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<p>An ancient salt mine in Iran preserved dead miners for years in grisly states, some of them frozen as they released their final screams before being buried alive. These "Saltmen" look like zombies and date at least as far back as 550–330 BC. The mummies belong to the time when the region was ruled by its first empire: Persia's Achaemenid Dynasty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Saltmen&nbsp;were believed to have been mining for salt when the mine collapsed, burying them alive,&nbsp;and their horrifying remains were found frozen, with their mouths open, capturing their final screams as they died.</p>

<p>However, a new study has now revealed that people were likely exploring the mine nearly over 4,000 years prior to current estimations.</p>

<p>The salt in the mine preserved the remains, which were unearthed over a period of time, starting in 1993. The salt-preserved specimens included a 1,600-year-old&nbsp;mummified sheep.</p>

<p>Most of the eight mummified Iranian Saltmen existed during the reign of the Achaemenid empire. However,&nbsp;the Achaemenid mine was abandoned after a mining catastrophe killed three miners "between 405 and 380 BC". It reportedly remained shut for over two centuries.</p>

<p>But the mine collapse victims&nbsp;were well-preserved and turned into mummies by the salt. "In the case of the salt mummies, the mummification process was induced by salt," paleo-pathologist Dr Lena Öhrström and her co-authors from the University of Zurich's Mummy Studies Group said in a study.</p>

<h2>Was salt being used across time periods?</h2>

<p>Experts say that the "salt dome" deposit was being used by several people who lived in the region across ages. The new study aimed to understand how far back was the mine being used.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/continental-crash-35-million-years-ago-likely-created-an-invisible-barrier-on-earth-756056">Continental crash 35 million years ago likely created an invisible barrier on Earth</a></p>

<p>They gathered data from 18 nearby archaeological dig sites, spanning periods from prehistory to the Islamic period.</p>

<p>Even though the oldest settlements here date back to the Chalcolithic or 'Copper Age' around 5,000–4,000 BC, including one from the Stone Age, there is no evidence to prove that these prehistoric communities were mining the salt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An international team of researchers comprising Dr Öhrström and her Mummy Studies Group colleagues, and Iranian archeologist Hamed Zifar from the Zolfaghari Archaeological Museum, are intrigued by the absence of prehistoric evidence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Does the lack of evidence relate to a type of underground exploitation that is different from surface salt collection," the team asks in the article published in the Journal of World Prehistory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The other idea is that there were no administrative and governance structures to exploit the salt. The study concludes that the salt was either being mined by the Stone and Copper Age communities using methods that the modern man knows nothing about, or they were simply not interested in using it.</p>


An ancient salt mine in Iran preserved dead miners for years in grisly states, some of them frozen as they released their final screams before being buried alive.

An ancient salt mine in Iran preserved dead miners for years in grisly states, some of them frozen as they released their final screams before being buried alive. These "Saltmen" look like zombies and date at least as far back as 550–330 BC. The mummies belong to the time when the region was ruled by its first empire: Persia's Achaemenid Dynasty. The Saltmen were believed to have been mining for salt when the mine collapsed, burying them alive, and their horrifying remains were found frozen, with their mouths open, capturing their final screams as they died. However, a new study has now revealed that people were likely exploring the mine nearly over 4,000 years prior to current estimations. The salt in the mine preserved the remains, which were unearthed over a period of time, starting in 1993. The salt-preserved specimens included a 1,600-year-old mummified sheep. Most of the eight mummified Iranian Saltmen existed during the reign of the Achaemenid empire. However, the Achaemenid mine was abandoned after a mining catastrophe killed three miners "between 405 and 380 BC". It reportedly remained shut for over two centuries. But the mine collapse victims were well-preserved and turned into mummies by the salt. "In the case of the salt mummies, the mummification process was induced by salt," paleo-pathologist Dr Lena Öhrström and her co-authors from the University of Zurich's Mummy Studies Group said in a study. Was salt being used across time periods? Experts say that the "salt dome" deposit was being used by several people who lived in the region across ages. The new study aimed to understand how far back was the mine being used. Also Read: Continental crash 35 million years ago likely created an invisible barrier on Earth They gathered data from 18 nearby archaeological dig sites, spanning periods from prehistory to the Islamic period. Even though the oldest settlements here date back to the Chalcolithic or 'Copper Age' around 5,000–4,000 BC, including one from the Stone Age, there is no evidence to prove that these prehistoric communities were mining the salt. An international team of researchers comprising Dr Öhrström and her Mummy Studies Group colleagues, and Iranian archeologist Hamed Zifar from the Zolfaghari Archaeological Museum, are intrigued by the absence of prehistoric evidence. "Does the lack of evidence relate to a type of underground exploitation that is different from surface salt collection," the team asks in the article published in the Journal of World Prehistory. The other idea is that there were no administrative and governance structures to exploit the salt. The study concludes that the salt was either being mined by the Stone and Copper Age communities using methods that the modern man knows nothing about, or they were simply not interested in using it.

Iranian mine, where screaming 'Saltmen mummies' were found, was being used since much earlier

<p>An imaginary line runs through Indonesia and most animals and birds living on either side of it do not cross. This is the Wallace Line, a biogeographical barrier first mapped out by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1863. This is a transitional zone between Asia and Australia and the organisms living on either side of it are extremely different.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is an uneven distribution of animal species and birds on both sides of the mysterious boundary, and scientists haven't been able to figure out why for a long time. To the west of the line reside Asiatic species, and to the east, a mix of some Asian and Australian species.</p>

<p>Wallace travelled through a chain of more than 25,000 islands between Southeast Asia and Australia and noticed a drastic change in species after a certain point. This is where the boundary of the Wallace Line was drawn.</p>

<p>Ecologists were stumped to see the asymmetric distribution of species across the Wallace Line. They concluded that something happened that allowed Asian species to move in one direction, but didn't let the Australian species move in the reverse direction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A study revealed last year that the strange division came into being after a continental collision triggered extreme climate change. This impacted the species on each side of the divide in different ways, it says.</p>

<h2>A continental crash and climate change</h2>

<p>This tectonic activity happened around 35 million years ago. Australia broke away from Antarctica and crashed into Asia, leading to the creation of the Malay Archipelago.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sea-creature-that-can-switch-to-its-baby-form-is-basically-time-travelling-756016">Sea creature that can switch to its baby form is basically time-travelling</a></p>

<p>The continental mash-up triggered a change in the climate. Scientists studied more than 20,000 species found on either side of the Wallace Line to figure out their dispersal ability and ecological preferences. They found that the living conditions in the Malay Archipelago suited Asian species a lot better.</p>

<p>When the continents moved, climate change happened in relation to the oceans. "When Australia drifted away from Antarctica, it opened up this area of deep ocean surrounding Antarctica which is now where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is," lead author of the study, Alex Skeels, an evolutionary biologist at the Australian National University, said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This made the overall climate much cooler. But it affected the species in these regions differently. The Malay Archipelago remained warm and wet, while the conditions in Australia had become cold and dry.</p>

<p>This meant that the animals living in the Malay region were well-adapted to their area and some of them were suited to move towards Australia. However, Australian species evolved in a cooler and drier climate and couldn't adapt to the tropical islands, Skeels said.</p>


An imaginary line runs through Indonesia and most animals and birds living on either side of it do not cross. This is the Wallace Line, a biogeographical barrier first mapped out by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1863.

An imaginary line runs through Indonesia and most animals and birds living on either side of it do not cross. This is the Wallace Line, a biogeographical barrier first mapped out by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1863. This is a transitional zone between Asia and Australia and the organisms living on either side of it are extremely different. There is an uneven distribution of animal species and birds on both sides of the mysterious boundary, and scientists haven't been able to figure out why for a long time. To the west of the line reside Asiatic species, and to the east, a mix of some Asian and Australian species. Wallace travelled through a chain of more than 25,000 islands between Southeast Asia and Australia and noticed a drastic change in species after a certain point. This is where the boundary of the Wallace Line was drawn. Ecologists were stumped to see the asymmetric distribution of species across the Wallace Line. They concluded that something happened that allowed Asian species to move in one direction, but didn't let the Australian species move in the reverse direction. A study revealed last year that the strange division came into being after a continental collision triggered extreme climate change. This impacted the species on each side of the divide in different ways, it says. A continental crash and climate change This tectonic activity happened around 35 million years ago. Australia broke away from Antarctica and crashed into Asia, leading to the creation of the Malay Archipelago. Also Read: Sea creature that can switch to its baby form is basically time-travelling The continental mash-up triggered a change in the climate. Scientists studied more than 20,000 species found on either side of the Wallace Line to figure out their dispersal ability and ecological preferences. They found that the living conditions in the Malay Archipelago suited Asian species a lot better. When the continents moved, climate change happened in relation to the oceans. "When Australia drifted away from Antarctica, it opened up this area of deep ocean surrounding Antarctica which is now where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is," lead author of the study, Alex Skeels, an evolutionary biologist at the Australian National University, said in a statement. This made the overall climate much cooler. But it affected the species in these regions differently. The Malay Archipelago remained warm and wet, while the conditions in Australia had become cold and dry. This meant that the animals living in the Malay region were well-adapted to their area and some of them were suited to move towards Australia. However, Australian species evolved in a cooler and drier climate and couldn't adapt to the tropical islands, Skeels said.

Continental crash 35 million years ago likely created an invisible barrier on Earth

<p>A stunning explosion of a meteor in the atmosphere of the Earth was captured by NASA astronaut&nbsp;Matthew Dominick and shared on social media which left netizens in awe.</p>

<p>Dominick, who is currently aboard the&nbsp;International Space Station&nbsp;(ISS), recorded the event while he was taking pictures of Earth from the cupola window during night-time.</p>

<p>Posting on X, Dominick said that he shared the suspected meteor event&nbsp;with his friends who said that it was indeed a 'bolide'.</p>

<p>This is a term for meteors which explode in the atmosphere and create a very bright light.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I showed this to a couple of friends yesterday to see what they thought. They both thought it was a meteor exploding in the atmosphere - a rather bright one called a bolide. Timelapse is slowed down to one frame per second for you to see it streaking and then exploding.<br />
<br />
If you… <a href="https://t.co/tn2KmWgnoE">pic.twitter.com/tn2KmWgnoE</a></p>
— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) <a href="https://twitter.com/dominickmatthew/status/1831108500518240344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The timelapse video of the event was shared by the astronaut after it happened on September 3 as the space station soared above the Mediterranean Sea.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/meteor-that-fell-over-north-carolina-packed-force-of-10-tonnes-of-tnt-755431">Meteor that fell over North Carolina packed force of 10 tonnes of TNT</a></p>

<p>"I showed this to a couple of friends yesterday to see what they thought. They both thought it was a meteor exploding in the atmosphere - a rather bright one called a bolide. Timelapse is slowed down to one frame per second for you to see it streaking and then exploding," wrote Dominick in the caption of his post.</p>

<p>"I think it is interesting to compare the size of the bolide blast to other objects in views like the Mediterranean, Cairo, or lightning strikes," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how netizens reacted to the viral video</strong></h2>

<p>Since the video was posted it garnered more than 12.6k views and garnered several comments..</p>

<p>"How much faster than real life is this video? That's a lot of lightning strikes!" said a user.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Stunning Perseid Meteor shower dazzles in night sky over Bosnia</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/stunning-perseid-meteor-shower-dazzles-in-night-sky-over-bosnia-749843/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Point of order, "Under the Ball" point of view should only be used for Southern Hemisphere videos. Just sayin'. You will be confusing Flat Earthers no end," wrote another user.</p>

<p>"Keep trying to capture the Milky Way core. &nbsp;Just imagining it in the frame would be epic," commented a third.</p>

<p>"This is incredible! Thank you for this. Great work!" wrote a fourth user.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em>&nbsp;</p>


A stunning explosion of a meteor in the atmosphere of the Earth was captured by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick and shared on social media which left netizens in awe.

A stunning explosion of a meteor in the atmosphere of the Earth was captured by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick and shared on social media which left netizens in awe. Dominick, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), recorded the event while he was taking pictures of Earth from the cupola window during night-time. Posting on X, Dominick said that he shared the suspected meteor event with his friends who said that it was indeed a 'bolide'. This is a term for meteors which explode in the atmosphere and create a very bright light. I showed this to a couple of friends yesterday to see what they thought. They both thought it was a meteor exploding in the atmosphere - a rather bright one called a bolide. Timelapse is slowed down to one frame per second for you to see it streaking and then exploding. If you… pic.twitter.com/tn2KmWgnoE — Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) September 3, 2024 × The timelapse video of the event was shared by the astronaut after it happened on September 3 as the space station soared above the Mediterranean Sea. Also Read: Meteor that fell over North Carolina packed force of 10 tonnes of TNT "I showed this to a couple of friends yesterday to see what they thought. They both thought it was a meteor exploding in the atmosphere - a rather bright one called a bolide. Timelapse is slowed down to one frame per second for you to see it streaking and then exploding," wrote Dominick in the caption of his post. "I think it is interesting to compare the size of the bolide blast to other objects in views like the Mediterranean, Cairo, or lightning strikes," he added. Here's how netizens reacted to the viral video Since the video was posted it garnered more than 12.6k views and garnered several comments.. "How much faster than real life is this video? That's a lot of lightning strikes!" said a user. Watch: Stunning Perseid Meteor shower dazzles in night sky over Bosnia "Point of order, "Under the Ball" point of view should only be used for Southern Hemisphere videos. Just sayin'. You will be confusing Flat Earthers no end," wrote another user. "Keep trying to capture the Milky Way core. Just imagining it in the frame would be epic," commented a third. "This is incredible! Thank you for this. Great work!" wrote a fourth user. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Mesmerising explosion of meteor over Earth gets captured by NASA astronaut

<p>The Bermuda Triangle is famous for mysteriously making anything that passes through it disappear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But apart from that, Earth also has an ‘Alaska Triangle’ which is located close to the northern coastal city of Utqiagvik and has remained a mystery after the disappearance of more than 20,000 people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the early 1970s, more than 20,000 people have mysteriously vanished in this vast triangle because of which the population in this location is sparse, reported IFL Science.</p>

<p>Statistically, Alaska has recorded double the national average of disappearance cases and an average of&nbsp;2,250 people have been vanishing&nbsp;every year.</p>

<p>Some of the famous people who went missing in this triangle included two politicians and US House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs Sr and Alaska Congressman Nick Begich.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/china-has-massive-and-dense-sinkholes-heres-what-are-hidden-in-these-mysterious-pits-745860">China has massive and dense sinkholes! Here’s what’s hidden in these mysterious pit</a>s</p>

<p>The two were flying along with Begich's aide Russell Brown and pilot Don Jonz in an aircraft from Anchorage to Juneau when suddenly it went missing on October 16, 1972.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even after an extensive search, neither the bodies nor the plane were&nbsp;discovered.</p>

<p>However, the remains of some of those who went missing were later found.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gary Frank Sotherden, 25, had disappeared while hunting in the remote area in the 1970s and after two decades, a human skull was found along the Porcupine River in northeastern Alaska.</p>

<p>In 2022, its DNA was tested and it was confirmed that the skull belonged to Sotherden who most probably was killed by a bear.</p>

<h2><strong>What leads to such disappearances in the Alaska Triangle?</strong></h2>

<p>Some of the theories have suggested that there is unusual magnetic activity in the Alaska Triangle or probably a lot of extraterrestrial aliens have been visiting the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Peru: Uncontacted tribe seen in Peruvian Amazon where loggers are active</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/peru-uncontacted-tribe-seen-in-peruvian-amazon-where-loggers-are-active-741796/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>However, some simpler explanations have been that it is vast land which is full of wilderness and natural dangers which can be the reason why people have gone missing and never been found again.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Bermuda Triangle is famous for mysteriously making anything that passes through it disappear. But apart from that, Earth also has an ‘Alaska Triangle’ which is located close to the northern coastal city of Utqiagvik and has remained a mystery after the disappearance of more than 20,000 people.

