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One of the world’s rarest tree species may have been given a second chance at survival. Scientists have managed to successfully collect and preserve seeds from the last known wild specimen growing on a remote Chilean island. The critically endangered tree, Dendroseris neriifolia, is native to the Juan Fernández Islands, a volcanic archipelago located about 673 kilometres (420 miles) off the coast of Chile. Once found widespread across Robinson Crusoe Island, the species has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, invasive species, erosion, grazing animals, fires and historical deforestation. Today, only a single known wild tree remains.In a major breakthrough for conservation efforts, seeds from the lone survivor have been transferred to the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Wakehurst in England. Scientists at the facility are conducting germination trials while preserving the seeds for long-term storage.X-ray examinations showed that 25 of the 29 seeds sent to the seed bank were potentially viable. In promising results, seven seedlings have already begun growing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, offering hope that the species can be propagated and safeguarded for the future.“Through this project, we hope to be able to produce more seed from the plants which we have growing now once they reach flowering age,” Alice Hudson, the Millennium Seed Bank partnerships officer at Kew Wakehurst, told Live Science.Collecting the seeds was no easy task. The last remaining tree clings to a steep cliff on Robinson Crusoe Island, accessible only after a four-hour journey followed by a challenging two-hour climb. Chilean park rangers must carefully navigate the rugged terrain and use ropes to reach the tree’s branches during the annual seed-collection season.Conservationists remain concerned about the species’ long-term prospects. With only one surviving wild individual, genetic diversity is extremely limited, raising the risks of inbreeding and low fertility. However, seed banking provides a crucial safety net. Even if the remaining wild tree is lost, scientists now possess viable seeds and young plants that could help revive the species.Researchers hope the seedlings growing in England will eventually flower and produce more seeds, paving the way for future restoration efforts and helping ensure that one of the world’s rarest trees does not disappear forever.

Scientists collected and preserved seeds from the last known wild Dendroseris neriifolia tree in Chile. Seven seedlings have already sprouted, offering hope for saving the species from extinction.

One of the world’s rarest tree species may have been given a second chance at survival. Scientists have managed to successfully collect and preserve seeds from the last known wild specimen growing on a remote Chilean island. The critically endangered tree, Dendroseris neriifolia, is native to the Juan Fernández Islands, a volcanic archipelago located about 673 kilometres (420 miles) off the coast of Chile. Once found widespread across Robinson Crusoe Island, the species has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, invasive species, erosion, grazing animals, fires and historical deforestation. Today, only a single known wild tree remains. In a major breakthrough for conservation efforts, seeds from the lone survivor have been transferred to the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Wakehurst in England. Scientists at the facility are conducting germination trials while preserving the seeds for long-term storage. X-ray examinations showed that 25 of the 29 seeds sent to the seed bank were potentially viable. In promising results, seven seedlings have already begun growing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, offering hope that the species can be propagated and safeguarded for the future. “Through this project, we hope to be able to produce more seed from the plants which we have growing now once they reach flowering age,” Alice Hudson, the Millennium Seed Bank partnerships officer at Kew Wakehurst, told Live Science. Collecting the seeds was no easy task. The last remaining tree clings to a steep cliff on Robinson Crusoe Island, accessible only after a four-hour journey followed by a challenging two-hour climb. Chilean park rangers must carefully navigate the rugged terrain and use ropes to reach the tree’s branches during the annual seed-collection season. Conservationists remain concerned about the species’ long-term prospects. With only one surviving wild individual, genetic diversity is extremely limited, raising the risks of inbreeding and low fertility. However, seed banking provides a crucial safety net. Even if the remaining wild tree is lost, scientists now possess viable seeds and young plants that could help revive the species. Researchers hope the seedlings growing in England will eventually flower and produce more seeds, paving the way for future restoration efforts and helping ensure that one of the world’s rarest trees does not disappear forever.

Scientists collected and preserved seeds from the last known wild Dendroseris neriifolia tree in Chile. Seven seedlings have already sprouted, offering hope for saving the species from extinction.

Scientists rescue seeds from THIS last remaining tree in wild before it goes extinct

As meteorological agencies sound the alarm over a looming El Niño during the 2026 monsoon, experts are increasingly advocating for massive tree-planting initiatives to safeguard India’s vulnerable agricultural sector. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) recently issued an El Niño Watch, projecting an 80% probability of development between June and August, which surges to nearly 90% by year-end. This warming of the Pacific Ocean historically disrupts the Indian monsoon, threatening a country where nearly half of all cultivable land relies entirely on rain. Regions already plagued by acute water scarcity and recurring droughts—such as Rajasthan, Bundelkhand, and Marathwada face the highest risk. To mitigate this, agricultural experts are championing trees as vital ecological infrastructure. Beyond providing shade, trees restore the hydrological cycle; their deep roots facilitate groundwater recharge, while their dense canopies reduce soil temperature and drastically slow down evaporation during extreme heat spells.&nbsp;Moreover, scientists have found that some trees use a trick called hydraulic lift, pulling up water from deep underground and releasing some of it closer to the surface. That moisture gives nearby crops and soil organisms a real boost during dry times.&nbsp;“But the benefits don’t stop there. Tree plantations turn into havens for birds, insects, and pollinators. That means more bees and other species helping with pollination, which keeps fields productive; birds help by spreading seeds and keeping ecosystems healthy,” said Dr. Aneesha Dalmia, member of Partners for Water Access and Better Harvests in India.&nbsp;“For farmers facing a future with uncertain weather, fruit trees can make all the difference. Unlike annual crops that might fail if the rains don’t come, fruit trees are often sturdier. Even during the bad year, the farmers offer some harvest, which helps in giving families food and another source of income to fall back on when traditional crops let them down. Moreover, experts believe that tree plantations need to be part of a bigger plan—mixed with agroforestry, soil conservation, rainwater harvesting and drought-resistant crops. This way, whole communities become more resilient, not just individual farms,” she added.&nbsp;India’s approach to climate resilience is evolving from short-term crisis management to long-term strategic planning. Central to this shift is a growing realisation that trees are far more than mere tools for carbon capture or land restoration; they are vital green infrastructure. By recharging groundwater, supporting biodiversity, boosting local economies, and buffering communities against extreme weather, trees are foundational to ecological survival. With another El Niño looming in 2026, investing heavily in agroforestry and tree cover stands out as one of the most effective strategies to safeguard Indian agriculture for the future.

With the WMO projecting up to a 90% chance of El Niño disrupting the 2026 monsoon, experts urge massive tree-planting to safeguard India's rain-dependent farms.

As meteorological agencies sound the alarm over a looming El Niño during the 2026 monsoon, experts are increasingly advocating for massive tree-planting initiatives to safeguard India’s vulnerable agricultural sector. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) recently issued an El Niño Watch, projecting an 80% probability of development between June and August, which surges to nearly 90% by year-end. This warming of the Pacific Ocean historically disrupts the Indian monsoon, threatening a country where nearly half of all cultivable land relies entirely on rain. Regions already plagued by acute water scarcity and recurring droughts—such as Rajasthan, Bundelkhand, and Marathwada face the highest risk. To mitigate this, agricultural experts are championing trees as vital ecological infrastructure. Beyond providing shade, trees restore the hydrological cycle; their deep roots facilitate groundwater recharge, while their dense canopies reduce soil temperature and drastically slow down evaporation during extreme heat spells. Moreover, scientists have found that some trees use a trick called hydraulic lift, pulling up water from deep underground and releasing some of it closer to the surface. That moisture gives nearby crops and soil organisms a real boost during dry times. “But the benefits don’t stop there. Tree plantations turn into havens for birds, insects, and pollinators. That means more bees and other species helping with pollination, which keeps fields productive; birds help by spreading seeds and keeping ecosystems healthy,” said Dr. Aneesha Dalmia, member of Partners for Water Access and Better Harvests in India. “For farmers facing a future with uncertain weather, fruit trees can make all the difference. Unlike annual crops that might fail if the rains don’t come, fruit trees are often sturdier. Even during the bad year, the farmers offer some harvest, which helps in giving families food and another source of income to fall back on when traditional crops let them down. Moreover, experts believe that tree plantations need to be part of a bigger plan—mixed with agroforestry, soil conservation, rainwater harvesting and drought-resistant crops. This way, whole communities become more resilient, not just individual farms,” she added. India’s approach to climate resilience is evolving from short-term crisis management to long-term strategic planning. Central to this shift is a growing realisation that trees are far more than mere tools for carbon capture or land restoration; they are vital green infrastructure. By recharging groundwater, supporting biodiversity, boosting local economies, and buffering communities against extreme weather, trees are foundational to ecological survival. With another El Niño looming in 2026, investing heavily in agroforestry and tree cover stands out as one of the most effective strategies to safeguard Indian agriculture for the future.

With the WMO projecting up to a 90% chance of El Niño disrupting the 2026 monsoon, experts urge massive tree-planting to safeguard India's rain-dependent farms.

90% El Niño certainty: Why trees are India’s best defence against agrarian crisis

NASA has said that repair efforts aboard the ISS have been paused. Bethany Stevens added that the astronauts who were sheltering wearing space suits had been told to come out.&nbsp;Update: Roscosmos has said that the first leak spot has been sealed. Interfax reported that they have now moved onto the second leak spot.&nbsp;NASA has asked astronauts on the International Space Station to take shelter as a leak worsens and prepare for potential evacuation. There has been an ongoing, persistent air leak, which has turned more serious now. NASA said the leak was taking place on the Russian segment of the station, and a cosmonaut is working to fix it. The leak is located in the PrK module, a small Russian transfer tunnel connected to the Zvezda service module. It connects the main part of the station to a docking port used by Russian Progress cargo spacecraft. This leak has reportedly persisted for over five years, and the apparent source is a series of microscopic structural cracks in the hull and welded joints.&nbsp;NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said in an X post, "The Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, has suffered from cracks and leaks for some time, and has been mitigated by Roscosmos as much as possible to date." She added, "The cracks have always been a concern that NASA watches very closely. NASA and Roscosmos have been working to determine the root cause of the cracks, and Roscosmos manages the issue through operational mitigation measures and periodic partial-repair efforts."&nbsp;Bethany further said that the new leaks have led to Russian cosmonauts carrying out "a more extensive repair operation on Friday, June 5." She added, "Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has directed all four of the agency's SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams to assume an elevated safety posture in the Dragon spacecraft while the repair is underway." &nbsp;If the astronauts are evacuated, it will be the second one this year. In January, veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke fell sick, leading to first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS.<h2>What is the leak on International Space Station?</h2>&nbsp;NASA and Roscosmos have always had a disagreement over the root cause of the leak on the ISS. The Russian space agency believes the cracks are caused by structural fatigue from high micro-vibrations, probably from cargo ships docking or thruster burns. Meanwhile, NASA suspects a mix of environmental exposure, mechanical stress, and original material properties. &nbsp;

Astronauts on the International Space Station have been asked to prepare for potential evacuation because of a leak that has been a cause for concern for over five years. 

NASA has said that repair efforts aboard the ISS have been paused. Bethany Stevens added that the astronauts who were sheltering wearing space suits had been told to come out. Update: Roscosmos has said that the first leak spot has been sealed. Interfax reported that they have now moved onto the second leak spot. NASA has asked astronauts on the International Space Station to take shelter as a leak worsens and prepare for potential evacuation. There has been an ongoing, persistent air leak, which has turned more serious now. NASA said the leak was taking place on the Russian segment of the station, and a cosmonaut is working to fix it. The leak is located in the PrK module, a small Russian transfer tunnel connected to the Zvezda service module. It connects the main part of the station to a docking port used by Russian Progress cargo spacecraft. This leak has reportedly persisted for over five years, and the apparent source is a series of microscopic structural cracks in the hull and welded joints. NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said in an X post, "The Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, has suffered from cracks and leaks for some time, and has been mitigated by Roscosmos as much as possible to date." She added, "The cracks have always been a concern that NASA watches very closely. NASA and Roscosmos have been working to determine the root cause of the cracks, and Roscosmos manages the issue through operational mitigation measures and periodic partial-repair efforts." Bethany further said that the new leaks have led to Russian cosmonauts carrying out "a more extensive repair operation on Friday, June 5." She added, "Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has directed all four of the agency's SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams to assume an elevated safety posture in the Dragon spacecraft while the repair is underway." If the astronauts are evacuated, it will be the second one this year. In January, veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke fell sick, leading to first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. What is the leak on International Space Station? NASA and Roscosmos have always had a disagreement over the root cause of the leak on the ISS. The Russian space agency believes the cracks are caused by structural fatigue from high micro-vibrations, probably from cargo ships docking or thruster burns. Meanwhile, NASA suspects a mix of environmental exposure, mechanical stress, and original material properties.

Astronauts on the International Space Station have been asked to prepare for potential evacuation because of a leak that has been a cause for concern for over five years.&nbsp;

ISS leak updates: Roscosmos says first leak has been fixed, NASA says repair efforts have been paused

Super El Niño is certain to happen now, NASA has confirmed. The American space agency said that a swell of warm water hundreds of kilometres wide was spotted in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of South America, via satellite images. Experts say this is a sure-shot sign that Super El Niño will arrive later this year. Previously, climatologists had flagged the possibility of a monster El Niño arriving this year, which will be nothing like ever seen in the past decades. It is predicted to be on the same scale as the one seen in 1877, the worst one ever recorded since data keeping started. Scientists say the upcoming Super El Niño will be like looking into the future 10 years later. NASA said in a statement, "Waves of higher, warmer water move eastward across the Pacific Ocean a few months before an El Niño emerges. Several have shown up in 2026 satellite data." The data was captured by the Sentinel–6 Michael Freilich satellite launched in 2020.&nbsp;El Niño cycle is a common weather system where strong trade winds, instead of moving east to west, start flowing in the opposite direction. Instead of pushing warm surface water away from South America toward Asia and Australia, it causes it to slosh and pool back eastward towards South America. This temporary disruption to Earth's normal ocean and atmospheric systems occurs every two to seven years.&nbsp;<h2>What NASA satellite saw about El Niño</h2>&nbsp;NASA and other agencies have started noticing signs of one of the strongest El Niño patterns ever recorded. The phenomenon will affect every part of the world, with global average temperatures expected to rise by 3°C this summer. Besides the extreme heat, Super El Niño will also bring extreme rain and flooding to some parts. The NASA satellite tracks warm Kelvin waves to finds signs of an impending El Niño. Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, lead program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said, "Sentinel–6 Michael Freilich can track massive Kelvin waves as they cross the Pacific, capture changes in Earth's ocean thermodynamics, improve forecasts of weather extremes, and help communities prepare for potential coastal hazards."&nbsp;<h2>World Meteorological Organization issues warning about El Niño - "World needs to prepare"</h2>A new WMO El Niño/La Niña Update this week stated that there is an 80 per cent likelihood of an El Niño event during June–August 2026. "“The science is clear: El Niño is arriving on our doorstep in the coming months with 90% certainty. &nbsp;The world must treat it as the urgent climate warning it is. El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world. &nbsp;Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed," it said in a statement. Talking about what to expect, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said, “We need to prepare for a potentially strong El Niño event, which will exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean."<h2>What NASA said about Kelvin Waves</h2>&nbsp;NASA explains that El Niño develops when multiple Kelvin waves appear over several months, and the warm water accumulates off the shores of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The first Kelvin wave this year was seen in January around Micronesia and lasted a few weeks. Then a new wave formed in March. "While this year's event started a bit later than the big El Niños of 2015 and 1997, it's beginning to catch up," Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said.&nbsp;Western North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, North Africa, and most parts of Asia will see extreme temperatures. Warmer–than–normal conditions can be expected in the Southern Hemisphere also.&nbsp; &nbsp;

NASA has confirmed that Super El Niño is coming for the world this year. Its Sentinel–6 Michael Freilich satellite has spotted a large pool of warm water in the Pacific Ocean near South America, confirming that the worst is coming.

