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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found something starkly unique on the exoplanet WASP-107b. The telescope has detected atmospheric asymmetry on the exoplanet, something that is not found in our solar system. Experts say even among exoplanets, this phenomenon has never been observed.

Researchers from the University of Arizona, along with an international group of scientists, studied the hot and uniquely inflated exoplanet. It is about the size of Jupiter but is only a tenth of its mass and has east-west asymmetry in its atmosphere. This means that the two edges of its atmosphere are significantly different.&nbsp;

The study has been published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

“This is the first time the east-west asymmetry of any exoplanet has ever been observed as it transits its star, from space,” lead author Matthew Murphy, a graduate student at the University of Arizona Steward Observatory, said.&nbsp;

Stating that JWST helped them make the astonishing discovery, Murphy said, "I think observations made from space have a lot of different advantages versus observations that are made from the ground."

This asymmetry means that temperature or cloud properties differ between the eastern and western hemispheres of the planet.&nbsp;

Notably, exoplanet WASP-107b is tidally locked to its star, which means one hemisphere is always facing the star while the other side is always dark. So there is&nbsp;a permanent day side and a permanent night side of the exoplanet.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/starship-booster-looks-like-an-ancient-artefact-fetched-from-sea-like-the-ruins-of-761770">Starship booster looks like an ancient artefact fetched from sea. 'Like the ruins of...'</a>

Using the transmission spectroscopy technique, the telescope took a series of pictures of the planet as it passed in front of its host star. Using the special tools at their disposal, the researchers separated the signals of the atmosphere’s eastern and western sides.&nbsp;

They then looked at specific processes happening in the exoplanet’s atmosphere.

<h2>WASP-107b is unique</h2>

WASP-107b has a temperature of roughly 890 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a very low density and relatively low gravity, which translates to a more inflated atmosphere than other exoplanets of its mass.

“We don’t have anything like it in our own solar system. It is unique, even among the exoplanet population,” Murphy said.

Thomas Beatty, study co-author and an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said, "This is really the first time that we’ve seen these types of asymmetries directly in the form of transmission spectroscopy from space."

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found something starkly unique on the exoplanet WASP-107b. The telescope has detected atmospheric asymmetry on the exoplanet, something that is not found in our solar system.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found something starkly unique on the exoplanet WASP-107b. The telescope has detected atmospheric asymmetry on the exoplanet, something that is not found in our solar system. Experts say even among exoplanets, this phenomenon has never been observed. Researchers from the University of Arizona, along with an international group of scientists, studied the hot and uniquely inflated exoplanet. It is about the size of Jupiter but is only a tenth of its mass and has east-west asymmetry in its atmosphere. This means that the two edges of its atmosphere are significantly different. The study has been published in the journal Nature Astronomy. “This is the first time the east-west asymmetry of any exoplanet has ever been observed as it transits its star, from space,” lead author Matthew Murphy, a graduate student at the University of Arizona Steward Observatory, said. Stating that JWST helped them make the astonishing discovery, Murphy said, "I think observations made from space have a lot of different advantages versus observations that are made from the ground." This asymmetry means that temperature or cloud properties differ between the eastern and western hemispheres of the planet. Notably, exoplanet WASP-107b is tidally locked to its star, which means one hemisphere is always facing the star while the other side is always dark. So there is a permanent day side and a permanent night side of the exoplanet. Also Read: Starship booster looks like an ancient artefact fetched from sea. 'Like the ruins of...' Using the transmission spectroscopy technique, the telescope took a series of pictures of the planet as it passed in front of its host star. Using the special tools at their disposal, the researchers separated the signals of the atmosphere’s eastern and western sides. They then looked at specific processes happening in the exoplanet’s atmosphere. WASP-107b is unique WASP-107b has a temperature of roughly 890 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a very low density and relatively low gravity, which translates to a more inflated atmosphere than other exoplanets of its mass. “We don’t have anything like it in our own solar system. It is unique, even among the exoplanet population,” Murphy said. Thomas Beatty, study co-author and an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said, "This is really the first time that we’ve seen these types of asymmetries directly in the form of transmission spectroscopy from space."

JWST spots unique exoplanet with inflated 'asymmetric' atmosphere

Severe depression acts out in a different way in the brains of youth as compared to adults, a research has found. In young people with severe depression, disruptions in the way regions of their brain communicate with each other are not the same as observed in adults.

This has been highlighted in a research published on Tuesday in Nature Mental Health which can help identify potential targets for brain stimulation therapies.

The study, led by the University of Melbourne, with third-year PhD student Nga (Connie) Yan Tseanaly as the first author, analysed the brain scans of 810 young people aged 12-25, of which 440 had major depressive disorder (MDD), while 370 were healthy individuals used for comparison.

The researchers found that in youth with MDD, some densely connected regions of the brain (known as hubs) showed stronger connectivity while weaker connectivity was witnessed in others when compared with individuals without depression.

The connectivity was found to be stronger in someone’s internalised thoughts and ruminations, Prof Andrew Zalesky, the supervising researcher, said. “We see that in youth with depression, the default mode is more strongly connected, it’s more activated, which suggests that there is a greater focus on self-thought and self-reflection,” Zalesky said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/starship-booster-looks-like-an-ancient-artefact-fetched-from-sea-like-the-ruins-of-761770">Starship booster looks like an ancient artefact fetched from sea. 'Like the ruins of...'</a>

The study could also predict the severity of a person’s depressive symptoms. Data from previous independent studies from six sites in Australia, China, the United Kingdom and the United States was also used for the study.&nbsp;

Zalesky called it “the largest sample size of youth with depression and healthy comparison”.

He added that when first-line treatments, such as antidepressants do not work in treating depression, brain stimulation therapies can be targeted to repair specific brain circuits.

However, the treatment has mostly been used only for adults because researchers know which circuits are disrupted.

Currently, targets developed to treat adult depression with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are used as a “best-guess approach” for youths, the research&nbsp;found.

Australia’s medicines regulator recommends TMS only for adults, but Zalesky believes it can be used to treat youth at the clinician’s discretion.

“The assumption is that the same circuits would be affected in youth with depression, and our work shows that that’s not necessarily the case."

He added that more study is needed to test the efficacy and safety of brain stimulation therapies in youth “but this is a necessary first step towards providing targets”.

Severe depression acts out in a different way in the brains of youth as compared to adults, a research has found. In young people with severe depression, disruptions in the way regions of their brain communicate with each other are not the same as observed in adults.

Severe depression acts out in a different way in the brains of youth as compared to adults, a research has found. In young people with severe depression, disruptions in the way regions of their brain communicate with each other are not the same as observed in adults. This has been highlighted in a research published on Tuesday in Nature Mental Health which can help identify potential targets for brain stimulation therapies. The study, led by the University of Melbourne, with third-year PhD student Nga (Connie) Yan Tseanaly as the first author, analysed the brain scans of 810 young people aged 12-25, of which 440 had major depressive disorder (MDD), while 370 were healthy individuals used for comparison. The researchers found that in youth with MDD, some densely connected regions of the brain (known as hubs) showed stronger connectivity while weaker connectivity was witnessed in others when compared with individuals without depression. The connectivity was found to be stronger in someone’s internalised thoughts and ruminations, Prof Andrew Zalesky, the supervising researcher, said. “We see that in youth with depression, the default mode is more strongly connected, it’s more activated, which suggests that there is a greater focus on self-thought and self-reflection,” Zalesky said. Also Read: Starship booster looks like an ancient artefact fetched from sea. 'Like the ruins of...' The study could also predict the severity of a person’s depressive symptoms. Data from previous independent studies from six sites in Australia, China, the United Kingdom and the United States was also used for the study. Zalesky called it “the largest sample size of youth with depression and healthy comparison”. He added that when first-line treatments, such as antidepressants do not work in treating depression, brain stimulation therapies can be targeted to repair specific brain circuits. However, the treatment has mostly been used only for adults because researchers know which circuits are disrupted. Currently, targets developed to treat adult depression with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are used as a “best-guess approach” for youths, the research found. Australia’s medicines regulator recommends TMS only for adults, but Zalesky believes it can be used to treat youth at the clinician’s discretion. “The assumption is that the same circuits would be affected in youth with depression, and our work shows that that’s not necessarily the case." He added that more study is needed to test the efficacy and safety of brain stimulation therapies in youth “but this is a necessary first step towards providing targets”.

Severe depression acts out differently in the brains of youth as compared to adults

Arctic sea ice registered a massive dip this summer and likely melted to its minimum extent for the year on September 11, 2024, according to researchers at NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Ice typically thaws and regrows between seasons in the region, but in the past 46 years, more of it has melted in the summer and less ice has formed in winter, satellite data shows.&nbsp;

Last week, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) revealed that Thwaites Glacier, also known as "Doomsday Glacier", is inching dangerously close to collapsing. Their data suggested that it could completely vanish by the 23rd century. If this happens, global sea levels can rise by two feet (65cm), sinking several cities, the study says.

Amid this, a glimmer of hope has emerged as scientists say they have found a way to rebuild ice under the ocean. As per initial trials, researchers have found that pumping seawater onto snow in the Canadian Arctic can potentially make the ice beneath thicker.&nbsp;

The field trials were conducted by UK start-up Real Ice earlier this year which aims to thicken ice sheets in the Arctic that are essential for the survival of polar wildlife and Inuit communities.

The experiment involves drilling through the ice to the ocean after which water is pumped onto the snow above. The air pockets in the snow fill up with this water which freezes and gradually turns into ice.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/antarcticas-doomsday-glacier-might-completely-vanish-by-23rd-century-760249">Antarctica's 'doomsday glacier' might completely vanish by 23rd century</a>

“Our objective is to demonstrate that ice thickening can be effective in preserving and restoring Arctic sea ice,” Andrea Ceccolini, co-CEO of Real Ice told New Scientist. The company collaborated with the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge.

The results are promising and the researchers were able to grow 25 cm of natural ice on the underside of the ice.

“The results in May confirm that actually, yes, you do get this additional rate of growth of new sea ice from the underside,” Shaun Fitzgerald, director of the Centre for Climate Repair, told New Scientist.&nbsp;

<h2>Shrinking Arctic ice</h2>

Arctic sea ice this year has shrunk to a minimal extent of 1.65 million square miles, about 750,000 square miles below the 1981 to 2010 end-of-summer average of 2.4 million square miles. This loss is equal to an area larger than the state of Alaska.&nbsp;

The region has been predicted to be completely ice-free in the summers by the 2030s.&nbsp;

Along with shrinking, sea ice is also getting younger, Nathan Kurtz, lab chief of NASA’s Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said.&nbsp;

“Today, the overwhelming majority of ice in the Arctic Ocean is thinner, first-year ice, which is less able to survive the warmer months. There is far, far less ice that is three years or older now,” Kurtz said.

Arctic sea ice registered a massive dip this summer and likely melted to its minimum extent for the year on September 11, 2024, according to researchers at NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

Arctic sea ice registered a massive dip this summer and likely melted to its minimum extent for the year on September 11, 2024, according to researchers at NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Ice typically thaws and regrows between seasons in the region, but in the past 46 years, more of it has melted in the summer and less ice has formed in winter, satellite data shows. Last week, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) revealed that Thwaites Glacier, also known as "Doomsday Glacier", is inching dangerously close to collapsing. Their data suggested that it could completely vanish by the 23rd century. If this happens, global sea levels can rise by two feet (65cm), sinking several cities, the study says. Amid this, a glimmer of hope has emerged as scientists say they have found a way to rebuild ice under the ocean. As per initial trials, researchers have found that pumping seawater onto snow in the Canadian Arctic can potentially make the ice beneath thicker. The field trials were conducted by UK start-up Real Ice earlier this year which aims to thicken ice sheets in the Arctic that are essential for the survival of polar wildlife and Inuit communities. The experiment involves drilling through the ice to the ocean after which water is pumped onto the snow above. The air pockets in the snow fill up with this water which freezes and gradually turns into ice. Also Read: Antarctica's 'doomsday glacier' might completely vanish by 23rd century “Our objective is to demonstrate that ice thickening can be effective in preserving and restoring Arctic sea ice,” Andrea Ceccolini, co-CEO of Real Ice told New Scientist. The company collaborated with the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge. The results are promising and the researchers were able to grow 25 cm of natural ice on the underside of the ice. “The results in May confirm that actually, yes, you do get this additional rate of growth of new sea ice from the underside,” Shaun Fitzgerald, director of the Centre for Climate Repair, told New Scientist. Shrinking Arctic ice Arctic sea ice this year has shrunk to a minimal extent of 1.65 million square miles, about 750,000 square miles below the 1981 to 2010 end-of-summer average of 2.4 million square miles. This loss is equal to an area larger than the state of Alaska. The region has been predicted to be completely ice-free in the summers by the 2030s. Along with shrinking, sea ice is also getting younger, Nathan Kurtz, lab chief of NASA’s Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said. “Today, the overwhelming majority of ice in the Arctic Ocean is thinner, first-year ice, which is less able to survive the warmer months. There is far, far less ice that is three years or older now,” Kurtz said.

Scientists figure out a way to refreeze ice in Arctic amid bleak glacial future

SpaceX recently retrieved the mangled remains of a Starship first-stage booster from the Gulf Of Mexico and it will literally give you the creeps. It appears like a fascinating piece of machine lost to time, or as Elon Musk put it, "Like the ruins of a futuristic, long-dead civilization."

Musk shared, along with a photo, that the Super Heavy Booster is from Starship's fourth test flight which took place in June.&nbsp;

While it has been only around three months since that test launch, the booster looks like it has been in the sea for ages. The rocket reached orbital velocity and both stages completed their return to Earth. The booster ended up in the Gulf of Mexico.&nbsp;

The fourth test flight brought a few more plusses for Starship as the rocket survived peak heating and max aerodynamic pressure during its controlled reentry.