The Bermuda Triangle is famous for mysteriously making anything that passes through it disappear. But apart from that, Earth also has an ‘Alaska Triangle’ which is located close to the northern coastal city of Utqiagvik and has remained a mystery after the disappearance of more than 20,000 people. Since the early 1970s, more than 20,000 people have mysteriously vanished in this vast triangle because of which the population in this location is sparse, reported IFL Science. Statistically, Alaska has recorded double the national average of disappearance cases and an average of 2,250 people have been vanishing every year. Some of the famous people who went missing in this triangle included two politicians and US House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs Sr and Alaska Congressman Nick Begich. Also Read: China has massive and dense sinkholes! Here’s what’s hidden in these mysterious pits The two were flying along with Begich's aide Russell Brown and pilot Don Jonz in an aircraft from Anchorage to Juneau when suddenly it went missing on October 16, 1972. Even after an extensive search, neither the bodies nor the plane were discovered. However, the remains of some of those who went missing were later found. Gary Frank Sotherden, 25, had disappeared while hunting in the remote area in the 1970s and after two decades, a human skull was found along the Porcupine River in northeastern Alaska. In 2022, its DNA was tested and it was confirmed that the skull belonged to Sotherden who most probably was killed by a bear. What leads to such disappearances in the Alaska Triangle? Some of the theories have suggested that there is unusual magnetic activity in the Alaska Triangle or probably a lot of extraterrestrial aliens have been visiting the area. Watch: Peru: Uncontacted tribe seen in Peruvian Amazon where loggers are active However, some simpler explanations have been that it is vast land which is full of wilderness and natural dangers which can be the reason why people have gone missing and never been found again. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth has a mysterious ‘Alaska Triangle’ where more than 20,000 people disappeared. Here's why

<p>A 1000-year-old Pictish ring was discovered by an amateur archaeologist on the last day of the dig.&nbsp;</p>

<p>University of Aberdeen's former engineer and graduate and volunteer John Ralph found the kite-shaped ring - which has a garnet or red glass centre - at Burghead Fort.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The area is famous as a former Pictish site but its historical value was lost after the construction of the town of Burghead in the 1800s which covered a major part of the fort.</p>

<p>Ralph, who calls himself an “enthusiastic amateur”, said that after finding the ring he failed to realise how valuable it was.</p>

<p>Speaking about the rare discovery, Ralph said, “My sister still lives in Burghead and it sounded interesting so I thought why not? I have now joined three different digs there, each for two weeks."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/stone-age-man-applied-geology-physics-geometry-to-build-spanish-burial-mound-754024">Stone Age man applied geology, physics, geometry to build Spanish burial mound</a></p>

<p>“I thoroughly enjoyed them all but my initial enthusiasm for finds was somewhat dented by my knack of getting excited about shiny pebbles," he added.</p>

<p>“I had found a few interesting items including bone pins and it was great being part of the team, which was the real draw. So, when I picked up a bit of earth from the final trench on the last day of excavations, I thought, ‘here we go again’. It was only when I showed it to the volunteer next to me and he got excited that I thought it might really be something," Ralph further stated.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>National Museum of Scotland set to analyse Pictish ring</strong></h2>

<p>Gordon Noble, professor of archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, who headed the excavation work which was funded by Historical Environment Scotland, called the discovery "truly remarkable".</p>

<p>“John was digging and then came over and said, ‘look what I’ve found’. What he handed over was incredible," the professor said.</p>

<p>“Even before the conservation work, we could see it was something really exciting as despite more than a thousand years in the ground we could see glints of the possible garnet setting," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mystery-of-gigantic-stones-used-in-herods-temple-in-jerusalem-solved-748704">Mystery of gigantic stones used in Herod's Temple in Jerusalem solved</a></p>

<p>“There are very few Pictish rings which have ever been discovered and those we do know about usually come from hoards which were placed in the ground deliberately for safekeeping in some way," the professor stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Museum of Scotland has received the ring and will be now analysing the discovery.</p>

<p>“We will now look at the ring, evidence of buildings and other artefacts to consider whether the ring was crafted on the site and who such an important piece of jewellery might have been made for," Professor Noble stated.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A 1000-year-old Pictish ring was discovered by an amateur archaeologist on the last day of the dig. University of Aberdeen's former engineer and graduate and volunteer John Ralph found the kite-shaped ring - which has a garnet or red glass centre - at Burghead Fort.

A 1000-year-old Pictish ring was discovered by an amateur archaeologist on the last day of the dig. University of Aberdeen's former engineer and graduate and volunteer John Ralph found the kite-shaped ring - which has a garnet or red glass centre - at Burghead Fort. The area is famous as a former Pictish site but its historical value was lost after the construction of the town of Burghead in the 1800s which covered a major part of the fort. Ralph, who calls himself an “enthusiastic amateur”, said that after finding the ring he failed to realise how valuable it was. Speaking about the rare discovery, Ralph said, “My sister still lives in Burghead and it sounded interesting so I thought why not? I have now joined three different digs there, each for two weeks." Also Read: Stone Age man applied geology, physics, geometry to build Spanish burial mound “I thoroughly enjoyed them all but my initial enthusiasm for finds was somewhat dented by my knack of getting excited about shiny pebbles," he added. “I had found a few interesting items including bone pins and it was great being part of the team, which was the real draw. So, when I picked up a bit of earth from the final trench on the last day of excavations, I thought, ‘here we go again’. It was only when I showed it to the volunteer next to me and he got excited that I thought it might really be something," Ralph further stated. National Museum of Scotland set to analyse Pictish ring Gordon Noble, professor of archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, who headed the excavation work which was funded by Historical Environment Scotland, called the discovery "truly remarkable". “John was digging and then came over and said, ‘look what I’ve found’. What he handed over was incredible," the professor said. “Even before the conservation work, we could see it was something really exciting as despite more than a thousand years in the ground we could see glints of the possible garnet setting," he added. Also Read: Mystery of gigantic stones used in Herod's Temple in Jerusalem solved “There are very few Pictish rings which have ever been discovered and those we do know about usually come from hoards which were placed in the ground deliberately for safekeeping in some way," the professor stated. The National Museum of Scotland has received the ring and will be now analysing the discovery. “We will now look at the ring, evidence of buildings and other artefacts to consider whether the ring was crafted on the site and who such an important piece of jewellery might have been made for," Professor Noble stated. (With inputs from agencies)

Rare kite-shaped Pictish ring found buried at Burghead Fort after 1000 years

<p>The thought of an asteroid impact is scary enough, let alone witnessing one. One such impact killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, and now it seems another space rock had a dramatic effect on the solar system's largest moon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A study has found that an asteroid 20 times larger than the one that wiped off dinosaurs from the face of Earth struck Jupiter's moon Ganymede some four billion years ago. The strike shifted the moon's axis.</p>

<p>Scientists have known for a long time that Ganymede was once hit by a massive asteroid that resulted in the formation of concentric circles around a specific point on its surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These giant impacts are believed to have been frequent in the early solar system," planetologist Hirata Naoyuki from Kobe University told Newsweek.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that the impact affected the interior structure of Ganymede "significantly". This is clear from the size of the transient crater as it makes up for 25 per cent of the size of Ganymede.</p>

<p>The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Hirata studied the moon and realised that the site where the crater exists is almost exactly on the meridian opposite Jupiter. He concluded that the impact was so powerful that it shifted Ganymede's rotational axis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Something similar happened to Pluto following an asteroid impact, the New Horizons space probe had revealed.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-hindu-text-rig-veda-contains-oldest-known-reference-to-total-solar-eclipse-755496">Ancient Hindu text Rig Veda contains oldest-known reference to total solar eclipse</a></strong></p>

<p>Simulations on the impact event showed that the asteroid that led to this dramatic reorientation was likely approximately 190 miles in diameter. This is 20 times more than the one that hit Earth 65 million years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>JUICE to study Ganymede</strong></h2>

<p>Ganymede hosts subsurface oceans and has been a likely candidate in the hunt for livable space bodies. Probes to study the moon further are in the pipeline. In 2015, the Hubble Space Telescope found evidence that Ganymede hosts an underground saltwater ocean 60 miles deep, almost 10 times deeper than the oceans on our planet.</p>

<p>The European Space Agency's JUICE space probe is also on its way to Ganymede, arriving its orbit in 2034. It will also study Callisto and Europa, Jupiter's other two icy moons.&nbsp;</p>


The thought of an asteroid impact is scary enough, let alone witnessing one. One such impact killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, and now it seems another space rock had a dramatic effect on the solar system's largest moon.

The thought of an asteroid impact is scary enough, let alone witnessing one. One such impact killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, and now it seems another space rock had a dramatic effect on the solar system's largest moon. A study has found that an asteroid 20 times larger than the one that wiped off dinosaurs from the face of Earth struck Jupiter's moon Ganymede some four billion years ago. The strike shifted the moon's axis. Scientists have known for a long time that Ganymede was once hit by a massive asteroid that resulted in the formation of concentric circles around a specific point on its surface. "These giant impacts are believed to have been frequent in the early solar system," planetologist Hirata Naoyuki from Kobe University told Newsweek. He added that the impact affected the interior structure of Ganymede "significantly". This is clear from the size of the transient crater as it makes up for 25 per cent of the size of Ganymede. The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Hirata studied the moon and realised that the site where the crater exists is almost exactly on the meridian opposite Jupiter. He concluded that the impact was so powerful that it shifted Ganymede's rotational axis. Something similar happened to Pluto following an asteroid impact, the New Horizons space probe had revealed. Also Read: Ancient Hindu text Rig Veda contains oldest-known reference to total solar eclipse Simulations on the impact event showed that the asteroid that led to this dramatic reorientation was likely approximately 190 miles in diameter. This is 20 times more than the one that hit Earth 65 million years ago. JUICE to study Ganymede Ganymede hosts subsurface oceans and has been a likely candidate in the hunt for livable space bodies. Probes to study the moon further are in the pipeline. In 2015, the Hubble Space Telescope found evidence that Ganymede hosts an underground saltwater ocean 60 miles deep, almost 10 times deeper than the oceans on our planet. The European Space Agency's JUICE space probe is also on its way to Ganymede, arriving its orbit in 2034. It will also study Callisto and Europa, Jupiter's other two icy moons.

Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position

<p>Scientists have recorded for the first time ever an incident where a predatory shark was eaten up by another much larger shark. The shark that itself fell prey was the Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus). It can grow to about 12 feet (3.6 metres) long and lives in the Northern Atlantic Ocean as well as parts of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They are highly vicious in appearance and have angled spear-like teeth. However, it turns out this predator shark can become prey as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a paper published Tuesday (September 3) in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, one such porbeagle shark became one of its relative's meals.</p>

<p>"This is the first documented predation event of a porbeagle shark anywhere in the world," study lead author Brooke Anderson, marine fisheries biologist with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality said in a statement.</p>

<p>The pregnant female shark had a tracking device and it wasn't spared either. It was tagged in October 2020 using both a satellite transmitter and a pop-off satellite archival tag (PSAT) near Cape Cod.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Porbeagles often change their position while following their prey in the water column. The device was meant to understand its movements, tracking the depths it goes to and the geographic range. Pressure and temperature data from the tags help determine the depth, and any anomalies indicate that the animal has died or the tag fell off before time.</p>

<h2><strong>How did researchers know the shark was eaten up?</strong></h2>

<p>This shark ranged between the surface and 328 feet down until December 2020.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/gondwana-land-of-dinosaurs-tore-apart-and-killed-thousands-of-marine-species-755458">Gondwana, land of dinosaurs, tore apart and killed thousands of ocean species</a></strong></p>

<p>It then started diving to depths of up to 2,600 feet during the day and stayed around 650 feet at night. It continued this way as it moved south from where it went to the waters off the shore of Bermuda.</p>

<p>The next year on March 24, the scientists noticed that the temperature patterns had changed drastically. Earlier data showed that it was moving through waters that ranged from 43.5 to 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit (6.4 to 23.52 degrees Celsius). But the tag recorded temperatures that day read between 61.5 F to 76.5 F (16.4 C to 24.72 C). The depth range hadn't changed, which led researchers to believe that the tag was inside the stomach of another shark.</p>

<p>The authors said that the porbeagle was either gobbled up by a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) or a shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrhinchus).</p>

<p>Scientists are shocked to know that another shark ate up the pregnant porbeagle as the species is already under threat from historic overfishing. "The predation of one of our pregnant porbeagles was an unexpected discovery," Anderson said.&nbsp;</p>


Scientists have recorded for the first time ever an incident where a predatory shark was eaten up by another much larger shark. The shark that itself fell prey was the Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus).

