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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has released a photo of an asteroid 100 million kilometres away from Earth. The image was taken by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, a probe which previously returned samples from asteroid Ryugu. It was supposed to come within 2,625 feet of the asteroid, Torifune, although JAXA hasn't confirmed how close it actually got. The asteroid looks like a snowman, with two rocks attached to each other. Scientists say the mission was aimed at demonstrating the ability to deflect an asteroid in space.&nbsp;JAXA scientist Yuya Mimasu expressed his excitement at the close imagery, saying that it gave him "goosebumps" and that it "personally looked like a snowman." The photo was taken by a telescopic camera. Mimasu said that he was not expecting to get such a photo, and he is "absolutely over the moon". The space agency confirmed that this is the closest flyby of a near-Earth asteroid ever. Three other devices that measure the distance from the asteroid and examine the existence of water also gathered data on the space rock.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/earth-dodged-asteroid-4581-asclepius-by-6-hours-1782284481890">Earth dodged an asteroid by just 6 hours, crossing paths with a potential city-killer</a><h2>Asteroid 98943 Torifune</h2> The near-Earth asteroid is travelling in deep space and live orbital tracking puts it at a distance of 95.3 million kilometres from Earth. It has a diameter of 1,475 feet and could come as close as 12.4 million kilometres to our planet in the future. It goes around the Sun in 383 days, moving at a speed of more than 18,000 kilometres. Its next close pass to Earth will happen in October 2027 when it will be 22 million kilometres away.<h2>Hayabusa2 accolades and future missions</h2> Hayabusa2 was launched in 2014 to study the asteroid Ryugu, nearly 300 million kilometres from our planet. The 3,000 ft space rock has been classified as a potentially hazardous object. Hayabusa2 brought back valuable information that shed light on what the universe was like billions of years ago. The material is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old, while the asteroid took shape only about a billion years ago. Hayabusa2's next mission is to carry out a close flyby or land on asteroid 1998KY26 in 2031.&nbsp;

Hayabusa2 probe has taken the closest photos of an asteroid ever. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's mission to Torifune was aimed at showing the preparedness in deflecting an asteroid in deep space. The asteroid flies nearly 100 million kilometres from Earth.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has released a photo of an asteroid 100 million kilometres away from Earth. The image was taken by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, a probe which previously returned samples from asteroid Ryugu. It was supposed to come within 2,625 feet of the asteroid, Torifune, although JAXA hasn't confirmed how close it actually got. The asteroid looks like a snowman, with two rocks attached to each other. Scientists say the mission was aimed at demonstrating the ability to deflect an asteroid in space. JAXA scientist Yuya Mimasu expressed his excitement at the close imagery, saying that it gave him "goosebumps" and that it "personally looked like a snowman." The photo was taken by a telescopic camera. Mimasu said that he was not expecting to get such a photo, and he is "absolutely over the moon". The space agency confirmed that this is the closest flyby of a near-Earth asteroid ever. Three other devices that measure the distance from the asteroid and examine the existence of water also gathered data on the space rock. Also Read: Earth dodged an asteroid by just 6 hours, crossing paths with a potential city-killer Asteroid 98943 Torifune The near-Earth asteroid is travelling in deep space and live orbital tracking puts it at a distance of 95.3 million kilometres from Earth. It has a diameter of 1,475 feet and could come as close as 12.4 million kilometres to our planet in the future. It goes around the Sun in 383 days, moving at a speed of more than 18,000 kilometres. Its next close pass to Earth will happen in October 2027 when it will be 22 million kilometres away. Hayabusa2 accolades and future missions Hayabusa2 was launched in 2014 to study the asteroid Ryugu, nearly 300 million kilometres from our planet. The 3,000 ft space rock has been classified as a potentially hazardous object. Hayabusa2 brought back valuable information that shed light on what the universe was like billions of years ago. The material is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old, while the asteroid took shape only about a billion years ago. Hayabusa2's next mission is to carry out a close flyby or land on asteroid 1998KY26 in 2031.

Hayabusa2 probe has taken the closest photos of an asteroid ever. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's mission to Torifune was aimed at showing the preparedness in deflecting an asteroid in deep space. The asteroid flies nearly 100 million kilometres from Earth.

Probe carries out record flyby of asteroid 100mn km from Earth - 'It gave me goosebumps'

Anthropologist Gregory Forth believes that a species which is half human and half ape could still be residing in the mountain cave on Indonesia’s Flores Island, Popular Mechanics reported. These beings are like a hairy animal that is also a short human. It is an early type of human that he thinks has survived for 50,000 years, alienated from the rest of the world. Paleoanthropologists discovered its bones in the Liang Bua limestone cave and are sure that Forth's theory has an extremely tiny chance of being true. These experts study human evolution based on evidence and state that no evidence backs the claim that this extinct "ape-men" species could still be living anywhere on Earth.&nbsp;Scientists first found this species in 2004, with a study in the journal Nature stating that this early human walked upright, had a small body structure and large feet. They named it Homo floresiensis (nicknamed Hobbit), and all the body parts came from a single female. They went on to find bones of 12 more Hobbits, and the tools revealed that they belonged to the Late Pleistocene era. They were only about 3.5 feet tall with large teeth and feet, and a small skull that housed a tiny brain.&nbsp;While Forth thinks that there is still time before we find evidence of them being alive, others dismiss his claims. "Bear in mind that a lot of species have been known to local people (in the vicinity of Flores, for example, the Komodo dragon) before they were accepted by scientists,” he told the outlet. He admits that scientists need to see a specimen to be sure about it. However, since the idea that this human species could still be alive doesn't fit in with existing beliefs, no one is actually spending time looking for them, Matthew Tocheri, from the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins Initiative, said.&nbsp;“I would be one of the most excited people in the world if Homo floresiensis were still around,” he admitted. However, he says it is highly unlikely that they are still living on Earth. He thinks this would be similar to folklore about Bigfoot or Sasquatch, whom people claim to have seen, but have never found any evidence.<h2>About Homo floresiensis, or the hobbit</h2>&nbsp;They appeared similar to Australopithecus afarensis, a species that went extinct 2.8 million years before the hobbit, leaving scientists puzzled. Researchers believe that one human species started living in Flores about one million years ago and went extinct nearly 50,000 years ago. A study published in the journal Science Advances on July 3 revealed that they neither hunted nor used fire.&nbsp;But earlier analysis showed that they hunted Stegodons, extinct creatures similar to today's elephants. But anthropologists soon found that the marks on their bones did not come from stone tools, but were from the Komodo dragon, and the hobbits likely ate the leftovers. Further studies showed that they were carnivores and ate "plants, fruits, animals, possibly nuts or insects as well." &nbsp;

Scientists are sure that the tiny ancient humans went extinct 50,000 years ago. However, one of them believes that there is a chance that they have continued to live away from civilisation. They were nicknamed hobbits because of their small stature.  

Anthropologist Gregory Forth believes that a species which is half human and half ape could still be residing in the mountain cave on Indonesia’s Flores Island, Popular Mechanics reported. These beings are like a hairy animal that is also a short human. It is an early type of human that he thinks has survived for 50,000 years, alienated from the rest of the world. Paleoanthropologists discovered its bones in the Liang Bua limestone cave and are sure that Forth's theory has an extremely tiny chance of being true. These experts study human evolution based on evidence and state that no evidence backs the claim that this extinct "ape-men" species could still be living anywhere on Earth. Scientists first found this species in 2004, with a study in the journal Nature stating that this early human walked upright, had a small body structure and large feet. They named it Homo floresiensis (nicknamed Hobbit), and all the body parts came from a single female. They went on to find bones of 12 more Hobbits, and the tools revealed that they belonged to the Late Pleistocene era. They were only about 3.5 feet tall with large teeth and feet, and a small skull that housed a tiny brain. While Forth thinks that there is still time before we find evidence of them being alive, others dismiss his claims. "Bear in mind that a lot of species have been known to local people (in the vicinity of Flores, for example, the Komodo dragon) before they were accepted by scientists,” he told the outlet. He admits that scientists need to see a specimen to be sure about it. However, since the idea that this human species could still be alive doesn't fit in with existing beliefs, no one is actually spending time looking for them, Matthew Tocheri, from the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins Initiative, said. “I would be one of the most excited people in the world if Homo floresiensis were still around,” he admitted. However, he says it is highly unlikely that they are still living on Earth. He thinks this would be similar to folklore about Bigfoot or Sasquatch, whom people claim to have seen, but have never found any evidence. About Homo floresiensis, or the hobbit They appeared similar to Australopithecus afarensis, a species that went extinct 2.8 million years before the hobbit, leaving scientists puzzled. Researchers believe that one human species started living in Flores about one million years ago and went extinct nearly 50,000 years ago. A study published in the journal Science Advances on July 3 revealed that they neither hunted nor used fire. But earlier analysis showed that they hunted Stegodons, extinct creatures similar to today's elephants. But anthropologists soon found that the marks on their bones did not come from stone tools, but were from the Komodo dragon, and the hobbits likely ate the leftovers. Further studies showed that they were carnivores and ate "plants, fruits, animals, possibly nuts or insects as well."

Scientists are sure that the tiny ancient humans went extinct 50,000 years ago. However, one of them believes that there is a chance that they have continued to live away from civilisation. They were nicknamed hobbits because of their small stature. &nbsp;

Hobbit-like creature that went extinct 50,000 years ago could still be alive, scientist claims

The Indian government has made the sale of E20 petrol mandatory across the nation. E20 fuel is a blend of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. Amid global oil uncertainty, India has been pushed to move towards E20. Using this fuel would enable the government to cut imports, support farmers producing ethanol crops, and reduce vehicle emissions. However, the question arises whether this fuel would impact the vehicles. While the difference is not that noticeable, it behaves differently once going inside the engine. Let’s explore what science says about it.<h2>How does E20 fuel burn differently?</h2>Ethanol is not just “mixed-in petrol.” It behaves differently when it burns. It carries oxygen in its structure, so combustion tends to be more complete. That usually means fewer leftover pollutants and a slightly cleaner burn inside the engine. Ethanol also has a higher octane rating, which helps reduce knocking and keeps the engine running more smoothly under stress.But there’s a limitation that no engine tuning can avoid. Ethanol contains less energy per litre than petrol. So even if the combustion is clean and efficient, each litre of E20 simply doesn’t go as far in terms of energy output. That’s the quiet reason behind most of the changes people notice.<h2>How does E20 fuel affect fuel efficiency and mileage?</h2>The most consistent finding across studies and real-world tests of using E20 fuel is that it reduces the mileage slightly. In modern vehicles designed for ethanol blends, fuel efficiency typically drops by around 3-4 per cent. In everyday life, this does not feel sudden. You don’t wake up one day and see a major change. It shows up quietly over time – maybe a few extra fuel stops in a month, or a slightly higher running cost when you look back at expenses.And nothing is wrong with the engine when this happens. It is not underperforming but simply using a fuel that contains less energy per litre, so it needs a bit more fuel to travel the same distance.<h2>Does E20 fuel affect driving experience?</h2>For most drivers, E20 fuel does not have an effect in driving. Modern engines automatically adjust to ethanol blends, so power delivery stays steady. Acceleration feels normal. City traffic, highway cruising, overtaking – all of it feels the same.In some cases, the engine may even feel a bit smoother at lower speeds. That is because ethanol’s higher octane rating helps reduce knocking and stabilises combustion. But these are subtle differences. Most people won’t consciously notice them while driving.<h2>How suitable is E20 fuel for older vehicles?</h2>Newer vehicles are designed with ethanol compatibility in mind. Their fuel lines, seals, and engine components are built to handle E20, and long-term testing shows they generally do well.However, many older vehicles were never designed for higher ethanol blends. Over time, ethanol can slowly affect certain rubber parts or fuel system materials. It doesn’t cause immediate damage, but it can lead to gradual wear depending on the vehicle’s age and condition. So compatibility matters more here than in newer cars.<h2>Environmental benefits of E20 fuel</h2>Ethanol blend fuel can significantly reduce vehicle emissions. As ethanol contains oxygen, it helps fuel burn more completely. That leads to lower emissions of carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. In simple terms, the exhaust coming out of the tailpipe is cleaner.There is also a bigger environmental angle. Ethanol comes from plant sources, so part of the fuel is renewable rather than fossil-based. That helps reduce dependence on crude oil and lowers overall carbon emissions across the fuel’s lifecycle, depending on how the ethanol is produced.<h2>Overall impact of E20 fuel</h2>E20 is not a dramatic upgrade, and it is not a risky fuel either. It sits in a middle space. While you may lose a small amount of mileage over time, you will not feel major changes in performance if your vehicle is compatible. And most of the time, you won’t notice anything different in daily driving at all.In the end, it is a quiet trade-off – slightly fewer kilometres per litre, in exchange for cleaner combustion and a smaller environmental footprint.

E20 petrol, a 20 per cent ethanol blend, is being rolled out across India to cut oil imports and emissions. Here’s what science says about how it may affect engines.

The Indian government has made the sale of E20 petrol mandatory across the nation. E20 fuel is a blend of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. Amid global oil uncertainty, India has been pushed to move towards E20. Using this fuel would enable the government to cut imports, support farmers producing ethanol crops, and reduce vehicle emissions. However, the question arises whether this fuel would impact the vehicles. While the difference is not that noticeable, it behaves differently once going inside the engine. Let’s explore what science says about it. How does E20 fuel burn differently? Ethanol is not just “mixed-in petrol.” It behaves differently when it burns. It carries oxygen in its structure, so combustion tends to be more complete. That usually means fewer leftover pollutants and a slightly cleaner burn inside the engine. Ethanol also has a higher octane rating, which helps reduce knocking and keeps the engine running more smoothly under stress. But there’s a limitation that no engine tuning can avoid. Ethanol contains less energy per litre than petrol. So even if the combustion is clean and efficient, each litre of E20 simply doesn’t go as far in terms of energy output. That’s the quiet reason behind most of the changes people notice. How does E20 fuel affect fuel efficiency and mileage? The most consistent finding across studies and real-world tests of using E20 fuel is that it reduces the mileage slightly. In modern vehicles designed for ethanol blends, fuel efficiency typically drops by around 3-4 per cent. In everyday life, this does not feel sudden. You don’t wake up one day and see a major change. It shows up quietly over time – maybe a few extra fuel stops in a month, or a slightly higher running cost when you look back at expenses. And nothing is wrong with the engine when this happens. It is not underperforming but simply using a fuel that contains less energy per litre, so it needs a bit more fuel to travel the same distance. Does E20 fuel affect driving experience? For most drivers, E20 fuel does not have an effect in driving. Modern engines automatically adjust to ethanol blends, so power delivery stays steady. Acceleration feels normal. City traffic, highway cruising, overtaking – all of it feels the same. In some cases, the engine may even feel a bit smoother at lower speeds. That is because ethanol’s higher octane rating helps reduce knocking and stabilises combustion. But these are subtle differences. Most people won’t consciously notice them while driving. How suitable is E20 fuel for older vehicles? Newer vehicles are designed with ethanol compatibility in mind. Their fuel lines, seals, and engine components are built to handle E20, and long-term testing shows they generally do well. However, many older vehicles were never designed for higher ethanol blends. Over time, ethanol can slowly affect certain rubber parts or fuel system materials. It doesn’t cause immediate damage, but it can lead to gradual wear depending on the vehicle’s age and condition. So compatibility matters more here than in newer cars. Environmental benefits of E20 fuel Ethanol blend fuel can significantly reduce vehicle emissions. As ethanol contains oxygen, it helps fuel burn more completely. That leads to lower emissions of carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. In simple terms, the exhaust coming out of the tailpipe is cleaner. There is also a bigger environmental angle. Ethanol comes from plant sources, so part of the fuel is renewable rather than fossil-based. That helps reduce dependence on crude oil and lowers overall carbon emissions across the fuel’s lifecycle, depending on how the ethanol is produced. Overall impact of E20 fuel E20 is not a dramatic upgrade, and it is not a risky fuel either. It sits in a middle space. While you may lose a small amount of mileage over time, you will not feel major changes in performance if your vehicle is compatible. And most of the time, you won’t notice anything different in daily driving at all. In the end, it is a quiet trade-off – slightly fewer kilometres per litre, in exchange for cleaner combustion and a smaller environmental footprint.

E20 petrol, a 20 per cent ethanol blend, is being rolled out across India to cut oil imports and emissions. Here’s what science says about how it may affect engines.

