, with Bolg referring to the goblin prince in The Hobbit, and amondol meaning 'mound-headed' in Tolkien’s Elvish language. The reference is fitting: fossil evidence shows Bolg had a robust, bony skull with ridged armour plates, lending it a distinctive mound-like appearance. Living around 76 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous, Bolg amondol was roughly the size of a modern raccoon, measuring three to four feet in length. Its sharp teeth and protective osteoderms suggest it was a faunivorous predator, feeding on small animals, insects and possibly even dinosaur eggs. This places Bolg among the ranks of mid-sized reptilian hunters that shared the landscape with larger dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurs and ceratopsians. An unexpected transcontinental connection One of the most intriguing aspects of Bolg amondol is its evolutionary relationship. Though discovered in North America, its closest known relative is a prehistoric monstersaur from the Gobi Desert in Asia. This points to an ancient biogeographic link, suggesting that these armoured lizards once traversed land bridges connecting continents. The fossils’ discovery in the Kaiparowits Formation, a rich fossil site within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, helps fill gaps in our knowledge of Late Cretaceous ecosystems. While dinosaurs often dominate public imagination, finds like Bolg highlight the diversity of other reptiles that coexisted in these ancient environments. Bolg amondol lived approximately 76 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. It shared its world with some of the most famous dinosaurs, quietly thriving in the shadow of giants. Hiding in plain sight Despite being collected nearly two decades ago, Bolg amondol’s identity remained hidden until museum collections were revisited. This underscores how much untapped scientific value can lie in existing fossil collections, waiting to be recognised through careful study. The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, adds an important piece to the puzzle of Monstersauria evolution and expands our understanding of ancient reptilian life beyond the iconic dinosaurs. Bolg amondol stands as a reminder that even small fossils can tell stories as compelling as any mythical creature.

Named Bolg amondol, this ancient reptile was an armoured, meat-eating member of the Monstersauria clade, the same lineage that today includes the Gila monster and beaded lizards.&nbsp;

Scientists discover an armoured ‘goblin prince’ lizard that crawled beneath dinosaurs!

Apollo 11 took off for the Moon on July 16, 1969, and landed on July 20. Neil Armstrong became the first man to put a foot on the Moon. The world watched as NASA achieved the historic feat. However, ever since then, conspiracy theories have swirled that the landing was faked by the space agency. People point to the fact that humans have not been able to return to the Moon since the Apollo missions ended. If NASA has the technology to reach the Moon in five days with people on board, why hasn't it been able to do it again? As the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission approaches, social media is once again abuzz with chatter that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins never actually went to the Moon. People have dug up old interviews of Aldrin, where he seemingly admits that America never went to the Moon.&nbsp;The first interview was on the Conan O'Brien Show in 2000. The host talks about watching the astronauts land on the Moon as a young boy. Aldrin interjects, "No, you didn't. There wasn't any television, and there wasn't anyone taking a picture. You watched an animation." People have often raised doubts about the photos and videos of the Moon showing Armstrong and Aldrin walking on the lunar surface. The two spent two and a quarter hours on the lunar surface exploring Tranquillity Base, the site where they landed. They also brought back samples of lunar soil and spent a total of 21 hours, 36 minutes on the Moon.&nbsp;<h2>Animations of Apollo moon landing</h2>"You watched animation so you associated what you saw with… you heard me talking about, you know, how many feet we're going to the left and right and then I said contact light, engine stopped, a few other things and then Neil said 'Houston, tranquillity base," Aldrin told O'Brien. However, what Aldrin was really referring to here was the TV animations that television channels used while covering the story. NASA has maintained that the Apollo missions were real. It points to telemetry data, lunar rock samples, and the testimonies of thousands of engineers, scientists, and astronauts as proof of the mission’s authenticity.&nbsp;In another interview from 2015, a little girl asks Aldrin why no one has returned to the Moon. He responds, "Because we didn't go there, and that's the way it happened." However, this is also an edited clip and is cut off before Aldrin clarifies what he meant. The astronaut clarified that the reason why it didn't happen again was because government priorities had changed and there was lack of funding. The 1970s in the US witnessed political turmoil because of the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers. There was growing mistrust among the public, and it spilt over to the Apollo mission as well.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Apollo 11 anniversary: Buzz Aldrin, the second man to land on the Moon, said some things which are now being used on social media to state that the landing was faked. People started raising doubts about the mission in the 70s.  

Apollo 11 took off for the Moon on July 16, 1969, and landed on July 20. Neil Armstrong became the first man to put a foot on the Moon. The world watched as NASA achieved the historic feat. However, ever since then, conspiracy theories have swirled that the landing was faked by the space agency. People point to the fact that humans have not been able to return to the Moon since the Apollo missions ended. If NASA has the technology to reach the Moon in five days with people on board, why hasn't it been able to do it again? As the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission approaches, social media is once again abuzz with chatter that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins never actually went to the Moon. People have dug up old interviews of Aldrin, where he seemingly admits that America never went to the Moon. The first interview was on the Conan O'Brien Show in 2000. The host talks about watching the astronauts land on the Moon as a young boy. Aldrin interjects, "No, you didn't. There wasn't any television, and there wasn't anyone taking a picture. You watched an animation." People have often raised doubts about the photos and videos of the Moon showing Armstrong and Aldrin walking on the lunar surface. The two spent two and a quarter hours on the lunar surface exploring Tranquillity Base, the site where they landed. They also brought back samples of lunar soil and spent a total of 21 hours, 36 minutes on the Moon. Animations of Apollo moon landing "You watched animation so you associated what you saw with… you heard me talking about, you know, how many feet we're going to the left and right and then I said contact light, engine stopped, a few other things and then Neil said 'Houston, tranquillity base," Aldrin told O'Brien. However, what Aldrin was really referring to here was the TV animations that television channels used while covering the story. NASA has maintained that the Apollo missions were real. It points to telemetry data, lunar rock samples, and the testimonies of thousands of engineers, scientists, and astronauts as proof of the mission’s authenticity. In another interview from 2015, a little girl asks Aldrin why no one has returned to the Moon. He responds, "Because we didn't go there, and that's the way it happened." However, this is also an edited clip and is cut off before Aldrin clarifies what he meant. The astronaut clarified that the reason why it didn't happen again was because government priorities had changed and there was lack of funding. The 1970s in the US witnessed political turmoil because of the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers. There was growing mistrust among the public, and it spilt over to the Apollo mission as well.

Apollo 11 anniversary: Buzz Aldrin, the second man to land on the Moon, said some things which are now being used on social media to state that the landing was faked. People started raising doubts about the mission in the 70s. &nbsp;

Apollo 11 anniversary: Conspiracy theories about moon landing being faked swirl once again

A woman who smelled her husband's Parkinson's 12 years before it was diagnosed has helped create a new test to detect the condition. Scientists at the University of Manchester joined hands with her after discovering that a person's sebum can be a crucial biomarker to help identify Parkinson's even before the symptoms appear. The test can detect the disease as early as seven years before it starts showing up. The woman named Joy Milne is also now known as "Super Smeller". Using the mass spectrometry technique, researchers discovered that sebum, the oil that is secreted and covers our face, carries distinctive Parkinson’s markers. This provided a breakthrough moment and helped them develop a non-invasive swab test. Being able to predict Parkinson's years in advance can help manage the condition better, even before the symptoms arrive. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-makes-a-person-psychopath-scientists-reveal-the-problem-with-their-brain-1752653681823">What makes a person PSYCHOPATH? Scientists reveal the problem with their brain</a><h2>Warning sign for Parkinson's</h2>Researchers from the University of Manchester collaborated with Salford Royal NHS Trust and the University of Innsbruck for the test. They took skin swabs from three groups of people - those with Parkinson’s, healthy volunteers, and people with a sleep disorder called isolated REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD), which is considered a warning sign for Parkinson's. They analysed these samples and found distinct chemical profiles present in their sebum of people with iRBD that were different from healthy individuals. However, they were comparatively milder than those who had already had Parkinson's. This proved that Parkinson’s disease starts leaving a trace on the body that can be detected even before physical symptoms appear, the researchers said. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/having-too-many-bad-dreams-you-might-be-ageing-faster-than-others-1752574255678">'Our sleeping brains...': Too many bad dreams? You might be ageing faster than others</a><h2>Milne smelled Parkinson's 12 years before symptoms emerged</h2>Milne knew something was wrong with her husband when he started giving out a distinct odour. She previously told the BBC that it was a “musty, rather unpleasant smell” that mostly came from around his shoulders and the back of his neck. Even his skin started showing signs of a change. However, at that time, she did not know what it could be. After Les was diagnosed with Parkinson's, he joined a support group. There, Joy met others who gave out a similar smell. This is when she realised that his body had started giving out signals years ago, and that the smell was an indicator of Parkinson's. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-stumbled-upon-four-jet-black-eggs-20-000-feet-below-ocean-they-turned-out-to-be-1752050826299">Scientists stumbled upon four pitch-black eggs 20,000 feet below ocean. They turned out to be...</a>&nbsp;Milne came in handy while deciphering which swabs carried hints of Parkinson's. She was able to distinguish between swabs from people with iRBD and Parkinson’s patients. Milne also detected both diseases in two iRBD individuals, who were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The study was conducted on more than 80 people, 46 of whom had Parkinson’s, 28 of whom were healthy and nine with iRBD. At least 55 significant features were found in the sebum.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Joy Milne knew something was wrong when she noticed a change in the way her husband smelled. Twelve years later, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. She has now helped develop a new Parkinson's test because of her “Super Smeller” tag.

A woman who smelled her husband's Parkinson's 12 years before it was diagnosed has helped create a new test to detect the condition. Scientists at the University of Manchester joined hands with her after discovering that a person's sebum can be a crucial biomarker to help identify Parkinson's even before the symptoms appear. The test can detect the disease as early as seven years before it starts showing up. The woman named Joy Milne is also now known as "Super Smeller". Using the mass spectrometry technique, researchers discovered that sebum, the oil that is secreted and covers our face, carries distinctive Parkinson’s markers. This provided a breakthrough moment and helped them develop a non-invasive swab test. Being able to predict Parkinson's years in advance can help manage the condition better, even before the symptoms arrive. Also Read: What makes a person PSYCHOPATH? Scientists reveal the problem with their brain Warning sign for Parkinson's Researchers from the University of Manchester collaborated with Salford Royal NHS Trust and the University of Innsbruck for the test. They took skin swabs from three groups of people - those with Parkinson’s, healthy volunteers, and people with a sleep disorder called isolated REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD), which is considered a warning sign for Parkinson's. They analysed these samples and found distinct chemical profiles present in their sebum of people with iRBD that were different from healthy individuals. However, they were comparatively milder than those who had already had Parkinson's. This proved that Parkinson’s disease starts leaving a trace on the body that can be detected even before physical symptoms appear, the researchers said. Also Read: 'Our sleeping brains...': Too many bad dreams? You might be ageing faster than others Milne smelled Parkinson's 12 years before symptoms emerged Milne knew something was wrong with her husband when he started giving out a distinct odour. She previously told the BBC that it was a “musty, rather unpleasant smell” that mostly came from around his shoulders and the back of his neck. Even his skin started showing signs of a change. However, at that time, she did not know what it could be. After Les was diagnosed with Parkinson's, he joined a support group. There, Joy met others who gave out a similar smell. This is when she realised that his body had started giving out signals years ago, and that the smell was an indicator of Parkinson's. Also Read: Scientists stumbled upon four pitch-black eggs 20,000 feet below ocean. They turned out to be... Milne came in handy while deciphering which swabs carried hints of Parkinson's. She was able to distinguish between swabs from people with iRBD and Parkinson’s patients. Milne also detected both diseases in two iRBD individuals, who were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The study was conducted on more than 80 people, 46 of whom had Parkinson’s, 28 of whom were healthy and nine with iRBD. At least 55 significant features were found in the sebum.

Joy Milne knew something was wrong when she noticed a change in the way her husband smelled. Twelve years later, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. She has now helped develop a new Parkinson's test because of her “Super Smeller” tag.

A woman smelled her husband's Parkinson's 12 years before symptoms arrived. She has now helped develop a new test

NASA have made several intriguing discoveries, including the presence of organic molecules on Mars and possible water ice on the Moon, but some discoveries are so bizarre, they have baffled many scientists. Here are some of the strange findings made by NASA.

Unexplained doorways, mysterious faces: Strange things found by NASA on Mars that will blow your mind

The Sun has scarred itself, quite literally. A massive explosion on the Sun's surface on July 15 left a “canyon of fire”, a huge mark that astronomers on Earth captured. The solar filament eruption happened on the Sun’s upper left side, releasing a powerful blast of plasma and magnetic fields into space. The event was of such a huge proportion that it left a fiery scar on the Sun. The dent on the sun is 400,000 kilometres long and 20,000 km high, according to Tony Phillips, an astronomer who works with Spaceweather.com. He called it "a grand canyon" on the Sun. Astronomers were already prepared for something like this to happen. They spotted an unusually large, cold and dense gas filament suspended above the Sun’s surface a few days ago. When it finally collapsed, the Solar Dynamics Observatory caught it on camera. Filament eruptions are common on the Sun and are triggered by small instabilities in the Sun’s magnetic field. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sorry-space-buffs-but-planet-nine-might-be-an-illusion-a-new-world-has-revealed-that-1752635476153">New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/total-solar-eclipse-2027-six-minutes-darkness-which-countries-cities-india-1752728414715">6-minute total solar eclipse will plunge major parts of world into darkness. Is your city on the list?</a><h2>Coronal Mass Ejections and impact on Earth</h2>Scientists are not sure how long the Sun will remain scarred. They will continue to keep an eye on it to understand when and how it fills up. The Sun has been highly active for the past years. It has reached a solar maximum when it releases plasma and plumes of flares more regularly. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are sent across space and impact planets with radiation. On Earth, this activity triggers auroras. Colourful auroras are generated when the solar flares and the matter released by the sun interact with the magnetic field of our planet. However, these flares and CMEs can also prove dangerous. They can impact astronauts in space who can suffer from the harmful radiation. Satellites can also be impacted, cutting off radio communication. However, the plasma eruption in the latest event is directed away from Earth. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sunspot-blasts-strong-x-ray-solar-flares-causing-blackouts-in-pacific-there-is-more-to-come-1750302555516">Sunspot blasts strong X-ray solar flares causing blackouts in Hawaii. There is more to come</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-telescope-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-will-record-100-000-cosmic-blasts-including-stars-that-killed-themselves-1752661652776">New NASA telescope will record 100,000 cosmic blasts, including stars that killed themselves 10 billion years ago</a> &nbsp;A month ago, the Sun released an X flare towards Earth. The most powerful solar flare was unleashed from Sunspot region 4114. Certain areas over the Pacific Ocean reported radio blackouts. Multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were recorded in 24 hours from sunspot region 4114. This highly violent activity is expected to continue in the coming months. Scientists are regularly monitoring the Sun to remain alert and watch out for a solar whiplash.

The Sun has a huge scar on it after a solar filament exploded on the surface recently. Astronomers spotted a huge plasma whip above it a few days back. The eruption not only released plasma and solar material into space, but also hit the Sun really hard.

