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Oropouche virus disease, a relatively rare illness for decades, has increasingly sprung up in the United States, Canada and Europe. What was earlier a disease that people recovered from on their own in 2023 infected over 23,000 people, killing at least five people. While five of 23,000 may seem like a small figure, the virus, which is spread by an insect called a midge, is rapidly mutating, and the sudden rise of Oropouche disease has startled officials, according to reports. What is Oropouche? Are you in danger? How to protect yourself and your family from this virus? Here's all you need to know.<h2>What is Oropouche?</h2>Oropouche, as per a new study posted in Nature, is an "emerging virus" transmitted by biting midges. It was first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. In 1960, it was then isolated from sloths in Brazil. Since then, it has caused over 80 outbreaks in South and Central America.<h2>What are the symptoms of Oropouche disease?</h2>Historically, the disease is characterised by symptoms like fever, intense headache, chills, muscle pain, joint pain, rashes and nausea and vomiting. However, as per the Nature study, the Oropouche virus (OROV) may be transmitted vertically (from a pregnant woman to her child). During the 2023 outbreak, it led to two foetal deaths and, in one case, caused a congenital anomaly. It also killed at least five people.As per VOX, since its discovery, there have been 500,000 known cases of Oropouche disease. However, it is likely that many more cases went undetected, given that there's little to no active screening and its symptoms overlap with those of other diseases. What was once a disease only affecting people living in or near tropical rainforests in the Caribbean and South America has now been detected in metropolises like Rio de Janeiro.Scientists warn that with climate change "new regions are becoming more hospitable to the blood suckers that spread these diseases, increasing the chances of these seemingly remote infections making it to the US and getting established".Talking to the publication, William de Souza, who studies arboviruses — viruses spread by arthropods like insects — at the University of Kentucky, said, "It's very likely that these public health problems that people before called 'tropical diseases' are not so tropical anymore and are basically everywhere. He added that Vector-borne disease are no longer a" local problem; this is a global problem."<h2>How to stop the spread of Oropouche?</h2>The disease mainly spreads from the bites of a biting midge (Culicoides paraensis), sometimes referred to as sand flies. These insects breed in damp soil, rotting vegetation and standing water. They also feed on blood to drive their reproduction, but are too small for mosquito nets. To keep you and your family safe from them, cleanliness is important.Another way the virus may be able to spread is sexually. While there are no documented cases of this, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that male travellers from regions where Oropouche is spreading should not have sex for six weeks if they show symptoms of the disease.Oropouche, unlike COVID-19, is a vector-borne disease, i.e., it needs a host – like ticks, midges, and mosquitoes – to spread the disease. With people spending time inside and around the fringes of tropical forests, where carriers of this disease reside, humans are now more likely to get infected. "This is a classical example of how human behaviour can lead to the emergence of a pathogen," said Natasha Tilston, who studies Oropouche virus at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

The sudden rise of Oropouche disease has startled officials, according to reports. What is Oropouche? Are you in danger? How to protect yourself and your family from this virus? Here's all you need to know.

Oropouche virus disease, a relatively rare illness for decades, has increasingly sprung up in the United States, Canada and Europe. What was earlier a disease that people recovered from on their own in 2023 infected over 23,000 people, killing at least five people. While five of 23,000 may seem like a small figure, the virus, which is spread by an insect called a midge, is rapidly mutating, and the sudden rise of Oropouche disease has startled officials, according to reports. What is Oropouche? Are you in danger? How to protect yourself and your family from this virus? Here's all you need to know. What is Oropouche? Oropouche, as per a new study posted in Nature, is an "emerging virus" transmitted by biting midges. It was first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. In 1960, it was then isolated from sloths in Brazil. Since then, it has caused over 80 outbreaks in South and Central America. What are the symptoms of Oropouche disease? Historically, the disease is characterised by symptoms like fever, intense headache, chills, muscle pain, joint pain, rashes and nausea and vomiting. However, as per the Nature study, the Oropouche virus (OROV) may be transmitted vertically (from a pregnant woman to her child). During the 2023 outbreak, it led to two foetal deaths and, in one case, caused a congenital anomaly. It also killed at least five people. As per VOX, since its discovery, there have been 500,000 known cases of Oropouche disease. However, it is likely that many more cases went undetected, given that there's little to no active screening and its symptoms overlap with those of other diseases. What was once a disease only affecting people living in or near tropical rainforests in the Caribbean and South America has now been detected in metropolises like Rio de Janeiro. Scientists warn that with climate change "new regions are becoming more hospitable to the blood suckers that spread these diseases, increasing the chances of these seemingly remote infections making it to the US and getting established". Talking to the publication, William de Souza, who studies arboviruses — viruses spread by arthropods like insects — at the University of Kentucky, said, "It's very likely that these public health problems that people before called 'tropical diseases' are not so tropical anymore and are basically everywhere. He added that Vector-borne disease are no longer a" local problem; this is a global problem." How to stop the spread of Oropouche? The disease mainly spreads from the bites of a biting midge (Culicoides paraensis), sometimes referred to as sand flies. These insects breed in damp soil, rotting vegetation and standing water. They also feed on blood to drive their reproduction, but are too small for mosquito nets. To keep you and your family safe from them, cleanliness is important. Another way the virus may be able to spread is sexually. While there are no documented cases of this, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that male travellers from regions where Oropouche is spreading should not have sex for six weeks if they show symptoms of the disease. Oropouche, unlike COVID-19, is a vector-borne disease, i.e., it needs a host – like ticks, midges, and mosquitoes – to spread the disease. With people spending time inside and around the fringes of tropical forests, where carriers of this disease reside, humans are now more likely to get infected. "This is a classical example of how human behaviour can lead to the emergence of a pathogen," said Natasha Tilston, who studies Oropouche virus at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

The sudden rise of Oropouche disease has startled officials, according to reports. What is Oropouche? Are you in danger? How to protect yourself and your family from this virus? Here's all you need to know.

What is Orupouche virus that infected 23,000 people in 2023? Can it be the next BIG EPIDEMIC?

For many years, people around the world have been fascinated by UFO sightings. These strange flying objects have sparked big questions: Are they alien spacecraft, top-secret military technology or just things people didn’t understand? No matter what the answer is but UFO sightings have become a big part of both science and pop culture. They’ve inspired movies, books and endless debates. Scientists continue to study them by hoping to learn more about what might be out there. Below are some of the most well-known and mysterious UFO cases in history:&nbsp;&nbsp;The Roswell Incident (1947) &nbsp;In July 1947, something crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. At first, officials said it was a ‘flying disc,’ but later they claimed it was just a weather balloon.&nbsp;&nbsp;This sudden change in the statement made many people suspicious, and some believed the government was hiding evidence of alien life.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even today, this incident is one of the most talked-about UFO cases and has inspired many investigations and conspiracy theories.&nbsp;Kenneth Arnold Sighting (1947)&nbsp;A few weeks before the Roswell crash, &nbsp;a private plane pilot, Kenneth Arnold, said that he had seen nine fast-moving, crescent-shaped objects flying near Mount Rainier in Washington.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said they moved like a saucer skipping across water. Arnold’s sighting caught national attention and led to more people reporting similar sightings.&nbsp;The Phoenix Lights (1997) &nbsp;On a spring night in 1997, thousands of people in Phoenix, Arizona, saw a group of lights in a V-shape moving silently across the sky. Some believed it was one huge aircraft.&nbsp;The military later said it was just flares from a training exercise, but many were not convinced. The event is still discussed and remains one of the most famous mass UFO sightings.&nbsp;The Rendlesham Forest Incident (1980)&nbsp;In December 1980, US Air Force members at a base in England saw strange lights and a metallic triangle-shaped object in Rendlesham Forest. They also found high radiation levels and marks on the ground. The official explanation was that it was probably a mistake or a natural cause, but many believe something more happened. It’s often called ‘Britain’s Roswell.’&nbsp;Also Read - What are asteroids really made of: Rocks, metals or something more?&nbsp;The Tic Tac UFO (2004)&nbsp;US Navy pilots saw a strange white, Tic Tac-shaped object flying at high speeds near California. It moved in ways no known aircraft could. This sighting has raised questions about advanced technology and whether humans really understand everything in the skies.&nbsp;The Washington DC UFO Incident (1952)&nbsp;In July 1952, radar operators and people in Washington, DC saw glowing objects flying in the sky. The Air Force sent out fighter jets, but the UFO disappeared. The event made headlines and added to public curiosity about UFOs.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Westall Incident (1966)&nbsp;In Melbourne, Australia, over 200 students and teachers saw a flying saucer land and take off from a field near their school. The sighting shocked the community and has been talked about for decades.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists continue to study UFOs by hoping to learn more about what might be out there. Below are some of the most well known and mysterious UFO cases in the history: 

For many years, people around the world have been fascinated by UFO sightings. These strange flying objects have sparked big questions: Are they alien spacecraft, top-secret military technology or just things people didn’t understand? No matter what the answer is but UFO sightings have become a big part of both science and pop culture. They’ve inspired movies, books and endless debates. Scientists continue to study them by hoping to learn more about what might be out there. Below are some of the most well-known and mysterious UFO cases in history: The Roswell Incident (1947) In July 1947, something crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. At first, officials said it was a ‘flying disc,’ but later they claimed it was just a weather balloon. This sudden change in the statement made many people suspicious, and some believed the government was hiding evidence of alien life. Even today, this incident is one of the most talked-about UFO cases and has inspired many investigations and conspiracy theories. Kenneth Arnold Sighting (1947) A few weeks before the Roswell crash, a private plane pilot, Kenneth Arnold, said that he had seen nine fast-moving, crescent-shaped objects flying near Mount Rainier in Washington. He said they moved like a saucer skipping across water. Arnold’s sighting caught national attention and led to more people reporting similar sightings. The Phoenix Lights (1997) On a spring night in 1997, thousands of people in Phoenix, Arizona, saw a group of lights in a V-shape moving silently across the sky. Some believed it was one huge aircraft. The military later said it was just flares from a training exercise, but many were not convinced. The event is still discussed and remains one of the most famous mass UFO sightings. The Rendlesham Forest Incident (1980) In December 1980, US Air Force members at a base in England saw strange lights and a metallic triangle-shaped object in Rendlesham Forest. They also found high radiation levels and marks on the ground. The official explanation was that it was probably a mistake or a natural cause, but many believe something more happened. It’s often called ‘Britain’s Roswell.’ Also Read - What are asteroids really made of: Rocks, metals or something more? The Tic Tac UFO (2004) US Navy pilots saw a strange white, Tic Tac-shaped object flying at high speeds near California. It moved in ways no known aircraft could. This sighting has raised questions about advanced technology and whether humans really understand everything in the skies. The Washington DC UFO Incident (1952) In July 1952, radar operators and people in Washington, DC saw glowing objects flying in the sky. The Air Force sent out fighter jets, but the UFO disappeared. The event made headlines and added to public curiosity about UFOs. The Westall Incident (1966) In Melbourne, Australia, over 200 students and teachers saw a flying saucer land and take off from a field near their school. The sighting shocked the community and has been talked about for decades.

Scientists continue to study UFOs by hoping to learn more about what might be out there. Below are some of the most well known and mysterious UFO cases in the history:&nbsp;

From Roswell Incident to Phoenix Lights: 7 most famous UFO sightings of all time

In the next seven years, Earth will have a close shave with two asteroids - Apophis and Asteroid YR4 2024. In 2029, 99942 Apophis will fly by at an eerily close distance and will be visible even to the naked eye. In 2032, YR4 2024 will also come near our planet, although it is estimated to hit our Moon. This event will generate so much debris that meteorites will come shooting towards Earth, possibly damaging satellites and even the space station. Both asteroids posed a massive scare right after being observed. When scientists discovered them, they were both on a trajectory that could have led them to crash into Earth. However, the latest calculations suggest that this might not happen after all.&nbsp;<h2>Dinosaur killer asteroids visit every 10 million to 100 million years</h2>&nbsp;However, even though Earth is predicted to have a close shave with the asteroids, is there a probability that a major disaster might still occur? An asteroid killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Could the next strike be around the corner? According to Chris Lintott, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, "there’s one of these every 10 million to 100 million years".&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/the-world-s-largest-space-telescope-finds-2-100-new-asteroids-know-what-else-it-can-do-1751037636501">The world’s largest space telescope finds 2,100 new asteroids. Know what else it can do</a>&nbsp;He told the Guardian that it might just be about "being in the wrong place at the wrong time." He said, “Most asteroids in the solar system exist in the asteroid belt, which is between Mars and Jupiter, but they become disrupted, usually by encounters with either of those planets, and they can move into orbits that cross the Earth.”&nbsp;<h2>Four known asteroids same as dino-killer&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Coming to an asteroid similar to the one that killed the dinosaurs, Colin Snodgrass, a professor of planetary astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, says, that it happens “not very often, but it is something that happens." However, he is hopeful that humans could potentially do something about them. He adds that there are four asteroids that fit into the category of "dino-killer space rock", but they are not anywhere near Earth.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-are-asteroids-really-made-of-rocks-metals-or-something-more-1751275110472">What are asteroids really made of: Rocks, metals or something more?</a>&nbsp;However, the smaller ones could be equally dangerous. For example, in Chelyabinsk, Russia, an asteroid the size of a house, around 20 metres across, exploded with the force of nearly 30 Hiroshima bombs. It caused extensive damage and injured hundreds of people. In the past 20 years, at least 556 asteroids and meteors have crashed into Earth. Recently, a meteor was seen over the southeastern United States and reportedly crashed into a house, breaking its roof and smashing the floor.&nbsp;<h2>Asteroid impact with Moon can shoot meteorites towards Earth</h2>&nbsp;Asteroid YR4 2024 had a 3.1 per cent chance of hitting Earth in 2032 after it was discovered earlier this year. Dubbed the "city-killer", the asteroid is not expected to hit Earth. However, it will crash into the Moon, as the probability of that happening has been increased to 4.3 per cent. If this happens, then a 174ft-220ft asteroid impact will generate 100,000,000 kilograms of debris that can come hurtling towards Earth. The meteorites can damage satellites, the International Space Station and endanger astronauts.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/venus-asteroids-earth-nuclear-bomb-nasa-warning-1748417986834">Evil twin? Venus sheltering 'invisible' asteroids that can wipe off humanity with a minuscule change in course</a>&nbsp;So, there is a need to be prepared to tackle such a scenario. Besides, Apophis's close flyby also needs to be monitored. Scientists are watching for these asteroids regularly. A study revealed that Venus could be hiding several such rocks that we still cannot see. The recently unveiled Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile found seven asteroids humans had not seen before that will come dangerously close to Earth. NASA and the European Space Agency have missions in the pipeline that will detect "asteroids and comets that may be potential hazards to Earth."&nbsp;Meanwhile, the 2022 DART mission showed humans are capable of breaking apart an asteroid right from Earth. A small spacecraft crashed into Dimorphos, an asteroid that orbits a larger rock called Didymos. It was a success as the space rock broke apart, changing its shape and releasing so much debris that we might soon have a Didymos meteor shower.&nbsp;

Can an asteroid, or two asteroids, crash into Earth in the next seven years? Scientists are observing these space rocks to learn more about them. One of them could send tonnes of meteorites towards Earth, damaging the ISS, satellites and threatening astronauts. 