Super El Niño is certain to happen now, NASA has confirmed. The American space agency said that a swell of warm water hundreds of kilometres wide was spotted in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of South America, via satellite images. Experts say this is a sure-shot sign that Super El Niño will arrive later this year. Previously, climatologists had flagged the possibility of a monster El Niño arriving this year, which will be nothing like ever seen in the past decades. It is predicted to be on the same scale as the one seen in 1877, the worst one ever recorded since data keeping started. Scientists say the upcoming Super El Niño will be like looking into the future 10 years later. NASA said in a statement, "Waves of higher, warmer water move eastward across the Pacific Ocean a few months before an El Niño emerges. Several have shown up in 2026 satellite data." The data was captured by the Sentinel–6 Michael Freilich satellite launched in 2020. El Niño cycle is a common weather system where strong trade winds, instead of moving east to west, start flowing in the opposite direction. Instead of pushing warm surface water away from South America toward Asia and Australia, it causes it to slosh and pool back eastward towards South America. This temporary disruption to Earth's normal ocean and atmospheric systems occurs every two to seven years. What NASA satellite saw about El Niño NASA and other agencies have started noticing signs of one of the strongest El Niño patterns ever recorded. The phenomenon will affect every part of the world, with global average temperatures expected to rise by 3°C this summer. Besides the extreme heat, Super El Niño will also bring extreme rain and flooding to some parts. The NASA satellite tracks warm Kelvin waves to finds signs of an impending El Niño. Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, lead program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said, "Sentinel–6 Michael Freilich can track massive Kelvin waves as they cross the Pacific, capture changes in Earth's ocean thermodynamics, improve forecasts of weather extremes, and help communities prepare for potential coastal hazards." World Meteorological Organization issues warning about El Niño - "World needs to prepare" A new WMO El Niño/La Niña Update this week stated that there is an 80 per cent likelihood of an El Niño event during June–August 2026. "“The science is clear: El Niño is arriving on our doorstep in the coming months with 90% certainty. The world must treat it as the urgent climate warning it is. El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world. Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed," it said in a statement. Talking about what to expect, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said, “We need to prepare for a potentially strong El Niño event, which will exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean." What NASA said about Kelvin Waves NASA explains that El Niño develops when multiple Kelvin waves appear over several months, and the warm water accumulates off the shores of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The first Kelvin wave this year was seen in January around Micronesia and lasted a few weeks. Then a new wave formed in March. "While this year's event started a bit later than the big El Niños of 2015 and 1997, it's beginning to catch up," Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said. Western North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, North Africa, and most parts of Asia will see extreme temperatures. Warmer–than–normal conditions can be expected in the Southern Hemisphere also.

NASA has confirmed that Super El Niño is coming for the world this year. Its Sentinel–6 Michael Freilich satellite has spotted a large pool of warm water in the Pacific Ocean near South America, confirming that the worst is coming.

NASA satellite spots strongest sign of Super El Nino, confirming all predictions - What to expect?

Geomagnetic storms are a hidden risk Earth faces during solar maximum. Experts say that while scientists are aware that the Sun can unleash plasma and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on a large scale, what we don't know is how to prepare for them. David Wallace, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Electrical Engineering, warns in an article for ZME Science that the power grid and the internet infrastructure have not been tested against a major solar event, similar to the Carrington Event that slammed Earth in 1859. In May 2024, a G5 geomagnetic storm occurred. It was reported between May 10 and May 13, and is the most powerful geomagnetic storm to affect our planet since the 2003 Halloween storms. But this was nothing compared to the Carrington Event. Wallace examined how Earth will be affected if one day a similar solar storm occurs in the future.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-unleashes-m-class-solar-flare-auroras-could-light-up-earth-this-week-details-1778572341489">Sun unleashes M-class solar flare, auroras could light up Earth this week. Details</a><h2>Can a Carrington-scale event happen in the future?</h2> Scientists are sure that something like this can happen again, as CMEs are never going to stop during the lifetime of the Sun. Statistical modelling in a 2012 study shows that the probability of a same-scale storm hitting Earth is roughly 12 per cent per decade. Then, a study published in 2019 in Scientific Reports re-analysed historical geomagnetic data and lowered that risk, placing the odds at somewhere between 0.46% and 1.88% per decade. But NOAA and NASA scientists say that during the solar maximum, the short-term probability spikes to 2 to 12 per cent.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-has-been-hit-by-cannibal-cmes-as-sun-reaches-its-maximum-heres-what-will-happen-to-our-planet-745902">Earth has been hit by cannibal CMEs as Sun reaches its maximum. Here's what will happen to our planet</a>&nbsp;In 2012, the Sun unleashed a massive CME that was physically similar to the 1859 Carrington Event. Earth was just lucky since it had moved out of its way, and the storm reached near our orbit nine days late. It slammed NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft, which recorded the event.If a Carrington-level event was to happen today and Earth took the direct hit, it would lead to a major upheaval and damage. Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) will move through submarine and terrestrial cables, knocking out data centres. Satellites will be dragged as the Earth's atmosphere expands, causing them to slow down, and some could even fall out of orbit. Navigation systems will be hit, as disrupted GPS signals will affect commercial flights, national defence detection systems and even your smartwatch.&nbsp;Currents exceeding 100 amperes can enter electricity grids, damaging high-voltage transformers internally. This has happened in the past with smaller-level solar storms, when the Hydro-Quebec grid collapsed, leaving 5 million people without power for nine hours. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/strongest-solar-storm-radiation-in-over-20-years-slams-earth-where-to-see-auroras-1768879918682">Strongest solar storm radiation in over 20 years slams Earth: Where to see auroras?</a><h2>How can damage from massive solar storm be prevented?</h2> NOAA Space Weather Prediction Centre monitors solar activity. Even if it spots a major eruption from the Sun early, scientists would only have a few minutes to a few hours to take action. Wallace says we need to shield equipment like transformers with hardware. A total collapse can be avoided by developing "grid-load shedding" strategies.

Earth is highly vulnerable to a major solar storm similar to the Carrington event that occurred in 1859. At that time, there were no power grids or internet cables. So if today the same scale storm slams us, extensive damage will happen across the world.

Geomagnetic storms are a hidden risk Earth faces during solar maximum. Experts say that while scientists are aware that the Sun can unleash plasma and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on a large scale, what we don't know is how to prepare for them. David Wallace, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Electrical Engineering, warns in an article for ZME Science that the power grid and the internet infrastructure have not been tested against a major solar event, similar to the Carrington Event that slammed Earth in 1859. In May 2024, a G5 geomagnetic storm occurred. It was reported between May 10 and May 13, and is the most powerful geomagnetic storm to affect our planet since the 2003 Halloween storms. But this was nothing compared to the Carrington Event. Wallace examined how Earth will be affected if one day a similar solar storm occurs in the future. Also Read: Sun unleashes M-class solar flare, auroras could light up Earth this week. Details Can a Carrington-scale event happen in the future? Scientists are sure that something like this can happen again, as CMEs are never going to stop during the lifetime of the Sun. Statistical modelling in a 2012 study shows that the probability of a same-scale storm hitting Earth is roughly 12 per cent per decade. Then, a study published in 2019 in Scientific Reports re-analysed historical geomagnetic data and lowered that risk, placing the odds at somewhere between 0.46% and 1.88% per decade. But NOAA and NASA scientists say that during the solar maximum, the short-term probability spikes to 2 to 12 per cent. Also Read: Earth has been hit by cannibal CMEs as Sun reaches its maximum. Here's what will happen to our planet In 2012, the Sun unleashed a massive CME that was physically similar to the 1859 Carrington Event. Earth was just lucky since it had moved out of its way, and the storm reached near our orbit nine days late. It slammed NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft, which recorded the event. If a Carrington-level event was to happen today and Earth took the direct hit, it would lead to a major upheaval and damage. Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) will move through submarine and terrestrial cables, knocking out data centres. Satellites will be dragged as the Earth's atmosphere expands, causing them to slow down, and some could even fall out of orbit. Navigation systems will be hit, as disrupted GPS signals will affect commercial flights, national defence detection systems and even your smartwatch. Currents exceeding 100 amperes can enter electricity grids, damaging high-voltage transformers internally. This has happened in the past with smaller-level solar storms, when the Hydro-Quebec grid collapsed, leaving 5 million people without power for nine hours. Also Read: Strongest solar storm radiation in over 20 years slams Earth: Where to see auroras? How can damage from massive solar storm be prevented? NOAA Space Weather Prediction Centre monitors solar activity. Even if it spots a major eruption from the Sun early, scientists would only have a few minutes to a few hours to take action. Wallace says we need to shield equipment like transformers with hardware. A total collapse can be avoided by developing "grid-load shedding" strategies.

Earth is highly vulnerable to a major solar storm similar to the Carrington event that occurred in 1859. At that time, there were no power grids or internet cables. So if today the same scale storm slams us, extensive damage will happen across the world.

What would happen if Carrington-scale solar storm slams Earth? Transformers will melt and satellites will fall

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally rewriting the timeline of immunology, moving vaccine development away from traditional, slow-paced lab trials and toward predictive computational modeling. What once took a decade of trial-and-error can now be simulated in a matter of days, promising to shift global healthcare into a proactive stance against both infectious diseases and chronic illnesses like cancer.&nbsp;Historically, the journey from identifying a viral target to manufacturing a viable vaccine has been an arduous, years-long endeavour. However, the integration of advanced deep learning algorithms such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformer models has allowed researchers to bypass traditional batch screening. By analysing massive multi-omics data sets, researchers in Cambridge have found thta AI can now predict exactly how human immune cells will interact with specific pathogen fragments, optimising vaccine formulations before they are ever synthesised in a physical laboratory.Redesigning the Platforms of Immunity The impact of this technological leap is most visible across next-generation vaccine platforms. In nucleic acid technology, AI is being leveraged to refine the structural stability of messenger RNA (mRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) vaccines. While early linear mRNA vaccines revolutionised medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, they remained prone to rapid degradation and required extreme ultra-cold storage networks.&nbsp;By utilising machine learning to design covalently closed circular RNA structures, AI helps maximise molecular stability while minimising adverse, hyper-inflammatory innate immune reactions. Simultaneously, deep learning models are transforming protein subunit vaccine designs by pinpointing the precise, highly immunogenic fragments of an antigen needed to trigger a robust immune response. The role of artificial intelligence extends far beyond molecular structures. Pharmaceutical giants are actively deploying AI-driven process optimisation to streamline manufacturing and safeguard cold-chain distribution networks. Algorithms are now used to track real-time internal temperatures and handle preventative maintenance for thousands of ultra-low temperature freezers globally, ensuring that fragile vaccine yields are not compromised during transit.&nbsp;Concurrently, public health organisations are deploying Large Language Models (LLMs) to combat the digital epidemic of vaccine hesitancy. By using natural language processing to monitor sentiment and identify emotionally charged misinformation on digital networks, public health agencies can construct highly empathetic, targeted communication strategies to rebuild institutional trust.&nbsp;Moving forward, the scientific community is pushing for a hybrid "AI-traditional-experimental" paradigm. This approach ensures that while AI supercharges the initial architecture and speeds up predictive mapping, rigorous human oversight and real-world clinical trials remain the final arbiter of safety, solidifying global preparedness against emerging biosecurity threats.

A world-first human trial by Cambridge researchers proves an AI-designed universal vaccine can target entire virus families and stop mutations before they start.

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally rewriting the timeline of immunology, moving vaccine development away from traditional, slow-paced lab trials and toward predictive computational modeling. What once took a decade of trial-and-error can now be simulated in a matter of days, promising to shift global healthcare into a proactive stance against both infectious diseases and chronic illnesses like cancer. Historically, the journey from identifying a viral target to manufacturing a viable vaccine has been an arduous, years-long endeavour. However, the integration of advanced deep learning algorithms such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformer models has allowed researchers to bypass traditional batch screening. By analysing massive multi-omics data sets, researchers in Cambridge have found thta AI can now predict exactly how human immune cells will interact with specific pathogen fragments, optimising vaccine formulations before they are ever synthesised in a physical laboratory. Redesigning the Platforms of Immunity The impact of this technological leap is most visible across next-generation vaccine platforms. In nucleic acid technology, AI is being leveraged to refine the structural stability of messenger RNA (mRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) vaccines. While early linear mRNA vaccines revolutionised medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, they remained prone to rapid degradation and required extreme ultra-cold storage networks. By utilising machine learning to design covalently closed circular RNA structures, AI helps maximise molecular stability while minimising adverse, hyper-inflammatory innate immune reactions. Simultaneously, deep learning models are transforming protein subunit vaccine designs by pinpointing the precise, highly immunogenic fragments of an antigen needed to trigger a robust immune response. The role of artificial intelligence extends far beyond molecular structures. Pharmaceutical giants are actively deploying AI-driven process optimisation to streamline manufacturing and safeguard cold-chain distribution networks. Algorithms are now used to track real-time internal temperatures and handle preventative maintenance for thousands of ultra-low temperature freezers globally, ensuring that fragile vaccine yields are not compromised during transit. Concurrently, public health organisations are deploying Large Language Models (LLMs) to combat the digital epidemic of vaccine hesitancy. By using natural language processing to monitor sentiment and identify emotionally charged misinformation on digital networks, public health agencies can construct highly empathetic, targeted communication strategies to rebuild institutional trust. Moving forward, the scientific community is pushing for a hybrid "AI-traditional-experimental" paradigm. This approach ensures that while AI supercharges the initial architecture and speeds up predictive mapping, rigorous human oversight and real-world clinical trials remain the final arbiter of safety, solidifying global preparedness against emerging biosecurity threats.

A world-first human trial by Cambridge researchers proves an AI-designed universal vaccine can target entire virus families and stop mutations before they start.

End of trial-and-error? How AI is predicting the next pandemic’s vaccine today

India has witnessed a major expansion in solar energy in the past few years, and it is one of the fastest and most massive infrastructure transitions in global history. In the last 10 years, the country's solar capacity has scaled over 50 times. India is the world’s 3rd largest solar power producer and the 2nd largest contributor to annual new solar capacity. Its cumulative installed solar capacity has surged past 150 Gigawatts. India added 44.61 GW of solar capacity in a single fiscal year, way more than the targeted 34 GW. The growth means that non-fossil fuel sources now account for over 50 per cent of India's total installed power capacity. But the country is facing major hurdles in achieving its goal of 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. Experts say that merely increasing installed gigawatts won't solve the problem.&nbsp;“The future of solar in India is promising - but it will be determined less by how many gigawatts we install and more by how intelligently we manage the demand that those gigawatts have to serve. India has made remarkable progress in installed solar power generation, yet installing more solar panels alone won't solve the demand problem, not when the grid can't absorb the power cleanly," Prof Teevrat Garg, Associate Professor of Economics at UC San Diego, told WION News.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-environment-day-data-centres-are-coming-to-india-but-at-what-cost-1780567891256">World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres?</a><h2>The Duck Curve and green energy&nbsp;</h2>Pointing to the problem, Garg adds, "The culprit is the duck curve: solar drops to zero every evening just as demand hits its second daily peak." The sun is dialled fully up, and solar panels produce a massive surplus of clean energy, during which time the grid’s reliance on traditional power plants plummets. But as evening sets in, solar production falls to zero, but at the same time, when people reach their homes, they switch on their air conditioners, and run appliances, and the demand spikes.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-environment-day-sheep-are-making-hay-while-the-sun-shines-fixing-a-major-solar-panel-problem-1780637430293">World Environment Day: Sheep are 'making hay while the sun shines', fixing a major solar panel problem</a>&nbsp;However, Garg says that we have energy sponges in our homes that fix this problem without having to build massive utility batteries or run dirty backup plants. "Think of every air conditioner and water heater in our homes as an untapped buffer — one that can shift when it runs, easing pressure on the grid precisely when renewable energy is scarce," he says. Water heaters and air conditioners can hold onto temperature. A smart grid can signal your AC to run at 3 pm when solar energy is abundant and cheap, cooling your house down a few extra degrees. It can safely shut off or dial back for an hour at 6 pm. If millions of homes can do the same, the evening energy demand would flatten.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-could-chug-water-enough-to-sustain-all-8-1-billion-people-on-earth-for-over-a-year-un-report-warns-1780583211386">AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns</a>&nbsp;"Early evidence from research with Tata Power found automated appliance switch-offs cut household peak demand by up to 15%, with a net CO₂ mitigation cost that was negative for 75% of participants," Garg stated, adding that the SARWA initiative at J-PAL South Asia is trying to ascertain whether this method can be scaled up.<h2>Is 24x7 green power possible in India?</h2>&nbsp;"To maximise green energy use on India's grid, we need to stop thinking about the problem as purely a supply challenge," Garg said. India is already generating more clean power than ever. But there is a demand-supply mismatch, since the times we need it most are precisely the moments it isn't available. "To use more of the clean energy we're already generating, &nbsp;we need the demand side to flex: shifting consumption away from those peak hours through smart devices, financial incentives, and better-designed tariffs," Garg said. So what India needs is a change in when and how the energy is used.&nbsp;India is maintaining a balance at the moment, with a dual approach to ensure energy security. So it invests three dollars into renewable energy for every dollar spent on fossil fuel power generation.

