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<p>The supermassive black hole located at the centre of our galaxy has been spinning extremely fast and out of orientation with the rest of the galaxy. The reason behind this behaviour and how it came into existence has been a mystery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now a new study seems to have the answers to both the questions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sagittarius A*, 26,000 light-years away from us, is a gargantuan tear in space-time. It is four million times the mass of our sun and 14.6 million miles (23.5 million kilometres) wide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The telescope that first captured the black hole's image in 2022 had a lot more data about it. This data was studied by researchers, who believe that Sagittarius A* was born from a cataclysmic merger with another giant black hole billions of years ago. The findings published on September 6 in the journal Nature Astronomy say that the black hole is still showing the effects of this violent collision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This discovery paves the way for our understanding of how supermassive black holes grow and evolve," study lead author Yihan Wang, an astrophysicist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The misaligned high spin of Sgr A* indicates that it may have merged with another black hole, dramatically altering its amplitude and orientation of spin."</p>

<h2>Supermassive black holes</h2>

<p>As per the scientists, Sgr A* was born just like any other black hole - after the collapse of a giant star or gas cloud. It then started gobbling up anything that came too close. Black holes can slowly become monstrous in size and feed on other supermassive black holes.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/volcano-born-from-nothing-on-jupiters-moon-lo-didnt-exist-25-years-back-757975">Volcano born from 'nothing' on Jupiter's moon lo didn't exist 25 years back</a></p>

<p>"This merger likely occurred around 9 billion years ago, following the Milky Way's merger with the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy," study co-author Bing Zhang, a professor of physics and astronomy at UNLV, said in the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Supermassive black holes merge when entire galaxies merge. Milky Way has had several such mergers and collisions in the last 12 billion years, experts say. But, scientists are not sure about the role of black hole mergers in creating supermassive black holes. Can simply feeding on gas and dust turn a black hole into a supermassive black hole?</p>

<p>The new discovery "provides insights into the dynamic history of our galaxy," Zhang added.</p>


The supermassive black hole located at the centre of our galaxy has been spinning extremely fast and out of orientation with the rest of the galaxy. The reason behind this behaviour and how it came into existence has been a mystery.

The supermassive black hole located at the centre of our galaxy has been spinning extremely fast and out of orientation with the rest of the galaxy. The reason behind this behaviour and how it came into existence has been a mystery. Now a new study seems to have the answers to both the questions. Sagittarius A*, 26,000 light-years away from us, is a gargantuan tear in space-time. It is four million times the mass of our sun and 14.6 million miles (23.5 million kilometres) wide. The telescope that first captured the black hole's image in 2022 had a lot more data about it. This data was studied by researchers, who believe that Sagittarius A* was born from a cataclysmic merger with another giant black hole billions of years ago. The findings published on September 6 in the journal Nature Astronomy say that the black hole is still showing the effects of this violent collision. "This discovery paves the way for our understanding of how supermassive black holes grow and evolve," study lead author Yihan Wang, an astrophysicist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), said in a statement. "The misaligned high spin of Sgr A* indicates that it may have merged with another black hole, dramatically altering its amplitude and orientation of spin." Supermassive black holes As per the scientists, Sgr A* was born just like any other black hole - after the collapse of a giant star or gas cloud. It then started gobbling up anything that came too close. Black holes can slowly become monstrous in size and feed on other supermassive black holes. Also Read: Volcano born from 'nothing' on Jupiter's moon lo didn't exist 25 years back "This merger likely occurred around 9 billion years ago, following the Milky Way's merger with the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy," study co-author Bing Zhang, a professor of physics and astronomy at UNLV, said in the statement. Supermassive black holes merge when entire galaxies merge. Milky Way has had several such mergers and collisions in the last 12 billion years, experts say. But, scientists are not sure about the role of black hole mergers in creating supermassive black holes. Can simply feeding on gas and dust turn a black hole into a supermassive black hole? The new discovery "provides insights into the dynamic history of our galaxy," Zhang added.

Mega collision with another galaxy 9 billion years ago created Milky Way black hole

<p>Our universe is full of mysteries and wonder. While scientists and researchers keep discovering new phenomena and celestial objects, a much larger part of it remains unknown, which baffles scientists.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Here are 7 space mysteries that still remain unknown:</h2>

<p><strong>Dark matter and dark energy</strong></p>

<p>Two of the most mysterious phenomena of the universe are considered to be dark matter and dark energy. They are thought to make up about 95 per cent of the total mass-energy content of the universe. However, scientists still don't know about the nature of these two elusive forces.</p>

<p><strong>Solar system</strong></p>

<p>Our solar system is full of mysteries and questions. For a long time, scientists have been trying to look for an explanation of how our solar system came into being to understand the unique planets within it.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-on-alert-as-massive-720-foot-asteroid-hurtles-towards-earth-at-scary-speed-757464">NASA on alert as massive 720-foot asteroid hurtles towards Earth at scary speed</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Re-ionisation</strong></p>

<p>It is believed that our universe was formed as a result of the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago. Around 13 billion years ago, it went through an age of re-ionisation, in which hydrogen gas fog cleared and became translucent to ultraviolet light. The cause of this re-ionisation remains unknown.</p>

<p><strong>Missing baryonic matter</strong></p>

<p>While dark energy and dark matter make up about 95 per cent of the universe, the remaining 5 per cent is made up of regular matter. However, more than half of that regular matter, baryonic matter, is missing. Scientists have speculated that it is found between galaxies in warm-hot intergalactic medium, but it remains a topic of debate.</p>

<p><strong>Sun's corona</strong></p>

<p>The outer atmosphere of the sun's corona can reach up to an unbelievable 6 million degrees Celsius. Research has suggested a connection between energy underneath the surface and the magnetic field of the sun, however, we still don't know what makes it so hot.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-hellish-planet-receives-iron-rain-and-even-has-a-rainbow-heres-why-757326">THIS hellish planet receives iron rain and even has a rainbow. Here's why</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Supernovas</strong></p>

<p>Supernovas are the massive explosion of stars when they run out of their fuel and reach their end. These blasts can easily outshine galaxies by how bright they are. How this gigantic explosion occurs remains a mystery.</p>

<p><strong>Cosmic rays</strong></p>

<p>Another mystery of the universe is the origin of cosmic rays. Cosmic rays are charged subatomic particles that travel into our solar system from outer space. Scientists are still baffled about how these strong and highly energetic rays are produced.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Our universe is full of mysteries and wonder. While scientists and researchers keep discovering new phenomena and celestial objects, a much larger part of it remains unknown, which baffles scientists.

Our universe is full of mysteries and wonder. While scientists and researchers keep discovering new phenomena and celestial objects, a much larger part of it remains unknown, which baffles scientists. Here are 7 space mysteries that still remain unknown: Dark matter and dark energy Two of the most mysterious phenomena of the universe are considered to be dark matter and dark energy. They are thought to make up about 95 per cent of the total mass-energy content of the universe. However, scientists still don't know about the nature of these two elusive forces. Solar system Our solar system is full of mysteries and questions. For a long time, scientists have been trying to look for an explanation of how our solar system came into being to understand the unique planets within it. Also read | NASA on alert as massive 720-foot asteroid hurtles towards Earth at scary speed Re-ionisation It is believed that our universe was formed as a result of the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago. Around 13 billion years ago, it went through an age of re-ionisation, in which hydrogen gas fog cleared and became translucent to ultraviolet light. The cause of this re-ionisation remains unknown. Missing baryonic matter While dark energy and dark matter make up about 95 per cent of the universe, the remaining 5 per cent is made up of regular matter. However, more than half of that regular matter, baryonic matter, is missing. Scientists have speculated that it is found between galaxies in warm-hot intergalactic medium, but it remains a topic of debate. Sun's corona The outer atmosphere of the sun's corona can reach up to an unbelievable 6 million degrees Celsius. Research has suggested a connection between energy underneath the surface and the magnetic field of the sun, however, we still don't know what makes it so hot. Also read | THIS hellish planet receives iron rain and even has a rainbow. Here's why Supernovas Supernovas are the massive explosion of stars when they run out of their fuel and reach their end. These blasts can easily outshine galaxies by how bright they are. How this gigantic explosion occurs remains a mystery. Cosmic rays Another mystery of the universe is the origin of cosmic rays. Cosmic rays are charged subatomic particles that travel into our solar system from outer space. Scientists are still baffled about how these strong and highly energetic rays are produced. (With inputs from agencies)

7 Unsolved Space Mysteries That Still Leave Scientists Scratching Their Heads

<p>In a rare medical feat, a doctor carried out an endoscopy on a pig in Hong Kong while sitting in a lab which was 9,300 kilometres away in Zurich, Switzerland.</p>

<p>The operation was part of the collaborative project between researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and ETH Zurich.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the project, the researchers were able to look into the stomach of the anaesthetized animal while sitting in the other half of the world with the help of a smooth internet connection and clever robotic technology.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/namibia-to-cull-over-700-elephants-hippos-and-other-animals-for-meat-heres-why-754340">Namibia to cull over 700 elephants, hippos and other animals for meat. Here's why</a></p>

<p>Doctoral student Alexandre Mesot used the joysticks of a PlayStation controller to manipulate the endoscope in Hong Kong and checked the images on a screen in the lab in Zurich. There was only a 300-millisecond delay in loading of the images.</p>

<p>This surgery has emerged as a breakthrough in the field of telesurgery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before the endoscopy, the surgeons had anaesthetized the pig in the operating room in Hong Kong and had also safely inserted the endoscope in its stomach through the mouth.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how the doctor carried out nearly impossible endoscopy on pig</strong></h2>

<p>The endoscope used not any usual one but was specially developed by the ETH Zurich team for navigating with the help of a magnetic field.</p>

<p>“Not only can the endoscope be bent in any direction thanks to its magnetic head; it’s also smaller and easier to manoeuvre than conventional devices,” said Mesot, in his statement.</p>

<p>Mesot said that it was so flexible that he was able to control the endoscope from Switzerland and easily manipulate it bend its head backwards by 180° and check the stomach entrance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mesot was also able to take tissue samples from the stomach wall using a tiny gripper. Since this endoscope is smaller than usual, it can be used on human patients by inserting it through their nose and not the mouth.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Lab-grown blood stem cells could replace bone marrow transplants: Report</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/lab-grown-blood-stem-cells-could-replace-bone-marrow-transplants-report-755570/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“In the next step of our research, we hope to carry out a teleoperated endoscopy on a human stomach,” said Professor Bradley Nelson, who is from the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich while speaking to IFL Science.</p>

<p>“There’s a lot of potential in this technology. Here I’m thinking of minimally invasive procedures in the gastrointestinal tract, such as cancer screening," he added.</p>

<p>As per the reports, the pig survived the endoscopy and did not suffer because of the operation's novel nature.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a rare medical feat, a doctor carried out an endoscopy on a pig in Hong Kong while sitting in a lab which was 9,300 kilometres away in Zurich, Switzerland. The operation was part of the collaborative project between researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and ETH Zurich.

In a rare medical feat, a doctor carried out an endoscopy on a pig in Hong Kong while sitting in a lab which was 9,300 kilometres away in Zurich, Switzerland. The operation was part of the collaborative project between researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and ETH Zurich. In the project, the researchers were able to look into the stomach of the anaesthetized animal while sitting in the other half of the world with the help of a smooth internet connection and clever robotic technology. Also Read: Namibia to cull over 700 elephants, hippos and other animals for meat. Here's why Doctoral student Alexandre Mesot used the joysticks of a PlayStation controller to manipulate the endoscope in Hong Kong and checked the images on a screen in the lab in Zurich. There was only a 300-millisecond delay in loading of the images. This surgery has emerged as a breakthrough in the field of telesurgery. Before the endoscopy, the surgeons had anaesthetized the pig in the operating room in Hong Kong and had also safely inserted the endoscope in its stomach through the mouth. Here's how the doctor carried out nearly impossible endoscopy on pig The endoscope used not any usual one but was specially developed by the ETH Zurich team for navigating with the help of a magnetic field. “Not only can the endoscope be bent in any direction thanks to its magnetic head; it’s also smaller and easier to manoeuvre than conventional devices,” said Mesot, in his statement. Mesot said that it was so flexible that he was able to control the endoscope from Switzerland and easily manipulate it bend its head backwards by 180° and check the stomach entrance. Mesot was also able to take tissue samples from the stomach wall using a tiny gripper. Since this endoscope is smaller than usual, it can be used on human patients by inserting it through their nose and not the mouth. Watch: Lab-grown blood stem cells could replace bone marrow transplants: Report “In the next step of our research, we hope to carry out a teleoperated endoscopy on a human stomach,” said Professor Bradley Nelson, who is from the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich while speaking to IFL Science. “There’s a lot of potential in this technology. Here I’m thinking of minimally invasive procedures in the gastrointestinal tract, such as cancer screening," he added. As per the reports, the pig survived the endoscopy and did not suffer because of the operation's novel nature. (With inputs from agencies)

Doctor carries out operation from a distance of 9,000 kilometres. Here's how

<p>A weird prehistoric bird 'Longipteryx', which has a beak filled with ultra-strong teeth, may have been eating fruits and not flesh in China&nbsp;120 million years ago.</p>

<p>The scientists from the Field Museum,&nbsp;Chicago, found fossilised fruit in the belly of this bird, which highlighted its diet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This evidence suggested that Longipteryx did not eat fish but may have been eating insects along with fruits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study's lead author, Jingmai O'Connor, said, "Longipteryx is one of my favourite fossil birds, because it’s just so weird— it has this long skull, and teeth only at the tip of its beak."</p>

<p>The remains of the prehistoric bird were discovered in 2000 beneath Northwestern China and had left palaeontologists puzzled.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/bird-genes-store-memories-of-dinosaur-extiction-here-is-how-749319">Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how</a></p>

<p>Dr O'Connor said that the evidence which has come up with the new theory didn't fit with the idea that they were eating fish.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Longipteryx is one of my favourite fossil birds, because it's just so weird— it has this long skull, and teeth only at the tip of its beak," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There are other fossil birds, like Yanornis, that ate fish, and we know because specimens have been found with preserved stomach contents, and fish tend to preserve well. Plus, these fish-eating birds had lots of teeth, all the way along their beaks, unlike how Longipteryx only has teeth at the very tip of its beak. It just didn't add up," said O'Connor.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Prehistoric bird's puzzling diet</strong></h2>

<p>Dr O'Connor, during a trip to the Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature in China, spotted two specimens which had something in the stomachs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When he looked closer, he saw it was neither fish nor insects but the fruit from trees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Because Longipteryx lived in a temperate climate, the researchers are not convinced by the argument that they ate fruit all year round, which means that they should have had a mixed diet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;China nature reserve seeks co-existence of wild birds &amp; power supply facilities</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-nature-reserve-seeks-co-existence-of-wild-birds-power-supply-facilities-755200/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"It’s always been weird that we didn’t know what they were eating, but this study also hints at a bigger picture problem in palaeontology, that physical characteristics of a fossil don’t always tell the whole story about what animal ate or how it lived," Dr O'Connor said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researchers discovered that Longipteryx's teeth were coated with a layer of enamel 50 microns thick.</p>

<p>"Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and Longipteryx's&nbsp;tooth enamel&nbsp;is 50 microns thick. That's the same thickness of the enamel on enormous predatory dinosaurs like Allosaurus that weighed 4,000 pounds, but Longipteryx is the size of a bluejay," said Alex Clark, co-author of the paper.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A weird prehistoric bird 'Longipteryx', which has a beak filled with ultra-strong teeth, may have been eating fruits and not flesh in China 120 million years ago.