Scientists have recorded for the first time ever an incident where a predatory shark was eaten up by another much larger shark. The shark that itself fell prey was the Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus). It can grow to about 12 feet (3.6 metres) long and lives in the Northern Atlantic Ocean as well as parts of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. They are highly vicious in appearance and have angled spear-like teeth. However, it turns out this predator shark can become prey as well. According to a paper published Tuesday (September 3) in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, one such porbeagle shark became one of its relative's meals. "This is the first documented predation event of a porbeagle shark anywhere in the world," study lead author Brooke Anderson, marine fisheries biologist with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality said in a statement. The pregnant female shark had a tracking device and it wasn't spared either. It was tagged in October 2020 using both a satellite transmitter and a pop-off satellite archival tag (PSAT) near Cape Cod. Porbeagles often change their position while following their prey in the water column. The device was meant to understand its movements, tracking the depths it goes to and the geographic range. Pressure and temperature data from the tags help determine the depth, and any anomalies indicate that the animal has died or the tag fell off before time. How did researchers know the shark was eaten up? This shark ranged between the surface and 328 feet down until December 2020. Also Read: Gondwana, land of dinosaurs, tore apart and killed thousands of ocean species It then started diving to depths of up to 2,600 feet during the day and stayed around 650 feet at night. It continued this way as it moved south from where it went to the waters off the shore of Bermuda. The next year on March 24, the scientists noticed that the temperature patterns had changed drastically. Earlier data showed that it was moving through waters that ranged from 43.5 to 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit (6.4 to 23.52 degrees Celsius). But the tag recorded temperatures that day read between 61.5 F to 76.5 F (16.4 C to 24.72 C). The depth range hadn't changed, which led researchers to believe that the tag was inside the stomach of another shark. The authors said that the porbeagle was either gobbled up by a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) or a shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrhinchus). Scientists are shocked to know that another shark ate up the pregnant porbeagle as the species is already under threat from historic overfishing. "The predation of one of our pregnant porbeagles was an unexpected discovery," Anderson said.

Shark eats shark: 12-foot pregnant predator gobbled up by a bigger shark

<p>A stunning timelapse video of Earth completing an entire rotation as the day moves from the start to the end has been recorded by the Himawari-8 satellite and shared on social media which left the netizens marvelled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The footage provides a breathtaking view of the rotation of the Earth in space within a few seconds.</p>

<p>The footage was shared on social media platform X by the account @wonderofscience. In the post, it was said that the full day’s rotation of the Earth has been captured in which the planet is seen seamlessly transitioning from daylight to darkness.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/when-continents-shift-on-earth-volcanoes-erupt-fountains-of-diamonds-study-754268">When continents shift on Earth, volcanoes erupt fountains of diamonds: Study</a></p>

<p>The caption with the post read, “A day passing on planet Earth seen from 36,000 kilometres (22,000 miles) by the satellite Himawari-8."</p>

<p>The video was shot from an altitude of 36,000 kilometres and gives a stunning perspective of the daily cycle of Earth in which the sunlight was seen moving across the globe.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A day passing on planet Earth seen from 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) by the satellite Himawari-8. (Watch full screen) <a href="https://t.co/CU6GU9AuEM">pic.twitter.com/CU6GU9AuEM</a></p>
— Wonder of Science (@wonderofscience) <a href="https://twitter.com/wonderofscience/status/1828454675009478788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>At one point, the Sun was casting light on one side of the planet while the other side moved into shadow.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how netizens reacted to the viral video</strong></h2>

<p>The viewers were left in awe because of the visual splendour as many people commented about seeing mesmerising cloud formations and how the video showed a stunning interplay of light and dark.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-slows-down-by-133-milliseconds-741345/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Earth is beautiful. Similar planet has not been found in the entire cosmos. Don’t let it get destroyed," commented a user, while reacting to the video.</p>

<p>"That's how fast it is?" another user said.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
"Amazing to see the clouds forming. &nbsp;Only one of God's MANY beautiful creations," a third user commented.</p>

<p>"Wow! A day pass a lot quicker in space, doesn't it?" wrote a fourth user.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A stunning timelapse video of Earth completing an entire rotation as the day moves from the start to the end has been recorded by the Himawari-8 satellite and shared on social media which left the netizens marvelled.

A stunning timelapse video of Earth completing an entire rotation as the day moves from the start to the end has been recorded by the Himawari-8 satellite and shared on social media which left the netizens marvelled. The footage provides a breathtaking view of the rotation of the Earth in space within a few seconds. The footage was shared on social media platform X by the account @wonderofscience. In the post, it was said that the full day’s rotation of the Earth has been captured in which the planet is seen seamlessly transitioning from daylight to darkness. Also Read: When continents shift on Earth, volcanoes erupt fountains of diamonds: Study The caption with the post read, “A day passing on planet Earth seen from 36,000 kilometres (22,000 miles) by the satellite Himawari-8." The video was shot from an altitude of 36,000 kilometres and gives a stunning perspective of the daily cycle of Earth in which the sunlight was seen moving across the globe. A day passing on planet Earth seen from 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) by the satellite Himawari-8. (Watch full screen) pic.twitter.com/CU6GU9AuEM — Wonder of Science (@wonderofscience) August 27, 2024 × At one point, the Sun was casting light on one side of the planet while the other side moved into shadow. Here's how netizens reacted to the viral video The viewers were left in awe because of the visual splendour as many people commented about seeing mesmerising cloud formations and how the video showed a stunning interplay of light and dark. Watch: Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds "Earth is beautiful. Similar planet has not been found in the entire cosmos. Don’t let it get destroyed," commented a user, while reacting to the video. "That's how fast it is?" another user said. "Amazing to see the clouds forming. Only one of God's MANY beautiful creations," a third user commented. "Wow! A day pass a lot quicker in space, doesn't it?" wrote a fourth user. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Earth's completion of full rotation captured in stunning timelapse video

<p>A giant 'devil frog' existed around 70 million years ago on planet Earth and ate the baby&nbsp;dinosaurs, revealed a shocking study.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 'devil frog' was as big as a beach ball and has been named as "Beelzebufo" - which is a combination of the Greek word "Beelzebub" meaning devil along with the toad's Latin word which is "bufo". This animal once existed in what is today known as Madagascar, as reported by IFL Science.</p>

<p>In 2008, a team of researchers from UCL and Stony Brook University discovered a fossil in Madagascar, after they believed that the Beelzebufo lived only in South America.</p>

<p>On the website of UCL, UCL Biosciences Professor Susan Evans said, "This frog, a relative of today's horned toads, would have been the size of a slightly squashed beach ball, with short legs and a big mouth."</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>"If it shared the aggressive temperament and 'sit-and-wait' ambush tactics of living horned toads, it would have been a formidable predator on small animals," he added.</p>

<p>"Its diet would most likely have consisted of insects and small vertebrates like lizards but it's not impossible that Beelzebufo might even have munched on hatchling or juvenile dinosaurs," the professor further explained.</p>

<h2><strong>How did researchers discover Beelzebufo feasted on baby dinos?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the reports, Beelzebufo existed on Earth around 65-70 million years ago and is most likely the largest frog to have ever lived on planet Earth. However, it then became extinct.</p>

<p>To understand if Beelzebufo actually feasted on baby dinos,&nbsp;a research team observed how strongly horned toads bit on a bar.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Conservation Awareness in Zimbabwe: Former poacher is spreading awareness on conservation</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/conservation-awareness-in-zimbabwe-former-poacher-is-spreading-awareness-on-conservation-752243/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Given that prey size is known to increase with body size in a variety of tetrapods and that Beelzebufo clearly had the ability to bite with considerable force, large individuals would have been able to prey upon a variety of contemporaneous taxa, including small/juvenile crocodiles and non-avian dinosaurs," discovered the study.</p>

<p>The researchers compared the strength of the bite and jaws of horned toads with the measurements of Beelzebufo which proved they did consume baby dinosaurs.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A giant 'devil frog' existed around 70 million years ago on planet Earth and ate the baby dinosaurs, revealed a shocking study. The 'devil frog' was as big as a beach ball and has been named as "Beelzebufo" - which is a combination of the Greek word "Beelzebub" meaning devil along with the toad's Latin word which is "bufo".

A giant 'devil frog' existed around 70 million years ago on planet Earth and ate the baby dinosaurs, revealed a shocking study. The 'devil frog' was as big as a beach ball and has been named as "Beelzebufo" - which is a combination of the Greek word "Beelzebub" meaning devil along with the toad's Latin word which is "bufo". This animal once existed in what is today known as Madagascar, as reported by IFL Science. In 2008, a team of researchers from UCL and Stony Brook University discovered a fossil in Madagascar, after they believed that the Beelzebufo lived only in South America. On the website of UCL, UCL Biosciences Professor Susan Evans said, "This frog, a relative of today's horned toads, would have been the size of a slightly squashed beach ball, with short legs and a big mouth." Also Read: Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how "If it shared the aggressive temperament and 'sit-and-wait' ambush tactics of living horned toads, it would have been a formidable predator on small animals," he added. "Its diet would most likely have consisted of insects and small vertebrates like lizards but it's not impossible that Beelzebufo might even have munched on hatchling or juvenile dinosaurs," the professor further explained. How did researchers discover Beelzebufo feasted on baby dinos? As per the reports, Beelzebufo existed on Earth around 65-70 million years ago and is most likely the largest frog to have ever lived on planet Earth. However, it then became extinct. To understand if Beelzebufo actually feasted on baby dinos, a research team observed how strongly horned toads bit on a bar. Watch: Conservation Awareness in Zimbabwe: Former poacher is spreading awareness on conservation "Given that prey size is known to increase with body size in a variety of tetrapods and that Beelzebufo clearly had the ability to bite with considerable force, large individuals would have been able to prey upon a variety of contemporaneous taxa, including small/juvenile crocodiles and non-avian dinosaurs," discovered the study. The researchers compared the strength of the bite and jaws of horned toads with the measurements of Beelzebufo which proved they did consume baby dinosaurs. (With inputs from agencies)

This giant devilish animal once feasted on dinosaurs. Does this animal still exist?

<p>A former NASA astronaut says humans are living "a big lie". Ron Garan, who spent 178 days in space, witnessed a shift in his perspective about our existence on Earth, saying that "we’re paying a very high price".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Garan is not only an astronaut but also a fighter pilot and a social entrepreneur. He has spent time on a space shuttle, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and the International Space Station. Looking down on Earth, he says he was hit by a 'sobering realisation'.</p>

<p>In an interview with Big Think, Garan said that people on Earth treat the "life-support systems of our planet as the [...] subsidiary of the global economy". Every human-made system is treated that way, he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I saw an iridescent biosphere teaming with life. I didn't see an economy, but since our human-made systems treat everything including the very life-support systems of our planet as the [...] subsidiary of the global economy, it's obvious from the vanish point of space that we're living a lie," he said.</p>

<p>He says that after he returned from space, his perspective changed due to the 'Overview Effect'. Things started appearing differently to him after he saw how Earth was hanging in the darkness of space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Overview Effect describes the shift that astronauts have when they see the planet hanging in the blackness of space," Garan said. "There's this lightbulb that pops up when we realize how interconnected and interdependent we all are," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Humanity is 'floating in darkness'</strong></h2>

<p>Humanity faces a lot of problems on Earth - wars, hunger, poverty and more. Countries are fighting with each other for territory, the rich are busy filling their vaults and more. The problems, Garan says, continue to remain because humanity does not see the "actual picture".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-apophis-can-collide-with-earth-but-only-if-this-happens-the-odds-of-755711">'God of chaos' asteroid can hit Earth, but only if THIS happens. 'The odds of...'</a></strong></p>

<p>"Part of the reasons we're not solving the problems is because we don't have the right perspective, we're not addressing things in the reality of the situation," Garan says.</p>

<p>"We think we know the whole picture, when in reality we see a very very small representation," he added.</p>

<p>This is why, Garan says, "We're paying a really high price right now, as a civilisation."</p>


A former NASA astronaut says humans are living "a big lie". Ron Garan, who spent 178 days in space, witnessed a shift in his perspective about our existence on Earth, saying that "we’re paying a very high price".

A former NASA astronaut says humans are living "a big lie". Ron Garan, who spent 178 days in space, witnessed a shift in his perspective about our existence on Earth, saying that "we’re paying a very high price". Garan is not only an astronaut but also a fighter pilot and a social entrepreneur. He has spent time on a space shuttle, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and the International Space Station. Looking down on Earth, he says he was hit by a 'sobering realisation'. In an interview with Big Think, Garan said that people on Earth treat the "life-support systems of our planet as the [...] subsidiary of the global economy". Every human-made system is treated that way, he said. "I saw an iridescent biosphere teaming with life. I didn't see an economy, but since our human-made systems treat everything including the very life-support systems of our planet as the [...] subsidiary of the global economy, it's obvious from the vanish point of space that we're living a lie," he said. He says that after he returned from space, his perspective changed due to the 'Overview Effect'. Things started appearing differently to him after he saw how Earth was hanging in the darkness of space. "The Overview Effect describes the shift that astronauts have when they see the planet hanging in the blackness of space," Garan said. "There's this lightbulb that pops up when we realize how interconnected and interdependent we all are," he added. Humanity is 'floating in darkness' Humanity faces a lot of problems on Earth - wars, hunger, poverty and more. Countries are fighting with each other for territory, the rich are busy filling their vaults and more. The problems, Garan says, continue to remain because humanity does not see the "actual picture". Also Read: 'God of chaos' asteroid can hit Earth, but only if THIS happens. 'The odds of...' "Part of the reasons we're not solving the problems is because we don't have the right perspective, we're not addressing things in the reality of the situation," Garan says. "We think we know the whole picture, when in reality we see a very very small representation," he added. This is why, Garan says, "We're paying a really high price right now, as a civilisation."