World Environment Day: Can India reach a day when it sustains purely on solar or green energy? Experts say the problem lies in the Duck curve which needs to be fixed by changing how and when we use solar energy. WION Decodes

India has witnessed a major expansion in solar energy in the past few years, and it is one of the fastest and most massive infrastructure transitions in global history. In the last 10 years, the country's solar capacity has scaled over 50 times. India is the world’s 3rd largest solar power producer and the 2nd largest contributor to annual new solar capacity. Its cumulative installed solar capacity has surged past 150 Gigawatts. India added 44.61 GW of solar capacity in a single fiscal year, way more than the targeted 34 GW. The growth means that non-fossil fuel sources now account for over 50 per cent of India's total installed power capacity. But the country is facing major hurdles in achieving its goal of 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. Experts say that merely increasing installed gigawatts won't solve the problem. “The future of solar in India is promising - but it will be determined less by how many gigawatts we install and more by how intelligently we manage the demand that those gigawatts have to serve. India has made remarkable progress in installed solar power generation, yet installing more solar panels alone won't solve the demand problem, not when the grid can't absorb the power cleanly," Prof Teevrat Garg, Associate Professor of Economics at UC San Diego, told WION News. Also Read: World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres? The Duck Curve and green energy Pointing to the problem, Garg adds, "The culprit is the duck curve: solar drops to zero every evening just as demand hits its second daily peak." The sun is dialled fully up, and solar panels produce a massive surplus of clean energy, during which time the grid’s reliance on traditional power plants plummets. But as evening sets in, solar production falls to zero, but at the same time, when people reach their homes, they switch on their air conditioners, and run appliances, and the demand spikes. Also Read: World Environment Day: Sheep are 'making hay while the sun shines', fixing a major solar panel problem However, Garg says that we have energy sponges in our homes that fix this problem without having to build massive utility batteries or run dirty backup plants. "Think of every air conditioner and water heater in our homes as an untapped buffer — one that can shift when it runs, easing pressure on the grid precisely when renewable energy is scarce," he says. Water heaters and air conditioners can hold onto temperature. A smart grid can signal your AC to run at 3 pm when solar energy is abundant and cheap, cooling your house down a few extra degrees. It can safely shut off or dial back for an hour at 6 pm. If millions of homes can do the same, the evening energy demand would flatten. Also Read: AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns "Early evidence from research with Tata Power found automated appliance switch-offs cut household peak demand by up to 15%, with a net CO₂ mitigation cost that was negative for 75% of participants," Garg stated, adding that the SARWA initiative at J-PAL South Asia is trying to ascertain whether this method can be scaled up. Is 24x7 green power possible in India? "To maximise green energy use on India's grid, we need to stop thinking about the problem as purely a supply challenge," Garg said. India is already generating more clean power than ever. But there is a demand-supply mismatch, since the times we need it most are precisely the moments it isn't available. "To use more of the clean energy we're already generating, we need the demand side to flex: shifting consumption away from those peak hours through smart devices, financial incentives, and better-designed tariffs," Garg said. So what India needs is a change in when and how the energy is used. India is maintaining a balance at the moment, with a dual approach to ensure energy security. So it invests three dollars into renewable energy for every dollar spent on fossil fuel power generation.

World Environment Day: Can India reach a day when it sustains purely on solar or green energy? Experts say the problem lies in the Duck curve, which needs to be fixed by changing how and when we use solar energy. WION Decodes

World Environment Day: Is 24x7 solar power possible in India? WION Decodes

Clean energy is being touted as the next best thing to reverse climate change. Solar power is one of the main sources of energy production today, and governments worldwide are working to expand it. However, even this source comes at an environmental cost. Solar panels require large plots of land, almost what agricultural land would also need - which is flat, gets enough sunlight and is close to infrastructure. This has created a tussle between the two, creating a paradox of sorts where one is being sacrificed for the other. If solar panels are given preference, we risk giving up food security and hitting rural economies. If the right land is not given to solar energy, then a major source of renewable energy fails to work.&nbsp;A solution to this problem has now emerged in the form of agrivoltaics - dual-use solar or agrisolar. In this system, solar panels and agriculture form a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial for both of them. The highlights are the four-legged creatures that graze underneath the elevated solar panels. The humble sheep is the star of the show that makes agrivoltaics work as they nibble on the grass below.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-environment-day-data-centres-are-coming-to-india-but-at-what-cost-1780567891256">World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres?</a><h2>Solar panels and weed</h2> Solar farms suffer from a major logistical headache - weeds. If they grow too high, they cast shadows on the panels, which can drastically reduce electrical output. Removing extra grass and vegetation from the ground below is crucial to ensuring that the solar panels work to their full potential. Companies have the option to use traditional lawnmowers and heavy machinery to remove the weeds. However, that will kick up rocks, which can damage the multi-million-dollar glass arrays. Using chemical weedkillers creates another problem, as they can contaminate the local water table.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-could-chug-water-enough-to-sustain-all-8-1-billion-people-on-earth-for-over-a-year-un-report-warns-1780583211386">World Environment Day: AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns</a>&nbsp;So solar power companies are partnering with shepherds. Yes, their sheep are the solution to their problem. They can be small, which means they can easily walk through the vegetation and standard racking systems. They are not afraid of the high-voltage infrastructure above them. The sheep eat the grass and weeds and keep them at the optimal length, avoiding adverse effects on the panels. It is a win-win situation for the shepherds who can have their sheep fill their tummies while earning passive income.&nbsp;The dual-use solar also has a third beneficiary - crop cultivation. Global heatwaves can become a bane for agriculture. Agricultural scientists say that crops need sunlight, but too much of it can harm them. Partial shade is actually the need of the hour, which these solar panels provide. They cut off excess heat and help plants survive in the age of global warming. Regional trials have shown that plants like tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, and berries don’t just survive under solar arrays, but actually produce higher&nbsp;yields than those grown in direct sunlight.&nbsp;<h2>Benefits of agrivoltaics</h2> Water conservation The solar panels offer physical shade to the ground below, reducing soil water evaporation by up to 30-40 per cent. This can drastically cut down irrigation needs in drought-prone regions.Increased Solar Efficiency Solar panels need sunlight to work, but they can get damaged if they get too hot. Plans have moisture naturally, which can cool down the panels, boosting electricity generation.Crop protection Vegetation is also at risk of damage from extreme rain, frost, hail, and other weather events. With solar panels above them offering protection, this threat is drastically reduced. &nbsp;

World Environment Day: Solar panels are affected by vegetation and weeds growing underneath, affecting efficiency when covered by them. A unique solution is offered in the form of sheep. The animals can keep the grass short, and in turn, the shepherds make money by offering their livestock.

Clean energy is being touted as the next best thing to reverse climate change. Solar power is one of the main sources of energy production today, and governments worldwide are working to expand it. However, even this source comes at an environmental cost. Solar panels require large plots of land, almost what agricultural land would also need - which is flat, gets enough sunlight and is close to infrastructure. This has created a tussle between the two, creating a paradox of sorts where one is being sacrificed for the other. If solar panels are given preference, we risk giving up food security and hitting rural economies. If the right land is not given to solar energy, then a major source of renewable energy fails to work. A solution to this problem has now emerged in the form of agrivoltaics - dual-use solar or agrisolar. In this system, solar panels and agriculture form a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial for both of them. The highlights are the four-legged creatures that graze underneath the elevated solar panels. The humble sheep is the star of the show that makes agrivoltaics work as they nibble on the grass below. Also Read: World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres? Solar panels and weed Solar farms suffer from a major logistical headache - weeds. If they grow too high, they cast shadows on the panels, which can drastically reduce electrical output. Removing extra grass and vegetation from the ground below is crucial to ensuring that the solar panels work to their full potential. Companies have the option to use traditional lawnmowers and heavy machinery to remove the weeds. However, that will kick up rocks, which can damage the multi-million-dollar glass arrays. Using chemical weedkillers creates another problem, as they can contaminate the local water table. Also Read: World Environment Day: AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns So solar power companies are partnering with shepherds. Yes, their sheep are the solution to their problem. They can be small, which means they can easily walk through the vegetation and standard racking systems. They are not afraid of the high-voltage infrastructure above them. The sheep eat the grass and weeds and keep them at the optimal length, avoiding adverse effects on the panels. It is a win-win situation for the shepherds who can have their sheep fill their tummies while earning passive income. The dual-use solar also has a third beneficiary - crop cultivation. Global heatwaves can become a bane for agriculture. Agricultural scientists say that crops need sunlight, but too much of it can harm them. Partial shade is actually the need of the hour, which these solar panels provide. They cut off excess heat and help plants survive in the age of global warming. Regional trials have shown that plants like tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, and berries don’t just survive under solar arrays, but actually produce higher yields than those grown in direct sunlight. Benefits of agrivoltaics Water conservation The solar panels offer physical shade to the ground below, reducing soil water evaporation by up to 30-40 per cent. This can drastically cut down irrigation needs in drought-prone regions. Increased Solar Efficiency Solar panels need sunlight to work, but they can get damaged if they get too hot. Plans have moisture naturally, which can cool down the panels, boosting electricity generation. Crop protection Vegetation is also at risk of damage from extreme rain, frost, hail, and other weather events. With solar panels above them offering protection, this threat is drastically reduced.

World Environment Day: Solar panels are affected by vegetation and weeds growing underneath, affecting efficiency when covered by them. A unique solution is offered in the form of sheep. The animals can keep the grass short, and in turn, the shepherds make money by offering their livestock.

World Environment Day: Sheep are 'making hay while the sun shines', fixing a major solar panel problem

On the occasion of World Environment Day, there is no topic more important that AI that we need to talk about this year. Humans want to save Earth from climate change and global warming. Yet, we are pushing AI like there is no tomorrow. Data centres are at the centre of a major battle across the world because of the carbon emissions and the amount of water they use. A new study has also found that AI could consume nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity by 2030, and use as much water as can quench the thirst of every human on Earth for more than a year and a half. The carbon emissions will be equivalent to what the United Kingdom emitted in 2025. The electronic waste will be similar to throwing 250 Eiffel Towers annually.&nbsp;&nbsp;Water is becoming a problem as complaints about dirty and muddy water in homes near data centres have soared. Data centres have large fans and chillers that work constantly to keep the systems cool, and in the process use tonnes of fresh water. Data Centres are now coming to India, a country with the highest population in the world, where most of them are struggling to gain access to basic needs like water.&nbsp;Is the environmental impact of AI data centres being ignored in favour of advancing technology? Can humans afford to push a product that could make resources scarce for them as it grows? Here is how AI data centres are impacting the environment.<h2>Energy strain of data centres</h2> Data suggests that data centres globally consume 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. This makes them the world's 11th largest electricity consumer, using more power than the entire nation of Saudi Arabia. The emissions based on this number are 208 million tons of CO2, almost the same as the annual emissions of Argentina. However, with more of them planned, the situation is expected to get worse. By 2030, their power consumption is projected to nearly double to 945 TWh, nearly 3% to 4% of all global electricity.&nbsp;Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, says, "Data centres place tremendous pressure on energy grids through continuous high-power consumption, intense carbon emissions where electricity is sourced from fossil fuel generators, consume vast quantities of freshwater for cooling, and generate significant electronic waste due to rapid hardware obsolescence."&nbsp;To meet energy demands, tech companies have started building their own on-site fossil fuel plants. For example, xAI’s "Colossus" data center in Memphis installed over 30 natural gas turbines for daily use. This has caused a sudden surge in air pollution, leading to scrutiny and lawsuits.<h2> AI data centres and the water footprint</h2> This is one of the biggest problems posed by data centres. They require massive amounts of physical water to prevent processors from melting. Asking an LLM 30 to 50 questions leads to half a litre of fresh water vanishing. By 2030, AI's water footprint could reach the same as that of the annual domestic water needs of 1.3 billion people. The amount of water they use has triggered widespread protests. An average data centre can consume up to 5 million gallons of water a day. In the US, these data centres have largely been built in areas where water is already scarce, such as Arizona, Texas, and the Colorado River Basin.&nbsp;<h2>Data centres and the water crisis in India</h2> In India, a data centre project is being planned in the Tarluvada village in Visakhapatnam district, a water-stressed region. "The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the data centres that support it demands careful scrutiny, particularly in a country like India, where water scarcity is already a growing crisis," Jabir Karat, Founder &amp; CEO of Green Worms Waste Management Pvt. Ltd, told WION.&nbsp;"The gap between water demand and supply continues to widen, while groundwater levels in many regions are declining at an alarming rate due to overextraction. Several cities have come close to experiencing a “Day Zero” scenario, and at least one has already faced severe water shortages. In this context, it is essential to evaluate the extent to which India can afford the environmental costs associated with the large-scale expansion of data centre infrastructure," he added.&nbsp;<h2>Reaching equilibrium - Solution to environmental impact of data centres</h2> Experts say stringent environmental compliance and carbon accounting standards are needed to mitigate the situation. "Governments and industry must mandate renewable-energy-powered data centres, adopt advanced liquid and immersion cooling technologies to minimise water consumption, and implement circular-economy practices for recycling and refurbishing electronic components," Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar says.&nbsp;"Responsible development requires that environmental considerations remain central to decision-making. We must ensure that resource conservation and the well-being of future generations are not compromised in the pursuit of technological advancement without appropriate regulations and safeguards," Karat said. &nbsp;

World Environment Day: For decades, humans have been holding meetings and conferences to talk about reducing carbon emissions and reducing global warming. But with AI data centres, it seems we have forgotten that this is the world where we need to live, are practically killing it ourselves.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, there is no topic more important that AI that we need to talk about this year. Humans want to save Earth from climate change and global warming. Yet, we are pushing AI like there is no tomorrow. Data centres are at the centre of a major battle across the world because of the carbon emissions and the amount of water they use. A new study has also found that AI could consume nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity by 2030, and use as much water as can quench the thirst of every human on Earth for more than a year and a half. The carbon emissions will be equivalent to what the United Kingdom emitted in 2025. The electronic waste will be similar to throwing 250 Eiffel Towers annually. Water is becoming a problem as complaints about dirty and muddy water in homes near data centres have soared. Data centres have large fans and chillers that work constantly to keep the systems cool, and in the process use tonnes of fresh water. Data Centres are now coming to India, a country with the highest population in the world, where most of them are struggling to gain access to basic needs like water. Is the environmental impact of AI data centres being ignored in favour of advancing technology? Can humans afford to push a product that could make resources scarce for them as it grows? Here is how AI data centres are impacting the environment. Energy strain of data centres Data suggests that data centres globally consume 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. This makes them the world's 11th largest electricity consumer, using more power than the entire nation of Saudi Arabia. The emissions based on this number are 208 million tons of CO2, almost the same as the annual emissions of Argentina. However, with more of them planned, the situation is expected to get worse. By 2030, their power consumption is projected to nearly double to 945 TWh, nearly 3% to 4% of all global electricity. Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, says, "Data centres place tremendous pressure on energy grids through continuous high-power consumption, intense carbon emissions where electricity is sourced from fossil fuel generators, consume vast quantities of freshwater for cooling, and generate significant electronic waste due to rapid hardware obsolescence." To meet energy demands, tech companies have started building their own on-site fossil fuel plants. For example, xAI’s "Colossus" data center in Memphis installed over 30 natural gas turbines for daily use. This has caused a sudden surge in air pollution, leading to scrutiny and lawsuits. AI data centres and the water footprint This is one of the biggest problems posed by data centres. They require massive amounts of physical water to prevent processors from melting. Asking an LLM 30 to 50 questions leads to half a litre of fresh water vanishing. By 2030, AI's water footprint could reach the same as that of the annual domestic water needs of 1.3 billion people. The amount of water they use has triggered widespread protests. An average data centre can consume up to 5 million gallons of water a day. In the US, these data centres have largely been built in areas where water is already scarce, such as Arizona, Texas, and the Colorado River Basin. Data centres and the water crisis in India In India, a data centre project is being planned in the Tarluvada village in Visakhapatnam district, a water-stressed region. "The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the data centres that support it demands careful scrutiny, particularly in a country like India, where water scarcity is already a growing crisis," Jabir Karat, Founder & CEO of Green Worms Waste Management Pvt. Ltd, told WION. "The gap between water demand and supply continues to widen, while groundwater levels in many regions are declining at an alarming rate due to overextraction. Several cities have come close to experiencing a “Day Zero” scenario, and at least one has already faced severe water shortages. In this context, it is essential to evaluate the extent to which India can afford the environmental costs associated with the large-scale expansion of data centre infrastructure," he added. Reaching equilibrium - Solution to environmental impact of data centres Experts say stringent environmental compliance and carbon accounting standards are needed to mitigate the situation. "Governments and industry must mandate renewable-energy-powered data centres, adopt advanced liquid and immersion cooling technologies to minimise water consumption, and implement circular-economy practices for recycling and refurbishing electronic components," Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar says. "Responsible development requires that environmental considerations remain central to decision-making. We must ensure that resource conservation and the well-being of future generations are not compromised in the pursuit of technological advancement without appropriate regulations and safeguards," Karat said.