There were no reports of SpaceX working to retrieve the booster from the sea. So the operation came as a surprise and was kept a secret. However, a group of documentary filmmakers who specialise in shooting rocket launches, got wind of the plans, as per Universe magazine.&nbsp;

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Starship Super Heavy Booster Flight 4 <a href="https://t.co/EMGpNVn58Q">pic.twitter.com/EMGpNVn58Q</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1838027461268750727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/musk-plans-to-build-a-fleet-of-starships-to-take-humans-to-mars-757492">Elon Musk plans to build fleet of Starships to take humans to Mars</a>

Reports suggest that SpaceX used HOS Ridgewind, a vessel owned by Hornbeck Offshore, for the Starship booster operation.&nbsp;

<h2>Why has SpaceX retrieved the booster?</h2>

Meanwhile, it is not clear why has the booster been fished out considering nothing of the sort has ever been revealed before. The company is currently working to perfect Starship and experts working at SpaceX might need the booster to gather more data about the fourth flight.

SpaceX is currently preparing for test flight number five but will have to wait a little longer to launch the Starship this time due to the approval pending with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).&nbsp;

The company recently shared photos of the Starship propped and ready for liftoff. It also informed that the engineers had carried out a propellant load test and preflight checkouts.

“Starship stacked for Flight 5 and ready for launch, pending regulatory approval,” SpaceX wrote on X earlier this week.&nbsp;

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Starship stacked for Flight 5 and ready for launch, pending regulatory approval <a href="https://t.co/hbXYjtrQU7">pic.twitter.com/hbXYjtrQU7</a>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1837613770736390558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Musk plans to send humans to Mars on Starship within the next few years. As per his current plans, five uncrewed Starship missions will travel to Mars in two years. The billionaire said that the uncrewed missions to Mars will happen in 2026 and will "test the reliability of landing intact" on the red planet.&nbsp;

Musk said that if everything goes well, then Starship will carry people to Mars for the first time in four years.&nbsp;

The launch will take place when the Earth-Mars transfer window opens, which happens approximately every 26 months. At this time, the two planets are closest to each other.

Musk wants to manufacture multiple Starships and create a fleet comprising hundreds of them to ferry a million people to the red planet.

SpaceX recently retrieved the mangled remains of a Starship first-stage booster from the Gulf Of Mexico and it will literally give you the creeps. It appears like a fascinating piece of machine lost to time, or as Elon Musk put it, "Like the ruins of a futuristic, long-dead civilization.

SpaceX recently retrieved the mangled remains of a Starship first-stage booster from the Gulf Of Mexico and it will literally give you the creeps. It appears like a fascinating piece of machine lost to time, or as Elon Musk put it, "Like the ruins of a futuristic, long-dead civilization." Musk shared, along with a photo, that the Super Heavy Booster is from Starship's fourth test flight which took place in June. While it has been only around three months since that test launch, the booster looks like it has been in the sea for ages. The rocket reached orbital velocity and both stages completed their return to Earth. The booster ended up in the Gulf of Mexico. The fourth test flight brought a few more plusses for Starship as the rocket survived peak heating and max aerodynamic pressure during its controlled reentry. There were no reports of SpaceX working to retrieve the booster from the sea. So the operation came as a surprise and was kept a secret. However, a group of documentary filmmakers who specialise in shooting rocket launches, got wind of the plans, as per Universe magazine. Starship Super Heavy Booster Flight 4 pic.twitter.com/EMGpNVn58Q — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 23, 2024 × Also Read: Elon Musk plans to build fleet of Starships to take humans to Mars Reports suggest that SpaceX used HOS Ridgewind, a vessel owned by Hornbeck Offshore, for the Starship booster operation. Why has SpaceX retrieved the booster? Meanwhile, it is not clear why has the booster been fished out considering nothing of the sort has ever been revealed before. The company is currently working to perfect Starship and experts working at SpaceX might need the booster to gather more data about the fourth flight. SpaceX is currently preparing for test flight number five but will have to wait a little longer to launch the Starship this time due to the approval pending with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company recently shared photos of the Starship propped and ready for liftoff. It also informed that the engineers had carried out a propellant load test and preflight checkouts. “Starship stacked for Flight 5 and ready for launch, pending regulatory approval,” SpaceX wrote on X earlier this week. Starship stacked for Flight 5 and ready for launch, pending regulatory approval pic.twitter.com/hbXYjtrQU7 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 21, 2024 × Musk plans to send humans to Mars on Starship within the next few years. As per his current plans, five uncrewed Starship missions will travel to Mars in two years. The billionaire said that the uncrewed missions to Mars will happen in 2026 and will "test the reliability of landing intact" on the red planet. Musk said that if everything goes well, then Starship will carry people to Mars for the first time in four years. The launch will take place when the Earth-Mars transfer window opens, which happens approximately every 26 months. At this time, the two planets are closest to each other. Musk wants to manufacture multiple Starships and create a fleet comprising hundreds of them to ferry a million people to the red planet.

Starship booster looks like an ancient artefact fetched from sea. 'Like the ruins of...'

Scientists have discovered a new species of ghost shark in the waters of New Zealand. The fish is rare and extremely hard to spot as it lives in the deep Pacific Ocean.

When it was first discovered the scientists from the National Institute for Water and Atmospherics (NIWA), New Zealand thought it to be an existing species. However, upon further examination, it was revealed that the species was new and genetically unique.

<h2>The ghostly 'spookfish'</h2>

Ghost sharks, also known as chimaera or spookfish, can be identified by their unusually long and sharp noses and whip-like tails. Often referred to as the ocean's butterfly for how they navigate in water with large pectoral fins, the species do not have scales and are closely related to sharks and rays. They have cartilage skeletons and feed on crustaceans like molluscs and shrimp.

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The new species, Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish, only resides in New Zealand and Australian waters.

"Their habitat makes them hard to study and monitor, meaning we don't know a lot about their biology or threat status," said Dr Brit Finucci, one of the scientists who discovered Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish.

The fish is only found in New Zealand and Australian waters and is known to live at a depth of up to 2,600 metres.

"Chimaeras are quite cryptic in nature – they can be hard to find in the deep ocean … and they generally don’t get the same attention sharks do, when it comes to research."

The new species of ghost shark was found about 750 km east of New Zealand’s coast in Chatham Rise, an ocean floor area.

The fish can reach a length of up to a metre and has milky-coloured eyes. This chocolate-brown fish was identified for its elongated snout which can make up half of its body's length.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/creepy-sounds-are-echoing-through-mariana-trench-and-we-now-know-the-cause-760710">Creepy sounds are echoing through Mariana Trench, and we now know the cause</a>

About 55 species of ghost sharks have been identified across the world, 12 of which are found in South Pacific and New Zealand waters.

"It’s really neat to be able to contribute to science," she said. "Understanding the animal itself can feed into further research and whether they need conservation management."

<h2>A homage to 'ancient relative'</h2>

Finucci has named the species Harriota avia, giving her discovery a personal touch, Harriotta being the name of her grandmother.

"Avia means grandmother in Latin, I wanted to give this nod to her" Finucci explained, adding that her grandmother had supported her career throughout. "Sharks and ghost sharks are the old, ancient, relatives of fish, and I was naming the animal after an ancient relative of mine."

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have discovered a new species of ghost shark in the waters of New Zealand. The fish is rare and extremely hard to spot as it lives in the deep Pacific Ocean.

Scientists have discovered a new species of ghost shark in the waters of New Zealand. The fish is rare and extremely hard to spot as it lives in the deep Pacific Ocean. When it was first discovered the scientists from the National Institute for Water and Atmospherics (NIWA), New Zealand thought it to be an existing species. However, upon further examination, it was revealed that the species was new and genetically unique. The ghostly 'spookfish' Ghost sharks, also known as chimaera or spookfish, can be identified by their unusually long and sharp noses and whip-like tails. Often referred to as the ocean's butterfly for how they navigate in water with large pectoral fins, the species do not have scales and are closely related to sharks and rays. They have cartilage skeletons and feed on crustaceans like molluscs and shrimp. Also read | Will marine life disappear in the oceans as they continue to become too acidic? Scientists say... The new species, Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish, only resides in New Zealand and Australian waters. "Their habitat makes them hard to study and monitor, meaning we don't know a lot about their biology or threat status," said Dr Brit Finucci, one of the scientists who discovered Australasian Narrow-Nosed spookfish. The fish is only found in New Zealand and Australian waters and is known to live at a depth of up to 2,600 metres. "Chimaeras are quite cryptic in nature – they can be hard to find in the deep ocean … and they generally don’t get the same attention sharks do, when it comes to research." The new species of ghost shark was found about 750 km east of New Zealand’s coast in Chatham Rise, an ocean floor area. The fish can reach a length of up to a metre and has milky-coloured eyes. This chocolate-brown fish was identified for its elongated snout which can make up half of its body's length. Also read | Creepy sounds are echoing through Mariana Trench, and we now know the cause About 55 species of ghost sharks have been identified across the world, 12 of which are found in South Pacific and New Zealand waters. "It’s really neat to be able to contribute to science," she said. "Understanding the animal itself can feed into further research and whether they need conservation management." A homage to 'ancient relative' Finucci has named the species Harriota avia, giving her discovery a personal touch, Harriotta being the name of her grandmother. "Avia means grandmother in Latin, I wanted to give this nod to her" Finucci explained, adding that her grandmother had supported her career throughout. "Sharks and ghost sharks are the old, ancient, relatives of fish, and I was naming the animal after an ancient relative of mine." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists discover new species of rare ghost shark in New Zealand waters

History books tell us that the First World War started in 1914 and went on till 1918. But what if this was not the first such war to be fought on Earth? A study has revealed that the first war to be fought on such a massive scale took place some 32 centuries ago.&nbsp;

It comprised a series of conflicts across much of Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. Two strong armies from two different parts of Europe engaged in a battle just south of the Baltic Sea. At least 400 miles of land separated their homes - &nbsp;with one coming from Bavaria (current Czech Republic) and a northern one from what is now north-east Germany.

Over 2,000 soldiers fought the epic war which was triggered by a series of conflicts and crises. There was chaos in several parts of the world and everything, from Scandinavia to the Sahara and from Western Europe to today's Iraq, was affected.&nbsp;

The new findings have been published in the UK-based academic journal, Antiquity.

It was fought in the valley of the River Tollense around 1250 BC.

The period was fraught with political turmoil with several major empires reaching their demise.&nbsp;

This included the fall of the first great Greek civilisation (the Mycenaeans) from around 1230 BC, the collapse of the Middle East’s Hittite empire in the 1190s BC, the weakening of ancient Egypt from around 1180 BC, and the decline of Babylon by 1155 BC.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/120-million-year-old-part-of-earth-lost-since-break-up-of-pangea-discovered-760618">120-million-year-old part of Earth lost since break up of Pangea discovered</a>

This is also when the final 13th century BC collapse of the Indus Valley civilisation happened. Major political centres in Romania, Hungary and northern Serbia also declined in the 12th century.&nbsp;

<h2>Proof of the war</h2>

A likely proof of the major conflict is the construction of defensive ramparts in Bavaria, Austria, Bohemia, and as far west as Ireland in the 13th century.&nbsp;

Archaeologists have found proof that the battle was not only the earliest known major battle in Europe but was fought on a much larger scale than previously thought. The remains of 160 warriors have been found so far, despite only a tiny fraction of the battlefield being excavated.&nbsp;

Around 54 bronze arrowheads have also been found, which align with the injuries on the bodies of the soldiers as most of them are believed to have been killed by them.

Another proof of the war was the two types of arrows found - one from north-east Germany, the other from southern Germany or from Bohemia or Moravia in what is now the Czech Republic.

“Our study of this battlefield completely changes our understanding of Bronze Age society,” prehistorian Professor Thomas Terberger of the University of Göttingen, a co-author of today’s Antiquity paper, said.

“Our investigations have been revealing the unexpected scale and level of military and political organisation in that period,” he added.

History books tell us that the First World War started in 1914 and went on till 1918. But what if this was not the first such war to be fought on Earth? A study has revealed that the first war to be fought on such a massive scale took place some 32 centuries ago.

History books tell us that the First World War started in 1914 and went on till 1918. But what if this was not the first such war to be fought on Earth? A study has revealed that the first war to be fought on such a massive scale took place some 32 centuries ago. It comprised a series of conflicts across much of Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. Two strong armies from two different parts of Europe engaged in a battle just south of the Baltic Sea. At least 400 miles of land separated their homes - with one coming from Bavaria (current Czech Republic) and a northern one from what is now north-east Germany. Over 2,000 soldiers fought the epic war which was triggered by a series of conflicts and crises. There was chaos in several parts of the world and everything, from Scandinavia to the Sahara and from Western Europe to today's Iraq, was affected. The new findings have been published in the UK-based academic journal, Antiquity. It was fought in the valley of the River Tollense around 1250 BC. The period was fraught with political turmoil with several major empires reaching their demise. This included the fall of the first great Greek civilisation (the Mycenaeans) from around 1230 BC, the collapse of the Middle East’s Hittite empire in the 1190s BC, the weakening of ancient Egypt from around 1180 BC, and the decline of Babylon by 1155 BC. Also Read: 120-million-year-old part of Earth lost since break up of Pangea discovered This is also when the final 13th century BC collapse of the Indus Valley civilisation happened. Major political centres in Romania, Hungary and northern Serbia also declined in the 12th century. Proof of the war A likely proof of the major conflict is the construction of defensive ramparts in Bavaria, Austria, Bohemia, and as far west as Ireland in the 13th century. Archaeologists have found proof that the battle was not only the earliest known major battle in Europe but was fought on a much larger scale than previously thought. The remains of 160 warriors have been found so far, despite only a tiny fraction of the battlefield being excavated. Around 54 bronze arrowheads have also been found, which align with the injuries on the bodies of the soldiers as most of them are believed to have been killed by them. Another proof of the war was the two types of arrows found - one from north-east Germany, the other from southern Germany or from Bohemia or Moravia in what is now the Czech Republic. “Our study of this battlefield completely changes our understanding of Bronze Age society,” prehistorian Professor Thomas Terberger of the University of Göttingen, a co-author of today’s Antiquity paper, said. “Our investigations have been revealing the unexpected scale and level of military and political organisation in that period,” he added.