Astronaut who spent 178 days in space says humanity is living 'a big lie'

<p>Antarctica waters are home to several marine species, some of which are still unknown to humans. One such species has now been discovered by researchers from the William &amp; Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They have found a new species of Antarctic dragonfish in the peninsula, a new study published in the journal Zootaxa says. The dragonfish is called the Banded Dragonfish or Akarotaxis gouldae. It has been named after an Antarctic research and supply vessel called the Laurence M&nbsp;Gould. The vessel and its crew have made several scientific contributions and it recently went out of service.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dragonfish has certain distinctive physical features, such as two dark vertical bands of colour on its body. It has a slender body, a wide snout, an elongated mouth and large oval-shaped eyes.</p>

<p>According to the study, the fish was discovered accidentally while researchers were sweeping the region for zooplankton. They found the larvae of the fish and took them to study them.</p>

<p>Initially, it was thought to be a different species of dragonfish, Akarotaxis nudiceps. However, as the fish grew, lead researcher Andrew Corso and his colleagues noticed something exciting.</p>

<h2><strong>What did they find?</strong></h2>

<p>The adult Akarotaxis gouldae had two distinct bands on the sides which are not present on Akarotaxis nudiceps. They were shocked to see that a species of fish had been living in the Antarctic waters but went by unnoticed.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-sea-animals-known-for-hour-long-dives-spotted-in-antarctica-waters-754753">Rare sea animals known for hour-long dives spotted in Antarctica waters</a></strong></p>

<p>“There are two distinct bands on the sides of adult Akarotaxis gouldae that are not present on Akarotaxis nudiceps, so we were surprised that the species already existed in collections but had been previously overlooked,” Corso said.</p>

<p>Using a process called phylogeny and genetic testing, Corso and his co-author Thomas Desvigne found that the Banded Dragonfish had deviated from a separate species approximately 780,000 years ago.</p>

<p>“We hypothesise that a population of dragonfish may have become isolated within deep trenches under glaciers, surviving on food pushed in by the moving ice. Once the glaciers retreated, this subpopulation had become distinct enough to be reproductively incompatible with Akarotaxis nudiceps,” Corso said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Desvigne is a researcher from the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of&nbsp;Oregon.</p>

<p>The researchers say that since Antarctic dragonfish live in deep waters, they haven't been studied much. Akarotaxis gouldae also seem to be limited to the water around the western Antarctic Peninsula, as per the study.</p>


Antarctica waters are home to several marine species, some of which are still unknown to humans. One such species has now been discovered by researchers from the William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Antarctica waters are home to several marine species, some of which are still unknown to humans. One such species has now been discovered by researchers from the William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science. They have found a new species of Antarctic dragonfish in the peninsula, a new study published in the journal Zootaxa says. The dragonfish is called the Banded Dragonfish or Akarotaxis gouldae. It has been named after an Antarctic research and supply vessel called the Laurence M Gould. The vessel and its crew have made several scientific contributions and it recently went out of service. The dragonfish has certain distinctive physical features, such as two dark vertical bands of colour on its body. It has a slender body, a wide snout, an elongated mouth and large oval-shaped eyes. According to the study, the fish was discovered accidentally while researchers were sweeping the region for zooplankton. They found the larvae of the fish and took them to study them. Initially, it was thought to be a different species of dragonfish, Akarotaxis nudiceps. However, as the fish grew, lead researcher Andrew Corso and his colleagues noticed something exciting. What did they find? The adult Akarotaxis gouldae had two distinct bands on the sides which are not present on Akarotaxis nudiceps. They were shocked to see that a species of fish had been living in the Antarctic waters but went by unnoticed. Also Read: Rare sea animals known for hour-long dives spotted in Antarctica waters “There are two distinct bands on the sides of adult Akarotaxis gouldae that are not present on Akarotaxis nudiceps, so we were surprised that the species already existed in collections but had been previously overlooked,” Corso said. Using a process called phylogeny and genetic testing, Corso and his co-author Thomas Desvigne found that the Banded Dragonfish had deviated from a separate species approximately 780,000 years ago. “We hypothesise that a population of dragonfish may have become isolated within deep trenches under glaciers, surviving on food pushed in by the moving ice. Once the glaciers retreated, this subpopulation had become distinct enough to be reproductively incompatible with Akarotaxis nudiceps,” Corso said. Desvigne is a researcher from the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Oregon. The researchers say that since Antarctic dragonfish live in deep waters, they haven't been studied much. Akarotaxis gouldae also seem to be limited to the water around the western Antarctic Peninsula, as per the study.

Sea creatures that deviated from a species 780,000 years ago found in Antarctica

<p>The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from&nbsp;Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists carrying out the research have said that the asteroid most likely existed before the birth of the Solar System and may have brought water and life to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA’s billion-dollar&nbsp;OSIRIS-REx&nbsp;mission completed its seven-year journey in September last year and brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu. Its specimens were sent to different research laboratories across the world, which included Curtin.</p>

<p>In a new study, which has been published in&nbsp;Meteoritics and Planetary Science, some amazing findings from the samples have been revealed.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-20-times-bigger-than-dinosaur-killer-deviated-solar-systems-largest-moon-755527">Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position</a></p>

<p>The scientists found dark particles, which ranged from dust-sized to approximately 3.5 cm long, along with some lighter particles and stones, with&nbsp;brighter material that formed veins and crusts in the samples of the asteroid.</p>

<p>“Analyses show Bennu is among the most chemically primitive materials known, similar in composition to the visible surface of the sun,” said OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team member Associate Professor Nick Timms.</p>

<p>“This indicates Bennu has undergone different processes to the planets, and these processes changed the abundance of particular elements relative to the sun," he added.</p>

<p>In the analysis of the samples, the presence of various components were also confirmed, like hydrated phyllosilicates, which is a type of mineral that forms when water is present, and carbon-rich material.</p>

<p>“This means asteroids such as this may have played a key role in delivering water and the building blocks of life to Earth,” said Associate Professor Timms.</p>

<h2><strong>Asteroid Bennu's samples have presolar grains which existed before Solar System</strong></h2>

<p>The scientists also found some unexpected components in the samples. “We were surprised to find magnesium-sodium phosphates, which further suggests Bennu experienced chemical environments which possibly involved water," said Associate Professor Timms.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;China plans nukes against asteroids</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-plans-nukes-against-asteroids-754309/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“We also found other trace minerals, which offer clues as to the processes which have happened on Bennu over billions of years, such as temperature and pressure conditions. These trace minerals help paint a picture of Bennu’s evolution and also offer insights into the early solar system and how the different planetary bodies in the solar system were created," he added.</p>

<p>“The sample has presolar grains created before our solar system existed, which can provide a detailed biography of the lives of ancient stars,” the professor further said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system.

The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system. The scientists carrying out the research have said that the asteroid most likely existed before the birth of the Solar System and may have brought water and life to Earth. NASA’s billion-dollar OSIRIS-REx mission completed its seven-year journey in September last year and brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu. Its specimens were sent to different research laboratories across the world, which included Curtin. In a new study, which has been published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science, some amazing findings from the samples have been revealed. Also Read: Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position The scientists found dark particles, which ranged from dust-sized to approximately 3.5 cm long, along with some lighter particles and stones, with brighter material that formed veins and crusts in the samples of the asteroid. “Analyses show Bennu is among the most chemically primitive materials known, similar in composition to the visible surface of the sun,” said OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team member Associate Professor Nick Timms. “This indicates Bennu has undergone different processes to the planets, and these processes changed the abundance of particular elements relative to the sun," he added. In the analysis of the samples, the presence of various components were also confirmed, like hydrated phyllosilicates, which is a type of mineral that forms when water is present, and carbon-rich material. “This means asteroids such as this may have played a key role in delivering water and the building blocks of life to Earth,” said Associate Professor Timms. Asteroid Bennu's samples have presolar grains which existed before Solar System The scientists also found some unexpected components in the samples. “We were surprised to find magnesium-sodium phosphates, which further suggests Bennu experienced chemical environments which possibly involved water," said Associate Professor Timms. Watch: China plans nukes against asteroids “We also found other trace minerals, which offer clues as to the processes which have happened on Bennu over billions of years, such as temperature and pressure conditions. These trace minerals help paint a picture of Bennu’s evolution and also offer insights into the early solar system and how the different planetary bodies in the solar system were created," he added. “The sample has presolar grains created before our solar system existed, which can provide a detailed biography of the lives of ancient stars,” the professor further said. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid Bennu brought life and water to Earth, it existed before Solar System's origin: Study

<p>Apophis, the "god of chaos" asteroid, has a higher chance of hitting Earth than previously thought, new analyses suggest. The asteroid is moving towards our planet and will make a dangerously close approach in 2029.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apophis was first discovered in 2004 and it was placed at level 4 on the Torino impact hazard scale - 0 means no chance of hitting and 10 means "a collision is certain" and might cause global climatic catastrophe.</p>

<p>Since NASA started monitoring potentially hazardous Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), this was the first asteroid to be assigned a rating of four on the scale. NASA describes the rating as, "A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers."</p>

<p>As per current observations, the asteroid will safely pass by Earth, posing no threat in 2029, 2036 and 2068. However, the new study takes into account a slight chance that something hits Apophis while it is en route to our planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canadian astronomer Paul Wiegert looked at the odds of a small object colliding with Apophis and setting it on a course towards Earth. Wiegert and co-author Ben Hyatt had earlier ruled out a collision but still found a small chance of a collision with other material.</p>

<p>The astronomers tried to study what size object could change the trajectory of Apophis and put it on a route on which it might hit Earth. They also studied other scenarios of an object hitting it which can put the asteroid&nbsp;on an Earth-bound trajectory in the future after 2029.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-20-times-bigger-than-dinosaur-killer-deviated-solar-systems-largest-moon-755527">Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position</a></p>

<p>What they found was that an impactor of around 0.6 metres (2 feet) can push the asteroid into one of the 2029 "keyhole" trajectories. This would set it up for a later collision with our planet. However, an impact in 2029 will happen only if Apophis collides with an object of around 3.4 metres (11.2 feet).</p>

<h2>How likely is a collision?</h2>

<p>The likelihood of an asteroid hitting Apophis is extremely low. Even if an impact does happen, the direction would also matter. Wiegert studied the number of objects over 3.4 metres in size in space and says the odds of an asteroid impacting it between now and 2029 are exceptionally low.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The odds of an unseen small asteroid deflecting Apophis enough to direct it into a collision with Earth in 2029 (d ≳ 3.4 m, Δv &gt; 5 × 10−2 m s−1) are approximately 10−8," Wiegert says in the study.</p>

<p>"Given that only 5% of such impulses are in the correct direction to generate an Earth impact, the overall probability of a small impact directing Apophis into a collision with the Earth is less than one in 2 billion."</p>

<p>However, for a later impact after 2029, he puts the odds at less than one in a million. Despite being good odds, the risk of an impact still exists.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How do we know if Apophis has moved?</h2>

<p>To know if this has happened, Wiegert says we need to wait another three years. "An additional element of the story is that Apophis has been largely unmonitored by telescopes since May 2021 and will remain so through 2027," he explained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is because "of the relative geometry of Apophis, Earth, and the Sun, which puts the asteroid in the daytime sky for the time span in question."</p>


Apophis, the "god of chaos" asteroid, has a higher chance of hitting Earth than previously thought, new analyses suggest. The asteroid is moving towards our planet and will make a dangerously close approach in 2029.

Apophis, the "god of chaos" asteroid, has a higher chance of hitting Earth than previously thought, new analyses suggest. The asteroid is moving towards our planet and will make a dangerously close approach in 2029. Apophis was first discovered in 2004 and it was placed at level 4 on the Torino impact hazard scale - 0 means no chance of hitting and 10 means "a collision is certain" and might cause global climatic catastrophe. Since NASA started monitoring potentially hazardous Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), this was the first asteroid to be assigned a rating of four on the scale. NASA describes the rating as, "A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers." As per current observations, the asteroid will safely pass by Earth, posing no threat in 2029, 2036 and 2068. However, the new study takes into account a slight chance that something hits Apophis while it is en route to our planet. Canadian astronomer Paul Wiegert looked at the odds of a small object colliding with Apophis and setting it on a course towards Earth. Wiegert and co-author Ben Hyatt had earlier ruled out a collision but still found a small chance of a collision with other material. The astronomers tried to study what size object could change the trajectory of Apophis and put it on a route on which it might hit Earth. They also studied other scenarios of an object hitting it which can put the asteroid on an Earth-bound trajectory in the future after 2029. Also Read: Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position What they found was that an impactor of around 0.6 metres (2 feet) can push the asteroid into one of the 2029 "keyhole" trajectories. This would set it up for a later collision with our planet. However, an impact in 2029 will happen only if Apophis collides with an object of around 3.4 metres (11.2 feet). How likely is a collision? The likelihood of an asteroid hitting Apophis is extremely low. Even if an impact does happen, the direction would also matter. Wiegert studied the number of objects over 3.4 metres in size in space and says the odds of an asteroid impacting it between now and 2029 are exceptionally low. "The odds of an unseen small asteroid deflecting Apophis enough to direct it into a collision with Earth in 2029 (d ≳ 3.4 m, Δv > 5 × 10−2 m s−1) are approximately 10−8," Wiegert says in the study. "Given that only 5% of such impulses are in the correct direction to generate an Earth impact, the overall probability of a small impact directing Apophis into a collision with the Earth is less than one in 2 billion." However, for a later impact after 2029, he puts the odds at less than one in a million. Despite being good odds, the risk of an impact still exists. How do we know if Apophis has moved? To know if this has happened, Wiegert says we need to wait another three years. "An additional element of the story is that Apophis has been largely unmonitored by telescopes since May 2021 and will remain so through 2027," he explained. This is because "of the relative geometry of Apophis, Earth, and the Sun, which puts the asteroid in the daytime sky for the time span in question."

'God of chaos' asteroid can hit Earth, but only if THIS happens. 'The odds of...'