World Environment Day: For decades, humans have been holding meetings and conferences to talk about reducing carbon emissions and reducing global warming. But with AI data centres, it seems we have forgotten that this is the world where we need to live, are practically killing it ourselves.

World Environment Day in the age of AI - Are humans sacrificing the climate for data centres?

Humans seem to have dug their own graves with Artificial Intelligence, as a new study has found that the technology would take a massive toll on the climate in the next few years. According to a new report, by 2030, AI will need nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity to function. The carbon emissions will be the same as that of United Kingdom in 2025, and electronic waste will be equivalent to trashing 250 Eiffel Towers every year. The most stark observation is about water, as the amount it would need will be enough to quench the thirst of every person on Earth for more than a year and a half. That's a pretty grim picture of the future painted by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.&nbsp;Researchers say carbon emissions are only a part of the toll AI takes on the climate, and reducing the harm AI would cause to the environment would depend on several more factors than just that. "Low-carbon is not automatically low-water or low-land,” the report states. Data centres consumed an estimated 448 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, with AI processes accounting for around 20 per cent of it. By 2034, AI-related electricity use could reach 40 per cent, or 374 terawatt-hours.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-environment-day-data-centres-are-coming-to-india-but-at-what-cost-1780567891256">World Environment Day in the age of AI - Have humans given up on saving the climate for data centres?</a><h2>AI used 9.3 trillion litres of water in 2025</h2>These data centres run 24*7 and need massive amounts of water to cool the systems. The data centre totals could double to 945 terawatt-hours, which can power 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa for over five years. The consumption of water, a major problem linked with data centres, will also considerably rise. In 2025, they used an estimated 9.3 trillion litres of water. This water can meet the needs of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for more than a year and a half.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/company-ends-up-spending-rs-4-800-crore-on-claude-ai-in-a-month-because-of-a-tiny-oversight-1780048597729">Company accidentally blows away Rs 4,800 crore on Claude AI in a month because of a tiny oversight</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/need-another-reason-to-hate-ai-chatgpt-does-not-think-older-adults-fit-new-job-roles-1780407645776">Need another reason to hate AI? ChatGPT thinks older adults can't do today's jobs</a><h2>How much electricity ChatGPT uses?</h2>The report further states that the cost of daily use of ChatGPT has exceeded the environmental cost of training. Training a model like ChatGPT-5 requires around 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity, one billion litres of water and a piece of land as large as 215 football fields. However, with an estimated 2.5 billion prompts per day, the consumption has gone way beyond the line. Researchers found that a concise response mode can reduce ChatGPT's output by 30 per cent, saving as much electricity as would be needed by nearly 760,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa in a year. Avoiding the use of words like please or thank you further helps.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/kill-ai-american-actor-ronny-chieng-says-at-harvard-to-roaring-applause-it-will-make-people-dumber-1780319629020">'Kill AI', American comedian Ronny Chieng says at Harvard to roaring applause: ‘It will make people dumber’</a><h2>Switching to green energy creates another problem</h2>However, the biggest problem is with AI-generated videos. The report states that a single high-resolution AI video clip requires more than 415 watt-hours of electricity, way more than what hundreds of AI images would need. The report further found that using renewable energy to power the data centres does not solve the problem. Switching from coal to bioenergy drops carbon emissions by 72 per cent, but increases the water footprint 30-fold and the land footprint 100-fold due to the agriculture required.

World Environment Day: A report by the United Nations has painted a scary picture of the future in the age of Artificial Intelligence. The water it uses can quench the thirst of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year. Electricity, carbon emissions and electronic waste will skyrocket.

Humans seem to have dug their own graves with Artificial Intelligence, as a new study has found that the technology would take a massive toll on the climate in the next few years. According to a new report, by 2030, AI will need nearly 3 per cent of the world's electricity to function. The carbon emissions will be the same as that of United Kingdom in 2025, and electronic waste will be equivalent to trashing 250 Eiffel Towers every year. The most stark observation is about water, as the amount it would need will be enough to quench the thirst of every person on Earth for more than a year and a half. That's a pretty grim picture of the future painted by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. Researchers say carbon emissions are only a part of the toll AI takes on the climate, and reducing the harm AI would cause to the environment would depend on several more factors than just that. "Low-carbon is not automatically low-water or low-land,” the report states. Data centres consumed an estimated 448 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, with AI processes accounting for around 20 per cent of it. By 2034, AI-related electricity use could reach 40 per cent, or 374 terawatt-hours. Also Read: World Environment Day in the age of AI - Have humans given up on saving the climate for data centres? AI used 9.3 trillion litres of water in 2025 These data centres run 24*7 and need massive amounts of water to cool the systems. The data centre totals could double to 945 terawatt-hours, which can power 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa for over five years. The consumption of water, a major problem linked with data centres, will also considerably rise. In 2025, they used an estimated 9.3 trillion litres of water. This water can meet the needs of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for more than a year and a half. Also Read: Company accidentally blows away Rs 4,800 crore on Claude AI in a month because of a tiny oversight Also Read: Need another reason to hate AI? ChatGPT thinks older adults can't do today's jobs How much electricity ChatGPT uses? The report further states that the cost of daily use of ChatGPT has exceeded the environmental cost of training. Training a model like ChatGPT-5 requires around 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity, one billion litres of water and a piece of land as large as 215 football fields. However, with an estimated 2.5 billion prompts per day, the consumption has gone way beyond the line. Researchers found that a concise response mode can reduce ChatGPT's output by 30 per cent, saving as much electricity as would be needed by nearly 760,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa in a year. Avoiding the use of words like please or thank you further helps. Also Read: 'Kill AI', American comedian Ronny Chieng says at Harvard to roaring applause: ‘It will make people dumber’ Switching to green energy creates another problem However, the biggest problem is with AI-generated videos. The report states that a single high-resolution AI video clip requires more than 415 watt-hours of electricity, way more than what hundreds of AI images would need. The report further found that using renewable energy to power the data centres does not solve the problem. Switching from coal to bioenergy drops carbon emissions by 72 per cent, but increases the water footprint 30-fold and the land footprint 100-fold due to the agriculture required.

World Environment Day: A report by the United Nations has painted a scary picture of the future in the age of Artificial Intelligence. The water it uses can quench the thirst of all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year. Electricity, carbon emissions and electronic waste will skyrocket.

World Environment Day: AI could chug water enough to sustain all 8.1 billion people on Earth for over a year, UN report warns

As China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft closes in on asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, scientists are increasingly divided over a question that could reshape understanding of near-Earth objects: is the asteroid a fragment blasted from the Moon, or did it originate in the main asteroid belt? The answer may come sooner than expected. Tianwen-2, launched in 2025, is scheduled to rendezvous with Kamoʻoalewa in 2026 and return samples to Earth, offering researchers their first direct opportunity to examine the object's composition. The mission is widely seen as the most important test yet of competing theories surrounding one of the Solar System's most unusual asteroids.&nbsp;Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth. Measuring roughly 40 to 100 metres across, it completes a rotation every 28 minutes and follows a path remarkably similar to Earth's, making it one of the planet's most stable known co-orbitals.&nbsp;ALSO READ: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/single-exit-sealed-windows-illegal-expansion-inside-the-chain-of-failures-behind-delhi-s-malviya-nagar-fire-that-killed-21-1780476775102">'Single exit, sealed windows, illegal expansion': Inside the chain of failures behind Delhi's Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21</a><h2>Spectral clues point to an asteroid origin</h2>According to Phys.org, the lunar-origin theory was largely based on the asteroid's unusually red spectrum, which resembles heavily weathered lunar soil. But a team led by planetary scientist Yang Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found evidence that challenges that interpretation. Researchers reanalysed the asteroid's reflected light and identified a spectral feature more commonly associated with LL chondrites, a class of stony meteorites, than with lunar material.&nbsp;To test their hypothesis, the team ground an LL chondrite meteorite into powder and subjected it to laser pulses designed to mimic millions of years of space weathering caused by micrometeoroid impacts and solar wind. The altered material gradually developed a colour remarkably similar to that observed on Kamoʻoalewa. The findings suggest that asteroid surfaces can become as red as lunar soil after prolonged exposure to the space environment, weakening a key argument for a lunar origin.&nbsp;ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-eyes-largest-ever-drone-order-2-billion-military-purchase-to-boost-domestic-industry-industry-body-says-1780490500139">India eyes largest-ever drone order! $2 billion military purchase to boost domestic industry</a><h2>Tianwen-2 may finally settle the debate</h2>The researchers also searched asteroid catalogues and identified several silicate-rich asteroids with similarly red spectral signatures, indicating that Kamoʻoalewa may not be unique. Using orbital simulations, the team proposed that the asteroid may have originated from the Flora asteroid family before evolving into its current orbit. They suggested it could possess a surface composition similar to asteroid Itokawa, which was sampled by Japan's Hayabusa mission in 2010.&nbsp;However, the scientists stopped short of ruling out a lunar origin entirely. In the study, they wrote that while they support the view that Kamoʻoalewa's surface is dominated by highly space-weathered LL chondrite material, they "do not completely close the door of lunar composition". That uncertainty is precisely why Tianwen-2 is attracting global attention. By returning samples directly from Kamoʻoalewa, the mission could finally determine whether the asteroid is a long-lost piece of the Moon or an unusually weathered visitor from the asteroid belt.

Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth. 

As China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft closes in on asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, scientists are increasingly divided over a question that could reshape understanding of near-Earth objects: is the asteroid a fragment blasted from the Moon, or did it originate in the main asteroid belt? The answer may come sooner than expected. Tianwen-2, launched in 2025, is scheduled to rendezvous with Kamoʻoalewa in 2026 and return samples to Earth, offering researchers their first direct opportunity to examine the object's composition. The mission is widely seen as the most important test yet of competing theories surrounding one of the Solar System's most unusual asteroids. Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth. Measuring roughly 40 to 100 metres across, it completes a rotation every 28 minutes and follows a path remarkably similar to Earth's, making it one of the planet's most stable known co-orbitals. ALSO READ: 'Single exit, sealed windows, illegal expansion': Inside the chain of failures behind Delhi's Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21 Spectral clues point to an asteroid origin According to Phys.org, the lunar-origin theory was largely based on the asteroid's unusually red spectrum, which resembles heavily weathered lunar soil. But a team led by planetary scientist Yang Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found evidence that challenges that interpretation. Researchers reanalysed the asteroid's reflected light and identified a spectral feature more commonly associated with LL chondrites, a class of stony meteorites, than with lunar material. To test their hypothesis, the team ground an LL chondrite meteorite into powder and subjected it to laser pulses designed to mimic millions of years of space weathering caused by micrometeoroid impacts and solar wind. The altered material gradually developed a colour remarkably similar to that observed on Kamoʻoalewa. The findings suggest that asteroid surfaces can become as red as lunar soil after prolonged exposure to the space environment, weakening a key argument for a lunar origin. ALSO READ: India eyes largest-ever drone order! $2 billion military purchase to boost domestic industry Tianwen-2 may finally settle the debate The researchers also searched asteroid catalogues and identified several silicate-rich asteroids with similarly red spectral signatures, indicating that Kamoʻoalewa may not be unique. Using orbital simulations, the team proposed that the asteroid may have originated from the Flora asteroid family before evolving into its current orbit. They suggested it could possess a surface composition similar to asteroid Itokawa, which was sampled by Japan's Hayabusa mission in 2010. However, the scientists stopped short of ruling out a lunar origin entirely. In the study, they wrote that while they support the view that Kamoʻoalewa's surface is dominated by highly space-weathered LL chondrite material, they "do not completely close the door of lunar composition". That uncertainty is precisely why Tianwen-2 is attracting global attention. By returning samples directly from Kamoʻoalewa, the mission could finally determine whether the asteroid is a long-lost piece of the Moon or an unusually weathered visitor from the asteroid belt.

Discovered in 2016, Kamoʻoalewa is an Earth quasi-satellite, a rare class of objects that orbit the Sun while remaining gravitationally linked to Earth.&nbsp;

A moon fragment or something else? Tianwen-2 is closing in on Kamoʻoalewa, but its true origins remain uncertain

Seneca Lake in New York has been a source of rumours and nightmares for over three centuries because of the eerie sounds emanating from it. People as far as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and even Florida have heard them. People have reported hearing loud booms similar to cannon shots coming from deep inside this water body. Scientists have come up with several theories to explain these strange sounds, as have the common people. They were named “Seneca guns” or “Seneca drums" after the local Seneca Tribe, which believed that it was the shouts of an angry Manitou, the Great Spirit. European settlers heard them too and thought that it was the noise of the ghosts of Seneca warriors. Some even believed that an alien spacecraft was making the sounds. Top secret government projects being tested inside the lake were also believed to be one explanation. However, people have been hearing it since 1700, and so a scientific explanation doesn't seem plausible.&nbsp;But scientists have now finally figured out the source of these sounds. In the early 19th century, experts said that the mysterious booms could be explosions of gas trapped in the lakebed. Geologist Herman Fairchild said in 1934 that bubbles of natural gas escaping from a layer of sandstone inside the earth were bursting with a booming sound as it came up. In 1971, geoscientist William F. Ahrnsbrak also said methane was possibly bursting under the lake. Researcher Tim Morin, of SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry) in Syracuse, New York, concurs with what Fairchild said.Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ice-shelf-size-of-indian-capital-city-delhi-will-detach-from-doomsday-glacier-in-2026-1779976277943"> Ice shelf the size of Indian capital city Delhi will detach from 'Doomsday Glacier' in 2026</a> &nbsp;Moring and researchers from Cornell University were studying the lake's shipwrecks when they found 144 huge craters on the bed. Each was nearly 30 feet deep and 400 feet wide. An analysis of the lake water and material collected from deep pockets of sediment finally explained what was causing the creepy sounds. They found traces of methane and other gases, which showed what was actually happening deep inside the lake.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/underwater-volcano-erupting-for-weeks-could-birth-a-new-island-in-the-pacific-1779972961751">Underwater volcano erupting for weeks could birth a new island in the Pacific</a><h2>What is happening Seneca Lake?</h2> The lake was formed from an ancient glacier that melted after the last Ice Age. The team found that pressure builds up under the lakebed for years, and when it is released, bubbles of methane erupt from under it. As this happened, the force not only left behind craters, but also sent a shockwave that travelled several kilometres and sounded like a cannon firing. The lake's design itself was something that amplified the sound - It has about 4.2 trillion gallons of water, 618 feet deep in some places and a lakebed that is 200 feet below sea level.Experts say that the methane released from the lake is not lethal for humans. But the same phenomenon could be going on in many other similar lakes, and some of them could pose a threat.

A lake in New York has been screeching for hundreds of years, leading to speculations ranging from aliens to secret government tests. However, scientists have now uncovered the source of these strange sounds, and they are linked to the pockmarked seabed.