The Sun has scarred itself, quite literally. A massive explosion on the Sun's surface on July 15 left a “canyon of fire”, a huge mark that astronomers on Earth captured. The solar filament eruption happened on the Sun’s upper left side, releasing a powerful blast of plasma and magnetic fields into space. The event was of such a huge proportion that it left a fiery scar on the Sun. The dent on the sun is 400,000 kilometres long and 20,000 km high, according to Tony Phillips, an astronomer who works with Spaceweather.com. He called it "a grand canyon" on the Sun. Astronomers were already prepared for something like this to happen. They spotted an unusually large, cold and dense gas filament suspended above the Sun’s surface a few days ago. When it finally collapsed, the Solar Dynamics Observatory caught it on camera. Filament eruptions are common on the Sun and are triggered by small instabilities in the Sun’s magnetic field. Also Read: New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine Also Read: 6-minute total solar eclipse will plunge major parts of world into darkness. Is your city on the list? Coronal Mass Ejections and impact on Earth Scientists are not sure how long the Sun will remain scarred. They will continue to keep an eye on it to understand when and how it fills up. The Sun has been highly active for the past years. It has reached a solar maximum when it releases plasma and plumes of flares more regularly. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are sent across space and impact planets with radiation. On Earth, this activity triggers auroras. Colourful auroras are generated when the solar flares and the matter released by the sun interact with the magnetic field of our planet. However, these flares and CMEs can also prove dangerous. They can impact astronauts in space who can suffer from the harmful radiation. Satellites can also be impacted, cutting off radio communication. However, the plasma eruption in the latest event is directed away from Earth. Also Read: Sunspot blasts strong X-ray solar flares causing blackouts in Hawaii. There is more to come Also Read: New NASA telescope will record 100,000 cosmic blasts, including stars that killed themselves 10 billion years ago A month ago, the Sun released an X flare towards Earth. The most powerful solar flare was unleashed from Sunspot region 4114. Certain areas over the Pacific Ocean reported radio blackouts. Multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were recorded in 24 hours from sunspot region 4114. This highly violent activity is expected to continue in the coming months. Scientists are regularly monitoring the Sun to remain alert and watch out for a solar whiplash.

The Sun has a huge scar on it after a solar filament exploded on the surface recently. Astronomers spotted a huge plasma whip above it a few days back. The eruption not only released plasma and solar material into space, but also hit the Sun really hard.

Our Sun just inflicted a 400,000-kilometre-long scar on itself. Here's what happened

A historic solar eclipse is set to take place on August 2, 2027. The sun will be hidden from sight, plunging the world into darkness for a total of six minutes. The longest total solar eclipse in recorded history happened on June 15, 743 BC, when everything went dark for 7 minutes and 28 seconds. The path of totality of the eclipse is approximately 275 km wide as it will cover several continents. It is also being called the "Great North African Eclipse" because it will cover several countries in Africa. The 2027 solar eclipse is special for its duration and also because something like this is not going to happen for another 100 years. The next such event will occur in 2114. It will start over the Atlantic Ocean and travel through the Strait of Gibraltar, southern Spain, northern Africa, and stretch into the Arabian Peninsula. It will fade over the Indian Ocean. Its huge path means it will be visible to millions of people. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-telescope-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-will-record-100-000-cosmic-blasts-including-stars-that-killed-themselves-1752661652776">New NASA telescope will record 100,000 cosmic blasts, including stars that killed themselves 10 billion years ago</a><h2>Why is 2027 solar eclipse six minutes long?</h2> The "Great North African Eclipse" is a result of a rare cosmic alignment involving the Sun, the Moon and Earth. All three bodies will be in a position that would make the eclipse last long. Earth will be at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun from where our star will appear smaller. At the same time, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger. The Moon will cast its shadow on a path near the equator and move more slowly. This would make the total solar eclipse last longer. Everyone who is right on the path of totality will get to see the shadow lingering for even longer. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sun-400000-kilometre-long-scar-solar-filament-plasma-explosion-1752727510857">Our Sun has a fresh 400,000-kilometre-long scar and it might not heal soon. Here's what happened</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sorry-space-buffs-but-planet-nine-might-be-an-illusion-a-new-world-has-revealed-that-1752635476153">New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine</a><h2>Best places to see 2027 total solar eclipse</h2>&nbsp;The 2027 solar eclipse will begin in the Atlantic Ocean and make landfall around the Strait of Gibraltar. Totality will first be visible in Southern Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco. Next in line will be Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, where the eclipse will occur when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. It will then cross the Red Sea, plunging Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia into darkness. In the Spanish cities of Cádiz and Málaga, it would be completely dark for over four minutes. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/voyager-1-at-one-light-day-spacecraft-to-hit-astonishing-milestone-after-49-years-1752561939383">Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years</a>Morocco’s Tangier and Tetouan will be two of the best places to see the total solar eclipse, as they will be right under the central shadow stripe. Benghazi in Libya would also make for a good haunt, as the dark skies will last nearly five minutes. Near Egypt’s historic city of Luxor, it will be pitch black for more than six minutes. Italy's island of Lampedusa would have almost total coverage. Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and Mecca, and parts of Yemen and Somalia, would be the last ones to see the eclipse. However, the 2027 solar eclipse won't be visible in India.&nbsp;

Total solar eclipse of 2027: On August 2, 2027, the Great North African Eclipse will plunge the world into darkness for six minutes. Several countries will witness a magnificent total solar eclipse. Something like this is not expected to happen for another 100 years.

A historic solar eclipse is set to take place on August 2, 2027. The sun will be hidden from sight, plunging the world into darkness for a total of six minutes. The longest total solar eclipse in recorded history happened on June 15, 743 BC, when everything went dark for 7 minutes and 28 seconds. The path of totality of the eclipse is approximately 275 km wide as it will cover several continents. It is also being called the "Great North African Eclipse" because it will cover several countries in Africa. The 2027 solar eclipse is special for its duration and also because something like this is not going to happen for another 100 years. The next such event will occur in 2114. It will start over the Atlantic Ocean and travel through the Strait of Gibraltar, southern Spain, northern Africa, and stretch into the Arabian Peninsula. It will fade over the Indian Ocean. Its huge path means it will be visible to millions of people. Also Read: New NASA telescope will record 100,000 cosmic blasts, including stars that killed themselves 10 billion years ago Why is 2027 solar eclipse six minutes long? The "Great North African Eclipse" is a result of a rare cosmic alignment involving the Sun, the Moon and Earth. All three bodies will be in a position that would make the eclipse last long. Earth will be at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun from where our star will appear smaller. At the same time, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger. The Moon will cast its shadow on a path near the equator and move more slowly. This would make the total solar eclipse last longer. Everyone who is right on the path of totality will get to see the shadow lingering for even longer. Also Read: Our Sun has a fresh 400,000-kilometre-long scar and it might not heal soon. Here's what happened Also Read: New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine Best places to see 2027 total solar eclipse The 2027 solar eclipse will begin in the Atlantic Ocean and make landfall around the Strait of Gibraltar. Totality will first be visible in Southern Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco. Next in line will be Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, where the eclipse will occur when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. It will then cross the Red Sea, plunging Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia into darkness. In the Spanish cities of Cádiz and Málaga, it would be completely dark for over four minutes. Also Read: Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years Morocco’s Tangier and Tetouan will be two of the best places to see the total solar eclipse, as they will be right under the central shadow stripe. Benghazi in Libya would also make for a good haunt, as the dark skies will last nearly five minutes. Near Egypt’s historic city of Luxor, it will be pitch black for more than six minutes. Italy's island of Lampedusa would have almost total coverage. Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and Mecca, and parts of Yemen and Somalia, would be the last ones to see the eclipse. However, the 2027 solar eclipse won't be visible in India.

Total solar eclipse of 2027: On August 2, 2027, the Great North African Eclipse will plunge the world into darkness for six minutes. Several countries will witness a magnificent total solar eclipse. Something like this is not expected to happen for another 100 years.

6-minute total solar eclipse will plunge major parts of world into darkness. Is your city on the list?

Scientists have been wondering for years whether there is a ninth planet in our solar system. Now, a study by Japanese scientists seems to bust that belief. They have found an object orbiting the Sun at the very extremes of our star system and have named it Ammonite. Its scientific name is 2023 KQ14, and its discovery has raised a question mark on the existence of Planet Nine. An analysis of its orbit does not align with the calculations done on other cosmic objects roaming in that zone of the solar system. Astronomers in Japan came across “Ammonite” using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. They announced its discovery in a paper published on Tuesday (15 July) in Nature Astronomy. Is it a planet or a dwarf planet? Neither. Ammonite is a sednoid, the name given to any cosmic body encircling the Sun beyond Neptune with a highly eccentric orbit. It's only the fourth sednoid ever discovered. 2023 KQ14 comes as close as 66 astronomical units from the sun, and as far away as 252 au. One astronomical unit is equal to the distance between Earth and the Sun. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com//science/is-there-a-planet-nine-nasas-new-telescope-might-soon-answer-the-question-774356">Is Planet Nine lurking in the solar system? We might know in 2025</a><h2>Planet Nine believed to exist beyond Neptune</h2>What makes Ammonite stand out is its strange orbit, which is different from the other three sednoids. Beyond Neptune, in the Kuiper Belt, several small bodies are orbiting the Sun in highly elongated yet similarly oriented orbits. This includes the dwarf planet Sedna, and 2012 VP113, 2004 VN112, 2010 GB174, 2013 RF98 and 2007 TG422. This unusual clustering triggered the theory that something has pulled them all together there. Astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown were the first to discuss it in 2016. This led them to believe that a bigger body is likely exerting gravitational pull on them. The existence of Planet Nine would explain this occurrence, as its gravitational pull could be a reason for their similarly aligned orbits. However, 2023 KQ14, despite having an elliptical orbit, follows a different path than the others. Study authors say this raises serious doubts about Planet Nine. "The fact that 2023 KQ14’s current orbit does not align with those of the other three sednoids lowers the likelihood of the Planet Nine hypothesis," said Dr. Yukun Huang of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in a press release. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/scientists-detect-strongest-hints-of-planet-nine-lurking-way-beyond-pluto-9025324">Planet Nine might exist after all as scientists detect something lurking way beyond Pluto</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/-jumping-jupiter-evicted-a-gas-giant-from-the-solar-system-it-could-be-lurking-at-the-edge-as-planet-nine-1749795964293">One planet is missing from the solar system, blame 'Jumping Jupiter'</a><h2>Where could ninth planet be?&nbsp;</h2>So, what led to these objects gathering in this region of the solar system? Huang says it is possible that there once was a ninth planet whose presence pulled these bodies there, and also gave the other eight planets their current orbits. However, it could have been ejected, or it might still be out there, just even farther than where it was earlier hypothesised to be. "It is possible that a planet once existed in the Solar System but was later ejected, causing the unusual orbits we see today.” The latest study almost bursts the bubble of Planet Nine. Scientists have for years been obsessing over it, pointing to major evidence on its existence. It has always been believed to be just so far away that we have not had a chance to observe it. If Planet Nine does exist, it would be bigger in mass than Neptune, and would lie anywhere between 400 and 800 AU (Astronomical Units) from the Sun. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is being touted as the frontrunner in the discovery of this ninth planet. This could happen as soon as the year 2026.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Scientists are almost sure that there is a ninth planet. But a study by Japanese astronomers hints that this might not be true. A new cosmic body called a sednoid has been discovered near the Kuiper Belt, and it almost proves that Planet Nine is a myth.  

Scientists have been wondering for years whether there is a ninth planet in our solar system. Now, a study by Japanese scientists seems to bust that belief. They have found an object orbiting the Sun at the very extremes of our star system and have named it Ammonite. Its scientific name is 2023 KQ14, and its discovery has raised a question mark on the existence of Planet Nine. An analysis of its orbit does not align with the calculations done on other cosmic objects roaming in that zone of the solar system. Astronomers in Japan came across “Ammonite” using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. They announced its discovery in a paper published on Tuesday (15 July) in Nature Astronomy. Is it a planet or a dwarf planet? Neither. Ammonite is a sednoid, the name given to any cosmic body encircling the Sun beyond Neptune with a highly eccentric orbit. It's only the fourth sednoid ever discovered. 2023 KQ14 comes as close as 66 astronomical units from the sun, and as far away as 252 au. One astronomical unit is equal to the distance between Earth and the Sun. Also Read: Is Planet Nine lurking in the solar system? We might know in 2025 Planet Nine believed to exist beyond Neptune What makes Ammonite stand out is its strange orbit, which is different from the other three sednoids. Beyond Neptune, in the Kuiper Belt, several small bodies are orbiting the Sun in highly elongated yet similarly oriented orbits. This includes the dwarf planet Sedna, and 2012 VP113, 2004 VN112, 2010 GB174, 2013 RF98 and 2007 TG422. This unusual clustering triggered the theory that something has pulled them all together there. Astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown were the first to discuss it in 2016. This led them to believe that a bigger body is likely exerting gravitational pull on them. The existence of Planet Nine would explain this occurrence, as its gravitational pull could be a reason for their similarly aligned orbits. However, 2023 KQ14, despite having an elliptical orbit, follows a different path than the others. Study authors say this raises serious doubts about Planet Nine. "The fact that 2023 KQ14’s current orbit does not align with those of the other three sednoids lowers the likelihood of the Planet Nine hypothesis," said Dr. Yukun Huang of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in a press release. Also Read: Planet Nine might exist after all as scientists detect something lurking way beyond Pluto Also Read: One planet is missing from the solar system, blame 'Jumping Jupiter' Where could ninth planet be? So, what led to these objects gathering in this region of the solar system? Huang says it is possible that there once was a ninth planet whose presence pulled these bodies there, and also gave the other eight planets their current orbits. However, it could have been ejected, or it might still be out there, just even farther than where it was earlier hypothesised to be. "It is possible that a planet once existed in the Solar System but was later ejected, causing the unusual orbits we see today.” The latest study almost bursts the bubble of Planet Nine. Scientists have for years been obsessing over it, pointing to major evidence on its existence. It has always been believed to be just so far away that we have not had a chance to observe it. If Planet Nine does exist, it would be bigger in mass than Neptune, and would lie anywhere between 400 and 800 AU (Astronomical Units) from the Sun. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is being touted as the frontrunner in the discovery of this ninth planet. This could happen as soon as the year 2026.

Scientists are almost sure that there is a ninth planet. But a study by Japanese astronomers hints that this might not be true. A new cosmic body called a sednoid has been discovered near the Kuiper Belt, and it almost proves that Planet Nine is a myth. &nbsp;

New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine

Scientists have recovered the oldest proteins from a fossilised rhinoceros tooth discovered in the Canadian Arctic. The 24-million-year-old tooth contains proteins that are 10 times older than the most ancient DNA known to man. It is now the oldest detailed protein sequence on record to be analysed. Ryan Sinclair Paterson, a postdoctoral researcher at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, who led the Canadian research, says tooth enamel is like a "vault". It is "so hard that it protects these proteins over deep time." He added that they have "unlocked the vault for this specific fossil." Scientists are hoping that the study of ancient proteins will do for fossils what the study of ancient DNA did for archaeological science. The latter has shed light on human species, kingdoms lost in history, ice age creatures and more. The study was published on July 9 in the scientific journal Nature.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-ghost-under-oman-forcibly-changed-india-s-direction-40-million-years-ago-1752313684421">Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago</a>&nbsp;DNA is more fragile and degrades quickly. However, proteins can stay inside fossil specimens for several years. They do not provide as much insight into the creature, but proteins can still reveal the evolutionary history of the creature the fossil belongs to, its diet, and sometimes even the sex. “The next step is to demonstrate that it’s not just one sample, one lucky strike,” said coauthor Enrico Cappellini, a professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Globe Institute. He believes that in the coming years, the technology can be used to further probe other areas, including maybe even dinosaurs.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/archimedes-death-ray-burned-ships-1-000-feet-away-a-teenager-recreated-it-1752226957843">Myth or real? Archimedes DEATH RAY burned ships 1,000 feet away. A teenager recreated it</a>&nbsp;Cappellini and Paterson got together with their colleagues from the University of York and the Canadian Museum of Nature to extract sequences from seven proteins from the fossilised rhino tooth. They compared the sequences with those of living and extinct relatives of the species to understand how it evolved. They found that this rhino had diverged from the same family as rhinos that lived about 41 million to 25 million years ago. “In the fossil record, there were some crazy forms (of rhinoceros species). There’s the woolly rhinoceros, and maybe you’ve heard of the Siberian unicorn with the gigantic horn,” Paterson said. “What we were able to do is compare our mystery rhino with other forms and find out where it falls in the family tree.”&nbsp;<h2>Proteins from fossils in hot regions</h2>There was another study that suggests that biomolecules can survive for millions of years. Scientists from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum Conservation Institute and Harvard University analysed 10 mammal fossils, including the relatives of today’s elephants, hippos and rhinos. Proteins were extracted from five of them, 1.5 million to 18 million years old. Their study revealed that prehistoric proteins can survive and be extracted from fossils in tropical regions.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Scientists have managed to extract proteins from a rhino fossil tooth discovered in the Canadian Arctic. An analysis has revealed its place in the rhino family tree. Now they are hoping to expand the technology to someday study dinosaurs. 