First real World War was fought not in 1914 but way back in 1250 BC

The Perseverance rover has spotted a black-and-white striped rock on Mars, amazing scientists and the general public. The rover made the discovery while climbing the steep slopes of the Jezero Crater and marching towards its rim. While the initial ascent was slower, Perseverance is now moving remarkably faster and has cruised along a flatter stretch.&nbsp;

While the rover&nbsp;was travelling through a pebbly terrain of Jezero, team members spotted a cobble in the distance that looked unusual. Low-resolution Navcam images showed that it likely had an unusual texture. They named it Freya Castle and planned a multispectral observation using the Mastcam-Z camera.

After the Perseverance rover had moved on in its journey, data downlinked a couple of days later surprised the researchers. Clearer photos of the rock showed that Freya Castle is around 20 cm across in size and has alternating black and white stripes. The picture has created a frenzy as people are intrigued to know more about this "zebra rock".

Scientists say that the rock is unlike any other ever found not only in the Jezero Crater but all of Mars. While they are not sure of its chemical composition, as per early interpretations igneous and/or metamorphic processes could have created its stripes.

The Freya Castle is a lone stone and completely&nbsp;different from the underlying bedrock. Experts think that the rock likely rolled downhill from somewhere higher where more such rocks might be present.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/curiosity-rover-cuts-open-rock-on-mars-spilling-out-an-unexpected-secret-742213">Curiosity rover cuts open rock on Mars, spilling out an unexpected secret</a>

As Perseverance continues to travel upwards, scientists are excited by what more it might find. Finding more such rocks will help them acquire more detailed measurements.

<h2>Sulfur in Mars rocks</h2>

This is not the first time that a fascinating rock has been found on Mars. The vicinity of the crater rim had earlier presented an increased variety of rocks, such as the diverse collection of boulders at Mount Washburn.&nbsp;

A few weeks back, Curiosity Rover drove over some stones, cracking open one of them and yellow sulfur crystal tumbled out, a first for the red planet.&nbsp;

“Finding a field of stones made of pure sulfur is like finding an oasis in the desert,” Curiosity’s project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said.&nbsp;

The Perseverance rover has spotted a black-and-white striped rock on Mars, amazing scientists and the general public. The rover made the discovery while climbing the steep slopes of the Jezero Crater and marching towards its rim.

The Perseverance rover has spotted a black-and-white striped rock on Mars, amazing scientists and the general public. The rover made the discovery while climbing the steep slopes of the Jezero Crater and marching towards its rim. While the initial ascent was slower, Perseverance is now moving remarkably faster and has cruised along a flatter stretch. While the rover was travelling through a pebbly terrain of Jezero, team members spotted a cobble in the distance that looked unusual. Low-resolution Navcam images showed that it likely had an unusual texture. They named it Freya Castle and planned a multispectral observation using the Mastcam-Z camera. After the Perseverance rover had moved on in its journey, data downlinked a couple of days later surprised the researchers. Clearer photos of the rock showed that Freya Castle is around 20 cm across in size and has alternating black and white stripes. The picture has created a frenzy as people are intrigued to know more about this "zebra rock". Scientists say that the rock is unlike any other ever found not only in the Jezero Crater but all of Mars. While they are not sure of its chemical composition, as per early interpretations igneous and/or metamorphic processes could have created its stripes. The Freya Castle is a lone stone and completely different from the underlying bedrock. Experts think that the rock likely rolled downhill from somewhere higher where more such rocks might be present. Also Read: Curiosity rover cuts open rock on Mars, spilling out an unexpected secret As Perseverance continues to travel upwards, scientists are excited by what more it might find. Finding more such rocks will help them acquire more detailed measurements. Sulfur in Mars rocks This is not the first time that a fascinating rock has been found on Mars. The vicinity of the crater rim had earlier presented an increased variety of rocks, such as the diverse collection of boulders at Mount Washburn. A few weeks back, Curiosity Rover drove over some stones, cracking open one of them and yellow sulfur crystal tumbled out, a first for the red planet. “Finding a field of stones made of pure sulfur is like finding an oasis in the desert,” Curiosity’s project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said.

Perseverance spots an odd rock on Mars with zebra stripes. Where did it come from?

Scientists have claimed that a mysterious ancient seed which dates back between 993 AD and 1202 and is believed to have grown into a 10-foot-tall tree nearly 1,000 years ago may be hiding the cure for cancer.

The scientists said that the seed was discovered in the Judean Desert between the West Bank and Israel and was part of the lineage of trees mentioned in the Bible.&nbsp;

The ancient seed, named "Sheba" took 14 years to become a tree after it was found in a cave in the late 1980s.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-artefact-found-by-archaeologists-is-likely-a-4000-year-old-ancient-board-game-760927">Artefact found by archaeologists is likely a 4000-year-old ancient board game</a>

According to the scientists, this is the seed of a now-extinct species of trees which once existed in the region.

<h2>Can the ancient seed cure cancer?</h2>

According to the scientists, the fully-grown tree was the source of "tsori" (meaning balm), which is a resin with healing powers, as per the Bible.

"Our initial hypothesis was that 'Sheba' might be a candidate for the historical 'Judean Balsam'," said the scientists.

Scientists have observed that Sheba contains various medicinal properties. In the chemical analysis of its leaves, it was found that it has active compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer&nbsp;properties.

The scientists also found antioxidant and skin-smoothing properties in its stems and leaves.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-roman-aquarium-archaeologists-find-a-2000-year-old-mosaic-with-depiction-of-fish-dolphins-749815">A Roman aquarium? Archaeologists&nbsp;find a 2,000-year-old mosaic with depiction of fish, dolphins</a>

"We believe these findings support our second hypothesis, that 'Sheba' … may represent an extinct (or at least extirpated) [lineage] once native to this region, whose resin 'tsori' mentioned in Biblical texts was valuable, associated with healing but not described as fragrant," scientists stated.

The scientists carried out chemical and radiocarbon analyses of the tree and also checked its DNA. They found that it belonged to the family of myrrh and frankincense, which have been mentioned in the Bible.&nbsp;

However, the scientists have not been able to find out the species of the Sheba plant. In the last 14 years, no flower or reproductive material has been produced by the tree which can be studied to understand its properties.

"If Judean Balsam survives today as an extant Commiphora species there remains the possibility that scientists have not yet recognised it," researchers&nbsp;stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have claimed that a mysterious ancient seed which dates back between 993 AD and 1202 and is believed to have grown into a 10-foot-tall tree nearly 1,000 years ago may be hiding the cure for cancer.

Scientists have claimed that a mysterious ancient seed which dates back between 993 AD and 1202 and is believed to have grown into a 10-foot-tall tree nearly 1,000 years ago may be hiding the cure for cancer. The scientists said that the seed was discovered in the Judean Desert between the West Bank and Israel and was part of the lineage of trees mentioned in the Bible. The ancient seed, named "Sheba" took 14 years to become a tree after it was found in a cave in the late 1980s. Also Read: Artefact found by archaeologists is likely a 4000-year-old ancient board game According to the scientists, this is the seed of a now-extinct species of trees which once existed in the region. Can the ancient seed cure cancer? According to the scientists, the fully-grown tree was the source of "tsori" (meaning balm), which is a resin with healing powers, as per the Bible. "Our initial hypothesis was that 'Sheba' might be a candidate for the historical 'Judean Balsam'," said the scientists. Scientists have observed that Sheba contains various medicinal properties. In the chemical analysis of its leaves, it was found that it has active compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The scientists also found antioxidant and skin-smoothing properties in its stems and leaves. Also Read: A Roman aquarium? Archaeologists find a 2,000-year-old mosaic with depiction of fish, dolphins "We believe these findings support our second hypothesis, that 'Sheba' … may represent an extinct (or at least extirpated) [lineage] once native to this region, whose resin 'tsori' mentioned in Biblical texts was valuable, associated with healing but not described as fragrant," scientists stated. The scientists carried out chemical and radiocarbon analyses of the tree and also checked its DNA. They found that it belonged to the family of myrrh and frankincense, which have been mentioned in the Bible. However, the scientists have not been able to find out the species of the Sheba plant. In the last 14 years, no flower or reproductive material has been produced by the tree which can be studied to understand its properties. "If Judean Balsam survives today as an extant Commiphora species there remains the possibility that scientists have not yet recognised it," researchers stated. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists claim 1,000-year-old seed is of Biblical tree that may be hiding cure for cancer

In what is being described as the first such event in the cosmos, astronomers have discovered two pairs of supermassive black holes that are on the verge of merging. The event has been observed in two dwarf galaxies by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Scientists say that it will provide insight into the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early universe.

Chandra has captured extraordinary images of the two dwarf galaxies, Mirabilis and Elstir &amp; Vinteuil. The former is located 760 million light-years away, while the latter is 3.2 billion light-years away from our galaxy.

This cosmic spectacle has never been seen before, as each galaxy has two supermassive black holes at its core.&nbsp;

Chandra observed the X-ray emissions from the accretion disks of the black holes. These X-rays form when matter falls into a black hole, creating a disk of superheated plasma around it. The discovery will help us understand how galaxies evolve during their lifetime and will prove especially helpful in learning about how large galaxies like our Milky Way form.

The discovery has been mentioned in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal and ArXiv.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/two-galaxies-seen-merging-to-make-a-monster-galaxy-128-billion-years-ago-754827">Two galaxies seen merging to make a monster galaxy 12.8 billion years ago</a>

Dwarf galaxies are believed to merge with each other to form bigger galaxies. They have fewer than a billion stars and are responsible for the creation of bigger and more mature galaxies, scientists say.

<h2>Dwarf galaxies and black holes</h2>

Brenna Wells, co-author of the study, explains, "Most dwarf galaxies and black holes in the early universe have likely grown much larger now, thanks to repeated mergers. In a way, dwarf galaxies are our galactic ancestors, evolving over billions of years to produce large galaxies like our own Milky Way."

This event of dual black hole pairs in merging dwarf galaxies is expected to open up a whole new world in the quest to understand galactic formation and evolution.&nbsp;

Jimmy Irwin, another co-author of the study, said, "Follow-up observations of these two systems will allow us to study crucial processes for understanding galaxies and their black holes at a young age."

They hope to learn about the role black holes play in galactic growth, everything about galaxy mergers, and how supermassive black holes form.

In what is being described as the first such event in the cosmos, astronomers have discovered two pairs of supermassive black holes that are on the verge of merging.

In what is being described as the first such event in the cosmos, astronomers have discovered two pairs of supermassive black holes that are on the verge of merging. The event has been observed in two dwarf galaxies by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Scientists say that it will provide insight into the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early universe. Chandra has captured extraordinary images of the two dwarf galaxies, Mirabilis and Elstir & Vinteuil. The former is located 760 million light-years away, while the latter is 3.2 billion light-years away from our galaxy. This cosmic spectacle has never been seen before, as each galaxy has two supermassive black holes at its core. Chandra observed the X-ray emissions from the accretion disks of the black holes. These X-rays form when matter falls into a black hole, creating a disk of superheated plasma around it. The discovery will help us understand how galaxies evolve during their lifetime and will prove especially helpful in learning about how large galaxies like our Milky Way form. The discovery has been mentioned in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal and ArXiv. Also Read: Two galaxies seen merging to make a monster galaxy 12.8 billion years ago Dwarf galaxies are believed to merge with each other to form bigger galaxies. They have fewer than a billion stars and are responsible for the creation of bigger and more mature galaxies, scientists say. Dwarf galaxies and black holes Brenna Wells, co-author of the study, explains, "Most dwarf galaxies and black holes in the early universe have likely grown much larger now, thanks to repeated mergers. In a way, dwarf galaxies are our galactic ancestors, evolving over billions of years to produce large galaxies like our own Milky Way." This event of dual black hole pairs in merging dwarf galaxies is expected to open up a whole new world in the quest to understand galactic formation and evolution. Jimmy Irwin, another co-author of the study, said, "Follow-up observations of these two systems will allow us to study crucial processes for understanding galaxies and their black holes at a young age." They hope to learn about the role black holes play in galactic growth, everything about galaxy mergers, and how supermassive black holes form.

Two galaxies with two black holes each caught in the act of merging by Chandra

The scientists in a report have emphasised that the oceans in the world are turning too acidic and are not able to sustain marine life or even stabilise the climate.&nbsp;

The report, which has been prepared by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), has mentioned nine factors which are important for regulating the ability of the planet to sustain life.

In recent years, human activities have pushed the safe limit in six of these areas.&nbsp;

Ocean acidification can soon lead to the breaching of the seventh factor, as per the PIK's first&nbsp;Planetary Health Check.

The safe limits of the factors which have been breached include climate change; rise in pollutants, which includes plastics and chemical fertilisers used in agriculture; the loss of natural species, natural habitat and freshwater.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/are-deep-seas-on-earth-hiding-alien-life-amid-dark-oxygen-study-hints-so-753986">Are deep seas on Earth hiding alien life amid 'dark oxygen'? Study hints so</a>

Now, there is a high chance of a sustainable level of ocean acidification exceeding which led to ever-increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) created from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas.

"As CO2&nbsp;emissions increase, more of it dissolves in sea water… making the oceans more acidic," said Boris Sakschewski, one of the lead authors, while speaking to&nbsp;reporters.

"Even with rapid emission cuts, some level of continued acidification may be unavoidable due to the CO2&nbsp;already emitted and the time it takes for the ocean system to respond. Therefore, breaching the ocean acidification boundary appears inevitable within the coming years," he added.

<h2>How acidic water is harming marine life?</h2>

The corals, shellfish and the phytoplankton - which feed on several marine species - get damaged by acidic water.