Seneca Lake in New York has been a source of rumours and nightmares for over three centuries because of the eerie sounds emanating from it. People as far as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and even Florida have heard them. People have reported hearing loud booms similar to cannon shots coming from deep inside this water body. Scientists have come up with several theories to explain these strange sounds, as have the common people. They were named “Seneca guns” or “Seneca drums" after the local Seneca Tribe, which believed that it was the shouts of an angry Manitou, the Great Spirit. European settlers heard them too and thought that it was the noise of the ghosts of Seneca warriors. Some even believed that an alien spacecraft was making the sounds. Top secret government projects being tested inside the lake were also believed to be one explanation. However, people have been hearing it since 1700, and so a scientific explanation doesn't seem plausible. But scientists have now finally figured out the source of these sounds. In the early 19th century, experts said that the mysterious booms could be explosions of gas trapped in the lakebed. Geologist Herman Fairchild said in 1934 that bubbles of natural gas escaping from a layer of sandstone inside the earth were bursting with a booming sound as it came up. In 1971, geoscientist William F. Ahrnsbrak also said methane was possibly bursting under the lake. Researcher Tim Morin, of SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry) in Syracuse, New York, concurs with what Fairchild said. Also Read: Ice shelf the size of Indian capital city Delhi will detach from 'Doomsday Glacier' in 2026 Moring and researchers from Cornell University were studying the lake's shipwrecks when they found 144 huge craters on the bed. Each was nearly 30 feet deep and 400 feet wide. An analysis of the lake water and material collected from deep pockets of sediment finally explained what was causing the creepy sounds. They found traces of methane and other gases, which showed what was actually happening deep inside the lake. Also Read: Underwater volcano erupting for weeks could birth a new island in the Pacific What is happening Seneca Lake? The lake was formed from an ancient glacier that melted after the last Ice Age. The team found that pressure builds up under the lakebed for years, and when it is released, bubbles of methane erupt from under it. As this happened, the force not only left behind craters, but also sent a shockwave that travelled several kilometres and sounded like a cannon firing. The lake's design itself was something that amplified the sound - It has about 4.2 trillion gallons of water, 618 feet deep in some places and a lakebed that is 200 feet below sea level. Experts say that the methane released from the lake is not lethal for humans. But the same phenomenon could be going on in many other similar lakes, and some of them could pose a threat.

A lake in New York has been screeching for hundreds of years, leading to speculations ranging from aliens to secret government tests. However, scientists have now uncovered the source of these strange sounds, and they are linked to the pockmarked seabed.

Scientists stumble upon hundreds of craters in New York lake, solving a 'booming' puzzle

Scientists at Mass General Brigham have discovered that the thymus, a small immune system organ which is believed to lose its relevance after childhood, likely plays a significant role in adult health. Two new studies have revealed that adults with healthier thymuses are expected to live longer and are less likely to develop serious diseases. In addition, they also suggested that thymic health might influence how well cancer patients respond to immunotherapy. The findings were published in the issue of "Nature and challenge decades of assumptions about the thymus". The results suggested that the organ remains significant throughout adulthood and could eventually assist in preventing diseases, strategies and decisions of cancer treatment. "The thymus has been overlooked for decades and may be a missing piece in explaining why people age differently, and why cancer treatments fail in some patients," said Hugo Aerts, PhD, corresponding author on the papers and director of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Program at Mass General Brigham. "Our findings suggest thymic health deserves much more attention and may open new avenues for understanding how to protect the immune system as we age."<h3>How thymus function in our body?</h3>The chest-located thymus trains disease-fighting T cells; however, its post-puberty shrinkage leads scientists to assume it plays a minimal role in adult health. Consequently, large population studies historically ignored the organ. While past research linked T cell diversity to ageing and fading immunity, those studies were small and limited to blood samples. Breaking this trend, a new, broader study analysed data from over 25,000 adults in a national lung cancer screening trial, alongside more than 2,500 healthy participants from the long-running Framingham Heart Study to better understand the organ's long-term health impact.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/would-you-eat-it-scientists-baked-bread-using-yeast-found-in-5-300-year-old-mummy-s-gut-1780485472041">Would you eat it? Scientists baked bread using yeast found in 5,300-year-old mummy's gut</a><h3>AI Reveals Links to Longevity and Disease Risk</h3>Using AI, the researchers measured the size, structure, and composition of the thymus to evaluate routine CT scans, creating a "thymic health" score. Researchers have also found that people with healthier thymus glands had markedly better long-term health outcomes. Those with higher thymic health scores were about 50% less likely to die from any cause, 63 per cent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and 36 per cent less likely to develop lung cancer compared with those with poorer thymic health. The associations remained strong even after adjusting for age and other health factors. Scientists believe declining thymic health reduces T-cell diversity, weakening the immune system's ability to fight diseases. Chronic inflammation, smoking, and higher body weight were identified as key factors linked to poorer thymic health. In a separate study, after examining CT scans and clinical outcomes from over 1,200 cancer patients treated with immunotherapy, the team found that patients with healthier thymuses tended to respond better to treatment. They experienced about a 37 per cent lower risk of cancer progression and a 44 per cent lower risk of death, even after adjustment for differences in patients, tumours, and treatment approaches. These findings also underscore a potentially important role, along with previously underrecognised, for the thymus in finding how effectively modern cancer immunotherapies work.<h3>Scientists react to assessing thymic health</h3>Researchers caution that further studies are needed to confirm the findings, and the imaging method used to assess thymic health is not yet suitable for routine clinical use. While lifestyle factors were linked to thymic health, it remains unclear whether changing them can improve thymus function. Ongoing research is also examining whether incidental radiation exposure during lung cancer treatment affects thymic health and patient outcomes. "Improving our understanding and monitoring of thymic health could eventually help physicians better assess disease risk and guide treatment decisions," said Aerts.

Scientists at Mass General Brigham found that the thymus organ significantly impacts adult health. Studies show adults with healthier thymuses live longer, resist diseases better, and respond more effectively to cancer immunotherapy, reversing decades of medical assumptions.

Scientists at Mass General Brigham have discovered that the thymus, a small immune system organ which is believed to lose its relevance after childhood, likely plays a significant role in adult health. Two new studies have revealed that adults with healthier thymuses are expected to live longer and are less likely to develop serious diseases. In addition, they also suggested that thymic health might influence how well cancer patients respond to immunotherapy. The findings were published in the issue of "Nature and challenge decades of assumptions about the thymus". The results suggested that the organ remains significant throughout adulthood and could eventually assist in preventing diseases, strategies and decisions of cancer treatment. "The thymus has been overlooked for decades and may be a missing piece in explaining why people age differently, and why cancer treatments fail in some patients," said Hugo Aerts, PhD, corresponding author on the papers and director of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Program at Mass General Brigham. "Our findings suggest thymic health deserves much more attention and may open new avenues for understanding how to protect the immune system as we age." How thymus function in our body? The chest-located thymus trains disease-fighting T cells; however, its post-puberty shrinkage leads scientists to assume it plays a minimal role in adult health. Consequently, large population studies historically ignored the organ. While past research linked T cell diversity to ageing and fading immunity, those studies were small and limited to blood samples. Breaking this trend, a new, broader study analysed data from over 25,000 adults in a national lung cancer screening trial, alongside more than 2,500 healthy participants from the long-running Framingham Heart Study to better understand the organ's long-term health impact. Also read: Would you eat it? Scientists baked bread using yeast found in 5,300-year-old mummy's gut AI Reveals Links to Longevity and Disease Risk Using AI, the researchers measured the size, structure, and composition of the thymus to evaluate routine CT scans, creating a "thymic health" score. Researchers have also found that people with healthier thymus glands had markedly better long-term health outcomes. Those with higher thymic health scores were about 50% less likely to die from any cause, 63 per cent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and 36 per cent less likely to develop lung cancer compared with those with poorer thymic health. The associations remained strong even after adjusting for age and other health factors. Scientists believe declining thymic health reduces T-cell diversity, weakening the immune system's ability to fight diseases. Chronic inflammation, smoking, and higher body weight were identified as key factors linked to poorer thymic health. In a separate study, after examining CT scans and clinical outcomes from over 1,200 cancer patients treated with immunotherapy, the team found that patients with healthier thymuses tended to respond better to treatment. They experienced about a 37 per cent lower risk of cancer progression and a 44 per cent lower risk of death, even after adjustment for differences in patients, tumours, and treatment approaches. These findings also underscore a potentially important role, along with previously underrecognised, for the thymus in finding how effectively modern cancer immunotherapies work. Scientists react to assessing thymic health Researchers caution that further studies are needed to confirm the findings, and the imaging method used to assess thymic health is not yet suitable for routine clinical use. While lifestyle factors were linked to thymic health, it remains unclear whether changing them can improve thymus function. Ongoing research is also examining whether incidental radiation exposure during lung cancer treatment affects thymic health and patient outcomes. "Improving our understanding and monitoring of thymic health could eventually help physicians better assess disease risk and guide treatment decisions," said Aerts.

Scientists at Mass General Brigham found that the thymus organ significantly impacts adult health. Studies show adults with healthier thymuses live longer, resist diseases better, and respond more effectively to cancer immunotherapy, reversing decades of medical assumptions. &nbsp;

Hidden system, big impact: THIS forgotten organ could predict how long you live, study finds

Scientists have discovered yeast which grown in the guts of a frozen mummy called Oetzi the Iceman for thousands of years. The grown yeast was used by scientists to make a tasty sourdough bread. Oezti died over 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built, when he was moving aimlessly through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy, after he was killed by an arrow in the back. His body remained trapped in ice for thousands of years until two German hikers discovered the naturally mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol. Since its recovery, the mummy has been well-preserved at a constant temperature of minus six degrees Celsius, matching the conditions of its original icy resting place. The exceptional state of preservation has enabled researchers to gain unique insights into prehistoric human life through the study of Oetzi, often referred to as the Iceman. In their latest findings, published on Wednesday in the journal Microbiome, a team of researchers based in Italy reported evidence that both ancient and contemporary microorganisms remain active within the frozen remains. "What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research institute in the Italian city of Bolzano told AFP. The study identified four species of cold-adapted yeasts in samples taken from Ötzi's intestines, skin and the brownish meltwater produced when parts of the mummy were temporarily thawed for examination. Because these yeasts are typically found only in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctica, researchers believe they entered the body after Oetzi's death. Genetic analysis showed levels of DNA degradation similar to those found in the original gut microbes, suggesting the yeasts colonised the remains relatively soon after death, according to the researchers. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," study co-author Frank Maixner said in a statement. Later, the scientists have reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask: Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. So they tried to make a sourdough loaf. "Initially, it didn't work," the microbiologist admitted. After three months of continuous effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough," Sarhan claimed with a laugh. When asked about the scientists' consideration over the use of yeast to brew beer, he responded, "It's on the list."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ancient-humans-had-a-mining-factory-in-the-mountains-7-000-years-ago-for-5-000-years-1780474673699">Ancient humans had a mining factory in the mountains 7,000 years ago, for 5,000 years</a><h3>Yeast breaks down chemicals&nbsp;</h3>The research also highlighted potentially significant practical applications for the yeast. After Oetzi's discovery in 1991, the mummy was initially handled like a conventional human body, and a chemical known as phenol was applied to prevent fungal growth. Researchers found that the cold-adapted yeast was capable of breaking down phenol, raising the possibility that it could one day be used to help clean up environments contaminated by the chemical. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The study concluded that the Iceman should not be viewed as a biologically static "time capsule" but rather as a dynamic ecosystem hosting a variety of microbial life. However, researchers cautioned that it remains unclear whether the newly identified yeast poses any risk to the preservation of the mummy and said further investigation is needed.&nbsp;

Scientists have revived ancient yeast found in the remains of Oetzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Alps, and used it to bake sourdough bread. Researchers say the cold-loving yeast could also help break down pollutants, offering insights into both ancient life.

Scientists have discovered yeast which grown in the guts of a frozen mummy called Oetzi the Iceman for thousands of years. The grown yeast was used by scientists to make a tasty sourdough bread. Oezti died over 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built, when he was moving aimlessly through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy, after he was killed by an arrow in the back. His body remained trapped in ice for thousands of years until two German hikers discovered the naturally mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol. Since its recovery, the mummy has been well-preserved at a constant temperature of minus six degrees Celsius, matching the conditions of its original icy resting place. The exceptional state of preservation has enabled researchers to gain unique insights into prehistoric human life through the study of Oetzi, often referred to as the Iceman. In their latest findings, published on Wednesday in the journal Microbiome, a team of researchers based in Italy reported evidence that both ancient and contemporary microorganisms remain active within the frozen remains. "What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research institute in the Italian city of Bolzano told AFP. The study identified four species of cold-adapted yeasts in samples taken from Ötzi's intestines, skin and the brownish meltwater produced when parts of the mummy were temporarily thawed for examination. Because these yeasts are typically found only in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctica, researchers believe they entered the body after Oetzi's death. Genetic analysis showed levels of DNA degradation similar to those found in the original gut microbes, suggesting the yeasts colonised the remains relatively soon after death, according to the researchers. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," study co-author Frank Maixner said in a statement. Later, the scientists have reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask: Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. So they tried to make a sourdough loaf. "Initially, it didn't work," the microbiologist admitted. After three months of continuous effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough," Sarhan claimed with a laugh. When asked about the scientists' consideration over the use of yeast to brew beer, he responded, "It's on the list." Also read: Ancient humans had a mining factory in the mountains 7,000 years ago, for 5,000 years Yeast breaks down chemicals The research also highlighted potentially significant practical applications for the yeast. After Oetzi's discovery in 1991, the mummy was initially handled like a conventional human body, and a chemical known as phenol was applied to prevent fungal growth. Researchers found that the cold-adapted yeast was capable of breaking down phenol, raising the possibility that it could one day be used to help clean up environments contaminated by the chemical. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The same bacterium has also been identified in 3,000-year-old human faeces preserved in a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria, one of the few other sources available for studying ancient human gut microbiomes. Researchers noted that both Ötzi and the Bronze Age miners are believed to have consumed diets rich in fibre and whole grains, unlike many people today. The study concluded that the Iceman should not be viewed as a biologically static "time capsule" but rather as a dynamic ecosystem hosting a variety of microbial life. However, researchers cautioned that it remains unclear whether the newly identified yeast poses any risk to the preservation of the mummy and said further investigation is needed.

Scientists have revived ancient yeast found in the remains of Oetzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Alps, and used it to bake sourdough bread. Researchers say the cold-loving yeast could also help break down pollutants, offering insights into both ancient life.

Would you eat it? Scientists baked bread using yeast found in 5,300-year-old mummy's gut

Red dwarf stars are capable of swallowing entire planets, as shown by a new study. Scientists from Keele University and the University of Exeter recently revealed that they spotted signs that at least six such stars ate up nearby planets. Red dwarfs are the most common, smallest, and longest-lived stars in the universe. They published their findings in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, stating that these stars were 50 to 200 million years old and ate Earth-like rocky planets. Even though our Sun has never been a red dwarf and will never be in the future either, it also ate planets when it was still young. Lead author of the study, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, says it is highly likely that our Sun also did this 4.5 billion years ago. "It is possible and even probable, according to some theoretical models, that our own Sun may have engulfed planetary material (or even planets) early in its life," he told WION.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/six-red-dwarf-stars-ate-rocky-worlds-like-earth-the-fingerprints-exposed-them-1780395245368">Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them</a><h2>The chemical “fingerprint” that revealed the cannibal red dwarf stars</h2>The study focussed on a group of sibling stars all born from the same gas cloud. The main element that gave away six of them as "cannibals" was the presence of lithium. During the initial stages of formation, the intense nuclear reactions would instantly kill all the lithium, leaving them devoid of any. When the researchers scanned through the data of thousands of these stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey, they noticed that six of them had high lithium content. This fresh lithium could have only come from another body, hinting that these six red dwarf stars pulled in large amounts of material from 3 to 10 Earth-like planets.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-says-this-dark-comet-could-be-a-human-probe-what-avi-loeb-told-wion-1780306270065">Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us</a>&nbsp;Even though the researchers only found six red dwarf stars that exhibited lithium in their atmosphere, chances are that many more of them could have engulfed planetary material. "Our findings put a lower limit of 2-3% on the frequency of this phenomenon in low-mass red dwarfs. But, it could be higher than this if the engulfed lithium is subsequently destroyed in nuclear fusion reactions," he said.<h2>Why this study matters?</h2>&nbsp;Jeffries says this finding has at least two major implications. First, it can help us understand the formation of our own solar system. "Understanding these early stages of planetary system formation is important in understanding the formation of our own Solar System and whether it is common or unusual," he told WION. Second, it is also vital to know whether munching on planetary material can affect the star itself. “It is important more broadly to understand whether the observed chemical composition of the stars can be affected by planetary engulfment.”<h2>Could this happen to Earth in the future?</h2> The Sun is expected to swallow Earth in approximately 5 billion years. But despite red dwarf stars being most prevalent in the universe, with our own galaxy hosting 75 billion to 160 billion, Earth is never going to fall prey to any of them, says Jeffries.&nbsp;

A recent study has found that red dwarf stars can eat planets. Even though our Sun is not a red dwarf, it also gobbled up several planets during its youth, according to several theories and models. What are the implications of the findings on red dwarfs? 