Scientists have recovered the oldest proteins from a fossilised rhinoceros tooth discovered in the Canadian Arctic. The 24-million-year-old tooth contains proteins that are 10 times older than the most ancient DNA known to man. It is now the oldest detailed protein sequence on record to be analysed. Ryan Sinclair Paterson, a postdoctoral researcher at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, who led the Canadian research, says tooth enamel is like a "vault". It is "so hard that it protects these proteins over deep time." He added that they have "unlocked the vault for this specific fossil." Scientists are hoping that the study of ancient proteins will do for fossils what the study of ancient DNA did for archaeological science. The latter has shed light on human species, kingdoms lost in history, ice age creatures and more. The study was published on July 9 in the scientific journal Nature. Also Read: Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago DNA is more fragile and degrades quickly. However, proteins can stay inside fossil specimens for several years. They do not provide as much insight into the creature, but proteins can still reveal the evolutionary history of the creature the fossil belongs to, its diet, and sometimes even the sex. “The next step is to demonstrate that it’s not just one sample, one lucky strike,” said coauthor Enrico Cappellini, a professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Globe Institute. He believes that in the coming years, the technology can be used to further probe other areas, including maybe even dinosaurs. Also Read: Myth or real? Archimedes DEATH RAY burned ships 1,000 feet away. A teenager recreated it Cappellini and Paterson got together with their colleagues from the University of York and the Canadian Museum of Nature to extract sequences from seven proteins from the fossilised rhino tooth. They compared the sequences with those of living and extinct relatives of the species to understand how it evolved. They found that this rhino had diverged from the same family as rhinos that lived about 41 million to 25 million years ago. “In the fossil record, there were some crazy forms (of rhinoceros species). There’s the woolly rhinoceros, and maybe you’ve heard of the Siberian unicorn with the gigantic horn,” Paterson said. “What we were able to do is compare our mystery rhino with other forms and find out where it falls in the family tree.” Proteins from fossils in hot regions There was another study that suggests that biomolecules can survive for millions of years. Scientists from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum Conservation Institute and Harvard University analysed 10 mammal fossils, including the relatives of today’s elephants, hippos and rhinos. Proteins were extracted from five of them, 1.5 million to 18 million years old. Their study revealed that prehistoric proteins can survive and be extracted from fossils in tropical regions.

Scientists have managed to extract proteins from a rhino fossil tooth discovered in the Canadian Arctic. An analysis has revealed its place in the rhino family tree. Now they are hoping to expand the technology to someday study dinosaurs.&nbsp;

Oldest protein sequenced from 24-million-year-old rhino tooth found in Canadian Arctic

The universe is filled with all kinds of explosions - stars dying, black holes feeding on matter, triggering bright eruptions, galaxies clashing with each other and more. Now, scientists are hoping to capture all these events with a new NASA space telescope. The space agency's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope may reveal around 100,000 celestial blasts. The most exciting discovery they are hoping to make is picturing the first stars of the universe destroying themselves, something that has not been seen before. A paper published in The Astrophysical Journal calls the survey Nancy Grace will carry out a gold mine. Cosmic eruptions can offer clues about several mysteries of the universe, such as dark energy, the force that is believed to be driving its expansion. Benjamin Rose, an assistant professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and lead author of the study, said the new survey by NASA will help scientists “explore dark energy, dying stars, galactic powerhouses, or probably even entirely new things we’ve never seen before.” Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sorry-space-buffs-but-planet-nine-might-be-an-illusion-a-new-world-has-revealed-that-1752635476153">Sorry space buffs, but Planet Nine might be an illusion, a new world has revealed</a><h2>Cosmic videos of stars blowing up</h2>The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will carry out the High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey, as part of which it will scan a large region of the universe every five days for two years. Then, all its observations will be put together to create a cosmic movie full of explosions and eruptions. The primary aim of the program is to look for bursting stars, more specifically, a class of supernova called type Ia. "These stellar cataclysms allow scientists to measure cosmic distances and trace the universe’s expansion because they peak at about the same intrinsic brightness," NASA wrote. These supernovas can tell how fast the universe has expanded during different cosmic epochs, offering clues about the dark energy presumed to be at work. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/voyager-1-at-one-light-day-spacecraft-to-hit-astonishing-milestone-after-49-years-1752561939383">Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years</a> &nbsp;<h2>Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will see oldest stars exploding</h2>To predict how many of these cosmic explosions the High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey will be able to capture, researchers of the study carried out simulations. The number came out to be an astounding 27,000 type Ia supernovae—about 10 times more than what has been spotted by previous surveys. However, it will have its task cut out when it begins operations in 2027 as it will have to pick the la supernovae from a field of thousands of other exploding stars. Not only this, but it has the ability to scan the ancient universe, pushing the boundary to 11.5 billion years. Till now, most telescopes have scanned the universe that was about 8 billion years old. It can possibly see thousands of stars born at the time, and thousands of them that blew up around 10 billion years ago. By looking that far off in the universe, the Roman Space Telescope will help fill critical gaps in our understanding of the universe and record the oldest supernova ever seen.&nbsp;“Filling these data gaps could also fill in gaps in our understanding of dark energy,” Rose said. “Evidence is mounting that dark energy has changed over time, and Roman will help us understand that change by exploring cosmic history in ways other telescopes can’t.” Roman will also pick up about 60,000 core-collapse supernovae, which occur when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses under its own weight. Ia supernovae originate from a binary star system that contains at least one white dwarf. But, both of the above will appear similar from where the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be sitting.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Stars collapsing under their own weight</h2>However, scientists are confident that they would be able to differentiate between them. “By seeing the way an object’s light changes over time and splitting it into spectra — individual colours with patterns that reveal information about the object that emitted the light—we can distinguish between all the different types of flashes Roman will see,” said Rebekah Hounsell, co-author of the study.&nbsp;Besides these supernovas, the telescope is also expected to reveal some never-before-seen cosmic explosions. This includes at least 90 superluminous supernovae, which are 100 times brighter than a typical supernova. Then there could be 40 tidal disruption events, which would reveal more information about black holes. Then there could be the kilonovae that occur when two neutron stars, remnants of supernovae, collide. Till now, only one kilonova has been detected. The Roman Telescope can reveal at least five more.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope of NASA will go into operation in 2027 and will detect exploding stars in the ancient universe, going as far as 10 billion years. This means it will record the oldest supernova ever seen in the universe.

The universe is filled with all kinds of explosions - stars dying, black holes feeding on matter, triggering bright eruptions, galaxies clashing with each other and more. Now, scientists are hoping to capture all these events with a new NASA space telescope. The space agency's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope may reveal around 100,000 celestial blasts. The most exciting discovery they are hoping to make is picturing the first stars of the universe destroying themselves, something that has not been seen before. A paper published in The Astrophysical Journal calls the survey Nancy Grace will carry out a gold mine. Cosmic eruptions can offer clues about several mysteries of the universe, such as dark energy, the force that is believed to be driving its expansion. Benjamin Rose, an assistant professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and lead author of the study, said the new survey by NASA will help scientists “explore dark energy, dying stars, galactic powerhouses, or probably even entirely new things we’ve never seen before.” Also Read: Sorry space buffs, but Planet Nine might be an illusion, a new world has revealed Cosmic videos of stars blowing up The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will carry out the High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey, as part of which it will scan a large region of the universe every five days for two years. Then, all its observations will be put together to create a cosmic movie full of explosions and eruptions. The primary aim of the program is to look for bursting stars, more specifically, a class of supernova called type Ia. "These stellar cataclysms allow scientists to measure cosmic distances and trace the universe’s expansion because they peak at about the same intrinsic brightness," NASA wrote. These supernovas can tell how fast the universe has expanded during different cosmic epochs, offering clues about the dark energy presumed to be at work. Also Read: Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will see oldest stars exploding To predict how many of these cosmic explosions the High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey will be able to capture, researchers of the study carried out simulations. The number came out to be an astounding 27,000 type Ia supernovae—about 10 times more than what has been spotted by previous surveys. However, it will have its task cut out when it begins operations in 2027 as it will have to pick the la supernovae from a field of thousands of other exploding stars. Not only this, but it has the ability to scan the ancient universe, pushing the boundary to 11.5 billion years. Till now, most telescopes have scanned the universe that was about 8 billion years old. It can possibly see thousands of stars born at the time, and thousands of them that blew up around 10 billion years ago. By looking that far off in the universe, the Roman Space Telescope will help fill critical gaps in our understanding of the universe and record the oldest supernova ever seen. “Filling these data gaps could also fill in gaps in our understanding of dark energy,” Rose said. “Evidence is mounting that dark energy has changed over time, and Roman will help us understand that change by exploring cosmic history in ways other telescopes can’t.” Roman will also pick up about 60,000 core-collapse supernovae, which occur when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses under its own weight. Ia supernovae originate from a binary star system that contains at least one white dwarf. But, both of the above will appear similar from where the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be sitting. Stars collapsing under their own weight However, scientists are confident that they would be able to differentiate between them. “By seeing the way an object’s light changes over time and splitting it into spectra — individual colours with patterns that reveal information about the object that emitted the light—we can distinguish between all the different types of flashes Roman will see,” said Rebekah Hounsell, co-author of the study. Besides these supernovas, the telescope is also expected to reveal some never-before-seen cosmic explosions. This includes at least 90 superluminous supernovae, which are 100 times brighter than a typical supernova. Then there could be 40 tidal disruption events, which would reveal more information about black holes. Then there could be the kilonovae that occur when two neutron stars, remnants of supernovae, collide. Till now, only one kilonova has been detected. The Roman Telescope can reveal at least five more.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope of NASA will go into operation in 2027 and will detect exploding stars in the ancient universe, going as far as 10 billion years. This means it will record the oldest supernova ever seen in the universe.

New NASA telescope will record 100,000 cosmic blasts, including stars that killed themselves 10 billion years ago

All kinds of clouds can be seen in the sky. The regular white ones, the dark black ones signalling the advent of a thunderstorm, roll clouds that look like a wave of a tsunami and are formed in some places during hot weather, and shelf cloud, another weather-related phenomenon. But there is one type of cloud in the sky that is not fully linked to natural occurrences. They are formed by aeroplanes flying through them. Known as fallstreak holes or hole-punch clouds, they are true to their name and look like someone made an opening in the cloud. Some people also describe them as having the appearance of "portals." They begin as altocumulus cloud layer, "composed of small water droplets that are below freezing called ‘supercooled water droplets'." Ice crystals in the layer of supercooled droplets lead them to grow rapidly and shrink or possibly evaporate the droplets completely, EarthSky reported. The heavier ice crystals in these clouds are formed because of aeroplanes. When an aircraft pierces through the clouds, heavy ice crystals are formed, which fall to Earth, leaving behind a circular void inside the clouds. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/5-500-year-old-beds-of-giants-discovered-in-europe-are-nothing-but-trapezoid-shaped-pyramids-1752641139932">5,500-year-old 'beds of giants' discovered in Europe are nothing but trapezoid-shaped...</a>&nbsp;Andrew Heymsfield of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and his team analysed these clouds as part of a new study. They found that aircraft propellers and wings are responsible for the formation of initial ice crystals in the clouds. The air expands and cools in the zones with locally low pressure, typically along the wing and propeller tips. It falls far below the original temperature of the cloud layer, triggering ice crystals.&nbsp;<h2>Airplanes freeze water and create snowfall</h2>This process has also been linked to creating rain and snow. Heymsfield's team found that this could happen at lower altitudes where jets can punch holes in clouds. Explaining the process, he said that when a plane flies through mid-level clouds, the expansion and cooling of air happens. Some of them can fall down as water droplets, creating rain, while others in the cloud freeze into ice and then turn to snow. This leaves behind a gap in the cloud, creating hole-punch clouds.&nbsp;Scientists found these holes in the clouds over Texas in places where planes had been flying regularly through the same region. In fact, there were hundreds of them, satellite imagery revealed. The researchers used a weather forecast model developed at NCAR and radar images of clouds from NASA’s CloudSat satellite to explain the science behind them. They saw that all kinds of aircraft - a commercial jet, a private jet or a military jet - were creating these holes. The hole-punch clouds continue to expand for hours after they have been pierced. Heymsfield says that people on the plane also witness this from inside, especially in humid, tropical areas, where "a little veil of clouds over the wings of the aircraft" can be seen. Here, the cooling is producing a super-cooled cloud.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Clouds with holes are not a natural occurrence but are being created by aeroplanes that fly through them. The punch-hold clouds have been seen in many regions. The science behind this also leads to rainfall and snowfall.

All kinds of clouds can be seen in the sky. The regular white ones, the dark black ones signalling the advent of a thunderstorm, roll clouds that look like a wave of a tsunami and are formed in some places during hot weather, and shelf cloud, another weather-related phenomenon. But there is one type of cloud in the sky that is not fully linked to natural occurrences. They are formed by aeroplanes flying through them. Known as fallstreak holes or hole-punch clouds, they are true to their name and look like someone made an opening in the cloud. Some people also describe them as having the appearance of "portals." They begin as altocumulus cloud layer, "composed of small water droplets that are below freezing called ‘supercooled water droplets'." Ice crystals in the layer of supercooled droplets lead them to grow rapidly and shrink or possibly evaporate the droplets completely, EarthSky reported. The heavier ice crystals in these clouds are formed because of aeroplanes. When an aircraft pierces through the clouds, heavy ice crystals are formed, which fall to Earth, leaving behind a circular void inside the clouds. Also Read: 5,500-year-old 'beds of giants' discovered in Europe are nothing but trapezoid-shaped... Andrew Heymsfield of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and his team analysed these clouds as part of a new study. They found that aircraft propellers and wings are responsible for the formation of initial ice crystals in the clouds. The air expands and cools in the zones with locally low pressure, typically along the wing and propeller tips. It falls far below the original temperature of the cloud layer, triggering ice crystals. Airplanes freeze water and create snowfall This process has also been linked to creating rain and snow. Heymsfield's team found that this could happen at lower altitudes where jets can punch holes in clouds. Explaining the process, he said that when a plane flies through mid-level clouds, the expansion and cooling of air happens. Some of them can fall down as water droplets, creating rain, while others in the cloud freeze into ice and then turn to snow. This leaves behind a gap in the cloud, creating hole-punch clouds. Scientists found these holes in the clouds over Texas in places where planes had been flying regularly through the same region. In fact, there were hundreds of them, satellite imagery revealed. The researchers used a weather forecast model developed at NCAR and radar images of clouds from NASA’s CloudSat satellite to explain the science behind them. They saw that all kinds of aircraft - a commercial jet, a private jet or a military jet - were creating these holes. The hole-punch clouds continue to expand for hours after they have been pierced. Heymsfield says that people on the plane also witness this from inside, especially in humid, tropical areas, where "a little veil of clouds over the wings of the aircraft" can be seen. Here, the cooling is producing a super-cooled cloud.