Hence, it also disrupts the food supplies of billions of people and limits the capacity of the ocean to absorb more CO2&nbsp;which eventually limits global warming.

Among the nine boundaries stated in the report, the one that is not close to exceeding is the protective&nbsp;ozone&nbsp;layer of the planet.

This shield has been damaged by man-made chemicals which led to acid rain, however, it has begun to recover.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/there-is-a-dead-pool-at-bottom-of-red-sea-which-can-kill-anything-immediately-scientists-warn-755209">There are 'death pools' at bottom of Red Sea which can kill anything 'immediately'. Scientists warn...</a>

According to PIK, these nine planetary danger levels were mentioned to alert people against tipping past points of Earth's natural systems.&nbsp;

"These tipping points… if crossed, would lead to irreversible and catastrophic outcomes for billions of people and many future generations on Earth," the report said.

Sakschewski said that the nine planetary boundaries are "interconnected" so a breach of a crucial limit can destabilise the entire life system of Earth.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The scientists in a report have emphasised that the oceans in the world are turning too acidic and are not able to sustain marine life or even stabilise the climate.

The scientists in a report have emphasised that the oceans in the world are turning too acidic and are not able to sustain marine life or even stabilise the climate. The report, which has been prepared by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), has mentioned nine factors which are important for regulating the ability of the planet to sustain life. In recent years, human activities have pushed the safe limit in six of these areas. Ocean acidification can soon lead to the breaching of the seventh factor, as per the PIK's first Planetary Health Check. The safe limits of the factors which have been breached include climate change; rise in pollutants, which includes plastics and chemical fertilisers used in agriculture; the loss of natural species, natural habitat and freshwater. Also Read: Are deep seas on Earth hiding alien life amid 'dark oxygen'? Study hints so Now, there is a high chance of a sustainable level of ocean acidification exceeding which led to ever-increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) created from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas. "As CO2 emissions increase, more of it dissolves in sea water… making the oceans more acidic," said Boris Sakschewski, one of the lead authors, while speaking to reporters. "Even with rapid emission cuts, some level of continued acidification may be unavoidable due to the CO2 already emitted and the time it takes for the ocean system to respond. Therefore, breaching the ocean acidification boundary appears inevitable within the coming years," he added. How acidic water is harming marine life? The corals, shellfish and the phytoplankton - which feed on several marine species - get damaged by acidic water. Hence, it also disrupts the food supplies of billions of people and limits the capacity of the ocean to absorb more CO2 which eventually limits global warming. Among the nine boundaries stated in the report, the one that is not close to exceeding is the protective ozone layer of the planet. This shield has been damaged by man-made chemicals which led to acid rain, however, it has begun to recover. Also Read: There are 'death pools' at bottom of Red Sea which can kill anything 'immediately'. Scientists warn... According to PIK, these nine planetary danger levels were mentioned to alert people against tipping past points of Earth's natural systems. "These tipping points… if crossed, would lead to irreversible and catastrophic outcomes for billions of people and many future generations on Earth," the report said. Sakschewski said that the nine planetary boundaries are "interconnected" so a breach of a crucial limit can destabilise the entire life system of Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

Will marine life disappear in the oceans as they continue to become too acidic? Scientists say...

A new "gravity map" of Mars has revealed the mysteries hidden beneath the surface of Mars that were unknown to humankind till now,

On the map, dozens of mysteriously dense blobs were spotted - one of them being in the shape of a dog - below the ancient seabed around the north pole of the Red Planet.&nbsp;

The first-of-its-kind map further confirmed the existence of the tallest mountain on Mars.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-once-had-water-but-now-its-barren-heres-what-led-to-its-mysterious-disappearance-756902">Mars once had water but now it's barren. Here's what led to its mysterious disappearance</a>

The density map of Mars was created by the researchers by combining data about the crust of the planet from NASA's InSight lander along with records of fluctuations in the satellites' orbits.

<h2>Here's what the gravity map reveals about Mars&nbsp;</h2>

The new map brought into focus 20 underground blobs present in the Borealis Basin which is in the northern hemisphere of Mars and was an ancient seabed more than 3 billion years ago.

In a statement, the researchers said that the blobs were of all shapes and sizes and one of them "resembles the shape of a dog". The density of these blobs ranged between 300 and 400 kilograms per cubic meter.&nbsp;

However, the scientists were not able to confirm how these blobs were formed and why were they so dense.&nbsp;

"These dense structures could be volcanic in origin or could be compacted material due to ancient [meteor] impacts," said study lead author&nbsp;Bart Root, who is also a planetary scientist at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, in the statement.&nbsp;

And "there seems to be no trace of them at the surface," he said.

Watch:&nbsp;China advances deadline for launch of Mars mission by two years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-advances-deadline-for-launch-of-mars-mission-by-two-years-756739/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The findings were presented by the research team at the Europlanet Science Congress in Berlin between September 8-13.

The map revealed that the northern polar formations are nearly 300-400 kg/m³ denser in comparison to their surroundings.

“Through gravity data, we have a tantalizing glimpse into the older history of the northern hemisphere of Mars,” said Dr. Root.

The enormous volcanic region of Tharsis Rise, which included Olympus Mons, was also revealed in the study.

“The NASA InSight mission has given us vital new information about the hard outer layer of Mars. This means we need to rethink how we understand the support for the Olympus Mons volcano and its surroundings,” Dr. Root added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A new "gravity map" of Mars has revealed the mysteries hidden beneath the surface of Mars that were unknown to humankind till now, On the map, dozens of mysteriously dense blobs were spotted - one of them being in the shape of a dog - below the ancient seabed around the north pole of the Red Planet.

A new "gravity map" of Mars has revealed the mysteries hidden beneath the surface of Mars that were unknown to humankind till now, On the map, dozens of mysteriously dense blobs were spotted - one of them being in the shape of a dog - below the ancient seabed around the north pole of the Red Planet. The first-of-its-kind map further confirmed the existence of the tallest mountain on Mars. Also Read: Mars once had water but now it's barren. Here's what led to its mysterious disappearance The density map of Mars was created by the researchers by combining data about the crust of the planet from NASA's InSight lander along with records of fluctuations in the satellites' orbits. Here's what the gravity map reveals about Mars The new map brought into focus 20 underground blobs present in the Borealis Basin which is in the northern hemisphere of Mars and was an ancient seabed more than 3 billion years ago. In a statement, the researchers said that the blobs were of all shapes and sizes and one of them "resembles the shape of a dog". The density of these blobs ranged between 300 and 400 kilograms per cubic meter. However, the scientists were not able to confirm how these blobs were formed and why were they so dense. "These dense structures could be volcanic in origin or could be compacted material due to ancient [meteor] impacts," said study lead author Bart Root, who is also a planetary scientist at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, in the statement. And "there seems to be no trace of them at the surface," he said. Watch: China advances deadline for launch of Mars mission by two years The findings were presented by the research team at the Europlanet Science Congress in Berlin between September 8-13. The map revealed that the northern polar formations are nearly 300-400 kg/m³ denser in comparison to their surroundings. “Through gravity data, we have a tantalizing glimpse into the older history of the northern hemisphere of Mars,” said Dr. Root. The enormous volcanic region of Tharsis Rise, which included Olympus Mons, was also revealed in the study. “The NASA InSight mission has given us vital new information about the hard outer layer of Mars. This means we need to rethink how we understand the support for the Olympus Mons volcano and its surroundings,” Dr. Root added. (With inputs from agencies)

Mars' gravity map finds mysterious blobs, 'Martian dog' beneath its seabed

Nuclear bombs might emerge as a form of defence against asteroids threatening to harm Earth. Scientists at a US government facility have now shown how a nuclear blast can avert a potential danger in the first comprehensive demo of nuclear-assisted planetary defence.

Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have worked out a way to use a blast of X-rays to fight off a celestial intruder. The primary mission of the experts here is to ensure the safety and security of the US nuclear arsenal.

The research was published in the journal Nature Physics.

The experts have recorded in nanosecond detail how radiation unleashed by a nuclear blast could rapidly heat up an&nbsp;asteroid's surface, creating vapour jets that push it away. The heat goes up to tens of thousands of degrees in this scenario. This method is also expected to be faster and cheaper.&nbsp;

"The vapourised material shoots off one side, pushing the asteroid in the opposite direction. It’s like turning the asteroid into its own rocket," Dr Nathan Moore, the first author of the study, said.&nbsp;

Researchers simulated the nuke scenario in lab experiments and the targets were two 12mm samples. One of these objects was made of quartz and the other fused silica. Soft X-ray pulses were generated using the Z machine to strike the targets. The X-rays also vapourised the thin metal foils used to hold the samples in place.

Also Read:&nbsp;Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-comet-tsuchinshan-atlas-en-route-to-sun-captured-from-iss-760651">Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS en route to sun captured from ISS</a>

The mock asteroids were “levitating” when the X-rays hit them.

They found that using nukes to deflect asteroids can work on space rocks up to four km (2.5 miles) wide.&nbsp;

“If there is enough warning time, one can certainly deflect larger asteroids,” Moore said.

<h2>Asteroids that caused devastation</h2>

Our planet witnessed its most devastating asteroid strike 65 million years ago when a space rock, about 6 miles wide, slammed into the Yucatan Peninsula. This event released energy equivalent to 4.7 billion atomic bombs. It killed the dinosaurs, wiping out 75 per cent of life on the planet.&nbsp;

Even smaller rocks can cause devastation as proved by the 66-foot-wide meteor, less than 20 metres, that exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013. It injured more than 1,200 people in the region.&nbsp;

“If there is enough warning time, one can certainly deflect larger asteroids,” Moore said.

<h2>DART Mission</h2>

The DART probe used kinetic energy to slam into Dimorphos, a moonlet of an asteroid called Didymos in 2022. However, this approach can only be used years before impending impact.

The nuclear method would be much effective against larger asteroids and especially when the time at hand is less.

Nuclear bombs might emerge as a form of defence against asteroids threatening to harm Earth. Scientists at a US government facility have now shown how a nuclear blast can avert a potential danger in the first comprehensive demo of nuclear-assisted planetary defence.

Nuclear bombs might emerge as a form of defence against asteroids threatening to harm Earth. Scientists at a US government facility have now shown how a nuclear blast can avert a potential danger in the first comprehensive demo of nuclear-assisted planetary defence. Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have worked out a way to use a blast of X-rays to fight off a celestial intruder. The primary mission of the experts here is to ensure the safety and security of the US nuclear arsenal. The research was published in the journal Nature Physics. The experts have recorded in nanosecond detail how radiation unleashed by a nuclear blast could rapidly heat up an asteroid's surface, creating vapour jets that push it away. The heat goes up to tens of thousands of degrees in this scenario. This method is also expected to be faster and cheaper. "The vapourised material shoots off one side, pushing the asteroid in the opposite direction. It’s like turning the asteroid into its own rocket," Dr Nathan Moore, the first author of the study, said. Researchers simulated the nuke scenario in lab experiments and the targets were two 12mm samples. One of these objects was made of quartz and the other fused silica. Soft X-ray pulses were generated using the Z machine to strike the targets. The X-rays also vapourised the thin metal foils used to hold the samples in place. Also Read: Watch: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS en route to sun captured from ISS The mock asteroids were “levitating” when the X-rays hit them. They found that using nukes to deflect asteroids can work on space rocks up to four km (2.5 miles) wide. “If there is enough warning time, one can certainly deflect larger asteroids,” Moore said. Asteroids that caused devastation Our planet witnessed its most devastating asteroid strike 65 million years ago when a space rock, about 6 miles wide, slammed into the Yucatan Peninsula. This event released energy equivalent to 4.7 billion atomic bombs. It killed the dinosaurs, wiping out 75 per cent of life on the planet. Even smaller rocks can cause devastation as proved by the 66-foot-wide meteor, less than 20 metres, that exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013. It injured more than 1,200 people in the region. “If there is enough warning time, one can certainly deflect larger asteroids,” Moore said. DART Mission The DART probe used kinetic energy to slam into Dimorphos, a moonlet of an asteroid called Didymos in 2022. However, this approach can only be used years before impending impact. The nuclear method would be much effective against larger asteroids and especially when the time at hand is less.

Did anyone say Armageddon? Nuclear bombs might prove effective against dangerous asteroids

The most beautiful thermal pool of Yellowstone - Morning Glory - has gone through a drastic colour change from pristine blue to multi-hued colours, and the tourists are being blamed for this.

As per the officials, the reason behind this colour change is the accumulation of coins and trash in the pool, The New York Post reported.

The Morning Glory Pool, which is near the famous “Old Faithful” geyser, is a famous tourist attraction in Yellowstone National Park's Upper Geyser Basin.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/world-will-lose-50-heritage-sites-till-2050-because-of-climate-change-predict-experts-753153">World will lose 50 heritage sites till 2050 because of climate change, predict experts</a>

“There are some lovely quotes about its beauty and stunning blue colours, and likening it to the Morning Glory flower,” said Yellowstone National Park historian Alicia Murphy, while speaking to The New York Post.

However, the early visitors were not worried about the environment and did not practice the stringent “leave no trace” policy, as instructed by the park officials.

<h2>Pool turns into a wishing well</h2>

The tourists were treating the blue pool as a wishing well and throwing coins, handkerchiefs, and other things inside.

“People didn’t understand the plumbing and how geysers worked. There were lots of ideas about, ‘If we throw something into this pool, we might be able to make it erupt'," Murphy said.

These items deteriorated the natural beauty of the pool and turned its deep-blue water into a mix of greens, yellows, blues, and oranges.

“I think there was some trial and error and a misunderstanding of the damage they were doing,” she said.

“Wishing wells are a time-honoured tradition. Flip a coin into a wishing well and make a wish. There is something about a pool of water that gives humans a weird instinct to throw things into it," she added.

Scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Mike Poland, said that the changing temperature of the thermal pool is a major reason for its change in colour.