A weird prehistoric bird 'Longipteryx', which has a beak filled with ultra-strong teeth, may have been eating fruits and not flesh in China 120 million years ago. The scientists from the Field Museum, Chicago, found fossilised fruit in the belly of this bird, which highlighted its diet. This evidence suggested that Longipteryx did not eat fish but may have been eating insects along with fruits. The study's lead author, Jingmai O'Connor, said, "Longipteryx is one of my favourite fossil birds, because it’s just so weird— it has this long skull, and teeth only at the tip of its beak." The remains of the prehistoric bird were discovered in 2000 beneath Northwestern China and had left palaeontologists puzzled. Also Read: Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how Dr O'Connor said that the evidence which has come up with the new theory didn't fit with the idea that they were eating fish. "Longipteryx is one of my favourite fossil birds, because it's just so weird— it has this long skull, and teeth only at the tip of its beak," he said. "There are other fossil birds, like Yanornis, that ate fish, and we know because specimens have been found with preserved stomach contents, and fish tend to preserve well. Plus, these fish-eating birds had lots of teeth, all the way along their beaks, unlike how Longipteryx only has teeth at the very tip of its beak. It just didn't add up," said O'Connor. Prehistoric bird's puzzling diet Dr O'Connor, during a trip to the Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature in China, spotted two specimens which had something in the stomachs. When he looked closer, he saw it was neither fish nor insects but the fruit from trees. Because Longipteryx lived in a temperate climate, the researchers are not convinced by the argument that they ate fruit all year round, which means that they should have had a mixed diet. Watch: China nature reserve seeks co-existence of wild birds & power supply facilities "It’s always been weird that we didn’t know what they were eating, but this study also hints at a bigger picture problem in palaeontology, that physical characteristics of a fossil don’t always tell the whole story about what animal ate or how it lived," Dr O'Connor said. The researchers discovered that Longipteryx's teeth were coated with a layer of enamel 50 microns thick. "Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and Longipteryx's tooth enamel is 50 microns thick. That's the same thickness of the enamel on enormous predatory dinosaurs like Allosaurus that weighed 4,000 pounds, but Longipteryx is the size of a bluejay," said Alex Clark, co-author of the paper. (With inputs from agencies)

This 'weird' prehistoric bird species ate fruit, not flesh in China, shows fossil analysis

<p>Scientists have spotted two supermassive black holes circling around each other, 800 million light-years from Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the closest supermassive black hole ever detected and are set to crash with each other, which is expected to rattle the fabric of reality.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><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></p>

<p>In a&nbsp;paper&nbsp;that was published in&nbsp;The Astrophysical Journal, a team headed by a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Anna Trindade Falcao, spoke about the limits on telescope resolution which made the study of dual black hole systems difficult.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how scientists spotted the black holes</strong></h2>

<p>The team observed the images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope of a galaxy called MCG-03-34-64, which is around 800 million light years away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three glowing blobs were spotted by the scientists which indicated that the glowing oxygen gas, in compressed form, was present in huge amounts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two black holes appeared very close in visible optical wavelengths and looked like they had merged into a single entity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA, in a statement, compared the black holes to “two Sumo wrestlers squaring off.”</p>

<p>With the help of NASA’s Chandra observatory X-ray telescope, the astronomers observed the powerful black holes within the blobs.</p>

<p>“We put these pieces together and concluded that we were likely looking at two closely spaced supermassive black holes,” Trindade Falcão said.</p>

<p>The scientists failed to figure out the source of the third blob of oxygen spotted by Hubble.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Such black holes, also known as active galactic nuclei, are found at the centre of galaxies.&nbsp;There is a possibility that the black holes started circling each other after their galaxies collided.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Black hole 'moons' may signal advanced alien life</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/black-hole-moons-may-signal-advanced-alien-life-753773/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>After more than 100 million years, the two black holes will merge and release gravitational shockwaves which will&nbsp;distort space-time&nbsp;over vast stretches of space.</p>

<p>The astrophysicists wrote that the discovery of the two black holes was “serendipitous".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trindade Falcão said this was made possible because of “amazing resolution" of the Hubble Telescope.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We were not expecting to see something like this. This view is not a common occurrence in the nearby universe, and told us there’s something else going on inside the galaxy," she said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Scientists have spotted two supermassive black holes circling around each other, 800 million light-years from Earth. This is the closest supermassive black hole ever detected and are set to crash with each other, which is expected to rattle the fabric of reality.

Scientists have spotted two supermassive black holes circling around each other, 800 million light-years from Earth. This is the closest supermassive black hole ever detected and are set to crash with each other, which is expected to rattle the fabric of reality. Also Read: Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are In a paper that was published in The Astrophysical Journal, a team headed by a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Anna Trindade Falcao, spoke about the limits on telescope resolution which made the study of dual black hole systems difficult. Here's how scientists spotted the black holes The team observed the images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope of a galaxy called MCG-03-34-64, which is around 800 million light years away from Earth. Three glowing blobs were spotted by the scientists which indicated that the glowing oxygen gas, in compressed form, was present in huge amounts. The two black holes appeared very close in visible optical wavelengths and looked like they had merged into a single entity. NASA, in a statement, compared the black holes to “two Sumo wrestlers squaring off.” With the help of NASA’s Chandra observatory X-ray telescope, the astronomers observed the powerful black holes within the blobs. “We put these pieces together and concluded that we were likely looking at two closely spaced supermassive black holes,” Trindade Falcão said. The scientists failed to figure out the source of the third blob of oxygen spotted by Hubble. Such black holes, also known as active galactic nuclei, are found at the centre of galaxies. There is a possibility that the black holes started circling each other after their galaxies collided. Watch: Black hole 'moons' may signal advanced alien life After more than 100 million years, the two black holes will merge and release gravitational shockwaves which will distort space-time over vast stretches of space. The astrophysicists wrote that the discovery of the two black holes was “serendipitous". Trindade Falcão said this was made possible because of “amazing resolution" of the Hubble Telescope. “We were not expecting to see something like this. This view is not a common occurrence in the nearby universe, and told us there’s something else going on inside the galaxy," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Two supermassive black holes are scary close and set to crash. Here's what will happen next

<p>Mars, Earth's nearest neighbour, has caught the imagination of scientists who have been keenly studying the red planet for signs of life and to know whether humans can one day live there. One such research has revealed the amazing cloud patterns that run on Mars.</p>

<p>Images of clouds on Mars have been captured by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) instrument in orbit on board the European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft since 2005.&nbsp;The collection spans more than 20 years.</p>

<p>The collection of cloud pictures, or "cloud atlas", shows the amazing atmospheric phenomena witnessed there. While some of them are similar to ones seen on Earth, others are unique.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The atlas has been made by Daniela Tirsch at the German Aerospace Center in Berlin and her colleagues who collected images of these clouds.</p>

<p>The dazzling array of clouds comes into existence when its thin atmosphere, made up of primarily carbon dioxide, condenses and mixes with dust and water vapour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Clouds on Mars are just as diverse and fascinating as those we see in our skies on Earth, with some features unique to the red planet," Tirsch said.</p>

<p>The ones that resemble those on Earth are the gravity wave clouds. The thin clouds are formed when features on the land below force parts of the atmosphere upwards which then interact with other columns of atmospheric gas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The other types of clouds are cloud streets which spread out over larger regions. They look the same as gravity wave clouds but are caused by chaotic currents in Mars’s atmosphere. Speaking about the clouds, Tirsch said at the Europlanet Science Congress in Berlin, "They are enigmatic but beautiful."</p>

<p>"One of my favourite phenomena are the beautiful 'cloud streets'—linear rows of fleecy clouds that develop around the huge volcanic Tharsis rise and the northern lowlands in northern spring and summer. While they resemble cumulus clouds on Earth, they are formed under different atmospheric conditions," said Dr Tirsch.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/invisible-force-zoomed-through-solar-system-and-threw-off-objects-from-their-orbit-757694">Invisible force zoomed through solar system and threw off objects from their orbit</a></strong></p>

<p>The clouds not found on Earth are the dust clouds formed due to the planet's atmospheric conditions. These clouds are bright red, carry huge amounts of Martian dust and can extend for hundreds of kilometres.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We also see impressive dust clouds that can spread hundreds of kilometres—a phenomenon we luckily don't experience on Earth."</p>

<p><img alt="Orographic clouds near volcanoes (Photo: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/A. Cowart)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f58f34c9-8b58-4887-8729-9c08dc52f150" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mars%20clouds.png" /></p>

<p>(Photo:&nbsp;ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/A. Cowart)</p>

<p>Unique features of Mars give birth to orographic clouds. These are seen near volcanoes when large amounts of gas is forced upwards. Some of these clouds can also mix with dust or dust-filled storms and create clouds that look like eruptions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The twilight clouds especially stunned the researchers. “We were astonished at the wealth of morphologies that twilight clouds could have,” said Tirsch.</p>

<p>They form near the horizon as the sun rises on Mars and take on different appearances.</p>


Mars, Earth's nearest neighbour, has caught the imagination of scientists who have been keenly studying the red planet for signs of life and to know whether humans can one day live there.

Mars, Earth's nearest neighbour, has caught the imagination of scientists who have been keenly studying the red planet for signs of life and to know whether humans can one day live there. One such research has revealed the amazing cloud patterns that run on Mars. Images of clouds on Mars have been captured by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) instrument in orbit on board the European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft since 2005. The collection spans more than 20 years. The collection of cloud pictures, or "cloud atlas", shows the amazing atmospheric phenomena witnessed there. While some of them are similar to ones seen on Earth, others are unique. The atlas has been made by Daniela Tirsch at the German Aerospace Center in Berlin and her colleagues who collected images of these clouds. The dazzling array of clouds comes into existence when its thin atmosphere, made up of primarily carbon dioxide, condenses and mixes with dust and water vapour. "Clouds on Mars are just as diverse and fascinating as those we see in our skies on Earth, with some features unique to the red planet," Tirsch said. The ones that resemble those on Earth are the gravity wave clouds. The thin clouds are formed when features on the land below force parts of the atmosphere upwards which then interact with other columns of atmospheric gas. The other types of clouds are cloud streets which spread out over larger regions. They look the same as gravity wave clouds but are caused by chaotic currents in Mars’s atmosphere. Speaking about the clouds, Tirsch said at the Europlanet Science Congress in Berlin, "They are enigmatic but beautiful." "One of my favourite phenomena are the beautiful 'cloud streets'—linear rows of fleecy clouds that develop around the huge volcanic Tharsis rise and the northern lowlands in northern spring and summer. While they resemble cumulus clouds on Earth, they are formed under different atmospheric conditions," said Dr Tirsch. Also Read: Invisible force zoomed through solar system and threw off objects from their orbit The clouds not found on Earth are the dust clouds formed due to the planet's atmospheric conditions. These clouds are bright red, carry huge amounts of Martian dust and can extend for hundreds of kilometres. "We also see impressive dust clouds that can spread hundreds of kilometres—a phenomenon we luckily don't experience on Earth." (Photo: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/A. Cowart) Unique features of Mars give birth to orographic clouds. These are seen near volcanoes when large amounts of gas is forced upwards. Some of these clouds can also mix with dust or dust-filled storms and create clouds that look like eruptions. The twilight clouds especially stunned the researchers. “We were astonished at the wealth of morphologies that twilight clouds could have,” said Tirsch. They form near the horizon as the sun rises on Mars and take on different appearances.

Twilight clouds, dust clouds and more line the atmosphere of Mars

<p>Scientists recently stumbled upon dinosaur tracks along the southern coast of Australia.</p>

<p>These footprints appeared to date back to the Early Cretaceous when the continent was attached to Antarctica and hinted that the large and carnivorous theropod&nbsp;dinosaurs lived in the polar region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These carnivorous dinosaurs were found to be living near river floodplains in the summer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/bird-genes-store-memories-of-dinosaur-extiction-here-is-how-749319">Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how</a></p>

<p>The analysis of the dinosaur tracks which were discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation, south of Melbourne, was recently published by the experts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tracks, which appeared to date back to 120 and 128 million years ago, included 18 such footprints which were of theropods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study's lead author and professor at&nbsp;Emory University’s Department of Environmental Sciences Anthony Martin said, “These numerous tracks are the best evidence yet that these former polar environments supported large carnivores. The large theropods would likely have fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish, and turtles.”</p>

<h2><strong>What are theropod dinosaurs?</strong></h2>

<p>Theropod dinosaurs are a type of bipedal dinosaur which have three clawed toes. They are part of the same evolutionary group which has species like Allosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, and Velociraptor.</p>

<p>In this discovery, the scientists found the largest theropod track 18.5 inches in length.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/26000-year-old-human-animal-footprints-unearthed-in-spain-it-once-was-a-settlement-of-757071">26,000-year-old human, animal footprints unearthed in Spain. It once was a settlement of...</a></p>

<p>“The hip height of that theropod would have been about the same as the full height of a tall, modern-day human – or a bit more than six feet tall,” said Martin.</p>

<p>“Our find of so many theropod tracks, however, confirms that a variety of dinosaurs actually lived and walked on the ground where their bones were found,” emphasised Martin. “Dinosaur tracks are actually much more common at the site than we previously realised," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the scientists, the newly-found tracks were likely formed when the dinosaurs roamed on mud or wet sand in the floodplain.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Scientists recently stumbled upon dinosaur tracks along the southern coast of Australia. These footprints appeared to date back to the Early Cretaceous when the continent was attached to Antarctica and hinted that the large and carnivorous theropod dinosaurs lived in the polar region.