Clouds with holes are not a natural occurrence but are being created by aeroplanes that fly through them. The punch-hold clouds have been seen in many regions. The science behind this also leads to rainfall and snowfall.

Bizarre finding shows airplanes are triggering rain and snow. Here's how

The brains of psychopaths are different from a normal person, a study has found. Certain specifications in their brain are not the same as most people, and this could be a contributing factor in making them psychopaths. People diagnosed with the conditions are often known to exhibit violent behaviour that can sometimes border on the extreme. Psychopaths are not always apparent to the world. Such people can have sudden outbursts. Sometimes their behaviour can prove to be harmful to others. Researchers from German and American universities used the Julich-Brain Atlas to identify specific brain structures in such people to understand their link with antisocial behaviour. They identified distinct neural networks pointing at structural brain differences in psychopaths. The study was carried out by scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen University, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Georg-August University (Germany), and the University of Pennsylvania on 39 men diagnosed with psychopathy. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/having-too-many-bad-dreams-you-might-be-ageing-faster-than-others-1752574255678">'Our sleeping brains...': Too many bad dreams? You might be ageing faster than others</a><h2>Brain regions of psychopaths are not same as regular people</h2>The researchers analysed their structural MRI scans and compared them to a control group with matching key characteristics. They used the Psychopathy Check-List (PCL-R) tool to look at two primary components: interpersonal-affective traits (factor 1) and lifestyle-antisocial behaviour (factor 2). Individuals with higher scores on factor 2 are known to have antisocial tendencies. The study found that such people had reduced volumes in several brain regions, like the basal ganglia, thalamus and basal forebrain, along with a similar occurrence in parts of the brainstem (pons), cerebellum, and cortical regions. All these brain regions are responsible for helping a person regulate their emotions, impulse control and social behaviour. Factor 1 traits, such as pathological lying and lack of empathy, had weaker associations.<h2>Who is a psychopath?</h2>When the two groups were compared, a significant reduction in total brain volume was noted in the psychopathy group. The major difference in volume was seen in the right subiculum, a part of the hippocampus involved in memory. Scientists concluded that there was a strong neurobiological link between antisocial behaviour and reduced brain volume across widespread regions. The latest research builds on the neuropsychobiological correlates of aggression. A more in-depth study of the same will be carried out by the universities at Heidelberg and Frankfurt next year.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Who is a psychopath? What makes a person a psychopath? Scientists studied the brains of such people and tried to figure out why they acted the way they did, and what makes them antisocial. They found that their brains were different from a regular person.

The brains of psychopaths are different from a normal person, a study has found. Certain specifications in their brain are not the same as most people, and this could be a contributing factor in making them psychopaths. People diagnosed with the conditions are often known to exhibit violent behaviour that can sometimes border on the extreme. Psychopaths are not always apparent to the world. Such people can have sudden outbursts. Sometimes their behaviour can prove to be harmful to others. Researchers from German and American universities used the Julich-Brain Atlas to identify specific brain structures in such people to understand their link with antisocial behaviour. They identified distinct neural networks pointing at structural brain differences in psychopaths. The study was carried out by scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen University, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Georg-August University (Germany), and the University of Pennsylvania on 39 men diagnosed with psychopathy. Also Read: 'Our sleeping brains...': Too many bad dreams? You might be ageing faster than others Brain regions of psychopaths are not same as regular people The researchers analysed their structural MRI scans and compared them to a control group with matching key characteristics. They used the Psychopathy Check-List (PCL-R) tool to look at two primary components: interpersonal-affective traits (factor 1) and lifestyle-antisocial behaviour (factor 2). Individuals with higher scores on factor 2 are known to have antisocial tendencies. The study found that such people had reduced volumes in several brain regions, like the basal ganglia, thalamus and basal forebrain, along with a similar occurrence in parts of the brainstem (pons), cerebellum, and cortical regions. All these brain regions are responsible for helping a person regulate their emotions, impulse control and social behaviour. Factor 1 traits, such as pathological lying and lack of empathy, had weaker associations. Who is a psychopath? When the two groups were compared, a significant reduction in total brain volume was noted in the psychopathy group. The major difference in volume was seen in the right subiculum, a part of the hippocampus involved in memory. Scientists concluded that there was a strong neurobiological link between antisocial behaviour and reduced brain volume across widespread regions. The latest research builds on the neuropsychobiological correlates of aggression. A more in-depth study of the same will be carried out by the universities at Heidelberg and Frankfurt next year.

Who is a psychopath? What makes a person a psychopath? Scientists studied the brains of such people and tried to figure out why they acted the way they did, and what makes them antisocial. They found that their brains were different from a regular person's.

What makes a person PSYCHOPATH? Scientists reveal the problem with their brain

Climate change is making storms on the US East Coast stronger and more destructive, a study has found. The nor’easters bring terrible rain, snow and flooding to this part of the US between September and April. Climate pollution is supercharging these storms, creating life-threatening conditions on this coast. Nor’easters are formed because of the clash between cold Arctic air from the north and warmer, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean. The US East Coast has witnessed some terrible storms over the last few decades, so much so that their names are equally scary as the havoc they wreaked. One such storm was the “Storm of the Century” in March 1993. Packing winds that blew at more than 100 mph, the storm dumped almost 60 inches of snow and killed more than 200 people. Another was the “Snowmageddon” in 2010 that affected Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, killing 41 people. The destruction was also huge, and people went without power for days. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ice-age-formation-created-earth-largest-waterfall-that-is-under-ocean-1752557890521">11,500-year-old formation set off Earth's largest waterfall that is invisible to human eye</a><h2>Scientist stuck in Snowmageddon had a light-bulb moment</h2>One of the authors of the study, Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, found himself stuck in Snowmageddon at a hotel room in Philadelphia. For three days, he could not go anywhere, and this led him to wonder about the link between global warming and the storms on the East Coast. As Earth warms, the number of nor’easters is expected to go down since the temperature contrast would be less to fuel the storms. This is because the Arctic is heating up faster than the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. While the number of storms in a warming world is often a point of focus in scientific studies, the intensity has often been ignored, Mann said. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-ghost-under-oman-forcibly-changed-india-s-direction-40-million-years-ago-1752313684421">Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago</a><h2>Storms had become stronger in 85 years</h2>To try and understand how storms had changed over the years, Mann and his team pulled out historical data from between 1940 and 2025, and used a cyclone tracking algorithm to analyse the behaviour of nor’easters. A total of 900 such storms were listed in the atlas, and they found that the maximum windspeed of the most intense nor’easters had increased by around 6 per cent since 1940. Considering the length of the period was 85 years, this change might look minor. However, on the ground, that equates to a 20 per cent increase in the storm’s destructive potential, Mann said. “That’s substantial.” The study was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.&nbsp;Mann says the intensifying storms can be blamed on "basic physics". Oceans and air are becoming warmer, leading to more evaporation, adding moisture to the atmosphere. This leads to the dumping of more rain and snow. Mann has warned that current estimates for floods on the East Coast are highly underestimated. “Nor’easters have been neglected, and that’s another contribution to increased coastal risk that we haven’t really been focusing on enough,” Mann added. Experts call for better preparedness, especially among coastal communities on the East Coast, as storms become stronger. &nbsp;

Storms on the US East Coast, also known as nor’easters, are becoming stronger every year. There have been the "Snowmageddon” and the “Storm of the Century”, which are a result of climate change. Scientists have warned of a dramatic escalation in storms in the coming years. 

Climate change is making storms on the US East Coast stronger and more destructive, a study has found. The nor’easters bring terrible rain, snow and flooding to this part of the US between September and April. Climate pollution is supercharging these storms, creating life-threatening conditions on this coast. Nor’easters are formed because of the clash between cold Arctic air from the north and warmer, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean. The US East Coast has witnessed some terrible storms over the last few decades, so much so that their names are equally scary as the havoc they wreaked. One such storm was the “Storm of the Century” in March 1993. Packing winds that blew at more than 100 mph, the storm dumped almost 60 inches of snow and killed more than 200 people. Another was the “Snowmageddon” in 2010 that affected Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, killing 41 people. The destruction was also huge, and people went without power for days. Also Read: 11,500-year-old formation set off Earth's largest waterfall that is invisible to human eye Scientist stuck in Snowmageddon had a light-bulb moment One of the authors of the study, Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, found himself stuck in Snowmageddon at a hotel room in Philadelphia. For three days, he could not go anywhere, and this led him to wonder about the link between global warming and the storms on the East Coast. As Earth warms, the number of nor’easters is expected to go down since the temperature contrast would be less to fuel the storms. This is because the Arctic is heating up faster than the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. While the number of storms in a warming world is often a point of focus in scientific studies, the intensity has often been ignored, Mann said. Also Read: Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago Storms had become stronger in 85 years To try and understand how storms had changed over the years, Mann and his team pulled out historical data from between 1940 and 2025, and used a cyclone tracking algorithm to analyse the behaviour of nor’easters. A total of 900 such storms were listed in the atlas, and they found that the maximum windspeed of the most intense nor’easters had increased by around 6 per cent since 1940. Considering the length of the period was 85 years, this change might look minor. However, on the ground, that equates to a 20 per cent increase in the storm’s destructive potential, Mann said. “That’s substantial.” The study was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mann says the intensifying storms can be blamed on "basic physics". Oceans and air are becoming warmer, leading to more evaporation, adding moisture to the atmosphere. This leads to the dumping of more rain and snow. Mann has warned that current estimates for floods on the East Coast are highly underestimated. “Nor’easters have been neglected, and that’s another contribution to increased coastal risk that we haven’t really been focusing on enough,” Mann added. Experts call for better preparedness, especially among coastal communities on the East Coast, as storms become stronger.

Storms on the US East Coast, also known as nor’easters, are becoming stronger every year. There have been the "Snowmageddon” and the “Storm of the Century”, which are a result of climate change. Scientists have warned of a dramatic escalation in storms in the coming years.&nbsp;

Buckle up East Coasters! An even stronger 'storm of the century' is coming

A Chinese satellite that has remained a mystery to scientists across the world vanished from radar after being launched almost a week ago. None of the space tracking systems could locate the mysterious satellite. Now, after six days, it has finally been spotted hovering in orbit, Gizmodo reported. Shiyan-28B has been found parked in an unusually low orbit, adding to the mystery around the satellite. While Beijing claims it is meant to test new technologies, its position in an unique inclination has led experts to debate its real purpose. Shiyan-28B 01 is part of China's experimental Shiyan series and was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on July 3. China says the Shiyan mission has been designed to explore the space environment. Experts say that after being launched, a satellite normally shows up on space tracking systems in a day or two. But the Chinese satellite eluded detection for days. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/voyager-1-at-one-light-day-spacecraft-to-hit-astonishing-milestone-after-49-years-1752561939383">Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years</a>&nbsp;On July 9, it finally revealed itself. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Domain Awareness unit saw Shiyan-28B 01 six days after its launch. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell wrote on X that the Chinese satellite was located in a 794 by 796 kilometre orbit with an 11-degree inclination. At the time of the launch, the Chinese satellite was expected to be tilted at a 35-degree inclination relative to Earth’s equator. However, now it is lying in an unusually low orbit. McDowell says that this unique position suggests that the rocket changed direction midway through ascent, and its second stage performed three burns to reduce inclination. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-ghost-under-oman-forcibly-changed-india-s-direction-40-million-years-ago-1752313684421">Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago</a> &nbsp;<h2>China is racing ahead of everyone with its space mission</h2>According to SpaceNews, China has never used such a low-inclination orbit before. So what was the purpose of this sudden change during descent, and why does it seek to fulfil in this low inclination is not clear. Its current inclination suggests that the satellite will pass over parts of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The usual regional monitoring or communication tests could be the primary aim of the satellite. China has been zinging ahead in space by leaps and bounds. Recently, two Chinese satellites performed a docking manoeuvre for an orbital refuelling experiment. This can keep the satellite in orbit for a longer time. The country has also announced its plans to retrieve samples from Mars, an area where &nbsp;NASA is still lagging. China has often carried out secretive manoeuvres in orbit in an effort to evade scrutiny. NASA is watching China's latest satellite and what it aims to achieve with it.&nbsp;

China launched a satellite on July 3, and it did not show up on space tracking systems until July 9. Scientists in other countries are worried about this satellite, whose purpose is not clear. It is hanging extremely low, leaving the West wondering about Shiyan-28B.

A Chinese satellite that has remained a mystery to scientists across the world vanished from radar after being launched almost a week ago. None of the space tracking systems could locate the mysterious satellite. Now, after six days, it has finally been spotted hovering in orbit, Gizmodo reported. Shiyan-28B has been found parked in an unusually low orbit, adding to the mystery around the satellite. While Beijing claims it is meant to test new technologies, its position in an unique inclination has led experts to debate its real purpose. Shiyan-28B 01 is part of China's experimental Shiyan series and was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on July 3. China says the Shiyan mission has been designed to explore the space environment. Experts say that after being launched, a satellite normally shows up on space tracking systems in a day or two. But the Chinese satellite eluded detection for days. Also Read: Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years On July 9, it finally revealed itself. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Domain Awareness unit saw Shiyan-28B 01 six days after its launch. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell wrote on X that the Chinese satellite was located in a 794 by 796 kilometre orbit with an 11-degree inclination. At the time of the launch, the Chinese satellite was expected to be tilted at a 35-degree inclination relative to Earth’s equator. However, now it is lying in an unusually low orbit. McDowell says that this unique position suggests that the rocket changed direction midway through ascent, and its second stage performed three burns to reduce inclination. Also Read: Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago China is racing ahead of everyone with its space mission According to SpaceNews, China has never used such a low-inclination orbit before. So what was the purpose of this sudden change during descent, and why does it seek to fulfil in this low inclination is not clear. Its current inclination suggests that the satellite will pass over parts of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The usual regional monitoring or communication tests could be the primary aim of the satellite. China has been zinging ahead in space by leaps and bounds. Recently, two Chinese satellites performed a docking manoeuvre for an orbital refuelling experiment. This can keep the satellite in orbit for a longer time. The country has also announced its plans to retrieve samples from Mars, an area where NASA is still lagging. China has often carried out secretive manoeuvres in orbit in an effort to evade scrutiny. NASA is watching China's latest satellite and what it aims to achieve with it.

China launched a satellite on July 3, and it did not show up on space tracking systems until July 9. Scientists in other countries are worried about this satellite, whose purpose is not clear. It is hanging extremely low, leaving the West wondering about Shiyan-28B.