In the next seven years, Earth will have a close shave with two asteroids - Apophis and Asteroid YR4 2024. In 2029, 99942 Apophis will fly by at an eerily close distance and will be visible even to the naked eye. In 2032, YR4 2024 will also come near our planet, although it is estimated to hit our Moon. This event will generate so much debris that meteorites will come shooting towards Earth, possibly damaging satellites and even the space station. Both asteroids posed a massive scare right after being observed. When scientists discovered them, they were both on a trajectory that could have led them to crash into Earth. However, the latest calculations suggest that this might not happen after all. Dinosaur killer asteroids visit every 10 million to 100 million years However, even though Earth is predicted to have a close shave with the asteroids, is there a probability that a major disaster might still occur? An asteroid killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Could the next strike be around the corner? According to Chris Lintott, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, "there’s one of these every 10 million to 100 million years". Also Read: The world’s largest space telescope finds 2,100 new asteroids. Know what else it can do He told the Guardian that it might just be about "being in the wrong place at the wrong time." He said, “Most asteroids in the solar system exist in the asteroid belt, which is between Mars and Jupiter, but they become disrupted, usually by encounters with either of those planets, and they can move into orbits that cross the Earth.” Four known asteroids same as dino-killer Coming to an asteroid similar to the one that killed the dinosaurs, Colin Snodgrass, a professor of planetary astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, says, that it happens “not very often, but it is something that happens." However, he is hopeful that humans could potentially do something about them. He adds that there are four asteroids that fit into the category of "dino-killer space rock", but they are not anywhere near Earth. Also Read: What are asteroids really made of: Rocks, metals or something more? However, the smaller ones could be equally dangerous. For example, in Chelyabinsk, Russia, an asteroid the size of a house, around 20 metres across, exploded with the force of nearly 30 Hiroshima bombs. It caused extensive damage and injured hundreds of people. In the past 20 years, at least 556 asteroids and meteors have crashed into Earth. Recently, a meteor was seen over the southeastern United States and reportedly crashed into a house, breaking its roof and smashing the floor. Asteroid impact with Moon can shoot meteorites towards Earth Asteroid YR4 2024 had a 3.1 per cent chance of hitting Earth in 2032 after it was discovered earlier this year. Dubbed the "city-killer", the asteroid is not expected to hit Earth. However, it will crash into the Moon, as the probability of that happening has been increased to 4.3 per cent. If this happens, then a 174ft-220ft asteroid impact will generate 100,000,000 kilograms of debris that can come hurtling towards Earth. The meteorites can damage satellites, the International Space Station and endanger astronauts. Also Read: Evil twin? Venus sheltering 'invisible' asteroids that can wipe off humanity with a minuscule change in course So, there is a need to be prepared to tackle such a scenario. Besides, Apophis's close flyby also needs to be monitored. Scientists are watching for these asteroids regularly. A study revealed that Venus could be hiding several such rocks that we still cannot see. The recently unveiled Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile found seven asteroids humans had not seen before that will come dangerously close to Earth. NASA and the European Space Agency have missions in the pipeline that will detect "asteroids and comets that may be potential hazards to Earth." Meanwhile, the 2022 DART mission showed humans are capable of breaking apart an asteroid right from Earth. A small spacecraft crashed into Dimorphos, an asteroid that orbits a larger rock called Didymos. It was a success as the space rock broke apart, changing its shape and releasing so much debris that we might soon have a Didymos meteor shower.

Can an asteroid, or two asteroids, crash into Earth in the next seven years? Scientists are observing these space rocks to learn more about them. One of them could send tonnes of meteorites towards Earth, damaging the ISS, satellites and threatening astronauts.&nbsp;

City killer asteroid can shoot meteorites like bullets at Earth in 2032. Who is at risk?

Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone for India’s space ambitions. His mission evokes memories of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman in space, who tragically lost her life during the Columbia disaster in 2003. As India looks forward, the Colombia disaster remains as one of the most defining moment in space missions, an event that changed how space agencies assess risk and manage safety.&nbsp;<h2>The Tragedy of Columbia</h2>&nbsp;On 1 February 2003, NASA’s space shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members on board. The shuttle was launched on 16 January for mission STS-107, focused on scientific research. Just 82 seconds after liftoff, a piece of foam insulation detached from the shuttle's external fuel tank and struck the left wing at around 500 mph. Though this issue had been seen in earlier missions, it was not fully addressed, and taken not lightly.&nbsp;As Columbia re-entered the atmosphere, the damaged wing allowed superheated gases to penetrate the shuttle’s internal structure. This led to structural failure and disintegration at speeds above Mach 18 over Texas. Debris spread across multiple US states, as the incident was broadcasted live all across the world. Among the victims was Kalpana Chawla, remembered as a symbol of scientific ambition in India. She and her fellow astronauts had spent 16 days conducting more than 80 experiments in microgravity, ranging from fluid physics to life sciences.<h2>Investigating the Cause</h2>&nbsp;Following the incident, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) was formed, led by Admiral Harold W. Gehman Jr. The board concluded that the foam strike caused the wing breach, but went further to criticise NASA’s organisational culture. It also cited over-reliance on past success, underestimation of known risks, and a lack of open communication as major contributors to the disaster. A 2008 crew survival report showed that while the astronauts may have survived the initial breakup, they lost consciousness within seconds as cabin pressure failed.&nbsp;<h2>A Shift in Spaceflight Strategy</h2>The Columbia tragedy led to significant reform. NASA redesigned the external tank and added new inspection methods for damage in orbit. Shuttle flights resumed in 2005 but remained cautious. The incident also prompted broader change: NASA retired the Space Shuttle programme in 2011 and shifted focus to commercial partnerships with firms like SpaceX. Today, astronauts travel to the ISS aboard commercial spacecraft or Russian Soyuz capsules. The Columbia mission marked a turning point, one that redefined how safety, risk, and innovation are balanced in space exploration. &nbsp;

On 1 February 2003, NASA’s space shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members on board. 

Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone for India’s space ambitions. His mission evokes memories of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman in space, who tragically lost her life during the Columbia disaster in 2003. As India looks forward, the Colombia disaster remains as one of the most defining moment in space missions, an event that changed how space agencies assess risk and manage safety. The Tragedy of Columbia On 1 February 2003, NASA’s space shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members on board. The shuttle was launched on 16 January for mission STS-107, focused on scientific research. Just 82 seconds after liftoff, a piece of foam insulation detached from the shuttle's external fuel tank and struck the left wing at around 500 mph. Though this issue had been seen in earlier missions, it was not fully addressed, and taken not lightly. As Columbia re-entered the atmosphere, the damaged wing allowed superheated gases to penetrate the shuttle’s internal structure. This led to structural failure and disintegration at speeds above Mach 18 over Texas. Debris spread across multiple US states, as the incident was broadcasted live all across the world. Among the victims was Kalpana Chawla, remembered as a symbol of scientific ambition in India. She and her fellow astronauts had spent 16 days conducting more than 80 experiments in microgravity, ranging from fluid physics to life sciences. Investigating the Cause Following the incident, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) was formed, led by Admiral Harold W. Gehman Jr. The board concluded that the foam strike caused the wing breach, but went further to criticise NASA’s organisational culture. It also cited over-reliance on past success, underestimation of known risks, and a lack of open communication as major contributors to the disaster. A 2008 crew survival report showed that while the astronauts may have survived the initial breakup, they lost consciousness within seconds as cabin pressure failed. A Shift in Spaceflight Strategy The Columbia tragedy led to significant reform. NASA redesigned the external tank and added new inspection methods for damage in orbit. Shuttle flights resumed in 2005 but remained cautious. The incident also prompted broader change: NASA retired the Space Shuttle programme in 2011 and shifted focus to commercial partnerships with firms like SpaceX. Today, astronauts travel to the ISS aboard commercial spacecraft or Russian Soyuz capsules. The Columbia mission marked a turning point, one that redefined how safety, risk, and innovation are balanced in space exploration.

On 1 February 2003, NASA’s space shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members on board.&nbsp;

What led to NASA’s Columbia disaster and how it changed space exploration?

A new study suggests that Parkinson's disease, which is traditionally linked with neurological damage in the brain, could also begin mushrooming in an unexpected part of the body, like the kidneys. The study was conducted by a team from Wuhan University in China, has also highlighted concerns about the alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) protein, which is closely associated with Parkinson's disease.It noted that when production goes awry and creates clumps of misfolded proteins, it somehow affects brain function. The landmark discovery was that α-Syn clumps can build up in the kidneys, as well as the brain, suggesting that these abnormal proteins might travel from the kidneys to the brain, possibly triggering the disease."We demonstrate that the kidney is a peripheral organ that serves as an origin of pathological α-Syn," Science Alert cited the written report of the researchers. Researchers conducted a series of experiments examining the behaviour of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) in genetically modified mice and human tissue samples, including those from individuals with Parkinson’s disease and chronic kidney disease.<h3>Will a human with kidney dysfunction survive this disease?</h3>Their analysis revealed abnormal α-Syn accumulation in the kidneys of 10 out of 11 patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s and other Lewy body-related dementias, a condition marked by clumping of this protein.Interestingly, similar protein irregularities were observed in 17 of 20 patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, even though none had any neurological symptoms. This suggests that the kidneys may be an early site for the build-up of harmful α-Syn proteins before brain damage sets in.Tests on mice further supported this theory. Healthy mice were able to eliminate injected α-Syn clumps via their kidneys, while mice with kidney dysfunction showed protein accumulation that eventually spread to the brain. However, when the nerve connections between the brain and kidneys were severed, this spread did not occur.Since α-Syn can also travel through the bloodstream, researchers examined that route as well. They found that reduced α-Syn levels in the blood correlated with decreased brain damage, pointing to another potential transmission pathway.That said, the study has its limitations. The human sample size was relatively small, and while mice offer valuable insights, their biological responses may not exactly mirror those of humans.

 The landmark discovery was that α-Syn clumps can build up in the kidneys, as well as the brain, suggesting that these abnormal proteins might travel from the kidneys to the brain, possibly triggering the disease.

A new study suggests that Parkinson's disease, which is traditionally linked with neurological damage in the brain, could also begin mushrooming in an unexpected part of the body, like the kidneys. The study was conducted by a team from Wuhan University in China, has also highlighted concerns about the alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) protein, which is closely associated with Parkinson's disease. It noted that when production goes awry and creates clumps of misfolded proteins, it somehow affects brain function. The landmark discovery was that α-Syn clumps can build up in the kidneys, as well as the brain, suggesting that these abnormal proteins might travel from the kidneys to the brain, possibly triggering the disease. "We demonstrate that the kidney is a peripheral organ that serves as an origin of pathological α-Syn," Science Alert cited the written report of the researchers. Researchers conducted a series of experiments examining the behaviour of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) in genetically modified mice and human tissue samples, including those from individuals with Parkinson’s disease and chronic kidney disease. Will a human with kidney dysfunction survive this disease? Their analysis revealed abnormal α-Syn accumulation in the kidneys of 10 out of 11 patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s and other Lewy body-related dementias, a condition marked by clumping of this protein. Interestingly, similar protein irregularities were observed in 17 of 20 patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, even though none had any neurological symptoms. This suggests that the kidneys may be an early site for the build-up of harmful α-Syn proteins before brain damage sets in. Tests on mice further supported this theory. Healthy mice were able to eliminate injected α-Syn clumps via their kidneys, while mice with kidney dysfunction showed protein accumulation that eventually spread to the brain. However, when the nerve connections between the brain and kidneys were severed, this spread did not occur. Since α-Syn can also travel through the bloodstream, researchers examined that route as well. They found that reduced α-Syn levels in the blood correlated with decreased brain damage, pointing to another potential transmission pathway. That said, the study has its limitations. The human sample size was relatively small, and while mice offer valuable insights, their biological responses may not exactly mirror those of humans.

&nbsp;The landmark discovery was that α-Syn clumps can build up in the kidneys, as well as the brain, suggesting that these abnormal proteins might travel from the kidneys to the brain, possibly triggering the disease.

Kidneys may trigger Parkinson’s disease? Find out what study says

Asteroids are small rocky bodies that travel around the Sun. They are much smaller than planets. They are very important because they can give us clues about the early composition of the Solar System. Unlike planets and moons which have changed a lot due to volcanic activity, erosion or earthquakes many asteroids have stayed the same for billions of years. By examining them scientists can learn about the original materials that formed planets, including Earth and how our Solar System has changed over time.&nbsp;Some asteroids like Ceres, are so large that they are classified as dwarf planets. Asteroids are usually grouped into three main types based on what they are made of: C-type, S-type and M-type.&nbsp;C-type Asteroids (Carbon-rich)C-type asteroids are the most common asteriods and are dark in color and contain clay, silicate rocks and organic carbon while some also have water ice. These asteroids are mostly found in the outer part of the asteroid belt. A well-known C-type asteroid is Bennu, which was studied by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.&nbsp;S-type Asteroids (Stony)S-type asteroids are the second most common type. They are made mostly of rock and metals like nickel and iron. These materials are similar to what is found in the crust and mantle of Earth and other rocky planets. Most S-types are found in the inner part of the asteroid belt. A famous example is Eros, one of the largest asteroid near earth.&nbsp;M-type Asteroids (Metal-rich)M-type asteroids are mostly made of iron and nickel. Some may be pieces of larger bodies that were broken apart in early space collisions. Others may have formed closer to the Sun where high heat caused metal to melt and settle in the center. These asteroids are believed to be the source of metallic meteorites. One important M-type asteroid is Psyche, which NASA is currently exploring with a space mission to learn more about its origin.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Asteroids are usually grouped into three main types based on what they are made of: C-type, S-type and M-type.

Asteroids are small rocky bodies that travel around the Sun. They are much smaller than planets. They are very important because they can give us clues about the early composition of the Solar System. Unlike planets and moons which have changed a lot due to volcanic activity, erosion or earthquakes many asteroids have stayed the same for billions of years. By examining them scientists can learn about the original materials that formed planets, including Earth and how our Solar System has changed over time. Some asteroids like Ceres, are so large that they are classified as dwarf planets. Asteroids are usually grouped into three main types based on what they are made of: C-type, S-type and M-type. C-type Asteroids (Carbon-rich) C-type asteroids are the most common asteriods and are dark in color and contain clay, silicate rocks and organic carbon while some also have water ice. These asteroids are mostly found in the outer part of the asteroid belt. A well-known C-type asteroid is Bennu, which was studied by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. S-type Asteroids (Stony) S-type asteroids are the second most common type. They are made mostly of rock and metals like nickel and iron. These materials are similar to what is found in the crust and mantle of Earth and other rocky planets. Most S-types are found in the inner part of the asteroid belt. A famous example is Eros, one of the largest asteroid near earth. M-type Asteroids (Metal-rich) M-type asteroids are mostly made of iron and nickel. Some may be pieces of larger bodies that were broken apart in early space collisions. Others may have formed closer to the Sun where high heat caused metal to melt and settle in the center. These asteroids are believed to be the source of metallic meteorites. One important M-type asteroid is Psyche, which NASA is currently exploring with a space mission to learn more about its origin.