Scientists recently stumbled upon dinosaur tracks along the southern coast of Australia. These footprints appeared to date back to the Early Cretaceous when the continent was attached to Antarctica and hinted that the large and carnivorous theropod dinosaurs lived in the polar region. These carnivorous dinosaurs were found to be living near river floodplains in the summer. Also Read: Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how The analysis of the dinosaur tracks which were discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation, south of Melbourne, was recently published by the experts. The tracks, which appeared to date back to 120 and 128 million years ago, included 18 such footprints which were of theropods. The study's lead author and professor at Emory University’s Department of Environmental Sciences Anthony Martin said, “These numerous tracks are the best evidence yet that these former polar environments supported large carnivores. The large theropods would likely have fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish, and turtles.” What are theropod dinosaurs? Theropod dinosaurs are a type of bipedal dinosaur which have three clawed toes. They are part of the same evolutionary group which has species like Allosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, and Velociraptor. In this discovery, the scientists found the largest theropod track 18.5 inches in length. Also Read: 26,000-year-old human, animal footprints unearthed in Spain. It once was a settlement of... “The hip height of that theropod would have been about the same as the full height of a tall, modern-day human – or a bit more than six feet tall,” said Martin. “Our find of so many theropod tracks, however, confirms that a variety of dinosaurs actually lived and walked on the ground where their bones were found,” emphasised Martin. “Dinosaur tracks are actually much more common at the site than we previously realised," he added. According to the scientists, the newly-found tracks were likely formed when the dinosaurs roamed on mud or wet sand in the floodplain. (With inputs from agencies)

A huge, carnivorous dinosaurs roamed on Earth's polar regions. Here's how the wild beast thrived

<p>A piece of rock being used as a doorstop for decades by a woman in Romania turned out to be a treasure worth $1 million. While strolling near a stream in southeast Romania, the elderly woman came across a piece of rock. It weighed 3.5 kilogrammes (7.7 pounds). She brought it back with her and started using it as a doorstop.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rock was actually a huge chunk of amber, and it was one of the biggest pieces ever found, according to a report by El Pais. Its value was somewhere around €1 million ($US1.1 million). But the woman didn't know, and neither did the thieves who once burgled her home. To them, it was just a doorstop.</p>

<p>The woman died in 1991, and one of her relatives inherited her home. The rock caught his attention, and he&nbsp;believed it might not just be a simple piece of rock. Upon learning that it was amber, the man sold it to the Romanian state. The Museum of History in Krakow, Poland, then studied to know how old it is.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The amber was estimated to be around 38 and 70 million years old.</p>

<p>"Its discovery represents a great significance both at a scientific level and at a museum level," Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau, told El Pais.</p>

<p>The chunk of amber has been classified as a national treasure of Romania and has been in the Provincial Museum of Buzau since 2022.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/invisible-force-zoomed-through-solar-system-and-threw-off-objects-from-their-orbit-757694">Invisible force zoomed through solar system and threw off objects from their orbit</a></p>

<p>Amber is formed from tree resin when it fossilises into a hard, material of reddish-brown colour over millions of years. It is quite a popular gemstone. The old woman lived in Colti where pieces of amber can be found around the villagein sandstone from the banks of the River Buzau.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This piece is known as rumanite, and is extremely popular and expensive.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Doorstop turns out to be meteorite</h2>

<p>Something similar happened with a man in Michigan who was using a piece of meteorite as a doorstop. He came to know that it was a space rock worth $100,000 only decades later.</p>


A piece of rock being used as a doorstop for decades by a woman in Romania turned out to be a treasure worth $1 million. While strolling near a stream in southeast Romania, the elderly woman came across a piece of rock.

A piece of rock being used as a doorstop for decades by a woman in Romania turned out to be a treasure worth $1 million. While strolling near a stream in southeast Romania, the elderly woman came across a piece of rock. It weighed 3.5 kilogrammes (7.7 pounds). She brought it back with her and started using it as a doorstop. The rock was actually a huge chunk of amber, and it was one of the biggest pieces ever found, according to a report by El Pais. Its value was somewhere around €1 million ($US1.1 million). But the woman didn't know, and neither did the thieves who once burgled her home. To them, it was just a doorstop. The woman died in 1991, and one of her relatives inherited her home. The rock caught his attention, and he believed it might not just be a simple piece of rock. Upon learning that it was amber, the man sold it to the Romanian state. The Museum of History in Krakow, Poland, then studied to know how old it is. The amber was estimated to be around 38 and 70 million years old. "Its discovery represents a great significance both at a scientific level and at a museum level," Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau, told El Pais. The chunk of amber has been classified as a national treasure of Romania and has been in the Provincial Museum of Buzau since 2022. Also Read: Invisible force zoomed through solar system and threw off objects from their orbit Amber is formed from tree resin when it fossilises into a hard, material of reddish-brown colour over millions of years. It is quite a popular gemstone. The old woman lived in Colti where pieces of amber can be found around the villagein sandstone from the banks of the River Buzau. This piece is known as rumanite, and is extremely popular and expensive. Doorstop turns out to be meteorite Something similar happened with a man in Michigan who was using a piece of meteorite as a doorstop. He came to know that it was a space rock worth $100,000 only decades later.

Doorstop turns out to be huge chunk of amber worth over a million dollars

<p>Polaris Dawn mission is now the farthest from Earth than humans have ever been in the last 50 years. The private crew of the mission is on a Dragon spaceship and will undertake the first spacewalk by non-astronauts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Achievement unlocked -- apogee 1,400.7 km," SpaceX said on X Tuesday night.</p>

<p>It wrote in another post, "Polaris Dawn and Dragon at 1,400 km above Earth – the farthest humans have travelled since the Apollo program over 50 years ago."</p>

<p>This distance is more than three times farther from Earth than the International Space Station that hovers over the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, re-posted the message and wrote, "Strive to greater heights, For a future brighter than the past, Waking up each morning inspired, To learn new secrets of the Universe!</p>

<p>The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission is being led by Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman on a roughly five-day trek. It launched early Tuesday morning from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.</p>

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<p>At this height, the spaceship needs to dodge the hazardous, high-radiation Van Allen belt. Musk had earlier also warned that there is &nbsp;"no room for error in our calculations" as the spaceship "will travel repeatedly through the orbital altitudes of over 10 thousand satellites and bits of space debris."</p>

<p>Pilot Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, is also on the spacecraft. Two female SpaceX engineers are also on the historic mission. Mission specialist Sarah Gillis and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon have now become the first women to travel this far away from Earth.</p>

<p>The spacewalk is scheduled to happen on Thursday 0623 GMT, the first ever by civilians. They will don SpaceX extravehicular activity (EVA) suits with heads-up displays, helmet cameras and advanced joint mobility systems.</p>

<p>Two crewmates will venture out, in turn, for 15 to 20 minutes each.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Polaris Dawn mission is now the farthest from Earth than humans have ever been in the last 50 years. The private crew of the mission is on a Dragon spaceship and will undertake the first spacewalk by non-astronauts.

Polaris Dawn mission is now the farthest from Earth than humans have ever been in the last 50 years. The private crew of the mission is on a Dragon spaceship and will undertake the first spacewalk by non-astronauts. "Achievement unlocked -- apogee 1,400.7 km," SpaceX said on X Tuesday night. It wrote in another post, "Polaris Dawn and Dragon at 1,400 km above Earth – the farthest humans have travelled since the Apollo program over 50 years ago." This distance is more than three times farther from Earth than the International Space Station that hovers over the planet. Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, re-posted the message and wrote, "Strive to greater heights, For a future brighter than the past, Waking up each morning inspired, To learn new secrets of the Universe! The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission is being led by Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman on a roughly five-day trek. It launched early Tuesday morning from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. × At this height, the spaceship needs to dodge the hazardous, high-radiation Van Allen belt. Musk had earlier also warned that there is "no room for error in our calculations" as the spaceship "will travel repeatedly through the orbital altitudes of over 10 thousand satellites and bits of space debris." Pilot Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, is also on the spacecraft. Two female SpaceX engineers are also on the historic mission. Mission specialist Sarah Gillis and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon have now become the first women to travel this far away from Earth. The spacewalk is scheduled to happen on Thursday 0623 GMT, the first ever by civilians. They will don SpaceX extravehicular activity (EVA) suits with heads-up displays, helmet cameras and advanced joint mobility systems. Two crewmates will venture out, in turn, for 15 to 20 minutes each.

Polaris Dawn travels to 1,400 km above Earth, farthest since 1966 Gemini mission

<p>Four identical spacecraft were launched into space around a quarter century ago and recently made a comeback. The European Space Agency sent a plane to capture the reentry of the four Cluster mission satellites into the atmosphere of Earth on September 8.</p>

<p>"The first recorded observation of a satellite reentry from a high-speed orbit, taken from a plane in bright daylight!" stated the agency.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-spooky-smiley-face-appears-on-mars-scientists-say-its-hiding-life-forms-757191">A 'spooky smiley face' appears on Mars. Scientists say it's hiding life forms...</a></p>

<p>The idea was to record the way in which such a spacecraft breaks up the atmosphere of Earth after facing intense friction and heat.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Last night, the first satellite in our Cluster quartet safely came back down to Earth in a world-first ‘targeted reentry’.<br />
<br />
The spacecraft, known as ‘Salsa’, reentered Earth’s atmosphere at 19:27 BST/20:47 CEST over a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean.<br />
<br />
Not only has Cluster… <a href="https://t.co/joLYtNpFnr">pic.twitter.com/joLYtNpFnr</a></p>
— European Space Agency (@esa) <a href="https://twitter.com/esa/status/1833026666496450842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Throughout history, so far about 10,000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere," stated the&nbsp;agency.</p>

<p>"Yet we still lack a clear view on what actually happens during a reentry," it added.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how the reentry of spacecraft in atmosphere of Earth looked like</strong></h2>

<p>The craft named "Salsa" upon reentry appeared like a bright dot above the sea surface and its reentry was intentionally carried out above the remote South Pacific Ocean - which is a region where the chances of creating damage were less.</p>

<p>Four identical spacecraft were deployed by the Cluster mission, undertaken by&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;and ESA, to investigate how our planet's magnetosphere interacts with the constant stream of particles released from the&nbsp;sun known as the solar wind.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It even discovered the origin of 'killer electrons,' energetic particles in the outer belt of radiation surrounding Earth, that can cause havoc for satellites," stated ESA.</p>

<p>Before the satellites turned into derelict objects in the orbit of the Earth, ESA made manoeuvres to ensure that the spacecraft came down in a "targeted area."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;SpaceX launches 'all civilian' Polaris mission: A new frontier in private space exploration</strong></p>

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<p>"Without intervention, the four Cluster satellites would have reentered Earth’s atmosphere naturally – but with less control over when or where this would happen," stated the agency. "Low-Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbital space junkyard," explained NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There are&nbsp;millions of pieces of space junk&nbsp;flying in LEO. Most orbital debris comprises human-generated objects, such as pieces of spacecraft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, satellites that are no longer working, or explosions of objects in orbit flying around in space at high speeds," it added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Four identical spacecraft were launched into space around a quarter century ago and recently made a comeback. The European Space Agency sent a plane to capture the reentry of the four Cluster mission satellites into the atmosphere of Earth on September 8.

Four identical spacecraft were launched into space around a quarter century ago and recently made a comeback. The European Space Agency sent a plane to capture the reentry of the four Cluster mission satellites into the atmosphere of Earth on September 8. "The first recorded observation of a satellite reentry from a high-speed orbit, taken from a plane in bright daylight!" stated the agency. Also Read: A 'spooky smiley face' appears on Mars. Scientists say it's hiding life forms... The idea was to record the way in which such a spacecraft breaks up the atmosphere of Earth after facing intense friction and heat. Last night, the first satellite in our Cluster quartet safely came back down to Earth in a world-first ‘targeted reentry’. The spacecraft, known as ‘Salsa’, reentered Earth’s atmosphere at 19:27 BST/20:47 CEST over a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean. Not only has Cluster… pic.twitter.com/joLYtNpFnr — European Space Agency (@esa) September 9, 2024 × "Throughout history, so far about 10,000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere," stated the agency. "Yet we still lack a clear view on what actually happens during a reentry," it added. Here's how the reentry of spacecraft in atmosphere of Earth looked like The craft named "Salsa" upon reentry appeared like a bright dot above the sea surface and its reentry was intentionally carried out above the remote South Pacific Ocean - which is a region where the chances of creating damage were less. Four identical spacecraft were deployed by the Cluster mission, undertaken by NASA and ESA, to investigate how our planet's magnetosphere interacts with the constant stream of particles released from the sun known as the solar wind. "It even discovered the origin of 'killer electrons,' energetic particles in the outer belt of radiation surrounding Earth, that can cause havoc for satellites," stated ESA. Before the satellites turned into derelict objects in the orbit of the Earth, ESA made manoeuvres to ensure that the spacecraft came down in a "targeted area." Watch: SpaceX launches 'all civilian' Polaris mission: A new frontier in private space exploration "Without intervention, the four Cluster satellites would have reentered Earth’s atmosphere naturally – but with less control over when or where this would happen," stated the agency. "Low-Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbital space junkyard," explained NASA. "There are millions of pieces of space junk flying in LEO. Most orbital debris comprises human-generated objects, such as pieces of spacecraft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, satellites that are no longer working, or explosions of objects in orbit flying around in space at high speeds," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

ESA's plane captures a rare glimpse of spacecraft's homecoming as it reenters Earth's atmosphere