Chinese satellite lost to the world reveals itself hanging in an extremely strange orbit

Nightmares are often ignored as just a bad dream. Just like one has happy dreams, the creepy and scary ones are also seen as part of the game. However, a study has now found that nightmares might not just be a one-night thing, but can affect the person having them in the long run. Researchers from the European Academy of Neurology last month said in Helsinki that people who have frequent bad dreams age faster biologically. They said that their bodies underwent more wear and tear and suffered from "significantly accelerated biological ageing" when compared to another person of the same age who did not have nightmares as frequently. Dr Abidemi Otaiku, PhD, a clinical research fellow in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, revealed the results that are a part of a health study in the US. A total of &nbsp;2,429 children aged eight to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86 participated in the study on nightmares.&nbsp;<h2>Nightmares age you faster</h2>Otaiku noted that adults who had nightmares three or more times a week had a higher chance of dying before the age of 70. Shockingly, the frequency of nightmares emerged to be a stronger predictor of premature death than smoking, obesity, and poor nutrition. Otaiku admitted that "people with nightmares do have a higher number of chronic conditions," but even when these factors were removed, " the link between nightmares and premature death remained significant." Otaiku has been diving into the study of nightmares and their potential impact on our health for a long time. One of his earlier studies found a link between older adults having nightmares and developing Parkinson’s and dementia. Those who reported having nightmares once a week were twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s, and four times as likely to develop dementia in the next decade. In children aged between 7 and 11, frequent nightmares indicated cognitive decline by the age of 50.<h2>Stress hormone and poor sleep quality</h2>Other studies also found similar effects of nightmares on human health, which led Otaiku to carry out an in-depth study into the extent of the link. He wanted to understand whether faster ageing because of nightmares was causing health problems. He found that this was certainly the case, as displayed by the telomeres or the DNA sequences. This is because nightmares seem real to our brains. “Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. That’s why nightmares often wake us up … because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake," Otaiku said in a press release. When we have nightmares, our body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Besides this, overnight cellular restoration is also affected because of poor sleep quality.&nbsp;

Frequent nightmares not only disturb your sleep but also affect your health. Bad dreams can impact you in the real world because the brain thinks that everything happening in the nightmare is real. This ages you faster and can lead to several diseases.  

Nightmares are often ignored as just a bad dream. Just like one has happy dreams, the creepy and scary ones are also seen as part of the game. However, a study has now found that nightmares might not just be a one-night thing, but can affect the person having them in the long run. Researchers from the European Academy of Neurology last month said in Helsinki that people who have frequent bad dreams age faster biologically. They said that their bodies underwent more wear and tear and suffered from "significantly accelerated biological ageing" when compared to another person of the same age who did not have nightmares as frequently. Dr Abidemi Otaiku, PhD, a clinical research fellow in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, revealed the results that are a part of a health study in the US. A total of 2,429 children aged eight to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86 participated in the study on nightmares. Nightmares age you faster Otaiku noted that adults who had nightmares three or more times a week had a higher chance of dying before the age of 70. Shockingly, the frequency of nightmares emerged to be a stronger predictor of premature death than smoking, obesity, and poor nutrition. Otaiku admitted that "people with nightmares do have a higher number of chronic conditions," but even when these factors were removed, " the link between nightmares and premature death remained significant." Otaiku has been diving into the study of nightmares and their potential impact on our health for a long time. One of his earlier studies found a link between older adults having nightmares and developing Parkinson’s and dementia. Those who reported having nightmares once a week were twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s, and four times as likely to develop dementia in the next decade. In children aged between 7 and 11, frequent nightmares indicated cognitive decline by the age of 50. Stress hormone and poor sleep quality Other studies also found similar effects of nightmares on human health, which led Otaiku to carry out an in-depth study into the extent of the link. He wanted to understand whether faster ageing because of nightmares was causing health problems. He found that this was certainly the case, as displayed by the telomeres or the DNA sequences. This is because nightmares seem real to our brains. “Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. That’s why nightmares often wake us up … because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake," Otaiku said in a press release. When we have nightmares, our body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Besides this, overnight cellular restoration is also affected because of poor sleep quality.

Frequent nightmares not only disturb your sleep but also affect your health. Bad dreams can impact you in the real world because the brain thinks that everything happening in the nightmare is real. This ages you faster and can lead to several diseases. &nbsp;

'Our sleeping brains...': Too many bad dreams? You might be ageing faster than others

Voyager 1, the spacecraft that took off from Earth in 1977 and is today careening through the vast expanse of interstellar space, is gearing up to reach a historic point in the universe. In November 2026, Voyager 1 will become the first man-made spacecraft to travel to a mark that is one light-day from Earth - a point light takes an entire day to reach from our planet. NASA's spacecraft is still going strong even after 48 years. It has accomplished several milestones in this time, and the one set to occur in 2026 will be the highlight of its space journey. Right now, Voyager 1 is around 24 billion kilometres from Earth and travelling at a speed of 61,195 kilometres per hour. That's slow in space, but still effective for Voyager. It is the most distant human-made object from Earth. One of its many aims is to encounter alien life. In preparation for that day, the Voyager is carrying a Golden Record with a message from humans. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/voyager-spacecraft-crossed-wall-of-fire-to-reach-interstellar-space-what-is-it-1749714537835">Voyager spacecraft crossed 'wall of fire' to reach interstellar space. What is it?</a>&nbsp;<h2>Voyager 1 and the wall of fire</h2>In 2026, Voyager 1 will be 25.9 billion kilometres from Earth. If light is beamed from Earth towards Voyager at this point, it will take exactly 24 hours to reach it. It would be a defining moment in human space exploration and its journey so far in exploring the expanse of the universe. The momentous occasion is still over a year away, but scientists are already eagerly preparing for it. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have achieved several important points in space and also shed light on the planets in the solar system as they visited them on their way to outer space. When the Voyager probes reached the heliopause, the edge of the heliosphere, they encountered temperatures of 54,000-90,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This point is also called the “wall of fire” because of the extreme temperatures. Despite the high heat, they survived and, as per NASA, Voyager 1 reached the interstellar boundary in 2012. After it crossed the heliosphere, the protective bubble of solar wind, it started sending data about outer space. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nasa-solves-problem-with-voyager-1-that-could-not-be-fixed-9071323">NASA fixes a 21-year-old fault aboard Voyager 1 that no one thought could ever be solved</a>&nbsp;<h2>Till when will Voyager 1 work?</h2>Voyager 1 also made crucial discoveries at Jupiter and Saturn, where it found new moons and rings of the two planets. It photographed Jupiter in January 1979 and, in March, made its closest flyby of the planet at a distance of about 349,000 kilometres. Next was Saturn and Voyager 1, the ringed planet, in November 1980, with the closest approach on November 12, 1980. NASA is doing all it can to keep it going for as many years as possible. The spacecraft is expected to remain strong until the 2030s at least, after which its systems will die down. Recently, the space agency managed to revive thrusters aboard the Voyager 1 spacecraft that stopped working in 2004. There is a range of scientific instruments on board Voyager 1 that help it send back data from interstellar space. To increase its life, many of its instruments have been turned off to conserve power. Voyager 1 has proven that it is a marvellous feat designed by humans, having endured radiation and the harsh environment of space.

Voyager 1 was launched in 1977, and after 49 years of travelling, it will reach a milestone in space that was once thought unachievable. The spacecraft is still going strong, and in 2026, it will make yet another record, one of light-day proportions. 

Voyager 1, the spacecraft that took off from Earth in 1977 and is today careening through the vast expanse of interstellar space, is gearing up to reach a historic point in the universe. In November 2026, Voyager 1 will become the first man-made spacecraft to travel to a mark that is one light-day from Earth - a point light takes an entire day to reach from our planet. NASA's spacecraft is still going strong even after 48 years. It has accomplished several milestones in this time, and the one set to occur in 2026 will be the highlight of its space journey. Right now, Voyager 1 is around 24 billion kilometres from Earth and travelling at a speed of 61,195 kilometres per hour. That's slow in space, but still effective for Voyager. It is the most distant human-made object from Earth. One of its many aims is to encounter alien life. In preparation for that day, the Voyager is carrying a Golden Record with a message from humans. Also Read: Voyager spacecraft crossed 'wall of fire' to reach interstellar space. What is it? Voyager 1 and the wall of fire In 2026, Voyager 1 will be 25.9 billion kilometres from Earth. If light is beamed from Earth towards Voyager at this point, it will take exactly 24 hours to reach it. It would be a defining moment in human space exploration and its journey so far in exploring the expanse of the universe. The momentous occasion is still over a year away, but scientists are already eagerly preparing for it. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have achieved several important points in space and also shed light on the planets in the solar system as they visited them on their way to outer space. When the Voyager probes reached the heliopause, the edge of the heliosphere, they encountered temperatures of 54,000-90,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This point is also called the “wall of fire” because of the extreme temperatures. Despite the high heat, they survived and, as per NASA, Voyager 1 reached the interstellar boundary in 2012. After it crossed the heliosphere, the protective bubble of solar wind, it started sending data about outer space. Also Read: NASA fixes a 21-year-old fault aboard Voyager 1 that no one thought could ever be solved Till when will Voyager 1 work? Voyager 1 also made crucial discoveries at Jupiter and Saturn, where it found new moons and rings of the two planets. It photographed Jupiter in January 1979 and, in March, made its closest flyby of the planet at a distance of about 349,000 kilometres. Next was Saturn and Voyager 1, the ringed planet, in November 1980, with the closest approach on November 12, 1980. NASA is doing all it can to keep it going for as many years as possible. The spacecraft is expected to remain strong until the 2030s at least, after which its systems will die down. Recently, the space agency managed to revive thrusters aboard the Voyager 1 spacecraft that stopped working in 2004. There is a range of scientific instruments on board Voyager 1 that help it send back data from interstellar space. To increase its life, many of its instruments have been turned off to conserve power. Voyager 1 has proven that it is a marvellous feat designed by humans, having endured radiation and the harsh environment of space.

Voyager 1 was launched in 1977, and after 49 years of travelling, it will reach a milestone in space that was once thought unachievable. The spacecraft is still going strong, and in 2026, it will make yet another record, one of light-day proportions.&nbsp;

Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to reach unthinkable milestone after 49 years

Earth's largest waterfall is hiding in the ocean. The Denmark Strait cataract is buried inside Arctic waters and stretches over 11,500 feet. In comparison, the Niagara Falls, comprising three parts, has its highest point measuring only 181 feet. Angel Falls, located in Venezuela, has a height of 3,212 feet and is the highest waterfall in the world. Yet, it dwarfs in front of the Denmark Strait, which, despite being gigantic, is not visible. The humongous fall has a mighty descent, but no one has ever heard its roar. It does not even release a mist to signal its presence. This waterfall lies between Iceland and Greenland and starts thousands of feet below the surface. The Denmark Strait cataract was discovered decades ago by testing the temperature and salinity profiles through the channel. It follows completely different principles from waterfalls found on land that form when rivers spill over cliffs. The Denmark Strait is a submarine cascade which is a result of the denser, colder water gushing in from the Nordic Sea. As it crashes downward into the Atlantic Ocean, it quickly spreads, with over 3.2 million cubic meters of water flowing per second. This is way more than the Amazon River’s flow into the Atlantic. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-ghost-under-oman-forcibly-changed-india-s-direction-40-million-years-ago-1752313684421">Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago</a>&nbsp;<h2>The Last Ice Age carved the ridge 11,500 years ago</h2>The plunge happens because of a submerged ridge left behind by glaciers during the Last Ice Age. This happened roughly 17,500 to 11,500 years ago. Over the years, glacial debris, volcanic eruptions and continuous currents have hardened it. As the water falls over it, a massive waterfall is created, which is nothing humans can even imagine. The Denmark Strait cataract is not simply the world's largest waterfall. Its presence miles under the ocean plays a crucial role in regulating the world's climate. As the world heats up, scientists warn that this waterfall could also undergo changes, triggering alterations in weather across the world. The channelling of cold water from the Nordic Sea into the Atlantic supports a process known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). It is what dictates the weather patterns across the world by distributing heat and nutrients to all parts of the world. The ocean life would be very different without it, as would the low temperatures of Europe, and the marine life thriving in the world's oceans. In short, this undersea waterfall is vital to how the world functions. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-a-rogue-planet-roaming-in-the-solar-system-dwarf-planet-sedna-2076-1752223198472">Scientists in race against time to reach outer world planet roaming in our solar system in 2076</a>&nbsp;<h2>Climate change and impact on Earth's largest waterfall</h2>However, climate change is threatening the Denmark Strait cataract also. The warming Arctic waters could affect the salinity and temperature of the ocean water that flows into this portion of the ocean. This could upset the waterfall's flow, slowing it down or changing it entirely. If this happens, weather patterns will be altered, ocean temperatures would go up, and hurricanes would get stronger and might even veer off on unknown paths. Marine scientist Anna Sanchez Vidal highlights one place which is already feeling the effects of changes on the undersea waterfall. “A good example is on the Catalan coast, where the decrease in the number of tramontane days in winter in the Gulf of Lion and north of the Catalan coast is causing a weakening of this oceanographic process, which is decisive in regulating the climate and has a great impact on deep ecosystems,” she says.&nbsp;

Not Niagara Falls, not Angel Falls, but the worlds largest waterfall is one that humans cannot even see, and will never in their lifetime. The secret waterfall might be hidden, yet it impacts how Earth functions. Where is the worlds largest waterfall? 

Earth's largest waterfall is hiding in the ocean. The Denmark Strait cataract is buried inside Arctic waters and stretches over 11,500 feet. In comparison, the Niagara Falls, comprising three parts, has its highest point measuring only 181 feet. Angel Falls, located in Venezuela, has a height of 3,212 feet and is the highest waterfall in the world. Yet, it dwarfs in front of the Denmark Strait, which, despite being gigantic, is not visible. The humongous fall has a mighty descent, but no one has ever heard its roar. It does not even release a mist to signal its presence. This waterfall lies between Iceland and Greenland and starts thousands of feet below the surface. The Denmark Strait cataract was discovered decades ago by testing the temperature and salinity profiles through the channel. It follows completely different principles from waterfalls found on land that form when rivers spill over cliffs. The Denmark Strait is a submarine cascade which is a result of the denser, colder water gushing in from the Nordic Sea. As it crashes downward into the Atlantic Ocean, it quickly spreads, with over 3.2 million cubic meters of water flowing per second. This is way more than the Amazon River’s flow into the Atlantic. Also Read: Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago The Last Ice Age carved the ridge 11,500 years ago The plunge happens because of a submerged ridge left behind by glaciers during the Last Ice Age. This happened roughly 17,500 to 11,500 years ago. Over the years, glacial debris, volcanic eruptions and continuous currents have hardened it. As the water falls over it, a massive waterfall is created, which is nothing humans can even imagine. The Denmark Strait cataract is not simply the world's largest waterfall. Its presence miles under the ocean plays a crucial role in regulating the world's climate. As the world heats up, scientists warn that this waterfall could also undergo changes, triggering alterations in weather across the world. The channelling of cold water from the Nordic Sea into the Atlantic supports a process known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). It is what dictates the weather patterns across the world by distributing heat and nutrients to all parts of the world. The ocean life would be very different without it, as would the low temperatures of Europe, and the marine life thriving in the world's oceans. In short, this undersea waterfall is vital to how the world functions. Also Read: Scientists in race against time to reach outer world planet roaming in our solar system in 2076 Climate change and impact on Earth's largest waterfall However, climate change is threatening the Denmark Strait cataract also. The warming Arctic waters could affect the salinity and temperature of the ocean water that flows into this portion of the ocean. This could upset the waterfall's flow, slowing it down or changing it entirely. If this happens, weather patterns will be altered, ocean temperatures would go up, and hurricanes would get stronger and might even veer off on unknown paths. Marine scientist Anna Sanchez Vidal highlights one place which is already feeling the effects of changes on the undersea waterfall. “A good example is on the Catalan coast, where the decrease in the number of tramontane days in winter in the Gulf of Lion and north of the Catalan coast is causing a weakening of this oceanographic process, which is decisive in regulating the climate and has a great impact on deep ecosystems,” she says.