Asteroids are usually grouped into three main types based on what they are made of: C-type, S-type and M-type.

What are asteroids really made of: Rocks, metals or something more?

The Space Shuttle programme, developed by NASA, introduced the world’s first reusable spacecraft. Operating from 1981 to 2011, the shuttles carried out 135 missions, completing over 21,000 orbits and covering more than 542 million miles. The fleet was used to transport satellites, conduct research, support space station assembly, and enable spacewalks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Evolution of the Space Shuttle Fleet</h2>NASA built five operational orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Each measured 37.2 metres in length, had a wingspan of 23.8 metres, and launch mass ranging between 104 and 109 tonnes. A sixth shuttle, Enterprise, was used only for test flights and did not go into orbit. The Soviet-built Buran orbiter, measuring 36.4 metres long and weighing 105 tonnes, flew a single automated mission in 1988 and remains one of the largest spacecraft constructed outside the United States.&nbsp;Columbia, launched in April 1981, was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It was also the heaviest, weighing 109 tonnes due to early design elements and limited ISS compatibility. It deployed key payloads like the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It was tragically lost in 2003 during re-entry after sustaining wing damage from launch debris. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla was among those lost in the Columbia disaster.&nbsp;Challenger entered service in 1983 and conducted several pioneering missions, including the deployment of the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. It also hosted the first spacewalk by a US woman. On January 28, 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, following a booster failure. All seven crew members were lost.&nbsp;Discovery, arriving in 1983, became NASA’s most flown orbiter with 39 missions. It deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and played a vital role in ISS construction. Lighter than Columbia, Discovery incorporated improved thermal protection and structure refinements. It retired in 2011 after completing the final shuttle flight to the ISS.&nbsp;Atlantis, which joined the fleet in 1985, completed 33 missions and was instrumental in both ISS assembly and the Shuttle-Mir programme, becoming the first shuttle to dock with a Russian space station. Its construction was completed faster and with fewer resources than Columbia.&nbsp;&nbsp;Endeavour, commissioned in 1991 to replace Challenger, carried out 25 missions. Its notable flights included satellite repairs and spacewalks, including a record-setting eight-hour EVA. It also introduced new technical features, such as the use of a drag chute on landing.&nbsp;The Buran orbiter, developed by the Soviet Union, was similar in design and size to the American shuttle. It completed its only mission without a crew in 1988, operating entirely on automated systems. Though the programme was cancelled, Buran demonstrated comparable capabilities in terms of payload and flight systems, adding to the global legacy of reusable spacecraft.&nbsp;NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. Since then, the shuttle fleet—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—has been retired. &nbsp;

NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. 

The Space Shuttle programme, developed by NASA, introduced the world’s first reusable spacecraft. Operating from 1981 to 2011, the shuttles carried out 135 missions, completing over 21,000 orbits and covering more than 542 million miles. The fleet was used to transport satellites, conduct research, support space station assembly, and enable spacewalks. Evolution of the Space Shuttle Fleet NASA built five operational orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Each measured 37.2 metres in length, had a wingspan of 23.8 metres, and launch mass ranging between 104 and 109 tonnes. A sixth shuttle, Enterprise, was used only for test flights and did not go into orbit. The Soviet-built Buran orbiter, measuring 36.4 metres long and weighing 105 tonnes, flew a single automated mission in 1988 and remains one of the largest spacecraft constructed outside the United States. Columbia, launched in April 1981, was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It was also the heaviest, weighing 109 tonnes due to early design elements and limited ISS compatibility. It deployed key payloads like the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It was tragically lost in 2003 during re-entry after sustaining wing damage from launch debris. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla was among those lost in the Columbia disaster. Challenger entered service in 1983 and conducted several pioneering missions, including the deployment of the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. It also hosted the first spacewalk by a US woman. On January 28, 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, following a booster failure. All seven crew members were lost. Discovery, arriving in 1983, became NASA’s most flown orbiter with 39 missions. It deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and played a vital role in ISS construction. Lighter than Columbia, Discovery incorporated improved thermal protection and structure refinements. It retired in 2011 after completing the final shuttle flight to the ISS. Atlantis, which joined the fleet in 1985, completed 33 missions and was instrumental in both ISS assembly and the Shuttle-Mir programme, becoming the first shuttle to dock with a Russian space station. Its construction was completed faster and with fewer resources than Columbia. Endeavour, commissioned in 1991 to replace Challenger, carried out 25 missions. Its notable flights included satellite repairs and spacewalks, including a record-setting eight-hour EVA. It also introduced new technical features, such as the use of a drag chute on landing. The Buran orbiter, developed by the Soviet Union, was similar in design and size to the American shuttle. It completed its only mission without a crew in 1988, operating entirely on automated systems. Though the programme was cancelled, Buran demonstrated comparable capabilities in terms of payload and flight systems, adding to the global legacy of reusable spacecraft. NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. Since then, the shuttle fleet—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—has been retired.

NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011.&nbsp;

From Columbia to Discovery: The five largest NASA space shuttles in history

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to enter Space, but decades later, now, another name has emerged and will be penned down in the history books. Shubhanshu Shukla, Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force, and a serving pilot, has become the second Indian to travel to space in a Falcon 9 rocket.Shubhanshu Shukla flew as the mission pilot on Axiom Space's fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla will also carry out research designed by ISRO and Indian institutions, including studies on muscle strength, cognitive response, and gut health in microgravity.The IAF Group Captain is joined on the station by three other international astronauts: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, Peggy Whitson from the United States, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.<h2>A look at Indian citizens, Indian-origin astronauts who flew to space -</h2><h3>Rakesh Sharma</h3>Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative.On April 3, 1984, he flew abroad Soyuz T-11 and spent over a week abroad the Salyut 7 space station. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked her how India looked from space. To this, Sharma replied, "Saare Jahan Se Achha."<h3>Kalpana Chawla</h3>Kalpana Chawla, who was born in Karnal, Punjab, moved to the United States after completing her aeronautical engineering degree. Since she moved, Kalpana became a naturalised US citizen and joined NASA in 1994.Later, in 1997, she flew aboard Columbia STS-87 and became the first Indian-born woman to enter into space.However, her second flight in 2003 suffered tragedy when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry to Earth and killed all crew members.<h3>Sunita Williams</h3>Indian-American astronaut, Sunita Williams, also known for her long-duration missions on the International Space Station, joined NASA.Williams was also a former US Navy pilot and she had logged over 300 days in space. Another surprising achievement of hers, includes seven spacewalks she did, while also setting a record for the highest time spent on spacewalks by a woman.<h3>Sirish Bandla</h3>Sirish Bandla was born in Andhra Pradesh and raised in the US. She studied aeronautical engineering and worked in the private space sector. Bandla flew aboard Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 suborbital mission, and her role included conducting scientific research during the flight.She certainly created a milestone in commercial spaceflight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative.

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to enter Space, but decades later, now, another name has emerged and will be penned down in the history books. Shubhanshu Shukla, Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force, and a serving pilot, has become the second Indian to travel to space in a Falcon 9 rocket. Shubhanshu Shukla flew as the mission pilot on Axiom Space's fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla will also carry out research designed by ISRO and Indian institutions, including studies on muscle strength, cognitive response, and gut health in microgravity. The IAF Group Captain is joined on the station by three other international astronauts: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, Peggy Whitson from the United States, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. A look at Indian citizens, Indian-origin astronauts who flew to space - Rakesh Sharma Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative. On April 3, 1984, he flew abroad Soyuz T-11 and spent over a week abroad the Salyut 7 space station. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked her how India looked from space. To this, Sharma replied, "Saare Jahan Se Achha." Kalpana Chawla Kalpana Chawla, who was born in Karnal, Punjab, moved to the United States after completing her aeronautical engineering degree. Since she moved, Kalpana became a naturalised US citizen and joined NASA in 1994. Later, in 1997, she flew aboard Columbia STS-87 and became the first Indian-born woman to enter into space. However, her second flight in 2003 suffered tragedy when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry to Earth and killed all crew members. Sunita Williams Indian-American astronaut, Sunita Williams, also known for her long-duration missions on the International Space Station, joined NASA. Williams was also a former US Navy pilot and she had logged over 300 days in space. Another surprising achievement of hers, includes seven spacewalks she did, while also setting a record for the highest time spent on spacewalks by a woman. Sirish Bandla Sirish Bandla was born in Andhra Pradesh and raised in the US. She studied aeronautical engineering and worked in the private space sector. Bandla flew aboard Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 suborbital mission, and her role included conducting scientific research during the flight. She certainly created a milestone in commercial spaceflight.

Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative.

From Rakesh Sharma to today's space pioneers: Meet Indians and Indian-origin icons who reached beyond Earth

“The sky is never the limit—neither for you, nor for me, nor for India,” said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, speaking from space during a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (June 28). Modi spoke with Shukla, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla has already made history as the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS, and only the second Indian ever in space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.The IAF Group Captain is joined on the station by three other international astronauts: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, Peggy Whitson from the United States, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.During their virtual conversation, Modi told Shukla: “You may be the farthest from Indian soil, but you are the closest to the hearts of its people.” Modi added that Shukla’s mission marks a Shubh Aarambh—a new and hopeful beginning for the youth of Bharat.This heartfelt exchange sparked a wave of nostalgia, reminding Indians of another iconic moment in the country’s space history: when Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, had a live chat with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. When she asked how India looked from space, Sharma famously replied: “Saare jahaan se achha Hindustan hamara.”<h3>What is the Axiom-4 mission?</h3>Shukla is now part of the Axiom-4 mission, a private spaceflight aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. The mission is historic not just for India but globally. It includes astronauts from India, the US, Poland, and Hungary, and features over 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries.Shukla will also carry out research designed by ISRO and Indian institutions, including studies on muscle strength, cognitive response, and gut health in microgravity.Axiom Space’s long-term goal is to build the world’s first commercial space station, which will eventually replace the ISS after it retires.

This heartfelt exchange of words sparked a feeling of reminiscence, reminding every other Indian of another iconic moment in Indian space history: when Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to sail in space, had a live chat with then Prime Minister Iron Lady Indira Gandhi.

“The sky is never the limit—neither for you, nor for me, nor for India,” said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, speaking from space during a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (June 28). Modi spoke with Shukla, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla has already made history as the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS, and only the second Indian ever in space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The IAF Group Captain is joined on the station by three other international astronauts: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, Peggy Whitson from the United States, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. During their virtual conversation, Modi told Shukla: “You may be the farthest from Indian soil, but you are the closest to the hearts of its people.” Modi added that Shukla’s mission marks a Shubh Aarambh—a new and hopeful beginning for the youth of Bharat. This heartfelt exchange sparked a wave of nostalgia, reminding Indians of another iconic moment in the country’s space history: when Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, had a live chat with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. When she asked how India looked from space, Sharma famously replied: “Saare jahaan se achha Hindustan hamara.” What is the Axiom-4 mission? Shukla is now part of the Axiom-4 mission, a private spaceflight aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. The mission is historic not just for India but globally. It includes astronauts from India, the US, Poland, and Hungary, and features over 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries. Shukla will also carry out research designed by ISRO and Indian institutions, including studies on muscle strength, cognitive response, and gut health in microgravity. Axiom Space’s long-term goal is to build the world’s first commercial space station, which will eventually replace the ISS after it retires.

This heartfelt exchange of words sparked a feeling of reminiscence, reminding every other Indian of another iconic moment in Indian space history: when Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to sail in space, had a live chat with then Prime Minister Iron Lady Indira Gandhi.

‘Saare Jahaan Se Achha’ moment 2.0: PM Modi’s call with Shubhanshu Shukla sparks memories of Indira Gandhi–Rakesh Sharma space chat

A team of researchers led by planetary geologist Erica Luzzi from the University of Mississippi has identified a promising location on Mars that could support future human habitation. The site, located in Amazonis Planitia, a broad volcanic plain in the planet’s mid-latitudes, may contain shallow subsurface ice, a critical resource for sustaining life.&nbsp;Using high-resolution imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Luzzi’s team observed surface patterns typically associated with ground ice on Earth. Features such as bright-rimmed craters, polygonal cracks, and subtle terrain shifts indicate the likely presence of water ice less than a metre below the surface. This shallow depth could make it accessible for robotic or human-led drilling without requiring heavy infrastructure.&nbsp;“If we’re going to send humans to Mars, you need H₂O—not just for drinking, but for propellant and all manner of applications,” Dr Luzzi explained.<h2>Balancing sunlight and subsurface ice</h2>Mars' polar regions are known to contain abundant ice, but their extreme cold and limited sunlight make them unsuitable for long-term, solar-powered missions. In contrast, equatorial areas, while warmer and sunnier, tend to have ice buried too deep for easy access. Amazonis Planitia, sitting in Mars' mid-latitudes, strikes a practical balance. “The mid-latitudes offer the perfect compromise – they get enough sunlight for power, but they’re still cold enough to preserve ice near the surface,” said Luzzi.&nbsp;This discovery supports the strategy of in situ resource utilisation (ISRU), which involves using local materials to reduce the need for supplies from Earth. Transporting water from Earth would be costly and inefficient, making ISRU essential for sustainable exploration.<h2>Next steps and scientific potential</h2>While the findings are promising, further exploration is required to confirm the volume and stability of the ice. Future missions may deploy radar instruments and ground drills to measure and sample the subsurface directly. Technologies like NASA’s SHARAD radar and the upcoming Mars Ice Mapper, developed with the European Space Agency, are expected to play a key role.&nbsp;Beyond supporting life, shallow ice on Mars may also help scientists understand the planet’s history and potential for past life. Ice layers could preserve ancient atmospheric gases or organic compounds, offering clues about Mars’ evolution. &nbsp;

Using high-resolution imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Luzzi’s team observed surface patterns typically associated with ground ice on Earth.

A team of researchers led by planetary geologist Erica Luzzi from the University of Mississippi has identified a promising location on Mars that could support future human habitation. The site, located in Amazonis Planitia, a broad volcanic plain in the planet’s mid-latitudes, may contain shallow subsurface ice, a critical resource for sustaining life. Using high-resolution imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Luzzi’s team observed surface patterns typically associated with ground ice on Earth. Features such as bright-rimmed craters, polygonal cracks, and subtle terrain shifts indicate the likely presence of water ice less than a metre below the surface. This shallow depth could make it accessible for robotic or human-led drilling without requiring heavy infrastructure. “If we’re going to send humans to Mars, you need H₂O—not just for drinking, but for propellant and all manner of applications,” Dr Luzzi explained. Balancing sunlight and subsurface ice Mars' polar regions are known to contain abundant ice, but their extreme cold and limited sunlight make them unsuitable for long-term, solar-powered missions. In contrast, equatorial areas, while warmer and sunnier, tend to have ice buried too deep for easy access. Amazonis Planitia, sitting in Mars' mid-latitudes, strikes a practical balance. “The mid-latitudes offer the perfect compromise – they get enough sunlight for power, but they’re still cold enough to preserve ice near the surface,” said Luzzi. This discovery supports the strategy of in situ resource utilisation (ISRU), which involves using local materials to reduce the need for supplies from Earth. Transporting water from Earth would be costly and inefficient, making ISRU essential for sustainable exploration. Next steps and scientific potential While the findings are promising, further exploration is required to confirm the volume and stability of the ice. Future missions may deploy radar instruments and ground drills to measure and sample the subsurface directly. Technologies like NASA’s SHARAD radar and the upcoming Mars Ice Mapper, developed with the European Space Agency, are expected to play a key role. Beyond supporting life, shallow ice on Mars may also help scientists understand the planet’s history and potential for past life. Ice layers could preserve ancient atmospheric gases or organic compounds, offering clues about Mars’ evolution.