<p>Ruins of mudbrick buildings&nbsp;from a&nbsp;3,000-year-old fort that defended an ancient Egyptian kingdom against “sea peoples” tribes have been discovered by archaeologists. The discovery was made in northwestern Egypt near the eastern Mediterranean. This fort catered to the New Kingdom era that spanned 1550 BC to 1070 BC.</p>

<p>The remains found at the site comprise military barracks for soldiers and storage rooms for weapons, food and provisions. Egyptian soldiers who were stationed at the Tell Al-Abqain site on the Nile’s Western Delta used to keep personal items at the fort, which were also discovered during the dig.</p>

<p>Research shows that the sea peoples were responsible for the collapse of several dominant civilisations around 1200BC. They conducted naval raids which were partly responsible for kingdoms falling down. However, the origin of sea peoples is a mystery and it is not clear where they came from.</p>

<p>The tribe carried out several invasions and settled in a small section of the Mediterranean after a string of invasions in northern Egypt.</p>

<p>The discovery presents strong proof that forts acted as a major defense mechanism in northern Egypt and guarded the ancient kingdom against Libyan tribes and the sea peoples.</p>

<p>Researchers said the way the buildings were designed shows the exceptional talent of ancient Egyptian engineers. They were divided into two identical groups and were separated by a narrow passage.</p>

<p>They had storerooms filled with daily provisions to cater to the needs to the people who lived there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mass-grave-in-french-cave-has-too-many-males-too-few-females-why-757687">Mass grave in French cave has too many males, too few females. Why?</a></p>

<p>Pieces of broken pottery were also found with remains of fish and animal bones. Cylindrical pottery ovens&nbsp;used for cooking were also at the site.</p>

<p>There were also several artefacts at the site, hinting at the lives and beliefs of the people. Most of those who lived at the fort were soldiers, and the artefacts help understand about how they lived their lives, their religious beliefs, and military activities.</p>

<p>A long bronze sword decorated with the cartouche of King Ramesses II was also found. A limestone block was found inscribed with hieroglyphics, telling the titles of King Ramesses II. Another one belonged to an official named “Bay”.</p>

<p>A cow burial site was also uncovered, and scientists suspect it symbolised strength, abundance, and prosperity.</p>


Ruins of mudbrick buildings from a 3,000-year-old fort that defended an ancient Egyptian kingdom against “sea peoples” tribes have been discovered by archaeologists.

Ruins of mudbrick buildings from a 3,000-year-old fort that defended an ancient Egyptian kingdom against “sea peoples” tribes have been discovered by archaeologists. The discovery was made in northwestern Egypt near the eastern Mediterranean. This fort catered to the New Kingdom era that spanned 1550 BC to 1070 BC. The remains found at the site comprise military barracks for soldiers and storage rooms for weapons, food and provisions. Egyptian soldiers who were stationed at the Tell Al-Abqain site on the Nile’s Western Delta used to keep personal items at the fort, which were also discovered during the dig. Research shows that the sea peoples were responsible for the collapse of several dominant civilisations around 1200BC. They conducted naval raids which were partly responsible for kingdoms falling down. However, the origin of sea peoples is a mystery and it is not clear where they came from. The tribe carried out several invasions and settled in a small section of the Mediterranean after a string of invasions in northern Egypt. The discovery presents strong proof that forts acted as a major defense mechanism in northern Egypt and guarded the ancient kingdom against Libyan tribes and the sea peoples. Researchers said the way the buildings were designed shows the exceptional talent of ancient Egyptian engineers. They were divided into two identical groups and were separated by a narrow passage. They had storerooms filled with daily provisions to cater to the needs to the people who lived there. Also Read: Mass grave in French cave has too many males, too few females. Why? Pieces of broken pottery were also found with remains of fish and animal bones. Cylindrical pottery ovens used for cooking were also at the site. There were also several artefacts at the site, hinting at the lives and beliefs of the people. Most of those who lived at the fort were soldiers, and the artefacts help understand about how they lived their lives, their religious beliefs, and military activities. A long bronze sword decorated with the cartouche of King Ramesses II was also found. A limestone block was found inscribed with hieroglyphics, telling the titles of King Ramesses II. Another one belonged to an official named “Bay”. A cow burial site was also uncovered, and scientists suspect it symbolised strength, abundance, and prosperity.

3000-year-old fort used to defend against 'sea peoples' found in Egypt

<p>A report on Earth.com suggests that the boundaries of our solar system were stretched by a strange force, something that flew by. Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich, has discovered that a stellar flyby caused the occurrence and the edges of the solar system are beyond where they once were.</p>

<p>Pfalzner notes that several objects beyond the orbit of Neptune move on eccentric orbits.</p>

<p>“Several thousand celestial bodies are known to move beyond the orbit of Neptune,” said Pfalzner. “Surprisingly, many of these so-called trans-Neptunian objects move on eccentric orbits that are inclined relative to the common orbital plane of the planets in the solar system.“</p>

<p>Pfalzner and her student, Amith Govind and Simon Portegies Zwart from Leiden University, say that some force might have lifted trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) from the disk where they originally formed and altered their orbits.</p>

<p>To learn more about what could have moved these objects from their orbits, the team conducted 3,000 simulations. They tried to understand whether another star caused this to happen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They found that this was a possibility and a close flyby of another star is likely to blame for the way the TNOs move. The researchers added that this star might also be responsible for the movement of some known TNOs, such as the dwarf planet Sedna which was discovered in 2003.</p>

<p>Other objects with bizarre orbits are 2008 KV42 and 2011 KT19 which move almost perpendicular to Neptune's orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The best match for today’s outer solar system is a star slightly lighter than our Sun – about 0.8 solar masses,” Govind said.</p>

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<p>“This star passed our Sun at a distance of around 16.5 billion kilometres – about 110 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun, or just under four times the distance to Neptune.”</p>

<h2>Implications for future studies</h2>

<p>The finding has opened up a new avenue for astronomers to understand how stellar flybys affect other bodies, and whether these might have shaped the orbits of celestial bodies residing in our solar system and beyond.</p>

<p>Flybys of other similar stars might have led some trans-Neptunian objects to be flung towards the inner solar system to become the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Some of these objects could have been captured by the giant planets as moons,” said Portegies Zwart. “This would explain why the outer planets of our solar system have two different types of moons.”</p>


A report on Earth.com suggests that the boundaries of our solar system were stretched by a strange force, something that flew by. Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich, has discovered that a stellar flyby caused the occurrence and the edges of the solar system are beyond where they once were.

A report on Earth.com suggests that the boundaries of our solar system were stretched by a strange force, something that flew by. Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich, has discovered that a stellar flyby caused the occurrence and the edges of the solar system are beyond where they once were. Pfalzner notes that several objects beyond the orbit of Neptune move on eccentric orbits. “Several thousand celestial bodies are known to move beyond the orbit of Neptune,” said Pfalzner. “Surprisingly, many of these so-called trans-Neptunian objects move on eccentric orbits that are inclined relative to the common orbital plane of the planets in the solar system.“ Pfalzner and her student, Amith Govind and Simon Portegies Zwart from Leiden University, say that some force might have lifted trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) from the disk where they originally formed and altered their orbits. To learn more about what could have moved these objects from their orbits, the team conducted 3,000 simulations. They tried to understand whether another star caused this to happen. They found that this was a possibility and a close flyby of another star is likely to blame for the way the TNOs move. The researchers added that this star might also be responsible for the movement of some known TNOs, such as the dwarf planet Sedna which was discovered in 2003. Other objects with bizarre orbits are 2008 KV42 and 2011 KT19 which move almost perpendicular to Neptune's orbit. “The best match for today’s outer solar system is a star slightly lighter than our Sun – about 0.8 solar masses,” Govind said. Also Read: North American lake fills up with toxins-releasing algae visible from space “This star passed our Sun at a distance of around 16.5 billion kilometres – about 110 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun, or just under four times the distance to Neptune.” Implications for future studies The finding has opened up a new avenue for astronomers to understand how stellar flybys affect other bodies, and whether these might have shaped the orbits of celestial bodies residing in our solar system and beyond. Flybys of other similar stars might have led some trans-Neptunian objects to be flung towards the inner solar system to become the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. “Some of these objects could have been captured by the giant planets as moons,” said Portegies Zwart. “This would explain why the outer planets of our solar system have two different types of moons.”

Invisible force zoomed through solar system and threw off objects from their orbit

<p>A mass grave from the Neolithic era found some time back contains the remains of mostly adult males, all of whom were related. The discovery was made by archaeologists and paleo-geneticists from the Université de Bordeaux, along with other researchers from the Université Côte d'Azur, both in France.</p>

<p>The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.</p>

<p>A dig conducted earlier threw open a mass burial site from the Neolithic at Aven de la Boucle in a cave in southern France. Radiocarbon dating showed that burials were conducted at the site from 2,800 BC to 3,600 BC. This meant that it had been in use for almost 1,000 years.</p>

<p>The researchers in the current study studied the burial site and conducted a genetic analysis on some of the bodies. The remains of 75 exhumed people were under the scanner and the team analysed the genomes of 37 of them.</p>

<p>Two things jumped out from the analyses - 76 per cent of the remains were male and almost all of them were from a single paternal line. The researchers believe that the discovery of male remains at one site suggests that social status was passed down through the males of the society.</p>

<h2>Why few female&nbsp;remains?</h2>

<p>However, in an effort to understand why so few females were present at the burial site, they came up with two possibilities. Either the females whose remains were found at the site were special in some way, or female remains were removed from the site later.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plasma-bubbles-spotted-over-giza-pyramids-from-china-they-can-affect-757665">Plasma bubbles spotted over Giza Pyramids from China. Are they dangerous?</a></p>

<p>The removal of the female remains likely happened because of a need to bring them back to their ancestral home.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Authors in the paper say that in most prehistoric societies, women often left their own homes and went with men belonging to another group. However, this was not the case with males who stuck to their society.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is probably what happened with the people of this society as well. The males remained together and were buried in the same place. Meanwhile, it is likely that the bodies of some women were dug out and taken back to their original homes and families to let them be with their ancestors.</p>


A mass grave from the Neolithic era found some time back contains the remains of mostly adult males, all of whom were related. The discovery was made by archaeologists and paleo-geneticists from the Université de Bordeaux, along with other researchers from the Université Côte d'Azur, both in France.

A mass grave from the Neolithic era found some time back contains the remains of mostly adult males, all of whom were related. The discovery was made by archaeologists and paleo-geneticists from the Université de Bordeaux, along with other researchers from the Université Côte d'Azur, both in France. The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. A dig conducted earlier threw open a mass burial site from the Neolithic at Aven de la Boucle in a cave in southern France. Radiocarbon dating showed that burials were conducted at the site from 2,800 BC to 3,600 BC. This meant that it had been in use for almost 1,000 years. The researchers in the current study studied the burial site and conducted a genetic analysis on some of the bodies. The remains of 75 exhumed people were under the scanner and the team analysed the genomes of 37 of them. Two things jumped out from the analyses - 76 per cent of the remains were male and almost all of them were from a single paternal line. The researchers believe that the discovery of male remains at one site suggests that social status was passed down through the males of the society. Why few female remains? However, in an effort to understand why so few females were present at the burial site, they came up with two possibilities. Either the females whose remains were found at the site were special in some way, or female remains were removed from the site later. Also Read: Plasma bubbles spotted over Giza Pyramids from China. Are they dangerous? The removal of the female remains likely happened because of a need to bring them back to their ancestral home. Authors in the paper say that in most prehistoric societies, women often left their own homes and went with men belonging to another group. However, this was not the case with males who stuck to their society. This is probably what happened with the people of this society as well. The males remained together and were buried in the same place. Meanwhile, it is likely that the bodies of some women were dug out and taken back to their original homes and families to let them be with their ancestors.

Mass grave in French cave has too many males, too few females. Why?

<p>On Earth, the human body knows when to sleep and when to wake up when day changes into night and night changes into day. But what if that doesn't happen? Scientists say there are billions of such planets in the universe where the day-night cycle does not occur. This is because they are tidally locked to their star, which means only one side faces the star while the other is always in the dark.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Research published in The Conversation has now delved into the ways in which alien life, if any, lives, sleeps and evolves on such planets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Human beings, and many other life forms on Earth, go to sleep and wake up because of the circadian rhythm that is directly linked to day and night. But how does alien life know when to sleep or when to wake up on planets where there are no days or nights? Scientists say that the condition for a circadian cycle there likely depends on other factors, instead of day and night.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A circadian clock based in space instead of time is one possibility when organisms living on a planet's dayside migrate to the nightside to rest and regenerate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The paper says that the circadian cycle affects biochemistry, body temperature, cell regeneration, behaviour and much more. However, it is not&nbsp;known how important periods of inactivity and regeneration are to life.</p>

<p>The researchers cited organisms on Earth that continue to evolve and grow without being linked to daylight, such as cave-dwellers, deep-sea life and microorganisms in the Earth's crust and the human body.</p>

<p>They have biorhythms but ones that are not linked to light. For eg, naked mole rats live underground and are never exposed to the sun. However, they do have circadian clocks but ones attuned to daily and seasonal cycles of temperature and rainfall. Deep-sea mussels and hot vent shrimp synchronise with the ocean tides.</p>

<p>The paper says that such planets probably also evolve biorhythms synchronised to such cycles. On planets tidally locked, the contrast between dayside and nightside seems to generate rapid jets of wind and atmospheric waves.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stop-with-the-alien-talk-it-is-a-danger-to-the-society-british-academic-says-756637">STOP with the alien talk, it is a danger to the society, British academic says</a></p>

<p>When these elements interact with each other, the climate changes to different states, causing regular cycles in temperature, humidity and rainfall. So, even though the planet is fixed, the environment is changing.</p>

<h2>Why do some planets have only day or night?</h2>

<p>As per a study published in The Conversation, there are between 100 billion and 400 billion stars in the Milky Way. Most of them are cool red dwarfs, also known as M-dwarfs. As per a 2013 study, 41 per cent of M-dwarf stars have a planet orbiting in their "Goldilocks" zone, that is the distance at which the planet has the right temperature to support liquid water.</p>

<p>Rocky planets that orbit an M-dwarf's habitable zone are called M-Earths. Since M-dwarf stars are much cooler than our Sun, the planets are close-in, making the gravitational pull of the star on the planet immensely strong.</p>

<p>As the star's gravity pulls harder on the near side of the planet than the far side, the planet's spin slows down. This means most M-Earths are probably tidally locked, with one hemisphere always facing the sun while the other always faces away.</p>

<p>The same is the case with the Moon, which is tidally locked to Earth, which is why we never see the far side of our lunar satellite. The nearest such planet to Earth is Proxima Centauri b located in Alpha Centauri.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So,&nbsp;M-Earths have no days, no nights and no seasons.</p>


On Earth, the human body knows when to sleep and when to wake up when day changes into night and night changes into day. But what if that doesn't happen? Scientists say there are billions of such planets in the universe where the day-night cycle does not occur.