<p>A fireball streaked through the skies in the Southeastern US on August 30 and was seen from Tennessee down to North Carolina. Moving at a speed of over 31,000 mph, the fireball was a meteor that streaked through the pre-dawn sky putting on an awe-inspiring show. NASA confirmed that it was indeed a meteor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The space rock was analysed and it was revealed to be around 1,000 pounds in weight and two feet wide. It burnt up as it moved through the atmosphere and its remains were strewn over the North Carolina town of Altapass.</p>

<p>The most scary piece of NASA's report was the strength with which the meteor broke apart. As the rock disintegrated, it generated the energy of 10 tonnes of TNT, the space agency said.</p>

<p>This led to a powerful shockwave that travelled all the way to the ground. People reported hearing loud booms minutes after the fireball streaked across the skies. "Never seen anything like it before. Not like a comet," one witness in Tennessee told Fox News.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meteors are not uncommon in this part of the country, but a rock this big is rare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA Meteor watch posted a video on Facebook</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="420" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=420&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNasaMeteorWatch%2Fvideos%2F1140951060332222%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>People also shared videos on social media.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Incredible video of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/meteor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#meteor</a> out of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Asheville?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Asheville</a>, NC this morning just before 1:15 AM. Video credit: Timothy Ballisty <a href="https://t.co/ao6S4lFrQ6">pic.twitter.com/ao6S4lFrQ6</a></p>
— Kaitlin Wright (@wxkaitlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/wxkaitlin/status/1829569595080114237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A meteor fell over the region overnight. It was seen over east TN, southwest VA and western NC.<br />
We have received a few reports of a boom with the fireball.<br />
This video is from the Dandridge exit on I-40 looking toward Greene County, TN.<br />
Video from Glenn Sparks. <a href="https://t.co/HLFFGpj4SP">pic.twitter.com/HLFFGpj4SP</a></p>
— David Boyd (@WCYB_DavidBoyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/WCYB_DavidBoyd/status/1829479774839885982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cool video I captured of what I think is a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meteor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meteor</a> flying go over my house around 1:15AM as I was leaving for work. This was captured near Shelby <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorthCarolina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NorthCarolina</a> :) <a href="https://t.co/4ffTnq0FiV">pic.twitter.com/4ffTnq0FiV</a></p>
— 🇺🇦🇵🇸Eric The Red🇹🇼🇲🇲 (@Eric_Of_Red) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Of_Red/status/1829470632448344258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Videos captured by certain onlookers show a brilliant green light streaking across the sky which soon turns into a radiant orange fireball before breaking apart. The meteor was also detected by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper aboard the GOES-16 spacecraft.</p>

<p>As per experts, large impacts of meteors on Earth are rare.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/meteorite-falls-in-south-africa-after-50-years-triggers-widespread-sonic-boom-753631">Meteorite fell in South Africa this weekend for the first time in 50 years</a></p>

<p>Only a handful of meteors make it to the surface every year. This one reportedly made it to the surface, and as per meteor tracking group Strewnify, it was scattered across the North Carolina countryside.</p>

<h2>Meteor falls in South Africa</h2>

<p>On August 25, a meteorite entered the Earth's atmosphere over South Africa, a first in over 50 years. The meteorite caused a sonic boom that was heard kilometres away. The last time a meteorite fell in South Africa was in Lichtenburg in 1973. The country has recorded only 51 meteorites till now, and only 22 meteorite falls.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A fireball streaked through the skies in the Southeastern US on August 30 and was seen from Tennessee down to North Carolina. Moving at a speed of over 31,000 mph, the fireball was a meteor that streaked through the pre-dawn sky putting on an awe-inspiring show.

A fireball streaked through the skies in the Southeastern US on August 30 and was seen from Tennessee down to North Carolina. Moving at a speed of over 31,000 mph, the fireball was a meteor that streaked through the pre-dawn sky putting on an awe-inspiring show. NASA confirmed that it was indeed a meteor. The space rock was analysed and it was revealed to be around 1,000 pounds in weight and two feet wide. It burnt up as it moved through the atmosphere and its remains were strewn over the North Carolina town of Altapass. The most scary piece of NASA's report was the strength with which the meteor broke apart. As the rock disintegrated, it generated the energy of 10 tonnes of TNT, the space agency said. This led to a powerful shockwave that travelled all the way to the ground. People reported hearing loud booms minutes after the fireball streaked across the skies. "Never seen anything like it before. Not like a comet," one witness in Tennessee told Fox News. Meteors are not uncommon in this part of the country, but a rock this big is rare. NASA Meteor watch posted a video on Facebook × People also shared videos on social media. Incredible video of the #meteor out of #Asheville, NC this morning just before 1:15 AM. Video credit: Timothy Ballisty pic.twitter.com/ao6S4lFrQ6 — Kaitlin Wright (@wxkaitlin) August 30, 2024 × A meteor fell over the region overnight. It was seen over east TN, southwest VA and western NC. We have received a few reports of a boom with the fireball. This video is from the Dandridge exit on I-40 looking toward Greene County, TN. Video from Glenn Sparks. pic.twitter.com/HLFFGpj4SP — David Boyd (@WCYB_DavidBoyd) August 30, 2024 × Cool video I captured of what I think is a #Meteor flying go over my house around 1:15AM as I was leaving for work. This was captured near Shelby #NorthCarolina :) pic.twitter.com/4ffTnq0FiV — 🇺🇦🇵🇸Eric The Red🇹🇼🇲🇲 (@Eric_Of_Red) August 30, 2024 × Videos captured by certain onlookers show a brilliant green light streaking across the sky which soon turns into a radiant orange fireball before breaking apart. The meteor was also detected by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper aboard the GOES-16 spacecraft. As per experts, large impacts of meteors on Earth are rare. Also Read: Meteorite fell in South Africa this weekend for the first time in 50 years Only a handful of meteors make it to the surface every year. This one reportedly made it to the surface, and as per meteor tracking group Strewnify, it was scattered across the North Carolina countryside. Meteor falls in South Africa On August 25, a meteorite entered the Earth's atmosphere over South Africa, a first in over 50 years. The meteorite caused a sonic boom that was heard kilometres away. The last time a meteorite fell in South Africa was in Lichtenburg in 1973. The country has recorded only 51 meteorites till now, and only 22 meteorite falls.

Meteor that fell over North Carolina packed force of 10 tonnes of TNT

<p>The discovery of 139,000-year-old stone tools from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has stumped archaeologists. The dating of the tools has led them to believe that complicated tool were being made at a time when modern humans hadn't even reached the region. It is not clear who made the stone tools but scientists don't think it was modern humans, The Telegraph reported.</p>

<p>It had been assumed that only modern humans were capable of making such tools. But an excavation near a village named Retlapalle in Prakasam district has thrown up so-called “middle-paleolithic” stone tools. Experts now believe that the art of tool-making was likely also practised by some ancient extinct human species.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The findings have been published in the journal PLOS One by a team of Indian and German scientists.</p>

<p>Nearly two decades ago, similar stone tools were excavated at Attirampakkam, a prehistoric site near Chennai. The tools were estimated to be between 372,000 and 170,000 years old.</p>

<p>Evidence found till now has long suggested that Homo sapiens, or modern humans, moved out of Africa between 60,000 and 70,000 years ago. Based on scientific evidence, experts have deduced that people around the world today are descendants of modern humans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Other similar discoveries have led some experts to argue that Homo sapiens likely lived in the region 125,000 years ago. An independent archaeological study at Jwalapuram in Andhra Pradesh some ten years back led to the discovery of 77,000-year-old stone tools, strengthening the belief.</p>

<p>Attirampakkam also revealed 1.5 million-year-old tools some time back. Prehistorians Shanti Pappu and Kumar Akhilesh at the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education made the discovery. A site in Karnataka yielded 1.2-million-year-old tools, pushing further the belief that modern humans were in Asia much earlier than thought.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/prehistoric-bridge-inside-a-cave-in-spain-was-built-by-humans-6000-years-ago-754806">Prehistoric bridge inside a cave in Spain was built by humans 6,000 years ago</a></p>

<p>However, the older tools found are classified as “Acheulian” tools and are said to have been made by the extinct ancestral species called Homo erectus, a species that lived across Africa and Asia between 1.6 million years ago to at least 250,000 years ago, as per experts.</p>

<p>Anil Devara, an assistant professor of archaeology at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, who led the excavations, told The Telegraph, that similar discoveries made in Europe as Ratlepalle and Attirampakkam in India have put a “big question mark” on the assumption that such tools were made only after the arrival of modern humans.</p>

<p>Pappu told the Telegraph that the absence of fossilised remains of ancestral human species from such sites in South Asia makes the job of assigning the tools to the makers even harder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Devara says that middle-palaeolithic tools were found around the same time in Africa, Europe and South Asia, much before modern humans arrived in these parts.</p>

<p>“What this suggests is that the same tool-making technology may have evolved independently in different species -- in modern humans in Africa, perhaps in the Neanderthals in Europe, and perhaps in some other archaic human species in South Asia,” Devara said.</p>


The discovery of 139,000-year-old stone tools from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has stumped archaeologists. The dating of the tools has led them to believe that complicated tool were being made at a time when modern humans hadn't even reached the region.

The discovery of 139,000-year-old stone tools from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has stumped archaeologists. The dating of the tools has led them to believe that complicated tool were being made at a time when modern humans hadn't even reached the region. It is not clear who made the stone tools but scientists don't think it was modern humans, The Telegraph reported. It had been assumed that only modern humans were capable of making such tools. But an excavation near a village named Retlapalle in Prakasam district has thrown up so-called “middle-paleolithic” stone tools. Experts now believe that the art of tool-making was likely also practised by some ancient extinct human species. The findings have been published in the journal PLOS One by a team of Indian and German scientists. Nearly two decades ago, similar stone tools were excavated at Attirampakkam, a prehistoric site near Chennai. The tools were estimated to be between 372,000 and 170,000 years old. Evidence found till now has long suggested that Homo sapiens, or modern humans, moved out of Africa between 60,000 and 70,000 years ago. Based on scientific evidence, experts have deduced that people around the world today are descendants of modern humans. Other similar discoveries have led some experts to argue that Homo sapiens likely lived in the region 125,000 years ago. An independent archaeological study at Jwalapuram in Andhra Pradesh some ten years back led to the discovery of 77,000-year-old stone tools, strengthening the belief. Attirampakkam also revealed 1.5 million-year-old tools some time back. Prehistorians Shanti Pappu and Kumar Akhilesh at the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education made the discovery. A site in Karnataka yielded 1.2-million-year-old tools, pushing further the belief that modern humans were in Asia much earlier than thought. Also Read: Prehistoric bridge inside a cave in Spain was built by humans 6,000 years ago However, the older tools found are classified as “Acheulian” tools and are said to have been made by the extinct ancestral species called Homo erectus, a species that lived across Africa and Asia between 1.6 million years ago to at least 250,000 years ago, as per experts. Anil Devara, an assistant professor of archaeology at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, who led the excavations, told The Telegraph, that similar discoveries made in Europe as Ratlepalle and Attirampakkam in India have put a “big question mark” on the assumption that such tools were made only after the arrival of modern humans. Pappu told the Telegraph that the absence of fossilised remains of ancestral human species from such sites in South Asia makes the job of assigning the tools to the makers even harder. Devara says that middle-palaeolithic tools were found around the same time in Africa, Europe and South Asia, much before modern humans arrived in these parts. “What this suggests is that the same tool-making technology may have evolved independently in different species -- in modern humans in Africa, perhaps in the Neanderthals in Europe, and perhaps in some other archaic human species in South Asia,” Devara said.

139,000-year-old stone tools discovered in Andhra Pradesh. Who made them?

<p>Siberia has been hosting a massive hole called the “Gateway to Hell" which has grown triple in size in just 30 years, according to scientists.</p>

<p>The 200-acre wide and 300-foot deep hole is present in the Yana highlands of Siberia and is called the 'Batagaika Crater'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It has now been observed that the hole has been expanding faster than expected because of climate change.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hole, which is officially known as Batagay, is the second-oldest permafrost on Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</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>It is so big that it is visible from space and now the experts are flocking to the deep pit to learn everything about it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Roger Michaelides, a&nbsp;geophysicist at Washington University, said, “You're talking mostly about frozen dirt underground, which by definition you often can't see unless it's been exposed somehow, like in this mega slump."</p>

<p>"I think there is a lot we can learn from Batagaika, not only in terms of understanding how Batagaika will evolve with time, but also how similar features might develop and evolve over the Arctic," he added while speaking to Business Insider.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Even if they're a tenth or a hundredth the size of Batagaika, the physics is fundamentally the same," Michaelides further said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>All about expanding 'Gateway to Hell' in Siberia</strong></h2>

<p>During the Quaternary Ice Age, about 2.58 million years ago, the land at the site had permanently frozen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The locals first spotted Batagay in Yakutia,&nbsp;Russia and claimed that they heard horrific noises like loud booms or “screams” coming from it.</p>

<p>In the 1960S, the forest area was cleared and sunlight started reaching the ground of the hole and began warming it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;How Earth's spin may have killed 90% of life</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-earths-spin-may-have-killed-90-of-life-754747/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>It is still melting and some scientists have warned that this gateway can engulf most of the land and prove dangerous for nearby villages once more areas start to melt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nikita Tananaev, a researcher at Melnikov Permafrost Institute in Yakutsk, who was not part of the study, said that the nearby ecosystems are altering permanently because of leakage from the crater.</p>

<p>"This will lead to significant alterations to the riverine habitat, and the effect of sediment escaping the slump [the Batagaika crater] is even seen in the Yana River, the major river in the vicinity," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Siberia has been hosting a massive hole called the “Gateway to Hell" which has grown triple in size in just 30 years, according to scientists. The 200-acre wide and 300-foot deep hole is present in the Yana highlands of Siberia and is called the 'Batagaika Crater'.

Siberia has been hosting a massive hole called the “Gateway to Hell" which has grown triple in size in just 30 years, according to scientists. The 200-acre wide and 300-foot deep hole is present in the Yana highlands of Siberia and is called the 'Batagaika Crater'. It has now been observed that the hole has been expanding faster than expected because of climate change. The hole, which is officially known as Batagay, is the second-oldest permafrost on Earth. Also Read: Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are It is so big that it is visible from space and now the experts are flocking to the deep pit to learn everything about it. Roger Michaelides, a geophysicist at Washington University, said, “You're talking mostly about frozen dirt underground, which by definition you often can't see unless it's been exposed somehow, like in this mega slump." "I think there is a lot we can learn from Batagaika, not only in terms of understanding how Batagaika will evolve with time, but also how similar features might develop and evolve over the Arctic," he added while speaking to Business Insider. "Even if they're a tenth or a hundredth the size of Batagaika, the physics is fundamentally the same," Michaelides further said. All about expanding 'Gateway to Hell' in Siberia During the Quaternary Ice Age, about 2.58 million years ago, the land at the site had permanently frozen. The locals first spotted Batagay in Yakutia, Russia and claimed that they heard horrific noises like loud booms or “screams” coming from it. In the 1960S, the forest area was cleared and sunlight started reaching the ground of the hole and began warming it. Watch: How Earth's spin may have killed 90% of life It is still melting and some scientists have warned that this gateway can engulf most of the land and prove dangerous for nearby villages once more areas start to melt. Nikita Tananaev, a researcher at Melnikov Permafrost Institute in Yakutsk, who was not part of the study, said that the nearby ecosystems are altering permanently because of leakage from the crater. "This will lead to significant alterations to the riverine habitat, and the effect of sediment escaping the slump [the Batagaika crater] is even seen in the Yana River, the major river in the vicinity," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Scary! Earth's massive 'Gateway to Hell' triples in size in 30 years. Scientists warn...