Not Niagara Falls, not Angel Falls, but the world's largest waterfall is one that humans cannot even see, and will never in their lifetime. The secret waterfall might be hidden, yet it impacts how Earth functions. Where is the world's largest waterfall?&nbsp;

World's largest waterfall is 11,500 feet high. Yet, you cannot see it. Here's why

The company that brought back 'Game of Thrones' dire wolves now has plans to bring back from extinction a giant 12-foot-tall bird. Just a few months back, in April, Colossal Biosciences announced that it had brought back from the dead a wolf whose haunting howl hadn't been heard on Earth in over 12,500 years. Hidden from curious gawkers and media, somewhere on this planet roam three majestic dire wolves that are nothing short of a miracle, especially given that the last member of their species died out more than 12,500 years ago. The company behind this de-extinction has now set its sights on "Moa" a flightless 12ft (3.66 m) tall bird that once roamed New Zealand.&nbsp;<h2>What is a moa? Can bringing it back from the dead threaten humans?</h2>&nbsp;Moa, as mentioned above, was a flightless bird that once ranged across New Zealand. However, it was hunted to extinction by humans around 600 years ago. The giant bird, as per estimates, stood up to 12 ft (3.6 m) tall and weighed somewhere around 230 kg (500 lbs).&nbsp;The bird, however large it may be, does not pose humans any threat. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) it was primarily a herbivore and ate leaves, fruits or fibrous materials from trees and shrubs. It must be noted that bringing it back would have implications, positive ones. The giant bird was what is known as a cornerstone species. It's grazing and browsing actually helped prune and shape the jungle flora where it lived. Moreover, moas were also prolific spreaders of seeds from the plants they ate.&nbsp;Their extinction also relates to the extinction of Haast's eagle, which almost exclusively hunted the moa. While de-extinction of the moa would not automatically bring back Haast's eagle, it could help at least partly restore the primal New Zealand woodlands.&nbsp;<h2>How will Colossal Biosciences bring back the moa from dead?</h2><h2>&nbsp;</h2>Colossal Biosciences will bring back the giant bird exactly how it achieved the extinction of dire wolves: with the help of ancient DNA, cloning and gene-editing technology. As per a Time report, the company is working in collaboration with Ngāi Tahu Research Center, a group that was founded in 2011 to foster intellectual development and conduct scientific studies for and by the Ngāi Tahu tribe of the Indigenous Māori people to achieve Moa's de-extinction.&nbsp;According to Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal, "This is completely a Māori initiative". He added that "We feel like the Colossal team is an extension of the research center and the Māori." Meanwhile, Ngāi Tahu archaeologist Kyle Davis, who is working on the moa de-extinction project, reminisced that Moa is one of "those iconic species that feature in our tribal mythology, our storytelling, are very near and dear to us".&nbsp;After the Moa, Colossal Biosciences also wants to bring back species like the Tasmanian Tiger, the Dodo bird and the Wooly mammoth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Somewhere on this planet roam three majestic dire wolves that are nothing short of a miracle, especially given that the last member of their species died out more than 12,500 years ago. The company behind this de-extinction has now set its sights on "Moa" a flightless 12ft (3.66 m) tall bird.

The company that brought back 'Game of Thrones' dire wolves now has plans to bring back from extinction a giant 12-foot-tall bird. Just a few months back, in April, Colossal Biosciences announced that it had brought back from the dead a wolf whose haunting howl hadn't been heard on Earth in over 12,500 years. Hidden from curious gawkers and media, somewhere on this planet roam three majestic dire wolves that are nothing short of a miracle, especially given that the last member of their species died out more than 12,500 years ago. The company behind this de-extinction has now set its sights on "Moa" a flightless 12ft (3.66 m) tall bird that once roamed New Zealand. What is a moa? Can bringing it back from the dead threaten humans? Moa, as mentioned above, was a flightless bird that once ranged across New Zealand. However, it was hunted to extinction by humans around 600 years ago. The giant bird, as per estimates, stood up to 12 ft (3.6 m) tall and weighed somewhere around 230 kg (500 lbs). The bird, however large it may be, does not pose humans any threat. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) it was primarily a herbivore and ate leaves, fruits or fibrous materials from trees and shrubs. It must be noted that bringing it back would have implications, positive ones. The giant bird was what is known as a cornerstone species. It's grazing and browsing actually helped prune and shape the jungle flora where it lived. Moreover, moas were also prolific spreaders of seeds from the plants they ate. Their extinction also relates to the extinction of Haast's eagle, which almost exclusively hunted the moa. While de-extinction of the moa would not automatically bring back Haast's eagle, it could help at least partly restore the primal New Zealand woodlands. How will Colossal Biosciences bring back the moa from dead? Colossal Biosciences will bring back the giant bird exactly how it achieved the extinction of dire wolves: with the help of ancient DNA, cloning and gene-editing technology. As per a Time report, the company is working in collaboration with Ngāi Tahu Research Center, a group that was founded in 2011 to foster intellectual development and conduct scientific studies for and by the Ngāi Tahu tribe of the Indigenous Māori people to achieve Moa's de-extinction. According to Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal, "This is completely a Māori initiative". He added that "We feel like the Colossal team is an extension of the research center and the Māori." Meanwhile, Ngāi Tahu archaeologist Kyle Davis, who is working on the moa de-extinction project, reminisced that Moa is one of "those iconic species that feature in our tribal mythology, our storytelling, are very near and dear to us". After the Moa, Colossal Biosciences also wants to bring back species like the Tasmanian Tiger, the Dodo bird and the Wooly mammoth.

Somewhere on this planet roam three majestic dire wolves that are nothing short of a miracle, especially given that the last member of their species died out more than 12,500 years ago. The company behind this de-extinction has now set its sights on "Moa" a flightless 12ft (3.66 m) tall bird.

Scientists who 'de-extincted' dire wolf now want to bring back from dead THIS 12ft tall bird

After NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's 8 days space journey turned into a 286-day ordeal following their spacecraft suffering propulsion failures, forcing National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to keep them aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until a safe return in 2025, everyone would be considering their journey as the longest time in space on a single mission of the all time. But, there are several astronauts whose number of days in space on a single mission is more than Sunita's.From record-holder Valeri Polyakov to Andrew Morgan, there are several astronauts who resisted gravity for a number of months. So, here is the list of the top 10 astronauts who spent the longest time in space on a single mission.Watch: Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom crew to return to Earth<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/shubhanshu-shukla-and-axiom-crew-to-return-to-earth-1752484467578/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/shubhanshu-shukla-and-axiom-crew-to-return-to-earth-1752484467578/embed</a>&nbsp;<h3>1. Valeri Polyakov (437 days)</h3>The Russian cosmonaut secured the top post for spending the longest time in space, and holding the record for the longest single spaceflight. Polyakov remained 437 days aboard the Mir space station from January 8, 1994, to March 22, 1995. According to a report by the New Mexico Museum of Space History, he conducted 25 experiments on the effects of long-duration space travel, orbiting the Earth over 7,000 times before returning.<h3>2. Sergei Avdeyev (379 days)</h3>Sergei spent an impressive 379 days in space aboard the Mir space station between August 13, 1998, and August 28, 1999, during the Mir EO-17 and EO-18 missions. His stay was extended unexpectedly due to adjustments in another crew member’s schedule.<h3>3. Frank Rubio (371 days)</h3>NASA astronaut Frank Rubio set a new US spaceflight record by spending 371 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally planned as a six-month mission, but the duration was extended after a coolant leak on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, which launched on September 21, 2022 and returned on September 27, 2023.<h3>4. Vladimir Titov and Musa Manarov (365 days)</h3>Musa Manarov and Vladimir Titov became the first humans to completely orbit around the sun while in space by spending 365 days, 22 hours, and 38 minutes in orbit from December 1987 to December 1988.<h3>5. Mark Vande Hei (355 days)</h3>He spent 355 days aboard the ISS, whose mission began on April 9, 2021, with Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov, and landed on Earth on March 30, 2022. He orbited Earth 5,680 times and travelled over 150 million miles during his mission. Amid the space mission, he also researched muscle loss and space farming, including growing chile peppers in microgravity.<h3>6. Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko (340 days)</h3>Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko and NASA astronaut Scott Kelly completed a historic 340-day mission aboard the ISS in 2016. The “One-Year Mission” was launched on March 27, 2015, via Soyuz TMA-16M, focusing on human adaptation to space, conducting over 400 experiments on radiation, weightlessness, and isolation. Their findings in the 340 days of the space mission helped shape the plans of the NASA for Mars exploration.<h3>7. Christina Koch (328 days)</h3>Christina Koch, the NASA astronaut, spent her 328 days in space, began her space journey aboard Soyuz MS-12 on March 14, 2019, and completed on February 6, 2020, via Soyuz MS-13. She worked on cutting-edge research, including biological 3D printing and pharmaceutical studies, and finished six spacewalks, including the first all-female spacewalks, totalling 42 hours and 15 minutes.<h3>8. Peggy Whitson (289 days)</h3>Whitson spent 289 days aboard the ISS from November 17, 2016, to September 3, 2017, achieving the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at the time. She also holds the record for the most cumulative days in space, with a total of 675 days across multiple missions.<h3>9. Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore (286 days)</h3>NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore completed an unplanned nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), returning safely to Earth on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Initially scheduled for a brief mission in June 2024, their trip was extended due to propulsion issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They ultimately made their return via the Crew-9 Dragon capsule, landing off the coast of Florida.<h3>10. Andrew Morgan (272 days)</h3>NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan spent a total of 272 days aboard the ISS, completing 4,352 orbits of Earth and travelling approximately 115 million miles. His mission involved significant scientific work across biology, Earth observation, and technological innovation. Morgan also carried out seven spacewalks, including crucial repairs on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, an instrument vital to dark matter studies.&nbsp;

This article highlights a list of the top 10 astronauts with their groundbreaking missions in space who have contributed significantly to our understanding of the universe, extraterrestrial activities, and have also paved the way for future deep-space exploration.
 

After NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's 8 days space journey turned into a 286-day ordeal following their spacecraft suffering propulsion failures, forcing National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to keep them aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until a safe return in 2025, everyone would be considering their journey as the longest time in space on a single mission of the all time. But, there are several astronauts whose number of days in space on a single mission is more than Sunita's. From record-holder Valeri Polyakov to Andrew Morgan, there are several astronauts who resisted gravity for a number of months. So, here is the list of the top 10 astronauts who spent the longest time in space on a single mission. Watch: Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom crew to return to Earth https://www.wionews.com/videos/shubhanshu-shukla-and-axiom-crew-to-return-to-earth-1752484467578/embed 1. Valeri Polyakov (437 days) The Russian cosmonaut secured the top post for spending the longest time in space, and holding the record for the longest single spaceflight. Polyakov remained 437 days aboard the Mir space station from January 8, 1994, to March 22, 1995. According to a report by the New Mexico Museum of Space History, he conducted 25 experiments on the effects of long-duration space travel, orbiting the Earth over 7,000 times before returning. 2. Sergei Avdeyev (379 days) Sergei spent an impressive 379 days in space aboard the Mir space station between August 13, 1998, and August 28, 1999, during the Mir EO-17 and EO-18 missions. His stay was extended unexpectedly due to adjustments in another crew member’s schedule. 3. Frank Rubio (371 days) NASA astronaut Frank Rubio set a new US spaceflight record by spending 371 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally planned as a six-month mission, but the duration was extended after a coolant leak on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, which launched on September 21, 2022 and returned on September 27, 2023. 4. Vladimir Titov and Musa Manarov (365 days) Musa Manarov and Vladimir Titov became the first humans to completely orbit around the sun while in space by spending 365 days, 22 hours, and 38 minutes in orbit from December 1987 to December 1988. 5. Mark Vande Hei (355 days) He spent 355 days aboard the ISS, whose mission began on April 9, 2021, with Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov, and landed on Earth on March 30, 2022. He orbited Earth 5,680 times and travelled over 150 million miles during his mission. Amid the space mission, he also researched muscle loss and space farming, including growing chile peppers in microgravity. 6. Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko (340 days) Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko and NASA astronaut Scott Kelly completed a historic 340-day mission aboard the ISS in 2016. The “One-Year Mission” was launched on March 27, 2015, via Soyuz TMA-16M, focusing on human adaptation to space, conducting over 400 experiments on radiation, weightlessness, and isolation. Their findings in the 340 days of the space mission helped shape the plans of the NASA for Mars exploration. 7. Christina Koch (328 days) Christina Koch, the NASA astronaut, spent her 328 days in space, began her space journey aboard Soyuz MS-12 on March 14, 2019, and completed on February 6, 2020, via Soyuz MS-13. She worked on cutting-edge research, including biological 3D printing and pharmaceutical studies, and finished six spacewalks, including the first all-female spacewalks, totalling 42 hours and 15 minutes. 8. Peggy Whitson (289 days) Whitson spent 289 days aboard the ISS from November 17, 2016, to September 3, 2017, achieving the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at the time. She also holds the record for the most cumulative days in space, with a total of 675 days across multiple missions. 9. Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore (286 days) NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore completed an unplanned nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), returning safely to Earth on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Initially scheduled for a brief mission in June 2024, their trip was extended due to propulsion issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They ultimately made their return via the Crew-9 Dragon capsule, landing off the coast of Florida. 10. Andrew Morgan (272 days) NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan spent a total of 272 days aboard the ISS, completing 4,352 orbits of Earth and travelling approximately 115 million miles. His mission involved significant scientific work across biology, Earth observation, and technological innovation. Morgan also carried out seven spacewalks, including crucial repairs on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, an instrument vital to dark matter studies.

This article highlights a list of the top 10 astronauts with their groundbreaking missions in space who have contributed significantly to our understanding of the universe, extraterrestrial activities, and have also paved the way for future deep-space exploration. &nbsp;

Do you know who holds the real record for 'longest' space mission? Here's a list of top 10—Check details

Scientists have revealed that an underground phenomenon in Oman changed the direction of India millions of years ago. Our country could have ended up in an altogether different place if it weren't for a "ghost" plume discovered under Oman. A magma plume is caught thick portion of Earth's crust and the upper part of the mantle under the Salma Plateau. The age of this plateau and the plume revealed how India landed where it is today. The plume is trapped and cannot trigger volcanic activity. However, a study has found that the pressure created by this plume shifted the trajectory of the Indian tectonic plate after it collided with Eurasia tens of millions of years ago. Oman's Salma Plateau is up to 6,600 feet high. Lead author of the study, Simone Pilia, a geophysicist and assistant professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, told Live Science that this plateau likely formed because of the ghost plume. Although some scientists also attribute it to the bending of Earth's crust created by the Makran subduction zone off the coasts of Pakistan and Iran. This plume presented itself during seismic studies, when the sound waves that travel through the Earth at different speeds were captured by several stations in Oman. The data revealed the plume was alive under the Salma plateau. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-a-rogue-planet-roaming-in-the-solar-system-dwarf-planet-sedna-2076-1752223198472">Scientists in race against time to reach outer world planet roaming in our solar system in 2076</a> &nbsp;<h2>Ghost plume under Oman moved India to where it is today</h2>The research was published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Named the Dani plume, Pilai says that the uplift in this region of Oman proves that the plume is active. He says it is the first clear example of an amagmatic "ghost" plume, a name used for plumes that don't trigger volcanic eruption. Most mantle plumes trigger eruptions in the middle of oceanic plates. However, the one in Oman is trapped in continental plates - it can neither rise nor undergo decompression melting because these plates have a thicker crust and upper mantle. Pilai says that just because there are no volcanic eruptions, it doesn't mean there are no plumes under continental plates. There are no volcanic eruptions, but they can still result in changes in the topography of a region. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-detect-more-evidence-of-underground-city-in-egypt-this-time-under-great-sphinx-1752127738821">Claims of underground city under pyramids get a boost as scientists detect secret chambers under Great Sphinx</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/is-an-underwater-volcano-getting-ready-to-erupt-in-andaman-warning-issued-as-earthquakes-rock-thailand-myanmar-and-nicobar-1751628746437">Is an underwater volcano getting ready to erupt in Andaman? Warning issued as dozens of earthquakes rock Thailand, Myanmar and Nicobar</a><h2>Salma Plateau in Oman and its link to India</h2>The Salma Plateau is 40 million years old, which means that the Dani plume also dates back to around the same time. This is the time when a collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates occurred, and Pilia was left wondering if they could be related in some way. The two plates collided somewhere near Oman, after which they moved northward to their current positions. The researchers reconstructed the trajectory of the Indian plate. The results revealed that it changed direction slightly between 40 million and 25 million years ago. Pilai said that the "shear stress produced by the plume was the reason for the change in azimuth [angle] of the Indian plate." Magma plumes have been known to change the direction of tectonic plates, but only now has the movement of the Indian plate been tied to a specific plume.&nbsp; &nbsp;

How did India get to its present location? Could it have been somewhere else if history were different? A study has found that something under Oman changed Indias trajectory 40 million to 25 million years ago. A ghost plume pushed India and changed it forever.    