On Earth, the human body knows when to sleep and when to wake up when day changes into night and night changes into day. But what if that doesn't happen? Scientists say there are billions of such planets in the universe where the day-night cycle does not occur. This is because they are tidally locked to their star, which means only one side faces the star while the other is always in the dark. Research published in The Conversation has now delved into the ways in which alien life, if any, lives, sleeps and evolves on such planets. Human beings, and many other life forms on Earth, go to sleep and wake up because of the circadian rhythm that is directly linked to day and night. But how does alien life know when to sleep or when to wake up on planets where there are no days or nights? Scientists say that the condition for a circadian cycle there likely depends on other factors, instead of day and night. A circadian clock based in space instead of time is one possibility when organisms living on a planet's dayside migrate to the nightside to rest and regenerate. The paper says that the circadian cycle affects biochemistry, body temperature, cell regeneration, behaviour and much more. However, it is not known how important periods of inactivity and regeneration are to life. The researchers cited organisms on Earth that continue to evolve and grow without being linked to daylight, such as cave-dwellers, deep-sea life and microorganisms in the Earth's crust and the human body. They have biorhythms but ones that are not linked to light. For eg, naked mole rats live underground and are never exposed to the sun. However, they do have circadian clocks but ones attuned to daily and seasonal cycles of temperature and rainfall. Deep-sea mussels and hot vent shrimp synchronise with the ocean tides. The paper says that such planets probably also evolve biorhythms synchronised to such cycles. On planets tidally locked, the contrast between dayside and nightside seems to generate rapid jets of wind and atmospheric waves. Also Read: STOP with the alien talk, it is a danger to the society, British academic says When these elements interact with each other, the climate changes to different states, causing regular cycles in temperature, humidity and rainfall. So, even though the planet is fixed, the environment is changing. Why do some planets have only day or night? As per a study published in The Conversation, there are between 100 billion and 400 billion stars in the Milky Way. Most of them are cool red dwarfs, also known as M-dwarfs. As per a 2013 study, 41 per cent of M-dwarf stars have a planet orbiting in their "Goldilocks" zone, that is the distance at which the planet has the right temperature to support liquid water. Rocky planets that orbit an M-dwarf's habitable zone are called M-Earths. Since M-dwarf stars are much cooler than our Sun, the planets are close-in, making the gravitational pull of the star on the planet immensely strong. As the star's gravity pulls harder on the near side of the planet than the far side, the planet's spin slows down. This means most M-Earths are probably tidally locked, with one hemisphere always facing the sun while the other always faces away. The same is the case with the Moon, which is tidally locked to Earth, which is why we never see the far side of our lunar satellite. The nearest such planet to Earth is Proxima Centauri b located in Alpha Centauri. So, M-Earths have no days, no nights and no seasons.

On planets with eternal day or night, how does alien life know when to sleep?

<p>The origin of a dwarf planet living in our solar system was a subject of debate for several years among astronomers. They now seem to have settled it. Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, has widespread ammonium deposits, and till now experts believed that its frozen form led to the creation of Ceres. But, ammonium is only stable in the outer solar system, indicating that Ceres formed outside our solar system and was slowly sucked in.</p>

<p>New research has revealed that it is not true and Ceres was born in the asteroid belt itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You might recall Ceres from the TV show "Expanse", in which the so-called 'belters' are based on this dwarf planet. The show has humans colonising the asteroid belt to mine the space rocks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ceres has gained fame in the real world as well because of the doubts over its origin. It has a diameter of around 960 kilometres, is the biggest body between Mars and Jupiter in the belt and boasts an extremely complex and varied geology.</p>

<p>A research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen studied data from NASA's Dawn space probe and has found ammonium-rich deposits in the Consus crater. The discovery has shed new light on the birth of Ceres.</p>

<p>Dawn probe studied Ceres and noticed that it changed and evolved over many billions of years. It also found widespread ammonium deposits on the surface of Ceres. The team noted in the new study that it likely witnessed unique cryovolcanism until recently, which probably continued even today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are light-coloured, whitish salt deposits in several impact craters. The Consus crater has emerged as the main mystery point where the deposits could indicate ammonium-rich material that has reached the surface from the depths of the dwarf planet owing to volcanism on Ceres.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/on-planets-with-eternal-day-or-night-how-does-alien-life-know-when-to-sleep-757307">On planets with eternal day or night, how does alien life know when to sleep?</a></p>

<p>Researchers say that a brine seeped to the surface from a liquid layer between the mantle and crust over many billions of years, leading to the deposits.</p>

<p>After studying images and measurement data from the Consus crater in extreme detail, the team found material that was yellowish. It now believes that the presence of ammonium does not necessarily indicate an origin in the outer solar system, and there is a high chance that Ceres formed where it is orbiting today.</p>

<h2>Consus crater on Ceres</h2>

<p>Consus crater, located in Ceres' southern hemisphere, has a diameter of around 64 kilometres. It has a circumferential crater wall that rises about 4.5 kilometres above the crater floor. It contains inside it another smaller crater covering an area of about 15 kilometres by eleven kilometres.</p>

<p>The surface of Ceres is covered with ammonium-rich minerals. Earlier studies showed that these minerals form only through contact with ammonium ice, outside our solar system. As it nears the sun, it evaporates quickly. Ceres was therefore believed to have formed at the edge of the solar system.</p>

<p>But now, by establishing a connection between ammonium and the salty brine from Ceres' interior, researchers say that Ceres could be native to the asteroid belt.</p>

<p>&nbsp;The research is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.</p>


The origin of a dwarf planet living in our solar system was a subject of debate for several years among astronomers. They now seem to have settled it. Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, has widespread ammonium deposits, and till now experts believed that its frozen form led to the creation of Ceres.

The origin of a dwarf planet living in our solar system was a subject of debate for several years among astronomers. They now seem to have settled it. Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, has widespread ammonium deposits, and till now experts believed that its frozen form led to the creation of Ceres. But, ammonium is only stable in the outer solar system, indicating that Ceres formed outside our solar system and was slowly sucked in. New research has revealed that it is not true and Ceres was born in the asteroid belt itself. You might recall Ceres from the TV show "Expanse", in which the so-called 'belters' are based on this dwarf planet. The show has humans colonising the asteroid belt to mine the space rocks. Ceres has gained fame in the real world as well because of the doubts over its origin. It has a diameter of around 960 kilometres, is the biggest body between Mars and Jupiter in the belt and boasts an extremely complex and varied geology. A research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen studied data from NASA's Dawn space probe and has found ammonium-rich deposits in the Consus crater. The discovery has shed new light on the birth of Ceres. Dawn probe studied Ceres and noticed that it changed and evolved over many billions of years. It also found widespread ammonium deposits on the surface of Ceres. The team noted in the new study that it likely witnessed unique cryovolcanism until recently, which probably continued even today. There are light-coloured, whitish salt deposits in several impact craters. The Consus crater has emerged as the main mystery point where the deposits could indicate ammonium-rich material that has reached the surface from the depths of the dwarf planet owing to volcanism on Ceres. Also Read: On planets with eternal day or night, how does alien life know when to sleep? Researchers say that a brine seeped to the surface from a liquid layer between the mantle and crust over many billions of years, leading to the deposits. After studying images and measurement data from the Consus crater in extreme detail, the team found material that was yellowish. It now believes that the presence of ammonium does not necessarily indicate an origin in the outer solar system, and there is a high chance that Ceres formed where it is orbiting today. Consus crater on Ceres Consus crater, located in Ceres' southern hemisphere, has a diameter of around 64 kilometres. It has a circumferential crater wall that rises about 4.5 kilometres above the crater floor. It contains inside it another smaller crater covering an area of about 15 kilometres by eleven kilometres. The surface of Ceres is covered with ammonium-rich minerals. Earlier studies showed that these minerals form only through contact with ammonium ice, outside our solar system. As it nears the sun, it evaporates quickly. Ceres was therefore believed to have formed at the edge of the solar system. But now, by establishing a connection between ammonium and the salty brine from Ceres' interior, researchers say that Ceres could be native to the asteroid belt. The research is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

Pop culture dwarf planet part of TV show likely originated in our solar system

<p>Researchers on Monday (September 9) announced that they have created the first robotic leg which has "artificial muscles" that help them jump across a range of surfaces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These "artificial muscles" are oil-filled bags which will help machines move like humans.</p>

<p>In a video, the small and disembodied robot leg was seen hopping over grass and rock along with a new study in&nbsp;Nature Communications.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/robots-set-to-clean-international-airport-in-thiruvananthapuram-in-what-could-be-a-first-for-india-741663">Robots set to clean international airport in Thiruvananthapuram in what could be a first for India</a></p>

<p>To everyone's surprise, this muscle-powered robotic leg can carry out complex movements like adapting and jumping on&nbsp;uneven terrain.</p>

<h2><strong>Humanoid robots to carry out 'boring labour' in houses?</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking to AFP, study co-author Robert Katzschmann said that the researchers can use this technology&nbsp;in future for making humanoid robots which can help out with "boring labour" around the house.</p>

<p>“If we combine the robotic leg in a quadruped robot or a humanoid robot with two legs, maybe one day, when it is battery-powered, we can deploy it as a rescue robot,” said&nbsp;Katzschmann, one of the lead developers from ETH Zurich.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The robotics professor at Switzerland's ETH Zurich University further explained that conventional&nbsp;humanoid robots have been built using motors and rigid metal joints which are similar to those that have been used on factory construction lines.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Is it safe to bring such muscle robots into houses?</strong></h2>

<p>Apart from being very expensive, these muscle-built robots can prove to be dangerous if they get entry into the houses of people.</p>

<p>If one were to "fall on you, it is going to be quite painful", said Katzschmann.</p>

<p>He added that a future robot helper needs to not only carry heavy things but "also give someone a hug or shake hands".</p>

<p>The study's co-author Thomas Buchner explained that “as soon as we apply a voltage to the electrodes, they are attracted to each other due to static electricity. Similarly, when I rub a balloon against my head, my hair sticks to the balloon due to the same static electricity.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;World robot conference in Beijing: 27 humanoid robots in display</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-robot-conference-in-beijing-27-humanoid-robots-in-display-753028/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>When such robots are paired on a skeleton, these actuators mimic the “paired muscle movements of living creatures” by creating one muscle's contraction one muscle while extending the other.</p>

<p>The scientists explained that the musculoskeletal system is “elastic” because of which they can flexibly adapt to the terrain.</p>

<p>“It’s no different with living creatures. If we can’t bend our knees, for example, walking on an uneven surface becomes much more difficult. Just think of taking a step down from the pavement onto the road,” Katzschmann said.</p>

<p>“On the infrared image, it’s easy to see that the motorized leg consumes much more energy if, say, it has to hold a bent position,” Buchner further said in the&nbsp;press release.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Researchers on Monday (September 9) announced that they have created the first robotic leg which has "artificial muscles" that help them jump across a range of surfaces.

Researchers on Monday (September 9) announced that they have created the first robotic leg which has "artificial muscles" that help them jump across a range of surfaces. These "artificial muscles" are oil-filled bags which will help machines move like humans. In a video, the small and disembodied robot leg was seen hopping over grass and rock along with a new study in Nature Communications. Also Read: Robots set to clean international airport in Thiruvananthapuram in what could be a first for India To everyone's surprise, this muscle-powered robotic leg can carry out complex movements like adapting and jumping on uneven terrain. Humanoid robots to carry out 'boring labour' in houses? Speaking to AFP, study co-author Robert Katzschmann said that the researchers can use this technology in future for making humanoid robots which can help out with "boring labour" around the house. “If we combine the robotic leg in a quadruped robot or a humanoid robot with two legs, maybe one day, when it is battery-powered, we can deploy it as a rescue robot,” said Katzschmann, one of the lead developers from ETH Zurich. × The robotics professor at Switzerland's ETH Zurich University further explained that conventional humanoid robots have been built using motors and rigid metal joints which are similar to those that have been used on factory construction lines. Is it safe to bring such muscle robots into houses? Apart from being very expensive, these muscle-built robots can prove to be dangerous if they get entry into the houses of people. If one were to "fall on you, it is going to be quite painful", said Katzschmann. He added that a future robot helper needs to not only carry heavy things but "also give someone a hug or shake hands". The study's co-author Thomas Buchner explained that “as soon as we apply a voltage to the electrodes, they are attracted to each other due to static electricity. Similarly, when I rub a balloon against my head, my hair sticks to the balloon due to the same static electricity.” Watch: World robot conference in Beijing: 27 humanoid robots in display When such robots are paired on a skeleton, these actuators mimic the “paired muscle movements of living creatures” by creating one muscle's contraction one muscle while extending the other. The scientists explained that the musculoskeletal system is “elastic” because of which they can flexibly adapt to the terrain. “It’s no different with living creatures. If we can’t bend our knees, for example, walking on an uneven surface becomes much more difficult. Just think of taking a step down from the pavement onto the road,” Katzschmann said. “On the infrared image, it’s easy to see that the motorized leg consumes much more energy if, say, it has to hold a bent position,” Buchner further said in the press release. (With inputs from agencies)

THIS robot has muscles. Here's how it is different from humans

<p>Researchers have spotted an exoplanet WASP-76b which has bizarre environmental conditions and is one of the most extreme planets with a dayside temperature of more than 2,000 degrees.</p>

<p>A team of researchers have observed that the planet is tidally locked to its host star because of which intense winds have been encircling the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What is more astonishing is the discovery of iron atoms in high quantities in the atmosphere that stream from the lower to upper layers across the atmosphere.</p>

<p>The exoplanets are known to exist beyond our Solar System and orbit around other stars.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/researchers-using-james-webb-to-probe-eternal-sunrises-and-sunsets-on-distant-world-741186">Researchers using James Webb to probe eternal sunrises and sunsets on distant world</a></p>

<p>The first exoplanet was discovered in the 1990s and since then, more than 5,200 such planets have been spotted.</p>

<p>Many of these exoplanets are gas giants like Saturn or Jupiter while others are Earth-like planets with a rocky surface and no habitability.</p>

<p>As scientists develop more advanced telescopes and detection techniques, the detection level of the exoplanets will increase and the ability to explore the alien worlds will expand.</p>

<h2><strong>How iron-filled wind on the exoplanet causes iron rain?</strong></h2>

<p>The exoplanet WASP-76b has been at the centre of the attention of all astronomers because of its hellish behaviour.</p>

<p>The exoplanet is an ultra-hot gas giant and is 640 lightyears away from Earth. It is placed in the direction of the constellation Pisces and was spotted in 2013.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The planet has an orbit which is very close to its host star and is able to complete one orbit in 1.8 Earth days.</p>

<p>Because of its proximity to the star, the daytime temperatures are more than 2,000 degrees.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;NASA astronaut stuck in space reports ‘strange noises’ coming from Starliner capsule</strong></p>

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<p>According to the researchers, the intense heat has been vaporising the iron which later condenses into liquid when temperature drops and falls back on the surface as iron rain.</p>

<p>A team of astronomers, some of whom were from the University of Geneva, announced their findings in the journal&nbsp;Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics. Scientists have observed intense iron winds in the atmosphere of WASP-76b.</p>

<p>Astronomers have been studying this planet since it was discovered to understand the mechanisms of this ultra-hot Jupiter world's atmosphere.</p>

<p>This alien world has always appeared very fascinating a rainbow was also detected on the planet last April.</p>

<p>Scientists have been observing its daytime side using the ESPRESSO spectrograph which was installed on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Researchers have spotted an exoplanet WASP-76b which has bizarre environmental conditions and is one of the most extreme planets with a dayside temperature of more than 2,000 degrees.