Red dwarf stars are capable of swallowing entire planets, as shown by a new study. Scientists from Keele University and the University of Exeter recently revealed that they spotted signs that at least six such stars ate up nearby planets. Red dwarfs are the most common, smallest, and longest-lived stars in the universe. They published their findings in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, stating that these stars were 50 to 200 million years old and ate Earth-like rocky planets. Even though our Sun has never been a red dwarf and will never be in the future either, it also ate planets when it was still young. Lead author of the study, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, says it is highly likely that our Sun also did this 4.5 billion years ago. "It is possible and even probable, according to some theoretical models, that our own Sun may have engulfed planetary material (or even planets) early in its life," he told WION. Also Read: Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them The chemical “fingerprint” that revealed the cannibal red dwarf stars The study focussed on a group of sibling stars all born from the same gas cloud. The main element that gave away six of them as "cannibals" was the presence of lithium. During the initial stages of formation, the intense nuclear reactions would instantly kill all the lithium, leaving them devoid of any. When the researchers scanned through the data of thousands of these stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey, they noticed that six of them had high lithium content. This fresh lithium could have only come from another body, hinting that these six red dwarf stars pulled in large amounts of material from 3 to 10 Earth-like planets. Also Read: Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us Even though the researchers only found six red dwarf stars that exhibited lithium in their atmosphere, chances are that many more of them could have engulfed planetary material. "Our findings put a lower limit of 2-3% on the frequency of this phenomenon in low-mass red dwarfs. But, it could be higher than this if the engulfed lithium is subsequently destroyed in nuclear fusion reactions," he said. Why this study matters? Jeffries says this finding has at least two major implications. First, it can help us understand the formation of our own solar system. "Understanding these early stages of planetary system formation is important in understanding the formation of our own Solar System and whether it is common or unusual," he told WION. Second, it is also vital to know whether munching on planetary material can affect the star itself. “It is important more broadly to understand whether the observed chemical composition of the stars can be affected by planetary engulfment.” Could this happen to Earth in the future? The Sun is expected to swallow Earth in approximately 5 billion years. But despite red dwarf stars being most prevalent in the universe, with our own galaxy hosting 75 billion to 160 billion, Earth is never going to fall prey to any of them, says Jeffries.

A recent study has found that red dwarf stars can eat planets. Even though our Sun is not a red dwarf, it also gobbled up several planets during its youth, according to several theories and models. What are the implications of the findings on red dwarfs?&nbsp;

Scientists just discovered cannibal stars. Our Sun also once ate Earth-like planets - WION Special

Blue Origin’s launchpad sustained considerable damage after the New Glenn rocket exploded recently, and NASA chief Jared Isaacman does not think it can be restored until 2028. Talking to CNBC, he said it will “take some serious time”. That is a huge hit to the company's space mission as well as to the American space agency. But the unintended beneficiary of this incident could be SpaceX. NASA needs to send a lander to the moon by the end of this year, which was supposed to piggyback on New Glenn. However, Isaacman has hinted that they might have to go to Falcon 9, SpaceX's rocket, for this mission.<h2>What happened to New Glenn rocket?</h2>&nbsp;The rocket erupted into a fireball during a hot-fire test on Thursday at a Space Force launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, said it was a "very rough day" and promised to rebuild it as soon as possible. NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $188 million contract to help build a Moon Base and ferry two lunar rovers in 2028. Isaacman believes that the latter is still achievable on the current timeline. “A couple of them were rovers that are meant to go to the moon on Blue Origin through their Mark 1, leveraging New Glenn, but that’s a 2028 time frame,” he said.&nbsp;Blue Origin and Isaacman are now working to salvage the company's reputation and what's at stake. Isaacman told the outlet, “We’re all getting organized generally around the idea that we certainly want to see Blue Origin be very successful. &nbsp;Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp also posted on X, saying that they can "fly before the end of this year", informing that the site’s support tower is damaged, but “it can be repaired in place" and doesn't need to be torn down or replaced. Notably, Blue Origin was scheduled to launch an uncrewed Blue Origin cargo lander - Mark 1 - atop New Glenn later this year to deliver scientific cargo to the lunar south pole.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-blue-origin-s-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-launch-pad-during-hotfire-test-what-happened-video-1780021155966">Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad ‘hotfire test’</a>&nbsp;Watch New Glenn exploding into a fireball

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Jeff Bezos&#39; New Glenn rocket exploded in &quot;anomaly&quot; at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. <a href="https://t.co/zQbNZBvLqc">pic.twitter.com/zQbNZBvLqc</a>&mdash; Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) <a href="https://x.com/BowesChay/status/2060264434526822746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>The monopoly in space race</h2> The company is in a pickle if you look at the missions it was supposed to undertake as part of NASA's vision to land humans on the Moon. Besides, this could also hand an edge to SpaceX, whose super heavy-lift rocket Falcon 9 can carry a significant amount of mass. Isaacman said NASA will likely have to go in “Falcon Heavy land" for the lander because of its carrying capabilities. “In terms of heavy lift, you know, real heavy lift, you’ve got SpaceX and Blue Origin, and obviously one of them is down a pad right now,” Isaacman said. NASA deliberately chose Blue Origin to provide a competitive alternative to SpaceX's Starship HLS. However, NASA is racing to beat China in the race to reach the Moon, and so would have to rely on SpaceX if Blue Origin's launchpad is not restored on time.<h2>Deadline for dress rehearsal of lander hit</h2> Blue Origin is also working on a New Glenn launchpad at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, but it is still under development. It was under a strict timeline to launch an uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 cargo lander before the crewed Artemis IV mission in 2028. However, industry experts note that hitting the necessary milestones by 2027 to stay on track for the 2028 landing now seems highly unlikely.

The New Glenn explosion has created a multitude of problems for Blue Origin. Even though the company thinks it can fly by the end of this year, experts believe it will impact major deadlines, especially regarding the Mark 1, which was to deliver cargo to lunar south pole at the end of 2026.

Blue Origin’s launchpad sustained considerable damage after the New Glenn rocket exploded recently, and NASA chief Jared Isaacman does not think it can be restored until 2028. Talking to CNBC, he said it will “take some serious time”. That is a huge hit to the company's space mission as well as to the American space agency. But the unintended beneficiary of this incident could be SpaceX. NASA needs to send a lander to the moon by the end of this year, which was supposed to piggyback on New Glenn. However, Isaacman has hinted that they might have to go to Falcon 9, SpaceX's rocket, for this mission. What happened to New Glenn rocket? The rocket erupted into a fireball during a hot-fire test on Thursday at a Space Force launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, said it was a "very rough day" and promised to rebuild it as soon as possible. NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $188 million contract to help build a Moon Base and ferry two lunar rovers in 2028. Isaacman believes that the latter is still achievable on the current timeline. “A couple of them were rovers that are meant to go to the moon on Blue Origin through their Mark 1, leveraging New Glenn, but that’s a 2028 time frame,” he said. Blue Origin and Isaacman are now working to salvage the company's reputation and what's at stake. Isaacman told the outlet, “We’re all getting organized generally around the idea that we certainly want to see Blue Origin be very successful. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp also posted on X, saying that they can "fly before the end of this year", informing that the site’s support tower is damaged, but “it can be repaired in place" and doesn't need to be torn down or replaced. Notably, Blue Origin was scheduled to launch an uncrewed Blue Origin cargo lander - Mark 1 - atop New Glenn later this year to deliver scientific cargo to the lunar south pole. Also Read: Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad ‘hotfire test’ Watch New Glenn exploding into a fireball

The New Glenn explosion has created a multitude of problems for Blue Origin. Even though the company thinks it can fly by the end of this year, experts believe it will impact major deadlines, especially regarding the Mark 1, which was to deliver cargo to lunar south pole at the end of 2026.

How New Glenn explosion hands Elon Musk's SpaceX an edge, and whitewashes NASA's plans

Yeast has been growing in the guts of Otzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old frozen mummy, scientists have discovered, and they used it to bake a sourdough bread. Otzi was strolling through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy more than 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built. Two German hikers stumbled across his mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol, and his well-preserved body has since been kept at minus six degrees Celsius, the same temperature as his icy tomb.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/2400-old-mummy-taken-out-of-box-and-rescued-from-rains-in-jaipurs-albert-hall-museum-321658/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/2400-old-mummy-taken-out-of-box-and-rescued-from-rains-in-jaipurs-albert-hall-museum-321658/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;For the latest research, published in the Microbiome journal on Wednesday (June 3), an Italy-based team found evidence that both ancient and modern microbial life remain active in the frozen body."What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research Institute in Bolzano told news agency AFP.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/scientists-reveal-what-ancient-mummies-smell-like-1751621606660">Scientists reveal what ancient mummies smell like</a>&nbsp;The scientists discovered four different cold-surviving yeasts in Oetzi's guts, skin and meltwater. Genetic analysis revealed DNA damage levels comparable to the original microbes in his guts, suggesting the yeast entered his body soon after death. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," co-author Frank Maixner said.&nbsp;The scientists then reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask, 'Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. After three months of effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough", he said with a laugh. When asked about brewing beer, he responded: "It's on the list."&nbsp;The study also flagged practical applications. When the mummy was found in 1991, phenol was used to prevent fungal growth, but the yeast was able to consume the chemical, suggesting future use in breaking down phenol in contaminated environments.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/egypt-pyramids-age-origin-construction-study-1769684617337">Egypt's pyramids could be 40,000 years old, controversial study suggests</a>&nbsp;Beyond yeast, analysis of Oetzi's microbiome revealed gut bacteria nearly absent in modern industrialised humans but still found among tribes in Africa and South America and in 3,000-year-old faeces from a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria.&nbsp;The study concluded the Iceman is “not a biologically 'frozen' time-capsule but rather a complex ecosystem.” However, Nikolay Oskolkov of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis cautioned that yeast samples were only taken in 2010 and 2019, providing "very little evidence that the yeasts have been multiplying over millennia," suggesting they were "relatively recent colonists of the mummy's body."&nbsp;

Researchers have extracted thousands-of-years-old yeast from the gut of Otzi the Iceman and used the revived ancient strain to bake a fresh loaf of bread.

Yeast has been growing in the guts of Otzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old frozen mummy, scientists have discovered, and they used it to bake a sourdough bread. Otzi was strolling through the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy more than 5,300 years ago, before the Egyptian pyramids were built. Two German hikers stumbled across his mummified remains in 1991 in the northern Italian region of South Tyrol, and his well-preserved body has since been kept at minus six degrees Celsius, the same temperature as his icy tomb. https://www.wionews.com/videos/2400-old-mummy-taken-out-of-box-and-rescued-from-rains-in-jaipurs-albert-hall-museum-321658/embed For the latest research, published in the Microbiome journal on Wednesday (June 3), an Italy-based team found evidence that both ancient and modern microbial life remain active in the frozen body. "What we didn't expect to find was yeast," lead study author Mohamed Sarhan of the Eurac Research Institute in Bolzano told news agency AFP. Also read: Scientists reveal what ancient mummies smell like The scientists discovered four different cold-surviving yeasts in Oetzi's guts, skin and meltwater. Genetic analysis revealed DNA damage levels comparable to the original microbes in his guts, suggesting the yeast entered his body soon after death. "These yeasts have accompanied Oetzi on his long journey through the millennia," co-author Frank Maixner said. The scientists then reproduced the gut yeast in a fridge. "If you tell anyone you have yeast, they immediately ask, 'Can we use it for bread?" Sarhan said. After three months of effort, "we had a very, very good sourdough", he said with a laugh. When asked about brewing beer, he responded: "It's on the list." The study also flagged practical applications. When the mummy was found in 1991, phenol was used to prevent fungal growth, but the yeast was able to consume the chemical, suggesting future use in breaking down phenol in contaminated environments. Also read: Egypt's pyramids could be 40,000 years old, controversial study suggests Beyond yeast, analysis of Oetzi's microbiome revealed gut bacteria nearly absent in modern industrialised humans but still found among tribes in Africa and South America and in 3,000-year-old faeces from a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria. The study concluded the Iceman is “not a biologically 'frozen' time-capsule but rather a complex ecosystem.” However, Nikolay Oskolkov of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis cautioned that yeast samples were only taken in 2010 and 2019, providing "very little evidence that the yeasts have been multiplying over millennia," suggesting they were "relatively recent colonists of the mummy's body."

Researchers have extracted thousands-of-years-old yeast from the gut of Otzi the Iceman and used the revived ancient strain to bake a fresh loaf of bread.

Scientists extract yeast from 5,300-year-old Iceman Otzi to bake bread

NASA's Perseverance rover has captured a stunning panoramic view of Mars with clear skies in the background. The photo is of a location named "Falbreen" and was produced after piecing together 96 different images. It shows the rocky surface of the Red Planet, with tall hills in the background and extremely clear blue skies (enhanced-colour version). The actual natural photo shows the rusty red colour of the planet's sky. The stunning and sharp 360-degree panorama was taken on May 26, 2025 and released by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Captured by the Mastcam-Z instrument, it covers an expanse spreading up to 65 kilometres. Mastcam-Z can zoom in on specific regions targeted by the rover and is also enabled to take 3D images and video.&nbsp; The real catch of the photo is just how clear and devoid of dust the Martian sky was at the time the photo was taken. "The relatively dust-free skies provide a clear view of the surrounding terrain," Jim Bell, Mastcam-Z’s principal investigator at Arizona State University in Tempe, said. Talking about the enhanced version, Bell said, "In this particular mosaic, we have enhanced the colour contrast, which accentuates the differences in the terrain and sky."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/six-red-dwarf-stars-ate-rocky-worlds-like-earth-the-fingerprints-exposed-them-1780395245368">Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260603/image-1780461159341.webp"></figure>Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260603/image-1780461170216.webp"></figure>Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS<h2>What does the new photo from Mars show?</h2> The latest photo from Mars is filled with several features and items spread across the terrain.1. The 43rd Abrasion Patch: Left of centre and near the bottom, a bright white, 2-inch circle can be seen. The top of this object was ground by Perseverance on May 22, 2025, using its diamond-dust-tipped Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT). Dust was removed from the top layer to analyse the fresh rock beneath. The team on Earth got a closer look to decide whether to take a core sample and store it in the rover's sample tubes.&nbsp;2. Float rock: A large rock is visible on top of a dark, crescent-shaped sand ripple to the right of centre in the image. It's a float rock, named so because it is believed to have formed in one location and then transported to a new location by processes such as landslide, water or wind. NASA says it was about 14 feet away from the rover at the time the image was captured.&nbsp;3. Geologic Contact Line: About halfway up the horizon, the landscape splits in half, and a clear boundary dividing the image can be seen. The lighter, flat rocks closer to the rover are rich in the mineral olivine, while the darker rocks further away transition into older, clay-bearing units. &nbsp;&nbsp;4. Rover Tracks: On the far right edge, the tracks left by Perseverance's wheels are visible. They turn left about 300 feet away and disappear behind a previous science stop named "Kenmore." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perseverance rover has been exploring a region named Falbreen on Mars. Last year, it captured a panorama of the landscape, revealing a clear red sky minus any dust. The colour-enhanced version shows blue skies, similar to what is seen on Earth.