Scientists have revealed that an underground phenomenon in Oman changed the direction of India millions of years ago. Our country could have ended up in an altogether different place if it weren't for a "ghost" plume discovered under Oman. A magma plume is caught thick portion of Earth's crust and the upper part of the mantle under the Salma Plateau. The age of this plateau and the plume revealed how India landed where it is today. The plume is trapped and cannot trigger volcanic activity. However, a study has found that the pressure created by this plume shifted the trajectory of the Indian tectonic plate after it collided with Eurasia tens of millions of years ago. Oman's Salma Plateau is up to 6,600 feet high. Lead author of the study, Simone Pilia, a geophysicist and assistant professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, told Live Science that this plateau likely formed because of the ghost plume. Although some scientists also attribute it to the bending of Earth's crust created by the Makran subduction zone off the coasts of Pakistan and Iran. This plume presented itself during seismic studies, when the sound waves that travel through the Earth at different speeds were captured by several stations in Oman. The data revealed the plume was alive under the Salma plateau. Also Read: Scientists in race against time to reach outer world planet roaming in our solar system in 2076 Ghost plume under Oman moved India to where it is today The research was published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Named the Dani plume, Pilai says that the uplift in this region of Oman proves that the plume is active. He says it is the first clear example of an amagmatic "ghost" plume, a name used for plumes that don't trigger volcanic eruption. Most mantle plumes trigger eruptions in the middle of oceanic plates. However, the one in Oman is trapped in continental plates - it can neither rise nor undergo decompression melting because these plates have a thicker crust and upper mantle. Pilai says that just because there are no volcanic eruptions, it doesn't mean there are no plumes under continental plates. There are no volcanic eruptions, but they can still result in changes in the topography of a region. Also Read: Claims of underground city under pyramids get a boost as scientists detect secret chambers under Great Sphinx Also Read: Is an underwater volcano getting ready to erupt in Andaman? Warning issued as dozens of earthquakes rock Thailand, Myanmar and Nicobar Salma Plateau in Oman and its link to India The Salma Plateau is 40 million years old, which means that the Dani plume also dates back to around the same time. This is the time when a collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates occurred, and Pilia was left wondering if they could be related in some way. The two plates collided somewhere near Oman, after which they moved northward to their current positions. The researchers reconstructed the trajectory of the Indian plate. The results revealed that it changed direction slightly between 40 million and 25 million years ago. Pilai said that the "shear stress produced by the plume was the reason for the change in azimuth [angle] of the Indian plate." Magma plumes have been known to change the direction of tectonic plates, but only now has the movement of the Indian plate been tied to a specific plume.

How did India get to its present location? Could it have been somewhere else if history were different? A study has found that something under Oman changed India's trajectory 40 million to 25 million years ago. A ghost plume pushed India and changed it forever. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Why is India where it is? Because 'ghost' force under Oman pushed it 40 million years ago

As Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to return to Earth, his farewell message from the International Space Station (ISS) captured pride, gratitude and a vision for India’s future in space. Concluding the Axiom‑4 mission, Shukla addressed colleagues and audiences back home, reflecting on an extraordinary journey, India’s rising ambition in space exploration and the shared spirit that made it possible. “It has been an incredible journey,” Shukla said. “It has been made amazing and incredible because of the people who are involved.” Expressing thanks to ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, and Indian researchers and students, he added, “Going back, I carry a lot of memories and learnings.” Emphasising the collaborative nature of the mission, Shukla noted, “All of us come from different parts of the world for one mission – it’s incredible.”&nbsp;<h2>'Today’s India looks fearless and proud'</h2>&nbsp;In a powerful and patriotic message delivered in hindi, on how modern India appears from space, Shukla said, “Aaj ka Bharat space se mahatvakanshi dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat nidar dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat confident dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat garv se poorn dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat abhi bhi sare jahan se achha dikhta hai. Jald hi mulaqat hoti hai..”(Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident and full of pride, and still appears better than anywhere else in the world.)&nbsp;His words , ‘sare jahan se achha’ echoed Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 reply from space, creating a symbolic link between India’s space legacy and its bold future. “Our journey is still very long,” he added, hinting that India’s real story in space exploration has only just begun.&nbsp;Shukla stressed on the mission’s scientific goals, educational outreach and the sense of wonder that space travel brings. “We have done a lot of science, outreach, and always looked out on Earth, it seems magical to me,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>Collaboration beyond borders</h2>Peggy Whitson, Ax-4 commander, praised the camaraderie and professional spirit of the ISS crew. Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu said, “We came with a purpose and made a lot of things happen – science, amazing pictures of Earth, funny videos, and made a lot of people proud on the ground. We made friends in space, shared inside jokes, and we did it because we are people collaborating in space in the name of science.”

Thanking ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, Indian researchers and students, he added, “Going back, I carry a lot of memories and learnings.” Highlighting the team spirit on board, he remarked, “All of us come from different parts of the world for one mission – it’s incredible.”

As Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to return to Earth, his farewell message from the International Space Station (ISS) captured pride, gratitude and a vision for India’s future in space. Concluding the Axiom‑4 mission, Shukla addressed colleagues and audiences back home, reflecting on an extraordinary journey, India’s rising ambition in space exploration and the shared spirit that made it possible. “It has been an incredible journey,” Shukla said. “It has been made amazing and incredible because of the people who are involved.” Expressing thanks to ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, and Indian researchers and students, he added, “Going back, I carry a lot of memories and learnings.” Emphasising the collaborative nature of the mission, Shukla noted, “All of us come from different parts of the world for one mission – it’s incredible.” 'Today’s India looks fearless and proud' In a powerful and patriotic message delivered in hindi, on how modern India appears from space, Shukla said, “Aaj ka Bharat space se mahatvakanshi dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat nidar dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat confident dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat garv se poorn dikhta hai, aaj ka Bharat abhi bhi sare jahan se achha dikhta hai. Jald hi mulaqat hoti hai..”(Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident and full of pride, and still appears better than anywhere else in the world.) His words , ‘sare jahan se achha’ echoed Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 reply from space, creating a symbolic link between India’s space legacy and its bold future. “Our journey is still very long,” he added, hinting that India’s real story in space exploration has only just begun. Shukla stressed on the mission’s scientific goals, educational outreach and the sense of wonder that space travel brings. “We have done a lot of science, outreach, and always looked out on Earth, it seems magical to me,” he said. Collaboration beyond borders Peggy Whitson, Ax-4 commander, praised the camaraderie and professional spirit of the ISS crew. Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu said, “We came with a purpose and made a lot of things happen – science, amazing pictures of Earth, funny videos, and made a lot of people proud on the ground. We made friends in space, shared inside jokes, and we did it because we are people collaborating in space in the name of science.”

Thanking ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, Indian researchers and students, he added, “Going back, I carry a lot of memories and learnings.” Highlighting the team spirit on board, he remarked, “All of us come from different parts of the world for one mission – it’s incredible.”

‘India looks ambitious from space’: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s message before returning home

The July Full Moon is over, but there are several more cosmic events awaiting stargazers. You can catch three meteor showers this month, whether you are in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. Alpha Capricornids, Perseids meteor shower and Southern Delta Aquariids will be visible in the night sky at different times in July. The meteor showers will peak on a few dates, which will range between July and August. Some of these originate from well-known comets. Here is when to watch the meteor showers.&nbsp;<h2>Alpha Capricornids meteor shower</h2>The Alpha Capricornids, a modest meteor shower, will begin on July 12. It originates in the constellation Capricorn. The frequency of the falling meteors is less, although the shower itself is quite bright. This meteor shower will peak on the nights of July 29 to 30. The Alpha Capricornids are remnants of the short-period comet 169/NEAT. Not a lot of meteors are visible even at their peak, but still, for stargazers, this is an opportunity to catch a cosmic spectacle that dates back millions of years. Each hour, only about five meteors can be seen at the peak of the shower. However, the brightness of the meteor will surprise you. Ideally, to see a meteor shower, one needs to be in a place with minimal light pollution. However, the Alpha Capricornids are very bright and can be seen in places with light pollution. The Moon's waxing crescent phase during its peak will create the best conditions to see the meteor shower. The best time to see the Alpha Capricornids is after 10 pm. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/unusually-large-orange-full-moon-greets-earthlings-why-was-the-moon-orange-1752290985842">Unusually large orange full moon greets Earthlings. Why was the moon orange?</a>&nbsp;<h2>Perseids Meteor Shower</h2>The Perseids Meteor Shower is a very well-known meteor shower and the star of the summer season. The meteors will start becoming visible in mid-July and will continue well into August. The Perseids meteor shower will peak from August 12 to 13. The shower originates from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes a whopping 133 years to complete one orbit of the Sun. It generates a high number of meteors per hour that can be easily seen at its peak. Perseids produce 5-75 meteors every hour. However, it is best viewed under dark conditions and in places with minimal light pollution. The meteor shower will continue throughout August. This year, its peak will coincide with a waxing gibbous Moon, making the conditions to view them unsuitable. The best time to watch the Perseids will be after midnight.<h2>Southern Delta Aquariids</h2>The Southern Delta Aquariids will also grace the night sky in the second half of July. The first appearance will be around July 18. The Southern Delta Aquariids are remnants of the short-period comet 96P/Macholz. The meteor shower will reach its peak on July 29 and 30. The Southern Delta Aquariids originate in the constellation Aquarius. The number of meteors produced per hour isn't a lot, with only 25-30 visible. But, it produced a lot many meteors in 1977 and 2003. So, it can surprise you once again. These meteors are different from others because they leave a trail behind, making them a fascinating cosmic wonder. The viewing conditions would be ideal because of the waxing crescent Moon that will set early.&nbsp;

Meteor showers in July: Three meteor showers will be visible in the night sky in July. Stargazers have the perfect opportunity to look at the meteors raining down from the sky. These are remnants of comets that are orbiting the sun.

The July Full Moon is over, but there are several more cosmic events awaiting stargazers. You can catch three meteor showers this month, whether you are in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. Alpha Capricornids, Perseids meteor shower and Southern Delta Aquariids will be visible in the night sky at different times in July. The meteor showers will peak on a few dates, which will range between July and August. Some of these originate from well-known comets. Here is when to watch the meteor showers. Alpha Capricornids meteor shower The Alpha Capricornids, a modest meteor shower, will begin on July 12. It originates in the constellation Capricorn. The frequency of the falling meteors is less, although the shower itself is quite bright. This meteor shower will peak on the nights of July 29 to 30. The Alpha Capricornids are remnants of the short-period comet 169/NEAT. Not a lot of meteors are visible even at their peak, but still, for stargazers, this is an opportunity to catch a cosmic spectacle that dates back millions of years. Each hour, only about five meteors can be seen at the peak of the shower. However, the brightness of the meteor will surprise you. Ideally, to see a meteor shower, one needs to be in a place with minimal light pollution. However, the Alpha Capricornids are very bright and can be seen in places with light pollution. The Moon's waxing crescent phase during its peak will create the best conditions to see the meteor shower. The best time to see the Alpha Capricornids is after 10 pm. Also Read: Unusually large orange full moon greets Earthlings. Why was the moon orange? Perseids Meteor Shower The Perseids Meteor Shower is a very well-known meteor shower and the star of the summer season. The meteors will start becoming visible in mid-July and will continue well into August. The Perseids meteor shower will peak from August 12 to 13. The shower originates from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes a whopping 133 years to complete one orbit of the Sun. It generates a high number of meteors per hour that can be easily seen at its peak. Perseids produce 5-75 meteors every hour. However, it is best viewed under dark conditions and in places with minimal light pollution. The meteor shower will continue throughout August. This year, its peak will coincide with a waxing gibbous Moon, making the conditions to view them unsuitable. The best time to watch the Perseids will be after midnight. Southern Delta Aquariids The Southern Delta Aquariids will also grace the night sky in the second half of July. The first appearance will be around July 18. The Southern Delta Aquariids are remnants of the short-period comet 96P/Macholz. The meteor shower will reach its peak on July 29 and 30. The Southern Delta Aquariids originate in the constellation Aquarius. The number of meteors produced per hour isn't a lot, with only 25-30 visible. But, it produced a lot many meteors in 1977 and 2003. So, it can surprise you once again. These meteors are different from others because they leave a trail behind, making them a fascinating cosmic wonder. The viewing conditions would be ideal because of the waxing crescent Moon that will set early.

Meteor showers in July: Three meteor showers will be visible in the night sky in July. Stargazers have the perfect opportunity to look at the meteors raining down from the sky. These are remnants of comets that are orbiting the sun.

Stargazing in July: Watch three meteor showers, including one that originates from comet with 133-year orbit cycle

Why is the moon orange tonight? Millions of people across the world were surprised to see the colour of the full moon that rose in the sky this week. This was because of the position of the Moon as part of a phenomenon that happens after 18.6 years. The Moon illusion made the lunar body appear unusually large as it sat at the horizon. July's full moon hung extremely low and was exactly opposite to the Sun. It mirrored the Sun's position. The Sun reached its highest point in the sky for the year during the summer solstice. So while the Sun was at its highest point, the Moon was at its lowest point. The sun's gravity dragged the moon's tilted orbit into its most extreme inclination relative to Earth's celestial equator. Because of being so close to the horizon, the Moon travelled from southeast to southwest without ever rising higher than about 20 degrees in altitude. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/july-full-moon-an-optical-illusion-will-make-the-moon-appear-abnormally-large-here-s-why-1751956916280">July Full Moon: An optical illusion will make the moon appear abnormally large. Here's why</a>&nbsp;<h2>Why was the Moon orange tonight?</h2>There is also a major lunar standstill going on. At this point, the Moon rises at its most extreme northern point in the sky and sets in the greatest southern position. Its position wouldn't change much in the coming months, which is why it is said to be at a "standstill." This occurrence in the life cycle of the Moon is also the reason for its bright yellow or orange appearance. Earth's atmosphere scatters its light in a different way at this position. When at this point on the horizon, the Moon's light travels through more of our atmosphere. The blue light scatters, and the longer wavelengths, like red and orange, pass through. This gives Moon the appearance of an orange, yellow or rusty red body. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/july-full-moon-2025-when-and-where-to-watch-the-buck-moon-today-why-it-s-special-1752051376650">July Full Moon 2025: When and where to watch the 'Buck Moon' today — Why it's special</a>&nbsp;The Moon also appeared extremely large, but that was also simply because of its position. NASA explains that each time the Moon is close to this horizon, it appears bigger. This is only an illusion. "When we observe the Moon near the horizon, it often looks HUGE – whether it's peeking over the shoulder of a distant mountain, rising out of the sea, hovering behind a cityscape, or looming over a thicket of trees," NASA wrote in a blog post. "But here's the thing: it's all in your head. Really. The Moon's seeming bigness is an actual illusion, rather than an effect of our atmosphere or some other physics," it added.&nbsp;July's full moon is also known as Buck Moon because this is the time of the year when male deer grow its full antlers. The velvet antler growth, called antlerogenesis, reaches its peak and becomes more prominent. It is also called Thunder Moon as some parts of the US witness summer thunderstorms in July.&nbsp;

Orange moon tonight: July full moon rose in the sky this week and brought with it a pleasant surprise. The moon was orange in colour and appeared extremely large. NASA says the size is only an illusion, and the reason it was orange was because of its low-hanging position.  