Researchers have spotted an exoplanet WASP-76b which has bizarre environmental conditions and is one of the most extreme planets with a dayside temperature of more than 2,000 degrees. A team of researchers have observed that the planet is tidally locked to its host star because of which intense winds have been encircling the planet. What is more astonishing is the discovery of iron atoms in high quantities in the atmosphere that stream from the lower to upper layers across the atmosphere. The exoplanets are known to exist beyond our Solar System and orbit around other stars. Also Read: Researchers using James Webb to probe eternal sunrises and sunsets on distant world The first exoplanet was discovered in the 1990s and since then, more than 5,200 such planets have been spotted. Many of these exoplanets are gas giants like Saturn or Jupiter while others are Earth-like planets with a rocky surface and no habitability. As scientists develop more advanced telescopes and detection techniques, the detection level of the exoplanets will increase and the ability to explore the alien worlds will expand. How iron-filled wind on the exoplanet causes iron rain? The exoplanet WASP-76b has been at the centre of the attention of all astronomers because of its hellish behaviour. The exoplanet is an ultra-hot gas giant and is 640 lightyears away from Earth. It is placed in the direction of the constellation Pisces and was spotted in 2013. The planet has an orbit which is very close to its host star and is able to complete one orbit in 1.8 Earth days. Because of its proximity to the star, the daytime temperatures are more than 2,000 degrees. Watch: NASA astronaut stuck in space reports ‘strange noises’ coming from Starliner capsule According to the researchers, the intense heat has been vaporising the iron which later condenses into liquid when temperature drops and falls back on the surface as iron rain. A team of astronomers, some of whom were from the University of Geneva, announced their findings in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. Scientists have observed intense iron winds in the atmosphere of WASP-76b. Astronomers have been studying this planet since it was discovered to understand the mechanisms of this ultra-hot Jupiter world's atmosphere. This alien world has always appeared very fascinating a rainbow was also detected on the planet last April. Scientists have been observing its daytime side using the ESPRESSO spectrograph which was installed on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. (With inputs from agencies)

THIS hellish planet receives iron rain and even has a rainbow. Here's why

<p>Elon Musk says he is ready to send his Starship rocket to Mars in the next two years. Sharing the news on X, Musk said that the uncrewed missions to Mars will happen in 2026 and will "test the reliability of landing intact" on the red planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Setting a highly ambitious timeline, Musk said that if all the tests go well, then Starship will carry people to Mars for the first time in four years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, SpaceX's Starship has faced quite a few bumps during its test launches. The largest and most powerful rocket ever built exploded during launch tests in the last couple of years.</p>

<p>The SpaceX CEO wrote on X, "The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens."</p>

<p>"These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years," he added.</p>

<p>Notably, the Earth-Mars transfer window opens approximately every 26 months. At this time, the two planets are closest to each other.</p>

<p>Musk's plan to conquer Mars includes manufacturing multiple Starships, and creating a fleet comprising hundreds of them to ferry a million people to the red planet.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens.<br />
<br />
These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years.<br />
<br />
Flight rate will… <a href="https://t.co/ZuiM00dpe9">https://t.co/ZuiM00dpe9</a></p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1832550322293837833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Flight rate will grow exponentially from there, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city in about 20 years," Musk said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The billionaire added that reaching Mars and settling there would mean that humans would become a "multiplanetary" species, meaning we would be living on two planets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Being multiplanetary will vastly increase the probable lifespan of consciousness, as we will no longer have all our eggs, literally and metabolically, on one planet," he wrote.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk went on to add in another tweet that crewed flights to the red planet will only happen once initial landings of 2026 "are proven to be reliable".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/musk-denies-he-is-open-to-giving-his-sperm-to-seed-a-colony-on-mars-denies-plans-of-a-martian-city-740249">Musk rubbishes reports of planning a Mars colony or seeding it with his own sperm</a></p>

<p>He added, "Four&nbsp;years is best case for humans, might be 6, hopefully not 8."</p>

<p>The stainless-steel spacecraft consists of two elements: a first-stage booster called Super Heavy and a 165-foot-tall (50 metres) upper-stage spacecraft known as Starship. When stacked on top of another,&nbsp;Starship stands at about 400 feet (122 metres) tall.</p>

<h2>Musk's earlier statement on Mars mission</h2>

<p>Earlier this year, Musk had said that Starship will ferry massive payloads to orbit necessary to carry out large-scale Mars missions. "We need enough people and enough tonnage on Mars such that Mars can survive and continue consciousness even if something were to happen to Earth," he said.</p>

<p>Reports suggest that Musk plans on having one million people on Mars within 20 years. In May, he said that it would take less than 10 years to send humans to Mars. However, NASA says that the first humans might not land on the planet before the 2040s.&nbsp;</p>


Elon Musk says he is ready to send his Starship rocket to Mars in the next two years. Sharing the news on X, Musk said that the uncrewed missions to Mars will happen in 2026 and will "test the reliability of landing intact" on the red planet.

Elon Musk says he is ready to send his Starship rocket to Mars in the next two years. Sharing the news on X, Musk said that the uncrewed missions to Mars will happen in 2026 and will "test the reliability of landing intact" on the red planet. Setting a highly ambitious timeline, Musk said that if all the tests go well, then Starship will carry people to Mars for the first time in four years. Notably, SpaceX's Starship has faced quite a few bumps during its test launches. The largest and most powerful rocket ever built exploded during launch tests in the last couple of years. The SpaceX CEO wrote on X, "The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens." "These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years," he added. Notably, the Earth-Mars transfer window opens approximately every 26 months. At this time, the two planets are closest to each other. Musk's plan to conquer Mars includes manufacturing multiple Starships, and creating a fleet comprising hundreds of them to ferry a million people to the red planet. The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens. These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years. Flight rate will… https://t.co/ZuiM00dpe9 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 7, 2024 × "Flight rate will grow exponentially from there, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city in about 20 years," Musk said. The billionaire added that reaching Mars and settling there would mean that humans would become a "multiplanetary" species, meaning we would be living on two planets. "Being multiplanetary will vastly increase the probable lifespan of consciousness, as we will no longer have all our eggs, literally and metabolically, on one planet," he wrote. Musk went on to add in another tweet that crewed flights to the red planet will only happen once initial landings of 2026 "are proven to be reliable". Also Read: Musk rubbishes reports of planning a Mars colony or seeding it with his own sperm He added, "Four years is best case for humans, might be 6, hopefully not 8." The stainless-steel spacecraft consists of two elements: a first-stage booster called Super Heavy and a 165-foot-tall (50 metres) upper-stage spacecraft known as Starship. When stacked on top of another, Starship stands at about 400 feet (122 metres) tall. Musk's earlier statement on Mars mission Earlier this year, Musk had said that Starship will ferry massive payloads to orbit necessary to carry out large-scale Mars missions. "We need enough people and enough tonnage on Mars such that Mars can survive and continue consciousness even if something were to happen to Earth," he said. Reports suggest that Musk plans on having one million people on Mars within 20 years. In May, he said that it would take less than 10 years to send humans to Mars. However, NASA says that the first humans might not land on the planet before the 2040s.

Elon Musk plans to build fleet of Starships to take humans to Mars

<p>The researchers at the University of Berkeley, along with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, have developed a new application called MyShake which can detect earthquakes.</p>

<p>The application has been designed to function as a crowdsourced detector that collects motion data from phones across the West Coast - ranging from California up to Washington State - and&nbsp;sends alerts based on the location of the phone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The amount of warning varies from a few seconds to tens of seconds depending on the location of the quake and the availability of phones,” said Richard Allen, PhD, the director of the University of California Berkley’s Seismology Lab, who worked in the development of the tech.</p>

<p>This application and the usage of artificial intelligence to detect earthquakes even seconds before they really occur can create much difference and save lives.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-years-day-earthquake-that-hit-noto-in-japan-had-two-epicentres-752883">New Year's Day earthquake that hit Noto in Japan had TWO epicentres</a></p>

<p>Speaking about this possible breakthrough, a geophysicist at Caltech Tom Heaton said, “I’ve studied earthquakes for more than 50 years and I have seen many studies from scientists who reported precursory phenomena to significant earthquakes."&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In my experience, no one has developed a system to predict earthquakes. I strongly believe that this is a problem in self-organizing chaos. This is an important field of physics that is mostly unfamiliar to earth scientists," he added.</p>

<p>In the case of Japan, which is one of the most active earthquake hot spots in the world, when a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the country, the first-ever “megaquake advisory" of the Japan Meteorological Agency was issued which warned of a “higher than normal” chance of another and stronger quake.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the agency later stated that the warning doesn’t mean certitude. “Information that predicts earthquakes by specifying the date, time and location is a hoax,” read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Here's what happened in China's AI-based earthquake forecasting trial</strong></h2>

<p>“Most previous attempts focused on the very complex physics of earthquakes,” said Sergey Fomel, a geoscientist at the University of Texas at Austin who headed a seven-month earthquake forecasting trial in China.</p>

<p>The results of the test were published in the&nbsp;Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America and were found to be exceeding expectations.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Japan Earthquake: Why Japan issued its first-ever 'megaquake advisory'</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cms.wionews.com/videos/japan-earthquake-why-japan-issued-its-first-ever-megaquake-advisory-749249/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The AI algorithm was designed to detect statistical bumps in real-time seismic data and was able to correctly predict 70 per cent of earthquakes at least a week before their occurrence and inside the 200 miles of their epicentres.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The success rate in the China experiment was astounding,” said Fomel, while speaking to The New York Post. “Given the complexity of the problem and the long history of previous failures, nobody expected such a result," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The researchers at the University of Berkeley, along with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, have developed a new application called MyShake which can detect earthquakes.

The researchers at the University of Berkeley, along with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, have developed a new application called MyShake which can detect earthquakes. The application has been designed to function as a crowdsourced detector that collects motion data from phones across the West Coast - ranging from California up to Washington State - and sends alerts based on the location of the phone. “The amount of warning varies from a few seconds to tens of seconds depending on the location of the quake and the availability of phones,” said Richard Allen, PhD, the director of the University of California Berkley’s Seismology Lab, who worked in the development of the tech. This application and the usage of artificial intelligence to detect earthquakes even seconds before they really occur can create much difference and save lives. Also Read: New Year's Day earthquake that hit Noto in Japan had TWO epicentres Speaking about this possible breakthrough, a geophysicist at Caltech Tom Heaton said, “I’ve studied earthquakes for more than 50 years and I have seen many studies from scientists who reported precursory phenomena to significant earthquakes." “In my experience, no one has developed a system to predict earthquakes. I strongly believe that this is a problem in self-organizing chaos. This is an important field of physics that is mostly unfamiliar to earth scientists," he added. In the case of Japan, which is one of the most active earthquake hot spots in the world, when a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the country, the first-ever “megaquake advisory" of the Japan Meteorological Agency was issued which warned of a “higher than normal” chance of another and stronger quake. However, the agency later stated that the warning doesn’t mean certitude. “Information that predicts earthquakes by specifying the date, time and location is a hoax,” read the statement. Here's what happened in China's AI-based earthquake forecasting trial “Most previous attempts focused on the very complex physics of earthquakes,” said Sergey Fomel, a geoscientist at the University of Texas at Austin who headed a seven-month earthquake forecasting trial in China. The results of the test were published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America and were found to be exceeding expectations. Watch: Japan Earthquake: Why Japan issued its first-ever 'megaquake advisory' The AI algorithm was designed to detect statistical bumps in real-time seismic data and was able to correctly predict 70 per cent of earthquakes at least a week before their occurrence and inside the 200 miles of their epicentres. “The success rate in the China experiment was astounding,” said Fomel, while speaking to The New York Post. “Given the complexity of the problem and the long history of previous failures, nobody expected such a result," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Can AI help scientists predict earthquakes accurately? Here's what experts say

<p>NASA is on alert as a huge asteroid 2024 ON is racing towards Earth at a very high speed and will make its close flyby on September 15.</p>

<p>The asteroid, which has a diameter of 720 feet, is larger than two cricket pitches and is expected to pass by a safe distance of around 620,000 miles, which is roughly 2.6 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.</p>

<p>Astronomers have been significantly interested in this space rock because of its high velocity of 25,000 mph.</p>

<p>The asteroid 2024 ON was first identified by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Programme and has been closely monitored because of its massive size and rapid speed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/these-six-doomsday-asteroids-will-crash-into-earth-someday-scientists-warn-756853">These six doomsday asteroids will crash into Earth someday. Scientists warn...</a></p>

<p>The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) which is in Pasadena, California, has been instrumental in tracking the asteroid and using advanced radar and optical telescopes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The astronomers are assessing the size, shape, and composition of the asteroid for any potential risks and to look into possible mitigation strategies.</p>

<p>Despite the formidable speed and size of the asteroid, there are very low chances of it colliding with Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA’s Planetary Defence Coordination Office (PDCO) emphasised that there is a need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness is important in dealing with near-Earth objects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists have been gathering data as the date of a close encounter with 2024 ON approaches and advancing their understanding of the universe.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How does NASA keep an eye on any potential hazards to Earth?</strong></h2>

<p>The way asteroid 2024 ON is moving towards Earth also reflects the importance of keeping a tab on space to detect any potential hazards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA’s Planetary Defence Coordination Office (PDCO) has been tracking such cosmic objects and ensuring that Earth remains safe.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;China's plan: Nuclear warheads for asteroid defence</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-plan-nuclear-warheads-for-asteroid-defence-754141/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The high speed at which the asteroid is travelling shows the solar system's dynamic nature.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asteroids keep moving across space constantly and are influenced by the planets' gravitation pull.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists can predict future trajectories by understanding their movements. It also helps in assessing potential risks.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA is on alert as a huge asteroid 2024 ON is racing towards Earth at a very high speed and will make its close flyby on September 15. The asteroid, which has a diameter of 720 feet, is larger than two cricket pitches and is expected to pass by a safe distance of around 620,000 miles, which is roughly 2.

NASA is on alert as a huge asteroid 2024 ON is racing towards Earth at a very high speed and will make its close flyby on September 15. The asteroid, which has a diameter of 720 feet, is larger than two cricket pitches and is expected to pass by a safe distance of around 620,000 miles, which is roughly 2.6 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. Astronomers have been significantly interested in this space rock because of its high velocity of 25,000 mph. The asteroid 2024 ON was first identified by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Programme and has been closely monitored because of its massive size and rapid speed. Also Read: These six doomsday asteroids will crash into Earth someday. Scientists warn... The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) which is in Pasadena, California, has been instrumental in tracking the asteroid and using advanced radar and optical telescopes. The astronomers are assessing the size, shape, and composition of the asteroid for any potential risks and to look into possible mitigation strategies. Despite the formidable speed and size of the asteroid, there are very low chances of it colliding with Earth. NASA’s Planetary Defence Coordination Office (PDCO) emphasised that there is a need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness is important in dealing with near-Earth objects. Scientists have been gathering data as the date of a close encounter with 2024 ON approaches and advancing their understanding of the universe. How does NASA keep an eye on any potential hazards to Earth? The way asteroid 2024 ON is moving towards Earth also reflects the importance of keeping a tab on space to detect any potential hazards. NASA’s Planetary Defence Coordination Office (PDCO) has been tracking such cosmic objects and ensuring that Earth remains safe. Watch: China's plan: Nuclear warheads for asteroid defence The high speed at which the asteroid is travelling shows the solar system's dynamic nature. Asteroids keep moving across space constantly and are influenced by the planets' gravitation pull. The scientists can predict future trajectories by understanding their movements. It also helps in assessing potential risks. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA on alert as massive 720-foot asteroid hurtles towards Earth at scary speed

<p>In a recent study, it has been revealed that when the Starship&nbsp;rocket of SpaceX exploded during its second flight on November 18, 2023, it led to the formation of a temporary 2,000-km wide hole in the atmosphere of the Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rocket had exploded just minutes after the launch when the Super Heavy booster of the rocket blew up at an altitude of 90 kilometres.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A few minutes later, another explosion occurred at an altitude of about 150 kilometres which involved the rocket's upper stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The research, which was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, showed that these explosions disrupted the ionosphere, which is a region of the upper atmosphere that is located between 80 to 650 kilometres above the Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/elon-musk-says-spacex-to-launch-first-uncrewed-starships-to-mars-in-two-years-756866">Elon Musk says SpaceX to launch first uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years</a></p>

<p>This part of the atmosphere is called the ionosphere because of the ions which contain charged particles and have lost their electrons.</p>

<p>As per the researchers, the Starship rocket's speed and power were faster than the speed of sound which created shock waves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These shock waves took the form of cone-like acoustic waves which travelled across the ionosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, these waves - which generally move southward during rocket launches - travelled in the northern direction, which is unusual.</p>

<h2><strong>How was the hole created in the atmosphere?</strong></h2>

<p>As reported by Futurism, the study's lead author and atmospheric physicist at Russia’s Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics Yury Yasyukevich said that sound waves were produced by the explosions which neutralised nearby charged atoms and led to the "disappearance" of the electrons.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;NASA astronaut stuck in space reports ‘strange noises’ coming from Starliner capsule</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-astronaut-stuck-in-space-reports-strange-noises-coming-from-starliner-capsule-755353/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Because of this reaction, a temporary hole was created in the ionosphere which was spread across 1931 km.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hole was created because of chemical processes triggered by interactions between the fuel of the rocket and the ionised particles in the atmosphere. However, the disruption was short-lived.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It took 30 to 40 minutes for the hole to heal itself, as per the researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the event was significant because of the scale of the explosion, the creation of such ionospheric holes is not unusual.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a recent study, it has been revealed that when the Starship rocket of SpaceX exploded during its second flight on November 18, 2023, it led to the formation of a temporary 2,000-km wide hole in the atmosphere of the Earth.

In a recent study, it has been revealed that when the Starship rocket of SpaceX exploded during its second flight on November 18, 2023, it led to the formation of a temporary 2,000-km wide hole in the atmosphere of the Earth. The rocket had exploded just minutes after the launch when the Super Heavy booster of the rocket blew up at an altitude of 90 kilometres. A few minutes later, another explosion occurred at an altitude of about 150 kilometres which involved the rocket's upper stage. The research, which was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, showed that these explosions disrupted the ionosphere, which is a region of the upper atmosphere that is located between 80 to 650 kilometres above the Earth. Also Read: Elon Musk says SpaceX to launch first uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years This part of the atmosphere is called the ionosphere because of the ions which contain charged particles and have lost their electrons. As per the researchers, the Starship rocket's speed and power were faster than the speed of sound which created shock waves. These shock waves took the form of cone-like acoustic waves which travelled across the ionosphere. However, these waves - which generally move southward during rocket launches - travelled in the northern direction, which is unusual. How was the hole created in the atmosphere? As reported by Futurism, the study's lead author and atmospheric physicist at Russia’s Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics Yury Yasyukevich said that sound waves were produced by the explosions which neutralised nearby charged atoms and led to the "disappearance" of the electrons. Watch: NASA astronaut stuck in space reports ‘strange noises’ coming from Starliner capsule Because of this reaction, a temporary hole was created in the ionosphere which was spread across 1931 km. The hole was created because of chemical processes triggered by interactions between the fuel of the rocket and the ionised particles in the atmosphere. However, the disruption was short-lived. It took 30 to 40 minutes for the hole to heal itself, as per the researchers. Although the event was significant because of the scale of the explosion, the creation of such ionospheric holes is not unusual. (With inputs from agencies)

Starship rocket's explosion tore atmosphere, created a 2,000-km wide hole: Study

<p>A high-intensity eruption occurred in the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai on January 15, 2022, which led to a powerful&nbsp;tsunami throughout Tonga.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But this event also had another lasting effect which was the launch of high amounts of aerosol and water vapor&nbsp;plumes towards the sky. This was the largest underwater explosion to have ever been recorded by modern scientific instruments.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volcano-erupts-following-tremors-in-eastern-russia-scientists-warn-of-a-stronger-earthquake-751290">Volcano erupts following tremors in Eastern Russia; scientists warn of stronger earthquake</a></p>

<p>The scientists examined how the eruption of Volcano Hunga impacted the climate in the Southern Hemisphere in the next two years.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how volcanic eruption impacted climate</strong></h2>

<p>The scientists discovered that there was a stronger cooling effect from volcanic aerosols reflecting sunlight into outer space after the eruption in comparison to the warming that happened because of heat getting trapped by the water vapours in the atmosphere.</p>

<p>However, by the end of 2023, more of the effects of the volcano had dissipated.</p>

<p>Satellite data was used by the researchers to examine how stratospheric aerosols, gases, and temperatures had changed after the eruption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was discovered that the Hunga eruption poured 150 metric megatons of water vapour into the stratosphere. This is a very high amount and has increased global levels&nbsp;of stratospheric water vapour by about 10 per cent.</p>

<p>In the tropical stratosphere, the massive water injection led to the cooling of temperatures by 4°C in March and April of 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The temporary cooling led to the formation of a secondary circulation pattern because of which ozone levels started reducing throughout 2022.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Europe: Footage shows explosive Mount Etna eruption</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-footage-shows-explosive-mount-etna-eruption-738148/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The Hunga eruption&nbsp;also led to the release of 0.5 and 1.5 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sulfur dioxide produces sulfate aerosols which reflect sunlight and can lead to a reduction in surface&nbsp;radiative forcing or the difference between outgoing and incoming radiation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This can also cause global cooling if enough amount of aerosol is loaded as was the case in the 1991&nbsp;eruption of Mount Pinatubo, during which 20 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide was released.</p>

<p>The Hunga aerosol load was not huge and had confined effects on the Southern Hemisphere in 2022 and 2023.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A high-intensity eruption occurred in the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai on January 15, 2022, which led to a powerful tsunami throughout Tonga. But this event also had another lasting effect which was the launch of high amounts of aerosol and water vapor plumes towards the sky.

A high-intensity eruption occurred in the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai on January 15, 2022, which led to a powerful tsunami throughout Tonga. But this event also had another lasting effect which was the launch of high amounts of aerosol and water vapor plumes towards the sky. This was the largest underwater explosion to have ever been recorded by modern scientific instruments. Also Read: Volcano erupts following tremors in Eastern Russia; scientists warn of stronger earthquake The scientists examined how the eruption of Volcano Hunga impacted the climate in the Southern Hemisphere in the next two years. Here's how volcanic eruption impacted climate The scientists discovered that there was a stronger cooling effect from volcanic aerosols reflecting sunlight into outer space after the eruption in comparison to the warming that happened because of heat getting trapped by the water vapours in the atmosphere. However, by the end of 2023, more of the effects of the volcano had dissipated. Satellite data was used by the researchers to examine how stratospheric aerosols, gases, and temperatures had changed after the eruption. It was discovered that the Hunga eruption poured 150 metric megatons of water vapour into the stratosphere. This is a very high amount and has increased global levels of stratospheric water vapour by about 10 per cent. In the tropical stratosphere, the massive water injection led to the cooling of temperatures by 4°C in March and April of 2022. The temporary cooling led to the formation of a secondary circulation pattern because of which ozone levels started reducing throughout 2022. Watch | Europe: Footage shows explosive Mount Etna eruption The Hunga eruption also led to the release of 0.5 and 1.5 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. Sulfur dioxide produces sulfate aerosols which reflect sunlight and can lead to a reduction in surface radiative forcing or the difference between outgoing and incoming radiation. This can also cause global cooling if enough amount of aerosol is loaded as was the case in the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, during which 20 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide was released. The Hunga aerosol load was not huge and had confined effects on the Southern Hemisphere in 2022 and 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

An underwater volcanic eruption filled stratosphere with 150 metric tonnes of water vapour. Here's how

<p>The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has captured the intriguing but spooky 'smiley face'-shaped salt deposit on Mars, which has left the netizens stunned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the scientists, this salt deposit may have concealed the remnants of the last surviving life forms on Mars.</p>

<p>Mars had vast lakes and rivers billions of years ago, which disappeared during a catastrophic global freeze.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researchers have proposed that this emoticon-shaped salt deposit may be harbouring hardy microbes.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><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></p>

<p>The image has been captured by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter of the European Space Agency.</p>

<p>The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is a Martian satellite which has been hunting signs of life on Mars and has taken stunning images of the chloride salt deposits on the arid surface of Mars.</p>

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<p>Scientists by studying these salt deposits can find clues regarding the past climate, geology, and potential habitability of the planet.</p>

<p>''Why so serious? Once a world of rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans, Mars now reveals its secrets through chloride salt deposits found by our ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. These deposits, remnants of ancient water bodies, could indicate habitable zones from billions of years ago. The discovery of nearly a thousand potential sites offers new insights into Mars' climate and potential for past life. Explore the Martian landscape in this carousel,'' read the post shared by ESA.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;China advances deadline for launch of Mars mission by two years</strong></p>

<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>

<p>Explaining the salt deposits on Mars, planetary scientist at the University of Bern in Switzerland Valentin Bickel said, ''A cold era began when Mars lost its magnetic field and could no longer hold its atmosphere, leading to water evaporating, freezing, or becoming trapped within the surface. As the water disappeared over time, it left mineral fingerprints on the surface. Very salty waters could have become a haven for life, a beacon for habitable places on Mars. High concentrations of salt allow water to remain liquid at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius."</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how people reacted to the post</strong></h2>

<p>Reacting to the European Space Agency's post, one user said, ''That's so beautiful.'' "Why so cheesy," commented another.</p>

<p>''With this face shape, we have to wait for ridiculous theories,'' wrote a user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>''It would be great if there were some scale references to get the size of these craters," another commented.</p>

<p>“The first one reminds me of Jack Skeleton,” said an Instagram user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Well, well, it looks familiar to me," wrote another. “Way too serious," said a user.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has captured the intriguing but spooky 'smiley face'-shaped salt deposit on Mars, which has left the netizens stunned.

The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has captured the intriguing but spooky 'smiley face'-shaped salt deposit on Mars, which has left the netizens stunned. According to the scientists, this salt deposit may have concealed the remnants of the last surviving life forms on Mars. Mars had vast lakes and rivers billions of years ago, which disappeared during a catastrophic global freeze. The researchers have proposed that this emoticon-shaped salt deposit may be harbouring hardy microbes. Also Read: Mars once had water but now it's barren. Here's what led to its mysterious disappearance The image has been captured by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter of the European Space Agency. The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is a Martian satellite which has been hunting signs of life on Mars and has taken stunning images of the chloride salt deposits on the arid surface of Mars. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ESA - European Space Agency (@europeanspaceagency) × Scientists by studying these salt deposits can find clues regarding the past climate, geology, and potential habitability of the planet. ''Why so serious? Once a world of rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans, Mars now reveals its secrets through chloride salt deposits found by our ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. These deposits, remnants of ancient water bodies, could indicate habitable zones from billions of years ago. The discovery of nearly a thousand potential sites offers new insights into Mars' climate and potential for past life. Explore the Martian landscape in this carousel,'' read the post shared by ESA. Watch: China advances deadline for launch of Mars mission by two years Explaining the salt deposits on Mars, planetary scientist at the University of Bern in Switzerland Valentin Bickel said, ''A cold era began when Mars lost its magnetic field and could no longer hold its atmosphere, leading to water evaporating, freezing, or becoming trapped within the surface. As the water disappeared over time, it left mineral fingerprints on the surface. Very salty waters could have become a haven for life, a beacon for habitable places on Mars. High concentrations of salt allow water to remain liquid at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius." Here's how people reacted to the post Reacting to the European Space Agency's post, one user said, ''That's so beautiful.'' "Why so cheesy," commented another. ''With this face shape, we have to wait for ridiculous theories,'' wrote a user. ''It would be great if there were some scale references to get the size of these craters," another commented. “The first one reminds me of Jack Skeleton,” said an Instagram user. “Well, well, it looks familiar to me," wrote another. “Way too serious," said a user. (With inputs from agencies)

A 'spooky smiley face' appears on Mars. Scientists say it's hiding life forms...

<p>In a historic achievement, Chandrayaan-3 became the first lunar mission to have detected more than 250 seismic signatures from the south pole of the Moon, since the Apollo missions.</p>

<p>These 250 seismic signals included 50 unique signals that are likely to have links with moonquakes, which refer to the earthquake on the lunar soil.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
This is the first time seismic data has been collected from the South Pole of the lunar surface and also the first time such an activity has been recorded since the Apollo missions.</p>

<p>According to the media reports, 250 seismic signatures have been detected by the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) aboard the Vikram Lander during its operational period from August 24 to&nbsp;September 4, 2023, between the coordinates of 69.37&nbsp;degrees south and 32.32&nbsp;degrees east.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indias-chandrayaan-3-sends-home-lunar-bonanza-with-magma-theory-evidence-752146">India's Chandrayaan-3 sends home lunar bonanza with magma theory evidence</a></p>

<p>In 2023, the India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that the ILSA payload on Chandrayaan 3 Lander&nbsp;has been able to record the movements of Rover and other payloads.</p>

<p>The ILSA payload is the first Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology-based instrument on the moon that&nbsp;utilises sensors manufactured with cutting-edge silicon micromachining technology.</p>

<h2><strong>All about 250 seismic signals detected by Chandrayaan-3</strong></h2>

<p>Among the 250 seismic signals, nearly 200 of them were said to have been produced by different mission activities like the Pragyan rover's movements or the operation of scientific instruments like the ChaSTE thermal probe or Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS).</p>

<p>However, the remaining 50 signals were classified as "uncorrelated" and the scientists were not able to draw a connection between them and any mission-related activities. This raised the possibility of these signals being produced from real moonquakes.</p>

<p>These findings related to the moonquakes were mentioned in a recent paper published in&nbsp;ICARUS, which is a famous scientific journal.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Blue supermoon rises above South Korean capital Seoul</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/blue-supermoon-rises-above-south-korean-capital-seoul-751412/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Commenting on the findings, LEOS Director Sriram said, “Out of the 250 seismic events, about 200 correlate with Pragyan’s movements or other instrument operations. The remaining 50 signals do not align with any known activities, warranting further investigation to understand their origins."</p>

<p>The study emphasised that the longest continuous seismic signal recorded had lasted 14 minutes.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a historic achievement, Chandrayaan-3 became the first lunar mission to have detected more than 250 seismic signatures from the south pole of the Moon, since the Apollo missions.

In a historic achievement, Chandrayaan-3 became the first lunar mission to have detected more than 250 seismic signatures from the south pole of the Moon, since the Apollo missions. These 250 seismic signals included 50 unique signals that are likely to have links with moonquakes, which refer to the earthquake on the lunar soil. This is the first time seismic data has been collected from the South Pole of the lunar surface and also the first time such an activity has been recorded since the Apollo missions. According to the media reports, 250 seismic signatures have been detected by the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) aboard the Vikram Lander during its operational period from August 24 to September 4, 2023, between the coordinates of 69.37 degrees south and 32.32 degrees east. Also Read: India's Chandrayaan-3 sends home lunar bonanza with magma theory evidence In 2023, the India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that the ILSA payload on Chandrayaan 3 Lander has been able to record the movements of Rover and other payloads. The ILSA payload is the first Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology-based instrument on the moon that utilises sensors manufactured with cutting-edge silicon micromachining technology. All about 250 seismic signals detected by Chandrayaan-3 Among the 250 seismic signals, nearly 200 of them were said to have been produced by different mission activities like the Pragyan rover's movements or the operation of scientific instruments like the ChaSTE thermal probe or Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS). However, the remaining 50 signals were classified as "uncorrelated" and the scientists were not able to draw a connection between them and any mission-related activities. This raised the possibility of these signals being produced from real moonquakes. These findings related to the moonquakes were mentioned in a recent paper published in ICARUS, which is a famous scientific journal. Watch: Blue supermoon rises above South Korean capital Seoul Commenting on the findings, LEOS Director Sriram said, “Out of the 250 seismic events, about 200 correlate with Pragyan’s movements or other instrument operations. The remaining 50 signals do not align with any known activities, warranting further investigation to understand their origins." The study emphasised that the longest continuous seismic signal recorded had lasted 14 minutes. (With inputs from agencies)

Historic first! India's Chandrayaan-3 records more than 50 moonquakes. Here's what it means

<p>After coronavirus, a new virus called Wetland Virus (WELV) has now been found in China, and it can easily infect humans through tick bites, impact brains and lead to neurological disease in some cases.</p>

<p>In June 2019, WELV was first identified in a 61-year-old Jinzhou patient who had fallen ill after getting bitten by ticks in the wetlands in Inner Mongolia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-officials-alarmed-as-man-catches-bird-flu-virus-without-animal-contact-756708">US officials alarmed as man catches bird flu virus without animal contact</a></p>

<p>As per a report&nbsp;published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the patient, after getting infected by the virus, suffered from fever, headache, and vomiting and also developed symptoms resistant to antibiotics.</p>

<h2><strong>Tick-borne virus and its impact on humans&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The tick-borne virus belongs to a group of viruses which is famous for getting transmitted by ticks. These viruses can cause severe illness in humans, like the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.</p>

<p>After the virus' initial discovery, a thorough investigation was conducted by the researchers and nearly 14,600 ticks were collected from different locations in northern China&nbsp;and it was discovered that 2 per cent of them tested positive for WELV genetic material.</p>

<p>The doctors also detected the virus in sheep, horses, pigs, and rodents, known as Transbaikal zokor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The virus was known to cause cytopathic effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and also led to deadly infections in animal models.</p>

<p>The researchers further analysed blood samples collected from forest rangers in the region and found antibodies to WELV in around 12 out of 640 individuals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After testing more patients with tick bites, 20 people were found positive for the virus and had symptoms like fever, dizziness, headache, nausea and diarrhoea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the reports, one patient also went into a coma because of high white blood cell counts in the brain and spinal fluid.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Next Covid From China: Killer Virus Found in Chinese Fur Farms</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/next-covid-from-china-killer-virus-found-in-chinese-fur-farms-756566/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Even though all patients recovered after treatment, in the lab experiments carried out on mice it was observed that the virus can lead to lethal infections and also affect the nervous system, especially the brain.</p>

<p>"Taken together, these data suggest that a newly discovered orthonairovirus, WELV, is [pathogenic] to humans … and circulates among humans, ticks and various animals in northeastern China," stated the researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Improving surveillance and detection for emerging orthonairoviruses will allow a better understanding of the effect that these viruses have on human health," they added.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


After coronavirus, a new virus called Wetland Virus (WELV) has now been found in China, and it can easily infect humans through tick bites, impact brains and lead to neurological disease in some cases.

After coronavirus, a new virus called Wetland Virus (WELV) has now been found in China, and it can easily infect humans through tick bites, impact brains and lead to neurological disease in some cases. In June 2019, WELV was first identified in a 61-year-old Jinzhou patient who had fallen ill after getting bitten by ticks in the wetlands in Inner Mongolia. Also Read: US officials alarmed as man catches bird flu virus without animal contact As per a report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the patient, after getting infected by the virus, suffered from fever, headache, and vomiting and also developed symptoms resistant to antibiotics. Tick-borne virus and its impact on humans The tick-borne virus belongs to a group of viruses which is famous for getting transmitted by ticks. These viruses can cause severe illness in humans, like the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. After the virus' initial discovery, a thorough investigation was conducted by the researchers and nearly 14,600 ticks were collected from different locations in northern China and it was discovered that 2 per cent of them tested positive for WELV genetic material. The doctors also detected the virus in sheep, horses, pigs, and rodents, known as Transbaikal zokor. The virus was known to cause cytopathic effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and also led to deadly infections in animal models. The researchers further analysed blood samples collected from forest rangers in the region and found antibodies to WELV in around 12 out of 640 individuals. After testing more patients with tick bites, 20 people were found positive for the virus and had symptoms like fever, dizziness, headache, nausea and diarrhoea. As per the reports, one patient also went into a coma because of high white blood cell counts in the brain and spinal fluid. Watch: Next Covid From China: Killer Virus Found in Chinese Fur Farms Even though all patients recovered after treatment, in the lab experiments carried out on mice it was observed that the virus can lead to lethal infections and also affect the nervous system, especially the brain. "Taken together, these data suggest that a newly discovered orthonairovirus, WELV, is [pathogenic] to humans … and circulates among humans, ticks and various animals in northeastern China," stated the researchers. "Improving surveillance and detection for emerging orthonairoviruses will allow a better understanding of the effect that these viruses have on human health," they added. (With inputs from agencies)

China virus alert! Newly-detected tick-borne virus can damage brain. Here's how

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:69,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1700}">Space has long been a place of wonder, but it's also an environment inherently dangerous to humans. To date, only about 700 humans have made the journey to space successfully. However, according to Chris Impey, a University of Arizona professor and space exploration expert, with the commercialisation of space by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the number of success stories and the risks are set to heighten.</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:102,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1788}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:102,&quot;w&quot;:98,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1788}">The risks</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:147,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1833}">Impey, an astronomer, writing for The Conversation, says "I think a lot about the risks and rewards of exploring space."</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:197,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1883}">He says that the overall fatality rate for space travellers is around 3 per cent, a figure "higher than extreme sports such as BASE jumping or jumping off a cliff wearing a wingsuit".</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:247,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1933}"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/26000-year-old-human-animal-footprints-unearthed-in-spain-it-once-was-a-settlement-of-757071">26,000-year-old human, animal footprints unearthed in Spain. It once was a settlement of...</a></strong></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:279,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1965}">"In total, 30 astronauts and cosmonauts have died while training for or during space missions," and there have been "dozens of close calls".</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:332,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2018}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:332,&quot;w&quot;:578,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2018}">What are the risks of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission?</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:377,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:52,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2063}">SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission, originally scheduled to launch on Aug 27 2024 but delayed due to a helium leak and bad weather will take its four-person crew including civilians to an altitude of 435 miles (a little over&nbsp;700 kilometres)—higher than any astronauts since Apollo.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:444,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2130}">The crew will be exposed to high levels of radiation, "getting as much in a few hours as they would in 20 years on the Earth".&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:494,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2180}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:494,&quot;w&quot;:664,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2180}">Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:494,&quot;w&quot;:583,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2180}" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/eerie-mysterious-hole-gets-spotted-on-earth-through-google-maps-its-secret-is-757038">Eerie 'mysterious hole' gets spotted on Earth through Google Maps, its secret is...</a></strong></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:526,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:52,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2212}">The mission also plans a spacewalk, the "first for nongovernment astronauts"—potentially the most dangerous part—using spacesuits not tested in space, in a capsule without an airlock. The risks are significant: a small tear or puncture in the spacesuit could be fatal.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:593,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2279}">Despite the challenges, the mission also offers the opportunity to gather valuable data on the effects of space travel and radiation exposure, as it will travel higher than any other previous mission.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:643,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2329}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:643,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2329}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Space has long been a place of wonder, but it's also an environment inherently dangerous to humans. To date, only about 700 humans have made the journey to space successfully.

Space has long been a place of wonder, but it's also an environment inherently dangerous to humans. To date, only about 700 humans have made the journey to space successfully. However, according to Chris Impey, a University of Arizona professor and space exploration expert, with the commercialisation of space by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the number of success stories and the risks are set to heighten. The risks Impey, an astronomer, writing for The Conversation, says "I think a lot about the risks and rewards of exploring space." He says that the overall fatality rate for space travellers is around 3 per cent, a figure "higher than extreme sports such as BASE jumping or jumping off a cliff wearing a wingsuit". Also read | 26,000-year-old human, animal footprints unearthed in Spain. It once was a settlement of... "In total, 30 astronauts and cosmonauts have died while training for or during space missions," and there have been "dozens of close calls". What are the risks of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission? SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission, originally scheduled to launch on Aug 27 2024 but delayed due to a helium leak and bad weather will take its four-person crew including civilians to an altitude of 435 miles (a little over 700 kilometres)—higher than any astronauts since Apollo. The crew will be exposed to high levels of radiation, "getting as much in a few hours as they would in 20 years on the Earth". Also read | Eerie 'mysterious hole' gets spotted on Earth through Google Maps, its secret is... The mission also plans a spacewalk, the "first for nongovernment astronauts"—potentially the most dangerous part—using spacesuits not tested in space, in a capsule without an airlock. The risks are significant: a small tear or puncture in the spacesuit could be fatal. Despite the challenges, the mission also offers the opportunity to gather valuable data on the effects of space travel and radiation exposure, as it will travel higher than any other previous mission. (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission involves 'unprecedented' dangers, expert warns

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