“Temperature is a huge factor. Hotter pools tend to be a brilliant blue, and cooler pools can be more colourful since bacteria can grow there," he said.

“At Morning Glory, the temperature cooled because people throwing objects in caused the conduit to become partially blocked, and the temperature went down, allowing different types of bacteria to grow," Poland said.

<h2>How the pools were cleaned earlier?</h2>

Former Yellowstone ranger Jeff Henry said the pools of the National Park Service at one time went through regular cleanups.

“A guy was hooked up to a climbing harness so that he wouldn’t fall into the pool, and he was out there with a long-handled net, fishing things out of the water far down into the crater of the pool," Henry said.

Watch:&nbsp;Sao Paulo: Protesters Urge Effective Policies to Mitigate Climate Change Effects

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In this process, hundreds of items were fished out from the pool.

“We found tons, probably thousands of coins. There were a lot of rocks that didn’t belong there, and I think we found some hats that probably had blown off people’s heads and landed in the pool. And they, wisely, didn’t try to retrieve them," Henry said.

“Cleaning of pools was done on a regular basis. But values change, and they don’t clean the pools anymore, at least with the frequency and at the scale that we did," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The most beautiful thermal pool of Yellowstone - Morning Glory - has gone through a drastic colour change from pristine blue to multi-hued colours, and the tourists are being blamed for this.

The most beautiful thermal pool of Yellowstone - Morning Glory - has gone through a drastic colour change from pristine blue to multi-hued colours, and the tourists are being blamed for this. As per the officials, the reason behind this colour change is the accumulation of coins and trash in the pool, The New York Post reported. The Morning Glory Pool, which is near the famous “Old Faithful” geyser, is a famous tourist attraction in Yellowstone National Park's Upper Geyser Basin. Also Read: World will lose 50 heritage sites till 2050 because of climate change, predict experts “There are some lovely quotes about its beauty and stunning blue colours, and likening it to the Morning Glory flower,” said Yellowstone National Park historian Alicia Murphy, while speaking to The New York Post. However, the early visitors were not worried about the environment and did not practice the stringent “leave no trace” policy, as instructed by the park officials. Pool turns into a wishing well The tourists were treating the blue pool as a wishing well and throwing coins, handkerchiefs, and other things inside. “People didn’t understand the plumbing and how geysers worked. There were lots of ideas about, ‘If we throw something into this pool, we might be able to make it erupt'," Murphy said. These items deteriorated the natural beauty of the pool and turned its deep-blue water into a mix of greens, yellows, blues, and oranges. “I think there was some trial and error and a misunderstanding of the damage they were doing,” she said. “Wishing wells are a time-honoured tradition. Flip a coin into a wishing well and make a wish. There is something about a pool of water that gives humans a weird instinct to throw things into it," she added. Scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Mike Poland, said that the changing temperature of the thermal pool is a major reason for its change in colour. “Temperature is a huge factor. Hotter pools tend to be a brilliant blue, and cooler pools can be more colourful since bacteria can grow there," he said. “At Morning Glory, the temperature cooled because people throwing objects in caused the conduit to become partially blocked, and the temperature went down, allowing different types of bacteria to grow," Poland said. How the pools were cleaned earlier? Former Yellowstone ranger Jeff Henry said the pools of the National Park Service at one time went through regular cleanups. “A guy was hooked up to a climbing harness so that he wouldn’t fall into the pool, and he was out there with a long-handled net, fishing things out of the water far down into the crater of the pool," Henry said. Watch: Sao Paulo: Protesters Urge Effective Policies to Mitigate Climate Change Effects In this process, hundreds of items were fished out from the pool. “We found tons, probably thousands of coins. There were a lot of rocks that didn’t belong there, and I think we found some hats that probably had blown off people’s heads and landed in the pool. And they, wisely, didn’t try to retrieve them," Henry said. “Cleaning of pools was done on a regular basis. But values change, and they don’t clean the pools anymore, at least with the frequency and at the scale that we did," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Yellowstone's thermal pool ‘Morning Glory’ has turned multi-hued from pristine blue. Here's why

Human senses allow us to perceive things around us, detected by stimuli. It is the process of gathering and sending information to the brain for understanding. Our senses allow us to experience things like listening to music or smelling an aromatic fragrance.

It is commonly believed that humans have five primary senses: touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. First classified by Aristotle as the sensory organs of skin, eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, the idea was universally accepted. However, these are not the only senses that humans have.

<h2>Do humans have more than 5 senses?</h2>

Traditionally, only five human senses were accepted. But today it is considered that humans have some more senses other than the basic five ones.&nbsp;

Neuroscientists believe humans can sense much more than the five senses taught in school. While the exact number of senses remains a debate, there can be 9, 21, or more senses depending on how you perceive and define them.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/if-you-think-mount-everest-is-the-tallest-mountain-youre-wrong-760961">If you think Mount Everest is the tallest mountain, you’re wrong</a>

<h2>The 9 human senses</h2>

Apart from the five senses, the other four senses that humans have can be defined as:

Equilibrioception (Balance)

Humans can balance and coordinate themselves which is controlled by the vestibular system. It is located in the inner ear and helps walk, stand, and sit upright. When it is disturbed, it causes dizziness and nausea.

Nociception (Pain)

Nociception is our body's awareness of pain. This sense protects us by triggering the pain receptors, nociceptors, and making us known of the danger to keep us safe.

Thermoception (Temperature)

Thermoception is the body's perception of the temperature of the surrounding environment. If we bring our hands close to a stove, we can feel it is hot. This sense keeps us aware of our surroundings and helps protect ourselves from getting injured.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/damage-to-brain-network-linked-with-increased-religious-fundamentalism-study-760937">Damage to brain network linked with increased religious fundamentalism: Study</a>

Proprioception (Body awareness)

Proprioception or kinesthesia is awareness of our body's movement, actions, and position. Our body can sense these using the receptors in muscles, joints and tendons. This sense allows us to climb stairs without looking below.

<h2>The 21 human senses</h2>

Another theory on human senses suggests there are 21 senses in total.&nbsp;

The 21 senses include interoception, which is the brain's awareness of our body's internal state. It sends signals to the brain from internal organs to make the brain aware of our well-being.&nbsp;

This sense allows us to understand our inner state through heart rate, hunger, thirst, lung inflation, and others. It can play a significant role in regulating emotions and affect our mental health.&nbsp;

There can also be more senses beyond 21, depending on how you classify them. For example, taste can be defined as one sense or five as salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savoury.

(With inputs from agencies)

Human senses allow us to perceive things around us, detected by stimuli. It is the process of gathering and sending information to the brain for understanding. Our senses allow us to experience things like listening to music or smelling an aromatic fragrance.

Human senses allow us to perceive things around us, detected by stimuli. It is the process of gathering and sending information to the brain for understanding. Our senses allow us to experience things like listening to music or smelling an aromatic fragrance. It is commonly believed that humans have five primary senses: touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. First classified by Aristotle as the sensory organs of skin, eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, the idea was universally accepted. However, these are not the only senses that humans have. Do humans have more than 5 senses? Traditionally, only five human senses were accepted. But today it is considered that humans have some more senses other than the basic five ones. Neuroscientists believe humans can sense much more than the five senses taught in school. While the exact number of senses remains a debate, there can be 9, 21, or more senses depending on how you perceive and define them. Also read | If you think Mount Everest is the tallest mountain, you’re wrong The 9 human senses Apart from the five senses, the other four senses that humans have can be defined as: Equilibrioception (Balance) Humans can balance and coordinate themselves which is controlled by the vestibular system. It is located in the inner ear and helps walk, stand, and sit upright. When it is disturbed, it causes dizziness and nausea. Nociception (Pain) Nociception is our body's awareness of pain. This sense protects us by triggering the pain receptors, nociceptors, and making us known of the danger to keep us safe. Thermoception (Temperature) Thermoception is the body's perception of the temperature of the surrounding environment. If we bring our hands close to a stove, we can feel it is hot. This sense keeps us aware of our surroundings and helps protect ourselves from getting injured. Also read | Damage to brain network linked with increased religious fundamentalism: Study Proprioception (Body awareness) Proprioception or kinesthesia is awareness of our body's movement, actions, and position. Our body can sense these using the receptors in muscles, joints and tendons. This sense allows us to climb stairs without looking below. The 21 human senses Another theory on human senses suggests there are 21 senses in total. The 21 senses include interoception, which is the brain's awareness of our body's internal state. It sends signals to the brain from internal organs to make the brain aware of our well-being. This sense allows us to understand our inner state through heart rate, hunger, thirst, lung inflation, and others. It can play a significant role in regulating emotions and affect our mental health. There can also be more senses beyond 21, depending on how you classify them. For example, taste can be defined as one sense or five as salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savoury. (With inputs from agencies)

If you think humans have five senses, you’re wrong

The world's largest hydroelectric dam in China called the "Three Gorges Dam" is a very huge infrastructure project and its size is so big that it has affected the spin of Earth.

The dam which is located in the Hubei province of central China is spread across the longest river in Eurasia, which is the Yangtze River.&nbsp;

The dam uses the flow of water from the three closest gorges, known as Qutangxia, Wuxia, and Xilingxia, for spinning the turbine and generating electricity.&nbsp;

It was found to have Earth-shifting capabilities for the first time in 2005 when NASA discovered how the rotation of Earth was affected by the catastrophic Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

This further explains how the change in mass distribution across Earth can have very little influence on the moment of inertia of the planet.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-mantle-is-hosting-strange-black-holes-with-mysterious-waves-heres-what-they-are-753231">Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are</a>

In a similar way, the Earth's spin is affected by an earthquake because of the shifting of the tectonic plates.&nbsp;

According to NASA scientists, this is what happened after the earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004.&nbsp;

The scientists observed that the mass distribution on Earth was altered by the earthquake and the length of a day was decreased by 2.68 microseconds.

<h2>Scientists explain how China's giant dam is changing Earth's spin</h2>

Scientists have explained that a massive shift in the water can also change the spin of the Earth.

A geophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre Dr Benjamin Fong Chao explained that around 40 cubic kilometers (10 trillion gallons) of water is being held by the giant Chinese dam.

According to his calculations, the length of a day can be increased by 0.06 microseconds because of the shift of mass and the pole position of Earth can move by around 2 centimetres (0.8 inches).&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Study Suggests Earth Had Saturn-Like Rings That Lasted For Tens Of Millions Of Years

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This is not a huge impact in comparison to giant earthquakes' marginal effect.

Human civilisation has affected the Earth's rotation in other ways also. The spin has been affected by climate change and its&nbsp;impact on the mass distribution on Earth.

With the increase in temperatures and melting of polar ice caps as well as the rising of tropical seas, more mass has gathered at the equator of the planet in comparison to its poles.

This is slowing the spin of Earth and leading to slightly longer days.

(With inputs from agencies)

The world's largest hydroelectric dam in China called the "Three Gorges Dam" is a very huge infrastructure project and its size is so big that it has affected the spin of Earth.

The world's largest hydroelectric dam in China called the "Three Gorges Dam" is a very huge infrastructure project and its size is so big that it has affected the spin of Earth. The dam which is located in the Hubei province of central China is spread across the longest river in Eurasia, which is the Yangtze River. The dam uses the flow of water from the three closest gorges, known as Qutangxia, Wuxia, and Xilingxia, for spinning the turbine and generating electricity. It was found to have Earth-shifting capabilities for the first time in 2005 when NASA discovered how the rotation of Earth was affected by the catastrophic Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. This further explains how the change in mass distribution across Earth can have very little influence on the moment of inertia of the planet. Also Read: Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are In a similar way, the Earth's spin is affected by an earthquake because of the shifting of the tectonic plates. According to NASA scientists, this is what happened after the earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004. The scientists observed that the mass distribution on Earth was altered by the earthquake and the length of a day was decreased by 2.68 microseconds. Scientists explain how China's giant dam is changing Earth's spin Scientists have explained that a massive shift in the water can also change the spin of the Earth. A geophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre Dr Benjamin Fong Chao explained that around 40 cubic kilometers (10 trillion gallons) of water is being held by the giant Chinese dam. According to his calculations, the length of a day can be increased by 0.06 microseconds because of the shift of mass and the pole position of Earth can move by around 2 centimetres (0.8 inches). Watch: Study Suggests Earth Had Saturn-Like Rings That Lasted For Tens Of Millions Of Years This is not a huge impact in comparison to giant earthquakes' marginal effect. Human civilisation has affected the Earth's rotation in other ways also. The spin has been affected by climate change and its impact on the mass distribution on Earth. With the increase in temperatures and melting of polar ice caps as well as the rising of tropical seas, more mass has gathered at the equator of the planet in comparison to its poles. This is slowing the spin of Earth and leading to slightly longer days. (With inputs from agencies)

China's gigantic hydroelectric dam has been changing spin of Earth. Here's how

In a strange medical case, a 20-year-old man who had been suffering from a runny nose for six years discovered that actually, it was his brain which was bulging through a hole in his skull.

The man, who belonged to Syria, was suffering from a chronic runny nose and also complained about having headaches and seizures. He said that the symptoms began after he suffered a head injury.

However, what the man believed was a simple symptom of cold was actually the "leakage" of a clear fluid which protects the body's brain and spine, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Also Read:&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:90,&quot;y&quot;:164,&quot;w&quot;:423,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:123,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2051}" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/first-mpox-case-confirmed-in-kerala-man-who-arrived-from-uae-759885">First Mpox case confirmed in Kerala man who arrived from UAE</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:200,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2087}">How did the doctors diagnose 'brain leakage'?</h2>

The man started facing the problem after he sustained a head injury in a car accident six years ago.

The doctors scanned the brain of the man and diagnosed him with traumatic encephalocele, which is a condition in which the matter in the brain starts moving through holes in the skull like the nasal cavity.&nbsp;

Generally, encephalocele is a rare birth defect because of which the tissues covering the brain start protruding through openings in the skull.&nbsp;

The man had earlier refused initial treatment for injuries when he had visited the hospital after surviving a car accident.