NASA's Perseverance rover has captured a stunning panoramic view of Mars with clear skies in the background. The photo is of a location named "Falbreen" and was produced after piecing together 96 different images. It shows the rocky surface of the Red Planet, with tall hills in the background and extremely clear blue skies (enhanced-colour version). The actual natural photo shows the rusty red colour of the planet's sky. The stunning and sharp 360-degree panorama was taken on May 26, 2025 and released by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Captured by the Mastcam-Z instrument, it covers an expanse spreading up to 65 kilometres. Mastcam-Z can zoom in on specific regions targeted by the rover and is also enabled to take 3D images and video. The real catch of the photo is just how clear and devoid of dust the Martian sky was at the time the photo was taken. "The relatively dust-free skies provide a clear view of the surrounding terrain," Jim Bell, Mastcam-Z’s principal investigator at Arizona State University in Tempe, said. Talking about the enhanced version, Bell said, "In this particular mosaic, we have enhanced the colour contrast, which accentuates the differences in the terrain and sky." Also Read: Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS What does the new photo from Mars show? The latest photo from Mars is filled with several features and items spread across the terrain. 1. The 43rd Abrasion Patch: Left of centre and near the bottom, a bright white, 2-inch circle can be seen. The top of this object was ground by Perseverance on May 22, 2025, using its diamond-dust-tipped Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT). Dust was removed from the top layer to analyse the fresh rock beneath. The team on Earth got a closer look to decide whether to take a core sample and store it in the rover's sample tubes. 2. Float rock: A large rock is visible on top of a dark, crescent-shaped sand ripple to the right of centre in the image. It's a float rock, named so because it is believed to have formed in one location and then transported to a new location by processes such as landslide, water or wind. NASA says it was about 14 feet away from the rover at the time the image was captured. 3. Geologic Contact Line: About halfway up the horizon, the landscape splits in half, and a clear boundary dividing the image can be seen. The lighter, flat rocks closer to the rover are rich in the mineral olivine, while the darker rocks further away transition into older, clay-bearing units. 4. Rover Tracks: On the far right edge, the tracks left by Perseverance's wheels are visible. They turn left about 300 feet away and disappear behind a previous science stop named "Kenmore."

Perseverance rover has been exploring a region named Falbreen on Mars. Last year, it captured a panorama of the landscape, revealing a clear red sky minus any dust. The colour-enhanced version shows blue skies, similar to what is seen on Earth.

Check out these 4 features in the new 360-degree Mars photo taken by NASA's Perseverance rover

Physicists at ETH Zurich achieved perfect randomness using entanglement in quantum mechanics. The breakthrough is huge for cryptography, passwords, and security keys. 

Physicists achieve 'perfect randomness'. Here is why it matters

We have all heard that one day our Sun will expand to such a massive size that it will gobble up Earth and every other planet in the solar system. Scientists have now actually found proof that this happened in other places in the universe, to be precise, six different red dwarfs in three separate clusters. Researchers from Keele University and the University of Exeter state in their study that they have found proof that young stars are capable of eating nearby worlds as planetary systems form. Published in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, the study presents six cases where they found that six different red dwarfs had swallowed Earth-like rocky planets. Their ages were 50 to 200 million years, right around the Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS). Lead author, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, said the team detected the chemical fingerprint which gave away the red dwarfs as planet eaters. “We found that a few of the red dwarf stars we studied contained lithium, a chemical element that should not be there,” he said.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/interstellar-inspired-study-proves-it-is-possible-to-send-messages-back-in-time-1780067491280">‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time</a>&nbsp;Red dwarfs are cool on the outside and extremely hot on the inside. They are smaller than even our Sun, but have the potential to consume planetesimals. The nuclear reactions going on inside a red dwarf would destroy all the lithium right after they are born. Identifying hints of lithium in their atmosphere would mean that they likely engulfed lithium-rich material from a surrounding planetary system. Scientists went through the data on thousands of stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey and found that six red dwarfs have much higher lithium content. These sibling stars were born at the same time from the exact same initial gas cloud. Most of them had no lithium, while six early M-dwarfs had anomalous, high-abundance "fingerprints" of lithium.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-says-this-dark-comet-could-be-a-human-probe-what-avi-loeb-told-wion-1780306270065">Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us</a>&nbsp;The study states that this is proof that they either dramatically “swallowed” surrounding Earth-like planets or chomped down three to 10 Earth masses of planetary material, which led to a fresh lithium infusion. Earlier papers have theorised that similar events could be common in early planetary system formation, and our solar system was likely no exception. If this explanation is correct, it opens a new window into the youth of planetary systems, letting us investigate how often and when planetary engulfment occurs.

Scientists studied thousands of stars born at the same time from the same initial gas cloud and found that six red dwarfs had much higher lithium content. This gave away their past activity, where they had swallowed nearly 10 Earth-like planets.

We have all heard that one day our Sun will expand to such a massive size that it will gobble up Earth and every other planet in the solar system. Scientists have now actually found proof that this happened in other places in the universe, to be precise, six different red dwarfs in three separate clusters. Researchers from Keele University and the University of Exeter state in their study that they have found proof that young stars are capable of eating nearby worlds as planetary systems form. Published in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, the study presents six cases where they found that six different red dwarfs had swallowed Earth-like rocky planets. Their ages were 50 to 200 million years, right around the Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS). Lead author, Professor Robin Jeffries, from Keele University, said the team detected the chemical fingerprint which gave away the red dwarfs as planet eaters. “We found that a few of the red dwarf stars we studied contained lithium, a chemical element that should not be there,” he said. Also Read: ‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time Red dwarfs are cool on the outside and extremely hot on the inside. They are smaller than even our Sun, but have the potential to consume planetesimals. The nuclear reactions going on inside a red dwarf would destroy all the lithium right after they are born. Identifying hints of lithium in their atmosphere would mean that they likely engulfed lithium-rich material from a surrounding planetary system. Scientists went through the data on thousands of stars gathered by the Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic (GES) survey and found that six red dwarfs have much higher lithium content. These sibling stars were born at the same time from the exact same initial gas cloud. Most of them had no lithium, while six early M-dwarfs had anomalous, high-abundance "fingerprints" of lithium. Also Read: Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us The study states that this is proof that they either dramatically “swallowed” surrounding Earth-like planets or chomped down three to 10 Earth masses of planetary material, which led to a fresh lithium infusion. Earlier papers have theorised that similar events could be common in early planetary system formation, and our solar system was likely no exception. If this explanation is correct, it opens a new window into the youth of planetary systems, letting us investigate how often and when planetary engulfment occurs.

Scientists studied thousands of stars born at the same time from the same initial gas cloud and found that six red dwarfs had much higher lithium content. This gave away their past activity, where they had swallowed nearly 10 Earth-like planets.

Six red dwarf stars ate rocky worlds like Earth. The 'fingerprints' exposed them

Scientists have discovered that the molten iron churning deep inside Earth abruptly changed directions around 2010. This goes against the common belief that this liquid outer core only travels westwards. The findings were made by researchers from the University of Edinburgh and published in the Journal of Studies of Earth’s Deep Interior. This molten iron surrounds the solid inner core and is the reason why life is possible on Earth. It creates the magnetic field that cocoons our planet and protects it from the harsh solar radiation. But it switched directions around the equatorial Pacific 16 years ago, leaving scientists questioning everything they know about this layer of Earth.&nbsp;“Scientists now want to understand whether the reversal represents a short-lived fluctuation, part of a repeating oscillation, or a new stable equilibrium for core circulation," lead author of the study, Frederik Dahl Madsen, said in a statement. He added that this discovery "raises new questions about the behaviour of Earth’s deep interior." The team gathered 30 years' worth of data from ground observations and satellites for the study. ESA’s CryoSat and Swarm missions, and the German-launched CHAMP and Ørsted satellites, provided crucial information on the molten layer and its movements.&nbsp;&nbsp;The combined analysis revealed a clear flow reversal in the Pacific Ocean. They noted that its westward movement was weak from 1997 until roughly 2010, and then it turned and started moving eastward. They clarified that this change does not alter Earth's protective layer, the magnetic field.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientist-says-this-dark-comet-could-be-a-human-probe-what-avi-loeb-told-wion-1780306270065">Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us</a>&nbsp;They further stated that this reverse movement started to slow down in 2020, and could be tied to the inner core. "This study shows that regional changes can emerge rapidly within just a decade," ESA’s Elisabetta Iorfida said in a press statement. This information can also help scientists understand "possible interactions between Earth’s outer core, inner core, lower mantle", and offer insights into "core-mantle boundary."&nbsp;Meanwhile, &nbsp;ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager Anja Stromm said that "long-duration satellite magnetic measurements allow researchers to follow changes in the geodynamo in near-real time and improve models of Earth’s magnetic field evolution." &nbsp;

Scientists studied 30 years of data linked to Earth's inner processes and found that the liquid outer core changed direction in 2010. Ten years later, the movement started slowing down and could again go westward. This layer is what created Earth's magnetic field. 

Scientists have discovered that the molten iron churning deep inside Earth abruptly changed directions around 2010. This goes against the common belief that this liquid outer core only travels westwards. The findings were made by researchers from the University of Edinburgh and published in the Journal of Studies of Earth’s Deep Interior. This molten iron surrounds the solid inner core and is the reason why life is possible on Earth. It creates the magnetic field that cocoons our planet and protects it from the harsh solar radiation. But it switched directions around the equatorial Pacific 16 years ago, leaving scientists questioning everything they know about this layer of Earth. “Scientists now want to understand whether the reversal represents a short-lived fluctuation, part of a repeating oscillation, or a new stable equilibrium for core circulation," lead author of the study, Frederik Dahl Madsen, said in a statement. He added that this discovery "raises new questions about the behaviour of Earth’s deep interior." The team gathered 30 years' worth of data from ground observations and satellites for the study. ESA’s CryoSat and Swarm missions, and the German-launched CHAMP and Ørsted satellites, provided crucial information on the molten layer and its movements. The combined analysis revealed a clear flow reversal in the Pacific Ocean. They noted that its westward movement was weak from 1997 until roughly 2010, and then it turned and started moving eastward. They clarified that this change does not alter Earth's protective layer, the magnetic field. Also Read: Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us They further stated that this reverse movement started to slow down in 2020, and could be tied to the inner core. "This study shows that regional changes can emerge rapidly within just a decade," ESA’s Elisabetta Iorfida said in a press statement. This information can also help scientists understand "possible interactions between Earth’s outer core, inner core, lower mantle", and offer insights into "core-mantle boundary." Meanwhile, ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager Anja Stromm said that "long-duration satellite magnetic measurements allow researchers to follow changes in the geodynamo in near-real time and improve models of Earth’s magnetic field evolution."

Scientists studied 30 years of data linked to Earth's inner processes and found that the liquid outer core changed direction in 2010. Ten years later, the movement started slowing down and could again go westward. This layer is what created Earth's magnetic field.&nbsp;

Earth's 'river of liquid iron' shields us from space radiation. But something changed 16 years ago

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has proposed that the dark comet 1998 KY26 could actually be the failed Soviet Union spacecraft Phobos 1. In his new paper, Loeb presents evidence to back this claim. Working alongside Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl, and Carlos Olea, he states that instead of a dark comet, 1998 KY26 could actually be technological in origin. In fact, it took off from Earth in 1988, nearly 40 years ago. In the paper, the researchers list six reasons to cement their claim that it is not a dark comet but actually Phobos 1, the Russian mission to Mars, which could not make it to the Red Planet. Loeb told WION in an email, “The dark comet is likely the entire Phobos 1 spacecraft.”<h2>What is a dark comet?</h2> Dark comets are considered hybrids between comets and asteroids. Even though they display significant non-gravitational accelerations, there is no outgassing involved, and there is no tail or coma either. At least 14 bodies have so far been identified as dark comets.<h2>What Loeb's paper suggests</h2> The professor wrote in his blog that 1998 KY26 is most likely a "sturdy monolithic object," as suggested by its high reflectance, its size and an exceedingly short rotation period. If it were merely a rubble pile, it would have broken apart from the associated centrifugal force, he says. It is possible that it is technological in origin, "potentially a relic of a historical Russian mission to Mars, the Phobos 1 probe".Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/interstellar-inspired-study-proves-it-is-possible-to-send-messages-back-in-time-1780067491280">‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time</a><h2>What went wrong with Phobos 1?</h2> The spacecraft was intended to study Mars and its moon Phobos. It was expected to take 200 days to reach its position. But a faulty command led to the mission being cut short. "On September&nbsp;2, 1988, Phobos 1 stopped transmitting signals towards&nbsp;Earth. This was traced to a faulty key command that was sent unintentionally by a technician on August&nbsp;28 from ground control in Yevpatoria, leaving out a single hyphen in one of the keyed commands," Loeb told WION. "This deactivated the attitude thrusters,&nbsp;causing the spacecraft to lose the lock of its solar arrays on the Sun, depleting its batteries," he added.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deep-space-signal-that-lasted-25-000-seconds-gets-a-possible-explanation-1779876010241">Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation</a><h2>Why 1998 KY26 could be Phobos 1?</h2> Loeb and his team present six reasons why this is possible. Orbits of Phobos 1 and 1998 KY26 are similar; they "converge and are statistically compatible". The second proof is that the "difference between these two orbits is compatible energetically with the overall velocity thrust (∆V) envelope available to Phobos 1." This means that, assuming it is the spacecraft Phobos 1, it would have enough fuel and engine power to transition from the first orbit to the second orbit. "There is a historical record in support of the hypothesis that a propulsive velocity thrust (∆V) was delivered shortly after loss of mission. The Phobos 1 mission was lost early on in the probe’s transit to Mars, enabling a large ∆V capability," the next two points read.&nbsp;The physical properties of the dark comet 1998 KY26 - small size (10 metres), high albedo (the shiny appearance) and unusually large spin - also support their theory. The object also appears to be "elongated", which he says is "expected" for Phobos 1.&nbsp;When asked which are the strongest indications that this dark comet could be Phobos 1, he said, “The strongest support for the association of 1998 KY26 with Phobos 1 is the similarity of their orbits as well as the measured small size (10-meter scale), high reflectance (52%) and unusually large spin (5.4 minutes rotation period), which would break up a rubble pile asteroid.”<h2>Japan to probe dark comet 1998 KY26</h2>&nbsp;The Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) plans to study the dark comet with Hayabusa2, which is expected to land in 2031. It studied the asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2018, brought samples back in 2020 and was sent to analyse 1998 KY26. With this mission, astronomers plan to learn about the nature of outgassing from a dark comet.

A dark comet, 1998 KY26, that is the target of a probe planned for landing in 2031, could be a lost spacecraft. According to a team of scientists, there are quite a few reasons to theorise that this comet is actually a failed Martian probe. 

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has proposed that the dark comet 1998 KY26 could actually be the failed Soviet Union spacecraft Phobos 1. In his new paper, Loeb presents evidence to back this claim. Working alongside Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl, and Carlos Olea, he states that instead of a dark comet, 1998 KY26 could actually be technological in origin. In fact, it took off from Earth in 1988, nearly 40 years ago. In the paper, the researchers list six reasons to cement their claim that it is not a dark comet but actually Phobos 1, the Russian mission to Mars, which could not make it to the Red Planet. Loeb told WION in an email, “The dark comet is likely the entire Phobos 1 spacecraft.” What is a dark comet? Dark comets are considered hybrids between comets and asteroids. Even though they display significant non-gravitational accelerations, there is no outgassing involved, and there is no tail or coma either. At least 14 bodies have so far been identified as dark comets. What Loeb's paper suggests The professor wrote in his blog that 1998 KY26 is most likely a "sturdy monolithic object," as suggested by its high reflectance, its size and an exceedingly short rotation period. If it were merely a rubble pile, it would have broken apart from the associated centrifugal force, he says. It is possible that it is technological in origin, "potentially a relic of a historical Russian mission to Mars, the Phobos 1 probe". Also Read: ‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time What went wrong with Phobos 1? The spacecraft was intended to study Mars and its moon Phobos. It was expected to take 200 days to reach its position. But a faulty command led to the mission being cut short. "On September 2, 1988, Phobos 1 stopped transmitting signals towards Earth. This was traced to a faulty key command that was sent unintentionally by a technician on August 28 from ground control in Yevpatoria, leaving out a single hyphen in one of the keyed commands," Loeb told WION. "This deactivated the attitude thrusters, causing the spacecraft to lose the lock of its solar arrays on the Sun, depleting its batteries," he added. Also Read: Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation Why 1998 KY26 could be Phobos 1? Loeb and his team present six reasons why this is possible. Orbits of Phobos 1 and 1998 KY26 are similar; they "converge and are statistically compatible". The second proof is that the "difference between these two orbits is compatible energetically with the overall velocity thrust (∆V) envelope available to Phobos 1." This means that, assuming it is the spacecraft Phobos 1, it would have enough fuel and engine power to transition from the first orbit to the second orbit. "There is a historical record in support of the hypothesis that a propulsive velocity thrust (∆V) was delivered shortly after loss of mission. The Phobos 1 mission was lost early on in the probe’s transit to Mars, enabling a large ∆V capability," the next two points read. The physical properties of the dark comet 1998 KY26 - small size (10 metres), high albedo (the shiny appearance) and unusually large spin - also support their theory. The object also appears to be "elongated", which he says is "expected" for Phobos 1. When asked which are the strongest indications that this dark comet could be Phobos 1, he said, “The strongest support for the association of 1998 KY26 with Phobos 1 is the similarity of their orbits as well as the measured small size (10-meter scale), high reflectance (52%) and unusually large spin (5.4 minutes rotation period), which would break up a rubble pile asteroid.” Japan to probe dark comet 1998 KY26 The Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) plans to study the dark comet with Hayabusa2, which is expected to land in 2031. It studied the asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2018, brought samples back in 2020 and was sent to analyse 1998 KY26. With this mission, astronomers plan to learn about the nature of outgassing from a dark comet.