Using high-resolution imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Luzzi’s team observed surface patterns typically associated with ground ice on Earth.

Red Planet ready for humans? Scientists locate potential settlement zone on Mars

NASA astronauts have cumulatively spent thousands of days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), enabling critical research into the effects of long-duration space travel. Among them, seven have stood out for their exceptional time spent in orbit, shaping our understanding of human endurance and systems vital for deep space exploration. The agency maintains two key metrics: time spent on a single spaceflight and cumulative time across an astronaut’s career. While Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest single mission at 371 days, it is Peggy Whitson who leads overall with a total of 675 days in space.

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>List Of Astronauts:-</h2><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Astronaut</td><td>No. of days</td></tr><tr><td>Peggy Whitson</td><td>675</td></tr><tr><td>Sunita Williams</td><td>608</td></tr><tr><td>Don Pettit</td><td>590</td></tr><tr><td>Jeff Williams</td><td>534</td></tr><tr><td>Mark Vande</td><td>523</td></tr><tr><td>Scott Kelly</td><td>520</td></tr><tr><td>Mike Barratt</td><td>447</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

<h2>Leading the list: Peggy Whitson to Mark Vande Hei</h2>&nbsp;Peggy A. Whitson tops NASA’s cumulative time-in-space chart with 675 days over multiple missions, including a recent nine-day stint on the Axiom-2 mission in 2023. She is currently commanding the private space mission led by Axiom Space to the ISS. Sunita L. Williams follows with 608 days, having participated in four missions, known especially for her spacewalks and marathon in orbit.&nbsp;&nbsp;Don Pettit is third with 590 days, contributing significantly to science and engineering aboard the ISS. Jeff Williams comes next with 534 days over four missions, the last of which was in 2016. Mark Vande Hei logged 523 days in total, 355 of which were from a single long-duration mission between 2021 and 2022.&nbsp;<h2>Completing the top seven: Scott Kelly and Mike Barratt</h2>&nbsp;Scott Kelly, known for his nearly year-long stay on the ISS, accumulated 520 days in total. In 2016, Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko completed a historic 340-day mission aboard the ISS. His mission yielded valuable insights into the physical and mental effects of long-term spaceflight.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rounding out the list is Mike Barratt, with 447 days across two missions. Mike went on two missions. Each of these astronauts played a crucial role in the ongoing research into human health, spacecraft systems, and life-support technologies, advancing NASA’s preparations for future missions beyond low Earth orbit.&nbsp;

The Axiom-4 mission was launched on Wednesday with four crew members, includes Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut, who holds the record for highest cumulative days in space.

NASA astronauts have cumulatively spent thousands of days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), enabling critical research into the effects of long-duration space travel. Among them, seven have stood out for their exceptional time spent in orbit, shaping our understanding of human endurance and systems vital for deep space exploration. The agency maintains two key metrics: time spent on a single spaceflight and cumulative time across an astronaut’s career. While Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest single mission at 371 days, it is Peggy Whitson who leads overall with a total of 675 days in space.

The Axiom-4 mission was launched on Wednesday with four crew members, includes Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut, who holds the record for highest cumulative days in space.

Who’s spent the most time in space? NASA’s top 7 astronauts, including Axiom-4’s Peggy Whitson

Chile’s Vera Rubin telescope captures 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. A powerful new eye in the sky. Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially begun its mission to observe the universe like never before. The Chile observatory features the world’s largest digital camera, a 3,200 Megapixel sensor, and recently shared its first images from space. Located on Pachon Hill in northern Chile, the telescope aims to uncover new details about how the solar system formed and spot possible asteroid threats to Earth.<h2>2,100 new asteroids detected</h2>In just 10 hours, the Rubin Observatory discovered more than 2,100 previously unknown asteroids, focusing on a small area of the visible sky. To compare, all global observatories combined typically detect about 20,000 asteroids per year.&nbsp;“It’s really going to change and challenge the way people work with their data,” said William O’Mullane, a project leader for data at the observatory.&nbsp;The telescope's vast capabilities allow it to collect data on a massive scale. “I’ll give you a million galaxies. I’ll give you a million stars or a billion even,” O’Mullane said.<h2>Covering the whole southern sky</h2>Each night, the observatory takes around 1,000 images of the southern hemisphere sky. Within three to four nights, it can complete a full scan of the entire southern sky. Its location in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the darkest and driest regions on Earth, makes it ideal for deep-sky observations.&nbsp;The observatory is named after Vera C. Rubin, an American astronomer known for her work on dark matter, an invisible substance that makes up most of the universe’s mass.<h2>Data flood needs artificial intelligence</h2>The Rubin Observatory is expected to send out so much information that it would overwhelm any human team working alone. “The number of alerts the telescope will send every night is equivalent to the inboxes of 83,000 people,” said Chilean astrophysicist Francisco Foster.&nbsp;To handle this, astronomers plan to use artificial intelligence tools to help process and analyse the data in real time.&nbsp;The observatory is set to play a major role in discovering asteroids, galaxies, stars, and dark matter; it can be considered as one of the most important astronomical projects of this decade.&nbsp;

Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has made a groundbreaking discovery, detecting 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. With its powerful 3,200 Megapixel camera, the telescope aims to reshape our understanding of the universe and track potential asteroid threats to Earth.


Chile’s Vera Rubin telescope captures 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. A powerful new eye in the sky. Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially begun its mission to observe the universe like never before. The Chile observatory features the world’s largest digital camera, a 3,200 Megapixel sensor, and recently shared its first images from space. Located on Pachon Hill in northern Chile, the telescope aims to uncover new details about how the solar system formed and spot possible asteroid threats to Earth. 2,100 new asteroids detected In just 10 hours, the Rubin Observatory discovered more than 2,100 previously unknown asteroids, focusing on a small area of the visible sky. To compare, all global observatories combined typically detect about 20,000 asteroids per year. “It’s really going to change and challenge the way people work with their data,” said William O’Mullane, a project leader for data at the observatory. The telescope's vast capabilities allow it to collect data on a massive scale. “I’ll give you a million galaxies. I’ll give you a million stars or a billion even,” O’Mullane said. Covering the whole southern sky Each night, the observatory takes around 1,000 images of the southern hemisphere sky. Within three to four nights, it can complete a full scan of the entire southern sky. Its location in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the darkest and driest regions on Earth, makes it ideal for deep-sky observations. The observatory is named after Vera C. Rubin, an American astronomer known for her work on dark matter, an invisible substance that makes up most of the universe’s mass. Data flood needs artificial intelligence The Rubin Observatory is expected to send out so much information that it would overwhelm any human team working alone. “The number of alerts the telescope will send every night is equivalent to the inboxes of 83,000 people,” said Chilean astrophysicist Francisco Foster. To handle this, astronomers plan to use artificial intelligence tools to help process and analyse the data in real time. The observatory is set to play a major role in discovering asteroids, galaxies, stars, and dark matter; it can be considered as one of the most important astronomical projects of this decade.

Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has made a groundbreaking discovery, detecting 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. With its powerful 3,200 Megapixel camera, the telescope aims to reshape our understanding of the universe and track potential asteroid threats to Earth.

The world’s largest space telescope finds 2,100 new asteroids. Know what else it can do.

&nbsp;Housing and Urban Development (HUD) takeover forces National Science Foundation (NSF) staff out of new headquarters<h2>Sudden announcement shocks employees</h2>On 24 June, more than 1,800 workers at the National Science Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia, were told they must leave their headquarters. At a press briefing the next day, officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed the move. HUD staff will take over the building "as quickly as possible," said Michael Peters, Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service .&nbsp;Many NSF staff were surprised. One told E&amp;E News they had “literally zero idea” the change was coming. The facility, opened in 2017, had only recently become home to the agency .<h2>Protests and political backlash</h2>On 25 June, dozens of NSF employees gathered outside, chanting slogans such as “We won’t go!”&nbsp; &nbsp;HUD Secretary Scott Turner defended the transfer as a positive move for efficiency. About 2,700 HUD staff will move into the former NSF offices from the 1960s-era Weaver building . He described it as “a win for everyone involved.”&nbsp;But not all share this view. The American Federation of Government Employees called the transfer a "callous disregard" for taxpayers and scientists, and claimed HUD planned luxury additions such as an executive suite and gym for Turner . Turner dismissed these claims as “ridiculous.”&nbsp;Criticism from Congress and science groupsSenator Maria Cantwell said the move was "adding insult to injury", accusing the administration of pushing a 55% cut to the NSF budget . She added that such actions could weaken America’s scientific standing.&nbsp;On the House side, Representative Zoe Lofgren described the decision as “egregious, corrupt, and disgraceful abuse of power”, adding that the US could fall behind competitors such as China.<h2>What happens next</h2>The NSF, created in 1950, funds key scientific achievements like the barcode, gravitational wave detection, and imaging black holes. But the agency now faces a budget cut of more than 50% and has lost over 1,600 grants in the past six months . HUD also faces a 44% cut to its 2026 budget .&nbsp;The relocation plan is not yet clear. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin urged that NSF remain in the state, even if in a different building . The General Services Administration says it will work to find new suitable space and support NSF’s mission . NSF has not issued a comment .

Over 1,800 National Science Foundation staff were abruptly told to vacate their HQ as HUD takes over the building. The surprise move sparked protests, political backlash, and concerns about science funding cuts. Officials promise relocation, but the NSF's future remains uncertain.


Housing and Urban Development (HUD) takeover forces National Science Foundation (NSF) staff out of new headquarters Sudden announcement shocks employees On 24 June, more than 1,800 workers at the National Science Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia, were told they must leave their headquarters. At a press briefing the next day, officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed the move. HUD staff will take over the building "as quickly as possible," said Michael Peters, Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service . Many NSF staff were surprised. One told E&E News they had “literally zero idea” the change was coming. The facility, opened in 2017, had only recently become home to the agency . Protests and political backlash On 25 June, dozens of NSF employees gathered outside, chanting slogans such as “We won’t go!” HUD Secretary Scott Turner defended the transfer as a positive move for efficiency. About 2,700 HUD staff will move into the former NSF offices from the 1960s-era Weaver building . He described it as “a win for everyone involved.” But not all share this view. The American Federation of Government Employees called the transfer a "callous disregard" for taxpayers and scientists, and claimed HUD planned luxury additions such as an executive suite and gym for Turner . Turner dismissed these claims as “ridiculous.” Criticism from Congress and science groups Senator Maria Cantwell said the move was "adding insult to injury", accusing the administration of pushing a 55% cut to the NSF budget . She added that such actions could weaken America’s scientific standing. On the House side, Representative Zoe Lofgren described the decision as “egregious, corrupt, and disgraceful abuse of power”, adding that the US could fall behind competitors such as China. What happens next The NSF, created in 1950, funds key scientific achievements like the barcode, gravitational wave detection, and imaging black holes. But the agency now faces a budget cut of more than 50% and has lost over 1,600 grants in the past six months . HUD also faces a 44% cut to its 2026 budget . The relocation plan is not yet clear. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin urged that NSF remain in the state, even if in a different building . The General Services Administration says it will work to find new suitable space and support NSF’s mission . NSF has not issued a comment .

Over 1,800 National Science Foundation staff were abruptly told to vacate their HQ as HUD takes over the building. The surprise move sparked protests, political backlash, and concerns about science funding cuts. Officials promise relocation, but the NSF's future remains uncertain.

Scientists protest as over 1,800 National Science Foundation employees are displaced

SpaceX has said its efforts to recover debris from last week’s Starship explosion have been delayed. The company has requested assistance from the Mexican government as parts of the rocket reportedly landed in the state of Tamaulipas. Mexico has launched an investigation to assess environmental damage and possible legal violations. After the incident.&nbsp;The incident occurred during a test of SpaceX’s Starship rocket in Texas. The spacecraft exploded mid-flight, lighting up the sky and scattering debris. SpaceX described the blast as a “major anomaly” and confirmed that parts of the rocket may have crossed into Mexican territory.<h2>SpaceX asks Mexico for help with recovery</h2>In a post on the social media platform X, SpaceX said that recovery efforts have been hindered by people entering the debris zone without permission. “Despite SpaceX's attempts to recover the anomaly-related debris, which remains the property of SpaceX, these efforts have been obstructed by unauthorised parties trespassing on private land,” the company wrote in a post. SpaceX added that it had asked for local and federal help from Mexican authorities and offered support for the clean-up.<h2>Mexico launches investigation, cites contamination risk</h2>President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Mexico is reviewing the environmental and legal implications of the incident. The focus is on rocket debris that landed in Tamaulipas and any possible contamination. “There is indeed contamination. We are reviewing what international laws may have been violated. From there, we will start the process,” she said in a public briefing.&nbsp;The government’s review will include environmental and airspace safety regulations. If international laws are found to be breached, Mexico could consider taking legal steps.<h2>Starship’s troubled record</h2>The Starship programme, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has experienced several failures. A launch earlier this year also ended in an explosion minutes after liftoff, with debris reportedly landing on Caribbean islands and damaging a vehicle in the Turks and Caicos. Each failure has raised safety concerns, especially as launches become more frequent.&nbsp;Despite setbacks, SpaceX continues to develop Starship for long-term missions, including planned trips to Mars. However, the company now faces pressure to ensure better safety practices and co-operation with international partners.&nbsp;As of now, the Axiom Mission 4 crewed mission remains unaffected by the incident, and the authorities are closely monitoring future SpaceX activities for compliance with environmental and aerospace laws.

The Starship programme, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has experienced several failures. A launch earlier this year also ended in an explosion minutes after liftoff, with debris reportedly landing on Caribbean islands and damaging a vehicle in the Turks and Caicos as reports says.