The man had developed meningoencephalitis two months before he visited the hospital for nasal leakage.

The doctors admitted him to the intensive care unit for one month and carried out an MRI of his brain.&nbsp;

In the scan, they found out that he had a fracture in his skull and had developed an encephalocele in his nasal cavity.&nbsp;

The doctors further saw that the man's brain tissue and meninges, which are layers that protect the spine and brain -&nbsp;were protruding through the skull fracture and there was "significant expansion" in the right-side areas of the brain.

The doctors recommended the man undergo surgery to repair the fracture, however, he refused.&nbsp;

He came back to the hospital after two months and was given the same advice. He finally agreed to the operation in which his tissue and matter were placed back to their locations by a neurosurgeon.

His damaged meninges were also repaired and the base of the skull which was damaged by fracture was also reconstructed using medical-grade cement and glue.&nbsp;

Finally, the patient recovered and was discharged after two days.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a strange medical case, a 20-year-old man who had been suffering from a runny nose for six years discovered that actually, it was his brain which was bulging through a hole in his skull.

In a strange medical case, a 20-year-old man who had been suffering from a runny nose for six years discovered that actually, it was his brain which was bulging through a hole in his skull. The man, who belonged to Syria, was suffering from a chronic runny nose and also complained about having headaches and seizures. He said that the symptoms began after he suffered a head injury. However, what the man believed was a simple symptom of cold was actually the "leakage" of a clear fluid which protects the body's brain and spine, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Also Read: First Mpox case confirmed in Kerala man who arrived from UAE How did the doctors diagnose 'brain leakage'? The man started facing the problem after he sustained a head injury in a car accident six years ago. The doctors scanned the brain of the man and diagnosed him with traumatic encephalocele, which is a condition in which the matter in the brain starts moving through holes in the skull like the nasal cavity. Generally, encephalocele is a rare birth defect because of which the tissues covering the brain start protruding through openings in the skull. The man had earlier refused initial treatment for injuries when he had visited the hospital after surviving a car accident. The man had developed meningoencephalitis two months before he visited the hospital for nasal leakage. The doctors admitted him to the intensive care unit for one month and carried out an MRI of his brain. In the scan, they found out that he had a fracture in his skull and had developed an encephalocele in his nasal cavity. The doctors further saw that the man's brain tissue and meninges, which are layers that protect the spine and brain - were protruding through the skull fracture and there was "significant expansion" in the right-side areas of the brain. The doctors recommended the man undergo surgery to repair the fracture, however, he refused. He came back to the hospital after two months and was given the same advice. He finally agreed to the operation in which his tissue and matter were placed back to their locations by a neurosurgeon. His damaged meninges were also repaired and the base of the skull which was damaged by fracture was also reconstructed using medical-grade cement and glue. Finally, the patient recovered and was discharged after two days. (With inputs from agencies)

Man suffers runny nose for six years because of brain 'leakage' through a hole in skull

The tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, has remained a mystery for archaeologists since&nbsp;2,200 years.

Emperor Qin Shu Huang ruled from 221 BC to 210 BC and his tomb is guarded by an army of terracotta soldiers and horses.&nbsp;

The farmers had discovered the tomb back in 1974 in China's Shaanxi province.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/not-just-in-2024-shah-jahans-taj-mahal-once-leaked-when-monarch-sat-in-delhi-centuries-ago-760965">Not just in 2024, Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal once leaked when monarch sat in Delhi centuries ago</a>

Although the area was explored by archaeologists, the tomb was never opened by them.

<h2>Here's why archaeologists fear opening the tomb</h2>

According to a report published in IFL Science, the archaeologists feel that if they try to open the tomb, it will suffer damage and that it may have deathly booby traps which can kill curious intruders.

According to the accounts of Chinese historian Sima Qian, written 100 years after Qin Shu Huang's death, the "palaces and scenic towers for a hundred officials were constructed and the tomb was filled with rare artefacts and wonderful treasure."

"Craftsmen were ordered to make crossbows and arrows primed to shoot at anyone who enters the tomb. Mercury was used to simulate the hundred rivers, the Yangtze and Yellow River, and the great sea, and set to flow mechanically," the historian has added.

The archaeologists believe that if the alleged crossbows fail to work now, there are still chances of liquid mercury seeping into the cracks and threatening life.

Watch:&nbsp;India's First sunken museum opens at Humayun's Tomb site

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-first-sunken-museum-opens-at-humayuns-tomb-site-746896/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Highly volatile mercury may be escaping through cracks, which developed in the structure over time, and our investigation supports ancient chronicle records on the tomb, which is believed never to have been opened/looted," as per a study published in 2020.

Hence, scientists have been considering the idea of using non-invasive techniques for opening the tomb, however, nothing has been finalised as of yet.

(With inputs from agencies)

The tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, has remained a mystery for archaeologists since 2,200 years. Emperor Qin Shu Huang ruled from 221 BC to 210 BC and his tomb is guarded by an army of terracotta soldiers and horses.

The tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, has remained a mystery for archaeologists since 2,200 years. Emperor Qin Shu Huang ruled from 221 BC to 210 BC and his tomb is guarded by an army of terracotta soldiers and horses. The farmers had discovered the tomb back in 1974 in China's Shaanxi province. Also Read: Not just in 2024, Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal once leaked when monarch sat in Delhi centuries ago Although the area was explored by archaeologists, the tomb was never opened by them. Here's why archaeologists fear opening the tomb According to a report published in IFL Science, the archaeologists feel that if they try to open the tomb, it will suffer damage and that it may have deathly booby traps which can kill curious intruders. According to the accounts of Chinese historian Sima Qian, written 100 years after Qin Shu Huang's death, the "palaces and scenic towers for a hundred officials were constructed and the tomb was filled with rare artefacts and wonderful treasure." "Craftsmen were ordered to make crossbows and arrows primed to shoot at anyone who enters the tomb. Mercury was used to simulate the hundred rivers, the Yangtze and Yellow River, and the great sea, and set to flow mechanically," the historian has added. The archaeologists believe that if the alleged crossbows fail to work now, there are still chances of liquid mercury seeping into the cracks and threatening life. Watch: India's First sunken museum opens at Humayun's Tomb site "Highly volatile mercury may be escaping through cracks, which developed in the structure over time, and our investigation supports ancient chronicle records on the tomb, which is believed never to have been opened/looted," as per a study published in 2020. Hence, scientists have been considering the idea of using non-invasive techniques for opening the tomb, however, nothing has been finalised as of yet. (With inputs from agencies)

Archaeologists fear tomb of China’s first emperor may have deathly booby traps for killing intruders

Mount Everest is considered the tallest mountain in the world at an elevation of 8,849&nbsp;metres above sea level. It is indeed the tallest mountain, but only when we consider the height above sea level.&nbsp;

However, if we measure the actual height of mountains from their base to peak, the tallest mountain is not Mount Everest but Mauna Kea, which has an altitude of only 4,205 metres above sea level.

<h2>The tallest mountain in the world</h2>

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the Hawaii island and about 6,000 metres of its base remains submerged below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, which is more than half of its total height. If you calculate the actual height from its base under the ocean till its peak, Mauna Kea would be over 10,000 metres tall, at least 1150 metres taller than Mount Everest.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-artefact-found-by-archaeologists-is-likely-a-4000-year-old-ancient-board-game-760927">An artefact found by archaeologists is likely a 4000-year-old ancient board game</a>

Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano on Earth. It is believed to have formed over a hot spot in the Earth’s crust. While it likely remained stationary in the area where the magma rises and erupts on the surface, the Pacific Plate moved over it, which formed its base. As the plate shifted northwestward, it formed a series of volcanoes in the area.&nbsp;

Mauna Kea is the youngest volcano in the world and was formed a million years ago. It remains in an active state, however, the last time it erupted is believed to be over 45,000 years ago.

The mountain is also famous for having the world's largest astronomical observatory, providing ideal conditions with cloud-free skies and high altitude.

Similarly, Mauna Loa, the second-highest mountain in Hawaii, becomes the second-highest mountain on Earth when measured from the base to the peak. It is the largest volcano based on volume and area.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/creepy-sounds-are-echoing-through-mariana-trench-and-we-now-know-the-cause-760710">Creepy sounds are echoing through Mariana Trench, and we now know the cause</a>

<h2>The highest point in the world</h2>

If you consider the height from Earth's central point, neither Mount Everest nor Mauna Kea would be the tallest mountain. Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, with an altitude of 6,310 metres, is the highest point in the world.

The mountain has a much lower height than Mount Everest and is not even the highest peak in the Andes mountain range, where it resides. Then what makes it the highest point in the world?

Our planet Earth is not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid. Earth is much flatter on the poles but bulges out near the equator. Chimborazo is located just one degree south of the equator, making it the world's highest point at about 3,967 miles from Earth's core.&nbsp;

Chimborazo is also the closest point to the sun on Earth's surface, while Mount Everest is not even in the top 20 as it sits at a latitude of 28 degrees north.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mount Everest is considered the tallest mountain in the world at an elevation of 8,849 metres above sea level. It is indeed the tallest mountain, but only when we consider the height above sea level.

Mount Everest is considered the tallest mountain in the world at an elevation of 8,849 metres above sea level. It is indeed the tallest mountain, but only when we consider the height above sea level. However, if we measure the actual height of mountains from their base to peak, the tallest mountain is not Mount Everest but Mauna Kea, which has an altitude of only 4,205 metres above sea level. The tallest mountain in the world Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the Hawaii island and about 6,000 metres of its base remains submerged below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, which is more than half of its total height. If you calculate the actual height from its base under the ocean till its peak, Mauna Kea would be over 10,000 metres tall, at least 1150 metres taller than Mount Everest. Also read | An artefact found by archaeologists is likely a 4000-year-old ancient board game Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano on Earth. It is believed to have formed over a hot spot in the Earth’s crust. While it likely remained stationary in the area where the magma rises and erupts on the surface, the Pacific Plate moved over it, which formed its base. As the plate shifted northwestward, it formed a series of volcanoes in the area. Mauna Kea is the youngest volcano in the world and was formed a million years ago. It remains in an active state, however, the last time it erupted is believed to be over 45,000 years ago. The mountain is also famous for having the world's largest astronomical observatory, providing ideal conditions with cloud-free skies and high altitude. Similarly, Mauna Loa, the second-highest mountain in Hawaii, becomes the second-highest mountain on Earth when measured from the base to the peak. It is the largest volcano based on volume and area. Also read | Creepy sounds are echoing through Mariana Trench, and we now know the cause The highest point in the world If you consider the height from Earth's central point, neither Mount Everest nor Mauna Kea would be the tallest mountain. Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, with an altitude of 6,310 metres, is the highest point in the world. The mountain has a much lower height than Mount Everest and is not even the highest peak in the Andes mountain range, where it resides. Then what makes it the highest point in the world? Our planet Earth is not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid. Earth is much flatter on the poles but bulges out near the equator. Chimborazo is located just one degree south of the equator, making it the world's highest point at about 3,967 miles from Earth's core. Chimborazo is also the closest point to the sun on Earth's surface, while Mount Everest is not even in the top 20 as it sits at a latitude of 28 degrees north. (With inputs from agencies)

If you think Mount Everest is the tallest mountain, you’re wrong

A recent science study has found that damage to a specific part of brain may lead people to become religious fundamentalists. Researchers reached the conclusion by analysing patients with focal brain lesions.

<h2>Path-breaking study</h2>

So far, most of the studies have focused on social and environmental factors like family upbringing and cultural influence in developing an individual’s religious beliefs. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focuses on how genetic factors or brain function may influence religiosity.

<h2>Brain network linked with religious fundamentalism</h2>

Study corresponding author Michael Ferguson, who is an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of Neurospirituality Research at the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, was quoted as saying by PsyPost that he indeed found a link between certain brain network and religious fundamentalism.

“My primary interest is and has been mystical experience. But in the process researching the cognitive neuroscience of mystical experience, I came across brain network associations with religious fundamentalism,” he said.

<h2>How was the study conducted</h2>

For research purposes, scientists relied upon a method called lesion network mapping. The technology helps identify how different regions of the brain are linked, and how damage to one area might disrupt related brain functions.

Then, two large groups of individuals with focal brain damage were selected to analyse how brain lesions might be interconnected to religious beliefs.

The first group mainly had war veterans who had suffered traumatic brain injuries. The second group had patients on board who got their brain damaged from various causes, such as strokes, surgical resections, or traumatic head injuries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjXhbXDzdaIAxUOka8BHfu1DBIQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/consciousness-might-be-traversing-our-world-from-a-hidden-dimension-760388" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/consciousness-might-be-traversing-our-world-from-a-hidden-dimension-760388&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXhbXDzdaIAxUOka8BHfu1DBIQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Consciousness might be traversing our world from a hidden dimension</a>

Then, both groups completed a scale designed to measure religious fundamentalism.

Later, the precise locations of their brain lesions was measured using advanced technology like computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

<h2>Results</h2>

It was found that damage to the right hemisphere&nbsp;was associated with higher scores on the religious fundamentalism scale.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjXhbXDzdaIAxUOka8BHfu1DBIQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-spot-dangerous-bulge-around-mountain-of-god-volcano-warn-of-massive-eruption-759407" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-spot-dangerous-bulge-around-mountain-of-god-volcano-warn-of-massive-eruption-759407&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXhbXDzdaIAxUOka8BHfu1DBIQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">Scientists spot dangerous bulge around `Mountain of God` volcano, warn of massive eruption</a>

“The strength and reproducibility of the signal between psychological self-report measures of religious fundamentalism and the functional networks we identified in the brain surprised me,” Ferguson told PsyPost. “It increases confidence in the results.”

(With inputs from agencies)

A recent science study has found that damage to a specific part of brain may lead people to become religious fundamentalists. Researchers reached the conclusion by analysing patients with focal brain lesions.