Why is the moon orange tonight? Millions of people across the world were surprised to see the colour of the full moon that rose in the sky this week. This was because of the position of the Moon as part of a phenomenon that happens after 18.6 years. The Moon illusion made the lunar body appear unusually large as it sat at the horizon. July's full moon hung extremely low and was exactly opposite to the Sun. It mirrored the Sun's position. The Sun reached its highest point in the sky for the year during the summer solstice. So while the Sun was at its highest point, the Moon was at its lowest point. The sun's gravity dragged the moon's tilted orbit into its most extreme inclination relative to Earth's celestial equator. Because of being so close to the horizon, the Moon travelled from southeast to southwest without ever rising higher than about 20 degrees in altitude. Also Read: July Full Moon: An optical illusion will make the moon appear abnormally large. Here's why Why was the Moon orange tonight? There is also a major lunar standstill going on. At this point, the Moon rises at its most extreme northern point in the sky and sets in the greatest southern position. Its position wouldn't change much in the coming months, which is why it is said to be at a "standstill." This occurrence in the life cycle of the Moon is also the reason for its bright yellow or orange appearance. Earth's atmosphere scatters its light in a different way at this position. When at this point on the horizon, the Moon's light travels through more of our atmosphere. The blue light scatters, and the longer wavelengths, like red and orange, pass through. This gives Moon the appearance of an orange, yellow or rusty red body. Also Read: July Full Moon 2025: When and where to watch the 'Buck Moon' today — Why it's special The Moon also appeared extremely large, but that was also simply because of its position. NASA explains that each time the Moon is close to this horizon, it appears bigger. This is only an illusion. "When we observe the Moon near the horizon, it often looks HUGE – whether it's peeking over the shoulder of a distant mountain, rising out of the sea, hovering behind a cityscape, or looming over a thicket of trees," NASA wrote in a blog post. "But here's the thing: it's all in your head. Really. The Moon's seeming bigness is an actual illusion, rather than an effect of our atmosphere or some other physics," it added. July's full moon is also known as Buck Moon because this is the time of the year when male deer grow its full antlers. The velvet antler growth, called antlerogenesis, reaches its peak and becomes more prominent. It is also called Thunder Moon as some parts of the US witness summer thunderstorms in July.

Orange moon tonight: July full moon rose in the sky this week and brought with it a pleasant surprise. The moon was orange in colour and appeared extremely large. NASA says the size is only an illusion, and the reason it was orange was because of its low-hanging position. &nbsp;

Unusually large orange full moon greets Earthlings. Why was the moon orange?

Astronomers are preparing to study a dwarf planet that last came near Earth 11,000 years ago. Sedna is moving closer to the Sun, and this has intrigued experts who are eager to learn about the distant dwarf planet. However, even if they manage to send a probe to Sedna, they would not be able to see the results in their lifetime. This is because it will reach its closest point to the Sun in 2076. Another problem is that even at this distance, it would be almost three times the distance Neptune is from the Sun. Despite the several hurdles, scientists are determined to study Sedna. But again, there is one more problem - human technology to travel through space. A spacecraft will have to traverse more than 11 billion kilometres of cold, icy space to reach Sedna.&nbsp;Right now, humans don't have the technology to shoot through space in a desired frame of time. Even reaching Mars with current methods and the best trajectory would take 7 to 10 months. Even if humans manage to upgrade their technology to cut down on the travel time, it would take 42.5 days to reach the Red Planet at the speed of 80,467 km/hr. Is studying Sedna even possible in this scenario? The year 2076 is still 51 years away, so if humans wish to peer into Sedna, the work should start today. The window Sedna stays near the Sun would be tiny, so scientists also need to ensure that they get there right on time. Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Dwarf planet Sedna has a strange orbit&nbsp;</h2>Sedna is an icy world with a weird orbit. It was first spotted in 2003 and shocked astronomers. While Pluto stays in the Kuiper Belt, Sedna has a stretched-out ellipse. It goes as far as 937 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, or 937 times the distance Earth is from the Sun. At its closest point, it reaches about 76 AU. This has led scientists to speculate that Sedna might not have originated in our solar system. Initially, it looked like a member of the Oort Cloud, the outermost boundary of the solar system. However, its strange characteristics have triggered the possibility that it is a rogue interstellar planet which got caught in our star system billions of years ago.&nbsp;Dr. Elena Ancona of Politecnico di Bari and her team carried out a study in Sedna and released the results in a study this year. They are of the view that if Sedna is an exoplanet, then it warrants a scientific study. This is the best chance to explore a world that is not from the solar system. “If confirmed, Sedna would represent the first known exoplanetary body accessible to in situ investigation,” she said. “The mere possibility of accessing exoplanetary material at such close range provides strong justification for a dedicated mission.”

Scientists want to study a distant world in the solar system that is classified as a dwarf planet. But some experts think it could be an exoplanet that the solar system caught several years ago. Sedna will come close to Sun in 2076, but not close enough.

Astronomers are preparing to study a dwarf planet that last came near Earth 11,000 years ago. Sedna is moving closer to the Sun, and this has intrigued experts who are eager to learn about the distant dwarf planet. However, even if they manage to send a probe to Sedna, they would not be able to see the results in their lifetime. This is because it will reach its closest point to the Sun in 2076. Another problem is that even at this distance, it would be almost three times the distance Neptune is from the Sun. Despite the several hurdles, scientists are determined to study Sedna. But again, there is one more problem - human technology to travel through space. A spacecraft will have to traverse more than 11 billion kilometres of cold, icy space to reach Sedna. Right now, humans don't have the technology to shoot through space in a desired frame of time. Even reaching Mars with current methods and the best trajectory would take 7 to 10 months. Even if humans manage to upgrade their technology to cut down on the travel time, it would take 42.5 days to reach the Red Planet at the speed of 80,467 km/hr. Is studying Sedna even possible in this scenario? The year 2076 is still 51 years away, so if humans wish to peer into Sedna, the work should start today. The window Sedna stays near the Sun would be tiny, so scientists also need to ensure that they get there right on time. Also Read: Dwarf planet Sedna has a strange orbit Sedna is an icy world with a weird orbit. It was first spotted in 2003 and shocked astronomers. While Pluto stays in the Kuiper Belt, Sedna has a stretched-out ellipse. It goes as far as 937 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, or 937 times the distance Earth is from the Sun. At its closest point, it reaches about 76 AU. This has led scientists to speculate that Sedna might not have originated in our solar system. Initially, it looked like a member of the Oort Cloud, the outermost boundary of the solar system. However, its strange characteristics have triggered the possibility that it is a rogue interstellar planet which got caught in our star system billions of years ago. Dr. Elena Ancona of Politecnico di Bari and her team carried out a study in Sedna and released the results in a study this year. They are of the view that if Sedna is an exoplanet, then it warrants a scientific study. This is the best chance to explore a world that is not from the solar system. “If confirmed, Sedna would represent the first known exoplanetary body accessible to in situ investigation,” she said. “The mere possibility of accessing exoplanetary material at such close range provides strong justification for a dedicated mission.”

Scientists want to study a distant world in the solar system that is classified as a dwarf planet. But some experts think it could be an exoplanet that the solar system caught several years ago. Sedna will come close to the Sun in 2076, but not close enough.

Scientists in race against time to reach outer world planet roaming in our solar system in 2076

India’s astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, conducted seven (7) key research experiments during his mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission

Space Farming to Brain Studies: What India’s Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Researched on the ISS

In the US, millions of flies will be dropped from planes. No, it's not a biological weapon. It's a method to fight the spread of New World screwworms, a parasitic flesh-eating larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly species. Once eradicated from the US, these flies are spreading again in the US, having come from Latin America. And scientists and lawmakers are worried about millions of dollars of damage the flies can cause to livestock industry. The way out? Airdropping more of these flies. Doesn't make sense? Read on:<h2>How deadly are the New World Screworms?</h2>The larvae of New World Screwworm flies can infest wounds in warm-blooded animals like cattle, horses, pets, and even humans. The medical term for infestation of an animal by a maggot is myiasis. &nbsp;Once the flies lay eggs on open wounds of animals, the maggots will 'slowly eat them alive,' said Dr Phillip Kaufman of Texas A&amp;M University in a report on CNN.<h2>New World screwworm infections have been spreading in Americas</h2>The New World screwworms have been spreading in an outbreak that started in early 2023. It started from Latin America, winding through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador. It reached southern Mexico in November, and is slowly affecting animals across the US border in Texas.The Panama–United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm Infestation in Livestock, or COPEG, listed more than 35,000 New World screwworm infestations, 83 per cent of which were on cows. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/lovebugs-swarm-south-korea-causing-nuisance-for-residents-1751430622605/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/lovebugs-swarm-south-korea-causing-nuisance-for-residents-1751430622605/embed</a><h2>Screworms were eradicated in the US, but coming back</h2>The flies vs flies method was used for the first time by the US in the 1960s and 1970s to eradicate screwworms. This eventually helped reduce the population of srewworms and eradicate them.In june, 80 US lawmakers warned in a letter that hundreds of millions of more sterile flies are needed to fight the New World screwworms.The USDA, the country's drug regulator, announced plans to open a US fly factory near the Texas-Mexico border and renovate an old facility in Mexico, said the CNN report.<h2>How are the sterile flies produced?</h2>The mass-production of sterile male flies is done by sending gamma rays to the pupae to make them impotent. These flies are not harmful to humans or animals. The sterilised male flies are dispersed to mate with wild females, who then lay unfertilised eggs. “The female fly finds a living host, lands on its wound, and will lay up to 200 to 300 eggs... they immediately start burrowing and feeding on the tissue.” Kauffman told CNN.The dispersal of these impotent male flies is done trhough temperature-controlled containers from planes, targeting rural areas, said the CNN report.The COPEG facility currently produces about 100 million sterile flies weekly.<h2>The fly vs fly plan will cost millions</h2>The US facility for mass production of sterile flies will be located at Moore Air Base in Hidalgo County, Texas. This will cost $8.5 million even as lawmakers estimate the overall fly factory project at around $300 million. The USDA, meanwhile, is investing around $21 million to upgrade the Mexican plant by late 2025, said the report.

The New World screwworms have been spreading in an outbreak that started in early 2023. It started from Latin America, winding through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador. 

In the US, millions of flies will be dropped from planes. No, it's not a biological weapon. It's a method to fight the spread of New World screwworms, a parasitic flesh-eating larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly species. Once eradicated from the US, these flies are spreading again in the US, having come from Latin America. And scientists and lawmakers are worried about millions of dollars of damage the flies can cause to livestock industry. The way out? Airdropping more of these flies. Doesn't make sense? Read on: How deadly are the New World Screworms? The larvae of New World Screwworm flies can infest wounds in warm-blooded animals like cattle, horses, pets, and even humans. The medical term for infestation of an animal by a maggot is myiasis. Once the flies lay eggs on open wounds of animals, the maggots will 'slowly eat them alive,' said Dr Phillip Kaufman of Texas A&M University in a report on CNN. New World screwworm infections have been spreading in Americas The New World screwworms have been spreading in an outbreak that started in early 2023. It started from Latin America, winding through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador. It reached southern Mexico in November, and is slowly affecting animals across the US border in Texas. The Panama–United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm Infestation in Livestock, or COPEG, listed more than 35,000 New World screwworm infestations, 83 per cent of which were on cows. https://www.wionews.com/videos/lovebugs-swarm-south-korea-causing-nuisance-for-residents-1751430622605/embed Screworms were eradicated in the US, but coming back The flies vs flies method was used for the first time by the US in the 1960s and 1970s to eradicate screwworms. This eventually helped reduce the population of srewworms and eradicate them. In june, 80 US lawmakers warned in a letter that hundreds of millions of more sterile flies are needed to fight the New World screwworms. The USDA, the country's drug regulator, announced plans to open a US fly factory near the Texas-Mexico border and renovate an old facility in Mexico, said the CNN report. How are the sterile flies produced? The mass-production of sterile male flies is done by sending gamma rays to the pupae to make them impotent. These flies are not harmful to humans or animals. The sterilised male flies are dispersed to mate with wild females, who then lay unfertilised eggs. “The female fly finds a living host, lands on its wound, and will lay up to 200 to 300 eggs... they immediately start burrowing and feeding on the tissue.” Kauffman told CNN. The dispersal of these impotent male flies is done trhough temperature-controlled containers from planes, targeting rural areas, said the CNN report. The COPEG facility currently produces about 100 million sterile flies weekly. The fly vs fly plan will cost millions The US facility for mass production of sterile flies will be located at Moore Air Base in Hidalgo County, Texas. This will cost $8.5 million even as lawmakers estimate the overall fly factory project at around $300 million. The USDA, meanwhile, is investing around $21 million to upgrade the Mexican plant by late 2025, said the report.

The New World screwworms have been spreading in an outbreak that started in early 2023. It started from Latin America, winding through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador.&nbsp;

Fly vs Fly: Millions of flies will rain down from planes on America. And no, it's not a biological weapon attack

science

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

science

Meet the top 6 aircraft carrier-based fighter jets in the world

Scientists discover ‘goblin prince’ lizard that crawled beneath dinosaurs!

Apollo 11 anniversary: Conspiracy theories about moon landing being faked swirl

Woman who smelled husband's Parkinson's before diagnosis helps develop new test

Strange things found by NASA on Mars that will blow your mind

Our Sun has a fresh 400,000-kilometre-long scar. Here's what happened

6-minute total solar eclipse will plunge major parts of world into darkness

New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine

Oldest protein sequenced from 24-million-year-old rhino tooth

NASA telescope to record 100,000 blasts, including stars that killed themselves

Bizarre finding shows airplanes are triggering rain and snow. Here's how

What makes a person PSYCHOPATH? Scientists reveal the problem with their brain

Buckle up East Coasters! An even stronger 'storm of the century' is coming

Chinese satellite lost to the world reveals itself hanging in an extremely strange orbit

Having too many bad dreams? You might be ageing faster than others

Voyager 1 at one light-day: Spacecraft to hit astonishing milestone after 49yrs

World's largest waterfall is 11,500ft high. Yet, you cannot see it. Here's why

Scientists who 'de-extincted' dire wolf want to bring back THIS 12ft tall bird

Who holds the record for longest space mission? Top 10 astronauts listed

Why is India where it is? Because ghost force under Oman pushed it 40mn yrs ago

‘India looks ambitious from space’: Shubhanshu Shukla says ahead of homecoming

Stargazing in July: Watch three spectacular meteor showers this month

Unusually large orange full moon greets Earthlings. Why was the moon orange?

Scientists in race against time to reach outer world planet in our solar system

Space Farming to Brain Studies: What Shubhanshu Shukla Researched on the ISS

Millions of flies to rain down from planes in US. It's not a biological weapon