<p>In a new study, the scientists have claimed that all blue-eyed people are descendants of one European who was living between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Originally, humans had only brown eyes in various shades till a specific mutation led to a significant change.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why do humans have blue eyes?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the scientists, the mutation is a gene known as HERC2 and it switches off OCA2, which is the gene which helps in determining how much brown pigment we produce.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the reason why our eyes turn blue.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-is-losing-y-chromosomes-slowly-will-it-lead-to-the-extinction-of-men-753658">World is losing Y chromosomes slowly. Will it lead to the extinction of men?</a></p>

<p>The scientists then found out that every blue-eyed person has descended from the same person because all of them have the same mutation.</p>

<p>According to scientists, blue eyes are possessed by only 8 to 10 per cent of the population.</p>

<p>They added that sometimes eyes fail to fully develop in childhood which means that the brown pigment can come later and make blue-eyed children turn into brown eyes adults.</p>

<p>The team, which consists of a group from the University of Copenhagen, was able to discover a genetic mutation which happened 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.</p>

<p>The research was carried out by a team at the University of Copenhagen.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Survival of men and by extension, the human species at risk?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-survival-of-men-and-by-extension-the-human-species-at-risk-754131/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Professor Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, who led the study,&nbsp;said, "Originally, we all had brown eyes. But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a ‘switch,’ which literally "turned off" the ability to produce brown eyes."</p>

<p>The P protein is involved in the production of melanin and it contains the OCA2 gene codes which have the pigment which determines the colour of hair, eyes, and skin.</p>

<p>The pigment does not create a blue colour but turns off the mechanism through which brown melanin pigment is produced and effectively "dilutes" brown eyes to blue.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a new study, the scientists have claimed that all blue-eyed people are descendants of one European who was living between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Originally, humans had only brown eyes in various shades till a specific mutation led to a significant change.

In a new study, the scientists have claimed that all blue-eyed people are descendants of one European who was living between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Originally, humans had only brown eyes in various shades till a specific mutation led to a significant change. Why do humans have blue eyes? According to the scientists, the mutation is a gene known as HERC2 and it switches off OCA2, which is the gene which helps in determining how much brown pigment we produce. This is the reason why our eyes turn blue. Also Read: World is losing Y chromosomes slowly. Will it lead to the extinction of men? The scientists then found out that every blue-eyed person has descended from the same person because all of them have the same mutation. According to scientists, blue eyes are possessed by only 8 to 10 per cent of the population. They added that sometimes eyes fail to fully develop in childhood which means that the brown pigment can come later and make blue-eyed children turn into brown eyes adults. The team, which consists of a group from the University of Copenhagen, was able to discover a genetic mutation which happened 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. The research was carried out by a team at the University of Copenhagen. Watch: Survival of men and by extension, the human species at risk? Professor Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, who led the study, said, "Originally, we all had brown eyes. But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a ‘switch,’ which literally "turned off" the ability to produce brown eyes." The P protein is involved in the production of melanin and it contains the OCA2 gene codes which have the pigment which determines the colour of hair, eyes, and skin. The pigment does not create a blue colour but turns off the mechanism through which brown melanin pigment is produced and effectively "dilutes" brown eyes to blue. (With inputs from agencies)

One European, who survived between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, is ancestor of all blue-eyed people: Study

<p>The beauty of Saturn is in its majestic rings which encircle the gas giant and is a unique celestial feature in our solar system.</p>

<p>Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in the 17th century had first spied Saturn with the help of his ancient telescope.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, innovative techniques and advanced technology have helped astronomers like Dr Lucy Jones, who is from the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics (CfA), to dig deeper into the&nbsp;enigmas around celestial bodies.</p>

<p>With the help of observations and cutting-edge research, scientists have discovered the mysteries hidden in the rings of Saturn and revealed their composition and the dynamic processes for shaping them.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's why Saturn's majestic rings will vanish</strong></h2>

<p>In a span of six months, the view of Saturn will be dramatically altered because of a significant cosmic event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From March 2025, the majestic rings of Saturn will become virtually invisible from Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-to-occult-saturn-in-a-rare-eclipse-heres-how-to-watch-this-celestial-event-in-india-after-18-years-743660">Moon to occult Saturn in a rare eclipse. Here's how to watch this celestial event in India</a></p>

<p>This phenomenon will occur because there will be a unique tilt in the axis of Saturn which will place the rings edge-on to our line of sight.</p>

<p>This will be a rare visual for the citizens and astronomers who will see a celestial transformation in Saturn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the condition will not remain permanent. This will be a fleeting cosmic event which will reoccur every 29.5 years - that is the time duration taken by Saturn to orbit the Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saturn’s axial tilt will change after March 2025 and the rings will again become visible only to vanish again in November 2025.</p>

<p>Hence, the rings will not really disappear but will only play a celestial game of hide and seek.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are the rings of Saturn made of?</strong></h2>

<p>The rings of Saturn are filled with rocky debris, cosmic dust and ice particles which give a stunning spectacle which is visible from Earth with the help of a telescope.&nbsp;</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>The rings of Saturn are not one solid structure. They have various distinct sections, which include the A, B, and C rings and the fainter D, E, F, and G rings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gaps like the Cassini Division separate these sections. These rings' shapes and setups are shaped by gravitational interactions&nbsp;with many moons of Saturn.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The beauty of Saturn is in its majestic rings which encircle the gas giant and is a unique celestial feature in our solar system. Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in the 17th century had first spied Saturn with the help of his ancient telescope.

The beauty of Saturn is in its majestic rings which encircle the gas giant and is a unique celestial feature in our solar system. Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in the 17th century had first spied Saturn with the help of his ancient telescope. Now, innovative techniques and advanced technology have helped astronomers like Dr Lucy Jones, who is from the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics (CfA), to dig deeper into the enigmas around celestial bodies. With the help of observations and cutting-edge research, scientists have discovered the mysteries hidden in the rings of Saturn and revealed their composition and the dynamic processes for shaping them. Here's why Saturn's majestic rings will vanish In a span of six months, the view of Saturn will be dramatically altered because of a significant cosmic event. From March 2025, the majestic rings of Saturn will become virtually invisible from Earth. Also Read: Moon to occult Saturn in a rare eclipse. Here's how to watch this celestial event in India This phenomenon will occur because there will be a unique tilt in the axis of Saturn which will place the rings edge-on to our line of sight. This will be a rare visual for the citizens and astronomers who will see a celestial transformation in Saturn. However, the condition will not remain permanent. This will be a fleeting cosmic event which will reoccur every 29.5 years - that is the time duration taken by Saturn to orbit the Sun. Saturn’s axial tilt will change after March 2025 and the rings will again become visible only to vanish again in November 2025. Hence, the rings will not really disappear but will only play a celestial game of hide and seek. What are the rings of Saturn made of? The rings of Saturn are filled with rocky debris, cosmic dust and ice particles which give a stunning spectacle which is visible from Earth with the help of a telescope. Watch: NASA astronaut stuck in space reports ‘strange noises’ coming from Starliner capsule The rings of Saturn are not one solid structure. They have various distinct sections, which include the A, B, and C rings and the fainter D, E, F, and G rings. Gaps like the Cassini Division separate these sections. These rings' shapes and setups are shaped by gravitational interactions with many moons of Saturn. (With inputs from agencies)

Saturn’s sparkling rings will not be visible after next six months. Here's why

<p>The ancient Hindu spiritual text Rig Veda mentions a total solar eclipse that occurred roughly 6,000 years ago. Researchers say this is the oldest known reference to an eclipse in history.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Rig Veda was compiled around 1500 BC and is the oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text. It contains hymns and philosophical anecdotes, along with several historical events. Most of these events are from the time the text was compiled, but some also date back to previous years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, various passages in the Rig Veda mention the location of the rising sun during the vernal equinox. Astronomical events like this change in different time periods because the Earth is spinning on its axis. One such reference mentions the vernal equinox as occurring in Orion, and another has it occurring in the Pleiades.</p>

<p>At this moment, the vernal equinox is in the constellation Pisces. It was in Orion around 4500 BC and in the Pleiades around 2230 BC. This means that the Rig Veda recorded events that occurred much earlier than its compilation.</p>

<p>Astronomers Mayank Vahia of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai and Mitsuru Soma of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan published their findings in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage.</p>

<p>They discerned the stories in the Veda and say that they have found a reference to an ancient solar eclipse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saturn-in-opposition-watch-the-ringed-planet-closest-to-earth-on-this-day-755425">Saturn in opposition: Watch the ringed planet closest to Earth on this day</a></p>

<p>In one of the passages, a decorated description talks about the sun being "pierced" with darkness and gloom while proposing that the sun's "magic arts" vanished because of evil beings.</p>

<h2>Different from Rahu and Ketu</h2>

<p>Rahu and Ketu, a mythological tale linking the shadow planets to the eclipse, are more recent, the two astronomers say. In astronomy, Rahu and Ketu are called the north and south lunar nodes and eclipses occur when the Sun and the Moon are at one of these points. Mythology talks about it as the swallowing of the Sun and the Moon by the snake.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the passages deciphered by the two astronomers were written much earlier than the tales creating Rahu and Ketu.</p>

<p>They said the solar eclipse occurred when the vernal equinox was in Orion, and just three days before an autumnal equinox. They say that the Rig Veda passage refers to a total solar eclipse and it likely happened in the region where the writers lived.</p>

<p>The current oldest mention of an eclipse was on a clay tablet, unearthed in Syria, which mentions an eclipse in either 1375 BC or 1223 BC. A rock carving in Ireland references an eclipse in 3340 B.C.</p>

<p>The eclipse mentioned in the Rig Veda likely occurred on October 22, 4202 BC or October 19, 3811 BC. Both of these dates go way back than the current records, making it the oldest reference to a total solar eclipse.</p>


The ancient Hindu spiritual text Rig Veda mentions a total solar eclipse that occurred roughly 6,000 years ago. Researchers say this is the oldest known reference to an eclipse in history.

The ancient Hindu spiritual text Rig Veda mentions a total solar eclipse that occurred roughly 6,000 years ago. Researchers say this is the oldest known reference to an eclipse in history. The Rig Veda was compiled around 1500 BC and is the oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text. It contains hymns and philosophical anecdotes, along with several historical events. Most of these events are from the time the text was compiled, but some also date back to previous years. For example, various passages in the Rig Veda mention the location of the rising sun during the vernal equinox. Astronomical events like this change in different time periods because the Earth is spinning on its axis. One such reference mentions the vernal equinox as occurring in Orion, and another has it occurring in the Pleiades. At this moment, the vernal equinox is in the constellation Pisces. It was in Orion around 4500 BC and in the Pleiades around 2230 BC. This means that the Rig Veda recorded events that occurred much earlier than its compilation. Astronomers Mayank Vahia of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai and Mitsuru Soma of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan published their findings in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. They discerned the stories in the Veda and say that they have found a reference to an ancient solar eclipse. Also Read: Saturn in opposition: Watch the ringed planet closest to Earth on this day In one of the passages, a decorated description talks about the sun being "pierced" with darkness and gloom while proposing that the sun's "magic arts" vanished because of evil beings. Different from Rahu and Ketu Rahu and Ketu, a mythological tale linking the shadow planets to the eclipse, are more recent, the two astronomers say. In astronomy, Rahu and Ketu are called the north and south lunar nodes and eclipses occur when the Sun and the Moon are at one of these points. Mythology talks about it as the swallowing of the Sun and the Moon by the snake. However, the passages deciphered by the two astronomers were written much earlier than the tales creating Rahu and Ketu. They said the solar eclipse occurred when the vernal equinox was in Orion, and just three days before an autumnal equinox. They say that the Rig Veda passage refers to a total solar eclipse and it likely happened in the region where the writers lived. The current oldest mention of an eclipse was on a clay tablet, unearthed in Syria, which mentions an eclipse in either 1375 BC or 1223 BC. A rock carving in Ireland references an eclipse in 3340 B.C. The eclipse mentioned in the Rig Veda likely occurred on October 22, 4202 BC or October 19, 3811 BC. Both of these dates go way back than the current records, making it the oldest reference to a total solar eclipse.

Ancient Hindu text Rig Veda contains oldest-known reference to total solar eclipse

<p>Earthlings will soon get a chance to see Saturn at its biggest and brightest. The ringed planet is entering opposition in the coming days - that is when Earth comes between the sun and Saturn in the sky. This is the best time of the year to view Saturn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cosmic wonder will occur on the night of September 7 and 8 this year. The next time Saturn will be in opposition is September 21, 2025. This year, Saturn’s opposition will kickstart the ring plane crossing which is due in March 2025. During this time, Saturn’s rings will appear edge-on from Earth.</p>

<h2>Saturn at opposition - When and where to watch</h2>

<p>Opposition means Saturn will be in the opposite part of the sky as the setting Sun. The planet will rise in the east at sunset and will be visible all night. The rising time will be between approximately 6 pm and 7 pm and will set between approximately 5:30 am and 6:30 am on September 8.</p>

<p>Saturn will be directly opposite to the sun at 12:27 a.m. ET (9:57 am IST) on September 8. At this point, it will be at its closest point to Earth and will appear larger. Since the Moon will be a waxing crescent on the night of September 7, the conditions to view the planet will be optimal.</p>

<h2>Will Saturn remain visible later?</h2>

<p>September 7 is not the only night to view the ringed planet. It will remain visible in the sky for the coming weeks, but if you want to see it at its largest, follow the above timeline.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saturns-hellish-exoplanet-has-water-vapours-whats-hiding-in-this-alien-world-739618">Saturn's hellish exoplanet has water vapours! What's hiding in this alien world?</a></p>

<p>To view Saturn at or near opposition, the night skies will present the best time till September 13 since the moon will set before midnight. It will continue to be visible for few more weeks later on.</p>

<h2>The Seeliger Effect</h2>

<p>Saturn also appears extremely bright to us on Earth in opposition because of its position relative to the Sun. This is when you'll be able to see the Seeliger Effect during which Saturn and its rings are unusually bright. At this time, the sun casts its rays from behind Earth directly onto Saturn, illuminating Saturn and its rings.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to watch Saturn's rings</h2>

<p>A regular pair of binoculars won't help if you want to see the rings. So use a small backyard telescope or strong stargazing binoculars to see Saturn's rings.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Saturn's rings disappear</h2>

<p>A significant cosmic event will soon occur in March 2025 when Saturn’s majestic rings will almost vanish. They will still be there, but won't be visible from Earth. This will happen because of a unique tilt of Saturn’s axis, positioning the rings edge-on to our line of sight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saturn’s axial tilt will bring the rings back into view after March 2025, but will then vanish again in November 2025.&nbsp;</p>


Earthlings will soon get a chance to see Saturn at its biggest and brightest. The ringed planet is entering opposition in the coming days - that is when Earth comes between the sun and Saturn in the sky.