SpaceX has said its efforts to recover debris from last week’s Starship explosion have been delayed. The company has requested assistance from the Mexican government as parts of the rocket reportedly landed in the state of Tamaulipas. Mexico has launched an investigation to assess environmental damage and possible legal violations. After the incident. The incident occurred during a test of SpaceX’s Starship rocket in Texas. The spacecraft exploded mid-flight, lighting up the sky and scattering debris. SpaceX described the blast as a “major anomaly” and confirmed that parts of the rocket may have crossed into Mexican territory. SpaceX asks Mexico for help with recovery In a post on the social media platform X, SpaceX said that recovery efforts have been hindered by people entering the debris zone without permission. “Despite SpaceX's attempts to recover the anomaly-related debris, which remains the property of SpaceX, these efforts have been obstructed by unauthorised parties trespassing on private land,” the company wrote in a post. SpaceX added that it had asked for local and federal help from Mexican authorities and offered support for the clean-up. Mexico launches investigation, cites contamination risk President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Mexico is reviewing the environmental and legal implications of the incident. The focus is on rocket debris that landed in Tamaulipas and any possible contamination. “There is indeed contamination. We are reviewing what international laws may have been violated. From there, we will start the process,” she said in a public briefing. The government’s review will include environmental and airspace safety regulations. If international laws are found to be breached, Mexico could consider taking legal steps. Starship’s troubled record The Starship programme, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has experienced several failures. A launch earlier this year also ended in an explosion minutes after liftoff, with debris reportedly landing on Caribbean islands and damaging a vehicle in the Turks and Caicos. Each failure has raised safety concerns, especially as launches become more frequent. Despite setbacks, SpaceX continues to develop Starship for long-term missions, including planned trips to Mars. However, the company now faces pressure to ensure better safety practices and co-operation with international partners. As of now, the Axiom Mission 4 crewed mission remains unaffected by the incident, and the authorities are closely monitoring future SpaceX activities for compliance with environmental and aerospace laws.

The Starship programme, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has experienced several failures. A launch earlier this year also ended in an explosion minutes after liftoff, with debris reportedly landing on Caribbean islands and damaging a vehicle in the Turks and Caicos as reports says.

SpaceX debris recovery delayed after Starship blast; Mexico investigates environmental risk

A wandering supermassive black hole is inflicting terror on passing stars, creating a horror scene in space. Located 600 million light-years away, this monster cosmic body is invisible and quietly devouring stars. Hubble Space Telescope spotted it, marking the first optical discovery of a supermassive black hole that is roaming around in space. Dubbed "Space Jaws" by astronomers, the black hole isn't strangely sitting at the centre of a galaxy, like they usually do. It is so humongous that it can fit one million suns. But it is a cosmic anomaly, and scientists are trying to learn more about it.A newly identified tidal disruption event (TDE) exposed the killer black hole sitting between stars. The event showed that a black hole had torn apart and devoured a star, releasing a powerful burst of radiation. TDEs help scientists understand how black holes operate, offering an insight into what triggers energetic jets and winds when a star is shredded. This TDE is named AT2024tvd and appeared like a bright flash picked up by Hubble. Notably, black holes have immense gravitational tidal forces. A TDE occurs when a falling star is stretched or "spaghettified" by this force.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/after-mission-bikini-possible-also-fails-spacecraft-scatters-human-ashes-marijuana-for-mars-in-pacific-it-didn-t-mean-to-1751019082133">After Mission Bikini, Possible fails: Spacecraft scatters human ashes, marijuana for Mars in Pacific. It didn't mean to</a>&nbsp;<h2>Rogue black hole is roaming in the galaxy</h2>&nbsp;Supermassive black holes are almost always situated at the centre of a galaxy. But this one is wandering and off-centre. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the NRAO’s Very Large Array also confirmed that the black hole is located away from the galaxy’s centre. The observation of the strange supermassive black hole was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.“AT2024tvd is the first offset TDE captured by optical sky surveys, and it opens up the entire possibility of uncovering this elusive population of wandering black holes with future sky surveys,” said lead study author Yuhan Yao of the University of California at Berkeley.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-celestial-show-a-black-hole-will-cross-through-saturn-except-it-is-1751012218496">Rare celestial show: A 'black hole' will cross through Saturn, except it is...</a>&nbsp;Scientists say that in roughly 100 tidal disruption events (TDEs) detected by telescopes, this is the first time a black hole of this size was seen positioned away from a galaxy’s core. All other known TDEs have been tied to central black holes. What' scary is that the galaxy has another supermassive black hole that sits in its usual location - at the centre. It has a mass of 100 million suns and is only about 2,600 light-years from the other black hole that seems to have gone rogue.&nbsp;<h2>Invisible black hole released a cosmic burp, revealing its location</h2>&nbsp;The supermassive black hole is invisible. But when several ground-based sky survey telescopes noticed a bright flare, scientists knew it was not from a supernova. The flare was very hot, which revealed that the flash was from a black hole eating a star. It doesn't show itself a lot, but only once every few tens of thousands of years when it "burps" after feeding on a star. Experts think that the black hole went off-centre because of the three-body problem, where the lowest-mass member is kicked out. If the black hole went through a triple interaction with two other black holes in the galaxy’s core, it can still remain bound to the galaxy, orbiting around the central region,“ said Yao.What is the black hole's future? It might be gradually pulled by the bigger black hole at the centre and merge with it. But we might never know its fate since such cosmic events take millions of years. &nbsp;

The supermassive black hole only reveals itself once every tens of thousands of years. It has gone rogue and is on a killing spree in its galaxy. Hubble Space Telescope caught it red handed devouring a star that was passing by. 

A wandering supermassive black hole is inflicting terror on passing stars, creating a horror scene in space. Located 600 million light-years away, this monster cosmic body is invisible and quietly devouring stars. Hubble Space Telescope spotted it, marking the first optical discovery of a supermassive black hole that is roaming around in space. Dubbed "Space Jaws" by astronomers, the black hole isn't strangely sitting at the centre of a galaxy, like they usually do. It is so humongous that it can fit one million suns. But it is a cosmic anomaly, and scientists are trying to learn more about it. A newly identified tidal disruption event (TDE) exposed the killer black hole sitting between stars. The event showed that a black hole had torn apart and devoured a star, releasing a powerful burst of radiation. TDEs help scientists understand how black holes operate, offering an insight into what triggers energetic jets and winds when a star is shredded. This TDE is named AT2024tvd and appeared like a bright flash picked up by Hubble. Notably, black holes have immense gravitational tidal forces. A TDE occurs when a falling star is stretched or "spaghettified" by this force. Also Read: After Mission Bikini, Possible fails: Spacecraft scatters human ashes, marijuana for Mars in Pacific. It didn't mean to Rogue black hole is roaming in the galaxy Supermassive black holes are almost always situated at the centre of a galaxy. But this one is wandering and off-centre. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the NRAO’s Very Large Array also confirmed that the black hole is located away from the galaxy’s centre. The observation of the strange supermassive black hole was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. “AT2024tvd is the first offset TDE captured by optical sky surveys, and it opens up the entire possibility of uncovering this elusive population of wandering black holes with future sky surveys,” said lead study author Yuhan Yao of the University of California at Berkeley. Also Read: Rare celestial show: A 'black hole' will cross through Saturn, except it is... Scientists say that in roughly 100 tidal disruption events (TDEs) detected by telescopes, this is the first time a black hole of this size was seen positioned away from a galaxy’s core. All other known TDEs have been tied to central black holes. What' scary is that the galaxy has another supermassive black hole that sits in its usual location - at the centre. It has a mass of 100 million suns and is only about 2,600 light-years from the other black hole that seems to have gone rogue. Invisible black hole released a cosmic burp, revealing its location The supermassive black hole is invisible. But when several ground-based sky survey telescopes noticed a bright flare, scientists knew it was not from a supernova. The flare was very hot, which revealed that the flash was from a black hole eating a star. It doesn't show itself a lot, but only once every few tens of thousands of years when it "burps" after feeding on a star. Experts think that the black hole went off-centre because of the three-body problem, where the lowest-mass member is kicked out. If the black hole went through a triple interaction with two other black holes in the galaxy’s core, it can still remain bound to the galaxy, orbiting around the central region,“ said Yao. What is the black hole's future? It might be gradually pulled by the bigger black hole at the centre and merge with it. But we might never know its fate since such cosmic events take millions of years.

The supermassive black hole only reveals itself once every tens of thousands of years. It has gone rogue and is on a killing spree in its galaxy. Hubble Space Telescope caught it red-handed devouring a star that was passing by.&nbsp;

Invisible murderer in space reveals its location with a 'cosmic burp'. It is an anomaly

A mission to carry the remains of more than 160 dead people to space and return them to their families failed terribly when the spacecraft carrying them crashed into the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, June 24. The unfortunate families will never be able to see the remains of their loved ones again. The Exploration Company, a German aerospace startup, carried out "Mission Possible", its first attempt to carry customer payloads. It was part of the Transporter-14 rideshare mission launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 23 from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base.Nyx, a 1.6-ton reentry capsule, was part of the 70 payloads aboard it. It carried roughly 300 kilograms of cargo on a trip around the Earth. This included the ashes and DNA of more than 166 deceased people. Celestis, a memorial spaceflight company based in Houston, Texas, had provided the human remains. It was intended to return safely to Earth, after which they would have been returned to their families. Nyx successfully reached orbit, but its return mission was a flop as the parachute system failed, according to Celestis.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-celestial-show-a-black-hole-will-cross-through-saturn-except-it-is-1751012218496">Rare celestial show: A 'black hole' will cross through Saturn, except it is...</a>&nbsp;<h2>Spacecraft with human remains falls into ocean</h2>&nbsp;The company said in a statement that because of the unfortunate situation, it would "not be able to recover or return the flight capsules aboard." “We share in the disappointment of our families, and we offer our sincerest gratitude for their trust.” Celestis admitted that losing the remains of beloved family members of those who trusted them was a significant personal loss. “In the coming days, our team will reach out to each family individually to offer support and discuss possible next steps,” the company said.&nbsp;<h2>Company hopes families will find peace that their loved ones went to space</h2>&nbsp;It added that it hoped the families would find peace in knowing "their loved ones were part of a historic journey, launched into space, orbited Earth, and are now resting in the vastness of the Pacific, akin to a traditional and honoured sea scattering." Meanwhile, The Exploration Company deemed Mission Possible a "partial success." It said that they lost communication with the spacecraft a few minutes before splashdown, and are now investigating the cause.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-is-shubhanshu-shukla-s-ax-4-dragon-capsule-named-grace-nasa-astronaut-reveals-two-reasons-1750926301881">Why is Shubhanshu Shukla's Ax-4 Dragon capsule named Grace? NASA astronaut reveals two reasons</a>&nbsp;Other things on the Nyx payload included cannabis that was given by Martian Grow, an open-source citizen science project whose ultimate aim is to grow marijuana on Mars. This was The Exploration Company’s second flight after it launched Mission Bikini. In July 2024, a smaller reentry capsule was launched aboard the first Ariane 6 flight. However, the rocket’s upper stage suffered an anomaly, and it remained stuck in orbit with Bikini still attached. &nbsp;

Mission Possible fails: The spacecraft carried marijuana by a company that aims to grow pot on Mars. Human remains were supposed to travel around Earth in space and returned to their families. However, Mission Possible failed after Mission Bikini by the same company.

A mission to carry the remains of more than 160 dead people to space and return them to their families failed terribly when the spacecraft carrying them crashed into the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, June 24. The unfortunate families will never be able to see the remains of their loved ones again. The Exploration Company, a German aerospace startup, carried out "Mission Possible", its first attempt to carry customer payloads. It was part of the Transporter-14 rideshare mission launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 23 from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. Nyx, a 1.6-ton reentry capsule, was part of the 70 payloads aboard it. It carried roughly 300 kilograms of cargo on a trip around the Earth. This included the ashes and DNA of more than 166 deceased people. Celestis, a memorial spaceflight company based in Houston, Texas, had provided the human remains. It was intended to return safely to Earth, after which they would have been returned to their families. Nyx successfully reached orbit, but its return mission was a flop as the parachute system failed, according to Celestis. Also Read: Rare celestial show: A 'black hole' will cross through Saturn, except it is... Spacecraft with human remains falls into ocean The company said in a statement that because of the unfortunate situation, it would "not be able to recover or return the flight capsules aboard." “We share in the disappointment of our families, and we offer our sincerest gratitude for their trust.” Celestis admitted that losing the remains of beloved family members of those who trusted them was a significant personal loss. “In the coming days, our team will reach out to each family individually to offer support and discuss possible next steps,” the company said. Company hopes families will find peace that their loved ones went to space It added that it hoped the families would find peace in knowing "their loved ones were part of a historic journey, launched into space, orbited Earth, and are now resting in the vastness of the Pacific, akin to a traditional and honoured sea scattering." Meanwhile, The Exploration Company deemed Mission Possible a "partial success." It said that they lost communication with the spacecraft a few minutes before splashdown, and are now investigating the cause. Also Read: Why is Shubhanshu Shukla's Ax-4 Dragon capsule named Grace? NASA astronaut reveals two reasons Other things on the Nyx payload included cannabis that was given by Martian Grow, an open-source citizen science project whose ultimate aim is to grow marijuana on Mars. This was The Exploration Company’s second flight after it launched Mission Bikini. In July 2024, a smaller reentry capsule was launched aboard the first Ariane 6 flight. However, the rocket’s upper stage suffered an anomaly, and it remained stuck in orbit with Bikini still attached.

Mission Possible fails: The spacecraft carried marijuana by a company that aims to grow pot on Mars. Human remains were supposed to travel around Earth in space and returned to their families. However, Mission Possible failed after Mission Bikini by the same company.

After Mission Bikini, Possible fails: Spacecraft scatters human ashes, marijuana for Mars in Pacific. It didn't mean to

A black hole will shoot across the surface of Saturn in the coming days, and this is your only chance to see it for the next 15 years. The black hole has already transited three times, and it will do so 10 more times before the occurrence fades out. This is because of the way Saturn and Earth are aligned right now. The gas giant's rings are facing Earth at the moment, and the giant hole is nothing but the shadow of its largest moon, Titan. This is similar to how the moon casts a shadow on Earth during an eclipse. With the current alignment, this has already happened thrice and will continue to happen for a few more weeks, with a gap of 16 days.&nbsp;Titan orbits Saturn every 16 days, and the perfect alignment with Earth at the moment means that Titan's shadow will be clearly visible to humans. The last transit happened on June 16, and the next one is due on July 2. The other dates to see Titan cast a shadow are - July 2, July 18, Aug. 3, Aug. 19, Sept. 4, Sept. 20 and Oct. 6, according to &nbsp;Sky &amp; Telescope. How clear the view is will depend on the weather in your location. The timings will also vary depending on the region. Besides Titan's shadow, you can also take a sneak peek at Titan itself as it orbits around Saturn. Titan's position will change with each orbit, and the shadow will be larger than the moon itself.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/giant-comet-from-oort-cloud-spotted-moving-at-insane-speed-inside-solar-system-will-it-reach-earth-1750829164659">Giant comet from Oort cloud spotted moving at insane speed inside solar system. Will it reach Earth?</a>&nbsp;<h2>How to watch the black hole over Saturn?</h2>&nbsp;To get the best view, experts suggest getting an early look and not waiting till the last date. The length of the transit will continue to reduce with each orbit, so you might want to watch it at the earliest date possible. A good telescope with at least 200x magnification is recommended to bag a nice view of Titan and its shadow. On July 2, the transition will last a total of 323 minutes. It will gradually reduce, with the next viewing on July 18 lasting 305 minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/someone-just-contacted-earth-and-it-shouldn-t-have-because-it-is-long-dead-1750501103924">Someone just contacted Earth, and it shouldn't have...because it is long dead</a>&nbsp;The next one will be 279 minutes, then 248, 205, 145 and the last one in October will only last about a minute, Live Science reported.<h2>How long will Titan remain visible?</h2>Even though Titan's shadow will remain visible till October 6, the moon itself can be viewed from Earth till January 2026. After this transition ends, the next one isn't due until 2040. The Saturn-Earth alignment would have changed by this time, and so neither Titan nor its shadow will be visible.&nbsp;<h2>About Titan</h2>&nbsp;Titan is the only moon other than Earth's moon where a human-made probe has landed. In 2005, the European Space Agency's Huygens probe landed there to explore the solar system's second-largest moon. The largest moon is Jupiter's mammoth Ganymede. Huygens was launched in 1997 and separated from the Cassini orbiter on 25 December 2004, and landed on Titan on 14 January 2005. It continued to send data for 90 minutes after landing near what appeared to be a shore. &nbsp;

A rare astronomical event is unfolding as Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, casts its shadow on the planet’s surface. The next transit is on July 2, with more to follow until October. The event won’t repeat for 15 years — here’s how to watch it.