Will E20 fuel affect your car? Here's what science says

NASA launched the LINK craft to catch a falling telescope with three robotic arms in space on Friday. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has been watching major explosions in space for 22 years. But a thinning orbit has caused a drag on it, putting it at risk of crashing on Earth. NASA earlier said that the chances of the telescope crashing by June 2026 stood at 50 per cent, and there is a 90 per cent probability of it happening before 2027. LINK will carry the telescope to a higher and more stable orbit and place it there. The intention is to increase its lifespan because of the work it does. This is the first time a space agency has carried out such a mission.&nbsp;Swift has been gradually falling towards Earth. Its initial orbit in 2004 was located at 600 km above the surface of Earth. But now it has dropped to around 360 km. The majority of this drag happened in the last two years. Some of Earth's atmosphere stretches into space, which pulls on spacecraft and satellites. Increasing solar storms in the past year, with the current solar maximum, have pushed the observatory further down. Satellites crash onto Earth and burn up in the atmosphere, but Swift was a project NASA wanted to save.&nbsp;It has three telescopes aboard that peer into the earliest time of the universe. It witnesses powerful explosions caused by stellar deaths and their material crashing into each other. These events generate more energy than our Sun will produce over its entire life cycle. These explosions need to be captured quickly since they are extremely brief. Swift has been doing this job perfectly since it was launched. So NASA wants to save this space observatory.Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/space-telescope-could-crash-any-time-can-a-30mn-robotic-tugboat-save-the-500mn-wonder-1777553597858"> THIS space telescope could crash any time. NASA will launch a spacecraft from plane to save it</a><h2>Designing a robot that can save Swift&nbsp;</h2>The task of saving it was awarded to Katalyst Space Technologies, which had its task cut out - launch a mission within a year before Swift falls down to 300 km. Chief Executive Ghonhee Lee said that at this point, it would become impossible to save it. The company "designed, built, tested, and integrated a robotic spacecraft" in just eight months. It has cameras and guidance systems and is driven by small thrusters.<h2>LINK will take at least 4 months to do its job&nbsp;</h2>It will spend a few weeks switching on and testing its systems to ensure everything is working properly. Although the Pegasus XL rocket placed LINK near Swift, it will be three to four weeks before it places itself alongside the observatory. It will photograph it from all angles, and later use its three arms to hold it and carry it upwards. It will be a slow process and will take three to four months.&nbsp;

NASA has launched a mission to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and prevent it from falling. It wants to save the observatory instead of letting it crash because of the crucial work it is doing in watching stellar deaths in ancient cosmos.

NASA launched the LINK craft to catch a falling telescope with three robotic arms in space on Friday. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has been watching major explosions in space for 22 years. But a thinning orbit has caused a drag on it, putting it at risk of crashing on Earth. NASA earlier said that the chances of the telescope crashing by June 2026 stood at 50 per cent, and there is a 90 per cent probability of it happening before 2027. LINK will carry the telescope to a higher and more stable orbit and place it there. The intention is to increase its lifespan because of the work it does. This is the first time a space agency has carried out such a mission. Swift has been gradually falling towards Earth. Its initial orbit in 2004 was located at 600 km above the surface of Earth. But now it has dropped to around 360 km. The majority of this drag happened in the last two years. Some of Earth's atmosphere stretches into space, which pulls on spacecraft and satellites. Increasing solar storms in the past year, with the current solar maximum, have pushed the observatory further down. Satellites crash onto Earth and burn up in the atmosphere, but Swift was a project NASA wanted to save. It has three telescopes aboard that peer into the earliest time of the universe. It witnesses powerful explosions caused by stellar deaths and their material crashing into each other. These events generate more energy than our Sun will produce over its entire life cycle. These explosions need to be captured quickly since they are extremely brief. Swift has been doing this job perfectly since it was launched. So NASA wants to save this space observatory. Also Read: THIS space telescope could crash any time. NASA will launch a spacecraft from plane to save it Designing a robot that can save Swift The task of saving it was awarded to Katalyst Space Technologies, which had its task cut out - launch a mission within a year before Swift falls down to 300 km. Chief Executive Ghonhee Lee said that at this point, it would become impossible to save it. The company "designed, built, tested, and integrated a robotic spacecraft" in just eight months. It has cameras and guidance systems and is driven by small thrusters. LINK will take at least 4 months to do its job It will spend a few weeks switching on and testing its systems to ensure everything is working properly. Although the Pegasus XL rocket placed LINK near Swift, it will be three to four weeks before it places itself alongside the observatory. It will photograph it from all angles, and later use its three arms to hold it and carry it upwards. It will be a slow process and will take three to four months.

NASA has launched a mission to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and prevent it from falling. It wants to save the observatory instead of letting it crash because of the crucial work it is doing in watching stellar deaths in ancient cosmos.

NASA launches LINK to catch 22-year-old Swift observatory in space - Details

Super El Niño has driven ocean temperatures to record levels, with two agencies reporting that they touched new highs last month. Scientists have warned that this is just the beginning and the ocean surface could get even hotter. The data was confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the Copernicus Marine Service. “With ocean temperatures at these levels and El Niño on the horizon, we are likely to see more temperature records fall in the coming months,” said Copernicus Climate Change Service director Carlo Buontempo in a statement. He warned that the world is entering "uncharted territory."&nbsp;According to both Copernicus observation programs, global ocean temperatures in June 2026 surpassed those recorded in 2023 and 2024. Experts said that this "unprecedented level of warming" was due to climate change and El Niño. Scientists had earlier warned that El Niño would assume monstrous proportions in 2026, leading to extreme heat across the globe, along with floods and droughts. It is expected to be the worst one in over 150 years. The effects are already being felt in Europe, India and the United States.<h2>Ocean temperature surged to a record high</h2>Average ocean temperatures touched nearly 21 degrees Celsius last month. What we are seeing are the effects of climate change, and the world's oceans are facing the full brunt. Greenhouse gas emissions have surged and trap infrared radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere. But it retains only a tiny bit of it, with the excess heat being absorbed by the oceans. They are taking in more than 90 per cent of this excess heat generated by humans, according to reports.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-s-66-billion-trees-in-deserts-are-absorbing-more-co2-and-growing-faster-than-natural-ones-1782903613724">China's 66 billion trees in deserts are absorbing more CO2 and growing faster than natural ones</a><h2>Why this is killing oceans and consequently humans?</h2>The oceans protect us by soaking up the excess heat because of their incredibly high specific heat capacity. However, as they continue to warm, their ability to do this is adversely affected. They become incapable of absorbing CO2 over time. The ill health of the oceans means there is more CO2 left in the atmosphere, which accelerates global warming, creating a loop where oceans are further degraded. With more heat remaining in the atmosphere, conditions deteriorate, creating an unlivable environment.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/analysis-what-india-and-europe-can-learn-from-each-other-in-heat-preparedness-1782556349271">Analysis: What India and Europe can learn from each other in heat preparedness?</a><h2>Heat dome</h2>Super El Niño and climate change have combined to create one of the worst summers in Europe. The roads have melted, and people are struggling to survive as a heat dome has formed over this part of the world. The United States is also witnessing a heat dome in the week of July 4, leaving parts of North Carolina and surrounding places searing hot.

Oceans are bearing the brunt of climate change and El Niño, with surface temperatures touching a record high in June 2026. If humans keep pumping more emissions into the atmosphere, the oceans will fall sick forever, causing chaos worldwide.

Super El Niño has driven ocean temperatures to record levels, with two agencies reporting that they touched new highs last month. Scientists have warned that this is just the beginning and the ocean surface could get even hotter. The data was confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the Copernicus Marine Service. “With ocean temperatures at these levels and El Niño on the horizon, we are likely to see more temperature records fall in the coming months,” said Copernicus Climate Change Service director Carlo Buontempo in a statement. He warned that the world is entering "uncharted territory." According to both Copernicus observation programs, global ocean temperatures in June 2026 surpassed those recorded in 2023 and 2024. Experts said that this "unprecedented level of warming" was due to climate change and El Niño. Scientists had earlier warned that El Niño would assume monstrous proportions in 2026, leading to extreme heat across the globe, along with floods and droughts. It is expected to be the worst one in over 150 years. The effects are already being felt in Europe, India and the United States. Ocean temperature surged to a record high Average ocean temperatures touched nearly 21 degrees Celsius last month. What we are seeing are the effects of climate change, and the world's oceans are facing the full brunt. Greenhouse gas emissions have surged and trap infrared radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere. But it retains only a tiny bit of it, with the excess heat being absorbed by the oceans. They are taking in more than 90 per cent of this excess heat generated by humans, according to reports. Also Read: China's 66 billion trees in deserts are absorbing more CO2 and growing faster than natural ones Why this is killing oceans and consequently humans? The oceans protect us by soaking up the excess heat because of their incredibly high specific heat capacity. However, as they continue to warm, their ability to do this is adversely affected. They become incapable of absorbing CO2 over time. The ill health of the oceans means there is more CO2 left in the atmosphere, which accelerates global warming, creating a loop where oceans are further degraded. With more heat remaining in the atmosphere, conditions deteriorate, creating an unlivable environment. Also Read: Analysis: What India and Europe can learn from each other in heat preparedness? Heat dome Super El Niño and climate change have combined to create one of the worst summers in Europe. The roads have melted, and people are struggling to survive as a heat dome has formed over this part of the world. The United States is also witnessing a heat dome in the week of July 4, leaving parts of North Carolina and surrounding places searing hot.

Oceans are bearing the brunt of climate change and El Niño, with surface temperatures touching a record high in June 2026. If humans keep pumping more emissions into the atmosphere, the oceans will fall sick forever, causing chaos worldwide.

Oceans were hottest in June 2026, pushing humanity towards a doomsday scenario

Scientists have created a synthetic cell for the first time and even seen it reproduce. Researchers from the University of Minnesota said that it was made entirely from scratch, using chemistry to replicate what could only happen in biology. Study co-lead, synthetic biologist Kate Adamala, said their work shows that "the most fundamental functions of life do not need a mysterious magical spark." She added that even though it is a fragile prototype, it could help scientists understand the origins of life better. Its biggest potential is that it could be programmed to help address some of the world’s biggest biological problems.&nbsp;“I know the full ingredient list of the cell; I know exactly what chemicals, what molecules at what concentrations,” she said. “It is fully defined, which means we can engineer it.” The study has neither been published in a journal nor peer-reviewed. It was shared on the website of Biotic, a new nonprofit bioengineering institution Adamala is associated with.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-people-under-50-are-ageing-faster-biologically-1782480428355">Study finds people under 50 are ageing faster biologically. Here's why it matters</a>&nbsp;This was done as part of a project called SpudCell. It has a genome of just 90 kilobase pairs (kbp), as compared to about 3 million kpb human genome. &nbsp;Biologists have always assumed that a living cell requires at least 113 kpb of genetic data to function properly. Adamala and her team claim that their project has stretched these limits.<h2>Results left the researchers shocked</h2>Adamala told ScienceAlert that she was shocked to see the results and a bit suspicious. "I was very happy, relieved...I'm always double- and triple-checking results," she said, adding that "by the time all the controls and their controls and additional controls were done, it wasn't a surprise anymore."Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/4-4-million-year-old-skeleton-holds-clues-to-mystery-of-humans-walking-on-land-1782799638367"> 4.4-million-year-old half human, half ape skeleton holds clues to mystery of humans walking on land</a>&nbsp;The publishing of the study is reportedly being blocked by a reviewer at the science journal Cell because he thinks it is not real biology. Even though Adamala and her team claim that the cell can feed, grow and replicate like a natural cell, SpudCell isn't exactly real "life" since it can't replicate itself over many generations. "SpudCell doesn't look like much if you're grading it on the scale of natural biological systems: it's a very slow growth and replication cycle, and high-demand metabolism," she said.&nbsp;The researchers claim that the SpudCell system is capable of "selection, genome replication, growth, resource acquisition via feeding, and genetically encoded division." Adamala added that SpudCell is “an incredibly wimpy organism that right now basically does nothing other than to eat and occasionally make a daughter cell.”&nbsp; &nbsp;

Cell birth is a biological process, but scientists have managed to create one in a chemistry lab. A project called SpudCell has built the first cell from scratch and claims that it can feed, grow and replicate like a natural cell.

Scientists have created a synthetic cell for the first time and even seen it reproduce. Researchers from the University of Minnesota said that it was made entirely from scratch, using chemistry to replicate what could only happen in biology. Study co-lead, synthetic biologist Kate Adamala, said their work shows that "the most fundamental functions of life do not need a mysterious magical spark." She added that even though it is a fragile prototype, it could help scientists understand the origins of life better. Its biggest potential is that it could be programmed to help address some of the world’s biggest biological problems. “I know the full ingredient list of the cell; I know exactly what chemicals, what molecules at what concentrations,” she said. “It is fully defined, which means we can engineer it.” The study has neither been published in a journal nor peer-reviewed. It was shared on the website of Biotic, a new nonprofit bioengineering institution Adamala is associated with. Also Read: Study finds people under 50 are ageing faster biologically. Here's why it matters This was done as part of a project called SpudCell. It has a genome of just 90 kilobase pairs (kbp), as compared to about 3 million kpb human genome. Biologists have always assumed that a living cell requires at least 113 kpb of genetic data to function properly. Adamala and her team claim that their project has stretched these limits. Results left the researchers shocked Adamala told ScienceAlert that she was shocked to see the results and a bit suspicious. "I was very happy, relieved...I'm always double- and triple-checking results," she said, adding that "by the time all the controls and their controls and additional controls were done, it wasn't a surprise anymore." Also Read: 4.4-million-year-old half human, half ape skeleton holds clues to mystery of humans walking on land The publishing of the study is reportedly being blocked by a reviewer at the science journal Cell because he thinks it is not real biology. Even though Adamala and her team claim that the cell can feed, grow and replicate like a natural cell, SpudCell isn't exactly real "life" since it can't replicate itself over many generations. "SpudCell doesn't look like much if you're grading it on the scale of natural biological systems: it's a very slow growth and replication cycle, and high-demand metabolism," she said. The researchers claim that the SpudCell system is capable of "selection, genome replication, growth, resource acquisition via feeding, and genetically encoded division." Adamala added that SpudCell is “an incredibly wimpy organism that right now basically does nothing other than to eat and occasionally make a daughter cell.”

Cell birth is a biological process, but scientists have managed to create one in a chemistry lab. A project called SpudCell has built the first cell from scratch and claims that it can feed, grow and replicate like a natural cell.

Scientists create cell in a lab, say it can 'feed, grow and replicate'

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and most powerful atom smasher, has been shut down for four years. When it comes back in 2030, it will be called High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HiLumi LHC). The upgrades will allow it to smash together roughly 10 times more particles than its original design. "This is a very important moment. From Monday, we will be entering a new phase," HiLumi LHC project chief Markus Zerlauth told AFP.<h2>What does the Large Hadron Collider do?</h2> It was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) between 1998 and 2008, and covers a 27-kilometre loop in an underground tunnel at the border between France and Switzerland near Geneva. Its main use has been to understand the universe as it existed just a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. It is like a giant cosmic time machine and microscope that works to study the fundamental building blocks of the universe. Scientists have used it to test theories about particle physics and the Standard Model of the subatomic world.&nbsp;The LHC pushes the protons until they are travelling at 99.9999991% the speed of light, and they move around the ring more than 11,000 times per second. At four specific points around the ring, the proton beams collide head-on. The LHC triggers 1 billion particle collisions per second.&nbsp;The biggest achievement of the LHC has been the discovery of the elusive "God Particle", or the Higgs boson, in 2012. The Higgs boson is the physical manifestation of the Higgs field, an invisible background grid that permeates space and gives all other fundamental particles their mass. It tests how the universe works.<h2>How will the upgrade change the Large Hadron Collider?</h2> Dubbed the Long Shutdown 3 (LS3), this four-year interval will see scientists adding upgrades to boost the collider's luminosity by a factor of 10. This will increase the number of particle collisions by nearly three times. The improvements will allow scientists to study the Higgs boson and other phenomena in more detail. The experiments will produce more data, and the odds of observing rare events will increase. Till now, it has produced 55 million Higgs bosons till now, but the upgrades will lead to the creation of 380 million Higgs bosons over a decade.<h2>What Large Hadron Collider aims to answer?</h2>&nbsp;The scientists are looking for clues beyond current physics now. The upgraded collider will be used to answer three main questions: What is Dark Matter? Why does the universe only consist of matter when the Big Bang should have produced equal amounts of matter and antimatter, a moment which would have ended everything? Third, whether more hidden dimensions exist beyond the three we experience.&nbsp;It has been switched off twice before, in 2013 and 2018. This will be its third and last upgrade after which its operational lifespan ends in the 2040s. It will be replaced by a new, higher-energy particle accelerator.

The Large Hadron Collider has been shut down for upgrades. Scientists want to evolve it further to make more discoveries about the universe and answer more questions about its creation. Here is how the upgrades will improve the Large Hadron Collider.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and most powerful atom smasher, has been shut down for four years. When it comes back in 2030, it will be called High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HiLumi LHC). The upgrades will allow it to smash together roughly 10 times more particles than its original design. "This is a very important moment. From Monday, we will be entering a new phase," HiLumi LHC project chief Markus Zerlauth told AFP. What does the Large Hadron Collider do? It was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) between 1998 and 2008, and covers a 27-kilometre loop in an underground tunnel at the border between France and Switzerland near Geneva. Its main use has been to understand the universe as it existed just a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. It is like a giant cosmic time machine and microscope that works to study the fundamental building blocks of the universe. Scientists have used it to test theories about particle physics and the Standard Model of the subatomic world. The LHC pushes the protons until they are travelling at 99.9999991% the speed of light, and they move around the ring more than 11,000 times per second. At four specific points around the ring, the proton beams collide head-on. The LHC triggers 1 billion particle collisions per second. The biggest achievement of the LHC has been the discovery of the elusive "God Particle", or the Higgs boson, in 2012. The Higgs boson is the physical manifestation of the Higgs field, an invisible background grid that permeates space and gives all other fundamental particles their mass. It tests how the universe works. How will the upgrade change the Large Hadron Collider? Dubbed the Long Shutdown 3 (LS3), this four-year interval will see scientists adding upgrades to boost the collider's luminosity by a factor of 10. This will increase the number of particle collisions by nearly three times. The improvements will allow scientists to study the Higgs boson and other phenomena in more detail. The experiments will produce more data, and the odds of observing rare events will increase. Till now, it has produced 55 million Higgs bosons till now, but the upgrades will lead to the creation of 380 million Higgs bosons over a decade. What Large Hadron Collider aims to answer? The scientists are looking for clues beyond current physics now. The upgraded collider will be used to answer three main questions: What is Dark Matter? Why does the universe only consist of matter when the Big Bang should have produced equal amounts of matter and antimatter, a moment which would have ended everything? Third, whether more hidden dimensions exist beyond the three we experience. It has been switched off twice before, in 2013 and 2018. This will be its third and last upgrade after which its operational lifespan ends in the 2040s. It will be replaced by a new, higher-energy particle accelerator.