Earthlings will soon get a chance to see Saturn at its biggest and brightest. The ringed planet is entering opposition in the coming days - that is when Earth comes between the sun and Saturn in the sky. This is the best time of the year to view Saturn. The cosmic wonder will occur on the night of September 7 and 8 this year. The next time Saturn will be in opposition is September 21, 2025. This year, Saturn’s opposition will kickstart the ring plane crossing which is due in March 2025. During this time, Saturn’s rings will appear edge-on from Earth. Saturn at opposition - When and where to watch Opposition means Saturn will be in the opposite part of the sky as the setting Sun. The planet will rise in the east at sunset and will be visible all night. The rising time will be between approximately 6 pm and 7 pm and will set between approximately 5:30 am and 6:30 am on September 8. Saturn will be directly opposite to the sun at 12:27 a.m. ET (9:57 am IST) on September 8. At this point, it will be at its closest point to Earth and will appear larger. Since the Moon will be a waxing crescent on the night of September 7, the conditions to view the planet will be optimal. Will Saturn remain visible later? September 7 is not the only night to view the ringed planet. It will remain visible in the sky for the coming weeks, but if you want to see it at its largest, follow the above timeline. Also Read: Saturn's hellish exoplanet has water vapours! What's hiding in this alien world? To view Saturn at or near opposition, the night skies will present the best time till September 13 since the moon will set before midnight. It will continue to be visible for few more weeks later on. The Seeliger Effect Saturn also appears extremely bright to us on Earth in opposition because of its position relative to the Sun. This is when you'll be able to see the Seeliger Effect during which Saturn and its rings are unusually bright. At this time, the sun casts its rays from behind Earth directly onto Saturn, illuminating Saturn and its rings. How to watch Saturn's rings A regular pair of binoculars won't help if you want to see the rings. So use a small backyard telescope or strong stargazing binoculars to see Saturn's rings. Saturn's rings disappear A significant cosmic event will soon occur in March 2025 when Saturn’s majestic rings will almost vanish. They will still be there, but won't be visible from Earth. This will happen because of a unique tilt of Saturn’s axis, positioning the rings edge-on to our line of sight. Saturn’s axial tilt will bring the rings back into view after March 2025, but will then vanish again in November 2025.

Saturn at opposition: Watch the ringed planet closest to Earth on THIS day

<p>Something catastrophic happened 100 million years ago that changed the way our planet evolved. Scientists say that several intense environmental events followed each other leading to the widespread extinctions of marine species.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Between 185 and 85 million years ago, a series of severe environmental crises, called oceanic anoxic events, took place. There hasn't been a viable explanation for it, until now. A study has thrown light on what caused these crises that critically depleted dissolved oxygen in the seas.</p>

<p>Experts from the University of Southampton said certain events triggered severe biological changes on Earth, including mass extinctions of marine species. The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience.</p>

<p>Lead author Tom Gernon, a Professor of Earth Science at Southampton, said, “Oceanic anoxic events were like hitting the reset button on the planet’s ecosystems. The challenge was understanding which geological forces hit the button.”</p>

<p>Scientists studied the impact of plate tectonic forces on ocean chemistry during the age of the dinosaurs, that is during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. These periods combined are known as the Mesozoic era.</p>

<p>The researchers studied how the breaking up of the supercontinent Gondwana could have affected chemical cycles in the ocean. Notably, Gondwana was the great landmass which comprised&nbsp;around two-thirds of today's continental area. This is the land where once dinosaurs walked the Earth.</p>

<p>Professor Gernon said, “The Mesozoic era witnessed the breakup of this landmass, in turn bringing intense volcanic activity worldwide. As tectonic plates shifted and new seafloors formed, large amounts of phosphorus, a nutrient essential for life, were released from weathering volcanic rocks into the oceans."</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/139000-year-old-stone-tools-discovered-in-andhra-pradesh-who-made-them-755396">139,000-year-old stone tools discovered in Andhra Pradesh. Who made them?</a></p>

<p>"Crucially, we found evidence of multiple pulses of chemical weathering on both the seafloor and continents, which alternately disrupted the oceans.”</p>

<p>“It’s like a geological tag team,” said Prof Gernon.</p>

<h2>What killed marine life?</h2>

<p>The study authors noticed that the timing of these pulses matched the most oceanic anoxic events in the rock record.</p>

<p>The influx of phosphorus to the ocean boosted the growth of marines but came at a major cost for marine ecosystems. Huge amounts of organic matter sank to the ocean floor and consumed large quantities of oxygen, co-author Benjamin Mills, a Professor of Earth System Evolution at the University of Leeds, said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “This process eventually caused swathes of the oceans to become anoxic, or oxygen-depleted, creating ‘dead zones’ where most marine life perished."</p>

<p>The events lasted around one to two million years and impacted marine ecosystems immensely and the effects continue to reverberate even today.</p>


Something catastrophic happened 100 million years ago that changed the way our planet evolved. Scientists say that several intense environmental events followed each other leading to the widespread extinctions of marine species.

Something catastrophic happened 100 million years ago that changed the way our planet evolved. Scientists say that several intense environmental events followed each other leading to the widespread extinctions of marine species. Between 185 and 85 million years ago, a series of severe environmental crises, called oceanic anoxic events, took place. There hasn't been a viable explanation for it, until now. A study has thrown light on what caused these crises that critically depleted dissolved oxygen in the seas. Experts from the University of Southampton said certain events triggered severe biological changes on Earth, including mass extinctions of marine species. The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Lead author Tom Gernon, a Professor of Earth Science at Southampton, said, “Oceanic anoxic events were like hitting the reset button on the planet’s ecosystems. The challenge was understanding which geological forces hit the button.” Scientists studied the impact of plate tectonic forces on ocean chemistry during the age of the dinosaurs, that is during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. These periods combined are known as the Mesozoic era. The researchers studied how the breaking up of the supercontinent Gondwana could have affected chemical cycles in the ocean. Notably, Gondwana was the great landmass which comprised around two-thirds of today's continental area. This is the land where once dinosaurs walked the Earth. Professor Gernon said, “The Mesozoic era witnessed the breakup of this landmass, in turn bringing intense volcanic activity worldwide. As tectonic plates shifted and new seafloors formed, large amounts of phosphorus, a nutrient essential for life, were released from weathering volcanic rocks into the oceans." Also Read: 139,000-year-old stone tools discovered in Andhra Pradesh. Who made them? "Crucially, we found evidence of multiple pulses of chemical weathering on both the seafloor and continents, which alternately disrupted the oceans.” “It’s like a geological tag team,” said Prof Gernon. What killed marine life? The study authors noticed that the timing of these pulses matched the most oceanic anoxic events in the rock record. The influx of phosphorus to the ocean boosted the growth of marines but came at a major cost for marine ecosystems. Huge amounts of organic matter sank to the ocean floor and consumed large quantities of oxygen, co-author Benjamin Mills, a Professor of Earth System Evolution at the University of Leeds, said. He added, “This process eventually caused swathes of the oceans to become anoxic, or oxygen-depleted, creating ‘dead zones’ where most marine life perished." The events lasted around one to two million years and impacted marine ecosystems immensely and the effects continue to reverberate even today.

Gondwana, land of dinosaurs, tore apart causing mass extinction in the seas

<p>A dwarf galaxy, which is called the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and is roughly 210,000 light-years from Earth, is present outside the Milky Way Galaxy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The galaxy, which measures nearly 18,900 light-years in diameter, is filled with around 3 billion stars, along with the SMC and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is orbiting the Milky Way as a satellite galaxy and scientists are especially interested in these satellites because they tell about star formation and the process in which the galaxies evolve through mergers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/there-is-an-electric-field-on-earth-apart-from-gravity-and-magnetic-fields-nasa-confirms-754341">There is an electric field on Earth, apart from gravity and magnetic fields, NASA confirms</a></p>

<p>The Milky Way is also expected to merge with these two galaxies someday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The SMC's other beautiful feature is the star cluster known as NGC 346 which is at the centre of the brightest star-forming region in the SMC, which is the hydrogen-rich nebula called N66.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA captures sparkling star cluster with Hubble telescope</strong></h2>

<p>NASA recently shared a breathtaking image of this star cluster which was captured by the venerable&nbsp;Hubble Space Telescope and had ultraviolet hues filled in it.</p>

<p>The images were captured because of the sharp resolution of the Hubble telescope which helped scientists capture sensitive ultraviolet observations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="image" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="85d362e8-3ef6-4905-a3ba-ea9ab036191e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ngc346-uv-flat-newv-finalok1%20%281%29.jpg" /></p>

<p>This region has one of the most intricately detailed star-forming clusters because of the interaction of the dozens of hot, young, blue stars with the dust and gas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though NGC 346 has been captured by&nbsp;the Hubble telescope in the past&nbsp;and was also captured by the&nbsp;James Webb Space Telescope the images appeared to be a combination of visible and infrared light in which the gas and dust structure around the nebula was seen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest image of the star cluster has a combination of ultraviolet and some visible light data collected from Hubble's&nbsp;Advanced Camera for Surveys&nbsp;(ACS) and&nbsp;Wide Field Camera 3&nbsp;(WFC3).</p>

<p>These observations are being made by scientists to understand more about star formation and how the interstellar medium (ISM) of low-metallicity galaxies is being shaped.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A dwarf galaxy, which is called the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and is roughly 210,000 light-years from Earth, is present outside the Milky Way Galaxy. The galaxy, which measures nearly 18,900 light-years in diameter, is filled with around 3 billion stars, along with the SMC and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).

A dwarf galaxy, which is called the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and is roughly 210,000 light-years from Earth, is present outside the Milky Way Galaxy. The galaxy, which measures nearly 18,900 light-years in diameter, is filled with around 3 billion stars, along with the SMC and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). It is orbiting the Milky Way as a satellite galaxy and scientists are especially interested in these satellites because they tell about star formation and the process in which the galaxies evolve through mergers. Also Read: There is an electric field on Earth, apart from gravity and magnetic fields, NASA confirms The Milky Way is also expected to merge with these two galaxies someday. The SMC's other beautiful feature is the star cluster known as NGC 346 which is at the centre of the brightest star-forming region in the SMC, which is the hydrogen-rich nebula called N66. NASA captures sparkling star cluster with Hubble telescope NASA recently shared a breathtaking image of this star cluster which was captured by the venerable Hubble Space Telescope and had ultraviolet hues filled in it. The images were captured because of the sharp resolution of the Hubble telescope which helped scientists capture sensitive ultraviolet observations. This region has one of the most intricately detailed star-forming clusters because of the interaction of the dozens of hot, young, blue stars with the dust and gas. Even though NGC 346 has been captured by the Hubble telescope in the past and was also captured by the James Webb Space Telescope the images appeared to be a combination of visible and infrared light in which the gas and dust structure around the nebula was seen. The latest image of the star cluster has a combination of ultraviolet and some visible light data collected from Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). These observations are being made by scientists to understand more about star formation and how the interstellar medium (ISM) of low-metallicity galaxies is being shaped. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA captures breathtaking image of shining ultraviolet star cluster. Check it out!

<p>In the Cretaceous period, the most advanced herbivorous dinosaurs, known as hadrosaurs, were known to have formidable teeth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a new study, it has been revealed that these dinosaurs had developed thousands of teeth because of their voracious appetite for plants.</p>

<p>The researchers looked into the evolutionary trajectory of the ornithopods, which was a group of dinosaurs that encompassed Iguanodon, Hypsilophodon, rare rhabdodontids and the hadrosaurs.</p>

<p>At the end of the Cretaceous period, these herbivorous dinosaurs were reigning across vast&nbsp;swathes of the planet.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dinosaurs-were-travelling-across-continents-matching-footprints-of-predators-suggest-753307">Dinosaurs were travelling across continents, matching footprints of predators suggest</a></p>

<p>In the research, headed by Dr. Attila Ősi from&nbsp;Eötvös Loránd University&nbsp;in Hungary, it was highlighted that the teeth and jaws of ornithopods went through drastic changes during their evolution.</p>

<p>The Iguanodon, which was an early member of the ornithopods, needed more than 200 days to form their teeth and it took the same amount of time for the teeth to wear out because of chewing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the later part of the Cretaceous, the hadrosaurs were seen gnawing through their teeth in just 50 days.</p>

<h2><strong>Evolution of teeth in dinosaurs</strong></h2>

<p>As per the researchers, the ornithopods indulged in binge-eating of tough plants because of which their teeth eroded rapidly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dinosaurs had to deploy reinforcements and create reserves of teeth in their skulls which prevented them from going hungry.</p>

<p>“Across a herbivore’s life, its teeth gradually wear down,” said study co-author Professor Paul Barrett.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Because of the constant wear and tear, the tooth eventually vanished in some of the dinosaurs.&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>The reptiles, however, solved this dental dilemma by producing new teeth continuously. Because of this dinosaur teeth have today become the holy grail for researchers who wish to understand early animal evolution.</p>

<p>“At the start, they had single rows of fairly simple teeth with limited wear, probably because these dinosaurs focused on fruits and softer plants,” Professor Paul said.</p>

<p>These early ornithopods turned into hadrosaurs who had numerous teeth, which had ridges on the one side and large blade-like edges on the other side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to scientists, the evolution of tough teeth occurred because of the kind of plants these dinosaurs ate.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:884,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:69,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2570}"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In the Cretaceous period, the most advanced herbivorous dinosaurs, known as hadrosaurs, were known to have formidable teeth. In a new study, it has been revealed that these dinosaurs had developed thousands of teeth because of their voracious appetite for plants.