A black hole will shoot across the surface of Saturn in the coming days, and this is your only chance to see it for the next 15 years. The black hole has already transited three times, and it will do so 10 more times before the occurrence fades out. This is because of the way Saturn and Earth are aligned right now. The gas giant's rings are facing Earth at the moment, and the giant hole is nothing but the shadow of its largest moon, Titan. This is similar to how the moon casts a shadow on Earth during an eclipse. With the current alignment, this has already happened thrice and will continue to happen for a few more weeks, with a gap of 16 days. Titan orbits Saturn every 16 days, and the perfect alignment with Earth at the moment means that Titan's shadow will be clearly visible to humans. The last transit happened on June 16, and the next one is due on July 2. The other dates to see Titan cast a shadow are - July 2, July 18, Aug. 3, Aug. 19, Sept. 4, Sept. 20 and Oct. 6, according to Sky & Telescope. How clear the view is will depend on the weather in your location. The timings will also vary depending on the region. Besides Titan's shadow, you can also take a sneak peek at Titan itself as it orbits around Saturn. Titan's position will change with each orbit, and the shadow will be larger than the moon itself. Also Read: Giant comet from Oort cloud spotted moving at insane speed inside solar system. Will it reach Earth? How to watch the black hole over Saturn? To get the best view, experts suggest getting an early look and not waiting till the last date. The length of the transit will continue to reduce with each orbit, so you might want to watch it at the earliest date possible. A good telescope with at least 200x magnification is recommended to bag a nice view of Titan and its shadow. On July 2, the transition will last a total of 323 minutes. It will gradually reduce, with the next viewing on July 18 lasting 305 minutes. Also Read: Someone just contacted Earth, and it shouldn't have...because it is long dead The next one will be 279 minutes, then 248, 205, 145 and the last one in October will only last about a minute, Live Science reported. How long will Titan remain visible? Even though Titan's shadow will remain visible till October 6, the moon itself can be viewed from Earth till January 2026. After this transition ends, the next one isn't due until 2040. The Saturn-Earth alignment would have changed by this time, and so neither Titan nor its shadow will be visible. About Titan Titan is the only moon other than Earth's moon where a human-made probe has landed. In 2005, the European Space Agency's Huygens probe landed there to explore the solar system's second-largest moon. The largest moon is Jupiter's mammoth Ganymede. Huygens was launched in 1997 and separated from the Cassini orbiter on 25 December 2004, and landed on Titan on 14 January 2005. It continued to send data for 90 minutes after landing near what appeared to be a shore.

A black hole will cross over Saturn in the coming days, although it is not really a black hole in the real sense. Saturn is currently aligned with Earth in a manner that makes this celestial event possible to be viewed from our planet. What you will see is just Titan.

Black hole will cross through Saturn, but it is not a cosmic giant. Here is what it actually is

he 2013 Hollywood film Gravity, which won seven Oscars, was about astronauts who live aboard the International space station and the mortal dangers posed by space debris. While the film is hailed as a cinematic masterpiece that offered a realistic glimpse into life in space, all of it was a result of sophisticated computer-generated imagery or what we commonly call graphics. In 2021, the Russian space agency Roscosmos had&nbsp; facilitated the space travel of popular actress Yulia Pereslid and Producer-Director Klim Shipenko to the International Space Station, where the duo filmed the Russian movie "Vyzov" (English translation: The Challenge) during their 12-day stay, 400 kilometers above the earth's surface.&nbsp;In October 2021, the actor-director duo flew to space on Russia's Soyuz rocket and capsule, led by veteran Russian astronaut Anton Shkaplerov. Their mission was to film the first-ever feature-length movie in space made by professional movie crew. Produced by Russia's Yellow, Black and White studio and Channel One Russia, in partnership with Roscomos, the movie Vyzov was reportedly aimed at popularizing Russia’s space activities, and glorifying the cosmonaut(astronaut) profession and inspiring future generations. A video capturing and summarizing this unique out-of-the world commercial film project is available on Roscosmos' <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0UF3QSYTRs">Youtube page</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The film's plot revolves around a Russian cosmonaut who faces a grave medical emergency while aboard the space station and the challenging mission to save him. The rescue mission involves flying a Russian surgeon to the space station, and to revive the dying cosmonaut.&nbsp;Actress Yulia Peresild played the role of the surgeon, Zhenya, while Russian three astronauts who were then aboard the space station- Novitskiy, Dubrov and Shkaplerov - also played a part in the film. Producer-Director Shipenko performed all crucial behind-the-scene roles, including director, make-up artist, sound editor and cinematographer. About 40 minutes of the film's165 minutes runtime was filmed aboard the space station by the daring Director who flew up all the way from earth. The remaining parts of the film were shot across various locations in Russia. In total, around 30 hours of 4K quality film footage was shot aboard the space station.&nbsp;Released in April 2023, the film was reportedly received with great enthusiasm at the box office and raked in a significant amount of money. The total cost of making "The Challenge," has not been released, but it was reported to be at least $11.6 million by Russian media.Roscosmos promoted the film as a means to demonstrate the rapid training of a crew for spaceflight. it was also an opportunity to attract women towards the country's cosmonaut corps. Actress Yulia Peresild is only the fifth Russian woman to fly into space, and she is one among more than 65 female astronauts worldwide. Russian Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first in woman in space, back in 1963.&nbsp;How the actress and director were chosen for spaceflight&nbsp; &nbsp;According to reports, multiple award-winning Russian actor Yulia Pereslid, then aged 37, was chosen from a pool of 3,000 applicants and 20 finalists. Being a professional actor, she had no formal education or real exposure to human spaceflight prior to this film Vyzov.&nbsp;Klim Shipenko, then aged 38, is a film director, screenwriter, actor and producer. His earlier credits include the 2017 feature film "Salyut 7," which was loosely based on the real 1985 mission to the last of the Soviet Union's Salyut-class space stations. He too did not have any spaceflight experience prior to the film Vyzov. Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, then aged 49, had already logged more than 533 days, and had served on three International Space Station expedition crews in 2012, 2015 and 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;A backup crew of three members - actor, director, and cosmonaut were also selected and kept ready, as is common with most space missions.According to top Roscosmos officials of the time, the film was also an experiment to see if two ordinary people(professional actor and director) can be trained and prepared to undertake a two-week mission to the International Space Station, which is usually the workplace of professional astronauts or scientists-turned-astronauts. The actor-director duo were trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Near Moscow. Reports say, the actor and director underwent rigorous training ahead of their spaceflight. The training involved doing centrifuge and vibration stand tests, training flights in zero gravity, and parachute training, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;When Tom Cruise wanted to fly to space and film there&nbsp;For several decades, Hollywood star Tom Cruise, known for his insane and death-defying stunts has enthralled audiences with his action thrillers. In the year 2020, reports said that Tom Cruise was looking to push his limits further and wanted to fly to space and make an action film there, in partnership with NASA and SpaceX. Had that happened, Cruise would have established himself as the first professional actor to film in the microgravity(weightless) environment of space. Some reports claim that Russia's Roscosmos announced the project to film Vyzov, after it emerged that Tom Cruise was working with director Doug Liman to fly to space and film a movie aboard the Space station.&nbsp;&nbsp;A professional film crew aiming to undertake space travel and accomplishing spaceflight (Vyzov film crew), is an indication of how far humanity has progressed with human spaceflight technology and how techno-commercial advancements have significantly reduced the cost of undertaking human spaceflight.- -either as a tourist or a professional astronaut.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Russian actress Yulia Peresild, cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and director-producer Klim Shipenko. The trio flew to the space station in October 2021 to film the full-length commercial film Vyzov, creating a record.

he 2013 Hollywood film Gravity, which won seven Oscars, was about astronauts who live aboard the International space station and the mortal dangers posed by space debris. While the film is hailed as a cinematic masterpiece that offered a realistic glimpse into life in space, all of it was a result of sophisticated computer-generated imagery or what we commonly call graphics. In 2021, the Russian space agency Roscosmos had facilitated the space travel of popular actress Yulia Pereslid and Producer-Director Klim Shipenko to the International Space Station, where the duo filmed the Russian movie "Vyzov" (English translation: The Challenge) during their 12-day stay, 400 kilometers above the earth's surface. In October 2021, the actor-director duo flew to space on Russia's Soyuz rocket and capsule, led by veteran Russian astronaut Anton Shkaplerov. Their mission was to film the first-ever feature-length movie in space made by professional movie crew. Produced by Russia's Yellow, Black and White studio and Channel One Russia, in partnership with Roscomos, the movie Vyzov was reportedly aimed at popularizing Russia’s space activities, and glorifying the cosmonaut(astronaut) profession and inspiring future generations. A video capturing and summarizing this unique out-of-the world commercial film project is available on Roscosmos' Youtube page. The film's plot revolves around a Russian cosmonaut who faces a grave medical emergency while aboard the space station and the challenging mission to save him. The rescue mission involves flying a Russian surgeon to the space station, and to revive the dying cosmonaut. Actress Yulia Peresild played the role of the surgeon, Zhenya, while Russian three astronauts who were then aboard the space station- Novitskiy, Dubrov and Shkaplerov - also played a part in the film. Producer-Director Shipenko performed all crucial behind-the-scene roles, including director, make-up artist, sound editor and cinematographer. About 40 minutes of the film's165 minutes runtime was filmed aboard the space station by the daring Director who flew up all the way from earth. The remaining parts of the film were shot across various locations in Russia. In total, around 30 hours of 4K quality film footage was shot aboard the space station. Released in April 2023, the film was reportedly received with great enthusiasm at the box office and raked in a significant amount of money. The total cost of making "The Challenge," has not been released, but it was reported to be at least $11.6 million by Russian media. Roscosmos promoted the film as a means to demonstrate the rapid training of a crew for spaceflight. it was also an opportunity to attract women towards the country's cosmonaut corps. Actress Yulia Peresild is only the fifth Russian woman to fly into space, and she is one among more than 65 female astronauts worldwide. Russian Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first in woman in space, back in 1963. How the actress and director were chosen for spaceflight According to reports, multiple award-winning Russian actor Yulia Pereslid, then aged 37, was chosen from a pool of 3,000 applicants and 20 finalists. Being a professional actor, she had no formal education or real exposure to human spaceflight prior to this film Vyzov. Klim Shipenko, then aged 38, is a film director, screenwriter, actor and producer. His earlier credits include the 2017 feature film "Salyut 7," which was loosely based on the real 1985 mission to the last of the Soviet Union's Salyut-class space stations. He too did not have any spaceflight experience prior to the film Vyzov. Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, then aged 49, had already logged more than 533 days, and had served on three International Space Station expedition crews in 2012, 2015 and 2018. A backup crew of three members - actor, director, and cosmonaut were also selected and kept ready, as is common with most space missions. According to top Roscosmos officials of the time, the film was also an experiment to see if two ordinary people(professional actor and director) can be trained and prepared to undertake a two-week mission to the International Space Station, which is usually the workplace of professional astronauts or scientists-turned-astronauts. The actor-director duo were trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Near Moscow. Reports say, the actor and director underwent rigorous training ahead of their spaceflight. The training involved doing centrifuge and vibration stand tests, training flights in zero gravity, and parachute training, among others. When Tom Cruise wanted to fly to space and film there For several decades, Hollywood star Tom Cruise, known for his insane and death-defying stunts has enthralled audiences with his action thrillers. In the year 2020, reports said that Tom Cruise was looking to push his limits further and wanted to fly to space and make an action film there, in partnership with NASA and SpaceX. Had that happened, Cruise would have established himself as the first professional actor to film in the microgravity(weightless) environment of space. Some reports claim that Russia's Roscosmos announced the project to film Vyzov, after it emerged that Tom Cruise was working with director Doug Liman to fly to space and film a movie aboard the Space station. A professional film crew aiming to undertake space travel and accomplishing spaceflight (Vyzov film crew), is an indication of how far humanity has progressed with human spaceflight technology and how techno-commercial advancements have significantly reduced the cost of undertaking human spaceflight.- -either as a tourist or a professional astronaut.

Russian actress Yulia Peresild, cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and director-producer Klim Shipenko. The trio flew to the space station in October 2021 to film the full-length commercial film Vyzov, creating a record.

When a Russian Actress, Director flew to the space station and made a movie...

Operated my mining giant, Rio Tinto, Australian BHP Iron Ore, is a steel Leviathan stretching up to 7.3 kilometres in length and hauling tens of thousands of iron ore moves across the arid landscape of Australia without any passengers. It first ran on June 21, 2001. This is the world's largest autonomous train, an auto haulier. This seems puzzling to many why a train which runs with 682 carriages and eight engines does not carry a single passenger.<h2>A freight-only train</h2>This giant is designed to ferry iron ore, one of the world's most vital industrial resources. It operates along the ports on the coast, starting from the mines of Western Australia’s Pilbara region. These operations are strictly industrial and highly unsafe for human transportation on such a scale. Its autonomous mechanism is designed to operate with minimal intervention and supervision. This is operated remotely using satellite communication, remote AI navigation and real-time data analytics. Adding human passenger carriages will reduce this efficiency and will also require more amenities. This will increase the regulatory oversight and protocols, reducing the train's core industrial function. &nbsp;The route is desolate and deserted and has no one living along it; it mostly runs through an uninhabitable desert from inland mines to coastal ports. Temperatures in the region mostly reach 45°C, accompanied by dust storms, and sparse infrastructure, making it impractical to accommodate people onboard. It has no designated drivers' chamber, no pantry, and no dining hall.The world's largest train is not an anomaly; it's a glimpse into the future of industrial transportation in the world. It doesn't carry any passengers because it doesn't need to; it was designed for one sole purpose, and it serves that purpose, in an unseen and hidden way, challenging the very idea of how a train should be.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The world's longest train, Australian BHP Iron Ore with 682 Carriages, requires 8 engines, but runs without passengers. Find out why.

Operated my mining giant, Rio Tinto, Australian BHP Iron Ore, is a steel Leviathan stretching up to 7.3 kilometres in length and hauling tens of thousands of iron ore moves across the arid landscape of Australia without any passengers. It first ran on June 21, 2001. This is the world's largest autonomous train, an auto haulier. This seems puzzling to many why a train which runs with 682 carriages and eight engines does not carry a single passenger. A freight-only train This giant is designed to ferry iron ore, one of the world's most vital industrial resources. It operates along the ports on the coast, starting from the mines of Western Australia’s Pilbara region. These operations are strictly industrial and highly unsafe for human transportation on such a scale. Its autonomous mechanism is designed to operate with minimal intervention and supervision. This is operated remotely using satellite communication, remote AI navigation and real-time data analytics. Adding human passenger carriages will reduce this efficiency and will also require more amenities. This will increase the regulatory oversight and protocols, reducing the train's core industrial function. The route is desolate and deserted and has no one living along it; it mostly runs through an uninhabitable desert from inland mines to coastal ports. Temperatures in the region mostly reach 45°C, accompanied by dust storms, and sparse infrastructure, making it impractical to accommodate people onboard. It has no designated drivers' chamber, no pantry, and no dining hall. The world's largest train is not an anomaly; it's a glimpse into the future of industrial transportation in the world. It doesn't carry any passengers because it doesn't need to; it was designed for one sole purpose, and it serves that purpose, in an unseen and hidden way, challenging the very idea of how a train should be.

The world's longest train, Australian BHP Iron Ore with 682 Carriages, requires 8 engines, but runs without passengers. Find out why. Operated by a mining giant, Rio Tinto its an autonomous train

World's longest train 682 Carriages, requires 8 Engines, so massive it could fit 24 Eiffel Towers (not from india)

Jahnavi Dangeti, a 23-year-old from Palakollu in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district, has been selected as an Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) for a 2029 space mission led by Titan Space Industries, a US-based private space research agency. The mission, set to launch in 2029, will be commanded by retired NASA astronaut Colonel William McArthur Jr. It will involve orbiting the Earth twice, with nearly three hours of continuous zero gravity, designed for scientific research and human spaceflight advancement. Jahnavi’s selection is an important step in India’s growing presence in international private space efforts.&nbsp;<h2>Who is she?</h2>Jahnavi, who studied Electronics and Communication Engineering at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab, was the first Indian to complete NASA’s International Air and Space Program (IASP). She was also the youngest foreign Analog Astronaut at the Analog Astronaut Training Centre in Poland. Her past work includes contributions to asteroid discovery through the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), and public engagement in STEM outreach, including talks at ISRO events and NITs. Her astronaut training begins in 2026 and will span spacecraft systems, simulations, survival drills, and medical evaluations.

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&nbsp;<h2>Path to Titan Orbital Port Space Station</h2>The 2029 mission is tied to the Titan Orbital Port, an advanced space infrastructure project by Titan Space Industries. The five-hour flight will allow crew members to experience two sunrises and two sunsets while in orbit. Jahnavi’s participation will make her one of the few Indians to be directly involved in building future off-Earth habitats. She has previously trained in zero-gravity simulations, space suit operations, and planetary mission conditions, part of her wider preparation for long-duration missions.&nbsp;Jahnavi's parents, Padmasri and Srinivas reside in Kuwait. With a profile that spans research, outreach, and international collaborations, she represents a new wave of Indian professionals in global space exploration. She acknowledged the opportunity on social media, “This mission is for all of us who look up and imagine the impossible,” she wrote. Jahnavi has received multiple awards, including the People’s Choice Award at the NASA Space Apps Challenge and the Young Achiever Award at ISRO's World Space Week celebrations.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The five-hour flight will allow crew members to experience two sunrises and two sunsets while in orbit. Jahnavi’s participation will make her one of the few Indians to be directly involved in building future off-Earth habitats. 

Jahnavi Dangeti, a 23-year-old from Palakollu in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district, has been selected as an Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) for a 2029 space mission led by Titan Space Industries, a US-based private space research agency. The mission, set to launch in 2029, will be commanded by retired NASA astronaut Colonel William McArthur Jr. It will involve orbiting the Earth twice, with nearly three hours of continuous zero gravity, designed for scientific research and human spaceflight advancement. Jahnavi’s selection is an important step in India’s growing presence in international private space efforts. Who is she? Jahnavi, who studied Electronics and Communication Engineering at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab, was the first Indian to complete NASA’s International Air and Space Program (IASP). She was also the youngest foreign Analog Astronaut at the Analog Astronaut Training Centre in Poland. Her past work includes contributions to asteroid discovery through the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), and public engagement in STEM outreach, including talks at ISRO events and NITs. Her astronaut training begins in 2026 and will span spacecraft systems, simulations, survival drills, and medical evaluations.

The five-hour flight will allow crew members to experience two sunrises and two sunsets while in orbit. Jahnavi’s participation will make her one of the few Indians to be directly involved in building future off-Earth habitats.&nbsp;

Who is Jahnavi Dangeti? The 23-year-old set to join Titan’s 2029 space flight

<h2>James Webb telescope finds first-ever unknown alien planet</h2>James Webb spots Saturn-sized exoplanet about 110 light-years from EarthConsidered as a major breakthrough, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered an exoplanet for the first time since its launch in 2021. This is a historic moment in space exploration, as earlier, most of Webb’s previous data has focused on planets already known to astronomers.&nbsp;The newly discovered planet is a gas giant roughly the size of Saturn. As the report says, it orbits a small star named TWA 7, located about 110 light-years from Earth in the constellation Antlia.<h2>Webb uses direct imaging to spot distant planets</h2>What makes this discovery special is that it was made through direct imaging by JWST, a rare and difficult technique in astronomy. Out of the nearly 5,900 exoplanets discovered since the 1990s, fewer than 2 per cent have been found this way.&nbsp;Using a special coronagraph built in France and attached to Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), scientists were able to block out the star’s bright light and clearly image the planet. The planet is about 52 times farther from its star than Earth is from the Sun. In comparison, Neptune is about 30 times farther from the Sun than Earth is from the Sun.&nbsp;According to lead researcher Anne-Marie Lagrange from CNRS and the Paris Observatory, “this can open a new window into exoplanets that were previously beyond our reach. This helps us understand how planetary systems form and evolve.”<h2>A young system with new clues for planet formation</h2>Both the planet and its star are very young, around six million years old only. By comparison, our solar system is about 4.5 billion years old. Because the planetary system is being viewed from above, Webb could observe its structure.&nbsp;The planet is located within a narrow ring inside a broader disk made of rocky and dusty material. Few Scientists believe this disk could eventually form more planets.&nbsp;Researchers do not yet know the exact atmosphere of the new planet. Future Webb observations may provide more answers.&nbsp;Although this gas giant is far too massive and distant to host life like Earth, the discovery is an important step in understanding other solar systems.

NASA’s James Webb Telescope has found a new Saturn-sized alien planet about 110 light-years away using direct imaging. Orbiting a young star, said to be a rare discovery, offers clues about how planets form. It’s a big step in exploring worlds beyond our solar system.


James Webb telescope finds first-ever unknown alien planet James Webb spots Saturn-sized exoplanet about 110 light-years from Earth Considered as a major breakthrough, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered an exoplanet for the first time since its launch in 2021. This is a historic moment in space exploration, as earlier, most of Webb’s previous data has focused on planets already known to astronomers. The newly discovered planet is a gas giant roughly the size of Saturn. As the report says, it orbits a small star named TWA 7, located about 110 light-years from Earth in the constellation Antlia. Webb uses direct imaging to spot distant planets What makes this discovery special is that it was made through direct imaging by JWST, a rare and difficult technique in astronomy. Out of the nearly 5,900 exoplanets discovered since the 1990s, fewer than 2 per cent have been found this way. Using a special coronagraph built in France and attached to Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), scientists were able to block out the star’s bright light and clearly image the planet. The planet is about 52 times farther from its star than Earth is from the Sun. In comparison, Neptune is about 30 times farther from the Sun than Earth is from the Sun. According to lead researcher Anne-Marie Lagrange from CNRS and the Paris Observatory, “this can open a new window into exoplanets that were previously beyond our reach. This helps us understand how planetary systems form and evolve.” A young system with new clues for planet formation Both the planet and its star are very young, around six million years old only. By comparison, our solar system is about 4.5 billion years old. Because the planetary system is being viewed from above, Webb could observe its structure. The planet is located within a narrow ring inside a broader disk made of rocky and dusty material. Few Scientists believe this disk could eventually form more planets. Researchers do not yet know the exact atmosphere of the new planet. Future Webb observations may provide more answers. Although this gas giant is far too massive and distant to host life like Earth, the discovery is an important step in understanding other solar systems.

NASA’s James Webb Telescope has found a new Saturn-sized alien planet about 110 light-years away using direct imaging. Orbiting a young star, said to be a rare discovery, offers clues about how planets form. It’s a big step in exploring worlds beyond our solar system.

'110 light-years away': NASA’s James Webb Telescope finds new Saturn-sized alien planet

Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone for India’s space ambitions. Part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), Shukla addressed the nation from the ISS on Thursday, saying, “It is a privilege to be among the few who have had the chance to see Earth from such a vantage point.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;It is a privilege to get a chance to see the Earth from a vantage point. It has been a wonderful ride. It has been great,&quot; says Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, as the Axiom-4 crew arrives at the International Space Station (ISS) . . . Video: NASA <a href="https://t.co/cOMsufIMAX">pic.twitter.com/cOMsufIMAX</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1938238401498779831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;His message followed a successful 28-hour journey aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which docked with the ISS’s Harmony module. He was pinned with the official Astronaut No. 634 badge by mission commander Peggy Whitson before delivering his remarks. “Thanks to your love and blessings, I have safely reached the International Space Station,” he said. “It may look easy to stand here and speak, but it’s actually a little difficult. There’s a bit of pressure on the head, a bit of discomfort, but these are small things. In just a few days, we’ll get used to it.”&nbsp;<h2>14-day science mission, ISRO collaboration underway</h2>&nbsp;Shukla is joined by Whitson, Tibor Kapu (Hungary), and Sławosz Uznański (Poland) on the Ax-4 mission, operated by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, ESA, ISRO, and SpaceX. The crew will work alongside the seven Expedition 73 crewmates, conducting over 60 scientific experiments — including seven developed by ISRO. “This is just the first step of a long journey. We will be conducting many experiments and also speaking to you from time to time,” Shukla said.&nbsp;Expressing national pride, he added, “I’m carrying the tricolour on my shoulder, and I believe you are all with me. So I believe that all of you are as excited as I am. The next 14 days are going to be very exciting. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.” ISRO has reportedly paid $59 million for Shukla’s seat and training, aiming to use insights from this mission to advance India’s human spaceflight programme, including Gaganyaan in 2027, a space station by 2035, and a lunar mission by 2040.&nbsp;“I'm looking forward to the next 14 days, advancing science and research, and working together,” Shukla said as he passed the mic to his fellow crewmate from Poland.

“This is just the first step of a long journey. We will be conducting many experiments and also speaking to you from time to time,” Shukla said.

Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone for India’s space ambitions. Part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), Shukla addressed the nation from the ISS on Thursday, saying, “It is a privilege to be among the few who have had the chance to see Earth from such a vantage point.”

“This is just the first step of a long journey. We will be conducting many experiments and also speaking to you from time to time,” Shukla said.

'Carrying the Tricolour on my shoulder’: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla makes historic address from space

A controversial medical project has finally taken off, thanks to a hefty donation from the world's largest medical charity, the Wellcome Trust. Work has begun on creating artificial human DNA from scratch, something that has long been feared as a tool that can be misused. However, supporters of the project say that it will do more good than harm, and so it is important to go ahead with it. The Trust has given $13 million to start the project, claiming that the technology can accelerate treatments for many incurable diseases, BBC reported.Experts have argued that building blocks of human life from scratch can lead to the technology being used to modify humans and create designer babies. However, those associated with the project say think otherwise. Dr Julian Sale, of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, who is part of the project, told the BBC, "The sky is the limit. We are looking at therapies that will improve people's lives as they age, that will lead to healthier ageing with less disease as they get older."He said, the method can be used "to generate disease-resistant cells we can use to repopulate damaged organs, for example, in the liver and the heart, even the immune system."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mathematician-who-solved-the-100-year-old-kakeya-conjecture-is-moving-to-china-here-s-why-1750934681637">Mathematician who solved the 100-year-old Kakeya conjecture is moving to China. Here's why</a>&nbsp;However, there are others who are strongly against the artificial creation of DNA, fearing misuse. Dr Pat Thomas, director of the campaign group Beyond GM, told the BBC that even though scientists are there to work for the good of humans, it is also possible to use it to cause "harm and for warfare."&nbsp;<h2>Artificial DNA technology can be misused for biological weapons</h2>&nbsp;DNA is built from just four much smaller blocks referred to as A, G, C and T. The Human Genome Project, which recently completed 25 years, allowed scientists to read all human genes like a bar code. The new DNA project will use it as a launchpad and take the work way beyond. Named the Synthetic Human Genome Project, it will let researchers create parts of a molecule of DNA, and even all of it from scratch.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/flying-robot-becomes-a-reality-as-first-humanoid-lifts-off-in-italy-watch-1750836277677">Flying robot becomes a reality as first humanoid lifts off in Italy. Watch</a>&nbsp;Scientists will first aim to develop ways of building ever larger blocks of human DNA, which would then translate into a synthetically constructed human chromosome. Genes in chromosomes are how the human body develops and repairs itself. Problems with genes often cause several diseases. The project will study and carry out experiments to learn more about how genes and DNA regulate our bodies.The project will not try to develop synthetic life, and experiments will remain confined to test tubes and petri dishes. However, it will let scientists control human living systems. Things can go terribly wrong if the technology is used for the wrong purposes. Prof Bill Earnshaw, a genetic scientist at Edinburgh University who designed a method for creating artificial human chromosomes, fears it can be used to create biological weapons, enhanced humans or even creatures that have human DNA.He says if someone decides to start synthesising anything, there is no way to stop them. The other problem is who owns the artificially created body parts. "If we manage to create synthetic body parts or even synthetic people, then who owns them. And who owns the data from these creations?" he asks. &nbsp;

The Synthetic Human Genome Project will create DNA artificially. Scientists will create parts of a molecule of DNA, and even all of it, from scratch soon. The tech can be misused in several ways and poses a ton of other problems. Why is artificial human DNA being made then?

A controversial medical project has finally taken off, thanks to a hefty donation from the world's largest medical charity, the Wellcome Trust. Work has begun on creating artificial human DNA from scratch, something that has long been feared as a tool that can be misused. However, supporters of the project say that it will do more good than harm, and so it is important to go ahead with it. The Trust has given $13 million to start the project, claiming that the technology can accelerate treatments for many incurable diseases, BBC reported. Experts have argued that building blocks of human life from scratch can lead to the technology being used to modify humans and create designer babies. However, those associated with the project say think otherwise. Dr Julian Sale, of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, who is part of the project, told the BBC, "The sky is the limit. We are looking at therapies that will improve people's lives as they age, that will lead to healthier ageing with less disease as they get older." He said, the method can be used "to generate disease-resistant cells we can use to repopulate damaged organs, for example, in the liver and the heart, even the immune system." Also Read: Mathematician who solved the 100-year-old Kakeya conjecture is moving to China. Here's why However, there are others who are strongly against the artificial creation of DNA, fearing misuse. Dr Pat Thomas, director of the campaign group Beyond GM, told the BBC that even though scientists are there to work for the good of humans, it is also possible to use it to cause "harm and for warfare." Artificial DNA technology can be misused for biological weapons DNA is built from just four much smaller blocks referred to as A, G, C and T. The Human Genome Project, which recently completed 25 years, allowed scientists to read all human genes like a bar code. The new DNA project will use it as a launchpad and take the work way beyond. Named the Synthetic Human Genome Project, it will let researchers create parts of a molecule of DNA, and even all of it from scratch. Also Read: Flying robot becomes a reality as first humanoid lifts off in Italy. Watch Scientists will first aim to develop ways of building ever larger blocks of human DNA, which would then translate into a synthetically constructed human chromosome. Genes in chromosomes are how the human body develops and repairs itself. Problems with genes often cause several diseases. The project will study and carry out experiments to learn more about how genes and DNA regulate our bodies. The project will not try to develop synthetic life, and experiments will remain confined to test tubes and petri dishes. However, it will let scientists control human living systems. Things can go terribly wrong if the technology is used for the wrong purposes. Prof Bill Earnshaw, a genetic scientist at Edinburgh University who designed a method for creating artificial human chromosomes, fears it can be used to create biological weapons, enhanced humans or even creatures that have human DNA. He says if someone decides to start synthesising anything, there is no way to stop them. The other problem is who owns the artificially created body parts. "If we manage to create synthetic body parts or even synthetic people, then who owns them. And who owns the data from these creations?" he asks.

The Synthetic Human Genome Project will create DNA artificially. Scientists will create parts of a molecule of DNA, and even all of it, from scratch soon. The tech can be misused in several ways and poses a ton of other problems. Why is artificial human DNA being made then?

Biological weapons? Concerns grow as scientists start working on artificial human DNA

With several major missions, India is gearing up for a groundbreaking era in space, along with deep-sea exploration. Launching Aryabhata in collaboration with Russia in 1975 to the Axiom-4 mission in 2025 in a joint venture with an International multi-agency involving Axiom Space, SpaceX, NASA and ESA, has expanded its technology and infrastructure along with its space economy. India has also seen a spike in investment &amp; international collaborations, and the entry of private space companies under new space reforms.In addition to joint ventures, ISRO has independently launched several remarkable missions, such as Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and many more, surprising the world and space agencies worldwide by achieving these feats on budgets comparable to Hollywood movie productions.Along with these successful projects, ISRO has also scheduled a list of several other missions which will be launched or accomplished in the coming years.Here is list of ISRO's upcoming missions:<h3>Gaganyaan uncrewed mission</h3>It is likely to take place in December 2025 with a humanoid robot, Vyommitra. Gaganyaan mission will be the first of three planned uncrewed missions that will set the stage for India's maiden human spaceflight, carrying three people, scheduled in 2027.Its uncrewed mission will launch into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using ISRO’s GSLV Mk III (LVM-3) rocket. The mission will establish the independent capability of India for human spaceflight, reducing dependence on foreign agencies.<h3>Samudrayaan Mission</h3>The Samudrayaan Mission, scheduled for 2026, is an ambitious deep-sea exploration project of ISRO which aims to study marine biodiversity, seabed ecosystems, and mineral resources. A three-member crew will descend to a depth of 6,000 metres in a specialised submersible vehicle as a part of this mission. It is being developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) based in Chennai.The sole motive of the mission is to unlock access to critical minerals and rare earth metals from the seabed that can be important for technological advancements and strategic research. It will also support the Blue Economy vision of India by utilising ocean resources sustainably.<h3>Chandrayaan-4 Mission</h3>The Chandrayaan-4 Mission of ISRO is India's first lunar sample return mission, which will be launched in 2027 to collect and bring back Moon soil and rock samples. It requires two separate launches while using the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket.Before the execution, the components will be assembled in lunar orbit, consisting of four modules, namely the Transfer module (TM), Lander module (LM), Ascender module (AM) and Reentry Module (RM). The project is likely to be in collaboration with partners like Russia or NASA.<h3>Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX mission:</h3>After the launch of Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 and the forthcoming Chandrayaan-4 (India’s first lunar sample return mission), the Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX (LUnar Polar EXploration) mission will be the fifth mission in the Chandrayaan series of lunar missions by ISRO in collaboration with JAXA. The mission will focus on the study of the lunar water, lunar volatile materials in the vicinity of a Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) in the lunar South pole.These missions depict a pivotal shift in India’s scientific progress, strengthening its global standing in space exploration, marine science, and planetary research. The upcoming projects of the country are set to deliver not only technological breakthroughs but also it will also play economic and strategic advantages, ushering in a new chapter of innovation and discovery.&nbsp;

Other than joint ventures, ISRO has independently launched several remarkable missions, such as Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and many more, surprising the world and space agencies.

With several major missions, India is gearing up for a groundbreaking era in space, along with deep-sea exploration. Launching Aryabhata in collaboration with Russia in 1975 to the Axiom-4 mission in 2025 in a joint venture with an International multi-agency involving Axiom Space, SpaceX, NASA and ESA, has expanded its technology and infrastructure along with its space economy. India has also seen a spike in investment & international collaborations, and the entry of private space companies under new space reforms. In addition to joint ventures, ISRO has independently launched several remarkable missions, such as Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and many more, surprising the world and space agencies worldwide by achieving these feats on budgets comparable to Hollywood movie productions. Along with these successful projects, ISRO has also scheduled a list of several other missions which will be launched or accomplished in the coming years. Here is list of ISRO's upcoming missions: Gaganyaan uncrewed mission It is likely to take place in December 2025 with a humanoid robot, Vyommitra. Gaganyaan mission will be the first of three planned uncrewed missions that will set the stage for India's maiden human spaceflight, carrying three people, scheduled in 2027. Its uncrewed mission will launch into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using ISRO’s GSLV Mk III (LVM-3) rocket. The mission will establish the independent capability of India for human spaceflight, reducing dependence on foreign agencies. Samudrayaan Mission The Samudrayaan Mission, scheduled for 2026, is an ambitious deep-sea exploration project of ISRO which aims to study marine biodiversity, seabed ecosystems, and mineral resources. A three-member crew will descend to a depth of 6,000 metres in a specialised submersible vehicle as a part of this mission. It is being developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) based in Chennai. The sole motive of the mission is to unlock access to critical minerals and rare earth metals from the seabed that can be important for technological advancements and strategic research. It will also support the Blue Economy vision of India by utilising ocean resources sustainably. Chandrayaan-4 Mission The Chandrayaan-4 Mission of ISRO is India's first lunar sample return mission, which will be launched in 2027 to collect and bring back Moon soil and rock samples. It requires two separate launches while using the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket. Before the execution, the components will be assembled in lunar orbit, consisting of four modules, namely the Transfer module (TM), Lander module (LM), Ascender module (AM) and Reentry Module (RM). The project is likely to be in collaboration with partners like Russia or NASA. Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX mission: After the launch of Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 and the forthcoming Chandrayaan-4 (India’s first lunar sample return mission), the Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX (LUnar Polar EXploration) mission will be the fifth mission in the Chandrayaan series of lunar missions by ISRO in collaboration with JAXA. The mission will focus on the study of the lunar water, lunar volatile materials in the vicinity of a Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) in the lunar South pole. These missions depict a pivotal shift in India’s scientific progress, strengthening its global standing in space exploration, marine science, and planetary research. The upcoming projects of the country are set to deliver not only technological breakthroughs but also it will also play economic and strategic advantages, ushering in a new chapter of innovation and discovery.

Other than joint ventures, ISRO has independently launched several remarkable missions, such as Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and many more, surprising the world and space agencies.

From Aryabhatta to Axiom-4: Now what next? Know ISRO's all upcoming missions

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, including India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 6:30 am ET (4:00 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26. The docking, known as ‘soft capture,’ was smooth and marked a key milestone in the mission, which lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 25 at 12:01 pm IST. This event makes Shukla the second Indian to travel to space, 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984, and the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS.&nbsp;Shukla, a 39-year-old fighter pilot and the mission pilot, is part of a four-member international crew. Alongside him are Peggy Whitson (USA), the mission commander and a former NASA astronaut; Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), both serving as mission specialists.&nbsp;WATCH:&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Axiom-4 successfully docks with ISS Next, the astronauts will open the hatch and greet Expedition 73 crew . . . .<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIONuncut?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONuncut</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Axiom4Mission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Axiom4Mission</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShubhanshuShukla?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShubhanshuShukla</a> <a href="https://t.co/KtsTDFfLCf">pic.twitter.com/KtsTDFfLCf</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1938190300037714189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>What's next?</h2>&nbsp;The crew is set to spend 14 days aboard the ISS, undertaking various scientific experiments. Organised as a joint effort by NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space, with support from ISRO. This mission represents a growing trend of commercial human spaceflight involving international collaboration.&nbsp;<h2>Post-Docking Process Begins, Hatch Opening 2 Hours Away</h2>&nbsp;Following the successful docking, the post-docking sequence is underway before the astronauts can enter the ISS. The first step, known as ‘soft capture,’ was completed as the Dragon spacecraft latched onto the docking port. This is followed by ‘hard mate’, a process involving mechanical latches and hooks engaging to form a secure, airtight connection between Dragon and the ISS.&nbsp;Next comes the leak check and pressure equalisation phase, during which engineers carefully inspect for air leaks and gradually balance the pressure between the spacecraft and the station. Once a safe and stable environment is confirmed, astronauts remove their helmets or suits, known as suit doffing, and system readiness is verified, ensuring all life support and airflow systems are operational. Only after these procedures are completed, typically two hours post-docking, will the hatch be opened, allowing the Ax-4 crew to officially enter the ISS.

The docking, known as ‘soft capture,’ was smooth and marked a key milestone in the mission, which lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 25 at 12:01 pm IST. 

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, including India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 6:30 am ET (4:00 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26. The docking, known as ‘soft capture,’ was smooth and marked a key milestone in the mission, which lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 25 at 12:01 pm IST. This event makes Shukla the second Indian to travel to space, 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984, and the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS. Shukla, a 39-year-old fighter pilot and the mission pilot, is part of a four-member international crew. Alongside him are Peggy Whitson (USA), the mission commander and a former NASA astronaut; Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), both serving as mission specialists. WATCH:

The docking, known as ‘soft capture,’ was smooth and marked a key milestone in the mission, which lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 25 at 12:01 pm IST.&nbsp;

WATCH: Dragon docks at International Space Station with Shubhanshu Shukla onboard; post-docking steps begin

The US engineers came up against the nation's ageing nuclear gravity bombs, B61-12 — a modernised and precision-guided version. Unlike earlier free-fall models, it includes a Boeing-designed tail kit that dramatically improves targeting accuracy. The B61-12, which is equipped with “Dial-a-yield” technology, allows the explosive power to be set before deployment. It ranges from 50,000 tons to just 300 tons of TNT equivalent.Among the B61 family of air-launched nuclear gravity bombs, the B61-12 is the latest variant, which has been operating since 1968 with the US military. This new variant has bolstered the nuclear capabilities of the US Air Force. The best part of this bomb is that it can be air-launched by the aircraft platforms such as B-2A, F-15E, F-16C/D, F-16 MLU, PA-200, F-35, and B-21.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-us-s-b-21-raider-to-china-s-xian-h-20-top-5-stealth-bombers-in-world-1750921898241">From US's B-21 Raider to China’s Xian H-20: Top 5 Stealth Bombers in World</a>It is also a part of the B61-12 life extension programme (LEP), in a joint collaboration of the US Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The B61-12 nuclear bomb completed its flight tests with the US Air Force’s F-15E in June 2020. During the test, it was dropped from a height above 25,000ft, resulting in the bomb remaining in the air for approximately 55 seconds before hitting the target, as per the report by <a href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b61-12-nuclear-bomb/">Airforce-technology.com.</a><h3>Is B61-12 most expensive nuclear bomb?</h3>Despite these technological upgrades, the US government classifies the B61-12 as a refurbishment rather than a new weapon. In the past, Congress has resisted similar proposals, concerned that more precise and lower-yield nuclear bombs are more likely to be used in war. The Obama administration, in 2010, directed not to develop nuclear weapons with new capabilities, and officials say the B61-12 remains consistent with that policy, according to a report in Mother Jones.The bomb is compatible with the F-35 stealth fighter, raising concerns among experts like Hans Kristensen from the Federation of American Scientists, who warns that such a capability could lower the perceived threshold for nuclear warfare. Kristensen emphasised that notes that if Russia fielded similar systems, it could escalate global fears about the possible use of nuclear.Criticism of the B61-12 has also centred on its cost. Full-scale production, which began in 2020, is expected to total over $11 billion for around 400–480 bombs, making it the most expensive nuclear bomb ever developed, with costs more than double initial estimates.&nbsp;

The B61-12, which is equipped with “Dial-a-yield” technology, allows the explosive power to be set before deployment. It ranges from 50,000 tons to just 300 tons of TNT equivalent.

The US engineers came up against the nation's ageing nuclear gravity bombs, B61-12 — a modernised and precision-guided version. Unlike earlier free-fall models, it includes a Boeing-designed tail kit that dramatically improves targeting accuracy. The B61-12, which is equipped with “Dial-a-yield” technology, allows the explosive power to be set before deployment. It ranges from 50,000 tons to just 300 tons of TNT equivalent. Among the B61 family of air-launched nuclear gravity bombs, the B61-12 is the latest variant, which has been operating since 1968 with the US military. This new variant has bolstered the nuclear capabilities of the US Air Force. The best part of this bomb is that it can be air-launched by the aircraft platforms such as B-2A, F-15E, F-16C/D, F-16 MLU, PA-200, F-35, and B-21. Also read: From US's B-21 Raider to China’s Xian H-20: Top 5 Stealth Bombers in World It is also a part of the B61-12 life extension programme (LEP), in a joint collaboration of the US Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The B61-12 nuclear bomb completed its flight tests with the US Air Force’s F-15E in June 2020. During the test, it was dropped from a height above 25,000ft, resulting in the bomb remaining in the air for approximately 55 seconds before hitting the target, as per the report by Airforce-technology.com. Is B61-12 most expensive nuclear bomb? Despite these technological upgrades, the US government classifies the B61-12 as a refurbishment rather than a new weapon. In the past, Congress has resisted similar proposals, concerned that more precise and lower-yield nuclear bombs are more likely to be used in war. The Obama administration, in 2010, directed not to develop nuclear weapons with new capabilities, and officials say the B61-12 remains consistent with that policy, according to a report in Mother Jones. The bomb is compatible with the F-35 stealth fighter, raising concerns among experts like Hans Kristensen from the Federation of American Scientists, who warns that such a capability could lower the perceived threshold for nuclear warfare. Kristensen emphasised that notes that if Russia fielded similar systems, it could escalate global fears about the possible use of nuclear. Criticism of the B61-12 has also centred on its cost. Full-scale production, which began in 2020, is expected to total over $11 billion for around 400–480 bombs, making it the most expensive nuclear bomb ever developed, with costs more than double initial estimates.

The B61-12, which is equipped with “Dial-a-yield” technology, allows the explosive power to be set before deployment. It ranges from 50,000 tons to just 300 tons of TNT equivalent.

'Most dangerous' B61-12: US' expensive precision-guided gravity nuclear bomb—All we know about it

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