The Large Hadron Collider&nbsp;has been shut down for upgrades. Scientists want to evolve it further to make more discoveries about the universe and answer more questions about its creation. Here is how the upgrades will improve the Large Hadron Collider.

Why has the Large Hadron Collider shut down? When will it restart and other details

The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has started the revolutionary Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) to be carried out for 10 years. The aim is to create the most comprehensive record of the universe. Rubin will observe the southern sky every few nights over 10 years and create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our universe. Indian scientists are also playing a major role in the project. India has made several critical science collaborations. The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune and the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) are the main bodies involved in the LSST program.<h2>Indian scientists in gravitational lensing project&nbsp;</h2>The LSST Strong Lensing Science Collaboration is one of the most prominent roles being played by Indian scientists. Institutes such as IUCAA, IIA, TIFR, NCRA, IIT-Bombay, and IIT-Indore are involved in the project. Dr Anupreeta More (IUCAA) is the co-chair of this international collaboration. Gravitational lensing is a cosmic phenomenon where a bigger object in front of a more distant object bends its light, acting like a magnifying glass.&nbsp;&nbsp;LSST's lensing project will work to discover more than 10,000 gravitational lenses. Indian researchers are at the forefront of the endeavour to find rare events, like supernovae or kilonovae, through these gravitational lenses. The data will help scientists measure the expansion rate and age of the universe.<h2>Managing data</h2> Over its course of 10 years, the LSST project will likely image roughly 20 billion galaxies. The immense data gathered will require expert handling. Indian scientists will be part of this aspect as well. Prof. Yogesh Wadadekar (NCRA-TIFR) is a key member of the LSST Galaxies Science Collaboration. Indian scientists are leveraging Rubin’s ultra-deep imaging capabilities to study the structural evolution, formation, and billions of years of history behind these billions of galaxies.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/vera-c-rubin-observatory-800-000-cosmic-alerts-in-one-night-1772184217202">8 lakh cosmic alerts in one night: Too much? Vera will scale this number up to millions</a><h2>Cosmological Mapping</h2> India is also involved in the mapping of the large-scale structure of the universe, particularly looking at dark matter and dark energy. Prof. Surhud More serves as the Rubin IUCAA Program Manager.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian cosmologists are actively working on mapping the distribution of dark matter across half the night sky. They are also exploring how dark energy influences cosmic acceleration.&nbsp;India will use it several ground-based telescopes to follow up on Rubin's observations. The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) run by NCRA, and various optical/infrared facilities will be ready to take another look at everything Rubin sees. As the Rubin Observatory flags millions of real-time "alerts" every single night for things that move, blink, or explode, Indian telescopes focus in again. This will allow capturing transient phenomena, like the gravitational wave mergers of neutron stars, across multiple spectra of light.&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/rubin-observatory-launches-10-year-cosmic-survey-to-map-the-universe-1782894408612/embed<h2>What will Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time do?</h2> The LSST will reveal millions of new asteroids and comets in the solar system that are currently undetected. The world's most powerful camera will also study the Milky Way and scan the invisible layers of cosmic dust where new stars are forming. Dark matter and dark energy, which govern the expansion of the universe, will be one of the main subjects. Supernovas, pulsating stars and black holes will be the enigmatic subject matters.&nbsp;

Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) has kickstarted, and Indian scientists are contributing significantly to different projects, such as data collections and mapping dark matter.

The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has started the revolutionary Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) to be carried out for 10 years. The aim is to create the most comprehensive record of the universe. Rubin will observe the southern sky every few nights over 10 years and create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our universe. Indian scientists are also playing a major role in the project. India has made several critical science collaborations. The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune and the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) are the main bodies involved in the LSST program. Indian scientists in gravitational lensing project The LSST Strong Lensing Science Collaboration is one of the most prominent roles being played by Indian scientists. Institutes such as IUCAA, IIA, TIFR, NCRA, IIT-Bombay, and IIT-Indore are involved in the project. Dr Anupreeta More (IUCAA) is the co-chair of this international collaboration. Gravitational lensing is a cosmic phenomenon where a bigger object in front of a more distant object bends its light, acting like a magnifying glass. LSST's lensing project will work to discover more than 10,000 gravitational lenses. Indian researchers are at the forefront of the endeavour to find rare events, like supernovae or kilonovae, through these gravitational lenses. The data will help scientists measure the expansion rate and age of the universe. Managing data Over its course of 10 years, the LSST project will likely image roughly 20 billion galaxies. The immense data gathered will require expert handling. Indian scientists will be part of this aspect as well. Prof. Yogesh Wadadekar (NCRA-TIFR) is a key member of the LSST Galaxies Science Collaboration. Indian scientists are leveraging Rubin’s ultra-deep imaging capabilities to study the structural evolution, formation, and billions of years of history behind these billions of galaxies. Also Read: 8 lakh cosmic alerts in one night: Too much? Vera will scale this number up to millions Cosmological Mapping India is also involved in the mapping of the large-scale structure of the universe, particularly looking at dark matter and dark energy. Prof. Surhud More serves as the Rubin IUCAA Program Manager. Indian cosmologists are actively working on mapping the distribution of dark matter across half the night sky. They are also exploring how dark energy influences cosmic acceleration. India will use it several ground-based telescopes to follow up on Rubin's observations. The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) run by NCRA, and various optical/infrared facilities will be ready to take another look at everything Rubin sees. As the Rubin Observatory flags millions of real-time "alerts" every single night for things that move, blink, or explode, Indian telescopes focus in again. This will allow capturing transient phenomena, like the gravitational wave mergers of neutron stars, across multiple spectra of light. https://www.wionews.com/videos/rubin-observatory-launches-10-year-cosmic-survey-to-map-the-universe-1782894408612/embed What will Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time do? The LSST will reveal millions of new asteroids and comets in the solar system that are currently undetected. The world's most powerful camera will also study the Milky Way and scan the invisible layers of cosmic dust where new stars are forming. Dark matter and dark energy, which govern the expansion of the universe, will be one of the main subjects. Supernovas, pulsating stars and black holes will be the enigmatic subject matters.

Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) has kickstarted, and Indian scientists are contributing significantly to different projects, such as data collections and mapping dark matter.

Indian scientists are part of Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Everything you need to know

If all goes per plan, India's first privately designed and built spacefaring rocket will place satellites into space as early as 12th July, Sunday. Hyderabad-based firm Skyroot Aerospace announced that its seven-storey-tall 'Vikram 1' rocket is now fully integrated and stacked at the lone Indian spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Citing that this "partially commercial" mission carrying domestic and international satellites is "days away from launch", Skyroot said that the launch window spans between 12th July and 4th August. Various factors such as mission readiness, weather, safety, and range clearance need to be taken into consideration before a final launch date is firmed up.Revealing the objective of its first flight attempt to space, Skyroot's CEO and Co-Founder Pawan Kumar Chandana said: The single most important objective of 'Mission Aagaman' is to capture the real in-flight performance data from every system on Vikram-1. We want to understand how the vehicle performs from lift-off through every phase of ascent. This data cannot be fully replicated through ground testing. It will help us validate our designs and inform subsequent vehicle development as we build a reliable, high-cadence commercial launch programme.'Mission Aagaman', meaning “the arrival”, marks Skyroot’s second mission following the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, a rocket that was meant to fly to the edge of space and not circle the Earth or deploy satellites. The November 2022 launch of Vikram-S was the first attempt of that sort by an Indian private firm."From a dream to build a launch vehicle in India to now attempting an orbital flight has been a journey like no other. With Vikram-S in 2022, we validated the foundation of our technology stack; With Vikram-1, we take our biggest step, yet toward a reliable, high-cadence launch programme built in India, for India and the world. This mission is designed as both a technology demonstration and a learning mission. This has been made possible by the collective confidence of the Government of India, IN-SPACe, ISRO, our investors, our customers and a dedicated team of 1000+ individuals," said Naga Bharath Daka, Co-Founder &amp; COO of Skyroot.Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/historic-milestone-india-clears-first-satellite-guided-pins-helicopter-landing-system-at-undavalli-heliport-1782973337508"> ‘Historic milestone’: India clears first satellite-guided PinS helicopter landing system at Undavalli Heliport</a><h2>About the Vikram-1 rocket</h2>Vikram-1 is a seven-storeys-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters. Designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Vikram-1's maiden mission will target an orbit at an altitude of 450 km with a 60-degree orbital inclination.Orbital inclination is the tilt of a satellite's path with respect to the Earth's equator. For context, a satellite that circles along the Earth's equator will have a 0-degree inclination; a satellite that circles from pole to pole will have a 90-degree inclination. Therefore, a 60-degree inclination in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) means the satellite circles the planet tilted at a 60-degree angle to the equator. It traces a path that flies over populated regions between 60° North and 60° South latitude. It leaves the extreme polar regions unobserved but covers nearly all inhabited areas.Vikram-1's first launch mission will help Skyroot gather critical data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance, supporting the evolution of Skyroot into a commercially operational launch company. Typically, spacefaring rocket makers regard the first three launches of a rocket as developmental or demonstration flights. It is based on the outcomes of the first three missions and their learnings, that the firm would declare the rocket operational. Skyroot says that it will commence full commercial launches after one or two successful demonstration launches to orbit.Watch | Indian tech giants down over 50% from peaks <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-tech-giants-down-over-50-from-peaks-1782969109024/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-tech-giants-down-over-50-from-peaks-1782969109024/embed</a>&nbsp;

Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters. 

If all goes per plan, India's first privately designed and built spacefaring rocket will place satellites into space as early as 12th July, Sunday. Hyderabad-based firm Skyroot Aerospace announced that its seven-storey-tall 'Vikram 1' rocket is now fully integrated and stacked at the lone Indian spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Citing that this "partially commercial" mission carrying domestic and international satellites is "days away from launch", Skyroot said that the launch window spans between 12th July and 4th August. Various factors such as mission readiness, weather, safety, and range clearance need to be taken into consideration before a final launch date is firmed up. Revealing the objective of its first flight attempt to space, Skyroot's CEO and Co-Founder Pawan Kumar Chandana said: The single most important objective of 'Mission Aagaman' is to capture the real in-flight performance data from every system on Vikram-1. We want to understand how the vehicle performs from lift-off through every phase of ascent. This data cannot be fully replicated through ground testing. It will help us validate our designs and inform subsequent vehicle development as we build a reliable, high-cadence commercial launch programme. 'Mission Aagaman', meaning “the arrival”, marks Skyroot’s second mission following the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, a rocket that was meant to fly to the edge of space and not circle the Earth or deploy satellites. The November 2022 launch of Vikram-S was the first attempt of that sort by an Indian private firm. "From a dream to build a launch vehicle in India to now attempting an orbital flight has been a journey like no other. With Vikram-S in 2022, we validated the foundation of our technology stack; With Vikram-1, we take our biggest step, yet toward a reliable, high-cadence launch programme built in India, for India and the world. This mission is designed as both a technology demonstration and a learning mission. This has been made possible by the collective confidence of the Government of India, IN-SPACe, ISRO, our investors, our customers and a dedicated team of 1000+ individuals," said Naga Bharath Daka, Co-Founder & COO of Skyroot. Also read | ‘Historic milestone’: India clears first satellite-guided PinS helicopter landing system at Undavalli Heliport About the Vikram-1 rocket Vikram-1 is a seven-storeys-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters. Designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Vikram-1's maiden mission will target an orbit at an altitude of 450 km with a 60-degree orbital inclination. Orbital inclination is the tilt of a satellite's path with respect to the Earth's equator. For context, a satellite that circles along the Earth's equator will have a 0-degree inclination; a satellite that circles from pole to pole will have a 90-degree inclination. Therefore, a 60-degree inclination in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) means the satellite circles the planet tilted at a 60-degree angle to the equator. It traces a path that flies over populated regions between 60° North and 60° South latitude. It leaves the extreme polar regions unobserved but covers nearly all inhabited areas. Vikram-1's first launch mission will help Skyroot gather critical data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance, supporting the evolution of Skyroot into a commercially operational launch company. Typically, spacefaring rocket makers regard the first three launches of a rocket as developmental or demonstration flights. It is based on the outcomes of the first three missions and their learnings, that the firm would declare the rocket operational. Skyroot says that it will commence full commercial launches after one or two successful demonstration launches to orbit. Watch | Indian tech giants down over 50% from peaks https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-tech-giants-down-over-50-from-peaks-1782969109024/embed

Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters.&nbsp;

India's first private rocket to fly to space; launch details revealed

On World UFO Day, we talked to Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who has been appointed the Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies. He is now leading the Trump administration’s new panel on security risks posed by UFOs. Loeb and his team have asked the Pentagon for videos, images and documents of unexplained encounters and incidents.&nbsp;Loeb also runs the Galileo Project, which aims to "bring the search for extraterrestrial technological signatures of Extraterrestrial Technological Civilizations (ETCs) from accidental or anecdotal observations and legends to the mainstream of transparent." Aliens and extraterrestrial technology have been the talk of the town in the past weeks, with the Pentagon releasing batches of files with information gathered over decades.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now with Loeb leading a panel on UAPs, things might get even more interesting. In an email interview with WION, Loeb talked about the significance of the UFO Files release and the switch to using the term "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena" from "Unidentified Flying Objects."&nbsp;Excerpts from the interview with Avi Loeb&nbsp;Q. Now that the UFO Files with older records have been released, including Apollo-era transcripts and historical files, how has our understanding of foundational events like the 1947 Roswell incident or early military studies shifted?&nbsp;None of the released records so far indicates beyond a reasonable doubt a non-human origin for the associated objects. It is clear that the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies are puzzled by the properties of objects that remain unidentified.&nbsp;Q. The unexplained sightings are often attributed to thermal camera glitches, radar clutter, or weather balloons. How do modern military pilots cross-verify a visual sighting with advanced multi-sensor data to rule out instrument error?&nbsp;Detection by multiple sensors operating in different wavelength bands (optical, infrared, radio) can verify that we are dealing with real objects and enable us to triangulate the distance of the objects from the camera. This, in turn, allows us to infer the velocity and acceleration of the object and verify whether they lie outside the performance envelope of human-made technologies.&nbsp;Q. There have been several reports where objects have been seen moving seamlessly between space, air, and water. There have been no visible propulsion systems or sonic booms recorded. From a theoretical physics standpoint, what mechanisms could even hypothetically allow an object to defy fluid dynamics this way?&nbsp;Water is a thousand times denser than air, and any human-made object would slow down a thousand times more in water than in air. The only explanation for such incidents based on known physics would be to suggest that the actual velocity of the objects was very small for friction to be negligible, and that the apparent relative speed was mostly a result of the motion of the camera.&nbsp;Q. Has the linguistic shift from 'UFO' to 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' successfully opened the doors to serious academic study, or is it just a political euphemism?&nbsp;The label is less important than the quality of the data. We now have much better cameras and other sensors than decades ago. It is impossible to ignore the existence of anomalous objects given the quality of the new data. The most down-to-earth explanation is that the "orbs" are human-made drones. In case they originate from adversarial nations, this matter presents a breach of national security and must be taken seriously. This is the reason for the shift in attitude. Of course, even if one in a million objects happens to be non-human-made, its finding will constitute the biggest discovery ever made by humanity.&nbsp;Q. Lastly, if data eventually confirms the existence of non-human intelligence, how do you think humanity will react? Do you think humans are ready for it because of years of feeding on science fiction? Humanity will adapt in the same way that it did when the Vatican admitted that Galileo Galilei was right. I discussed this affair in a new essay a couple of days ago.&nbsp;In the blog, Loeb recalls the time when the Catholic Church punished three scientists for saying that the Sun, and not the Earth, was at the centre. Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno faced action for their views. "The Vatican’s bureaucrats were never jailed for misleading the public, even after spacecraft provided clear images of the Earth moving around the Sun rather than being at the centre of the Universe," Loeb said. "The general public adapted to the new reality without chants for revenge after the Vatican’s 1992 announcement," he said. &nbsp;

World UFO Day: Avi Loeb, the newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies, spoke to WION about UFOs, UAPs and what to expect.

On World UFO Day, we talked to Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who has been appointed the Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies. He is now leading the Trump administration’s new panel on security risks posed by UFOs. Loeb and his team have asked the Pentagon for videos, images and documents of unexplained encounters and incidents. Loeb also runs the Galileo Project, which aims to "bring the search for extraterrestrial technological signatures of Extraterrestrial Technological Civilizations (ETCs) from accidental or anecdotal observations and legends to the mainstream of transparent." Aliens and extraterrestrial technology have been the talk of the town in the past weeks, with the Pentagon releasing batches of files with information gathered over decades. Now with Loeb leading a panel on UAPs, things might get even more interesting. In an email interview with WION, Loeb talked about the significance of the UFO Files release and the switch to using the term "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena" from "Unidentified Flying Objects." Excerpts from the interview with Avi Loeb Q. Now that the UFO Files with older records have been released, including Apollo-era transcripts and historical files, how has our understanding of foundational events like the 1947 Roswell incident or early military studies shifted? None of the released records so far indicates beyond a reasonable doubt a non-human origin for the associated objects. It is clear that the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies are puzzled by the properties of objects that remain unidentified. Q. The unexplained sightings are often attributed to thermal camera glitches, radar clutter, or weather balloons. How do modern military pilots cross-verify a visual sighting with advanced multi-sensor data to rule out instrument error? Detection by multiple sensors operating in different wavelength bands (optical, infrared, radio) can verify that we are dealing with real objects and enable us to triangulate the distance of the objects from the camera. This, in turn, allows us to infer the velocity and acceleration of the object and verify whether they lie outside the performance envelope of human-made technologies. Q. There have been several reports where objects have been seen moving seamlessly between space, air, and water. There have been no visible propulsion systems or sonic booms recorded. From a theoretical physics standpoint, what mechanisms could even hypothetically allow an object to defy fluid dynamics this way? Water is a thousand times denser than air, and any human-made object would slow down a thousand times more in water than in air. The only explanation for such incidents based on known physics would be to suggest that the actual velocity of the objects was very small for friction to be negligible, and that the apparent relative speed was mostly a result of the motion of the camera. Q. Has the linguistic shift from 'UFO' to 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' successfully opened the doors to serious academic study, or is it just a political euphemism? The label is less important than the quality of the data. We now have much better cameras and other sensors than decades ago. It is impossible to ignore the existence of anomalous objects given the quality of the new data. The most down-to-earth explanation is that the "orbs" are human-made drones. In case they originate from adversarial nations, this matter presents a breach of national security and must be taken seriously. This is the reason for the shift in attitude. Of course, even if one in a million objects happens to be non-human-made, its finding will constitute the biggest discovery ever made by humanity. Q. Lastly, if data eventually confirms the existence of non-human intelligence, how do you think humanity will react? Do you think humans are ready for it because of years of feeding on science fiction? Humanity will adapt in the same way that it did when the Vatican admitted that Galileo Galilei was right. I discussed this affair in a new essay a couple of days ago. In the blog, Loeb recalls the time when the Catholic Church punished three scientists for saying that the Sun, and not the Earth, was at the centre. Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno faced action for their views. "The Vatican’s bureaucrats were never jailed for misleading the public, even after spacecraft provided clear images of the Earth moving around the Sun rather than being at the centre of the Universe," Loeb said. "The general public adapted to the new reality without chants for revenge after the Vatican’s 1992 announcement," he said.

World UFO Day: Avi Loeb, the newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies, spoke to WION about UFOs, UAPs and what to expect.

Interview: On World UFO Day, Avi Loeb, Chair of UAP Science Council, talks about UFO Files and more

Scientists from the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona and the University of Bordeaux in France have found that millions of comets could be racing towards the inner solar system because of something that happened 2.5 million years ago. The researchers stated that a star similar to our Sun crossed our solar system and, in the process, shook some icy objects in the Oort Cloud. It is a theoretical spherical shell surrounding our solar system, believed to be filled with billions of icy planetesimals.&nbsp;&nbsp;This encounter created long-period comets which could since be travelling towards us, EarthSky reported. The researchers used the Gaia mission to identify this star - HD 7977 - which they found travelled close to our Sun 2.5 million years ago. Since long-period comets can take between 200 and tens of millions of years to orbit the sun once, most of them may still be on their way.&nbsp;Researchers state that HD 7977 was similar to our Sun. It came very close to Earth as well when it passed between 4,000 and 25,000 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. They ran computer simulations of the orbits of long-period comets and narrowed the distance to 6,000-10,000 AU. They compared the simulations to the passage of 112 known long-period comets. Their calculations showed that the star's gravity disturbed the Oort Cloud, changing the motions of many of the icy objects in the region and sending them on a journey towards the inner solar system.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-asteroid-day-hazardous-asteroids-flagged-to-hit-earth-and-current-status-1782828620702">World Asteroid Day: Hazardous asteroids flagged to hit Earth and current status</a><h2>Rare comet shower is coming</h2>Study author Nathan Kaib said, "The distribution of comet orbits suggests we are living through an unusual time where HD 7977 has dominated the generation of new comets and not the larger gravitational field of the Milky Way." He added, "This would also mean we’re living through the late stages of a pretty rare and powerful comet shower."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-first-since-pluto-did-a-comet-explosion-create-atmosphere-on-this-object-beyond-neptune-1782135566992">A first since Pluto: Did a comet explosion create atmosphere on this object beyond Neptune?</a>&nbsp;The icy objects in the Oort Cloud are leftovers from the time of our solar system's birth. They were formed near giant planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn, and were gradually flung towards the ends of the solar system. The gravity of the Milky Way has been tugging on the outer reaches of our system, creating a sphere which scientists have named the Oort Cloud.<h2>New comets could be from the travelling star</h2>The older comets that we know of exist in the solar system are likely the result of the galactic pull, while the newer comets racing towards the inner region were sent on this trip by HD 7977. The team admitted that their results are not precise and more research is needed to confirm them. "Gaia is still publishing new data on the motions of stars, and in 6-12 months, it should be able to improve our understanding of HD 7977’s motion and tell us if we are right or wrong," Kaib said.

A star passed near Earth and the Sun and jostled objects in the Oort Cloud 2.5 million years ago, sending them on a journey towards us. They are all long-period comets, meaning most of them would still be on their first trip. 

Scientists from the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona and the University of Bordeaux in France have found that millions of comets could be racing towards the inner solar system because of something that happened 2.5 million years ago. The researchers stated that a star similar to our Sun crossed our solar system and, in the process, shook some icy objects in the Oort Cloud. It is a theoretical spherical shell surrounding our solar system, believed to be filled with billions of icy planetesimals. This encounter created long-period comets which could since be travelling towards us, EarthSky reported. The researchers used the Gaia mission to identify this star - HD 7977 - which they found travelled close to our Sun 2.5 million years ago. Since long-period comets can take between 200 and tens of millions of years to orbit the sun once, most of them may still be on their way. Researchers state that HD 7977 was similar to our Sun. It came very close to Earth as well when it passed between 4,000 and 25,000 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. They ran computer simulations of the orbits of long-period comets and narrowed the distance to 6,000-10,000 AU. They compared the simulations to the passage of 112 known long-period comets. Their calculations showed that the star's gravity disturbed the Oort Cloud, changing the motions of many of the icy objects in the region and sending them on a journey towards the inner solar system. Also Read: World Asteroid Day: Hazardous asteroids flagged to hit Earth and current status Rare comet shower is coming Study author Nathan Kaib said, "The distribution of comet orbits suggests we are living through an unusual time where HD 7977 has dominated the generation of new comets and not the larger gravitational field of the Milky Way." He added, "This would also mean we’re living through the late stages of a pretty rare and powerful comet shower." Also Read: A first since Pluto: Did a comet explosion create atmosphere on this object beyond Neptune? The icy objects in the Oort Cloud are leftovers from the time of our solar system's birth. They were formed near giant planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn, and were gradually flung towards the ends of the solar system. The gravity of the Milky Way has been tugging on the outer reaches of our system, creating a sphere which scientists have named the Oort Cloud. New comets could be from the travelling star The older comets that we know of exist in the solar system are likely the result of the galactic pull, while the newer comets racing towards the inner region were sent on this trip by HD 7977. The team admitted that their results are not precise and more research is needed to confirm them. "Gaia is still publishing new data on the motions of stars, and in 6-12 months, it should be able to improve our understanding of HD 7977’s motion and tell us if we are right or wrong," Kaib said.

A star passed near Earth and the Sun and jostled objects in the Oort Cloud 2.5 million years ago, sending them on a journey towards us. They are all long-period comets, meaning most of them would still be on their first trip.&nbsp;

Powerful comet shower from Oort Cloud racing towards Earth, study finds

A study has found that trees planted by China in the past 48 years to contain the spread of two major deserts are growing faster than trees in natural forests. The country has planted 66 billion trees since 1978 as part of its "Great Green Wall" project. The work is aimed at slowing down the spread of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. It plans to plant 34 billion more trees by 2050. Scientists decided to study how these trees were different from the ones growing in forests. The ones planted were found to absorb large amounts of CO2, and their leaf area increased 66 per cent faster than natural ones.&nbsp;Researchers don't know exactly how these trees differ from the natural ones. Yuhang Luo, first author of the study, told Live Science that "most global ecosystem models do not distinguish between forest types", and so they wanted to understand whether species diversity, density and the age of a tree affect how it responds to CO2 and climate change.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/forgotten-fossil-reveals-largest-dinosaurs-to-ever-walk-earth-lived-in-antarctica-1782796088641">82-million-year-old fossil reveals Antarctica was home to the largest dinosaurs to ever walk Earth</a><h2>Planted trees grew 66% faster than natural trees</h2>Using satellite data, the team tracked leaf area index to determine how fast these trees grew. The index is a measure of canopy density and a key driver of carbon uptake. The results showed a stark contrast between them, with planted trees increasing their leaf area 66% faster than natural ones. The study states that this is likely because of the difference in their age. The planted trees are younger, and they typically grow faster. The researchers also compared forests of similar age to see if the same held true for them as well. Surprisingly, they still found that the planted ones grew 4.6 per cent.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/180-million-year-old-fossilised-microbes-discovered-morocco-1782642776192">Scientists discover 180-million-year-old fossilised microbes in Morocco's deep sea</a>&nbsp;Scientists said this is primarily because planted trees grow with human intervention, while trees in forests compete for water and sunlight. Planted trees often include fast-growing species like eucalyptus and poplar. Weeds and other competing vegetation are removed regularly, and they are fertilised as well. So these trees do not have to fight for water and nutrients.&nbsp;However, once they reach a certain age, that is when the planted trees start declining. They peak around 30 and 40, and then start dropping. Meanwhile, trees in the wild grow slowly but steadily and at an advantage in the long run. "Planted forests can be a powerful short-term tool for carbon uptake, but this advantage is temporary," Luo said, adding that "forests remain irreplaceable." &nbsp;

China's bid to cover deserts with forests is bearing fruit, and scientists have found that the billions of planted trees are growing much faster than the ones in forests. However, the latter still holds an edge. This is what is happening in China's "Great Green Wall" project.

A study has found that trees planted by China in the past 48 years to contain the spread of two major deserts are growing faster than trees in natural forests. The country has planted 66 billion trees since 1978 as part of its "Great Green Wall" project. The work is aimed at slowing down the spread of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. It plans to plant 34 billion more trees by 2050. Scientists decided to study how these trees were different from the ones growing in forests. The ones planted were found to absorb large amounts of CO2, and their leaf area increased 66 per cent faster than natural ones. Researchers don't know exactly how these trees differ from the natural ones. Yuhang Luo, first author of the study, told Live Science that "most global ecosystem models do not distinguish between forest types", and so they wanted to understand whether species diversity, density and the age of a tree affect how it responds to CO2 and climate change. Also Read: 82-million-year-old fossil reveals Antarctica was home to the largest dinosaurs to ever walk Earth Planted trees grew 66% faster than natural trees Using satellite data, the team tracked leaf area index to determine how fast these trees grew. The index is a measure of canopy density and a key driver of carbon uptake. The results showed a stark contrast between them, with planted trees increasing their leaf area 66% faster than natural ones. The study states that this is likely because of the difference in their age. The planted trees are younger, and they typically grow faster. The researchers also compared forests of similar age to see if the same held true for them as well. Surprisingly, they still found that the planted ones grew 4.6 per cent. Also Read: Scientists discover 180-million-year-old fossilised microbes in Morocco's deep sea Scientists said this is primarily because planted trees grow with human intervention, while trees in forests compete for water and sunlight. Planted trees often include fast-growing species like eucalyptus and poplar. Weeds and other competing vegetation are removed regularly, and they are fertilised as well. So these trees do not have to fight for water and nutrients. However, once they reach a certain age, that is when the planted trees start declining. They peak around 30 and 40, and then start dropping. Meanwhile, trees in the wild grow slowly but steadily and at an advantage in the long run. "Planted forests can be a powerful short-term tool for carbon uptake, but this advantage is temporary," Luo said, adding that "forests remain irreplaceable."

China's bid to cover deserts with forests is bearing fruit, and scientists have found that the billions of planted trees are growing much faster than the ones in forests. However, the latter still holds an edge. This is what is happening in China's "Great Green Wall" project.

China's 66 billion trees in deserts are absorbing more CO2 and growing faster than natural ones

NASA's Asteroid survey program aims to scan space to detect space rocks that lurk near Earth. As of 2026, over 40,000 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) have been catalogued by the space agency. NASA also regularly releases a list of asteroids that will skim past our planet, which happens fairly regularly. The Catalina Sky Survey (based in Arizona), Pan-STARRS (based in Hawaii) and NEOWISE (an orbital space telescope framework) are three observatories funded by NASA and part of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO).&nbsp;With all this technology in place, NASA has created a platform which detects hazardous asteroids, ones that could pose a threat to Earth. This is how scientists have discovered not only the asteroids that would zoom past Earth safely, but also ones that were seen as a danger to our planet. Here are some such asteroids and their risk status.<h2>Asteroid 2024 YR4</h2> This near-Earth Apollo-type asteroid was discovered in 2024 by the ATLAS telescope in Chile. At the time, calculations showed that it would collide with Earth in the year 2032. It is estimated to be roughly 174 to 220 feet in diameter, and immediately led scientists across the world to make more observations. &nbsp;It briefly reached level 3 on the Torino scale.&nbsp;Current status: Asteroid 2024 YR4 will miss Earth, trajectory calculations made using several instruments, primarily the James Webb Space Telescope, showed in February 2026. However, it was estimated to crash into the Moon, and the chances of this happening kept on increasing. But now, it has been confirmed that the asteroid will safely fly by the Moon at a distance of over 20,000 km.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/asteroid-day-5-huge-asteroid-impacts-that-completely-rewrote-earth-s-history-1782739427575">World Asteroid Day 2026: 5 huge asteroid impacts that completely rewrote Earth's history. One created trillions of diamonds within seconds</a><h2>99942 Apophis</h2> Named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, darkness, and destruction, this asteroid was estimated to slam into Earth in 2029. It is nearly 1230 feet in diameter and was discovered in 2004. Pretty soon, it triggered an alarm about an impending collision with Earth. NASA said that it could hit Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068. Scientists continued to study Apophis using optical telescopes and ground-based radar.&nbsp;Current status: NASA has ruled out any impact from Apophis for at least the next 100 years. However, it will be 32,000 kilometres at its closest point to our planet’s surface, closer than many satellites in geosynchronous orbit. NASA and ESA have planned missions to study the asteroid when it visits. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx was sent to Apophis in 2023, while the European Space Agency is also sending a spacecraft to the space rock.&nbsp;The Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses) has been launched in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and will accompany Apophis as it flies past Earth. It will be launched in late April to mid-May 2028 and will start observing Apophis from February, two months before the flyby. It will take before and after photos to capture how its rendezvous with Earth changes it.<h2> 101955 Bennu</h2> About the height of the Empire State Building, Bennu has been the focus of several observations, with some showing it holds the building blocks of life. It is estimated to collide with Earth on September 24, 2182. NASA used this early detection to send the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to the asteroid and return samples.&nbsp;Current status: &nbsp;Bennu has a cumulative impact probability of about 1-in-2,700 over the next three centuries.&nbsp;<h2>29075 (1950 DA)</h2> Humans also know about an asteroid that could hit Earth in the next 854 years. Nearly 1.3 km wide, this asteroid is capable of causing global climate disruption. The exact date calculated is March 16, 2880.&nbsp;Current status: Calculations show that there is roughly a 1-in-51,000 chance of this asteroid hitting Earth. But since this will happen way into the future, scientists are using this time to study it and even launch a mission like DART if possible, to deflect it.&nbsp;

World Asteroid Day: Here is a list of asteroids flagged to pose a threat to Earth in the future. One of them is visiting this decade, while another is slated for early next year. Will they collide with Earth? Here are the details.

NASA's Asteroid survey program aims to scan space to detect space rocks that lurk near Earth. As of 2026, over 40,000 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) have been catalogued by the space agency. NASA also regularly releases a list of asteroids that will skim past our planet, which happens fairly regularly. The Catalina Sky Survey (based in Arizona), Pan-STARRS (based in Hawaii) and NEOWISE (an orbital space telescope framework) are three observatories funded by NASA and part of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). With all this technology in place, NASA has created a platform which detects hazardous asteroids, ones that could pose a threat to Earth. This is how scientists have discovered not only the asteroids that would zoom past Earth safely, but also ones that were seen as a danger to our planet. Here are some such asteroids and their risk status. Asteroid 2024 YR4 This near-Earth Apollo-type asteroid was discovered in 2024 by the ATLAS telescope in Chile. At the time, calculations showed that it would collide with Earth in the year 2032. It is estimated to be roughly 174 to 220 feet in diameter, and immediately led scientists across the world to make more observations. It briefly reached level 3 on the Torino scale. Current status: Asteroid 2024 YR4 will miss Earth, trajectory calculations made using several instruments, primarily the James Webb Space Telescope, showed in February 2026. However, it was estimated to crash into the Moon, and the chances of this happening kept on increasing. But now, it has been confirmed that the asteroid will safely fly by the Moon at a distance of over 20,000 km. Also Read: World Asteroid Day 2026: 5 huge asteroid impacts that completely rewrote Earth's history. One created trillions of diamonds within seconds 99942 Apophis Named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, darkness, and destruction, this asteroid was estimated to slam into Earth in 2029. It is nearly 1230 feet in diameter and was discovered in 2004. Pretty soon, it triggered an alarm about an impending collision with Earth. NASA said that it could hit Earth in 2029, 2036, or 2068. Scientists continued to study Apophis using optical telescopes and ground-based radar. Current status: NASA has ruled out any impact from Apophis for at least the next 100 years. However, it will be 32,000 kilometres at its closest point to our planet’s surface, closer than many satellites in geosynchronous orbit. NASA and ESA have planned missions to study the asteroid when it visits. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx was sent to Apophis in 2023, while the European Space Agency is also sending a spacecraft to the space rock. The Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses) has been launched in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and will accompany Apophis as it flies past Earth. It will be launched in late April to mid-May 2028 and will start observing Apophis from February, two months before the flyby. It will take before and after photos to capture how its rendezvous with Earth changes it. 101955 Bennu About the height of the Empire State Building, Bennu has been the focus of several observations, with some showing it holds the building blocks of life. It is estimated to collide with Earth on September 24, 2182. NASA used this early detection to send the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to the asteroid and return samples. Current status: Bennu has a cumulative impact probability of about 1-in-2,700 over the next three centuries. 29075 (1950 DA) Humans also know about an asteroid that could hit Earth in the next 854 years. Nearly 1.3 km wide, this asteroid is capable of causing global climate disruption. The exact date calculated is March 16, 2880. Current status: Calculations show that there is roughly a 1-in-51,000 chance of this asteroid hitting Earth. But since this will happen way into the future, scientists are using this time to study it and even launch a mission like DART if possible, to deflect it.

World Asteroid Day: Here is a list of asteroids flagged to pose a threat to Earth in the future. One of them is visiting this decade, while another is slated for early next year. Will they collide with Earth? Here are the details.

World Asteroid Day: Hazardous asteroids flagged to hit Earth and current status

A 4.4-million-year-old female skeleton named Ardi is revealing exactly how ancient humans transitioned from climbing to walking on two legs. She belongs to the species Ardipithecus ramidus and is a million years older than Lucy, one of the best-known early humans. Ardi was unearthed in Ethiopia in 1994 and is the oldest known partial hominin skeleton, meaning she is half ape and half human. In a study published in Communications Biology in 2025, scientists note that Ardi could walk on two legs but retained some of the features of apes, such as a grasping foot.&nbsp;Biological anthropologist Thomas Prang of Washington University in St. Louis, who led the study, said, "Our results strongly imply that humans evolved from an African ape-like ancestor." Previous research has hypothesised that Ardipithecus ramidus was more humanlike than apelike, and had evolved to walk on its knuckles on land. Prang's team found that Ardi had both primitive and modern features. It had a big toe that could grasp branches, while the cranial base of its feet and pelvis suggest that it was adapting to bipedalism.<h2>Studying a bone to understand how Ardi moved</h2>The team looked at Ardi’s talus, a bone in the ankle, to understand more about how Ardi moved. This bone transfers body weight between the lower leg and foot and helps African apes to climb. It facilitated two movements that put the animal’s centre of mass in a position closer to support, so the apes don't fall backwards. Apes who climb trees have a shorter forefoot compared to bipeds and quadrupeds. So Prang's team looked at Ardi’s foot and also found her approximate body mass using the upper joint surface of the talus.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>&nbsp;In Ardi, the top part of the ankle bone (the talar trochlea) is quite wide compared to her estimated body mass, but the back of the bone matches the width seen in both chimpanzees and humans. Some aspects of Ardi’s talus appeared in extant chimps, gorillas and monkeys. In these animals, it indicated the ability to walk on all fours with the soles of the feet. Ardi had some of these features, but her feet had improved mechanisms for propulsion needed to walk on two legs in the future. Hominins gradually developed feet suited that did not work much for grasping, but were suited for holding up their weight on land.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ardi is a female skeleton that lived over 4 million years ago and could be the key to understanding how and when early humans started walking on two legs. Scientists are studying a bone in her foot, which can unravel the mystery of human walking.

A 4.4-million-year-old female skeleton named Ardi is revealing exactly how ancient humans transitioned from climbing to walking on two legs. She belongs to the species Ardipithecus ramidus and is a million years older than Lucy, one of the best-known early humans. Ardi was unearthed in Ethiopia in 1994 and is the oldest known partial hominin skeleton, meaning she is half ape and half human. In a study published in Communications Biology in 2025, scientists note that Ardi could walk on two legs but retained some of the features of apes, such as a grasping foot. Biological anthropologist Thomas Prang of Washington University in St. Louis, who led the study, said, "Our results strongly imply that humans evolved from an African ape-like ancestor." Previous research has hypothesised that Ardipithecus ramidus was more humanlike than apelike, and had evolved to walk on its knuckles on land. Prang's team found that Ardi had both primitive and modern features. It had a big toe that could grasp branches, while the cranial base of its feet and pelvis suggest that it was adapting to bipedalism. Studying a bone to understand how Ardi moved The team looked at Ardi’s talus, a bone in the ankle, to understand more about how Ardi moved. This bone transfers body weight between the lower leg and foot and helps African apes to climb. It facilitated two movements that put the animal’s centre of mass in a position closer to support, so the apes don't fall backwards. Apes who climb trees have a shorter forefoot compared to bipeds and quadrupeds. So Prang's team looked at Ardi’s foot and also found her approximate body mass using the upper joint surface of the talus. Also Read: Ancient humans had a mining factory in the mountains 7,000 years ago, for 5,000 years In Ardi, the top part of the ankle bone (the talar trochlea) is quite wide compared to her estimated body mass, but the back of the bone matches the width seen in both chimpanzees and humans. Some aspects of Ardi’s talus appeared in extant chimps, gorillas and monkeys. In these animals, it indicated the ability to walk on all fours with the soles of the feet. Ardi had some of these features, but her feet had improved mechanisms for propulsion needed to walk on two legs in the future. Hominins gradually developed feet suited that did not work much for grasping, but were suited for holding up their weight on land.

Ardi is a female skeleton that lived over 4 million years ago and could be the key to understanding how and when early humans started walking on two legs. Scientists are studying a bone in her foot, which can unravel the mystery of human walking.

4.4-million-year-old half human, half ape skeleton holds clues to mystery of humans walking on land

Antarctica was home to the biggest dinosaurs ever to walk Earth, and for the first time, a fossil of this giant has been recovered. Surprisingly, it had been sitting in a drawer for 40 years and remained completely unnoticed. A study published on June 29 in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica states that this 82-million-year-old fossilised tail vertebra belonged to a titanosaur. The fossil was collected from Antarctica in 1985, and scientists at the time believed it came from a marine creature. Geologist Mike Thomson and members of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) were on an expedition to map rock layers on James Ross Island when they made the discovery. It was sent to the UK and became part of a collection of fossils, where it remained all this time.&nbsp;However, study co-author Mark Evans, a palaeontologist, suspected that this tail bone belonged to a dinosaur. He reached out to Paul Barrett, a palaeontologist at the Natural &nbsp;History Museum in London. As soon as he saw it, he knew it came from a titanosaur. It measured ten centimetres long and had a hollow on one end and a round bump on the other, which revealed where it fit in comparison to other vertebrae in a line of ball-and-joint sockets. "This is a combination of features that’s completely unique to these types of dinosaurs," Barrett notes.&nbsp;The scientists are yet to identify the species it belonged to because the fossil is too incomplete. Their initial analysis reveals that this creature was only about 23 feet long and probably died when it was still young. “Maybe it was a juvenile dinosaur, or maybe it was a genuinely small one—one that was actually bucking the trend for the rest of the group as a smaller adult,” Barrett told the BBC. The fossil was found in a marine rock formation, indicating that after the dinosaur died, its remains drifted into the sea and sank.&nbsp;Antarctica was a lush green land millions of years ago, providing a habitat suited to dinosaurs. It had high carbon dioxide levels and intense volcanic activity. But it has since become a frozen continent with roughly 98% of it buried under miles of ice. This has led to any fossils in the region to be buried, making finding them extremely difficult. &nbsp;

The titanosaur lived in Antarctica, and scientists have just found evidence that was actually discovered over 40 years ago. However, it sat ignored all this time in a drawer, along with several other fossils. Now, a study has revealed it came from a dinosaur. 

Antarctica was home to the biggest dinosaurs ever to walk Earth, and for the first time, a fossil of this giant has been recovered. Surprisingly, it had been sitting in a drawer for 40 years and remained completely unnoticed. A study published on June 29 in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica states that this 82-million-year-old fossilised tail vertebra belonged to a titanosaur. The fossil was collected from Antarctica in 1985, and scientists at the time believed it came from a marine creature. Geologist Mike Thomson and members of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) were on an expedition to map rock layers on James Ross Island when they made the discovery. It was sent to the UK and became part of a collection of fossils, where it remained all this time. However, study co-author Mark Evans, a palaeontologist, suspected that this tail bone belonged to a dinosaur. He reached out to Paul Barrett, a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum in London. As soon as he saw it, he knew it came from a titanosaur. It measured ten centimetres long and had a hollow on one end and a round bump on the other, which revealed where it fit in comparison to other vertebrae in a line of ball-and-joint sockets. "This is a combination of features that’s completely unique to these types of dinosaurs," Barrett notes. The scientists are yet to identify the species it belonged to because the fossil is too incomplete. Their initial analysis reveals that this creature was only about 23 feet long and probably died when it was still young. “Maybe it was a juvenile dinosaur, or maybe it was a genuinely small one—one that was actually bucking the trend for the rest of the group as a smaller adult,” Barrett told the BBC. The fossil was found in a marine rock formation, indicating that after the dinosaur died, its remains drifted into the sea and sank. Antarctica was a lush green land millions of years ago, providing a habitat suited to dinosaurs. It had high carbon dioxide levels and intense volcanic activity. But it has since become a frozen continent with roughly 98% of it buried under miles of ice. This has led to any fossils in the region to be buried, making finding them extremely difficult.

The titanosaur lived in Antarctica, and scientists have just found evidence that was actually discovered over 40 years ago. However, it sat ignored all this time in a drawer, along with several other fossils. Now, a study has revealed it came from a dinosaur.&nbsp;

82-million-year-old fossil reveals Antarctica was home to the largest dinosaurs to ever walk Earth

June 30 is Asteroid Day, a day that marks the anniversary of the Tunguska event in 1908. A nearly 330-foot asteroid exploded over Siberia, Russia, and was &nbsp;1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Asteroids have become the biggest celebrities of the astronomy world today, with even the common man talking about it. Earth has witnessed some historic asteroid impacts in its 4.6 billion-year history. Here are the biggest ones, some of which caused mass extinction.<h2>Vredefort Crater - 2.02 billion years</h2> An approximately 20 to 25 kilometre wide asteroid moving at a speed of roughly 54,000 to 90,000 km/hr collided with Earth 2 billion years ago in South Africa, gouging a 40 kilometre deep cavity that was 300 kilometres wide. Today, it is known as the Vredefort Impact Structure or Vredefort Dome and is the largest verified asteroid impact crater on Earth. The impact sent the Earth's crust splashing upwards and froze it back into solid. A 25-kilometre-thick slice of Earth’s crust turned completely on its side, exposing 3.5-billion-year-old granites.&nbsp;<h2>Sudbury Basin - 1.85 billion years</h2> This crater is located in Ontario, Canada and was made by an asteroid measuring 15 kilometres wide and moving at a speed of tens of thousands of kilometres per hour. The crater was roughly 30 kilometres deep and measured around 200 to 250 kilometres across. The impact was so strong that it melted a massive volume of Earth's crust, forming a subterranean lake of superheated liquid rock. Today, it is 60 km long and 30 km wide because tectonic forces changed it over 1.8 billion years.&nbsp;<h2>The Chicxulub Event - 66 million years</h2> An asteroid 10 to 15 kilometres in diameter slammed into Earth 66 million years ago and killed the dinosaurs. The impact crater is present in the Yucatán Peninsula of modern-day Mexico and measures 150 to 300 kilometres wide. It wiped out roughly 75% of all species on Earth. The asteroid triggered landslides, tsunamis and earthquakes. The dust and vaporised rock shrouded Earth, blocking sunlight and causing a winter that lasted for years. Plant and animal life perished in the aftermath, with acid rain poisoning the oceans.&nbsp;<h2>Popigai Crater - 35.7 million years</h2> Located in northern Siberia, Russia, it is the fourth-largest confirmed impact crater on Earth. Interestingly, it is the world’s largest known diamond field, which was formed because of the asteroid that slammed into this region. The asteroid (which scientists say could also have been a comet) measured nearly 8 kilometres wide. The crater measures roughly 100 kilometres in diameter, and the impact triggered what is known as shock metamorphism.&nbsp;&nbsp;This area was rich in ancient graphite deposits, and so when the space rock struck, the shockwave led to pressures spiking up to 60 gigapascals and temperatures soaring to thousands of degrees. This instantly compressed the molecular structure of the graphite, leading to impact diamonds being formed within seconds.&nbsp;This event is even linked to the Eocene–Oligocene extinction event because it happened within a few hundred thousand years of another asteroid collision that struck the Chesapeake Bay area in the United States. Together, they disrupted the climate and killed several marine and terrestrial species.&nbsp;<h2>The Tunguska Event - 125 years</h2> This remains the largest impact event in recorded human history. The asteroid that entered Earth over Siberia did not hit the ground but exploded 5 to 20 kilometres above the ground. Even this triggered the release of energy equivalent to 10–15 megatons of TNT. Over 80 million trees across 2,150 square kilometres of area were flattened instantly&nbsp;

Asteroid Day is observed on the anniversary of the Tunguska event in 1908. Earth has been hit by several asteroids in its history, but the most famous one remains the dinosaur killer. However, there are others that changed Earth in different ways.

June 30 is Asteroid Day, a day that marks the anniversary of the Tunguska event in 1908. A nearly 330-foot asteroid exploded over Siberia, Russia, and was 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Asteroids have become the biggest celebrities of the astronomy world today, with even the common man talking about it. Earth has witnessed some historic asteroid impacts in its 4.6 billion-year history. Here are the biggest ones, some of which caused mass extinction. Vredefort Crater - 2.02 billion years An approximately 20 to 25 kilometre wide asteroid moving at a speed of roughly 54,000 to 90,000 km/hr collided with Earth 2 billion years ago in South Africa, gouging a 40 kilometre deep cavity that was 300 kilometres wide. Today, it is known as the Vredefort Impact Structure or Vredefort Dome and is the largest verified asteroid impact crater on Earth. The impact sent the Earth's crust splashing upwards and froze it back into solid. A 25-kilometre-thick slice of Earth’s crust turned completely on its side, exposing 3.5-billion-year-old granites. Sudbury Basin - 1.85 billion years This crater is located in Ontario, Canada and was made by an asteroid measuring 15 kilometres wide and moving at a speed of tens of thousands of kilometres per hour. The crater was roughly 30 kilometres deep and measured around 200 to 250 kilometres across. The impact was so strong that it melted a massive volume of Earth's crust, forming a subterranean lake of superheated liquid rock. Today, it is 60 km long and 30 km wide because tectonic forces changed it over 1.8 billion years. The Chicxulub Event - 66 million years An asteroid 10 to 15 kilometres in diameter slammed into Earth 66 million years ago and killed the dinosaurs. The impact crater is present in the Yucatán Peninsula of modern-day Mexico and measures 150 to 300 kilometres wide. It wiped out roughly 75% of all species on Earth. The asteroid triggered landslides, tsunamis and earthquakes. The dust and vaporised rock shrouded Earth, blocking sunlight and causing a winter that lasted for years. Plant and animal life perished in the aftermath, with acid rain poisoning the oceans. Popigai Crater - 35.7 million years Located in northern Siberia, Russia, it is the fourth-largest confirmed impact crater on Earth. Interestingly, it is the world’s largest known diamond field, which was formed because of the asteroid that slammed into this region. The asteroid (which scientists say could also have been a comet) measured nearly 8 kilometres wide. The crater measures roughly 100 kilometres in diameter, and the impact triggered what is known as shock metamorphism. This area was rich in ancient graphite deposits, and so when the space rock struck, the shockwave led to pressures spiking up to 60 gigapascals and temperatures soaring to thousands of degrees. This instantly compressed the molecular structure of the graphite, leading to impact diamonds being formed within seconds. This event is even linked to the Eocene–Oligocene extinction event because it happened within a few hundred thousand years of another asteroid collision that struck the Chesapeake Bay area in the United States. Together, they disrupted the climate and killed several marine and terrestrial species. The Tunguska Event - 125 years This remains the largest impact event in recorded human history. The asteroid that entered Earth over Siberia did not hit the ground but exploded 5 to 20 kilometres above the ground. Even this triggered the release of energy equivalent to 10–15 megatons of TNT. Over 80 million trees across 2,150 square kilometres of area were flattened instantly

World Asteroid Day 2026: It is observed on the anniversary of the Tunguska event in 1908. Earth has been hit by several asteroids in its history, but the most famous one remains the dinosaur killer. However, there are others that changed Earth in different ways.

World Asteroid Day 2026: 5 huge asteroid impacts that completely rewrote Earth's history. One created trillions of diamonds within seconds

Scientists in China have developed a new solar-powered desalination technology that can turn seawater into fresh water without electricity. Desalination has always been an energy-hungry process that turns salt water into fresh water, making it largely the preserve of rich nations with abundant fossil fuel reserves. Desalination usually requires a huge amount of energy and is often expensive. However, researchers have created a new material that uses sunlight more efficiently, making the process much cheaper. The researchers have designed a specialised method to weave nanoparticles into a three-dimensional photothermal evaporation material that absorbs solar energy to drive desalination.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-export-blacklist-20-japanese-companies-added-by-commerce-ministry-1782709254610">China Export Blacklist: 20 Japanese companies added by commerce ministry</a><h3>Small trial site</h3>The tests showed that the material achieved a solar absorption rate of up to 90.2 per cent, while cutting the energy required to evaporate the same volume of seawater by 45.7 per cent. The system successfully converted seawater into fresh water using only natural sunlight, without depending on any external power sources. The process was conducted at a small trial site, in which the fresh water produced was enough to irrigate 5 square metres (nearly 54 square feet) of farmland for a full growth cycle. After two years, the team believe that using this technology, the cost of producing water would reduce below that of bottled water, offering a low-cost and sustainable solution to water shortages, especially in regions with limited access to electricity.

The researchers have designed a specialised method to weave nanoparticles into a three-dimensional photothermal evaporation material that absorbs solar energy to drive desalination.

Scientists in China have developed a new solar-powered desalination technology that can turn seawater into fresh water without electricity. Desalination has always been an energy-hungry process that turns salt water into fresh water, making it largely the preserve of rich nations with abundant fossil fuel reserves. Desalination usually requires a huge amount of energy and is often expensive. However, researchers have created a new material that uses sunlight more efficiently, making the process much cheaper. The researchers have designed a specialised method to weave nanoparticles into a three-dimensional photothermal evaporation material that absorbs solar energy to drive desalination. Also read: China Export Blacklist: 20 Japanese companies added by commerce ministry Small trial site The tests showed that the material achieved a solar absorption rate of up to 90.2 per cent, while cutting the energy required to evaporate the same volume of seawater by 45.7 per cent. The system successfully converted seawater into fresh water using only natural sunlight, without depending on any external power sources. The process was conducted at a small trial site, in which the fresh water produced was enough to irrigate 5 square metres (nearly 54 square feet) of farmland for a full growth cycle. After two years, the team believe that using this technology, the cost of producing water would reduce below that of bottled water, offering a low-cost and sustainable solution to water shortages, especially in regions with limited access to electricity.

The researchers have designed a specialised method to weave nanoparticles into a three-dimensional photothermal evaporation material that absorbs solar energy to drive desalination.

New Chinese technology turns seawater into fresh water without electricity, costs less than bottled water

Can dogs smell cancer before humans know they have it? A Bengaluru startup believes the answer is yes, and a newly published peer-reviewed study is giving scientific weight to a claim that sounds more like science fiction than medicine.Researchers from Bengaluru-based Dognosis Biosciences have reported that trained dogs, working alongside an artificial intelligence-powered analytical system, were able to detect multiple types of cancer from breath samples with more than 90 per cent sensitivity and specificity. The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, one of the world's leading cancer research journals. To find out more about the diagnostic process, WION spoke with Dognosis. Here's all you need to know.<h2>Research-backed claims: Dogs can predict who has cancer</h2>Dognosis's study involved 3,275 participants across six hospitals in Karnataka. Notably, in the final test cohort of 1,502 participants, they achieved "90.8% sensitivity (95% CI, 87.2 to 94.5) and 91.3% specificity (95% CI, 89.7 to 92.9), with a receiver operating characteristic AUC of 0.962 (95% CI, 0.952 to 0.969). The sensitivity for early-stage disease (stage I to II) was 90.6% and remained consistent across major cancer types".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/life-fun/can-you-really-wear-period-panties-all-day-doctors-tell-wion-it-s-not-that-simple-wion-decodes-1782111719434">Can you really wear period panties all day? Doctors tell WION it's not that simple | WION Decodes</a>Put simply, the dogs were able to spot cancer in roughly nine out of 10 patients while also correctly identifying nine out of 10 healthy participants as cancer-free. Their accuracy stayed largely consistent even in early-stage cancers, when the disease is often hardest to detect.<h2>Why does it matter?</h2>In India, due to the high diagnosis costs (₹20,000 to ₹65,000 on average), only a small percentage of people undergo cancer screening. Many of those who undergo screening do so at later stages, when treatment options are limited. In such cases, pocket-friendly diagnosis using dogs could be the difference between life and death.The startup insists that its long-term goal is not to replace conventional cancer diagnostics but to create an inexpensive first-line screening tool that can identify people at higher risk and direct them towards further medical testing."We want to operate as a risk stratification tool," Dognosis representative Manal Shakeel told WION. "Our end goal is not to replace traditional screening methods. We want to identify people who may be at high risk so they can undergo follow-up testing."Dognosis said that it envisions the technology as a population-level screening tool that could reach remote and underserved regions where access to advanced diagnostics remains limited."What we aim to build is a population-based mass screening tool that can be deployed in low-income settings and even the most remote areas because it doesn't require heavy infrastructure," it said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ncert-mohenjodaro-dancing-girl-controversy-is-india-s-obsession-with-modesty-threatening-its-culture-1781607488366">NCERT Mohenjodaro Dancing Girl controversy: Is India's obsession with modesty threatening its culture?</a><h2>How much would it cost?</h2>In India, the average total cost for a comprehensive cancer diagnosis ranges from ₹20,000 to ₹65,000. By comparison, canine-backed screening is expected to cost about one-tenth of current market rates, Dognosis representative Srishti A told WION.She added that future deployments through government partnerships could potentially be offered free to end users. The company has already begun discussions with public health authorities. According to Shakeel, Dognosis is in advanced talks with Punjab's National Health Mission and is also engaging with officials in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh regarding pilot deployments.<h2>Which dog breeds participated in the study?</h2>The study relied on 16 trained dogs, including Beagles, a Labrador, a Labrador-Indie mix and a Dutch Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix. Researchers found that diagnostic performance remained largely consistent regardless of which dog evaluated the sample.Like all screening tools, the system is not perfect. Shakeel acknowledged that there have been false positives, where participants were flagged despite not having cancer. She also revealed that follow-up checks identified two participants who were initially missed by the test but were later diagnosed with cancer several months afterwards.Despite that, the company believes the technology could help address one of India's biggest healthcare challenges: detecting cancer before symptoms become severe."When cancer is detected early, treatment outcomes are much better, and the financial burden is reduced," Shakeel noted. "One of the biggest goals we have is to make screening reach more and more people."&nbsp;

Can dogs smell cancer before doctors find it? In an exclusive conversation with WION, a Bengaluru startup revealed how trained dogs and artificial intelligence identified cancer in about nine out of 10 cases, including early-stage patients.

Can dogs smell cancer before humans know they have it? A Bengaluru startup believes the answer is yes, and a newly published peer-reviewed study is giving scientific weight to a claim that sounds more like science fiction than medicine. Researchers from Bengaluru-based Dognosis Biosciences have reported that trained dogs, working alongside an artificial intelligence-powered analytical system, were able to detect multiple types of cancer from breath samples with more than 90 per cent sensitivity and specificity. The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, one of the world's leading cancer research journals. To find out more about the diagnostic process, WION spoke with Dognosis. Here's all you need to know. Research-backed claims: Dogs can predict who has cancer Dognosis's study involved 3,275 participants across six hospitals in Karnataka. Notably, in the final test cohort of 1,502 participants, they achieved "90.8% sensitivity (95% CI, 87.2 to 94.5) and 91.3% specificity (95% CI, 89.7 to 92.9), with a receiver operating characteristic AUC of 0.962 (95% CI, 0.952 to 0.969). The sensitivity for early-stage disease (stage I to II) was 90.6% and remained consistent across major cancer types". Also read | Can you really wear period panties all day? Doctors tell WION it's not that simple | WION Decodes Put simply, the dogs were able to spot cancer in roughly nine out of 10 patients while also correctly identifying nine out of 10 healthy participants as cancer-free. Their accuracy stayed largely consistent even in early-stage cancers, when the disease is often hardest to detect. Why does it matter? In India, due to the high diagnosis costs (₹20,000 to ₹65,000 on average), only a small percentage of people undergo cancer screening. Many of those who undergo screening do so at later stages, when treatment options are limited. In such cases, pocket-friendly diagnosis using dogs could be the difference between life and death. The startup insists that its long-term goal is not to replace conventional cancer diagnostics but to create an inexpensive first-line screening tool that can identify people at higher risk and direct them towards further medical testing. "We want to operate as a risk stratification tool," Dognosis representative Manal Shakeel told WION. "Our end goal is not to replace traditional screening methods. We want to identify people who may be at high risk so they can undergo follow-up testing." Dognosis said that it envisions the technology as a population-level screening tool that could reach remote and underserved regions where access to advanced diagnostics remains limited. "What we aim to build is a population-based mass screening tool that can be deployed in low-income settings and even the most remote areas because it doesn't require heavy infrastructure," it said. Also read | NCERT Mohenjodaro Dancing Girl controversy: Is India's obsession with modesty threatening its culture? How much would it cost? In India, the average total cost for a comprehensive cancer diagnosis ranges from ₹20,000 to ₹65,000. By comparison, canine-backed screening is expected to cost about one-tenth of current market rates, Dognosis representative Srishti A told WION. She added that future deployments through government partnerships could potentially be offered free to end users. The company has already begun discussions with public health authorities. According to Shakeel, Dognosis is in advanced talks with Punjab's National Health Mission and is also engaging with officials in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh regarding pilot deployments. Which dog breeds participated in the study? The study relied on 16 trained dogs, including Beagles, a Labrador, a Labrador-Indie mix and a Dutch Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix. Researchers found that diagnostic performance remained largely consistent regardless of which dog evaluated the sample. Like all screening tools, the system is not perfect. Shakeel acknowledged that there have been false positives, where participants were flagged despite not having cancer. She also revealed that follow-up checks identified two participants who were initially missed by the test but were later diagnosed with cancer several months afterwards. Despite that, the company believes the technology could help address one of India's biggest healthcare challenges: detecting cancer before symptoms become severe. "When cancer is detected early, treatment outcomes are much better, and the financial burden is reduced," Shakeel noted. "One of the biggest goals we have is to make screening reach more and more people."

Can dogs smell cancer before doctors find it? In an exclusive conversation with WION, a Bengaluru startup revealed how trained dogs and artificial intelligence identified cancer in about nine out of 10 cases, including early-stage patients.

India's cancer screening problem may have an unlikely solution: Dogs and AI

NASA is preparing for a $30 million robotic rescue mission to save the ageing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from falling back into Earth's atmosphere. In a post on social media, NASA called it -“The ultimate battle against time and gravity".The operation will be carried out by the startup Katalyst Space Technologies using its three-armed spacecraft named Link, which will chase the Swift Observatory once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific's Marshall Islands aboard an aeroplane-launched Pegasus rocket. Lift off could occur as early as Tuesday. Link will chase Swift for about a month, latch onto it, and mechanically push the telescope into a higher, stable orbit. This will extend its operational life by five to ten years.Katalyst Space CEO Ghonhee Lee said, "This is the first American space robot to go up and do anything like this," he added, “NASA has all these big senior observatories … all of them can benefit from a service like this. So what we're proving with this mission is this is a new play in the playbook that's available.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-calls-donald-trump-loser-first-major-post-presidency-attack-1782650232709">Joe Biden calls Donald Trump a 'loser' in first major attack since leaving office</a>The Swift Observatory has spent two decades scanning the cosmos, acting as space astronomy's "first responder for gamma-ray bursts, which are the universe's most violent and luminous explosions. It can autonomously reorient its entire body within 20 to 75 seconds. This allows it to capture afterglow. No other off-Earth observatory, not even the famed Hubble Space Telescope or James Webb Space Telescope, can perform such a feat of astronomy.The Swift Observatory is suffering from Orbital decay. The intense solar activity of recent times has expanded the outer atmosphere of Earth, which acts as an atmospheric drag, causing Swift to sink faster than expected. It had already dropped an altitude of 600 kilometres to 370 kilometers. It faces an imminent destruction threat by the end of 2026 if left untreated. The Swift Observatory had an original cost of $250 million for the development of the telescope, and during its launch in 2004. It has a total lifetime operation cost of $500 million. NASA spent $6 million to keep the telescope running in fiscal year 2024, with planned budget step-downs to $4.5 million for 2026. Experts suggest NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is also at risk and could be next.&nbsp;

NASA is backing a $30 million robotic mission to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from orbital decay, potentially extending its operational life by up to 10 years.

NASA is preparing for a $30 million robotic rescue mission to save the ageing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from falling back into Earth's atmosphere. In a post on social media, NASA called it -“The ultimate battle against time and gravity".The operation will be carried out by the startup Katalyst Space Technologies using its three-armed spacecraft named Link, which will chase the Swift Observatory once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific's Marshall Islands aboard an aeroplane-launched Pegasus rocket. Lift off could occur as early as Tuesday. Link will chase Swift for about a month, latch onto it, and mechanically push the telescope into a higher, stable orbit. This will extend its operational life by five to ten years. Katalyst Space CEO Ghonhee Lee said, "This is the first American space robot to go up and do anything like this," he added, “NASA has all these big senior observatories … all of them can benefit from a service like this. So what we're proving with this mission is this is a new play in the playbook that's available.” Also Read: Joe Biden calls Donald Trump a 'loser' in first major attack since leaving office The Swift Observatory has spent two decades scanning the cosmos, acting as space astronomy's "first responder for gamma-ray bursts, which are the universe's most violent and luminous explosions. It can autonomously reorient its entire body within 20 to 75 seconds. This allows it to capture afterglow. No other off-Earth observatory, not even the famed Hubble Space Telescope or James Webb Space Telescope, can perform such a feat of astronomy. The Swift Observatory is suffering from Orbital decay. The intense solar activity of recent times has expanded the outer atmosphere of Earth, which acts as an atmospheric drag, causing Swift to sink faster than expected. It had already dropped an altitude of 600 kilometres to 370 kilometers. It faces an imminent destruction threat by the end of 2026 if left untreated. The Swift Observatory had an original cost of $250 million for the development of the telescope, and during its launch in 2004. It has a total lifetime operation cost of $500 million. NASA spent $6 million to keep the telescope running in fiscal year 2024, with planned budget step-downs to $4.5 million for 2026. Experts suggest NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is also at risk and could be next.

NASA is backing a $30 million robotic mission to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from orbital decay, potentially extending its operational life by up to 10 years.

NASA's $30 million mission aims to rescue the Swift Observatory from orbital decay

Scientists have come across ancient wrinkle structures in Morocco's Central High Atlas Mountains. These wrinkle structures were 180-million-year-old fossilised and created by chemosynthetic microbes. &nbsp;These rocks formed at least 590 feet underwater in total darkness, powered by chemical reactions rather than sunlight in relatively unstable deep-sea environments.&nbsp;"Let's go through every single piece of evidence that we can find to be sure that these are wrinkle structures in turbidites," says Rowan Martindale, a paleoecologist and geobiologist at The University of Texas at Austin. Because wrinkle structures, usually photosynthetic in origin, "shouldn't be in this deep-water setting.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-atlas-ai-image-truth-social-explained-1782637774877">Why did Donald Trump share an Atlas-like AI image on Truth Social?</a>The researchers found elevated concentrations of carbon in the sediment layers, which is often associated with biological activity and provided an important clue that microbes were involved. These organisms might have lived off of sulphur or other compounds. Today, chemosynthetic microbial mats form on continental shelves, where underwater landslides and turbidites also occur. These landslides might have been crucial to the cycle that allowed the microbes to thrive by dragging down organic material, which would have decomposed and created compounds such as methane or hydrogen sulfide, food for chemosynthetic life."Wrinkle structures," Martindale said, "are really important pieces of evidence in the early evolution of life."While the oldest evidence of microbial life dates back to around 3.77 to 4.28 billion years old, this particularly shocked scientists, as 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, the deep sea was already crawling with complex animals like worms, crabs, and molluscs. These animals would constantly churn up the mud, which almost always destroyed the delicate microbial structure before they could fossilise. Finding intact microbes from that era is incredibly rare.&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered 180-million-year-old fossilised microbial wrinkle structures in Morocco's Central High Atlas, offering rare evidence of deep-sea chemosynthetic life during the Jurassic Period.

Scientists have come across ancient wrinkle structures in Morocco's Central High Atlas Mountains. These wrinkle structures were 180-million-year-old fossilised and created by chemosynthetic microbes. These rocks formed at least 590 feet underwater in total darkness, powered by chemical reactions rather than sunlight in relatively unstable deep-sea environments. "Let's go through every single piece of evidence that we can find to be sure that these are wrinkle structures in turbidites," says Rowan Martindale, a paleoecologist and geobiologist at The University of Texas at Austin. Because wrinkle structures, usually photosynthetic in origin, "shouldn't be in this deep-water setting. Also Read: Why did Donald Trump share an Atlas-like AI image on Truth Social? The researchers found elevated concentrations of carbon in the sediment layers, which is often associated with biological activity and provided an important clue that microbes were involved. These organisms might have lived off of sulphur or other compounds. Today, chemosynthetic microbial mats form on continental shelves, where underwater landslides and turbidites also occur. These landslides might have been crucial to the cycle that allowed the microbes to thrive by dragging down organic material, which would have decomposed and created compounds such as methane or hydrogen sulfide, food for chemosynthetic life. "Wrinkle structures," Martindale said, "are really important pieces of evidence in the early evolution of life." While the oldest evidence of microbial life dates back to around 3.77 to 4.28 billion years old, this particularly shocked scientists, as 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, the deep sea was already crawling with complex animals like worms, crabs, and molluscs. These animals would constantly churn up the mud, which almost always destroyed the delicate microbial structure before they could fossilise. Finding intact microbes from that era is incredibly rare.

Scientists have discovered 180-million-year-old fossilised microbial wrinkle structures in Morocco's Central High Atlas, offering rare evidence of deep-sea chemosynthetic life during the Jurassic Period.

Scientists discover 180-million-year-old fossilised microbes in Morocco's deep sea

Two black holes are moving towards each other 500 million light-years from our solar system and will merge in about 100 years. When this happens, Earth will also feel the effects of the cosmic event. Study co-author Silke Britzen told BBC Science Focus, "We expect one (merged) black hole to remain.” The blazar at the core of the galaxy Markarian 501 caught the attention of scientists. This extremely luminous and ultrabright object is usually powered by a black hole. When they got a closer look, the researchers found that there was not one but two jet streams. This showed that the activity was happening because of two black holes that will collide in the next 100 years.&nbsp;The blazar shoots jets of energy radiation into space as they consume objects at the centres of galaxies, which also reaches Earth. A central black hole acts as the source for them. But the blazar in the galaxy Markarian 501 appeared different from usual. Radio telescope data gathered over the years failed to reveal whether a supermassive black hole was at its core. The study was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.&nbsp;<h2>Two jets at the centre of the galaxy</h2>To get a better look, they analysed over 83 datasets from the Very Long Baseline Array, which comprises 10 radio telescopes located in different parts of the world. The observations revealed that there was another jet looping counterclockwise around the blazar's centre. This led them to believe that each jet was originating from a different black hole, which are likely the mass of 100 million to one billion suns. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-first-since-pluto-did-a-comet-explosion-create-atmosphere-on-this-object-beyond-neptune-1782135566992">Did a comet explosion create atmosphere on this object beyond Neptune?</a> &nbsp;More evidence about the presence of two black holes emerged when they lined up nearly in 2022. The gravity of the first black hole bent the light emitted by the second jet, forming an Einstein ring. Gravitational lensing, a cosmic magnifying glass, confirmed that the blazar was coming from two supermassive black holes. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sun-may-spare-earth-and-mars-as-study-reverses-course-on-death-of-our-planet-1781952003897">Sun may spare Earth and Mars, as study reverses course on death of our planet</a>&nbsp;The distance between the two black holes is about 250 to 540 times the distance between Earth and the sun. They are circling each other and complete one orbit in about 121 days. They are slowly coming closer, and a collision will be so powerful that the ripples through space-time will also reach Earth, where they would be picked up by gravitational wave detectors. It would be the most intense black holes ever recorded by humans.

Two supermassive black holes about the mass of one billion suns are on their way to smash into each other in about 100 years. This event is happening 500 million light-years away, and Earth will feel the effects. It will be one of the most intense collisions ever recorded by humans. 

Two black holes are moving towards each other 500 million light-years from our solar system and will merge in about 100 years. When this happens, Earth will also feel the effects of the cosmic event. Study co-author Silke Britzen told BBC Science Focus, "We expect one (merged) black hole to remain.” The blazar at the core of the galaxy Markarian 501 caught the attention of scientists. This extremely luminous and ultrabright object is usually powered by a black hole. When they got a closer look, the researchers found that there was not one but two jet streams. This showed that the activity was happening because of two black holes that will collide in the next 100 years. The blazar shoots jets of energy radiation into space as they consume objects at the centres of galaxies, which also reaches Earth. A central black hole acts as the source for them. But the blazar in the galaxy Markarian 501 appeared different from usual. Radio telescope data gathered over the years failed to reveal whether a supermassive black hole was at its core. The study was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Two jets at the centre of the galaxy To get a better look, they analysed over 83 datasets from the Very Long Baseline Array, which comprises 10 radio telescopes located in different parts of the world. The observations revealed that there was another jet looping counterclockwise around the blazar's centre. This led them to believe that each jet was originating from a different black hole, which are likely the mass of 100 million to one billion suns. Also Read: Did a comet explosion create atmosphere on this object beyond Neptune? More evidence about the presence of two black holes emerged when they lined up nearly in 2022. The gravity of the first black hole bent the light emitted by the second jet, forming an Einstein ring. Gravitational lensing, a cosmic magnifying glass, confirmed that the blazar was coming from two supermassive black holes. Also Read: Sun may spare Earth and Mars, as study reverses course on death of our planet The distance between the two black holes is about 250 to 540 times the distance between Earth and the sun. They are circling each other and complete one orbit in about 121 days. They are slowly coming closer, and a collision will be so powerful that the ripples through space-time will also reach Earth, where they would be picked up by gravitational wave detectors. It would be the most intense black holes ever recorded by humans.

Two supermassive black holes about the mass of one billion suns are on their way to smash into each other in about 100 years. This event is happening 500 million light-years away, and Earth will feel the effects. It will be one of the most intense collisions ever recorded by humans.&nbsp;

Two supermassive black holes will collide by the year 2125, and Earth will feel it

In the advancing modern world, AI is acting to transform the landscape of technology by reshaping industries and changing the methods of interaction with the digital world. It has solved the most challenging problems with groundbreaking solutions after taking data and generating intelligence. From the medical sectors to the motor industry, AI began to act as the forefront of a technological revolution, with promises to redefine the future, including multiple challenging problems that stand in the way of useful quantum computing.<h2>What is Quantum AI?</h2>Quantum AI is the combination of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing, which leverages the power of the technology to run complex machine learning algorithms to process vast amounts of data. Quantum AI has the ability to solve issues that makes impossible for normal computers, including optimising complex systems and predicting outcomes in complex environments. The combined technology unites the power of quantum computing with the flexibility of machine learning algorithms, allowing the creation of new types of algorithms that can take advantage of the unique properties of quantum computing. Quantum AI can also make new patterns of data processing techniques that can be utilised at a wider scale.<h2>The Core Benefits of Quantum AI</h2><h3>1. Unmatched computing power</h3>Standard computers process data using bits, which are like light switches that can only be On (1) or Off (0). Quantum computers use qubits, which can be both 1 and 0 at the same time (a phenomenon called superposition). This allows Quantum AI to calculate millions of possibilities simultaneously, solving problems in seconds that would take a normal supercomputer thousands of years.<h3>2. Supercharged machine learning</h3>AI learns by combing through massive mountains of data (like pictures, text, or numbers) to find patterns. Standard computers can get bogged down when the data gets too massive. Quantum AI cuts through this data like a hot knife through butter, allowing AI to learn, adapt, and think in true real-time.<h3>3. Hyper-accurate predictions</h3>Whether it's predicting a massive hurricane or a sudden stock market crash, normal computers often guess wrong because there are too many moving variables. Quantum AI can track billions of changing factors at once, giving us incredibly accurate forecasts in chaotic, unpredictable environments.<h3>4. Perfecting complex systems (Optimisation)</h3>Imagine trying to find the absolute fastest route for 10,000 delivery trucks across a country, factoring in traffic, weather, and fuel stops. This is an "optimisation problem." Quantum AI can instantly calculate the perfect schedule, saving companies billions of dollars in fuel and time.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-people-under-50-are-ageing-faster-biologically-1782480428355">Study finds people under 50 are ageing faster biologically. Here's why it matters</a><h2>Real-world applications</h2><h3>Finance &amp; trading revolution</h3>The stock market moves in milliseconds. Quantum AI algorithms are currently a major game-changer in this space because they can analyse global financial data, news feeds, and historical trends instantly. It can also detect microscopic market anomalies that standard computers miss and simulate thousands of economic crisis scenarios instantly to protect people's retirement funds and investments from crashing.<h3>Healthcare &amp; life-saving medicine</h3>Right now, creating a new life-saving drug takes about 10 to 15 years and billions of dollars in trial-and-error. However, Quantum AI can digitally simulate how millions of different chemical molecules will react with a human virus in seconds. It can also analyse your specific genetic code to design a custom medicine meant only for your body, eliminating side effects.<h3>Transportation &amp; logistics</h3>Global supply chains are incredibly fragile. Quantum AI acts as the ultimate air traffic controller. It maps out global shipping routes, automates warehouse sorting, and coordinates city traffic lights to eliminate traffic jams and reduce global carbon emissions.<h3>Smart energy &amp; power grids</h3>Managing a country's electricity is highly complicated—too much power blows the grid, too little causes blackouts. Quantum AI can instantly predict exactly how much energy a city will need on a hot summer day and instantly route solar, wind, and nuclear energy to the right places without wasting a single watt.&nbsp;The synergy between Quantum AI and quantum computing is transforming from theoretical research into active global policy. Official directives highlight this computational convergence: the US Department of Energy’s recent "Quantum Genesis" initiative integrates advanced artificial intelligence with a national fault-tolerant quantum platform to accelerate scientific discovery. Simultaneously, India's National Quantum Mission (NQM), operating through dedicated hubs like the Foundation for QC Innovation at IISc Bengaluru, has crossed major development benchmarks to build a sovereign quantum-AI stack. By deploying qubits instead of classical bits, this integrated ecosystem processes multi-variable algorithms simultaneously, unlocking rapid machine learning, hyper-accurate trend predictions, and immediate macro-system optimisation. &nbsp;

Quantum AI leverages the power of the technology to run complex machine learning algorithms to process vast amounts of data, solving issues that makes impossible for normal computers, including optimising complex systems and predicting outcomes in complex environments. 

In the advancing modern world, AI is acting to transform the landscape of technology by reshaping industries and changing the methods of interaction with the digital world. It has solved the most challenging problems with groundbreaking solutions after taking data and generating intelligence. From the medical sectors to the motor industry, AI began to act as the forefront of a technological revolution, with promises to redefine the future, including multiple challenging problems that stand in the way of useful quantum computing. What is Quantum AI? Quantum AI is the combination of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing, which leverages the power of the technology to run complex machine learning algorithms to process vast amounts of data. Quantum AI has the ability to solve issues that makes impossible for normal computers, including optimising complex systems and predicting outcomes in complex environments. The combined technology unites the power of quantum computing with the flexibility of machine learning algorithms, allowing the creation of new types of algorithms that can take advantage of the unique properties of quantum computing. Quantum AI can also make new patterns of data processing techniques that can be utilised at a wider scale. The Core Benefits of Quantum AI 1. Unmatched computing power Standard computers process data using bits, which are like light switches that can only be On (1) or Off (0). Quantum computers use qubits, which can be both 1 and 0 at the same time (a phenomenon called superposition). This allows Quantum AI to calculate millions of possibilities simultaneously, solving problems in seconds that would take a normal supercomputer thousands of years. 2. Supercharged machine learning AI learns by combing through massive mountains of data (like pictures, text, or numbers) to find patterns. Standard computers can get bogged down when the data gets too massive. Quantum AI cuts through this data like a hot knife through butter, allowing AI to learn, adapt, and think in true real-time. 3. Hyper-accurate predictions Whether it's predicting a massive hurricane or a sudden stock market crash, normal computers often guess wrong because there are too many moving variables. Quantum AI can track billions of changing factors at once, giving us incredibly accurate forecasts in chaotic, unpredictable environments. 4. Perfecting complex systems (Optimisation) Imagine trying to find the absolute fastest route for 10,000 delivery trucks across a country, factoring in traffic, weather, and fuel stops. This is an "optimisation problem." Quantum AI can instantly calculate the perfect schedule, saving companies billions of dollars in fuel and time. Also read: Study finds people under 50 are ageing faster biologically. Here's why it matters Real-world applications Finance & trading revolution The stock market moves in milliseconds. Quantum AI algorithms are currently a major game-changer in this space because they can analyse global financial data, news feeds, and historical trends instantly. It can also detect microscopic market anomalies that standard computers miss and simulate thousands of economic crisis scenarios instantly to protect people's retirement funds and investments from crashing. Healthcare & life-saving medicine Right now, creating a new life-saving drug takes about 10 to 15 years and billions of dollars in trial-and-error. However, Quantum AI can digitally simulate how millions of different chemical molecules will react with a human virus in seconds. It can also analyse your specific genetic code to design a custom medicine meant only for your body, eliminating side effects. Transportation & logistics Global supply chains are incredibly fragile. Quantum AI acts as the ultimate air traffic controller. It maps out global shipping routes, automates warehouse sorting, and coordinates city traffic lights to eliminate traffic jams and reduce global carbon emissions. Smart energy & power grids Managing a country's electricity is highly complicated—too much power blows the grid, too little causes blackouts. Quantum AI can instantly predict exactly how much energy a city will need on a hot summer day and instantly route solar, wind, and nuclear energy to the right places without wasting a single watt. The synergy between Quantum AI and quantum computing is transforming from theoretical research into active global policy. Official directives highlight this computational convergence: the US Department of Energy’s recent "Quantum Genesis" initiative integrates advanced artificial intelligence with a national fault-tolerant quantum platform to accelerate scientific discovery. Simultaneously, India's National Quantum Mission (NQM), operating through dedicated hubs like the Foundation for QC Innovation at IISc Bengaluru, has crossed major development benchmarks to build a sovereign quantum-AI stack. By deploying qubits instead of classical bits, this integrated ecosystem processes multi-variable algorithms simultaneously, unlocking rapid machine learning, hyper-accurate trend predictions, and immediate macro-system optimisation.

Quantum AI leverages the power of the technology to run complex machine learning algorithms to process vast amounts of data, solving issues that makes impossible for normal computers, including optimising complex systems and predicting outcomes in complex environments.&nbsp;

AI and quantum computing: How the powerful partnership shaping the future

A study has found that the younger generations are ageing biologically faster, which is contributing to the rise in cancer cases. The disease has been linked with older people, but a troubling trend shows people in their 20s, 30s and 40s also suffering from it. Scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis made the findings, which indicate that faster ageing is a major reason for it. Typically, lifestyle and eating habits have been blamed for it, but the observations show that something larger is going on under the surface. The study was published June 22 in Nature Medicine.&nbsp;A person’s chronological age, that is, how long a person has been alive, and biological age, based on the condition of the body’s tissues, organs, and systems, are two different things. Genetics, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and other factors determine a person’s biological age. The researchers found that people born in recent decades are biologically older than previous generations. So on the inside, a 40-year-old today would have an older biological profile as compared to a 40-year-old a few decades ago.&nbsp;The researchers say that this could explain the reason for the rise in cancer cases among younger people, that is, those diagnosed before age 55. “Our ultimate goal is to decode how modern environments become biologically embedded to drive cancer risk, transforming prevention from broad recommendations to personalised interventions,” Yin Cao, ScD, a molecular epidemiologist and associate professor of surgery and medicine at WashU Medicine. “This brings us closer to identifying risk earlier and developing prevention strategies that are tailored to an individual’s biology.”&nbsp;In the past years, scientists have looked at obesity, poor diet, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyles, metabolic disorders, and other factors as reasons for the rising cancer cases among young people. They have been flagged as possible contributors, although their individual effects are often relatively small. With early biological aging, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and other chronic conditions, can also affect a person.

A study has found that people under the age of 50 are ageing faster biologically, which is contributing to the rise in diseases like cancer, heart problems, diabetes and others. This is compared to a person the same age decades ago.

A study has found that the younger generations are ageing biologically faster, which is contributing to the rise in cancer cases. The disease has been linked with older people, but a troubling trend shows people in their 20s, 30s and 40s also suffering from it. Scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis made the findings, which indicate that faster ageing is a major reason for it. Typically, lifestyle and eating habits have been blamed for it, but the observations show that something larger is going on under the surface. The study was published June 22 in Nature Medicine. A person’s chronological age, that is, how long a person has been alive, and biological age, based on the condition of the body’s tissues, organs, and systems, are two different things. Genetics, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and other factors determine a person’s biological age. The researchers found that people born in recent decades are biologically older than previous generations. So on the inside, a 40-year-old today would have an older biological profile as compared to a 40-year-old a few decades ago. The researchers say that this could explain the reason for the rise in cancer cases among younger people, that is, those diagnosed before age 55. “Our ultimate goal is to decode how modern environments become biologically embedded to drive cancer risk, transforming prevention from broad recommendations to personalised interventions,” Yin Cao, ScD, a molecular epidemiologist and associate professor of surgery and medicine at WashU Medicine. “This brings us closer to identifying risk earlier and developing prevention strategies that are tailored to an individual’s biology.” In the past years, scientists have looked at obesity, poor diet, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyles, metabolic disorders, and other factors as reasons for the rising cancer cases among young people. They have been flagged as possible contributors, although their individual effects are often relatively small. With early biological aging, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and other chronic conditions, can also affect a person.