A recent science study has found that damage to a specific part of brain may lead people to become religious fundamentalists. Researchers reached the conclusion by analysing patients with focal brain lesions. Path-breaking study So far, most of the studies have focused on social and environmental factors like family upbringing and cultural influence in developing an individual’s religious beliefs. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focuses on how genetic factors or brain function may influence religiosity. Brain network linked with religious fundamentalism Study corresponding author Michael Ferguson, who is an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of Neurospirituality Research at the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, was quoted as saying by PsyPost that he indeed found a link between certain brain network and religious fundamentalism. “My primary interest is and has been mystical experience. But in the process researching the cognitive neuroscience of mystical experience, I came across brain network associations with religious fundamentalism,” he said. How was the study conducted For research purposes, scientists relied upon a method called lesion network mapping. The technology helps identify how different regions of the brain are linked, and how damage to one area might disrupt related brain functions. Then, two large groups of individuals with focal brain damage were selected to analyse how brain lesions might be interconnected to religious beliefs. The first group mainly had war veterans who had suffered traumatic brain injuries. The second group had patients on board who got their brain damaged from various causes, such as strokes, surgical resections, or traumatic head injuries. Also read: Consciousness might be traversing our world from a hidden dimension Then, both groups completed a scale designed to measure religious fundamentalism. Later, the precise locations of their brain lesions was measured using advanced technology like computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results It was found that damage to the right hemisphere was associated with higher scores on the religious fundamentalism scale. Also read: Scientists spot dangerous bulge around `Mountain of God` volcano, warn of massive eruption “The strength and reproducibility of the signal between psychological self-report measures of religious fundamentalism and the functional networks we identified in the brain surprised me,” Ferguson told PsyPost. “It increases confidence in the results.” (With inputs from agencies)

Damage to brain network linked with increased religious fundamentalism: Study

Archaeologists have discovered six surfaces of rocks with designs carved on them that make them appear associated with ancient board games and explained how humans entertained themselves thousands of years ago.

Archaeologists have discovered six surfaces of rocks with designs carved on them that make them appear associated with ancient board games and explained how humans entertained themselves thousands of years ago. The six ancient board games were discovered by archaeologists at different sites on the Abşeron Peninsula and Gobustan Reserve in Azerbaijan. The rocks, which date around 2000 BCE, share a resemblance with the hallmark pattern on the basis of which has been created the ancient board game Hounds and Jackals. Also Read: Archaeologists unearth decapitated child from ‘vampire’ grave beneath a cathedral Earlier, the oldest example of the game was found in the tomb of a government official in ancient Egypt. Archaeologists try to trace origin of the game Archaeologists Walter Crist, who works at Leiden University in the Netherlands and Rahman Abdullayev of the Minnesota Historical Society, said that the new locations have challenged the origins of the game known as Fifty-Eight Holes. The game may have originated in southwestern Asia and not Egypt, as was previously believed by experts. Speaking about how popular were the games most probably, Crist and Abdullayev wrote in their paper, "At certain times in antiquity, particular games were regionally popular, suggesting that they helped to connect cultures that regularly interacted with one another." "The game of Fifty-Eight Holes probably served this purpose in the second millennium BCE in Egypt and south-western Asia, because it was the only game that was played throughout the region," they added. Also Read: A 'ghost city' sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Aerial images now reveal what's it like The board games' history goes back thousands of years and it was most probably very popular across regions. "We can't know what that something is, but we can piece together an incomplete history based on the artefacts of board games left behind, from dice to pieces to the boards themselves," stated the researchers. "Whatever the origin of the game of Fifty-Eight Holes, it was quickly adopted and played by a wide variety of people, from the nobility of Middle Kingdom Egypt to the cattle herders of the Caucasus, and from the Old Assyrian traders in Anatolia to the workers who built Middle Kingdom pyramids. The fast spread of this game attests to the ability of games to act as social lubricants, facilitating interactions across social boundaries," they added. (With inputs from agencies)

Artefact found by archaeologists is likely a 4000-year-old ancient board game

The antibiotic-resistant infections can kill nearly 40 million people by 2050, as per a new study published in The Lancet. According to the researchers, drug-resistant infections led to the death of more than one million people every year between 1900 and 2021.

The antibiotic-resistant infections can kill nearly 40 million people by 2050, as per a new study published in The Lancet. According to the researchers, drug-resistant infections led to the death of more than one million people every year between 1900 and 2021. According to the report, this number can go up to nearly two million by 2050, which means that around 40 million people will apparently die in more than 25 years due to these infections. The researchers believe that the lives of a third of people can be saved if they get wider access to better treatment and appropriate antibiotics. Bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) takes place when the bacteria evolves and becomes drug-resistant, which makes common diseases like pneumonia, UTIs, and diarrhoea lethal. Also Read: Virus EV-D68, which sometimes paralyses kids, is spreading across US: Reports This adaptation to exist beyond medicine is leading to a "silent pandemic," which needs to be urgently addressed, stated the researchers. "The threat of fungal pathogens and antifungal resistance, even though it is a growing global issue, is being left out of the debate," said Norman van Rhijn, a molecular biologist from the University of Manchester in the UK. Researchers appeal govt and pharmaceutical firms to 'look beyond just bacteria' The international team of scientists and van Rhijn have appealed to the pharmaceutical industry and governments to "look beyond just bacteria." They warned that if some action is not taken, the fungal infections can infect 6.5 million people and kill 3.8 million people annually. "The disproportionate focus on bacteria is concerning because many drug resistance problems over the past decades were the result of invasive fungal diseases, which are largely under-recognized by the community and governments alike," wrote van Rhijn, in the report. Watch: Virus Linked To Childhood Paralysis On The Rise In The US "To treat deep or invasive fungal infections, only four systemic antifungal classes are available and resistance is now the rule rather than the exception for those currently available classes," stated the authors. In the last few decades, new antifungals have emerged, however, the race between pathogens and medicine is now being sped up. "Even before [these drugs] reach the market after years of development and clinical trials, fungicides with similar modes of action are developed by the agrochemical industry, resulting in cross-resistance for critical priority pathogens," explained the researchers. "Antifungal protection is required for food security. The question is, how do we balance food security with the ability to treat current and future resistant fungal pathogens?," they said. (With inputs from agencies)

Deadly fungal infections spreading like 'silent pandemic', can kill 40mn people in just 25 years: Study

A comet that was expected to die before reaching Earth has survived, astronomers say. It is now&nbsp;moving towards us and getting brighter by the day. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was first spotted at the Purple Mountain Observatory's XuYi Station in China in 2023. Scientists said that it was travelling towards the inside of our solar system.&nbsp;

However, a few weeks back it was reported that it is fast disintegrating and might fizzle out. But surprisingly, the comet is still intact and has been spotted by NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft on the other side of the sun.

Researchers say that it is going strong and even has a robust tail. It will soon be visible to the naked eye.&nbsp;

"It continues to brighten steadily, and is now up to magnitude 7," Qicheng Zhang, a researcher at the Lowell Observatory, told spaceweather.com.&nbsp;

"It also continues to display a very robust ion tail. There are zero signs that the nucleus is disintegrating."

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is racing towards the sun at a speed of 180,000 mph. From here, it will start taking a return journey and pass Earth on its way out of the solar system.&nbsp;

This celestial visitor originated in the Oort Cloud on the outer edges of our solar system. It has an orbital period of about 80,000 years.&nbsp;

The comet will be at its closest point to the sun on September 27. After here, while moving back out, it will be at the nearest point to Earth on October 12. It will be approximately 70.6 million kilometres (43.9 million miles) away from us on this day. Its brightness will likely overshadow Jupiter's.&nbsp;

<h2>Scientist says comet will disintegrate</h2>

The comet was said to be doomed and one scientist predicted that it would disintegrate before reaching us.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/comet-c2023-a3-might-shatter-into-pieces-before-approaching-earth-739798">Comet C/2023 A3 might shatter into pieces as it approaches Earth</a>

In July, astronomer Zdenek Sekanina said that the comet would break apart before its close approach to Earth. He said the comet might fizzle out when it heads towards the sun on September 27. At this point, it will be 58.6 million kilometres (36.4 million miles) from it.&nbsp;

He says that when comets come near the sun, they outgas. The dust that forms their trail or coma also dies down soon after. This action can also change the trajectory, rotation, and speed of the comet. Since Comet C/2023 A3 comes from the Oort cloud, it is likely to disintegrate.&nbsp;

"The comets of this class have a tendency to disintegrate if they are intrinsically faint and depleted in dust by the time they are near 1 AU from the Sun," Sekanina says.

A comet that was expected to die before reaching Earth has survived, astronomers say. It is now moving towards us and getting brighter by the day. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was first spotted at the Purple Mountain Observatory's XuYi Station in China in 2023.

A comet that was expected to die before reaching Earth has survived, astronomers say. It is now moving towards us and getting brighter by the day. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was first spotted at the Purple Mountain Observatory's XuYi Station in China in 2023. Scientists said that it was travelling towards the inside of our solar system. However, a few weeks back it was reported that it is fast disintegrating and might fizzle out. But surprisingly, the comet is still intact and has been spotted by NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft on the other side of the sun. Researchers say that it is going strong and even has a robust tail. It will soon be visible to the naked eye. "It continues to brighten steadily, and is now up to magnitude 7," Qicheng Zhang, a researcher at the Lowell Observatory, told spaceweather.com. "It also continues to display a very robust ion tail. There are zero signs that the nucleus is disintegrating." Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is racing towards the sun at a speed of 180,000 mph. From here, it will start taking a return journey and pass Earth on its way out of the solar system. This celestial visitor originated in the Oort Cloud on the outer edges of our solar system. It has an orbital period of about 80,000 years. The comet will be at its closest point to the sun on September 27. After here, while moving back out, it will be at the nearest point to Earth on October 12. It will be approximately 70.6 million kilometres (43.9 million miles) away from us on this day. Its brightness will likely overshadow Jupiter's. Scientist says comet will disintegrate The comet was said to be doomed and one scientist predicted that it would disintegrate before reaching us. Also Read: Comet C/2023 A3 might shatter into pieces as it approaches Earth In July, astronomer Zdenek Sekanina said that the comet would break apart before its close approach to Earth. He said the comet might fizzle out when it heads towards the sun on September 27. At this point, it will be 58.6 million kilometres (36.4 million miles) from it. He says that when comets come near the sun, they outgas. The dust that forms their trail or coma also dies down soon after. This action can also change the trajectory, rotation, and speed of the comet. Since Comet C/2023 A3 comes from the Oort cloud, it is likely to disintegrate. "The comets of this class have a tendency to disintegrate if they are intrinsically faint and depleted in dust by the time they are near 1 AU from the Sun," Sekanina says.

Comet expected to die near the sun might survive, then visit Earth in October

Scientists have discovered a part of Earth 120 million years old in Borneo that has been thought to be lost for a long time. The existence of a tectonic plate named Pontus came to light after &nbsp;Suzanna van de Lagemaat, a graduate geologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and her supervisor, Douwe van Hinsbergen, analysed geological data from mountains in the Asia-Pacific region.

She found signs of the ancient Pontus plate in Borneo while studying the rock formations. “We thought we were dealing with relics of a lost plate that we already knew about. But our magnetic lab research on those rocks indicated that our finds were originally from much farther north, and had to be remnants of a different, previously unknown plate," she said.

In a bid to know about the Pontus plate, Van de Lagemaat studied a complex region of tectonic plate activity known as the Junction Region. Japan, Borneo, the Philippines, New Guinea, and New Zealand form this region.

<h2>Size of the tectonic plate</h2>

She collected a set of data from her studies, using which she reconstructed tectonic plate movements in the area since the time of the dinosaurs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sea-monster-that-lived-85mn-years-ago-on-dry-land-that-was-once-an-ocean-760391">Sea monster lived 85mn years ago on Texas dry land that was once an ocean</a>

The Pontus plate was a part of the world’s crust before the supercontinent Pangaea broke up. To understand how big this tectonic plate was 160 million years ago, scientists carried out reconstructions based on which they estimated it was around a quarter of the size of the Pacific Ocean.

A vast ocean separated Eurasia and Australia at the time and Pontus was right beneath this water body. As Pangea broke up, this plate was swallowed by other plates which today carry countries like The Philippines and Borneo.

Borneo is the third-largest island in the world and one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Southeast Asia. Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south collectively have political control over it.&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered a part of Earth 120 million years old in Borneo that has been thought to be lost for a long time. The existence of a tectonic plate named Pontus came to light after Suzanna van de Lagemaat, a graduate geologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and her supervisor, Douwe van Hinsbergen, analysed geological data from mountains in the Asia-Pacific region.

Scientists have discovered a part of Earth 120 million years old in Borneo that has been thought to be lost for a long time. The existence of a tectonic plate named Pontus came to light after Suzanna van de Lagemaat, a graduate geologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and her supervisor, Douwe van Hinsbergen, analysed geological data from mountains in the Asia-Pacific region. She found signs of the ancient Pontus plate in Borneo while studying the rock formations. “We thought we were dealing with relics of a lost plate that we already knew about. But our magnetic lab research on those rocks indicated that our finds were originally from much farther north, and had to be remnants of a different, previously unknown plate," she said. In a bid to know about the Pontus plate, Van de Lagemaat studied a complex region of tectonic plate activity known as the Junction Region. Japan, Borneo, the Philippines, New Guinea, and New Zealand form this region. Size of the tectonic plate She collected a set of data from her studies, using which she reconstructed tectonic plate movements in the area since the time of the dinosaurs. Also Read: Sea monster lived 85mn years ago on Texas dry land that was once an ocean The Pontus plate was a part of the world’s crust before the supercontinent Pangaea broke up. To understand how big this tectonic plate was 160 million years ago, scientists carried out reconstructions based on which they estimated it was around a quarter of the size of the Pacific Ocean. A vast ocean separated Eurasia and Australia at the time and Pontus was right beneath this water body. As Pangea broke up, this plate was swallowed by other plates which today carry countries like The Philippines and Borneo. Borneo is the third-largest island in the world and one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Southeast Asia. Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south collectively have political control over it.

120-million-year-old part of Earth lost since break up of Pangea discovered

Mysterious noises have been coming from the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean trench, since 2014. Scientists now finally know the reason behind them. Described as "biotwang" noises, they sound like something emanating from sci-fi starships. However, they are simply whale calls being made by Bryde's whales, as per a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

Researchers say the whales use the calls to locate one another like a giant game of Marco Polo.&nbsp;

"It's possible that they use the biotwang as a contact call, a sort of 'Marco Polo' of the ocean," study lead author Ann Allen, an oceanographer at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, told Popular Science.

In 2014, when scientists were carrying out an acoustic survey of the Mariana Trench using underwater gliders, they noticed some strange noises coming from the region. Notably, the deepest trench in the world spans more than 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometres) south of Japan and has a maximum depth of 35,876 feet (10,935 metres).

The whales were making two types of biotwang noises which initially stumped scientists who tried to figure out their source. First was a low, grumbly sound that reverberated through the deep.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/humpback-whales-are-expert-tool-makers-blow-and-alter-bubble-nets-to-752189">Humpback whales are expert tool makers; blow and alter bubble nets to...</a>

The second one was a high-pitched, metallic ringing, something researchers say was similar to the noise made by spaceships in Star Trek and Star Wars.

In 2016, large baleen whales, such as blue whales or humpback whales were thought to be the source of the biotwang. However, the sounds did not match any known whale calls.

<h2>Bryde's whales confirmed as source of sounds</h2>

But the latest study published on September&nbsp;18 confirms that the sounds were being made by Bryde's whales. This was deduced after new artificial intelligence (AI) tools went through over 200,000 hours of audio recordings containing various ocean sounds.

Another interesting thing the study found was that the biotwang was heard only in the northwest Pacific. Bryde's whales are not confined to this region, which suggests that only a specific population of the whales is making the noise.

Bryde's whales were circled in as the suspect when 10 of them were spotted swimming near the Mariana Islands. They recorded nine of them making the distinctive noise.

"Once, it's a coincidence. Twice is happenstance. Nine times, it's definitely a Bryde's whale," Allen told Scientific American.

To be fully sure, the team matched the occurrence of the noises to the migration patterns of the whales. AI was used to check through audio recordings captured by monitoring stations across the Mariana Archipelago and nearby areas over the past many years.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Mysterious noises have been coming from the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean trench, since 2014. Scientists now finally know the reason behind them. Described as "biotwang" noises, they sound like something emanating from sci-fi starships.

Mysterious noises have been coming from the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean trench, since 2014. Scientists now finally know the reason behind them. Described as "biotwang" noises, they sound like something emanating from sci-fi starships. However, they are simply whale calls being made by Bryde's whales, as per a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Researchers say the whales use the calls to locate one another like a giant game of Marco Polo. "It's possible that they use the biotwang as a contact call, a sort of 'Marco Polo' of the ocean," study lead author Ann Allen, an oceanographer at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, told Popular Science. In 2014, when scientists were carrying out an acoustic survey of the Mariana Trench using underwater gliders, they noticed some strange noises coming from the region. Notably, the deepest trench in the world spans more than 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometres) south of Japan and has a maximum depth of 35,876 feet (10,935 metres). The whales were making two types of biotwang noises which initially stumped scientists who tried to figure out their source. First was a low, grumbly sound that reverberated through the deep. Also Read: Humpback whales are expert tool makers; blow and alter bubble nets to... The second one was a high-pitched, metallic ringing, something researchers say was similar to the noise made by spaceships in Star Trek and Star Wars. In 2016, large baleen whales, such as blue whales or humpback whales were thought to be the source of the biotwang. However, the sounds did not match any known whale calls. Bryde's whales confirmed as source of sounds But the latest study published on September 18 confirms that the sounds were being made by Bryde's whales. This was deduced after new artificial intelligence (AI) tools went through over 200,000 hours of audio recordings containing various ocean sounds. Another interesting thing the study found was that the biotwang was heard only in the northwest Pacific. Bryde's whales are not confined to this region, which suggests that only a specific population of the whales is making the noise. Bryde's whales were circled in as the suspect when 10 of them were spotted swimming near the Mariana Islands. They recorded nine of them making the distinctive noise. "Once, it's a coincidence. Twice is happenstance. Nine times, it's definitely a Bryde's whale," Allen told Scientific American. To be fully sure, the team matched the occurrence of the noises to the migration patterns of the whales. AI was used to check through audio recordings captured by monitoring stations across the Mariana Archipelago and nearby areas over the past many years.

Creepy sounds are echoing through Mariana Trench, and we now know the cause

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has once again caught on his camera a celestial wonder that will leave you in awe. He recently shared a timelapse of the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured from the International Space Station.&nbsp;

The comet, designated C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, is currently making its way towards the sun. Dominick saw it hovering above Earth's atmosphere as it journeys to the centre of our solar system.

The astronaut shared that the comet looks like a fuzzy ball to the naked eye, but it started taking shape using some advanced camera features.&nbsp;

"So far Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS looks like a fuzzy star to the naked eye looking out the cupola windows," wrote Dominick, commander of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission, in a post on X. "But with a 200mm, f2 lens at 1/8s exposure you can really start to see it. This comet is going to make for some really cool images as it gets closer to the sun. For now a time lapse preview."

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So far Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS looks like a fuzzy star to the naked eye looking out the cupola windows. But with a 200mm, f2 lens at 1/8s exposure you can really start to see it. This comet is going to make for some really cool images as it gets closer to the sun. For now a… <a href="https://t.co/JstaSLJ4Ui">pic.twitter.com/JstaSLJ4Ui</a>
— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) <a href="https://twitter.com/dominickmatthew/status/1836916069870751825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Dominick has in the past shared photos of auroras over Earth and a meteorite entering our planet, besides several others.&nbsp;

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was discovered in 2023 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) and Tsuchinshan Chinese Observatory (Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences).&nbsp;

It is set to return towards Earth in October when it is expected to become visible to Earthlings. It moves in a retrograde orbit around the sun, which is in the opposite direction to planets and asteroids.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/comet-expected-to-die-near-the-sun-might-survive-the-trip-visit-earth-in-october-754227">Comet expected to die near the sun might survive, then visit Earth in October</a>

This led researchers to conclude that it originated in the Oort Cloud, a theoretical region that lies beyond Neptune's orbit. It is seen as the birthplace of long-period comets that travel into the inner solar system.&nbsp;

<h2>Brighter than Jupiter comet will visit Earth in October</h2>

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is travelling at a speed of 180,000 mph towards the sun. After reaching this region, it will begin its return trip and pass Earth on its way out of the solar system. The comet will be at its closest point to the sun on September 27. Later, it will come at its nearest point to Earth on October 12 where it will be approximately 70.6 million kilometres (43.9 million miles) away. It is expected to be so bright that it will likely overshadow Jupiter.

<h2>Is the comet disintegrating?</h2>

Some reports suggested that the comet will die upon its approach to the sun. Astronomer Zdenek Sekanina pointed out that at &nbsp;58.6 million kilometres (36.4 million miles) from the sun, the comet will fizzle out after outgassing. "The comets of this class have a tendency to disintegrate if they are intrinsically faint and depleted in dust by the time they are near 1 AU from the Sun," Sekanina said.

However, other scientists later stated that it is completely fine and intact.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has once again caught on his camera a celestial wonder that will leave you in awe. He recently shared a timelapse of the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured from the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has once again caught on his camera a celestial wonder that will leave you in awe. He recently shared a timelapse of the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured from the International Space Station. The comet, designated C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, is currently making its way towards the sun. Dominick saw it hovering above Earth's atmosphere as it journeys to the centre of our solar system. The astronaut shared that the comet looks like a fuzzy ball to the naked eye, but it started taking shape using some advanced camera features. "So far Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS looks like a fuzzy star to the naked eye looking out the cupola windows," wrote Dominick, commander of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission, in a post on X. "But with a 200mm, f2 lens at 1/8s exposure you can really start to see it. This comet is going to make for some really cool images as it gets closer to the sun. For now a time lapse preview." So far Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS looks like a fuzzy star to the naked eye looking out the cupola windows. But with a 200mm, f2 lens at 1/8s exposure you can really start to see it. This comet is going to make for some really cool images as it gets closer to the sun. For now a… pic.twitter.com/JstaSLJ4Ui — Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) September 19, 2024 × Dominick has in the past shared photos of auroras over Earth and a meteorite entering our planet, besides several others. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was discovered in 2023 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) and Tsuchinshan Chinese Observatory (Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences). It is set to return towards Earth in October when it is expected to become visible to Earthlings. It moves in a retrograde orbit around the sun, which is in the opposite direction to planets and asteroids. Also Read: Comet expected to die near the sun might survive, then visit Earth in October This led researchers to conclude that it originated in the Oort Cloud, a theoretical region that lies beyond Neptune's orbit. It is seen as the birthplace of long-period comets that travel into the inner solar system. Brighter than Jupiter comet will visit Earth in October Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is travelling at a speed of 180,000 mph towards the sun. After reaching this region, it will begin its return trip and pass Earth on its way out of the solar system. The comet will be at its closest point to the sun on September 27. Later, it will come at its nearest point to Earth on October 12 where it will be approximately 70.6 million kilometres (43.9 million miles) away. It is expected to be so bright that it will likely overshadow Jupiter. Is the comet disintegrating? Some reports suggested that the comet will die upon its approach to the sun. Astronomer Zdenek Sekanina pointed out that at 58.6 million kilometres (36.4 million miles) from the sun, the comet will fizzle out after outgassing. "The comets of this class have a tendency to disintegrate if they are intrinsically faint and depleted in dust by the time they are near 1 AU from the Sun," Sekanina said. However, other scientists later stated that it is completely fine and intact.

Watch: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS en route to sun captured from ISS

British scientists have preserved the complete human genome on a 5D memory crystal, which they believe will provide a blueprint to bring humanity back from extinction&nbsp;thousands of years in future.

The team from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) stated that the data storage format that can last for millions of years can also save the genomes of endangered species of plants and animals.&nbsp;

The university, in a statement,&nbsp;also mentioned that even at high temperatures, a 5D memory card can store up to 360 terabytes of data without losing any information for billions of years. “The crystal is equivalent to fused quartz, one of the most chemically and thermally durable materials on Earth,” the statement read.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/human-genome-stored-on-5d-memory-crystal-which-can-last-billions-of-years-760454/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In 2014, the 5D memory card was recognised as the most durable data storage medium and won the Guinness World Record.

“It can withstand the high and low extremes of freezing, fire and temperatures of up to 1,000 Celsius. The crystal can also withstand direct impact force of up to 10 tons per cm2 and is unchanged by long exposure to cosmic radiation,” the university stated.&nbsp;

The team at University of Southampton, led by Professor Peter Kazansky, employed ultrafast lasers to properly engrave data onto nano-structured gaps oriented within silica.

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“Unlike marking only on the surface of a 2D piece of paper or magnetic tape, this method of encoding uses two optical dimensions and three spatial co-ordinates to write throughout the material - hence the ‘5D’ in its name,” the statement read.&nbsp;

However, the genetic information alone cannot currently be used to synthetically produce humans, animals, or plants. Professor&nbsp;Kazansky believes&nbsp;that the 5D crystal is long-lasting, and the knowledge would be accessible if certain&nbsp;advancements were accomplished.&nbsp;

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“We know from the work of others that genetic material of simple organisms can be synthesised and used in an existing cell to create a viable living specimen in a lab. The 5D memory crystal opens up possibilities for other researchers to build an everlasting repository of genomic information from which complex organisms like plants and animals might be restored should science in the future allow,” he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

British scientists have preserved the complete human genome on a 5D memory crystal, which they believe will provide a blueprint to bring humanity back from extinction thousands of years in future.

British scientists have preserved the complete human genome on a 5D memory crystal, which they believe will provide a blueprint to bring humanity back from extinction thousands of years in future. The team from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) stated that the data storage format that can last for millions of years can also save the genomes of endangered species of plants and animals. The university, in a statement, also mentioned that even at high temperatures, a 5D memory card can store up to 360 terabytes of data without losing any information for billions of years. “The crystal is equivalent to fused quartz, one of the most chemically and thermally durable materials on Earth,” the statement read. In 2014, the 5D memory card was recognised as the most durable data storage medium and won the Guinness World Record. “It can withstand the high and low extremes of freezing, fire and temperatures of up to 1,000 Celsius. The crystal can also withstand direct impact force of up to 10 tons per cm2 and is unchanged by long exposure to cosmic radiation,” the university stated. The team at University of Southampton, led by Professor Peter Kazansky, employed ultrafast lasers to properly engrave data onto nano-structured gaps oriented within silica. Also Read | Qatar Airways prohibits pagers, walkie-talkies on flights from Beirut airport “Unlike marking only on the surface of a 2D piece of paper or magnetic tape, this method of encoding uses two optical dimensions and three spatial co-ordinates to write throughout the material - hence the ‘5D’ in its name,” the statement read. However, the genetic information alone cannot currently be used to synthetically produce humans, animals, or plants. Professor Kazansky believes that the 5D crystal is long-lasting, and the knowledge would be accessible if certain advancements were accomplished. Also Read | X blocked again in Brazil after brief return, SC judge threatens massive fine “We know from the work of others that genetic material of simple organisms can be synthesised and used in an existing cell to create a viable living specimen in a lab. The 5D memory crystal opens up possibilities for other researchers to build an everlasting repository of genomic information from which complex organisms like plants and animals might be restored should science in the future allow,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

British scientists preserve human genome on 5D memory crystal which can last for millions of years

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