In the Cretaceous period, the most advanced herbivorous dinosaurs, known as hadrosaurs, were known to have formidable teeth. In a new study, it has been revealed that these dinosaurs had developed thousands of teeth because of their voracious appetite for plants. The researchers looked into the evolutionary trajectory of the ornithopods, which was a group of dinosaurs that encompassed Iguanodon, Hypsilophodon, rare rhabdodontids and the hadrosaurs. At the end of the Cretaceous period, these herbivorous dinosaurs were reigning across vast swathes of the planet. Also Read: Dinosaurs were travelling across continents, matching footprints of predators suggest In the research, headed by Dr. Attila Ősi from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, it was highlighted that the teeth and jaws of ornithopods went through drastic changes during their evolution. The Iguanodon, which was an early member of the ornithopods, needed more than 200 days to form their teeth and it took the same amount of time for the teeth to wear out because of chewing. In the later part of the Cretaceous, the hadrosaurs were seen gnawing through their teeth in just 50 days. Evolution of teeth in dinosaurs As per the researchers, the ornithopods indulged in binge-eating of tough plants because of which their teeth eroded rapidly. The dinosaurs had to deploy reinforcements and create reserves of teeth in their skulls which prevented them from going hungry. “Across a herbivore’s life, its teeth gradually wear down,” said study co-author Professor Paul Barrett. Because of the constant wear and tear, the tooth eventually vanished in some of the dinosaurs. Also Read: Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how The reptiles, however, solved this dental dilemma by producing new teeth continuously. Because of this dinosaur teeth have today become the holy grail for researchers who wish to understand early animal evolution. “At the start, they had single rows of fairly simple teeth with limited wear, probably because these dinosaurs focused on fruits and softer plants,” Professor Paul said. These early ornithopods turned into hadrosaurs who had numerous teeth, which had ridges on the one side and large blade-like edges on the other side. According to scientists, the evolution of tough teeth occurred because of the kind of plants these dinosaurs ate. (With inputs from agencies)

Dinosaurs developed thousands of teeth in their mouth by chewing plants: Study

<p>People who have a good height remain at greater risk of developing&nbsp;cancer, as per a new study.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;World Cancer Research Fund&nbsp;stated that there is evidence that hints at taller people having more chance of getting cancer like the pancreas, ovary, prostate, kidney, skin (melanoma), breast (pre- and post-menopausal), large bowel and uterus (endometrium).</p>

<p>The&nbsp;UK Million Women Study has discovered that in 15 out of the 17 cancers investigated, taller people were found more likely to have them.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-blood-test-can-detect-deadly-brain-cancer-in-one-hour-heres-how-755036">THIS blood test can detect deadly brain cancer in one hour. Here's how</a></p>

<p>In the study, it was found that every ten-centimetre increase in height also increased the chances of getting cancer by around 16 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists found that the relationship between height and cancer existed across income&nbsp;levels and ethnicities.</p>

<h2><strong>How height is linked with cancer?</strong></h2>

<p>One reason why taller people are more likely to get cancer is because they have more cells.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, there is a longer large bowel in a tall person with more cells which increases his/her chances of large bowel cancer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to scientists, cancer develops because of an accumulation of damage in the genes which occurs in a cell when it gets divided and creates new cells.</p>

<p>The more a cell divides, the more it faces the risk of genetic damage which gets passed onto the new cells.</p>

<p>The higher the amount of damage accumulated, the higher the chances of developing cancer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Weight-loss drug Ozempic reveals new benefits like slowing down ageing process</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/weight-loss-drug-ozempic-reveals-new-benefits-like-slowing-down-ageing-process-754920/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>According to some research, the higher amount of cells in tall people is the reason why they develop cancer, a theory which also explains why men have more chances of getting cancer than women.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another reason can be a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which may be leading to cancer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This hormone helps in the growth of children and plays an important role in pushing cell growth and cell division in adults.</p>

<p>The bodies need to produce new cells when old ones get old or are damaged. However, when IGF-1 levels turn higher than average, they suffer a higher risk of developing prostate or breast cancer.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:538,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2228}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:538,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2228}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


People who have a good height remain at greater risk of developing cancer, as per a new study. The World Cancer Research Fund stated that there is evidence that hints at taller people having more chance of getting cancer like the pancreas, ovary, prostate, kidney, skin (melanoma), breast (pre- and post-menopausal), large bowel and uterus (endometrium).

People who have a good height remain at greater risk of developing cancer, as per a new study. The World Cancer Research Fund stated that there is evidence that hints at taller people having more chance of getting cancer like the pancreas, ovary, prostate, kidney, skin (melanoma), breast (pre- and post-menopausal), large bowel and uterus (endometrium). The UK Million Women Study has discovered that in 15 out of the 17 cancers investigated, taller people were found more likely to have them. Also Read: THIS blood test can detect deadly brain cancer in one hour. Here's how In the study, it was found that every ten-centimetre increase in height also increased the chances of getting cancer by around 16 per cent. The scientists found that the relationship between height and cancer existed across income levels and ethnicities. How height is linked with cancer? One reason why taller people are more likely to get cancer is because they have more cells. For example, there is a longer large bowel in a tall person with more cells which increases his/her chances of large bowel cancer. According to scientists, cancer develops because of an accumulation of damage in the genes which occurs in a cell when it gets divided and creates new cells. The more a cell divides, the more it faces the risk of genetic damage which gets passed onto the new cells. The higher the amount of damage accumulated, the higher the chances of developing cancer. Watch: Weight-loss drug Ozempic reveals new benefits like slowing down ageing process According to some research, the higher amount of cells in tall people is the reason why they develop cancer, a theory which also explains why men have more chances of getting cancer than women. Another reason can be a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which may be leading to cancer. This hormone helps in the growth of children and plays an important role in pushing cell growth and cell division in adults. The bodies need to produce new cells when old ones get old or are damaged. However, when IGF-1 levels turn higher than average, they suffer a higher risk of developing prostate or breast cancer. (With inputs from agencies)

Tall people have a higher chance of getting cancer. Study explains why

<p>Kurdish astrophotographer Darya Kawa Mirza claimed to have clicked the clearest photo of the moon which revealed some unprecedented surface details of the natural satellite.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The image, which was captured after four days of continuous observation, showed the topography of the moon in stunning clarity and revealed never-ever-seen features.</p>

<p>The photograph was described by Mirza as the "clearest and sharpest Moon image" ever captured by him after four days of continuous observation and shooting.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/time-on-the-moon-moves-faster-than-on-earth-739482">Time on the Moon moves faster than on Earth. This is by how much</a></p>

<p>The final image which emerged was a stunning 159.7 megapixels and the size of the file was 708 gigabytes which stacked more than 81,000 individual images.</p>

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<p>"By merging 4 different moon phases and merging the shadow area, it reveals an interesting topography of the Lunar surface," said Mirza in his post.</p>

<h2><strong>'Clearest' moon picture garners multiple reactions on Reddit&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>After the image of the Moon was shared on social media, the users questioned if the colours in the image were representative of actual metals and minerals on the lunar surface.</p>

<p>"The saturation has been increased to highlight geological differences on the lunar surface. The reddish areas indicate high iron and feldspar content, while the blue-tinted zones have higher titanium content. Instead of viewing the colours as 'real' or 'fake,' it's more accurate to consider them as a tool that simulates what one might see with enhanced detection capabilities," wrote a user.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Scientists find underground caves on moon</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-find-underground-caves-on-moon-741666/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Another user said that people should think like "someone who is colour-blind". Certain colours, like red and green, are not visible to the colour-blind people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the same way, the colours in the Moon's photograph are real but the eyes are not sensitive enough to see them in their natural state.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:538,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2228}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:538,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2228}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Kurdish astrophotographer Darya Kawa Mirza claimed to have clicked the clearest photo of the moon which revealed some unprecedented surface details of the natural satellite.

Kurdish astrophotographer Darya Kawa Mirza claimed to have clicked the clearest photo of the moon which revealed some unprecedented surface details of the natural satellite. The image, which was captured after four days of continuous observation, showed the topography of the moon in stunning clarity and revealed never-ever-seen features. The photograph was described by Mirza as the "clearest and sharpest Moon image" ever captured by him after four days of continuous observation and shooting. Also Read: Time on the Moon moves faster than on Earth. This is by how much The final image which emerged was a stunning 159.7 megapixels and the size of the file was 708 gigabytes which stacked more than 81,000 individual images. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Darya Kawa Mirza (@daryavaseum) × "By merging 4 different moon phases and merging the shadow area, it reveals an interesting topography of the Lunar surface," said Mirza in his post. 'Clearest' moon picture garners multiple reactions on Reddit After the image of the Moon was shared on social media, the users questioned if the colours in the image were representative of actual metals and minerals on the lunar surface. "The saturation has been increased to highlight geological differences on the lunar surface. The reddish areas indicate high iron and feldspar content, while the blue-tinted zones have higher titanium content. Instead of viewing the colours as 'real' or 'fake,' it's more accurate to consider them as a tool that simulates what one might see with enhanced detection capabilities," wrote a user. Watch: Scientists find underground caves on moon Another user said that people should think like "someone who is colour-blind". Certain colours, like red and green, are not visible to the colour-blind people. In the same way, the colours in the Moon's photograph are real but the eyes are not sensitive enough to see them in their natural state. (With inputs from agencies)

THIS 'clearest' picture of Moon was captured by astrophotographer after four days of observation

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<p>Scientists have warned that the Red Sea's darkest depths may be hiding the mystery of the origins of life after making a stunning discovery of&nbsp;'death&nbsp;pools' at its bottom.</p>

<p>A team of researchers from the University of Miami reached the bottom of the Red Sea, which lies between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, and found dense, salty lakes called “death pools”.</p>

<p>As alarming as the name sounds, so is the nature of “death pools,” which are the most extreme environments on&nbsp;Earth.</p>

<p>The rare pools, which get formed on the seafloor, are hypersaline (which means unimaginably salty) in nature and with zero oxygen.</p>

<p>These pools are inhospitable and can instantly kill any animal that reaches their waters.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/are-deep-seas-on-earth-hiding-alien-life-amid-dark-oxygen-study-hints-so-753986">Are deep seas on Earth hiding alien life amid 'dark oxygen'? Study hints so</a></p>

<p>However, these pools have living microbes, which gives insights into how life started on our planet and how living beings can evolve on water-rich worlds.</p>

<p>"Our current understanding is that life originated on Earth in the deep sea, almost certainly in anoxic — without oxygen — conditions," said Sam Purkis, who is a professor of marine geosciences at the University of Miami and led the study, while speaking to Live Science<em>.</em></p>

<p>"Deep-sea brine pools are a great analogue for the early Earth and, despite being devoid of oxygen and hypersaline, are teeming with a rich community of so-called 'extremophile' microbes," Purkis said.</p>

<p>“Studying this community hence allows a glimpse into the sort of conditions where life first appeared on our planet, and might guide the search for life on other 'water worlds' in our solar system and beyond," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>'Death&nbsp;pools' can lead to creation of novel medicines: Study</strong></h2>

<p>"If that weren’t enough, the pools could also yield microbial discoveries that could lead to the development of novel medicines," Purkis further said.</p>

<p>"Molecules with antibacterial and anticancer properties have previously been isolated from deep-sea microbes living in brine pools," he added.</p>

<p>In the entire world, scientists have found only a few dozen deep-sea brine pools, which range in size from a few thousand square feet to around a square mile (2.6 square kilometres), as per Live Science.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;How Earth's spin may have killed 90% of life</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-earths-spin-may-have-killed-90-of-life-754747/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>These rare pools have so far been found in only three bodies of water - the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.</p>

<p>The highest number of such lakes are in the Red Sea, which are believed to originate from dissolving pockets of minerals that were deposited in the Miocene epoch.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Scientists have warned that the Red Sea's darkest depths may be hiding the mystery of the origins of life after making a stunning discovery of 'death pools' at its bottom.

Scientists have warned that the Red Sea's darkest depths may be hiding the mystery of the origins of life after making a stunning discovery of 'death pools' at its bottom. A team of researchers from the University of Miami reached the bottom of the Red Sea, which lies between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, and found dense, salty lakes called “death pools”. As alarming as the name sounds, so is the nature of “death pools,” which are the most extreme environments on Earth. The rare pools, which get formed on the seafloor, are hypersaline (which means unimaginably salty) in nature and with zero oxygen. These pools are inhospitable and can instantly kill any animal that reaches their waters. Also Read: Are deep seas on Earth hiding alien life amid 'dark oxygen'? Study hints so However, these pools have living microbes, which gives insights into how life started on our planet and how living beings can evolve on water-rich worlds. "Our current understanding is that life originated on Earth in the deep sea, almost certainly in anoxic — without oxygen — conditions," said Sam Purkis, who is a professor of marine geosciences at the University of Miami and led the study, while speaking to Live Science. "Deep-sea brine pools are a great analogue for the early Earth and, despite being devoid of oxygen and hypersaline, are teeming with a rich community of so-called 'extremophile' microbes," Purkis said. “Studying this community hence allows a glimpse into the sort of conditions where life first appeared on our planet, and might guide the search for life on other 'water worlds' in our solar system and beyond," he added. 'Death pools' can lead to creation of novel medicines: Study "If that weren’t enough, the pools could also yield microbial discoveries that could lead to the development of novel medicines," Purkis further said. "Molecules with antibacterial and anticancer properties have previously been isolated from deep-sea microbes living in brine pools," he added. In the entire world, scientists have found only a few dozen deep-sea brine pools, which range in size from a few thousand square feet to around a square mile (2.6 square kilometres), as per Live Science. Watch: How Earth's spin may have killed 90% of life These rare pools have so far been found in only three bodies of water - the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The highest number of such lakes are in the Red Sea, which are believed to originate from dissolving pockets of minerals that were deposited in the Miocene epoch. (With inputs from agencies)

There are 'death pools' at bottom of Red Sea which can kill anything 'immediately'. Scientists warn...

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