A dark comet, 1998 KY26, that is the target of a probe planned for landing in 2031, could be a lost spacecraft. According to a team of scientists, there are quite a few reasons to theorise that this comet is actually a failed Martian probe.&nbsp;

Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us

Nvidia on Monday (Jun 1) unveiled a powerful laptop chip for Windows laptops, entering the market for AI-powered PC that is dominated by established players such as Intel, AMD and Qualcomm. The move marks Nvidia’s most significant push into personal computing in more than a decade and comes as the company seeks to extend its dominance beyond data centres and into devices.According to analysts, Nvidia’s entry into the personal computer processor market puts it in direct competition with industry heavyweights such as Apple, Intel and AMD. However, they expect the AI-focused devices to launch at premium price points. Although the company also plans to introduce more affordable versions of the technology in the future.The move also reflects Nvidia's broader strategy to expand beyond its dominant data centre business and strengthen its presence in the consumer technology market. The company, which has emerged as the world’s most valuable firm amid the artificial intelligence boom, continues to benefit from surging demand for its AI chips from major global technology companies.Speaking at the Computex technology exhibition, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described the new RTX Spark Superchip as a transformative step for personal computing.“Microsoft and Nvidia are going to reinvent the PC. This is going to be the new PC,” Huang said during the launch event.Highlighting the system’s capabilities, Huang said the platform would be powerful enough to handle a wide range of demanding workloads, from digital biology and seismic analysis to astrophysics research.“If you want to run digital biology, no problem. If you want to do seismic processing, no problem. You want astrophysics, no problem,” Huang said.He added that years of collaboration between Microsoft and Nvidia had resulted in a platform capable of running virtually all existing software while also supporting advanced AI agents and next-generation artificial intelligence applications.“Microsoft and Nvidia meticulously optimised everything so that this computer literally runs everything the world has ever created, while also enabling powerful AI agents,” Huang said, calling it “an incredible computer.”

Nvidia unveils AI-powered laptop chip for Windows PCs, challenging Intel, AMD and Qualcomm, as CEO Jensen Huang calls it the “new PC” revolution.

Nvidia on Monday (Jun 1) unveiled a powerful laptop chip for Windows laptops, entering the market for AI-powered PC that is dominated by established players such as Intel, AMD and Qualcomm. The move marks Nvidia’s most significant push into personal computing in more than a decade and comes as the company seeks to extend its dominance beyond data centres and into devices. According to analysts, Nvidia’s entry into the personal computer processor market puts it in direct competition with industry heavyweights such as Apple, Intel and AMD. However, they expect the AI-focused devices to launch at premium price points. Although the company also plans to introduce more affordable versions of the technology in the future. The move also reflects Nvidia's broader strategy to expand beyond its dominant data centre business and strengthen its presence in the consumer technology market. The company, which has emerged as the world’s most valuable firm amid the artificial intelligence boom, continues to benefit from surging demand for its AI chips from major global technology companies. Speaking at the Computex technology exhibition, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described the new RTX Spark Superchip as a transformative step for personal computing. “Microsoft and Nvidia are going to reinvent the PC. This is going to be the new PC,” Huang said during the launch event. Highlighting the system’s capabilities, Huang said the platform would be powerful enough to handle a wide range of demanding workloads, from digital biology and seismic analysis to astrophysics research. “If you want to run digital biology, no problem. If you want to do seismic processing, no problem. You want astrophysics, no problem,” Huang said. He added that years of collaboration between Microsoft and Nvidia had resulted in a platform capable of running virtually all existing software while also supporting advanced AI agents and next-generation artificial intelligence applications. “Microsoft and Nvidia meticulously optimised everything so that this computer literally runs everything the world has ever created, while also enabling powerful AI agents,” Huang said, calling it “an incredible computer.”

Nvidia unveils AI-powered laptop chip for Windows PCs, challenging Intel, AMD and Qualcomm, as CEO Jensen Huang calls it the “new PC” revolution.

‘Reinventing PC’: Nvidia unveils new chip for Windows laptops, challenging Intel, AMD

Humanoid robots joined human models on a Seoul runway, wearing matching designer outfits in a futuristic fashion show exploring how humans and AI-powered machines could coexist in everyday life.

‘Robots need clothes too’: Humanoids join human models at Seoul fashion show

For decades, astronomers have worked on the assumption that galaxies came first. In the conventional picture, stars form within galaxies, exhaust their fuel and collapse into black holes, which gradually grow by consuming surrounding matter and merging with other black holes. Yet a new discovery by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is challenging that sequence, offering evidence that some supermassive black holes may have formed before the galaxies around them.&nbsp;The findings, published in Nature and the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, centre on a distant object known as Abell2744-QSO1, or QSO1, a ‘Little Red Dot’ that existed just 700 million years after the Big Bang. Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process.<h2>A Tiny Object With an Enormous Black Hole</h2>QSO1 is only about 1,300 light-years across, but its light has travelled for more than 13 billion years to reach Earth. The object is magnified by the gravitational lensing effect of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, also known as Pandora’s Cluster, making it easier to study than many similar early-universe objects.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/blue-origin-s-new-glenn-programme-hit-by-months-of-delays-after-launch-pad-explosion-1780145007586">Blue Origin's New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion</a>&nbsp;Initial observations suggested that QSO1 consisted largely of hydrogen and helium gas orbiting a black hole estimated to be tens of millions of times the mass of the Sun. However, researchers needed a direct way to confirm that estimate.“Before now, all of the mass measurements of black holes in the early universe have been indirect, based on assumptions from what we know about them in the local universe,” said Francesco D’Eugenio of the University of Cambridge. “We didn’t know if those assumptions really apply to the distant universe.”<h2>Webb Maps the Motion of Gas</h2>Using the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) aboard Webb, scientists mapped the motion of hydrogen gas around the black hole. The gas displayed Keplerian motion, orbiting the central object in the same way planets orbit the Sun.“This is important because it tells us that most of the mass of QSO1 is concentrated in the black hole at the centre,” said researcher Ignas Juodžbalis. “If the mass were more distributed, as it would be if there were a lot of stars, the gas would not have this perfect Keplerian rotation.”&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-hiding-inside-the-antennae-galaxies-scientists-uncover-evidence-of-a-possible-supermassive-black-hole-1780132935399">What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The observations enabled the first direct measurement of a black hole mass within the universe’s first billion years. Researchers calculated the object’s mass at roughly 50 million times that of the Sun.<h2>A Challenge to Existing Theories</h2>Perhaps the most striking result is that the black hole accounts for at least two-thirds of QSO1’s total mass, far higher than in nearby galaxies, where black holes typically represent only a tiny fraction of the host galaxy’s mass. The surrounding gas was also found to be almost entirely hydrogen and helium, with a metallicity below 0.5 per cent of the Sun, making QSO1 one of the most chemically pristine galactic environments ever observed.&nbsp;“It seems that we have found a black hole that does not have a substantial host galaxy and that has predated stellar processes,” said Juodžbalis. “This is very exciting because it is evidence for primordial black holes or direct collapse black holes, which have been theorised but not confirmed.” Calling the discovery “a paradigm shift”, co-author Roberto Maiolino said: “It’s a total revisiting of the classical scenarios of how black holes form and grow.”

Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process.

For decades, astronomers have worked on the assumption that galaxies came first. In the conventional picture, stars form within galaxies, exhaust their fuel and collapse into black holes, which gradually grow by consuming surrounding matter and merging with other black holes. Yet a new discovery by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is challenging that sequence, offering evidence that some supermassive black holes may have formed before the galaxies around them. The findings, published in Nature and the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, centre on a distant object known as Abell2744-QSO1, or QSO1, a ‘Little Red Dot’ that existed just 700 million years after the Big Bang. Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process. A Tiny Object With an Enormous Black Hole QSO1 is only about 1,300 light-years across, but its light has travelled for more than 13 billion years to reach Earth. The object is magnified by the gravitational lensing effect of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, also known as Pandora’s Cluster, making it easier to study than many similar early-universe objects. ALSO READ: Blue Origin's New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion Initial observations suggested that QSO1 consisted largely of hydrogen and helium gas orbiting a black hole estimated to be tens of millions of times the mass of the Sun. However, researchers needed a direct way to confirm that estimate. “Before now, all of the mass measurements of black holes in the early universe have been indirect, based on assumptions from what we know about them in the local universe,” said Francesco D’Eugenio of the University of Cambridge. “We didn’t know if those assumptions really apply to the distant universe.” Webb Maps the Motion of Gas Using the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) aboard Webb, scientists mapped the motion of hydrogen gas around the black hole. The gas displayed Keplerian motion, orbiting the central object in the same way planets orbit the Sun. “This is important because it tells us that most of the mass of QSO1 is concentrated in the black hole at the centre,” said researcher Ignas Juodžbalis. “If the mass were more distributed, as it would be if there were a lot of stars, the gas would not have this perfect Keplerian rotation.” ALSO READ: What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole The observations enabled the first direct measurement of a black hole mass within the universe’s first billion years. Researchers calculated the object’s mass at roughly 50 million times that of the Sun. A Challenge to Existing Theories Perhaps the most striking result is that the black hole accounts for at least two-thirds of QSO1’s total mass, far higher than in nearby galaxies, where black holes typically represent only a tiny fraction of the host galaxy’s mass. The surrounding gas was also found to be almost entirely hydrogen and helium, with a metallicity below 0.5 per cent of the Sun, making QSO1 one of the most chemically pristine galactic environments ever observed. “It seems that we have found a black hole that does not have a substantial host galaxy and that has predated stellar processes,” said Juodžbalis. “This is very exciting because it is evidence for primordial black holes or direct collapse black holes, which have been theorised but not confirmed.” Calling the discovery “a paradigm shift”, co-author Roberto Maiolino said: “It’s a total revisiting of the classical scenarios of how black holes form and grow.”

Researchers say the object could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a supermassive black hole forming without first emerging from a stellar collapse process.

Which came first—the black hole or the galaxy? Webb discovery questions a key theory of galaxy formation

Blue Origin is facing a major operational setback after an explosion during a pre-launch engine test severely damaged a launch pad used for its New Glenn rocket, potentially delaying missions for months and disrupting key plans for Amazon’s satellite broadband network and NASA’s lunar programme.&nbsp;The incident occurred on Thursday during a test firing ahead of a scheduled New Glenn launch next week. According to company and industry sources cited by Reuters, the booster involved was named 'o, It’s Necessary', a reference to a line from the film Interstellar. A person familiar with the matter said the launch pad was ‘practically destroyed’, with engineers expecting at least six months of disruption, if not longer. The setback comes at a critical time for Jeff Bezos’ space ambitions, as Blue Origin seeks to establish New Glenn as a credible rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX in both the heavy-lift launch and satellite internet markets.<h2>Launch Delays Threaten Amazon’s Satellite Plans</h2>The damage could significantly affect Amazon’s satellite deployment schedule. Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-hiding-inside-the-antennae-galaxies-scientists-uncover-evidence-of-a-possible-supermassive-black-hole-1780132935399">What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;“An extended grounding by the FAA will severely threaten the timeline,” the report noted. According to Antoine Grenier, partner and head of space consulting at Analysys Mason, Amazon has already secured much of the near-term launch capacity available from alternative providers. “It's only been a year since the SpaceX Starship also exploded on the launch pad and Blue Origin can also recover. But it will take months to rebuild,” Grenier said, according to Reuters.<h2>SpaceX Gains Ground</h2>While Amazon has diversified its launch contracts by signing agreements with multiple providers, including SpaceX, New Glenn was expected to play a central role in the constellation rollout. Grenier noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry roughly half as many Kuiper satellites per mission as New Glenn, meaning a shift in launch strategy would likely require substantially more flights.&nbsp;Following the explosion, Musk posted on X: “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.” He later added, “Ad astra per aspera,” a Latin phrase commonly translated as “through hardships to the stars”.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-thought-i-was-protecting-them-war-torn-gaza-sees-surge-in-early-marriages-reports-say-1780131386993">‘I thought I was protecting them’: War-torn Gaza sees surge in early marriages, reports say</a><h2>Questions for NASA and the Wider Space Industry</h2>The damaged rocket was also due to launch Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon lunar lander later this year. Just days before the incident, NASA awarded the company a contract to deliver two lunar rovers ahead of the Artemis 4 mission in 2028.NASA said it would assess any near-term impact on its Artemis and Moon Base programmes. However, the US Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office reaffirmed their commitment to Blue Origin’s recently awarded national security launch contract despite the explosion.&nbsp;“Long term, the market still needs viable alternatives, so this strengthens SpaceX’s position at the margin, but doesn't change the broader trajectory toward a multi-provider ecosystem,” said Seraphim Space chief executive Mark Boggett.

Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.

Blue Origin is facing a major operational setback after an explosion during a pre-launch engine test severely damaged a launch pad used for its New Glenn rocket, potentially delaying missions for months and disrupting key plans for Amazon’s satellite broadband network and NASA’s lunar programme. The incident occurred on Thursday during a test firing ahead of a scheduled New Glenn launch next week. According to company and industry sources cited by Reuters, the booster involved was named 'o, It’s Necessary', a reference to a line from the film Interstellar. A person familiar with the matter said the launch pad was ‘practically destroyed’, with engineers expecting at least six months of disruption, if not longer. The setback comes at a critical time for Jeff Bezos’ space ambitions, as Blue Origin seeks to establish New Glenn as a credible rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX in both the heavy-lift launch and satellite internet markets. Launch Delays Threaten Amazon’s Satellite Plans The damage could significantly affect Amazon’s satellite deployment schedule. Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements. ALSO READ: What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole “An extended grounding by the FAA will severely threaten the timeline,” the report noted. According to Antoine Grenier, partner and head of space consulting at Analysys Mason, Amazon has already secured much of the near-term launch capacity available from alternative providers. “It's only been a year since the SpaceX Starship also exploded on the launch pad and Blue Origin can also recover. But it will take months to rebuild,” Grenier said, according to Reuters. SpaceX Gains Ground While Amazon has diversified its launch contracts by signing agreements with multiple providers, including SpaceX, New Glenn was expected to play a central role in the constellation rollout. Grenier noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry roughly half as many Kuiper satellites per mission as New Glenn, meaning a shift in launch strategy would likely require substantially more flights. Following the explosion, Musk posted on X: “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.” He later added, “Ad astra per aspera,” a Latin phrase commonly translated as “through hardships to the stars”. ALSO READ: ‘I thought I was protecting them’: War-torn Gaza sees surge in early marriages, reports say Questions for NASA and the Wider Space Industry The damaged rocket was also due to launch Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon lunar lander later this year. Just days before the incident, NASA awarded the company a contract to deliver two lunar rovers ahead of the Artemis 4 mission in 2028. NASA said it would assess any near-term impact on its Artemis and Moon Base programmes. However, the US Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office reaffirmed their commitment to Blue Origin’s recently awarded national security launch contract despite the explosion. “Long term, the market still needs viable alternatives, so this strengthens SpaceX’s position at the margin, but doesn't change the broader trajectory toward a multi-provider ecosystem,” said Seraphim Space chief executive Mark Boggett.

Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.

Blue Origin's New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion

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New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion