How does a GPU actually work? The technology behind modern graphics and AI

Macron’s awkward embrace with Iceland PM Kristrún Frostadóttir goes viral – What happened?

Aliens near US military base? Woman captures bizarre jellyfish-like UFO in Alaska | WATCH

'Miracle on the Mississippi': Cruise boat capsizes after colliding with tanker in New Orleans, all 180 passengers aboard safe

Why are modern GPUs so expensive? 7 things that drive graphics card prices

Why do graphics cards have thousands of small processing cores?

'Don’t f–k around!' Travis Barker opens up on quitting smoking after precancer diagnosis

CPU vs GPU vs NPU: Which processor does your computer actually need?

'Forbidden' light proposed 40 years ago detected for first time in the universe

Avril Lavigne welcomes first child, keeps baby's name and partner's identity private

Why did the FAA suddenly ground flights across the US? Officials reveal what went wrong

Reply 1988 star Ko Kyung Pyo under police investigation after drunk-driving collision in Seoul

Shape-shifting UFO sighting in Oregon leaves mother-daughter sick: 'Fell like a dead bird'

Vaaste singer Dhvani Bhanushali announces engagement to esports entrepreneur Yash Bhanushali; see pics

From chipmakers to cloud giants: How is Nvidia's stock crash shaking the AI industry?

Crystal-clear Ganga water in Haridwar? Viral video creates buzz online | WATCH

India backs death penalty at UN, says can't equate it with torture

Move over Ram and Ravan, Kunal Kapoor's Lord Indra in Ramayana is stealing hearts in Thailand

Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh: India seeks two assurances from Dhaka, says report

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky's Australian home targeted by burglars;  3 cars stolen

Ukraine's NATO membership in exchange for ceding territory to Russia: Zelensky reveals US proposal

'Don't hike rates': US Treasury Secretary Bessent warns Fed against rate increase amid Iran war

Trump, Putin and Xi to hold historic trilateral meeting at APEC Summit in China

Jensen Huang seen with wife Lori in Paris in photos shared by daughter Madison

A$AP Rocky's New York event disrupted by on-camera brawl, NYPD steps in

24 hours and counting: Microsoft says 'sorry' for global outage

CM Suvendhu Adhikari turns Bengal's Chhath ghats into launchpad for UP campaign

Mohamed Salah becomes Egypt’s all-time top scorer with brace against Malawi

Video captures horrifying moment Brooklyn apartment building collapses, killing eight people

Colombia 'false positives' scandal: 5 retired army men sentenced over killing of 35 civilians

'It exploded in his mouth': Man dies after friend gives him bomb disguised as rasgulla on Diwali in Madhya Pradesh's Dindori

Telugu actor Giribabu dies at 83; Chiranjeevi, Chandrababu Naidu pay tribute

Why do powerful graphics cards need so much electricity?

Indian student sentenced to 30 years in UK for online grooming of over 70 children

The United States has undertaken an ambitious programme that seeks to use artificial intelligence (AI) to train officers in charge of reviewing applicants for refugee status in the country.&nbsp;

Talking to reporters on Tuesday (May 7), Alejandro Mayorkas, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has undertaken the AI programme to undertake work he described as "labour-intensive".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/warren-buffett-likens-ai-to-nuclear-weapons-warns-genie-part-way-out-of-the-bottle-718910">Warren Buffett likens AI to nuclear weapons, warns 'genie part way out of the bottle'</a>

<h2>Trauma, empathy and more</h2>

As per Reuters, Mayorkas said that the AI would address the "labour-intensive" instructions that typically involved senior personnel.&nbsp;

For its pilot, the DHS is training machines to simulate refugees so that the department's officers can practice interviewing the vulnerable people applying for refuge in America.

Speaking on the sidelines of the security-focused RSA Conference in San Francisco, Mayorkas said, "Refugee applicants, given the trauma that they have endured, are reticent to be forthcoming in describing that trauma."&nbsp;

"So we're teaching the machine to be reticent as well," adopt other "characteristics"&nbsp;of applicants, he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/researchers-use-ai-to-identify-hundreds-of-thousands-of-missing-holocausts-victims-718757">Researchers use AI to identify hundreds of thousands of 'missing' holocaust victims</a>

<h2>How will the AI trainer work?</h2>

Elaborating on the AI initiatives it announced earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security said it planned to develop an interactive app to supplement its training of immigration officers.&nbsp;

The application will draw on the so-called generative AI that creates novel content based on past data to build training materials tailored to the needs of the officers. As per the DHS, it will prepare immigration officers to make more accurate decisions.

It will be built by DHS' United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

However, it must be noted that the AI will not make immigration decisions themselves. Speaking to Reuters,&nbsp;Mayorkas said that the AI will know country-specific conditions and provide&nbsp;other information to help officers.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States has undertaken an ambitious programme that seeks to use artificial intelligence (AI) to train officers in charge of reviewing applicants for refugee status in the country.

The United States has undertaken an ambitious programme that seeks to use artificial intelligence (AI) to train officers in charge of reviewing applicants for refugee status in the country. Talking to reporters on Tuesday (May 7), Alejandro Mayorkas, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has undertaken the AI programme to undertake work he described as "labour-intensive". Also read | Warren Buffett likens AI to nuclear weapons, warns 'genie part way out of the bottle' Trauma, empathy and more As per Reuters, Mayorkas said that the AI would address the "labour-intensive" instructions that typically involved senior personnel. For its pilot, the DHS is training machines to simulate refugees so that the department's officers can practice interviewing the vulnerable people applying for refuge in America. Speaking on the sidelines of the security-focused RSA Conference in San Francisco, Mayorkas said, "Refugee applicants, given the trauma that they have endured, are reticent to be forthcoming in describing that trauma." "So we're teaching the machine to be reticent as well," adopt other "characteristics" of applicants, he added. Also read | Researchers use AI to identify hundreds of thousands of 'missing' holocaust victims How will the AI trainer work? Elaborating on the AI initiatives it announced earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security said it planned to develop an interactive app to supplement its training of immigration officers. The application will draw on the so-called generative AI that creates novel content based on past data to build training materials tailored to the needs of the officers. As per the DHS, it will prepare immigration officers to make more accurate decisions. It will be built by DHS' United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. However, it must be noted that the AI will not make immigration decisions themselves. Speaking to Reuters, Mayorkas said that the AI will know country-specific conditions and provide other information to help officers. (With inputs from agencies)

What a turn of events! Apparently, AI will teach US immigration officers a basic human emotion

A recent study has confirmed that the average size of men's penis is increasing over the past 30 years. However, there is nothing to boast about it as doctors say it could be 'concerning'.&nbsp;

The study, conducted by Stanford University researchers, gathered data about&nbsp;length&nbsp;of over 55,000 penises over the period from 1992 to 2021. The data was also sourced from different studies over the period.

The study revealed that over the last three decades, the average length of&nbsp;erect&nbsp;penis increased by a startling 25 per cent, from 4.8 inches to 6 inches. The length of flaccid penis&nbsp;also increased, from 3.4 inches to 5.1, during the same period.

<h2>A concerning matter</h2>

While many may think of it as a positive development, experts warn this could&nbsp;a&nbsp;concerning sign and hardly something that we can call an 'evolution.'

Dr Michael Eisenberg, a professor of urology at Stanford Medicine, said the&nbsp;increase in&nbsp; average&nbsp;length of penis&nbsp;could be blamed on increased exposure to harmful chemicals.

"Any overall change in development is concerning, because our reproductive system is one of the most important pieces of human biology," the expert warned.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjP1saxsv6FAxXB4TgGHYowCOAQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-develop-all-in-one-vaccine-that-may-protect-us-from-broad-range-of-coronaviruses-718857" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-develop-all-in-one-vaccine-that-may-protect-us-from-broad-range-of-coronaviruses-718857&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjP1saxsv6FAxXB4TgGHYowCOAQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">Scientists develop `all-in-one` vaccine that may protect against broad range of coronaviruses</a>

He also warned that scientists and researchers should immediately detect the causes that are driving this massive change in human bodies.

"If we're seeing this fast of a change, it means that something powerful is happening to our bodies. We should try to confirm these findings and if confirmed, we must determine the cause of these changes," he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjP1saxsv6FAxXB4TgGHYowCOAQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-finally-know-why-venus-is-leaking-water-into-space-even-today-718662" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-finally-know-why-venus-is-leaking-water-into-space-even-today-718662&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjP1saxsv6FAxXB4TgGHYowCOAQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Scientists finally know why Venus is leaking water into space even today</a>

"There could be a number of factors at play, such as chemical exposure, like pesticides or hygiene products, interacting with our hormonal systems," he warned.

The doctor said that chemical exposure was previously linked to boys and girls hitting puberty early.

"Chemical exposure has also been posited as a cause for boys and girls going into puberty earlier, which can affect genital development," he recalled.

(With inputs from agencies)

A recent study has confirmed that the average size of men's penis is increasing over the past 30 years. However, there is nothing to boast about it as doctors say it could be 'concerning'.

A recent study has confirmed that the average size of men's penis is increasing over the past 30 years. However, there is nothing to boast about it as doctors say it could be 'concerning'. The study, conducted by Stanford University researchers, gathered data about length of over 55,000 penises over the period from 1992 to 2021. The data was also sourced from different studies over the period. The study revealed that over the last three decades, the average length of erect penis increased by a startling 25 per cent, from 4.8 inches to 6 inches. The length of flaccid penis also increased, from 3.4 inches to 5.1, during the same period. A concerning matter While many may think of it as a positive development, experts warn this could a concerning sign and hardly something that we can call an 'evolution.' Dr Michael Eisenberg, a professor of urology at Stanford Medicine, said the increase in average length of penis could be blamed on increased exposure to harmful chemicals. "Any overall change in development is concerning, because our reproductive system is one of the most important pieces of human biology," the expert warned. Also read: Scientists develop `all-in-one` vaccine that may protect against broad range of coronaviruses He also warned that scientists and researchers should immediately detect the causes that are driving this massive change in human bodies. "If we're seeing this fast of a change, it means that something powerful is happening to our bodies. We should try to confirm these findings and if confirmed, we must determine the cause of these changes," he said. Also read: Scientists finally know why Venus is leaking water into space even today "There could be a number of factors at play, such as chemical exposure, like pesticides or hygiene products, interacting with our hormonal systems," he warned. The doctor said that chemical exposure was previously linked to boys and girls hitting puberty early. "Chemical exposure has also been posited as a cause for boys and girls going into puberty earlier, which can affect genital development," he recalled. (With inputs from agencies)

Human penis growing larger with time and doctors are concerned

On the streets of downtown Las Vegas, a savoury smell fills the air and lures diners to indulge in Sin City's culinary delights. However, amid the tantalising aromas, there is a hidden menace that looms and threatens the very air we breathe. Recent research conducted by NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) has revealed a startling truth - the alluring scents wafting from restaurants may be more than just a feast for the senses and they could be significantly impacting air quality.

Matt Coggon, lead author of the study, reportedly said,&nbsp;“What we’re looking at from cooking are primarily oxygenated VOCs, or volatile organic compounds."

"These are quite reactive in the air, so we expect they’ll be important for air quality," he added.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/has-china-sent-a-secret-rover-to-moon-internet-sleuths-spot-small-device-piggybacking-change-6-719162">Has China sent a secret rover to Moon? Internet sleuths spot small device piggybacking Chang'e-6</a>

The investigation, part of CSL's SUNVEx field campaign, uncovered that cooking emissions contribute to nearly a quarter of human-caused volatile organic compounds in the bustling urban downtown Las Vegas.

Surprisingly, this revelation contradicted previous estimates by the US National Emissions Inventory that pegged cooking emissions at a mere 1 per cent.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/massive-gods-hand-captured-in-dark-energy-camera-its-eight-light-years-long-719123">Massive ‘God’s hand’ captured in Dark Energy Camera, it’s eight light-years&nbsp;long</a>

Coggon's team, equipped with cutting-edge instrumentation, embarked on a mission through the city's streets, tracing the invisible trails of pollutants emitted during culinary endeavours. Their findings unveiled that in downtown Las Vegas, cooking emissions vie with vehicle traffic as significant contributors to air pollution.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/openai-launches-image-detection-tool-for-ai-generated-content-concerns-719173">OpenAI launches image detection tool for AI-Generated content concerns</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/openai-launches-image-detection-tool-for-ai-generated-content-concerns-719173/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

“Over the years we’ve measured all sorts of different VOCs across the US&nbsp;from different sources, like vehicles, wildfire smoke, agriculture, and consumer products,” explained Coggon.&nbsp;“We kept seeing a specific class of compound in the urban measurements, what we call long-chain aldehydes, that we couldn’t explain from these other sources.”

This discovery revealed the overlooked impact of cooking activities and underscored the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate urban air pollution.

“It’s crucial to have the full picture of emissions and sources... to help policy-makers understand the effectiveness of their decisions,"&nbsp;Coggon added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

On the streets of downtown Las Vegas, a savoury smell fills the air and lures diners to indulge in Sin City's culinary delights. However, amid the tantalising aromas, there is a hidden menace that looms and threatens the very air we breathe.

On the streets of downtown Las Vegas, a savoury smell fills the air and lures diners to indulge in Sin City's culinary delights. However, amid the tantalising aromas, there is a hidden menace that looms and threatens the very air we breathe. Recent research conducted by NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) has revealed a startling truth - the alluring scents wafting from restaurants may be more than just a feast for the senses and they could be significantly impacting air quality. Matt Coggon, lead author of the study, reportedly said, “What we’re looking at from cooking are primarily oxygenated VOCs, or volatile organic compounds." "These are quite reactive in the air, so we expect they’ll be important for air quality," he added. Also Read | Has China sent a secret rover to Moon? Internet sleuths spot small device piggybacking Chang'e-6 The investigation, part of CSL's SUNVEx field campaign, uncovered that cooking emissions contribute to nearly a quarter of human-caused volatile organic compounds in the bustling urban downtown Las Vegas. Surprisingly, this revelation contradicted previous estimates by the US National Emissions Inventory that pegged cooking emissions at a mere 1 per cent. Also Read | Massive ‘God’s hand’ captured in Dark Energy Camera, it’s eight light-years long Coggon's team, equipped with cutting-edge instrumentation, embarked on a mission through the city's streets, tracing the invisible trails of pollutants emitted during culinary endeavours. Their findings unveiled that in downtown Las Vegas, cooking emissions vie with vehicle traffic as significant contributors to air pollution. Watch | OpenAI launches image detection tool for AI-Generated content concerns × “Over the years we’ve measured all sorts of different VOCs across the US from different sources, like vehicles, wildfire smoke, agriculture, and consumer products,” explained Coggon. “We kept seeing a specific class of compound in the urban measurements, what we call long-chain aldehydes, that we couldn’t explain from these other sources.” This discovery revealed the overlooked impact of cooking activities and underscored the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate urban air pollution. “It’s crucial to have the full picture of emissions and sources... to help policy-makers understand the effectiveness of their decisions," Coggon added. (With inputs from agencies)

Cooking food is possibly polluting the air you breathe, study reveals

Chang'e-6, China's latest mission to the Moon, seems to be carrying a secret rover.&nbsp;

After the successful launch of the spacecraft on Friday (May 3), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) released new photos of the lander, and internet sleuths were quick to spot a small grey object with wheels strapped to the side. The object looks like a mini rover. Its purpose?&nbsp;Unknown.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/warren-buffett-likens-ai-to-nuclear-weapons-warns-genie-part-way-out-of-the-bottle-718910">Warren Buffett likens AI to nuclear weapons, warns 'genie part way out of the bottle'</a>

<h2>'Previously undisclosed mini rover'</h2>

Taking to X, previously Twitter, Andrew Jones, a journalist closely tracking China's space programme, wrote in a post, "Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander lol. Via CAST: <a href="https://t.co/gS0Jy5L9hw">https://t.co/gS0Jy5L9hw</a> <a href="https://t.co/9vvTnribpl">pic.twitter.com/9vvTnribpl</a>
— Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1786353438806217036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

What will the mini rover do? No one knows yet.

As per a Live Science report, a translated statement from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics revealed that the small robot has an infrared imaging spectrometer. Its purpose, however, remains unclear. But, given its small size and the conditions it will face on the Moon, SpaceNews predicts that whatever the mission, it will fall short.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-fossil-shows-birds-are-officially-dinosaurs-718968">Ancient fossil shows birds are officially dinosaurs</a>

"Given the diminutive size of the vehicle and short lifetime of the mission lander, it is likely the rover will have limited operational time and objectives."

<h2>Previous sneaky space missions by China</h2>

According to SpaceNews, this is not the first time China has sneaked undisclosed payloads onto its spacecraft.&nbsp;

Previously, in 2021, during China's Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, the nation's spacecraft ejected a disposable spacecraft that took pictures of Tianwen-1 on its way to the red planet.

The Tianwen-1 orbiter was also equipped with another detachable camera that took selfies while in orbit around Mars.

Further, the Zhurong rover, that was&nbsp;part of the Tianwen-1 mission, also dropped a camera on&nbsp;the red planet.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chang'e-6, China's latest mission to the Moon, seems to be carrying a secret rover. After the successful launch of the spacecraft on Friday (May 3), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) released new photos of the lander, and internet sleuths were quick to spot a small grey object with wheels strapped to the side.

Chang'e-6, China's latest mission to the Moon, seems to be carrying a secret rover. After the successful launch of the spacecraft on Friday (May 3), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) released new photos of the lander, and internet sleuths were quick to spot a small grey object with wheels strapped to the side. The object looks like a mini rover. Its purpose? Unknown. Also read | Warren Buffett likens AI to nuclear weapons, warns 'genie part way out of the bottle' 'Previously undisclosed mini rover' Taking to X, previously Twitter, Andrew Jones, a journalist closely tracking China's space programme, wrote in a post, "Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander". Yeah, okay. That looks like a previously undisclosed mini rover on the side of the Chang'e-6 lander lol. Via CAST: https://t.co/gS0Jy5L9hw pic.twitter.com/9vvTnribpl — Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) May 3, 2024 × What will the mini rover do? No one knows yet. As per a Live Science report, a translated statement from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics revealed that the small robot has an infrared imaging spectrometer. Its purpose, however, remains unclear. But, given its small size and the conditions it will face on the Moon, SpaceNews predicts that whatever the mission, it will fall short. Also read | Ancient fossil shows birds are officially dinosaurs "Given the diminutive size of the vehicle and short lifetime of the mission lander, it is likely the rover will have limited operational time and objectives." Previous sneaky space missions by China According to SpaceNews, this is not the first time China has sneaked undisclosed payloads onto its spacecraft. Previously, in 2021, during China's Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, the nation's spacecraft ejected a disposable spacecraft that took pictures of Tianwen-1 on its way to the red planet. The Tianwen-1 orbiter was also equipped with another detachable camera that took selfies while in orbit around Mars. Further, the Zhurong rover, that was part of the Tianwen-1 mission, also dropped a camera on the red planet. (With inputs from agencies)

Has China sent a secret rover to Moon? Internet sleuths spot small device piggybacking Chang'e-6

Dementia has become rampant among human beings who are pushed into a deep mental abyss, devoid of memories and remembrance. It has been termed as "the long goodbye".

Dementia has become rampant among human beings who are pushed into a deep mental abyss, devoid of memories and remembrance. It has been termed as "the long goodbye". Even though the person remains alive, memories fade away slowly and irreversibly due to dementia. Dementia eventually snatches away the ability of a person to communicate, eat and drink on their own, recognise family members and understand where they are. From the 19th century, caregivers and health-care workers have described people suffering from dementia as becoming lucid. Healthcare workers say that such people were engaging in meaningful conversations, making jokes, sharing memories which were assumed to have been lost, and even asking for meals. Also Read: Does obesity really increase risk of dementia or is it the opposite? According to the study, an estimated 43 per cent of people go through brief lucidity and then die within 24 hours, and 84 per cent die within a week. Here's why this occurs? The term "terminal lucidity" was coined by researchers Michael Nahm and Bruce Greyson in 2009 since it was registered that such lucid episodes often occurred just before death. However, studies suggest that not all such lucid episodes indicate that death is imminent. As per one study, many people suffering from advanced dementia have shown brief memories of their own selves more than six months before dying. There have also been reports of cases of lucidity in other conditions such as meningitis and schizophrenia - which affect the thinking skills or the brain - and in people who have brain tumours or have sustained a brain injury. The moments of lucidity which do not necessarily indicate death are sometimes called paradoxical lucidity. They are considered as paradoxical as it goes against the expected course of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. However, such episodes of lucidity are temporary and do not hint at any reversal of neurodegenerative disease. Scientists struggle to find cause of terminal lucidity Scientists have been struggling to explain why terminal lucidity occurs. Few episodes of lucidity were noted to have occurred when the patient's loved ones were around him or her. Some studies have also hinted at music improving lucidity. Watch: London's 'light into life' exhibition inspired by nature and science However, many episodes of lucidity do not have a distinct trigger. New York University's research team has speculated that changes in brain activity before death may lead to terminal lucidity. Notably, not everyone with advanced dementia experiences episodes of lucidity just before death. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists decode why memories come back to some dementia patients before death

For the first time, a satellite has captured a close-up photo of an individual piece of human-made space debris. AstroScale, a privately owned Japanese space company, released the photo of the space debris by parking another satellite next to its orbit.

The first-of-its-kind photo op in space is a step towards the ongoing mission to inspect and destroy potentially hazardous pieces of space junk, the ADRAS-J mission. ADRAS-J or Active Debris Removal mission was launched by AstroScale with the help of JAXA in 2009.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
📢 NEWS: Pics or it didn't happen. Behold, the world’s first image of space debris captured through rendezvous and proximity operations during our ADRAS-J mission. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShowtheWayADRASJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShowtheWayADRASJ</a><a href="https://t.co/amnv7UIQka">https://t.co/amnv7UIQka</a> <a href="https://t.co/CKalYTpTuJ">pic.twitter.com/CKalYTpTuJ</a>
— Astroscale (@astroscale_HQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/astroscale_HQ/status/1783756807095324965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>Space debris: A menace and challenge for space industry&nbsp;</h2>

According to estimates from the European Space Agency (ESA), there are approximately one million fragments of debris larger than a centimetre&nbsp;in orbit. These sizable debris pieces, capable of “disabling a spacecraft,” present a significant threat to present and future space missions. The space industry is now trying to find ways to remove it.

At present, there are more than 9,900 tonnes of space junk clogging up the Earth’s orbit. All these tiny pieces of space junk hanging out in orbit are like a minefield for newly launched satellites and spacecraft.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-to-use-ai-to-teach-immigration-officers-how-to-deal-with-refugees-empathetically-719177">What a turn of events! Apparently, AI will teach US immigration officers a basic human emotion</a>

Even a small piece of debris can teak a hole through a spacecraft with enough momentum to manoeuvre away. It can even pose a threat to people on the ground when it falls back from orbit.&nbsp;

What’s more concerning is the fact the longer the space debris stays in orbit, the more it multiplies. Collisions between defunct satellites or parts of rockets can break larger debris into smaller pieces, making the resulting fragments harder to track and increasing their chances of hitting an active satellite.

AstroScale’s mission is to clean up some of the floating garbage before it can cause any damage to functioning spacecraft.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/starliners-1st-crewed-mission-delayed-to-this-date-due-to-atlas-5-valve-repair-719224">Boeing Starliner's 1st crewed mission will now launch no sooner than THIS date</a>

&nbsp;In mid-April, the Astroscale successfully identified, approached and photographed a large piece of orbital debris, the upper stage of a Japanese H-IIA rocket that has been circling Earth since 2009. The demonstration was meant to test the spacecraft's ability to manoeuvre close enough to a piece of space junk to capture it, without crashing into it. The mission was a huge success, setting the stage for future removal missions.&nbsp;

The company is currently planning the second phase of the mission, which aims to remove a piece of debris, using a robotic arm attached to the craft to push the debris into a fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere.

(With inputs from agencies)

For the first time, a satellite has captured a close-up photo of an individual piece of human-made space debris. AstroScale, a privately owned Japanese space company, released the photo of the space debris by parking another satellite next to its orbit.

For the first time, a satellite has captured a close-up photo of an individual piece of human-made space debris. AstroScale, a privately owned Japanese space company, released the photo of the space debris by parking another satellite next to its orbit. The first-of-its-kind photo op in space is a step towards the ongoing mission to inspect and destroy potentially hazardous pieces of space junk, the ADRAS-J mission. ADRAS-J or Active Debris Removal mission was launched by AstroScale with the help of JAXA in 2009. 📢 NEWS: Pics or it didn't happen. Behold, the world’s first image of space debris captured through rendezvous and proximity operations during our ADRAS-J mission. #ShowtheWayADRASJhttps://t.co/amnv7UIQka pic.twitter.com/CKalYTpTuJ — Astroscale (@astroscale_HQ) April 26, 2024 × Space debris: A menace and challenge for space industry According to estimates from the European Space Agency (ESA), there are approximately one million fragments of debris larger than a centimetre in orbit. These sizable debris pieces, capable of “disabling a spacecraft,” present a significant threat to present and future space missions. The space industry is now trying to find ways to remove it. At present, there are more than 9,900 tonnes of space junk clogging up the Earth’s orbit. All these tiny pieces of space junk hanging out in orbit are like a minefield for newly launched satellites and spacecraft. Also Read | What a turn of events! Apparently, AI will teach US immigration officers a basic human emotion Even a small piece of debris can teak a hole through a spacecraft with enough momentum to manoeuvre away. It can even pose a threat to people on the ground when it falls back from orbit. What’s more concerning is the fact the longer the space debris stays in orbit, the more it multiplies. Collisions between defunct satellites or parts of rockets can break larger debris into smaller pieces, making the resulting fragments harder to track and increasing their chances of hitting an active satellite. AstroScale’s mission is to clean up some of the floating garbage before it can cause any damage to functioning spacecraft. Also Read | Boeing Starliner's 1st crewed mission will now launch no sooner than THIS date In mid-April, the Astroscale successfully identified, approached and photographed a large piece of orbital debris, the upper stage of a Japanese H-IIA rocket that has been circling Earth since 2009. The demonstration was meant to test the spacecraft's ability to manoeuvre close enough to a piece of space junk to capture it, without crashing into it. The mission was a huge success, setting the stage for future removal missions. The company is currently planning the second phase of the mission, which aims to remove a piece of debris, using a robotic arm attached to the craft to push the debris into a fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere. (With inputs from agencies)

Historic image! Japanese space company unveils world’s first close-up image of space debris

China on Friday (May 3) successfully launched its historic mission to collect rocks and soil from the far side of the Moon, becoming the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.&nbsp;

<h2>About the launch of&nbsp;Chang’e-6 probe</h2>

The Long March-5, China’s largest rocket, successfully launched carrying the Chang’e-6 probe, which weighs more than eight metric tonnes, from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre, on the southern island of Hainan, at around 5:27 pm (local time), announced the China National Space Administration (CNSA).&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🎉Congratulations to the successful moon shot launch of Chang’e 6 lunar probe! Looking forward to collecting humankind’s first-ever lunar soil from the far side of the moon! 🌖 Long March 5 Launch video: <a href="https://t.co/Oxx3ZQ1CvC">https://t.co/Oxx3ZQ1CvC</a> <a href="https://t.co/nohTUB6xPc">pic.twitter.com/nohTUB6xPc</a>
— CNSA Watcher (@CNSAWatcher) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNSAWatcher/status/1786330703803920883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The launch was attended by scientists, diplomats and space agency officials from France, Italy, Pakistan, and the European Space Agency (ESA), all of which have Moon-studying payloads aboard the rocket.&nbsp;

“It is a bit of a mystery to us how China has been able to develop such an ambitious and successful programme in such a short time,” said Pierre-Yves Meslin, a French researcher working on one of the scientific objectives of the Chang’e-6 mission, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

Notably, no United States-based organisations applied to get a payload spot, said Ge Ping, deputy director of the CNSA’s Lunar Exploration and Space Programme.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-set-to-launch-lunar-probe-change-6-with-pakistans-satellite-on-board-717525">China set to launch lunar probe Chang'e-6 with Pakistan's satellite on board</a>

This is because Beijing is banned by American law from any collaboration with the US space agency NASA.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Chang’e-6&nbsp;mission about?</h2>

Chang’e-6 is tasked with landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon, which faces away from Earth, to retrieve samples.&nbsp;

The mission’s goal is to collect two kilogrammes of soil and rocks from the landing site and bring them back to Earth for detailed analysis.&nbsp;

“The far side of the moon has a mystique perhaps because we literally can’t see it, we have never seen it apart from with robotic probes or the very few number of humans that have been around the other side,” said Neil Melville-Kenney, a technical officer at ESA working with Chinese researchers on one of the Chang’e-6 payloads, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/change-6-missions-experimental-satellites-beam-back-eerie-image-of-moon-and-earth-714096">Crater-filled Moon and faint Earth in the background: Chinese satellites beam eerie image from space</a>

The Chinese spacecraft will rely on the relay satellite that has been recently deployed and in its 53-day mission is orbiting the Moon.

Once the probe separates from the rocket it will take around four to five days to reach the Moon and is expected to land on the far side of the lunar surface in June.&nbsp;

The probe – named after the Chinese Moon goddess – will then spend around two days digging up the samples before it makes its journey back to Earth, where it is expected to land in Inner Mongolia.

(With inputs from agencies)

China on Friday (May 3) successfully launched its historic mission to collect rocks and soil from the far side of the Moon, becoming the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

China on Friday (May 3) successfully launched its historic mission to collect rocks and soil from the far side of the Moon, becoming the first country to make such an ambitious attempt. About the launch of Chang’e-6 probe The Long March-5, China’s largest rocket, successfully launched carrying the Chang’e-6 probe, which weighs more than eight metric tonnes, from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre, on the southern island of Hainan, at around 5:27 pm (local time), announced the China National Space Administration (CNSA). 🎉Congratulations to the successful moon shot launch of Chang’e 6 lunar probe! Looking forward to collecting humankind’s first-ever lunar soil from the far side of the moon! 🌖 Long March 5 Launch video: https://t.co/Oxx3ZQ1CvC pic.twitter.com/nohTUB6xPc — CNSA Watcher (@CNSAWatcher) May 3, 2024 × The launch was attended by scientists, diplomats and space agency officials from France, Italy, Pakistan, and the European Space Agency (ESA), all of which have Moon-studying payloads aboard the rocket. “It is a bit of a mystery to us how China has been able to develop such an ambitious and successful programme in such a short time,” said Pierre-Yves Meslin, a French researcher working on one of the scientific objectives of the Chang’e-6 mission, as quoted by Reuters. Notably, no United States-based organisations applied to get a payload spot, said Ge Ping, deputy director of the CNSA’s Lunar Exploration and Space Programme. Also Read | China set to launch lunar probe Chang'e-6 with Pakistan's satellite on board This is because Beijing is banned by American law from any collaboration with the US space agency NASA. What is the Chang’e-6 mission about? Chang’e-6 is tasked with landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon, which faces away from Earth, to retrieve samples. The mission’s goal is to collect two kilogrammes of soil and rocks from the landing site and bring them back to Earth for detailed analysis. “The far side of the moon has a mystique perhaps because we literally can’t see it, we have never seen it apart from with robotic probes or the very few number of humans that have been around the other side,” said Neil Melville-Kenney, a technical officer at ESA working with Chinese researchers on one of the Chang’e-6 payloads, as quoted by Reuters. Also Read | Crater-filled Moon and faint Earth in the background: Chinese satellites beam eerie image from space The Chinese spacecraft will rely on the relay satellite that has been recently deployed and in its 53-day mission is orbiting the Moon. Once the probe separates from the rocket it will take around four to five days to reach the Moon and is expected to land on the far side of the lunar surface in June. The probe – named after the Chinese Moon goddess – will then spend around two days digging up the samples before it makes its journey back to Earth, where it is expected to land in Inner Mongolia. (With inputs from agencies)

Chang’e-6: China launches historic mission to collect samples from far side of the Moon

Even if you are exercising late in life, several health benefits will follow, according to a large study. Research published in PLOS Medicine analysed data from over 11,000 Australian women and found that achieving physical activity guidelines of at least 150 minutes per week throughout midlife is critical.

Even if you are exercising late in life, several health benefits will follow, according to a large study. Research published in PLOS Medicine analysed data from over 11,000 Australian women and found that achieving physical activity guidelines of at least 150 minutes per week throughout midlife is critical. This suggests that women in their 40s and 50s still have ample opportunity to improve their health through exercise. The study found that women who followed these recommendations over the next 15 years had better physical health than those who did not. Even individuals who were not regular exercisers before middle age saw benefits from starting a new exercise routine. In fact, in the last follow-up research, this group's physical test results were remarkably similar to those of women who exercised consistently before the age of 50, and three percentage points higher than those who never or rarely fulfilled the exercise criteria. How did researchers collected the data? From 1998 to 2019, the study followed 47 to 52-year-old women in Australia, with three-year intervals for mental and physical health checks. The study found that women who began regularly exercising only in their 60s did not see the same benefits as those who began in their 50s. This might be because there "had not been sufficient accumulation of physical activity for the health benefits to be evident by around age 70." Also read: Study finds every new memory you make harms brain cells "Our findings suggest that to maintain good physical health-related quality of life at around age 70, one may be able to "make up" for not being active earlier by becoming active in the mid-50s," wrote the research team. "This finding supports public health initiatives for messaging around "turning back the clock" in midlife through lifestyle changes such as physical activity," they added. "Combined with existing evidence, this study contributes to growing evidence of the benefits of maintaining or adopting an active lifestyle in mid-age," the researchers said. While further research is needed to determine if these physical benefits also apply to males in midlife, there is reason to believe they do. (With inputs from agencies)

Late to exercise? No worries: Study shows starting in your 40s still boosts health

Just two hours before blast off, the long-awaited test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was called off over a technical glitch with the Atlas V rocket.

The launch has been postponed for at least 24 hours because of an issue with the Atlas V rocket that was being readied to launch the new astronaut capsule to orbit on Monday&nbsp;(May 6)&nbsp;night.

<h2>The glitch</h2>

As per Reuters, the two-member crew, consisting of NASA astronauts 61-year-old Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, and 58-year-old Sunita "Suni" Williams, had been strapped into their seats aboard the spacecraft for about an hour before launch activities were suspended.

The issue arose with the Atlas rocket's second-stage activities.

Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lost-in-space-satellite-missing-since-1990s-located-in-earths-orbit-how-can-someone-lose-a-satellite-717732">'Lost in space': Satellite missing since 1990s located in Earth's orbit. How can someone lose a satellite?</a>

While it is not clear how long fixing the glitch would take, the next available launch windows for the mission are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights.

The flight would mark the first crewed voyage to space using an Atlas rocket since the launch vehicles first sent astronauts on orbital flights for NASA's Mercury programme in the 1960s.

<h2>Is the delay a sign that the mission is in danger?</h2>

Not necessarily, it is not uncommon for countdowns to be halted at the 11th hour and for launches to be delayed for days, and at times weeks over minor glitches. This is especially true for a new spacecraft flying humans for the first time.

Furthermore, this mission is of utmost importance, as its success would pave the way for Starliner's six further planned missions for NASA.

<h2>The ambitious Boeing-Starliner&nbsp;mission</h2>

Previously, after a failed mission in 2019, the gumdrop-shaped capsule completed an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first time it would be transporting humans to the orbital laboratory.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/boeing-starliner-to-launch-first-crewed-mission-how-and-when-to-watch-718278">Sunita Williams goes to space again with Boeing Starliner's launch of first crewed mission: How to watch</a>

Once launched, following a flight of about 26 hours, the capsule will arrive at the space station and dock with the orbiting research outpost some 250 miles (402.34 kilometres) above Earth. There, the resident ISS crew, currently comprising four US astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts, will greet Wilmore, the designated commander of the flight, and Williams, the pilot.

The two astronauts are expected to remain at the space station for about a week. After that, they are to ride the Starliner back to Earth for a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the US Desert Southwest — another first.

(With inputs from agencies)

Just two hours before blast off, the long-awaited test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was called off over a technical glitch with the Atlas V rocket. The launch has been postponed for at least 24 hours because of an issue with the Atlas V rocket that was being readied to launch the new astronaut capsule to orbit on Monday (May 6) night.

Just two hours before blast off, the long-awaited test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was called off over a technical glitch with the Atlas V rocket. The launch has been postponed for at least 24 hours because of an issue with the Atlas V rocket that was being readied to launch the new astronaut capsule to orbit on Monday (May 6) night. The glitch As per Reuters, the two-member crew, consisting of NASA astronauts 61-year-old Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, and 58-year-old Sunita "Suni" Williams, had been strapped into their seats aboard the spacecraft for about an hour before launch activities were suspended. The issue arose with the Atlas rocket's second-stage activities. Also read | 'Lost in space': Satellite missing since 1990s located in Earth's orbit. How can someone lose a satellite? While it is not clear how long fixing the glitch would take, the next available launch windows for the mission are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. The flight would mark the first crewed voyage to space using an Atlas rocket since the launch vehicles first sent astronauts on orbital flights for NASA's Mercury programme in the 1960s. Is the delay a sign that the mission is in danger? Not necessarily, it is not uncommon for countdowns to be halted at the 11th hour and for launches to be delayed for days, and at times weeks over minor glitches. This is especially true for a new spacecraft flying humans for the first time. Furthermore, this mission is of utmost importance, as its success would pave the way for Starliner's six further planned missions for NASA. The ambitious Boeing-Starliner mission Previously, after a failed mission in 2019, the gumdrop-shaped capsule completed an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first time it would be transporting humans to the orbital laboratory. Also read | Sunita Williams goes to space again with Boeing Starliner's launch of first crewed mission: How to watch Once launched, following a flight of about 26 hours, the capsule will arrive at the space station and dock with the orbiting research outpost some 250 miles (402.34 kilometres) above Earth. There, the resident ISS crew, currently comprising four US astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts, will greet Wilmore, the designated commander of the flight, and Williams, the pilot. The two astronauts are expected to remain at the space station for about a week. After that, they are to ride the Starliner back to Earth for a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the US Desert Southwest — another first. (With inputs from agencies)

From countdown to letdown: Sunita Williams' third trip to space delayed as Starliner launch is scrubbed

One of the massive craters in the world, famously known as the “gateway to the underworld” is growing by 35 million cubic feet every year. The huge crater situated in Serbia’s permafrost is expanding due to melting of the ground, a new study has found.

Officially known as Batagay (spelled as Batagaika), the crater or mega slump is a rounded cliff face that was first discovered in 1991 through satellite images. It was created after a section of hillside collapsed in the Yana Uplands of northern Yakutia in Russia.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-fossil-shows-birds-are-officially-dinosaurs-718968">Ancient fossil shows birds are officially dinosaurs</a>

This collapse exposed layers of permafrost within the remaining portion of the hillside that have been frozen for up to 650,000 years now. It is known as the oldest permafrost in Siberia and second oldest in the world.

New research suggests that the Batagay mega slump’s cliff face is retreating at a rate of 40 feet (12 metres) per year due to permafrost thaw. The collapsed section of the hillside is also rapidly melting and sinking. &nbsp;

"Rapid permafrost thaw features are widespread and observed to increase in Arctic and sub-Arctic ice-rich permafrost terrain," the research team wrote in a study, published online March 31 in the journal Geomorphology. However, the amount of ice and sediment lost from the Batagay mega slump is "exceptionally high" due to the sheer size of the depression, which stretched 3,250 feet (990 m) wide as of 2023.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-decode-why-memories-come-back-to-dementia-patients-before-death-718981">Scientists decode why memories come back to dementia patients before death</a>

The mega slump was of 2,600 feet (790 m) wide in 2014, which means it grew 660 feet (200 m) wider in less than 10 years. Researchers were aware that it was growing, but this is the first time they have quantified the volume of melting material out of the crater.

The results from the research showed that a region of ice and sediment equivalent to more than 14 Great Pyramids of Giza has melted off the mega slump since it collapsed.&nbsp;

The rate of melting has remained relatively steady over the past decade, occurring mostly along the slump on the western, southern and southeastern edges of the crater.

(With inputs from agencies)

One of the massive craters in the world, famously known as the “gateway to the underworld” is growing by 35 million cubic feet every year. The huge crater situated in Serbia’s permafrost is expanding due to melting of the ground, a new study has found.

One of the massive craters in the world, famously known as the “gateway to the underworld” is growing by 35 million cubic feet every year. The huge crater situated in Serbia’s permafrost is expanding due to melting of the ground, a new study has found. Officially known as Batagay (spelled as Batagaika), the crater or mega slump is a rounded cliff face that was first discovered in 1991 through satellite images. It was created after a section of hillside collapsed in the Yana Uplands of northern Yakutia in Russia. Also Read | Ancient fossil shows birds are officially dinosaurs This collapse exposed layers of permafrost within the remaining portion of the hillside that have been frozen for up to 650,000 years now. It is known as the oldest permafrost in Siberia and second oldest in the world. New research suggests that the Batagay mega slump’s cliff face is retreating at a rate of 40 feet (12 metres) per year due to permafrost thaw. The collapsed section of the hillside is also rapidly melting and sinking. "Rapid permafrost thaw features are widespread and observed to increase in Arctic and sub-Arctic ice-rich permafrost terrain," the research team wrote in a study, published online March 31 in the journal Geomorphology. However, the amount of ice and sediment lost from the Batagay mega slump is "exceptionally high" due to the sheer size of the depression, which stretched 3,250 feet (990 m) wide as of 2023. Also Read | Scientists decode why memories come back to dementia patients before death The mega slump was of 2,600 feet (790 m) wide in 2014, which means it grew 660 feet (200 m) wider in less than 10 years. Researchers were aware that it was growing, but this is the first time they have quantified the volume of melting material out of the crater. The results from the research showed that a region of ice and sediment equivalent to more than 14 Great Pyramids of Giza has melted off the mega slump since it collapsed. The rate of melting has remained relatively steady over the past decade, occurring mostly along the slump on the western, southern and southeastern edges of the crater. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Gateway to the underworld’ in Siberia is growing at a staggering rate every year: Study

Many natural phenomena on Earth also occur on other planets in the solar system under the right conditions. Scientists have recently found evidence indicating the presence of something close to a rainbow on a strange exoplanet.

Many natural phenomena on Earth also occur on other planets in the solar system under the right conditions. Scientists have recently found evidence indicating the presence of something close to a rainbow on a strange exoplanet. "Glory" is a phenomenon which occurs when light hits clouds made up of homogeneous substances in the form of spherical droplets. This phenomenon is a possible explanation for a mystery regarding observations of exoplanet WASP-76B. WASP-76B is a scorching gas giant where molten iron rains. Researchers from ESA and the University of Bern in Switzerland have observed more light on its eastern terminator than its western terminator with the CHEOPS space telescope. CHEOPS has made 23 observations of WASP-76B in visible and infrared light, including phase curves, transits, and secondary eclipses. Phase curves are continuous observations that track a planet's complete revolution. When a host star eclipses its planet, a secondary eclipse occurs. Later, researchers compare the light seen during such an eclipse with the total light. Usually, they use secondary eclipses to observe planets like WASP-76B. ALSO READ | Sun fires massive solar flares directly at Earth; Australia, Japan and China witness radio blackouts Observations of the phase curve of WASP-76B can continue even when the planet is eclipsing its star. During such observations, CHEOPS detected excess light on the planet's night side before the eclipse. Since WASP-76B is a super hot exoplanet, clouds do not obscure the atmosphere during the day, making it easier to detect atmospheric detections. According to a previous study, researchers observed an asymmetry in iron content between the day-side and night-side terminators, making the planet unique. Moreover, there was not much gaseous iron in the upper atmosphere of the day-side limb compared to the night-side limb. Hubble observations suggest thermal inversion on the night side of a planet causes iron to rain down on the day side and form liquid iron clouds. These clouds are crucial as light from the star can create the effect of glory when it reflects off them. The research paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, "Explaining the observation with the glory effect would require spherical droplets of highly reflective, spherically shaped aerosols and clouds on the planet's eastern hemisphere." Glories have been seen off on Earth and in clouds of Venus. Similar to WASP-76B, researchers have observed more pre-eclipse light on Venus. Thus, future observations with more powerful telescopes can help determine how similar the phenomenon on WASP-76 is to that on Venus. These phenomena could reveal more about the atmospheric composition of exoplanets, including the presence of water and habitability. While the glory of WASP-76b is not yet proven, it is far from a simple rainbow. (With inputs from agencies)

Rainbow on exoplanet? Scientists discover glow coming from starlight reflecting off liquid iron

Today, Venus is as hot as your pizza oven, even hotter than Mercury,&nbsp;which is&nbsp;the closest to the Sun. But still,&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;called&nbsp;Earth’s&nbsp;twin because of several reasons. The planet lies in the so-called&nbsp;"Goldilocks Zone"&nbsp;of the Sun, a narrow virtual ring where planets can hold water in a liquid state. Billions of years ago, Venus used to have as much water as Earth, an extremely crucial element for life to evolve. However, so far, scientists could not fully understand what led to the escape of this water to the solar system and how the planet transformed into a desert-like surface. But now, they may have solved this puzzle.

"We're&nbsp;trying to figure out what little changes occurred on each planet to drive them into these vastly different states,”&nbsp;said Eryn Cangi, co-team leader and a scientist with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP).

<h2>How did Venus lose its water?</h2>

Due to its proximity to the Sun, the sunlight&nbsp;is believed&nbsp;to have broken up water in its atmosphere into hydrogen and oxygen. The greater concentration of hydrogen in the atmosphere rapidly heated the planet,&nbsp;due to which&nbsp;the hydrogen escaped in a flow out to space.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;how this hydrodynamic escape stripped Venus of its water.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjQz9WX2vmFAxWjRmcHHS7wDQUQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinese-scientists-find-fountain-of-youth-in-young-can-boost-upto-130-years-718066" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/chinese-scientists-find-fountain-of-youth-in-young-can-boost-upto-130-years-718066&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQz9WX2vmFAxWjRmcHHS7wDQUQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Chinese scientists find `fountain of youth` in blood of young that can extend life up to 130 years</a>

But&nbsp;not all water was lost&nbsp;in this process.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;like dumping out a water bottle –&nbsp;there will still be a few drops left&nbsp;at the bottom.

<h2>Venus&nbsp;still&nbsp;losing&nbsp;water</h2>

Venus still holds some water&nbsp;and&nbsp;the water&nbsp;is still leaking into the space. Scientists blame&nbsp;a process called&nbsp;HCO⁺ dissociative recombination (DR) for this phenomenon. As per this theory, when gaseous HCO+ reacts with the electrons, a neutral carbon monoxide molecule, CO, and a hydrogen atom, H, are formed. This process energises the hydrogen atom, which can then exceed the&nbsp;planet’s&nbsp;escape velocity and escape to space.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjQz9WX2vmFAxWjRmcHHS7wDQUQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/melting-ice-burning-skin-antarctic-wildlife-is-getting-sunburnt-scientists-warn-717361" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/melting-ice-burning-skin-antarctic-wildlife-is-getting-sunburnt-scientists-warn-717361&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQz9WX2vmFAxWjRmcHHS7wDQUQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">Melting ice, burning skin: Antarctic wildlife is getting sunburnt, scientists warn</a>

The DR process is likely to have taken place throughout the&nbsp;history of the planet, which explains why Venus is still losing water.

(With inputs from agencies)

Today, Venus is as hot as your pizza oven, even hotter than Mercury, which is the closest to the Sun. But still, it’s called Earth’s twin because of several reasons.

Today, Venus is as hot as your pizza oven, even hotter than Mercury, which is the closest to the Sun. But still, it’s called Earth’s twin because of several reasons. The planet lies in the so-called "Goldilocks Zone" of the Sun, a narrow virtual ring where planets can hold water in a liquid state. Billions of years ago, Venus used to have as much water as Earth, an extremely crucial element for life to evolve. However, so far, scientists could not fully understand what led to the escape of this water to the solar system and how the planet transformed into a desert-like surface. But now, they may have solved this puzzle. "We're trying to figure out what little changes occurred on each planet to drive them into these vastly different states,” said Eryn Cangi, co-team leader and a scientist with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). How did Venus lose its water? Due to its proximity to the Sun, the sunlight is believed to have broken up water in its atmosphere into hydrogen and oxygen. The greater concentration of hydrogen in the atmosphere rapidly heated the planet, due to which the hydrogen escaped in a flow out to space. That’s how this hydrodynamic escape stripped Venus of its water. Also read: Chinese scientists find `fountain of youth` in blood of young that can extend life up to 130 years But not all water was lost in this process. It’s like dumping out a water bottle – there will still be a few drops left at the bottom. Venus still losing water Venus still holds some water and the water is still leaking into the space. Scientists blame a process called HCO⁺ dissociative recombination (DR) for this phenomenon. As per this theory, when gaseous HCO+ reacts with the electrons, a neutral carbon monoxide molecule, CO, and a hydrogen atom, H, are formed. This process energises the hydrogen atom, which can then exceed the planet’s escape velocity and escape to space. Also read: Melting ice, burning skin: Antarctic wildlife is getting sunburnt, scientists warn The DR process is likely to have taken place throughout the history of the planet, which explains why Venus is still losing water. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists finally know why Venus is leaking water into space even today

It's a done fact, birds are officially dinosaurs. From pigeons in the park to penguins in the Antarctic, all birds are living breathing dinosaurs, believe scientists, thanks to the discovery of a fossil of a dinosaur called Archaeopteryx.

<h2>The Archaeopteryx</h2>

As per a Reuters report, research shows that the Archaeopteryx had feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty teeth, and a long bony tail. This makes it the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird.

The Archaeopteryx, as per Jingmai O'Connor, PhD, the Field Museum's associate curator of fossil reptiles, is the "most important fossil of all time".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/megatitanosaur-shiva-the-destroyer-discovered-in-argentina-this-is-what-it-looked-like-watch-713764">Megatitanosaur 'Shiva the destroyer' discovered in Argentina. This is what it looked like. Watch!</a>

"It's the first puzzle piece for understanding the evolution of all the birds we see around us," said O'Connor.

Experts believe that birds are the only group of dinosaurs to survive the asteroid that wiped off the mighty beings from Earth some 66 million years ago.

As of now, only about a dozen or so archaeopteryx specimens have been found globally. They come from a fossil deposit in southern Germany called the Solnhofen Limestone.

Most of them are in Europe, one will soon be displayed in the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Public can see it starting May 7 (Tuesday).

Another one is in the United States' Thermopolis, Wyoming.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
"We've learned a lot of new basic information about what the skeleton looked like, we're transforming how we interpret the skull and other parts of the body," said O'Connor.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-asteroid-hit-ended-dinosaurs-reign-but-did-it-really-help-birds-690359">An asteroid hit ended dinosaurs' reign. But did birds flourish because of it?</a>

"I really hope that this inspires kids out there who sometimes may think like, scientists have been working for centuries. We know everything. Absolutely not. There's still so much to discover."

As per Reuters, the fossil was unearthed by quarry workers in 1990 and has been in the hands of private collectors ever since.

After a coalition of supporters helped the Field Museum procure the fossil; it arrived at the museum in August 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

It's a done fact, birds are officially dinosaurs. From pigeons in the park to penguins in the Antarctic, all birds are living breathing dinosaurs, believe scientists, thanks to the discovery of a fossil of a dinosaur called Archaeopteryx.

It's a done fact, birds are officially dinosaurs. From pigeons in the park to penguins in the Antarctic, all birds are living breathing dinosaurs, believe scientists, thanks to the discovery of a fossil of a dinosaur called Archaeopteryx. The Archaeopteryx As per a Reuters report, research shows that the Archaeopteryx had feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty teeth, and a long bony tail. This makes it the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird. The Archaeopteryx, as per Jingmai O'Connor, PhD, the Field Museum's associate curator of fossil reptiles, is the "most important fossil of all time". Also read | Megatitanosaur 'Shiva the destroyer' discovered in Argentina. This is what it looked like. Watch! "It's the first puzzle piece for understanding the evolution of all the birds we see around us," said O'Connor. Experts believe that birds are the only group of dinosaurs to survive the asteroid that wiped off the mighty beings from Earth some 66 million years ago. As of now, only about a dozen or so archaeopteryx specimens have been found globally. They come from a fossil deposit in southern Germany called the Solnhofen Limestone. Most of them are in Europe, one will soon be displayed in the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Public can see it starting May 7 (Tuesday). Another one is in the United States' Thermopolis, Wyoming. "We've learned a lot of new basic information about what the skeleton looked like, we're transforming how we interpret the skull and other parts of the body," said O'Connor. Also read | An asteroid hit ended dinosaurs' reign. But did birds flourish because of it? "I really hope that this inspires kids out there who sometimes may think like, scientists have been working for centuries. We know everything. Absolutely not. There's still so much to discover." As per Reuters, the fossil was unearthed by quarry workers in 1990 and has been in the hands of private collectors ever since. After a coalition of supporters helped the Field Museum procure the fossil; it arrived at the museum in August 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Ancient fossil shows birds are officially dinosaurs

A bus-sized asteroid made its closest approach to Earth on Monday (May 6) and another is set to fly past Earth at a close distance this week. The first asteroid which came near our planet was a 7-metre-long (22-feet) space rock.

A bus-sized asteroid made its closest approach to Earth on Monday (May 6) and another is set to fly past Earth at a close distance this week. The first asteroid which came near our planet was a 7-metre-long (22-feet) space rock. It was named 2024 JF and made its closest approach at 8:04 pm ET tonight (1204 GMT on Tuesday). This asteroid is being followed by another one which is 10 metres long (32 feet) and is named 2024 JR1. It is likely to make its closest approach on Tuesday (May 7). Also Read: Fastest-spinning asteroid recently hit Earth’s atmosphere and crashed in Berlin According to Asteroid Watch, which is a dashboard by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory of near-Earth asteroids and comets, the first space rock was nearly 295,000 miles (475,000 kilometres) away from our planet when it made its closest approach. Asteroid Watch is known to track objects whose orbits bring them at a distance of 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometres) from Earth, nearly 20 times the distance to the moon. Asteroids to flyby closer than the Moon The asteroid 2024 JR1 will approach Earth at a closer distance, which will be 184,000 miles (296,000 kilometres). The asteroid was discovered just three days back. While making its closest approach to Earth, the asteroid will be closer than the Moon, which is at a distance of 230,000 miles (370,000 kilometres). Watch: Boeing to send Starliner space capsule with 2 astronauts During its closest approach, the asteroid will be in the constellation Ursa Major, as per The Sky Live. Two days after asteroid 2024 JR1's closest approach, another space rock called 2024 JD will approach Earth from around 172,741 miles (278,000 kilometres). This asteroid was discovered just a week ago. Hence, this asteroid will also come closer than the Moon, however, 2024 JD will pose no danger to Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid makes a close call, a bigger one to pass by Earth next. Here's what you must know

Scientists from the world's leading universities have developed an all-in-one vaccine that they hope can protect humans against a broad range of coronaviruses, including ones that are yet to emerge.

Scientists from the world's leading universities have developed an all-in-one vaccine that they hope can protect humans against a broad range of coronaviruses, including ones that are yet to emerge. In a study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology on Monday (May 6), scientists said that this vaccine works by training the body's immune system to recognise specific regions of eight different coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which caused the COVID-19 outbreak, and several that are currently circulating in bats and have potential to jump to humans and cause a pandemic. The study The new vaccine is based on a structure called a nanoparticle – a ball of proteins held together by incredibly strong interactions. Chains of different viral antigens are attached to this nanoparticle using a novel "protein superglue". Also read | AstraZeneca Covid vaccine: Court case, rare side effects, admission of guilt, and more. All you need to know Multiple antigens are included in these chains, which trains the immune system to target specific regions shared across a broad range of coronaviruses. "Here, we produce quartets of linked receptor-binding domains (RBDs) from a panel of SARS-like betacoronaviruses, coupled to a computationally designed nanocage through SpyTag/SpyCatcher links," the study said. "These Quartet Nanocages, possessing a branched morphology, induce a high level of neutralising antibodies against several different coronaviruses, including against viruses not represented in the vaccine. Equivalent antibody responses are raised to RBDs close to the nanocage or at the tips of the nanoparticle’s branches," it added. The study also said that in animals primed with SARS-CoV-2 spike, boost immunisations with Quartet Nanocages increased the strength and breadth of an otherwise narrow immune response. 'Don't have to wait for new coronaviruses to emerge' Rory Hills from the University of Cambridge's pharmacology department and the study's first author said that the focus has been to create a vaccine that would protect people "against the next coronavirus pandemic, and have it ready before the pandemic has even started." “We’ve created a vaccine that provides protection against a broad range of different coronaviruses – including ones we don’t even know about yet,” Hills said. Also watch | COVID-19 pandemic anniversary: How a virus led to collapse of global health system | WION Decodes × Meanwhile, the study's senior author Professor Mark Howarth said, "We don’t have to wait for new coronaviruses to emerge. We know enough about coronaviruses, and different immune responses to them, that we can get going with building protective vaccines against unknown coronaviruses now." Professor Howarth, who is also with Cambridge's pharmacology department, said that while scientists did a great job in quickly producing an extremely effective COVID-19 vaccine during the last pandemic, the world still had a massive crisis with a huge number of deaths. "We need to work out how we can do even better than that in the future, and a powerful component of that is starting to build the vaccines in advance,” Howarth added. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists develop 'all-in-one' vaccine that may protect against broad range of coronaviruses

Ants and bees working together for food and shelter have fascinated humanity since time immemorial. But can they construct elaborate Lego hives? Well, it has emerged that they can't. But they do tinker with Lego pieces while demonstrating awareness about their partner's actions and calibrating their own in response.&nbsp;

Scientists in Finland got the bees to play with toys to study how exactly they coordinate their movements.&nbsp;

"We were surprised by how the bumblebees took into account their partner’s movements when coordinating their own movements in tasks, demonstrating astonishing social intelligence," Olli Loukola, a behavioural ecologist at the University of Oulu, was quoted as saying by the Forbes magazine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/bumblebees-have-a-remarkably-successful-way-of-fighting-off-asian-hornets-study-643431">Bumblebees have a ‘remarkably successful’ way of fighting off invasive Asian hornets: Study</a>

Loukola is the lead author of a new study on bee research published May 1 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.&nbsp;

The researchers trained one group of bumblebees to work in pairs to push blocks, both styrofoam and Lego and another group to act alone when moving the pieces.&nbsp;

In the first group, scientists observed that when they delayed a partner’s entry into the designated area, the insects that arrived first took a longer while to push the block than bees taught to push the blocks alone.&nbsp;

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

The findings deepen humanity's understanding of bumblebee behaviour and could have applications in fields such as robotics and agriculture.

James Dorey, a biological scientist in Australia who was not involved with the study, described the findings as "quite exciting."

"This study is one in a long line of behavioural experiments showing that bees are capable of some really complex tasks, learning and behaviour," Dorey, a lecturer at the University of Wollongong, said in an interview.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Habitat loss &amp; pesticides decimate bees as their population collapses by 40% in last 30 years

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/habitat-loss-pesticides-decimate-bees-as-their-population-collapses-by-40-in-last-30-years-446869/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The research shows that complex cooperative behaviour from social insects can go beyond innate, or hard-wired, actions and that they are even capable of learning behaviours typically associated with animals like primates and dolphins."

The research points out that bumblebees have enough cognitive flexibility to learn to work together when foraging, which they typically do alone.

The research also builds on previous bumblebee studies that suggest bees could understand cooperation on some level, Loukola said.&nbsp;

"The cognitive mechanisms behind insect cooperation have been unexplored, so we aimed to change that," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ants and bees working together for food and shelter have fascinated humanity since time immemorial. But can they construct elaborate Lego hives? Well, it has emerged that they can't.

Ants and bees working together for food and shelter have fascinated humanity since time immemorial. But can they construct elaborate Lego hives? Well, it has emerged that they can't. But they do tinker with Lego pieces while demonstrating awareness about their partner's actions and calibrating their own in response. Scientists in Finland got the bees to play with toys to study how exactly they coordinate their movements. "We were surprised by how the bumblebees took into account their partner’s movements when coordinating their own movements in tasks, demonstrating astonishing social intelligence," Olli Loukola, a behavioural ecologist at the University of Oulu, was quoted as saying by the Forbes magazine. Also read | Bumblebees have a ‘remarkably successful’ way of fighting off invasive Asian hornets: Study Loukola is the lead author of a new study on bee research published May 1 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The researchers trained one group of bumblebees to work in pairs to push blocks, both styrofoam and Lego and another group to act alone when moving the pieces. In the first group, scientists observed that when they delayed a partner’s entry into the designated area, the insects that arrived first took a longer while to push the block than bees taught to push the blocks alone. What does it mean? The findings deepen humanity's understanding of bumblebee behaviour and could have applications in fields such as robotics and agriculture. James Dorey, a biological scientist in Australia who was not involved with the study, described the findings as "quite exciting." "This study is one in a long line of behavioural experiments showing that bees are capable of some really complex tasks, learning and behaviour," Dorey, a lecturer at the University of Wollongong, said in an interview. Also watch | Habitat loss & pesticides decimate bees as their population collapses by 40% in last 30 years × "The research shows that complex cooperative behaviour from social insects can go beyond innate, or hard-wired, actions and that they are even capable of learning behaviours typically associated with animals like primates and dolphins." The research points out that bumblebees have enough cognitive flexibility to learn to work together when foraging, which they typically do alone. The research also builds on previous bumblebee studies that suggest bees could understand cooperation on some level, Loukola said. "The cognitive mechanisms behind insect cooperation have been unexplored, so we aimed to change that," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Can bumblebees play Legos? They do move Lego pieces together

SpaceX has just unveiled its latest futuristic innovation: astronaut gear. The new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits are set to potentially debut in low-Earth orbit by the end of this summer.

<h2>An evolution in spacesuits</h2>

As per Popular Science, the spacesuits are described as an evolution of the current outfits used by astronauts on Dragon missions, which are only suitable for use inside a pressurised environment.

The new EVA suits, however, are designed for versatility, allowing astronauts to operate both inside and outside their spacecraft.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-countdown-to-letdown-boeings-starliner-launch-postponed-what-went-wrong-718703">From countdown to letdown: Sunita Williams' third trip to space delayed as Starliner launch is scrubbed</a>

On its website, the Polaris Programme wrote, "At ~700 km above Earth, the SpaceX EVA suit will support the Polaris Dawn crew in the vacuum of space during the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk."

"Evolved from the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit, the EVA suit provides greater mobility, a state-of-the-art helmet heads-up display (HUD) and camera, new thermal management textiles, and materials borrowed from Falcon's interstage and Dragon’s trunk," it adds.

These suits are part of SpaceX's broader effort to enhance human spaceflight capabilities under the banner of the Polaris Program.

"Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require millions of spacesuits. The development of this suit and the execution of the spacewalk will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions as life becomes multi-planetary," says Polaris.

<h2>Creating history: Polaris Dawn&nbsp;</h2>

The EVA suits will be worn by Polaris Dawn's four crewmembers of the Polaris Program's first mission, Polaris Dawn.

Polaris Dawn, which is set to launch no earlier than summer 2024, will be a historic venture. It will feature the first commercial spacewalk and the first spacewalk to include four astronauts venturing outside together.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-to-run-a-train-to-mars-space-agency-funds-ambitious-lunar-rail-system-718346">NASA working on building rail tracks on Moon, sending humans and cargo to Mars</a>

This mission will also serve as a trial run for SpaceX's Starlink laser-based communications systems, which Elon Musk's SpaceX believes are crucial for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

<h2>Inclusive spacesuits</h2>

The spacesuits, as per the report, have been designed for maximum mobility while keeping in mind inclusivity.&nbsp;

They incorporate thermal materials and semi-rigid joints that facilitate movement in both pressurised and unpressurised conditions. Furthermore, the boots are made from the same heat-resistant materials used in the Falcon 9 rocket.

Moreover, the Polaris Dawn crew will wear 3D-printed helmets with visors coated with a blend of copper and indium tin oxide, providing anti-glare and anti-fog properties.

During their spacewalk, roughly 435 miles (700.06 kilometres) above Earth, these helmets' built-in heads up display (HUD) will also provide astronauts with vital environmental data — pressure, temperature, and relative humidity — in real-time.

SpaceX's EVA suits are also tailored for inclusivity and are designed to allow customisation to fit "different body types as SpaceX seeks to create greater accessibility to space for all of humanity".

While the immediate goal is to produce these suits for the Polaris Dawn crew, SpaceX envisions scaling up production to support future multiplanetary life, aiming to eventually manufacture "millions" of these suits.

(With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX has just unveiled its latest futuristic innovation: astronaut gear. The new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits are set to potentially debut in low-Earth orbit by the end of this summer.

SpaceX has just unveiled its latest futuristic innovation: astronaut gear. The new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits are set to potentially debut in low-Earth orbit by the end of this summer. An evolution in spacesuits As per Popular Science, the spacesuits are described as an evolution of the current outfits used by astronauts on Dragon missions, which are only suitable for use inside a pressurised environment. The new EVA suits, however, are designed for versatility, allowing astronauts to operate both inside and outside their spacecraft. Also read | From countdown to letdown: Sunita Williams' third trip to space delayed as Starliner launch is scrubbed On its website, the Polaris Programme wrote, "At ~700 km above Earth, the SpaceX EVA suit will support the Polaris Dawn crew in the vacuum of space during the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk." "Evolved from the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit, the EVA suit provides greater mobility, a state-of-the-art helmet heads-up display (HUD) and camera, new thermal management textiles, and materials borrowed from Falcon's interstage and Dragon’s trunk," it adds. These suits are part of SpaceX's broader effort to enhance human spaceflight capabilities under the banner of the Polaris Program. "Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require millions of spacesuits. The development of this suit and the execution of the spacewalk will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions as life becomes multi-planetary," says Polaris. Creating history: Polaris Dawn The EVA suits will be worn by Polaris Dawn's four crewmembers of the Polaris Program's first mission, Polaris Dawn. Polaris Dawn, which is set to launch no earlier than summer 2024, will be a historic venture. It will feature the first commercial spacewalk and the first spacewalk to include four astronauts venturing outside together. Also read | NASA working on building rail tracks on Moon, sending humans and cargo to Mars This mission will also serve as a trial run for SpaceX's Starlink laser-based communications systems, which Elon Musk's SpaceX believes are crucial for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Inclusive spacesuits The spacesuits, as per the report, have been designed for maximum mobility while keeping in mind inclusivity. They incorporate thermal materials and semi-rigid joints that facilitate movement in both pressurised and unpressurised conditions. Furthermore, the boots are made from the same heat-resistant materials used in the Falcon 9 rocket. Moreover, the Polaris Dawn crew will wear 3D-printed helmets with visors coated with a blend of copper and indium tin oxide, providing anti-glare and anti-fog properties. During their spacewalk, roughly 435 miles (700.06 kilometres) above Earth, these helmets' built-in heads up display (HUD) will also provide astronauts with vital environmental data — pressure, temperature, and relative humidity — in real-time. SpaceX's EVA suits are also tailored for inclusivity and are designed to allow customisation to fit "different body types as SpaceX seeks to create greater accessibility to space for all of humanity". While the immediate goal is to produce these suits for the Polaris Dawn crew, SpaceX envisions scaling up production to support future multiplanetary life, aiming to eventually manufacture "millions" of these suits. (With inputs from agencies)

With an eye on Moon and Mars, SpaceX unveils futuristic spacesuits for Polaris Dawn mission

Falling into a black hole may not be possible due to obvious space travel constraints posed. But hypothetically, if one falls into a black hole, what would be the consequences? Now an advanced visualisation by a NASA supercomputer can tell what happens when one gets inside a black hole to the point of no return.

"People often ask about this, and simulating these difficult-to-imagine processes helps me connect the mathematics of relativity to actual consequences in the real universe," Jeremy Schnittman, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who created the visualisations said in a statement. "So I simulated two different scenarios, one where a camera—a stand-in for a daring astronaut—just misses the event horizon and slingshots back out, and one where it crosses the boundary, sealing its fate."

<h2>What are the visualisations like?&nbsp;</h2>

The visualisations are in the form of explainer videos that act as sightseeing guides, illuminating the bizarre effects of Einstein's general theory of relativity.&nbsp;

Versions such as 360-degree videos let viewers look all around during the trip, while others play as flat all-sky maps.

The simulated destination is a supermassive black hole with 4.3 million times the mass of our Sun.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Scientists reveal the sound of a super massive black hole

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-scientists-reveal-the-sound-of-a-super-massive-black-hole-610288/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The simulated black hole's event horizon spans about 16 million miles (25 million kilometres), or about 17 per cent of the distance from Earth to the sun.&nbsp;

When one approaches the black hole in simulated form, speeds closer to that of light itself are reached. The light appears brighter and whiter when looking into the direction of travel.

"Once the camera crosses the horizon, its destruction by spaghettification is just 12.8 seconds away," Schnittman said. From there, it's only 128,000 kilometres to the singularity, a voyage that gets over in the blink of an eye.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/milky-ways-most-massive-black-hole-33-times-bigger-than-sun-leaves-scientists-stunned-711896">Milky Way’s ‘most massive’ stellar black hole , 33 times bigger than Sun, found lurking near Earth</a>

In the alternative scenario, the camera orbits close to the event horizon but it never crosses over and escapes to safety.&nbsp;

Now let's say an astronaut flew a spacecraft on this 6-hour round trip while her colleagues on a mothership remained far from the black hole, she would return 36 minutes younger than her colleagues. This is because time passes more slowly near a strong gravitational source and when moving near the speed of light.

"This situation can be even more extreme," Schnittman noted. "If the black hole were rapidly rotating, like the one shown in the 2014 movie 'Interstellar,' she would return many years younger than her shipmates."

(With inputs from agencies)

Falling into a black hole may not be possible due to obvious space travel constraints posed. But hypothetically, if one falls into a black hole, what would be the consequences?

Falling into a black hole may not be possible due to obvious space travel constraints posed. But hypothetically, if one falls into a black hole, what would be the consequences? Now an advanced visualisation by a NASA supercomputer can tell what happens when one gets inside a black hole to the point of no return. "People often ask about this, and simulating these difficult-to-imagine processes helps me connect the mathematics of relativity to actual consequences in the real universe," Jeremy Schnittman, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who created the visualisations said in a statement. "So I simulated two different scenarios, one where a camera—a stand-in for a daring astronaut—just misses the event horizon and slingshots back out, and one where it crosses the boundary, sealing its fate." What are the visualisations like? The visualisations are in the form of explainer videos that act as sightseeing guides, illuminating the bizarre effects of Einstein's general theory of relativity. Versions such as 360-degree videos let viewers look all around during the trip, while others play as flat all-sky maps. The simulated destination is a supermassive black hole with 4.3 million times the mass of our Sun. Also watch | Gravitas: Scientists reveal the sound of a super massive black hole × The simulated black hole's event horizon spans about 16 million miles (25 million kilometres), or about 17 per cent of the distance from Earth to the sun. When one approaches the black hole in simulated form, speeds closer to that of light itself are reached. The light appears brighter and whiter when looking into the direction of travel. "Once the camera crosses the horizon, its destruction by spaghettification is just 12.8 seconds away," Schnittman said. From there, it's only 128,000 kilometres to the singularity, a voyage that gets over in the blink of an eye. Also read | Milky Way’s ‘most massive’ stellar black hole , 33 times bigger than Sun, found lurking near Earth In the alternative scenario, the camera orbits close to the event horizon but it never crosses over and escapes to safety. Now let's say an astronaut flew a spacecraft on this 6-hour round trip while her colleagues on a mothership remained far from the black hole, she would return 36 minutes younger than her colleagues. This is because time passes more slowly near a strong gravitational source and when moving near the speed of light. "This situation can be even more extreme," Schnittman noted. "If the black hole were rapidly rotating, like the one shown in the 2014 movie 'Interstellar,' she would return many years younger than her shipmates." (With inputs from agencies)

Will falling into a black hole take you to fifth dimension? Here's what might actually happen

The connection between a poor diet or poorly controlled metabolic conditions such as diabetes and higher cancer risk is partly elucidated by a previously unidentified mechanism that deactivates genes inhibiting tumour formation.

The connection between a poor diet or poorly controlled metabolic conditions such as diabetes and higher cancer risk is partly elucidated by a previously unidentified mechanism that deactivates genes inhibiting tumour formation. Using mouse models, human tissue, and in vitro-produced human breast organoids, researchers from Singapore and the UK discovered that disruptions in glucose metabolism may promote the growth of cancer by momentarily blocking the BRCA2 gene, which guards against tumours. Cancer pharmacologist Li Ren Kong of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore), who is the study's primary author, states that "these findings raise awareness of the impact of diet and weight control in the management of cancer risks." "We started the study aiming to understand what factors elevate risk in families susceptible to cancer, but ended up discovering a deeper mechanism linking an essential energy consumption pathway to cancer development," he added. The study also calls into question a long-standing idea concerning cancer-protective genes. Recent research has discovered that a mutation in one of a cell's two BRCA2 genes is associated with a variety of cancers. Interestingly, mice and human cells with this mutation do not exhibit the typical symptoms of genetic instability observed in cells with both copies of the gene altered. Also read: Accelerated ageing is heightening cancer risk in younger population: Study In mice, having only one copy of BRCA2 impacted does not appear to create significant difficulties with organ development or DNA repair in most tissues. However, cells with this mutation tend to be more prone to stress, such as exposure to environmental pollutants like formaldehyde or acetaldehyde, which can lower BRCA2 protein levels and cause functional issues. How do disruptions in glucose metabolism affect BRCA2 function? The researchers initially looked at persons who had inherited one defective copy of BRCA2. They discovered that these people's cells were more susceptible to methylglyoxal (MGO), which is created when cells break down glucose for energy during glycolysis. The researchers observed that MGO can temporarily block the BRCA2 protein's tumor-suppressing capabilities, causing mutations associated with cancer development. Overall, their findings imply that alterations in glucose metabolism can affect BRCA2 function via MGO, leading to cancer genesis and progression. This new knowledge may help to develop cancer prevention or early detection measures.

Study uncovers mechanism linking diet, diabetes, and cancer risk

Human beings have long been fascinated with Neanderthals. They are our long-lost ancestors who were wiped out from the face of Earth thousands of years ago. Years of studies have established that they were bigger than humans physically, and probably not as intelligent. Their way of life was also very different from ours. While they survived for hundreds of thousands of years, something killed them all. Scientists are still trying to understand what exactly happened, although several theories keep doing the rounds.

Netflix documentary Secrets of the Neanderthals, released on May 2, tries to answer three main questions about the species – Who were the Neanderthals? What made them successful for so long? Why did they ultimately disappear?

Archaeologist Ralph Solecki’s digs from 1951 to 1960 at the Shanidar caves in Iraq set the stage for Neanderthal discoveries.

How he zeroed in on the site is not clear. But he found 10 Neanderthal skeletons there. From there began the discovery of a fascinating world and the surprising traits the Neanderthals might have had.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Shanidar Cave" data-caption="Shanidar Cave has emerged as the central point of studies on Neanderthals." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b945420-6341-499f-a4fb-5a8e74d84db5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Shanidar%20Cave.png" />
&nbsp;

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>Were Neanderthals&nbsp;spiritual?</h2>

The documentary later moves to Zagreb, Croatia, where archaeologists found only fragments of Neanderthal skeletons and not whole bodies.&nbsp; 
 
This, among several more discoveries, led them to understand that Neanderthals probably indulged in cannibalism. However, why they ate each other is open to interpretation, with spiritual reasons being cited as a probable factor. The documentary shows how they might have been eating each other to keep a part of the deceased alive or take on a quality of the dead.

In fact, the documentary explores the idea that Neanderthals had some kind of religious and spiritual beliefs. 
 
This idea got a boost after the discovery of Shanidar 4, also known as the Flower Burial. Shanidar 4 died 75,000 years ago and what is fascinating is that the site of the skeleton had pieces of flowers and twigs. This threw open the theory that Neanderthals likely had a way to honour their dead.

 
<img alt="Neanderthal woman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9c079a4c-8930-4a35-b275-a9694accaf0c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Neanderthals%20Netflix.png" />

&nbsp;

<h2>Start of religion?</h2>

This belief is further strengthened when what was discovered in a cave in Burniquel, France, is revealed. An arduous journey leads the archaeologists inside the cave where they discover unnatural circular formations made using stalactites and stalagmites. They even find a hearth that might have been used to light fires. &nbsp;

So what were these circular formations?

Dr Sophie Verheyden, a geologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, links them to Native Americans for whom such circles meant a connection with a higher spirit.

Was this the start of religion?

<img alt="Shanidar Z" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc3fe642-c5e3-4b9a-9777-08d3c5310edd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Netflix%20Neanderthals.png" />

<h2>Was Shanidar cave a burial ground?</h2>

At Shanidar, archaeologists recently found remains of another Neanderthal, leading them to wonder if the cave was being used as a burial ground by the species.

The skeleton was placed in a certain way near a vertical piece of stone, indicating a markup point for burials and certain traditions or rituals.

<h2>Where did Neanderthals disappear?</h2>

The documentary moves to the Mediterranean, specifically Gibraltar, where a row of caves exists that was inhabited by the Neanderthals till as recently as 40,000 years ago.

This was a place where Neanderthals flourished for many years and set up a life for themselves. But the first signs of their decline were seen here and spread across the planet soon.

Interestingly, climate change played a major role in killing them. The impact of the last Ice Age was devastating for Neanderthals.

As per Dr Clive Finlayson, Director, of Gibraltar National Museum, trees dried up, rendering ambush areas to kill animals scarce, and so they started starving and their numbers fell.

&nbsp;

<h2>A Warning!</h2>

It seems strange to think that a species that lived for so many years suddenly vanished. Clive points out that their story is a lesson for humans. “We think that we are pinnacles of evolution. That we were better, so we are here and Neanderthals are not. But you can be well adapted to the planet and think are doing so well on Earth, but just beware!”

Human beings have long been fascinated with Neanderthals. They are our long-lost ancestors who were wiped out from the face of Earth thousands of years ago. Years of studies have established that they were bigger than humans physically, and probably not as intelligent.

Human beings have long been fascinated with Neanderthals. They are our long-lost ancestors who were wiped out from the face of Earth thousands of years ago. Years of studies have established that they were bigger than humans physically, and probably not as intelligent. Their way of life was also very different from ours. While they survived for hundreds of thousands of years, something killed them all. Scientists are still trying to understand what exactly happened, although several theories keep doing the rounds. Netflix documentary Secrets of the Neanderthals, released on May 2, tries to answer three main questions about the species – Who were the Neanderthals? What made them successful for so long? Why did they ultimately disappear? Archaeologist Ralph Solecki’s digs from 1951 to 1960 at the Shanidar caves in Iraq set the stage for Neanderthal discoveries. How he zeroed in on the site is not clear. But he found 10 Neanderthal skeletons there. From there began the discovery of a fascinating world and the surprising traits the Neanderthals might have had. Were Neanderthals spiritual? The documentary later moves to Zagreb, Croatia, where archaeologists found only fragments of Neanderthal skeletons and not whole bodies. This, among several more discoveries, led them to understand that Neanderthals probably indulged in cannibalism. However, why they ate each other is open to interpretation, with spiritual reasons being cited as a probable factor. The documentary shows how they might have been eating each other to keep a part of the deceased alive or take on a quality of the dead. In fact, the documentary explores the idea that Neanderthals had some kind of religious and spiritual beliefs. This idea got a boost after the discovery of Shanidar 4, also known as the Flower Burial. Shanidar 4 died 75,000 years ago and what is fascinating is that the site of the skeleton had pieces of flowers and twigs. This threw open the theory that Neanderthals likely had a way to honour their dead. Start of religion? This belief is further strengthened when what was discovered in a cave in Burniquel, France, is revealed. An arduous journey leads the archaeologists inside the cave where they discover unnatural circular formations made using stalactites and stalagmites. They even find a hearth that might have been used to light fires. So what were these circular formations? Dr Sophie Verheyden, a geologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, links them to Native Americans for whom such circles meant a connection with a higher spirit. Was this the start of religion? Was Shanidar cave a burial ground? At Shanidar, archaeologists recently found remains of another Neanderthal, leading them to wonder if the cave was being used as a burial ground by the species. The skeleton was placed in a certain way near a vertical piece of stone, indicating a markup point for burials and certain traditions or rituals. Where did Neanderthals disappear? The documentary moves to the Mediterranean, specifically Gibraltar, where a row of caves exists that was inhabited by the Neanderthals till as recently as 40,000 years ago. This was a place where Neanderthals flourished for many years and set up a life for themselves. But the first signs of their decline were seen here and spread across the planet soon. Interestingly, climate change played a major role in killing them. The impact of the last Ice Age was devastating for Neanderthals. As per Dr Clive Finlayson, Director, of Gibraltar National Museum, trees dried up, rendering ambush areas to kill animals scarce, and so they started starving and their numbers fell. A Warning! It seems strange to think that a species that lived for so many years suddenly vanished. Clive points out that their story is a lesson for humans. “We think that we are pinnacles of evolution. That we were better, so we are here and Neanderthals are not. But you can be well adapted to the planet and think are doing so well on Earth, but just beware!”

Our long-lost ancestors Neanderthals believed in divine connection, new discoveries suggest

The Sun has released two powerful solar flares over the past one week, causing radio blackouts in some regions.&nbsp;A newly emerged sunspot region,&nbsp;named&nbsp;AR3663, is understood to be behind these solar flares, which&nbsp;were fired off&nbsp;within&nbsp;just&nbsp;six hours of each other.&nbsp;The Sun is experiencing heightened flare activity in its 11-year period in which its magnetic field goes through a cycle. During this cycle, the&nbsp;Sun’s&nbsp;north and south poles switch places, a process during which solar flares&nbsp;are released. Some flares are so&nbsp;strong&nbsp;that they&nbsp;end up affecting&nbsp;life here on Earth.

<h2>All about the two eruptions</h2>

The first eruption occurred on May 2, when the most&nbsp;powerful&nbsp;category flare, an X-class solar flare, was fired off AR3663. It was so powerful that it caused blackouts across Australia, Japan and much of China.

"X&nbsp;FLARE! Sunspot region AR3663 just produced an X1.7 flare, the 11th largest flare so far this cycle. It was an impulsive flare lasting a total of about 25 minutes and peaking at 02:22 U.T,"&nbsp;solar physicist Keith Strong wrote on X.

The second eruption came on May 3, which was an M-class flare.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiM26HgsvmFAxVtUWwGHdhcCDkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-scientists-manage-to-capture-suns-closest-video-yet-esa-cautions-dont-be-fooled-because-717591" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-scientists-manage-to-capture-suns-closest-video-yet-esa-cautions-dont-be-fooled-because-717591&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiM26HgsvmFAxVtUWwGHdhcCDkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Watch: Scientists manage to capture Sun`s closest video yet; ESA cautions `don`t be fooled` because...</a>

At the time of the eruption, the sunspot was facing our home planet, bringing Earth into direct firing line. It&nbsp;is speculated&nbsp;that at least one of the solar flares carried a coronal mass ejection (CME)&nbsp;with it. CME is a&nbsp;large&nbsp;expulsion of plasma and magnetic field.

Space.com website reports that powerful CMEs, that&nbsp;are&nbsp;directed&nbsp;towards Earth,&nbsp;can cause disruptions with power grids, telecommunication networks and orbiting satellites.&nbsp;They can also expose our astronauts in space to harmful doses of radiation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiM26HgsvmFAxVtUWwGHdhcCDkQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chaos-on-sun-dazzles-mars-with-invisible-auroras-717353" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/chaos-on-sun-dazzles-mars-with-invisible-auroras-717353&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiM26HgsvmFAxVtUWwGHdhcCDkQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">Chaos on Sun dazzles Mars with invisible Auroras</a>

<h2>What are solar flares?</h2>

Solar flares are a fascinating phenomenon that occurs when magnetic fields within the&nbsp;Sun's&nbsp;atmosphere reconnect, releasing&nbsp;a&nbsp;massive&nbsp;amount of&nbsp;energy.&nbsp;This process&nbsp;is similar to&nbsp;a rubber band snapping back into place after being stretched too far. The energy released during a solar flare is immense, and NASA categorises these flares based on their strength. At the top of the scale are the X-class flares, the most powerful&nbsp;of the bunch. Next come the M-class flares, which are a tenth as powerful as the X-class.&nbsp;Following these are the C-class&nbsp;flares,&nbsp;and&nbsp;finally,&nbsp;the B-class flares, the weakest of the bunch.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Sun has released two powerful solar flares over the past one week, causing radio blackouts in some regions. A newly emerged sunspot region, named AR3663, is understood to be behind these solar flares, which were fired off within just six hours of each other.

The Sun has released two powerful solar flares over the past one week, causing radio blackouts in some regions. A newly emerged sunspot region, named AR3663, is understood to be behind these solar flares, which were fired off within just six hours of each other. The Sun is experiencing heightened flare activity in its 11-year period in which its magnetic field goes through a cycle. During this cycle, the Sun’s north and south poles switch places, a process during which solar flares are released. Some flares are so strong that they end up affecting life here on Earth. All about the two eruptions The first eruption occurred on May 2, when the most powerful category flare, an X-class solar flare, was fired off AR3663. It was so powerful that it caused blackouts across Australia, Japan and much of China. "X FLARE! Sunspot region AR3663 just produced an X1.7 flare, the 11th largest flare so far this cycle. It was an impulsive flare lasting a total of about 25 minutes and peaking at 02:22 U.T," solar physicist Keith Strong wrote on X. The second eruption came on May 3, which was an M-class flare. Also read: Watch: Scientists manage to capture Sun`s closest video yet; ESA cautions `don`t be fooled` because... At the time of the eruption, the sunspot was facing our home planet, bringing Earth into direct firing line. It is speculated that at least one of the solar flares carried a coronal mass ejection (CME) with it. CME is a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field. Space.com website reports that powerful CMEs, that are directed towards Earth, can cause disruptions with power grids, telecommunication networks and orbiting satellites. They can also expose our astronauts in space to harmful doses of radiation. Also read: Chaos on Sun dazzles Mars with invisible Auroras What are solar flares? Solar flares are a fascinating phenomenon that occurs when magnetic fields within the Sun's atmosphere reconnect, releasing a massive amount of energy. This process is similar to a rubber band snapping back into place after being stretched too far. The energy released during a solar flare is immense, and NASA categorises these flares based on their strength. At the top of the scale are the X-class flares, the most powerful of the bunch. Next come the M-class flares, which are a tenth as powerful as the X-class. Following these are the C-class flares, and finally, the B-class flares, the weakest of the bunch. (With inputs from agencies)

Sun fires massive solar flares directly at Earth; Australia, Japan and China witness radio blackouts

In hopes of turning science fiction into reality, NASA has been funding projects which seem far from reality, but if completed can take mankind's achievements in space to new heights.

In hopes of turning science fiction into reality, NASA has been funding projects which seem far from reality, but if completed can take mankind's achievements in space to new heights. Speaking about such ambitious projects, even the space agency's representative John Nelson calls them "science fiction-like concepts". Although there is no guarantee of them materialising, projects like the lunar rail system may become part of an aerospace mission someday. What are these 'ambitious' projects of NASA? These 'ambitious' projects include a fluid-based telescope, a transit system to transfer humans and cargo to Mars and a lunar railway system. These projects are part of NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) programme that has been set aside to be funded for continuous research. Also Read: 'Grab your popcorn', NASA just released mesmerising Nebula timelapses captured by Chandra observatory In all, there are six projects and each of them has completed the initial NIAC phase. Moving into Phase II, the conceptual studies will get more than $600,000 for continuing their research in the next two years. No guarantee of success These projects are still in the exploratory stage and there is no guarantee of success. However, the projects have been moving on the intended path for a future aerospace mission if they reach the final NIAC phase. NIAC programme executive at NASA headquarters in Washington John Nelson said, "Our NIAC fellows never cease to amaze and inspire, and this class definitely gives NASA a lot to think about in terms of what's possible in the future." To advance this space research, a fundamental requirement is ever-larger telescope development. According to NASA's Edward Balaban, it does not appear economically viable to scale current space telescope technologies to aperture sizes beyond 10 metres. "Thus, there is a need for cost-effective solutions to scale space telescopes to larger sizes," he said. What do these projects promise? The FLUTE project gives a potential solution for creating space observatories which have a large aperture or unsegmented liquid primary mirrors. Such liquid primary mirrors get formed in space with the use of fluidic shaping in microgravity, said Balaban. Watch: Strongest sign of alien found: The search for life beyond earth The scientists have already demonstrated this concept in laboratories amid neutral buoyancy environments, aboard the International Space Station and during parabolic microgravity flights. Meanwhile, another project of NASA is the Pulsed Plasma Rocket entailing electric spacecraft propulsion. As of now, no technology allows the shifting of humans and cargo efficiently and rapidly through the vast distances of space. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA working on building rail tracks on Moon, sending humans and cargo to Mars

With the launch of its Starliner spaceship on Monday night, which will finally send two NASA astronauts into orbit, Boeing's spaceflight programme might achieve a significant milestone.

The Crew Flight Test mission is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday at 10:34 pm&nbsp;ET. The space agency says that live streaming of the ceremony will start on NASA channels on Monday at 6:30 pm&nbsp;ET.

The event has been planned for a decade, and it marks the completion of Boeing's efforts to create a spaceship capable of transporting humans to and from the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Programme.

Starliner's journey to the launchpad has been hampered by expensive failures, test flight issues, and development hold-ups. In the meanwhile, SpaceX, Boeing's competitor in NASA's commercial crew programme, has emerged as the preferred astronaut transportation provider. At last, NASA and Boeing have decided that the Starliner spaceship is all set for the most important test yet which is letting astronauts take a spin around the planet.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/science/asteroid-dinkineshs-duo-selam-spotted-by-nasas-lucy-spacecraft-turns-out-to-be-cosmic-toddler-717757" hreflang="en">Asteroid Dinkinesh's duo Selam spotted by NASA's Lucy spacecraft turns out to be cosmic toddler</a>

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, two veteran NASA astronauts, will fly on Monday's flight to the International Space Station for a week.

A number of experiments will be carried out by Wilmore and Williams during their journey, such as a brief takeover of the autonomous spacecraft's controls and an assessment of how the ship functions for astronauts. For Boeing, a successful flight might represent a turning point for the spaceflight program and the company as a whole.

“We’ve had a couple (of) launch dates, and we’ve been like, ‘OK, we’re ready to go,’” Williams said at a news conference. “But now it’s like, heck — five days. It is actually, finally real, and I sort of have to pinch myself a little bit to understand, actually, we’re going.”

(With inputs from agencies)

With the launch of its Starliner spaceship on Monday night, which will finally send two NASA astronauts into orbit, Boeing's spaceflight programme might achieve a significant milestone.

With the launch of its Starliner spaceship on Monday night, which will finally send two NASA astronauts into orbit, Boeing's spaceflight programme might achieve a significant milestone. The Crew Flight Test mission is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday at 10:34 pm ET. The space agency says that live streaming of the ceremony will start on NASA channels on Monday at 6:30 pm ET. The event has been planned for a decade, and it marks the completion of Boeing's efforts to create a spaceship capable of transporting humans to and from the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Programme. Starliner's journey to the launchpad has been hampered by expensive failures, test flight issues, and development hold-ups. In the meanwhile, SpaceX, Boeing's competitor in NASA's commercial crew programme, has emerged as the preferred astronaut transportation provider. At last, NASA and Boeing have decided that the Starliner spaceship is all set for the most important test yet which is letting astronauts take a spin around the planet. Also read: Asteroid Dinkinesh's duo Selam spotted by NASA's Lucy spacecraft turns out to be cosmic toddler Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, two veteran NASA astronauts, will fly on Monday's flight to the International Space Station for a week. A number of experiments will be carried out by Wilmore and Williams during their journey, such as a brief takeover of the autonomous spacecraft's controls and an assessment of how the ship functions for astronauts. For Boeing, a successful flight might represent a turning point for the spaceflight program and the company as a whole. “We’ve had a couple (of) launch dates, and we’ve been like, ‘OK, we’re ready to go,’” Williams said at a news conference. “But now it’s like, heck — five days. It is actually, finally real, and I sort of have to pinch myself a little bit to understand, actually, we’re going.” (With inputs from agencies)

Sunita Williams goes to space again with Boeing Starliner's launch of first crewed mission: How to watch

In the latest discovery, scientists have found the mysterious reason behind the reappearance of a giant ice hole in Antarctica, which is equal to the size of Switzerland.

In the latest discovery, scientists have found the mysterious reason behind the reappearance of a giant ice hole in Antarctica, which is equal to the size of Switzerland. The rare gaping hole of ice-free water, which is known as a polynya, was first discovered by scientists in 1974 and it remained as a void for two years till it was eventually closed. However, the scientists were left baffled in 2016 and 2017 after the large size polynya reappeared which forced them to look for the reason which was forming the hole. Here's what the scientists found The University of Southampton's researchers discovered that the cause of the mysterious hole was a combination of the ocean's wind, water currents and the increase in the salt level in the water which was melting the sea ice and creating the space. Also Read: Melting ice, burning skin: Antarctic wildlife is getting sunburnt, scientists warn The opening was named by the scientists as the Maud Rise polynya in the 1970s. The name was derived from the underwater mountain which was located beneath the hole in the Weddell Sea. Generally, polynyas appear every year in sea ice which is located in the coastal areas of Antarctica. However, it is unusual for them to get formed hundreds of miles away in the open ocean. In a statement, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Southampton Aditya Narayanan said, "The Maud Rise polynya was discovered in the 1970s when remote sensing satellites that can see sea ice over the Southern Ocean were first launched." "It persisted through consecutive winters from 1974 to 1976 and oceanographers back then assumed it would be an annual occurrence. But since the 1970s, it has occurred only sporadically and for brief intervals. 2017 was the first time that we've had such a large and long-lived polynya in the Weddell Sea since the 1970s," he added. How do polynyas affect oceans? The researchers have now warned that the oceans can be adversely effected by polynyas and lead to rise in sea levels, which rose by 0.3 inches from 2022 to 2023. Watch: Russia activates world's first satellite for Arctic observation The study's co-author and professor at the University of California Sarah Gille said, "The imprint of polynyas can remain in the water for multiple years after they've formed." "They can change how water moves around and how currents carry heat towards the continent. The dense waters that form here can spread across the global ocean," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Antarctica has a giant sea ice hole, as big as Switzerland. Here’s why it keeps reappearing

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has spotted winds blowing at unprecedented speeds on the exoplanet WASP-43b, which is around 283 light-years away from Earth.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has spotted winds blowing at unprecedented speeds on the exoplanet WASP-43b, which is around 283 light-years away from Earth. The exoplanet's one side permanently faces its sun and the other is cloaked in eternal night. WASP-43b is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium and is significantly hotter than any gas giant in the solar system, due to its closeness to its host star, which it orbits once every 19 Earth hours. According to a report by Live Science, this proximity meant that WASP-43b was also tidally locked to its star. The report said that researchers discovered that this tidal lock permanently heats one side of the planet to temperatures around 1,260 degrees Celsius. A change in temperature that drives fierce winds In a recent study, scientists discovered that the temperature difference between the day and night side drove fierce winds that could reach speeds of up to 9,000 km/hour. In a statement, Taylor Bell, a researcher from the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute and the study's lead author said, "With Hubble, we could clearly see that there is water vapour on the dayside. Both Hubble and Spitzer suggested there might be clouds on the nightside." Also read | James Webb captures stunning Horsehead Nebula as ‘you’ve never seen it before...’ "But we needed more precise measurements from Webb to really begin mapping the temperature, cloud cover, winds, and more detailed atmospheric composition all the way around the planet,” Bell added. The scientists used Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) to measure light from the WASP-43 system every 10 seconds for more than 24 hours. “By observing over an entire orbit, we were able to calculate the temperature of different sides of the planet as they rotate into view,” Bell said. "The measurements show that the dayside has an average temperature of nearly 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,250 degrees Celsius) – hot enough to forge iron. Meanwhile, the nightside is significantly cooler at 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit (600 degrees Celsius)," the statement said. "The data also helps locate the hottest spot on the planet (the “hotspot”), which is shifted slightly eastward from the point that receives the most stellar radiation, where the star is highest in the planet’s sky. This shift occurs because of supersonic winds, which move heated air eastward," it added. Exoplanet discovered in 2011 WASP-43b was discovered in 2011. According to NASA, WASP-43b orbits a K-type star. The exoplanet was initially studied by the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. However, the JWST has now captured the finer details of its atmosphere. (With inputs from agencies)

James Webb Space Telescope  spots fierce winds on exoplanet WASP-43b

Chinese scientists claim to have discovered an anti-ageing component in the blood of young mice, with the longest surviving mouse in their research living for up to 1,266 days which are almost 120-130 years in human age.

According to a peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature Ageing, male mice aged 20 months, with a median lifetime of 840 days, received weekly injections of the blood component. The researchers reported a 22.7 per cent rise to a median of 1,031 days.

The injections also significantly reduced age-related functional deterioration in old mice, according to Zhang Chenyu, co-leader of the study.

Zhang claimed that public fears about other ethical issues, such as the possibility that young people's blood will be used immorally, were "exaggerated misconceptions." He stated that if the treatment is ever established, it will be given via medications and not via direct plasma exchange. This knowledge can help the development of simplified and targeted treatments.

According to corresponding author Chen Xi, who is also from Nanjing University, "what we are doing is showing at the cellular level what is actually working in the blood, what are the most potent rejuvenating factors."

According to the Chinese team, previous study has mostly focussed on the possible anti-aging capabilities of soluble protein components found in youthful blood.

Also read:&nbsp;<meta name="uuid" content="uuideh9WpNBTnM51" /><a href="http://wionews.com/science/accelerated-aging-heightens-cancer-risk-in-younger-population-study-709980" target="_blank">Accelerated ageing is heightening cancer risk in younger population: Study</a>

The study lasted seven years and involved data collecting from hundreds of mice. According to the researchers, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which are actively released by virtually all cell types and found in many bodily fluids, including blood, played an important role in correcting age-related degenerative alterations in older mice.

It is commonly established that sEVs transport nucleic acids and proteins across cells, hence enabling information transmission. The scientists reported that by recognising and using this process, they were able to observe greater survival periods than in previous studies on animals.

"[The 22.7 per cent increase in lifespan] is one of the longest records in the world," Chen said,&nbsp;adding that the mice in the most recent study were reasonably active at the end of their lives.

Chen stated that the research was only the beginning, with many scientific issues still to be solved before the discoveries can be clinically evaluated and developed into a medicine. Before any prospective cure is developed, trials must be conducted in large primates that are more similar to humans, he added. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese scientists claim to have discovered an anti-ageing component in the blood of young mice, with the longest surviving mouse in their research living for up to 1,266 days which are almost 120-130 years in human age.

Chinese scientists claim to have discovered an anti-ageing component in the blood of young mice, with the longest surviving mouse in their research living for up to 1,266 days which are almost 120-130 years in human age. According to a peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature Ageing, male mice aged 20 months, with a median lifetime of 840 days, received weekly injections of the blood component. The researchers reported a 22.7 per cent rise to a median of 1,031 days. The injections also significantly reduced age-related functional deterioration in old mice, according to Zhang Chenyu, co-leader of the study. Zhang claimed that public fears about other ethical issues, such as the possibility that young people's blood will be used immorally, were "exaggerated misconceptions." He stated that if the treatment is ever established, it will be given via medications and not via direct plasma exchange. This knowledge can help the development of simplified and targeted treatments. According to corresponding author Chen Xi, who is also from Nanjing University, "what we are doing is showing at the cellular level what is actually working in the blood, what are the most potent rejuvenating factors." According to the Chinese team, previous study has mostly focussed on the possible anti-aging capabilities of soluble protein components found in youthful blood. Also read: Accelerated ageing is heightening cancer risk in younger population: Study The study lasted seven years and involved data collecting from hundreds of mice. According to the researchers, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which are actively released by virtually all cell types and found in many bodily fluids, including blood, played an important role in correcting age-related degenerative alterations in older mice. It is commonly established that sEVs transport nucleic acids and proteins across cells, hence enabling information transmission. The scientists reported that by recognising and using this process, they were able to observe greater survival periods than in previous studies on animals. "[The 22.7 per cent increase in lifespan] is one of the longest records in the world," Chen said, adding that the mice in the most recent study were reasonably active at the end of their lives. Chen stated that the research was only the beginning, with many scientific issues still to be solved before the discoveries can be clinically evaluated and developed into a medicine. Before any prospective cure is developed, trials must be conducted in large primates that are more similar to humans, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese scientists find 'fountain of youth' in blood of young that can extend life up to 130 years

science

Science, News on Science, stories on Science, articles on Science, Science stories at Wion, Science news, Science latest news