A study has found that people under the age of 50 are ageing faster biologically, which is contributing to the rise in diseases like cancer, heart problems, diabetes and others. This is compared to a person the same age decades ago.

Study finds people under 50 are ageing faster biologically. Here's why it matters

The Caspian Sea, which sits on the boundary of Asia and Europe, is shrinking, according to a study. Published in the journal Earth’s Future, the peer-reviewed study states that it has been receding since the 1990s. The blame can be pinned on humans and climate change. The Caspian Sea spans 371,000 square km, nearly the size of Japan and borders five countries - Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. The researchers attribute the reason for its diminishing size to the lack of river inflow, especially from Russia’s Volga River, EarthSky reported.&nbsp;Led by Jesse Duku of UC Irvine, the team of researchers studied satellite observations, river flow records and climate data to learn about the stresses. The data shows that while evaporation from the sea surface has increased, precipitation has remained largely the same since the early 1990s. However, this contributes only about 40 per cent to the problem. The biggest reason is the low flow of water from Russia’s Volga River. It has been the biggest supplier of freshwater to the Caspian Sea. But now this has changed. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sea-ice-twice-the-size-of-rajasthan-goes-missing-from-antarctica-in-winter-1781702114417">Sea ice twice the size of Rajasthan goes missing from Antarctica in winter</a><h2>Five major rivers feeding the Caspian Sea</h2>&nbsp;Ural, Kura, Terek and Atrek are the other four major rivers that drain into the Caspian Sea. The study shows that the inflow of all five of them registered a massive dip between 1991 and 2020. The northern region has witnessed the biggest fall as it is naturally shallow. It has lost a total of 5.5 per cent of its surface area, and projections show that the levels will dip 26 to 46 feet by 2100. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wave-as-intense-as-7-magnitude-earthquake-bounced-off-earth-s-core-and-shifted-japan-1781858221826">Single wave as intense as 7-magnitude earthquake bounced off Earth's core and shifted Japan</a>&nbsp;Scientists also detected chlorophyll a in the northern Caspian, a type used to measure the amount of algae and cyanobacteria. The shrinking sea is threatening the ecology of the region as a consequence. The Caspian Sea is home to more than 850 species of organisms and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. The falling level of water is threatening their existence, particularly the critically endangered Caspian seal and the sturgeon. The latter provides 90% of the world’s black caviar. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/antarctica-melts-as-temperature-soars-20-degrees-celsius-above-normal-in-june-1781518880876">Antarctica feels the heat in June as temperature soars 20 degrees Celsius above normal</a><h2>Oil leaks into the Caspian</h2>The study further states that the Caspian Sea is a major hotspot for the oil and gas industry, and approximately 1 million tons of oil leak into the waters every year. This adds to the existing stresses, influencing water quality and the ecosystem. The researchers have warned that unless all five countries come together to solve the crisis, a major environmental crisis could unfold.&nbsp; Meanwhile, the American Geophysical Union says only international action can save it.

The largest inland sea on Earth has been getting smaller since the 1990s. Scientists now know the reason, and it is a combined crisis created by climate change and human activity. The Caspian Sea is fed by five major rivers, and the problem lies exactly here.  

The Caspian Sea, which sits on the boundary of Asia and Europe, is shrinking, according to a study. Published in the journal Earth’s Future, the peer-reviewed study states that it has been receding since the 1990s. The blame can be pinned on humans and climate change. The Caspian Sea spans 371,000 square km, nearly the size of Japan and borders five countries - Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. The researchers attribute the reason for its diminishing size to the lack of river inflow, especially from Russia’s Volga River, EarthSky reported. Led by Jesse Duku of UC Irvine, the team of researchers studied satellite observations, river flow records and climate data to learn about the stresses. The data shows that while evaporation from the sea surface has increased, precipitation has remained largely the same since the early 1990s. However, this contributes only about 40 per cent to the problem. The biggest reason is the low flow of water from Russia’s Volga River. It has been the biggest supplier of freshwater to the Caspian Sea. But now this has changed. Also Read: Sea ice twice the size of Rajasthan goes missing from Antarctica in winter Five major rivers feeding the Caspian Sea Ural, Kura, Terek and Atrek are the other four major rivers that drain into the Caspian Sea. The study shows that the inflow of all five of them registered a massive dip between 1991 and 2020. The northern region has witnessed the biggest fall as it is naturally shallow. It has lost a total of 5.5 per cent of its surface area, and projections show that the levels will dip 26 to 46 feet by 2100. Also Read: Single wave as intense as 7-magnitude earthquake bounced off Earth's core and shifted Japan Scientists also detected chlorophyll a in the northern Caspian, a type used to measure the amount of algae and cyanobacteria. The shrinking sea is threatening the ecology of the region as a consequence. The Caspian Sea is home to more than 850 species of organisms and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. The falling level of water is threatening their existence, particularly the critically endangered Caspian seal and the sturgeon. The latter provides 90% of the world’s black caviar. Also Read: Antarctica feels the heat in June as temperature soars 20 degrees Celsius above normal Oil leaks into the Caspian The study further states that the Caspian Sea is a major hotspot for the oil and gas industry, and approximately 1 million tons of oil leak into the waters every year. This adds to the existing stresses, influencing water quality and the ecosystem. The researchers have warned that unless all five countries come together to solve the crisis, a major environmental crisis could unfold. Meanwhile, the American Geophysical Union says only international action can save it.

The largest inland sea on Earth has been getting smaller since the 1990s. Scientists now know the reason, and it is a combined crisis created by climate change and human activity. The Caspian Sea is fed by five major rivers, and the problem lies exactly here. &nbsp;

Scientists warn major sea the size of Japan is vanishing. It might be too late to save it

Researchers have discovered that each bee follows its own highly consistent flight path. They also found that bees follow their path so precisely that they flew only centimetres from the path they had flown before. Bees' precision comes as they fix landmarks like trees, which help them to keep on track, while uniform areas such as cornfields lead to more variation. This research was done after tracking honey bees in the wild using a drone-based system. The finding was discovered at the University of Freiburg, indicating that individual honey bees follow their own highly consistent flight routes, helping them to repeat with remarkable accuracy. The study was led by neurobiologist and behavioural biologist Prof. Dr Andrew Straw, using a drone to keep surveillance on honey bees travelling between their hive and a food source located nearly 120 meters away in an agricultural setting.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/can-ai-improve-access-to-mental-healthcare-without-replacing-human-connection-here-s-what-experts-say-1782226485177">Can AI improve access to mental healthcare without replacing human connection? Here's what experts say</a><h3>Fast Lock-On (FLO) Tracking method</h3>To track them, the scientist used a method called 'Fast Lock-On (FLO) Tracking'. The method involves attaching a small reflective marker to each bee and then using a computer on the drone to examine reflected light, identifying and tracking a bee within milliseconds after it flies. The findings showed that individual honey bees tend to follow their own preferred flight routes and adhere to them with remarkable precision while travelling to and from food sources. Researchers also found evidence suggesting that bees rely on landmarks and other features of the surrounding environment to navigate their journeys. "Our tracking system makes it possible for the first time to record high-resolution 3D flight paths of honey bees in natural landscapes," explains Straw. "Our recordings show that each bee has its own preferred route and flies it very precisely. You could almost say that each bee has its own personality." For the study, scientists examined 255 flight paths recorded near Kaiserstuhl, Germany. The research site featured hedgerows, a cornfield and a tree positioned between the hive and the feeding area, making a straight-line route impossible. "We found a high degree of precision in the flight paths. Individual bees repeated their individual flight paths nearly exactly on several flights. They often fly just a few centimetres away from their previous paths," Straw emphasises.&nbsp;WATCH: https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-s-pitch-from-cheap-drugs-to-cutting-edge-pharma-1782394898572/embed The bees displayed the highest level of route consistency when flying near prominent landmarks, especially the tree. In contrast, their flight paths varied the most over the cornfield, where the landscape provided fewer distinctive visual markers for navigation. "Our results suggest that visual landmarks aid the bees' navigation and increase the precision of their flight paths," explains Straw. The discovery also sheds new light on the famous waggle dance, which is being used by honey bees to send a message about the location of food sources to other members of the colony. However, the directional information in the waggle dance can divert to around 30 degrees. "It was previously known that the directional information in the waggle dance is not entirely accurate," explains Straw. For food sources approximately 100 meters away, the directional information in the waggle dance can deviate by around 30 degrees. The study suggests that the apparent imprecision of the honey bee waggle dance is not a reflection of poor navigational ability. Instead, bees demonstrate a high degree of accuracy when travelling to destinations they are already familiar with. Researcher Straw noted that the findings show individual bees navigate known locations with remarkable precision. Even in areas where their routes varied the most, they strayed from their preferred flight paths by only a few degrees. According to the researchers, this indicates that the limitations of the waggle dance do not stem from weak navigation skills. Rather, bees are far more spatially accurate and better oriented than their dance-based communication alone would imply.

Researchers found that honey bees follow individual preferred flight routes with remarkable accuracy when travelling to and from food sources. The study also suggests bees use landmarks and landscape features to navigate, helping them stay on course.

Researchers have discovered that each bee follows its own highly consistent flight path. They also found that bees follow their path so precisely that they flew only centimetres from the path they had flown before. Bees' precision comes as they fix landmarks like trees, which help them to keep on track, while uniform areas such as cornfields lead to more variation. This research was done after tracking honey bees in the wild using a drone-based system. The finding was discovered at the University of Freiburg, indicating that individual honey bees follow their own highly consistent flight routes, helping them to repeat with remarkable accuracy. The study was led by neurobiologist and behavioural biologist Prof. Dr Andrew Straw, using a drone to keep surveillance on honey bees travelling between their hive and a food source located nearly 120 meters away in an agricultural setting. Also read: Can AI improve access to mental healthcare without replacing human connection? Here's what experts say Fast Lock-On (FLO) Tracking method To track them, the scientist used a method called 'Fast Lock-On (FLO) Tracking'. The method involves attaching a small reflective marker to each bee and then using a computer on the drone to examine reflected light, identifying and tracking a bee within milliseconds after it flies. The findings showed that individual honey bees tend to follow their own preferred flight routes and adhere to them with remarkable precision while travelling to and from food sources. Researchers also found evidence suggesting that bees rely on landmarks and other features of the surrounding environment to navigate their journeys. "Our tracking system makes it possible for the first time to record high-resolution 3D flight paths of honey bees in natural landscapes," explains Straw. "Our recordings show that each bee has its own preferred route and flies it very precisely. You could almost say that each bee has its own personality." For the study, scientists examined 255 flight paths recorded near Kaiserstuhl, Germany. The research site featured hedgerows, a cornfield and a tree positioned between the hive and the feeding area, making a straight-line route impossible. "We found a high degree of precision in the flight paths. Individual bees repeated their individual flight paths nearly exactly on several flights. They often fly just a few centimetres away from their previous paths," Straw emphasises. WATCH: https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-s-pitch-from-cheap-drugs-to-cutting-edge-pharma-1782394898572/embed The bees displayed the highest level of route consistency when flying near prominent landmarks, especially the tree. In contrast, their flight paths varied the most over the cornfield, where the landscape provided fewer distinctive visual markers for navigation. "Our results suggest that visual landmarks aid the bees' navigation and increase the precision of their flight paths," explains Straw. The discovery also sheds new light on the famous waggle dance, which is being used by honey bees to send a message about the location of food sources to other members of the colony. However, the directional information in the waggle dance can divert to around 30 degrees. "It was previously known that the directional information in the waggle dance is not entirely accurate," explains Straw. For food sources approximately 100 meters away, the directional information in the waggle dance can deviate by around 30 degrees. The study suggests that the apparent imprecision of the honey bee waggle dance is not a reflection of poor navigational ability. Instead, bees demonstrate a high degree of accuracy when travelling to destinations they are already familiar with. Researcher Straw noted that the findings show individual bees navigate known locations with remarkable precision. Even in areas where their routes varied the most, they strayed from their preferred flight paths by only a few degrees. According to the researchers, this indicates that the limitations of the waggle dance do not stem from weak navigation skills. Rather, bees are far more spatially accurate and better oriented than their dance-based communication alone would imply.

Researchers found that honey bees follow individual preferred flight routes with remarkable accuracy when travelling to and from food sources. The study also suggests bees use landmarks and landscape features to navigate, helping them stay on course.

Do honey bees have their own unique flight routes? Scientists reveal surprising truth

Omega Block is causing Europe’s heatwave, with temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius in some regions. It is a powerful meteorological phenomenon featuring a high-pressure system sandwiched between two low-pressure systems. The jet stream in the upper atmosphere bends around them to form a shape that resembles the Greek letter Omega. It traps intensely hot air under it, forming a heat dome, which is what the European countries are feeling at the moment.&nbsp;<h2>How is an Omega Block formed? Is it linked to climate change?</h2>&nbsp;The flow of fast-moving air high in the atmosphere depends on the temperatures at the equator and the poles. If the two stand in sharp contrast, the jet stream flows smoothly from west to east. But if it weakens, the air starts acting in an abnormal fashion. Instead of moving in a straight line, it starts moving wildly in the north and south direction, forming what are called Rossby waves.The jet stream slows, and the Rossby waves keep growing. A large area within this moves north and, in doing so, pulls warm air up from the tropics. Around this area region two low-pressure areas are formed that dip south, pulling cold air from the polar regions.&nbsp;This formation is eventually cut off from the main flow of air. The jet stream splits, with one part branching north and the other dipping south. This Omega Block is incredibly stable as all three systems work together to lock each other. But the global jet stream continues to move, bypassing this entire setup. The Omega Block is basically blocked in place, and so the underneath remains virtually unchanged. It stays there until a powerful storm moves upstream.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/europe-s-heatwaves-threaten-to-push-127-million-into-poverty-by-2100-1782369833103">Europe's heatwaves threaten to push 127 million into poverty by 2100, study finds</a><h2>In absence of clouds, solar radiation bakes the region&nbsp;</h2>The central high-pressure zone constantly forces air downward, and as it compresses, the heat increases and cloud formation is stopped. In the absence of cloud cover, the Sun shines brightly over this area, and the radiation makes the place hotter. The ground dries out, and as a result, air-cooling evaporation does not happen. The dry ground radiates heat back into the atmosphere, thus making it hotter. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/analysis-economic-toll-of-heatwaves-and-droughts-on-india-amid-europe-heatwave-1782378337441">Analysis: Economic toll of heatwaves and droughts on India amid Europe heatwave</a>&nbsp;This weather phenomenon is aggravated by human activities. The Urban Heat Island effect has made the planet hotter. With concrete and glass everywhere, the surfaces reflect heat, which gets trapped between buildings. Air conditioners release a lot of hot air, which keeps piling up, worsening the situation.&nbsp;

Europe is sweltering and baking because of the Omega Block. What is it and how is it formed? It is a strong weather phenomenon that traps air over a large area, cutting itself off from the jet stream. It is linkd to global warming and changes in temperature at the poles. 

Omega Block is causing Europe’s heatwave, with temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius in some regions. It is a powerful meteorological phenomenon featuring a high-pressure system sandwiched between two low-pressure systems. The jet stream in the upper atmosphere bends around them to form a shape that resembles the Greek letter Omega. It traps intensely hot air under it, forming a heat dome, which is what the European countries are feeling at the moment. How is an Omega Block formed? Is it linked to climate change? The flow of fast-moving air high in the atmosphere depends on the temperatures at the equator and the poles. If the two stand in sharp contrast, the jet stream flows smoothly from west to east. But if it weakens, the air starts acting in an abnormal fashion. Instead of moving in a straight line, it starts moving wildly in the north and south direction, forming what are called Rossby waves. The jet stream slows, and the Rossby waves keep growing. A large area within this moves north and, in doing so, pulls warm air up from the tropics. Around this area region two low-pressure areas are formed that dip south, pulling cold air from the polar regions. This formation is eventually cut off from the main flow of air. The jet stream splits, with one part branching north and the other dipping south. This Omega Block is incredibly stable as all three systems work together to lock each other. But the global jet stream continues to move, bypassing this entire setup. The Omega Block is basically blocked in place, and so the underneath remains virtually unchanged. It stays there until a powerful storm moves upstream. Also Read: Europe's heatwaves threaten to push 127 million into poverty by 2100, study finds In absence of clouds, solar radiation bakes the region The central high-pressure zone constantly forces air downward, and as it compresses, the heat increases and cloud formation is stopped. In the absence of cloud cover, the Sun shines brightly over this area, and the radiation makes the place hotter. The ground dries out, and as a result, air-cooling evaporation does not happen. The dry ground radiates heat back into the atmosphere, thus making it hotter. Also Read: Analysis: Economic toll of heatwaves and droughts on India amid Europe heatwave This weather phenomenon is aggravated by human activities. The Urban Heat Island effect has made the planet hotter. With concrete and glass everywhere, the surfaces reflect heat, which gets trapped between buildings. Air conditioners release a lot of hot air, which keeps piling up, worsening the situation.

Europe is sweltering and baking because of the Omega Block. What is it and how is it formed? It is a strong weather phenomenon that traps air over a large area, cutting itself off from the jet stream. It is linked to global warming and changes in temperature at the poles.&nbsp;

Omega Block is baking Europe, and humans have amplified it - How does it form and work?

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