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Air pollution might increase the risk and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), said a new study published in the journal of the International Neurotoxicology Association.

Air pollution might increase the risk and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), said a new study published in the journal of the International Neurotoxicology Association. What is obstructive sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep condition that impairs a person's breathing during the sleep. It occurs when a person's throat muscles relax and obstruct their airway, causing them to frequently cease breathing while they sleep. People with OSA have disturbed sleep and pauses in breathing while sleeping, all of which create low blood oxygen levels. These persons are sleepy during the day and have an increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. "These pathophysiological changes are known to contribute to the development and exacerbation of respiratory disorders. In the context of OSA, air pollution may aggravate upper airway inflammation and dysfunction, thereby increasing the propensity for airway collapse during sleep," the study said. According to the research, chronic exposure to high levels of air pollution can promote systemic inflammation or inflammation throughout the body, as well as oxidative stress, potentially leading to or aggravating upper airway dysfunction when sleeping. They discovered that air pollutants, particularly NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), may have a role in increasing OSA risk and severity, but "the evidence isn't definitive." "The findings suggest air pollutants, especially NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), might play a role in worsening OSA risk and severity, but the evidence isn't definitive. This highlights the variability of different pollutants' effects and the necessity for more research," the study read. Also read: Study finds every new memory you make harms brain cells The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 12 studies to gather and evaluate data on the association between air pollution and the risk and severity of OSA. "It is important to note that effects of air pollutants may vary based on the type of pollutant, duration of exposure, and individual susceptibility factors, including age, gender, and underlying health conditions," the study noted. According to the study's findings, figuring out the connection between certain pollutants and the likelihood and severity of OSA is critical for "shaping public health policies and clinical approaches to address OSA amidst high air pollution." (With inputs from agencies)

Study suggests air pollution could worsen sleep apnea risk and severity

According to research published in the journal Nature, every time we create a memory, it harms our brain sells. This is because each memory creation causes inflammation in the brain and DNA damage in nerve cells as the memories are 'fused' into neurons and preserved.

According to research published in the journal Nature, every time we create a memory, it harms our brain sells. This is because each memory creation causes inflammation in the brain and DNA damage in nerve cells as the memories are 'fused' into neurons and preserved. The memory formation process includes creating and fortifying connections between neurons, which allows information to be stored and retrieved later. However, this process harms the brain cells involved. According to the latest research, the act of remembering something for an extended period causes brain inflammation and DNA damage in nerve cells. Researchers conducted experiments on mice for the study and concluded that memory formation occurs within the hippocampus, a portion of the brain that is the major storage store for human memories and is essential to the process of remembering. "Inflammation of brain neurons is usually considered to be a bad thing since it can lead to neurological problems such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. But our findings suggest that inflammation in certain neurons in the brain's hippocampal region is essential for making long-lasting memories," neuroscientist Jelena Radulovic from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York told Science Alert. To stimulate their memory, the mice were given brief moderate electric shocks. A closer examination of the hippocampus neurons revealed gene activity in receptor pathways critical for inflammatory signalling. Also read: Spiders on Mars? ESA's Mars Express captures unique phenomenon on the red planet Furthermore, that pathway was exclusively active in neuron clusters that had DNA damage. While DNA breaks in the brain occur often, they are typically repaired relatively fast. However, in this case, the changes were bigger. The brain seemed to use processes usually used for making new cells to group neurons together for making memories, without actually making new cells. "This is noteworthy because we're constantly flooded by information, and the neurons that encode memories need to preserve the information they've already acquired and not be distracted by new inputs," said Jelena Radulovic.

Study finds every new memory you make harms brain cells

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has revealed the first-ever instances of HIV transmission because of cosmetic injections. A CDC report on Thursday (Apr 25) noted that three women were likely infected with the deadly autoimmune disease while receiving so-called 'vampire facials' at a spa in New Mexico.

<h2>How did Mexico spa infect women with HIV?</h2>

In 2018, the VIP Spa in Albuquerque was first linked to HIV, when a middle-aged woman tested positive for the disease.

The woman, who, as per NBC News, had no history of injectable drug use, sexual contact with someone with HIV, or recent blood transfusion, reported getting a vampire facial.

This, at the time, prompted the New Mexico Department of Health to offer free HIV testing to anyone who got injections at the facility. The spa was shut down after investigators "identified practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-sabres-to-spikes-this-prehistoric-fish-had-tusks-like-a-warthog-714775">THIS prehistoric fish was nearly 9 feet long and had giant sabres for teeth</a>

Now, the CDC has revealed that the spa did not have the appropriate license to operate.

During a joint investigation, the CDC, and the New Mexico Department of Health found problematic shreds of evidence of the spa skipping proper safety measures.

They found a rack of unlabelled tubes of blood on a kitchen counter, in the kitchen refrigerator, next to food and injectables like lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. Unwrapped syringes were also spotted in drawers, on counters, and in trash cans.

<h2>HIV cases reported due to the spa</h2>

Along with the woman whose HIV-positive result had led to the closure of the spa, two more middle-aged women were diagnosed with HIV in 2019 and 2023.&nbsp;

Another woman who got a vampire facial at the spa in 2018 also tested positive for HIV.&nbsp;

The CDC and Health Department investigation has determined that as many as 59 spa clients may have been exposed to HIV at the spa. Of these, 20 received a vampire spa, while the rest received injections for services like Botox.

However, as per investigators, the original source of the HIV contamination at the spa remains unknown.

Owners of the VIP Spa in 2022 had pleaded guilty to five felony counts of practising medicine without a license and were sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-gibberish-to-clarity-voyager-1-ends-radio-silence-thanks-to-nasa-engineers-ingenious-repair-714089">Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth</a>

<h2>What is a vampire facial?</h2>

The so-called vampire facials have recently become a rage across the globe. These cosmetic procedures supposedly plump up sagging skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars or wrinkles. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there is little evidence that the procedure can do that.

The procedure involves drawing out blood, separating the plasma and then injecting it into the face using tiny needles. As per AAD, vampire facials appear to be safe as long as blood is handled properly.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has revealed the first-ever instances of HIV transmission because of cosmetic injections. A CDC report on Thursday (Apr 25) noted that three women were likely infected with the deadly autoimmune disease while receiving so-called 'vampire facials' at a spa in New Mexico.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has revealed the first-ever instances of HIV transmission because of cosmetic injections. A CDC report on Thursday (Apr 25) noted that three women were likely infected with the deadly autoimmune disease while receiving so-called 'vampire facials' at a spa in New Mexico. How did Mexico spa infect women with HIV? In 2018, the VIP Spa in Albuquerque was first linked to HIV, when a middle-aged woman tested positive for the disease. The woman, who, as per NBC News, had no history of injectable drug use, sexual contact with someone with HIV, or recent blood transfusion, reported getting a vampire facial. This, at the time, prompted the New Mexico Department of Health to offer free HIV testing to anyone who got injections at the facility. The spa was shut down after investigators "identified practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections." Also read | THIS prehistoric fish was nearly 9 feet long and had giant sabres for teeth Now, the CDC has revealed that the spa did not have the appropriate license to operate. During a joint investigation, the CDC, and the New Mexico Department of Health found problematic shreds of evidence of the spa skipping proper safety measures. They found a rack of unlabelled tubes of blood on a kitchen counter, in the kitchen refrigerator, next to food and injectables like lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. Unwrapped syringes were also spotted in drawers, on counters, and in trash cans. HIV cases reported due to the spa Along with the woman whose HIV-positive result had led to the closure of the spa, two more middle-aged women were diagnosed with HIV in 2019 and 2023. Another woman who got a vampire facial at the spa in 2018 also tested positive for HIV. The CDC and Health Department investigation has determined that as many as 59 spa clients may have been exposed to HIV at the spa. Of these, 20 received a vampire spa, while the rest received injections for services like Botox. However, as per investigators, the original source of the HIV contamination at the spa remains unknown. Owners of the VIP Spa in 2022 had pleaded guilty to five felony counts of practising medicine without a license and were sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Also read | Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth What is a vampire facial? The so-called vampire facials have recently become a rage across the globe. These cosmetic procedures supposedly plump up sagging skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars or wrinkles. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there is little evidence that the procedure can do that. The procedure involves drawing out blood, separating the plasma and then injecting it into the face using tiny needles. As per AAD, vampire facials appear to be safe as long as blood is handled properly. (With inputs from agencies)

'Vampire facials' lead to women catching HIV; CDC reports cases of transmission via cosmetic procedures

Mars was snapped with a swarm of “spiders” spread across its southern polar region, as captured by ESA’s Mars Express. The photos show a huge number of spiders walking in groups over the surface of Mars. But these weren’t actual spiders,&nbsp;rather a unique feature on the red planet.

The small, dark features on Mars are formed when spring sunshine falls on the layers of carbon dioxide that are deposited over the dark winter months.&nbsp;

Take a closer look at the Martian surface here.&nbsp;
<img alt="Spider phenomenon on Mars" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5b386e59-a288-4251-9e7e-aff1a4855bf4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/signs-of-spider-phenom-3.jpg" />
&nbsp;

The sunlight causes carbon dioxide ice at the bottom of the layer to turn into gas, which subsequently builds up and breaks through slabs of overlying ice. The gas then bursts free during springtime on Mars, dragging dark material up to the surface&nbsp;and shattering&nbsp;layers of ice up to a meter thick.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-is-working-towards-dealing-with-space-debris-after-tiangong-space-station-was-damaged-by-debris-strike-714740">Tiangong space station damaged by space debris strike, China working on clean-up</a>

“The emerging gas, laden with dark dust, shoots up through cracks in the ice in the form of tall fountains or geysers, before falling back down and settling on the surface. This creates dark spots between 45 m and 1 km across. This same process creates characteristic ‘spider-shaped’ patterns etched beneath the ice,” explained ESA’s official website.&nbsp;

These dark spots can be seen everywhere on the Mars Express image released by ESA. However, most can be seen as small spots in the dark region to the left, which sits just on the outskirts of a part of Mars nicknamed Inca City. The reason this region was named Inca City was because it features a linear and geometric network of ridges, almost similar to Inca ruins. It was discovered in 1972 by NASA’s Mariner 9 probe.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/huge-fossilised-footprint-of-dinosaur-found-in-china-belongs-to-a-megaraptor-714852">Huge fossilised footprint of dinosaur found in China belongs to a megaraptor</a>

Scientists are still not sure how Inca City was formed, but it is believed that sand dunes could have turned to stone over a period of time. The material inside it, probably magma or sand, is seeping through fractured sheets of Martian rock.&nbsp;

Towards the middle section of the image, the landscape changes somewhat, with large roundish and oval swirls creating an effect reminiscent of marble. This effect is thought to occur when layered deposits are worn away over time.

The ground towards the right (north) becomes increasingly covered in smooth, light-colour dust. Some signs of spiders can be seen scattered across the plateaus there as well.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mars was snapped with a swarm of “spiders” spread across its southern polar region, as captured by ESA’s Mars Express. The photos show a huge number of spiders walking in groups over the surface of Mars.

Mars was snapped with a swarm of “spiders” spread across its southern polar region, as captured by ESA’s Mars Express. The photos show a huge number of spiders walking in groups over the surface of Mars. But these weren’t actual spiders, rather a unique feature on the red planet. The small, dark features on Mars are formed when spring sunshine falls on the layers of carbon dioxide that are deposited over the dark winter months. Take a closer look at the Martian surface here. The sunlight causes carbon dioxide ice at the bottom of the layer to turn into gas, which subsequently builds up and breaks through slabs of overlying ice. The gas then bursts free during springtime on Mars, dragging dark material up to the surface and shattering layers of ice up to a meter thick. Also Read | Tiangong space station damaged by space debris strike, China working on clean-up “The emerging gas, laden with dark dust, shoots up through cracks in the ice in the form of tall fountains or geysers, before falling back down and settling on the surface. This creates dark spots between 45 m and 1 km across. This same process creates characteristic ‘spider-shaped’ patterns etched beneath the ice,” explained ESA’s official website. These dark spots can be seen everywhere on the Mars Express image released by ESA. However, most can be seen as small spots in the dark region to the left, which sits just on the outskirts of a part of Mars nicknamed Inca City. The reason this region was named Inca City was because it features a linear and geometric network of ridges, almost similar to Inca ruins. It was discovered in 1972 by NASA’s Mariner 9 probe. Also Read | Huge fossilised footprint of dinosaur found in China belongs to a megaraptor Scientists are still not sure how Inca City was formed, but it is believed that sand dunes could have turned to stone over a period of time. The material inside it, probably magma or sand, is seeping through fractured sheets of Martian rock. Towards the middle section of the image, the landscape changes somewhat, with large roundish and oval swirls creating an effect reminiscent of marble. This effect is thought to occur when layered deposits are worn away over time. The ground towards the right (north) becomes increasingly covered in smooth, light-colour dust. Some signs of spiders can be seen scattered across the plateaus there as well. (With inputs from agencies)

Spiders on Mars? European mission captures weird black spots near Inca City

A large study investigating mortality differences based on sexual orientation reveals that bisexual women face a 37 per cent higher risk of premature death compared to heterosexual women, while lesbian women have a 20 per cent&nbsp;higher risk.

This study, distinguishing between lesbian and bisexual women for the first time, sheds light on longstanding health disparities among sexual minority women.

While previous research documented health inequalities between sexual minority women and heterosexual women, limited research has explored mortality differences, especially among various subgroups within the sexual minority community.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ugandan-court-upholds-harsh-anti-lgbtq-law-but-says-some-rights-infringed-707339">Also read |&nbsp;Ugandan court upholds harsh anti-LGBTQ law but says some rights infringed</a>

The latest research, led by scientists from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute along with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University of Utah, Boston Children's Hospital, and Columbia University, highlights major health gaps that result in significant differences in death rates.

Sarah McKetta, the main researcher and a Research Fellow at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, stresses the urgent importance of tackling preventable reasons behind the differences in health based on sexual orientation. This is especially crucial given the increasingly unwelcoming policies towards LGBTQ people in the US

Dr McKetta also points out that LGBTQ individuals encounter specific types of discrimination and prejudice, which can lead to various negative effects. These societal challenges result in long-term stress and harmful coping methods, making this group more prone to health problems and early death.

Also watch |&nbsp;Vatican says 'no' to sex changes, gender theory

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The study's ability to analyse results based on different sexual orientation groups is seen as a major strength by researchers. Brittany Charlton, a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, points out the unique challenges bisexual women face, both within and outside the LGBTQ community, due to biphobia.

Charlton also mentions that bisexual people often feel excluded from certain groups because others make assumptions about their sexuality based on their partner's gender.

The higher risk of early death among bisexual women is worrying, highlighting the need for specific actions to reduce these differences among all sexual minority groups.

(With inputs from agencies)

A large study investigating mortality differences based on sexual orientation reveals that bisexual women face a 37 per cent higher risk of premature death compared to heterosexual women, while lesbian women have a 20 per cent higher risk.

A large study investigating mortality differences based on sexual orientation reveals that bisexual women face a 37 per cent higher risk of premature death compared to heterosexual women, while lesbian women have a 20 per cent higher risk. This study, distinguishing between lesbian and bisexual women for the first time, sheds light on longstanding health disparities among sexual minority women. While previous research documented health inequalities between sexual minority women and heterosexual women, limited research has explored mortality differences, especially among various subgroups within the sexual minority community. Also read | Ugandan court upholds harsh anti-LGBTQ law but says some rights infringed The latest research, led by scientists from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute along with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University of Utah, Boston Children's Hospital, and Columbia University, highlights major health gaps that result in significant differences in death rates. Sarah McKetta, the main researcher and a Research Fellow at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, stresses the urgent importance of tackling preventable reasons behind the differences in health based on sexual orientation. This is especially crucial given the increasingly unwelcoming policies towards LGBTQ people in the US Dr McKetta also points out that LGBTQ individuals encounter specific types of discrimination and prejudice, which can lead to various negative effects. These societal challenges result in long-term stress and harmful coping methods, making this group more prone to health problems and early death. Also watch | Vatican says 'no' to sex changes, gender theory The study's ability to analyse results based on different sexual orientation groups is seen as a major strength by researchers. Brittany Charlton, a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, points out the unique challenges bisexual women face, both within and outside the LGBTQ community, due to biphobia. Charlton also mentions that bisexual people often feel excluded from certain groups because others make assumptions about their sexuality based on their partner's gender. The higher risk of early death among bisexual women is worrying, highlighting the need for specific actions to reduce these differences among all sexual minority groups. (With inputs from agencies)

Study: Lesbian and bisexual women at higher mortality risk due to 'toxic' social stigma

Following years of delays and numerous setbacks during test flights, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is finally set to make its inaugural crew launch.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two of NASA's most seasoned astronauts, will be the pilots of the Crew Flight Test mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

The two veteran astronauts will travel to and from the International Space Station, marking what could be a historic and long-awaited victory for the beleaguered Starliner programme.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spiders-on-mars-esas-mars-express-captures-unique-phenomenon-on-the-red-planet-714917">Spiders on Mars? European mission captures weird black spots near Inca City</a>

“We love the Kennedy Space Center because this is where you launch humans into space," Butch Wilmore told reporters and added, "In less than two weeks, the next flight we take we'll be laying on our backs and (launching) into the heavens."

"This is where the rubber meets the road, where we are going to leave this planet, and that is pretty darn cool,” said Sunita Williams.

Notably, Sunita Williams is going to the International Space Station after 12 years. Williams boasts a seasoned career with two previous space missions under her belt — Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.

On Thursday (Apr 25), NASA and Boeing gave the go-ahead for a launch attempt within the next two weeks. But officials are stressing flexibility.&nbsp;

“May 6th is the target, but liftoff will only happen when everything is ready,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-asteroid-kamooalewa-is-likely-the-second-moon-which-once-belonged-to-our-moon-714140">This asteroid orbits the Sun, left a massive crater on Moon, but without ever hitting it</a>

This successful mission would mark a major milestone. Boeing's Starliner would join SpaceX's Crew Dragon in carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station, ensuring a reliable flow of crew for the orbiting lab.

“This is history in the making,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said of the upcoming Starliner mission during a news conference, “We’re now in the golden era of space exploration.”

Watch:&nbsp;Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams set for third space mission

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Astronauts Wilmore and Williams, both ex-Navy test pilots aim to dock at the space station on May 8th. If their mission goes well, they'll return to Earth around May 15th.&nbsp;

A successful mission paves the way for regular Starliner crew rotations starting in 2025, with launches alternating between Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon. This would provide NASA with a robust two-company system for ferrying astronauts to the station.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-asteroid-kamooalewa-is-likely-the-second-moon-which-once-belonged-to-our-moon-714140">This asteroid orbits the Sun, left a massive crater on Moon, but without ever hitting it</a>

SpaceX and Boeing developed their individual vehicles under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, a partnership with private industry contractors.&nbsp;

Since the beginning, NASA's plan was to have both SpaceX and Boeing operational. This means their Crew Dragon and Starliner capsules would act as backups for each other. In case of technical problems or delays with one spacecraft, astronauts could still launch on the other. This two-capsule system provides redundancy and ensures a more reliable path to space for NASA's crews.

NASA at first did not envision that SpaceX’s Crew Dragon would function on its own for nearly four years before Boeing’s Starliner reached its first crewed test flight.

Earlier in 2014, when NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing, the space agency initially leaned towards Boeing as it has&nbsp;been a trusted partner since the mid-20th century. However, SpaceX on the other hand, was a young and ambitious company, seen by some at NASA as a bit of a gamble.

(With inputs from agencies)

Following years of delays and numerous setbacks during test flights, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is finally set to make its inaugural crew launch. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two of NASA's most seasoned astronauts, will be the pilots of the Crew Flight Test mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Following years of delays and numerous setbacks during test flights, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is finally set to make its inaugural crew launch. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two of NASA's most seasoned astronauts, will be the pilots of the Crew Flight Test mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The two veteran astronauts will travel to and from the International Space Station, marking what could be a historic and long-awaited victory for the beleaguered Starliner programme. Also read: Spiders on Mars? European mission captures weird black spots near Inca City “We love the Kennedy Space Center because this is where you launch humans into space," Butch Wilmore told reporters and added, "In less than two weeks, the next flight we take we'll be laying on our backs and (launching) into the heavens." "This is where the rubber meets the road, where we are going to leave this planet, and that is pretty darn cool,” said Sunita Williams. Notably, Sunita Williams is going to the International Space Station after 12 years. Williams boasts a seasoned career with two previous space missions under her belt — Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33. On Thursday (Apr 25), NASA and Boeing gave the go-ahead for a launch attempt within the next two weeks. But officials are stressing flexibility. “May 6th is the target, but liftoff will only happen when everything is ready,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate. Also read: This asteroid orbits the Sun, left a massive crater on Moon, but without ever hitting it This successful mission would mark a major milestone. Boeing's Starliner would join SpaceX's Crew Dragon in carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station, ensuring a reliable flow of crew for the orbiting lab. “This is history in the making,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said of the upcoming Starliner mission during a news conference, “We’re now in the golden era of space exploration.” Watch: Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams set for third space mission × Astronauts Wilmore and Williams, both ex-Navy test pilots aim to dock at the space station on May 8th. If their mission goes well, they'll return to Earth around May 15th. A successful mission paves the way for regular Starliner crew rotations starting in 2025, with launches alternating between Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon. This would provide NASA with a robust two-company system for ferrying astronauts to the station. Also read: This asteroid orbits the Sun, left a massive crater on Moon, but without ever hitting it SpaceX and Boeing developed their individual vehicles under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, a partnership with private industry contractors. Since the beginning, NASA's plan was to have both SpaceX and Boeing operational. This means their Crew Dragon and Starliner capsules would act as backups for each other. In case of technical problems or delays with one spacecraft, astronauts could still launch on the other. This two-capsule system provides redundancy and ensures a more reliable path to space for NASA's crews. NASA at first did not envision that SpaceX’s Crew Dragon would function on its own for nearly four years before Boeing’s Starliner reached its first crewed test flight. Earlier in 2014, when NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing, the space agency initially leaned towards Boeing as it has been a trusted partner since the mid-20th century. However, SpaceX on the other hand, was a young and ambitious company, seen by some at NASA as a bit of a gamble. (With inputs from agencies)

Sunita Williams set to pilot Starliner spacecraft for her first trip to ISS in 12 years

Doctors have started trials on hundreds of patients for the world's first personalised mRNA cancer vaccine for melanoma, with experts praising its potential to revolutionise cancer treatment by offering a permanent cure.

Melanoma, the leading cause of skin cancer deaths globally, affects approximately 132,000 people annually. Although surgery is the primary treatment, other options such as radiotherapy, medications, and chemotherapy are also used.

The new vaccines being tested are individually tailored for each patient, instructing their immune system to target cancer cells and prevent the disease from recurring.

A phase 2 trial showed significant reduction in the risk of melanoma recurrence among patients who received the vaccines. A final phase 3 trial, led by the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), has now started.&nbsp;

Dr Heather Shaw, who oversees the trial nationally, told the Guardian that these shots could potentially cure melanoma and are also being tested for other cancers like lung, bladder, and kidney cancer.&nbsp;

“This is one of the most exciting things we’ve seen in a really long time,” said Shaw. “This is a really finely honed tool. To be able to sit there and say to your patients that you’re offering them something that’s effectively like the Fat Duck at Bray versus McDonald’s – it’s that level of cordon bleu that’s coming to them … The patients are really excited about them,” he said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/understanding-why-cancer-rates-are-rising-among-younger-generations-689181">Also read |&nbsp;Understanding why cancer rates are rising among younger generations</a>

<h2>How does it work?</h2>

The vaccine, called mRNA-4157 (V940), is a personalised treatment that&nbsp;activates the immune system to fight a patient's specific cancer.

It targets tumour neoantigens, which are unique markers found on tumours and can be recognised by the immune system.

The vaccine contains coding for up to 34 neoantigens and triggers an immune response against the tumour based on the specific mutations present in the patient's cancer.

To personalise the vaccine, a sample of the tumour is taken during surgery, followed by DNA sequencing and analysis using artificial intelligence. This process creates a tailored anti-cancer vaccine that matches the patient's tumour.

In Phase 2, data showed that patients with serious high-risk melanomas who received the vaccine along with Keytruda were almost half as likely to die or have their cancer return after three years compared to those who only received Keytruda.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-use-ai-to-ensure-tumor-cells-do-not-survive-after-cancer-treatment-707871">Also read |&nbsp;Scientists use AI to ensure tumour cells do not survive after cancer treatment</a>

Patients got 1mg of the mRNA vaccine every three weeks for up to nine doses, and 200mg of Keytruda every three weeks for about a year (up to 18 doses).

Now, in Phase 3, the global trial will include more patients, aiming for about 1,100. The UK part of the trial aims to enroll at least 60 to 70 patients across eight centres, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Leeds.

(With inputs from agencies)

Doctors have started trials on hundreds of patients for the world's first personalised mRNA cancer vaccine for melanoma, with experts praising its potential to revolutionise cancer treatment by offering a permanent cure.

Doctors have started trials on hundreds of patients for the world's first personalised mRNA cancer vaccine for melanoma, with experts praising its potential to revolutionise cancer treatment by offering a permanent cure. Melanoma, the leading cause of skin cancer deaths globally, affects approximately 132,000 people annually. Although surgery is the primary treatment, other options such as radiotherapy, medications, and chemotherapy are also used. The new vaccines being tested are individually tailored for each patient, instructing their immune system to target cancer cells and prevent the disease from recurring. A phase 2 trial showed significant reduction in the risk of melanoma recurrence among patients who received the vaccines. A final phase 3 trial, led by the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), has now started. Dr Heather Shaw, who oversees the trial nationally, told the Guardian that these shots could potentially cure melanoma and are also being tested for other cancers like lung, bladder, and kidney cancer. “This is one of the most exciting things we’ve seen in a really long time,” said Shaw. “This is a really finely honed tool. To be able to sit there and say to your patients that you’re offering them something that’s effectively like the Fat Duck at Bray versus McDonald’s – it’s that level of cordon bleu that’s coming to them … The patients are really excited about them,” he said. Also read | Understanding why cancer rates are rising among younger generations How does it work? The vaccine, called mRNA-4157 (V940), is a personalised treatment that activates the immune system to fight a patient's specific cancer. It targets tumour neoantigens, which are unique markers found on tumours and can be recognised by the immune system. The vaccine contains coding for up to 34 neoantigens and triggers an immune response against the tumour based on the specific mutations present in the patient's cancer. To personalise the vaccine, a sample of the tumour is taken during surgery, followed by DNA sequencing and analysis using artificial intelligence. This process creates a tailored anti-cancer vaccine that matches the patient's tumour. In Phase 2, data showed that patients with serious high-risk melanomas who received the vaccine along with Keytruda were almost half as likely to die or have their cancer return after three years compared to those who only received Keytruda. Also read | Scientists use AI to ensure tumour cells do not survive after cancer treatment Patients got 1mg of the mRNA vaccine every three weeks for up to nine doses, and 200mg of Keytruda every three weeks for about a year (up to 18 doses). Now, in Phase 3, the global trial will include more patients, aiming for about 1,100. The UK part of the trial aims to enroll at least 60 to 70 patients across eight centres, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Leeds. (With inputs from agencies)

Ultimate cure to cancer? World’s first personalised mRNA cancer vaccine for melanoma undergoing trials

Traces of hundreds of monuments, which were previously unknown, have been identified in an archaeological survey. Amongst these monuments, five of them have been found to be "incredibly rare" prehistoric structures which once may have the hidden "routes for the dead" into the afterlife.

Traces of hundreds of monuments, which were previously unknown, have been identified in an archaeological survey. Amongst these monuments, five of them have been found to be "incredibly rare" prehistoric structures which once may have the hidden "routes for the dead" into the afterlife. The survey was conducted by the University of Aberdeen Department of Archaeology's James O'Driscoll, with the use of LiDAR technology. O'Driscoll carried out the survey in the Baltinglass landscape of County Wicklow, Ireland which is dotted with prehistoric remains and the results were published in the journal Antiquity. LiDAR is a type of remote-sensing method in which laser pulses are fired towards the ground to generate 3D models of a specific landscape. Also Read: Archaeologists discover long-lost 5,000-year-old copper age cemetery in Italy The method is useful in mapping the topography of the land and also revealing any hidden man-made features which is generally not visible to the naked eyes. Speaking to Newsweek, the researcher said, "I have been working on the Baltinglass landscape for over a decade. It formed the core component of my PhD." "While my PhD focused on targeted geophysical and remote sensing surveys and excavations, what was sorely missing was a large-scale topographical model of the landscape, which would not only help to knit together all of the research that had previously been undertaken, but also help to discover new archaeological sites that were either hidden under trees and scrub overgrowth, or had been mostly levelled by thousands of years of ploughing," he added. Discovery of five 'cursus' monuments The survey's "most significant" findings were a group of five unknown "cursus" monuments. Cursuses are a type of monumental Neolithic structures which are similar to ditches or trenches and are found in the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These prehistoric monuments generally have long and relatively narrow earthwork enclosures. "The discovery of the cursus monuments is particularly significant, as these are incredibly rare in Ireland," said O'Driscoll. "There are less than 20 recorded cursus monuments in Ireland, and they typically occur in isolation or pairs. This makes the identification of five examples in Baltinglass the largest cluster of these sites in the country—but also, the detailed topographical model of the sites and their surrounding landscape provided an opportunity to 'digitally' investigate these monuments in detail," he added. Watch: Mount Etna puffs out 'smoke rings' | Alaska to break snow record The archaeologist, using his new data, was able to observe that at least four of the five newly identified cursus monuments were built in alignment with important solar events. He added that these solar events are related to farming cycles, along with death and rebirth which emphasised the purpose of these mysterious monuments. O'Driscoll hinted that the monuments may have symbolised the walking of the dead towards the heavens. "The function of these types of monuments has always been a thorny topic, as we simply don't have enough information. But given that some of the Baltinglass sites can also be linked with burial monuments, this suggested to me that they may have been ceremonial monuments used in burial practices, where the cursus marked the physical route in which the dead moved from the living into the afterlife," said O'Driscoll. (With inputs from agencies)

THESE five monuments in Ireland may have 'routes for dead' into afterlife, archaeologists suggest

The legendary Hubble Space Telescope, known for producing stunning images of the cosmos, has completed 34 years in orbit. Hubble Space Telescope has helped scientists prove that our universe is 13.

The legendary Hubble Space Telescope, known for producing stunning images of the cosmos, has completed 34 years in orbit. Hubble Space Telescope has helped scientists prove that our universe is 13.7 billion years old and that many galaxies host humongous black holes at their centres. The spaceborne eye also helped scientists map the mysterious substance dark matter in 3D. NASA's Hubble Mission team stated, "Most of Hubble's discoveries were not anticipated before launch. The space telescope is the most scientifically productive space astrophysics mission in NASA history. The demand for using Hubble is so high it is currently oversubscribed by a factor of six-to-one." On the 34th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers revealed a fresh picture of the Dumbbell Nebula or M76, Space.com reported. It is a two-lobed, expanding shell of gas shed by a dying star at the centre. M76 resembles "a balloon that's been pinched around a middle waist." It's located 3,400 light-years from Earth in the constellation Perseus. Moreover, a glowing ring of gas and dust ejected by the central star when it runs out of fuel borders it. ALSO READ | 'Vampire facials' lead to women catching HIV; CDC reports cases of transmission via cosmetic procedures The star's temperature exceeds 130,000 degrees Celsius (250,000 degrees Fahrenheit), making it one of the hottest known stellar remnants. It is roughly 24 times the temperature of our Sun's surface. The Hubble image shows the outer layers form a dumbbell-shaped ring around the star, which hosts a myriad of dense knots of gas and dust ranging from 17 billion kilometres to 56 billion kilometres. Each knot has as much mass as three whole Earths. While there's a chance that the binary star might have shaped the ring, the companion star isn't visible in the Hubble images. A theory by NASA suggests that the central star might've consumed the shredded invisible star. However, despite being classified as a "planetary nebula," the M76 has no association with any known planets. The Hubble Space Telescope is right above Earth's atmosphere, orbiting our planet roughly 320 miles (515 km) above the ground. However, NASA has boosted the telescope into slightly higher orbits several times to keep it from gradually being dragged into the Earth's atmosphere. According to NASA, the telescope will operate until at least the late 2020s. The agency plans to attach a propulsion module to the telescope, enabling a controlled re-entry into the Pacific Ocean or elevate it into a higher orbit to keep it above during the next decade. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA marks 34th anniversary of Hubble Space Telescope by unveiling stunning images of Dumbbell Nebula

As per a new study, a massive prehistoric salmon that went extinct millions of years ago had tusk-like teeth that protruded from either side of its face.

The study published in the journal PLOS One shows that the fish had teeth that projected sideways and resembled the tusks of a warthog.

<h2>Oncorhynchus rastrosus aka massive 'sabre-toothed salmon'</h2>

The fish called 'Oncorhynchus rastrosus' as per scientists, was the largest ever to live on Earth. By some estimates, it could reach enormous lengths of up to 8.8 feet (2.68 metres).&nbsp;

This is more than double the size of the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), the largest salmon alive today — it typically grows around three feet (0.9 meters) long.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-gibberish-to-clarity-voyager-1-ends-radio-silence-thanks-to-nasa-engineers-ingenious-repair-714089">Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth</a>

It stalked the seas and streams of the Micone epoch — a time interval of global warmth, relative to today — about five million years ago.

<h2>Exceptional chompers</h2>

Oncorhynchus rastrosus had exceptional teeth, which have long intrigued scientists.&nbsp;

The fish was first discovered in 1972. Based on the anatomy of fossilised skulls, researchers back then believed that the salmon's teeth curved downward, similar to that of sabre-toothed cats. This led to the fish commonly being called the "sabre-toothed salmon".

However, CT scans of some newer fossils confirmed that the around two-inch long curved teeth were more like spikes or a warthog's tusks.

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/two-lifeforms-merge-into-one-organism-in-a-phenomenon-that-occurs-once-in-a-billion-years-714121">Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years</a>

While the scientists are not sure what these tusks were used for, they believe that these were used to fight off other salmons or predators. Other theories suggest that females of the species might have used them to dig nests for their eggs, or possibly to help both sexes swim upstream to reproduce.

In a conversation with PopSci, study co-author and University of Oregon palaeobiologist Edward Davis speculated that when swimming upstream, "they could maybe hook the spikes on something and take a rest without having to use any energy."

"It's sort of like if you're holding on to the side of the swimming pool."

As the Earth cooled in the late Miocene, Oncorhynchus rastrosus went extinct. Climate change probably led to a decrease in resources, making it difficult for them to maintain their large bodies.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

As per a new study, a massive prehistoric salmon that went extinct millions of years ago had tusk-like teeth that protruded from either side of its face. The study published in the journal PLOS One shows that the fish had teeth that projected sideways and resembled the tusks of a warthog.

As per a new study, a massive prehistoric salmon that went extinct millions of years ago had tusk-like teeth that protruded from either side of its face. The study published in the journal PLOS One shows that the fish had teeth that projected sideways and resembled the tusks of a warthog. Oncorhynchus rastrosus aka massive 'sabre-toothed salmon' The fish called 'Oncorhynchus rastrosus' as per scientists, was the largest ever to live on Earth. By some estimates, it could reach enormous lengths of up to 8.8 feet (2.68 metres). This is more than double the size of the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), the largest salmon alive today — it typically grows around three feet (0.9 meters) long. Also read | Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth It stalked the seas and streams of the Micone epoch — a time interval of global warmth, relative to today — about five million years ago. Exceptional chompers Oncorhynchus rastrosus had exceptional teeth, which have long intrigued scientists. The fish was first discovered in 1972. Based on the anatomy of fossilised skulls, researchers back then believed that the salmon's teeth curved downward, similar to that of sabre-toothed cats. This led to the fish commonly being called the "sabre-toothed salmon". However, CT scans of some newer fossils confirmed that the around two-inch long curved teeth were more like spikes or a warthog's tusks. Also read | Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years While the scientists are not sure what these tusks were used for, they believe that these were used to fight off other salmons or predators. Other theories suggest that females of the species might have used them to dig nests for their eggs, or possibly to help both sexes swim upstream to reproduce. In a conversation with PopSci, study co-author and University of Oregon palaeobiologist Edward Davis speculated that when swimming upstream, "they could maybe hook the spikes on something and take a rest without having to use any energy." "It's sort of like if you're holding on to the side of the swimming pool." As the Earth cooled in the late Miocene, Oncorhynchus rastrosus went extinct. Climate change probably led to a decrease in resources, making it difficult for them to maintain their large bodies. (With inputs from agencies)

THIS prehistoric fish was nearly 9 feet long and had giant sabres for teeth

China’s Tiangong space station reportedly suffered a partial loss of power due to a space debris strike, state media reported. The incident took place during one of the spacewalks by astronauts of the Shenzhou 17 mission on March 1.&nbsp;

The space station, operated by China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), suffered a partial but minor loss of power supply after the outpost’s solar panels were damaged by space debris.&nbsp;

Even after experiencing glitches in the space station, spacewalks were a success, said CMSA on Wednesday in a press conference. The agency will look forward to guarding the space station from future space debris-related mishaps, reported Chinese state media.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-gibberish-to-clarity-voyager-1-ends-radio-silence-thanks-to-nasa-engineers-ingenious-repair-714089">Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth</a>

"The space station's core module Tianhe had suffered a partial loss of power supply due to the impact of the space debris on the solar wing's power cables," Xinhua news agency reported, paraphrasing CMSA deputy director Lin Xiqiang.

Though Xinhua did not specify if the debris was from micro-meteoroids or from human-made structures in space, both pose threats to permanently crewed space stations like Tiangong and the International Space Station (ISS).

<h2>Space debris is a menace to space stations. How is China tackling this?&nbsp;</h2>

Many reports by NASA show that human-generated orbital space debris is growing and would be the next biggest challenge for space companies.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks more than 43,000 overall space objects as of April 2024, according to SpaceTrack.org.

There are more than 7500 active satellites in space right now, as per the Union for Concerned Scientists, most of them which are part of SpaceX’s giant Starlink network.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/debris-from-rare-super-explosion-on-sun-with-four-solar-flares-erupting-simultaneously-likely-to-hit-earth-714467">Debris from rare 'super' explosion on Sun with four solar flares erupting simultaneously likely to hit Earth</a>

Removing space debris is a difficult task. Instead, ISS controllers had to remove the space station out of the way of the debris. This is not an easy task either, as the guidelines for doing this are strict.&nbsp; A manoeuvre is mandated if any debris arrives in a "pizza box" roughly 2.5 miles by 30 miles by 30 miles (4 by 50 by 50 kilometres) with the ISS at the centre, according to agency officials.

With the help of NORAD, the ISS controllers have done this more than 30 times since its first modules launched in 1998.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;China's Tiangong space station faces equipment delay from India

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China's space station also has "executed manoeuvres on multiple occasions to evade space debris impacts", according to the Xinhua report, and Lin discussed several measures the CMSA is taking to prevent future issues.&nbsp;

"China has enhanced its capability to precisely forecast the orbits of the space station and small low-orbit targets, optimized the procedures for space collision warning and avoidance, and reduced the false alarm rate by 30%, according to Lin," Xinhua wrote, without revealing specifics.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-mars-seeping-methane-nasa-scientists-explain-the-gass-unusual-behaviour-on-the-red-planets-gale-crater-714545">Is Mars seeping on methane? NASA scientists explain unusual behaviour of gas on the Red Planet's Gale Crater</a>

China is also planning to include more video-based scrutiny of Tiangong, like using a high-definition camera on its robotic arm and tasking the Shenzhou 18 crew to put in more reinforcements.

The Shenzhou 18 mission is scheduled to launch on April 25.&nbsp;

The crew of the mission will be tasked “with installing space debris protection reinforcements for extravehicular piping, cables and critical equipment during their extravehicular activities," Xinhua reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

China’s Tiangong space station reportedly suffered a partial loss of power due to a space debris strike, state media reported. The incident took place during one of the spacewalks by astronauts of the Shenzhou 17 mission on March 1.

China’s Tiangong space station reportedly suffered a partial loss of power due to a space debris strike, state media reported. The incident took place during one of the spacewalks by astronauts of the Shenzhou 17 mission on March 1. The space station, operated by China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), suffered a partial but minor loss of power supply after the outpost’s solar panels were damaged by space debris. Even after experiencing glitches in the space station, spacewalks were a success, said CMSA on Wednesday in a press conference. The agency will look forward to guarding the space station from future space debris-related mishaps, reported Chinese state media. Also Read | Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth "The space station's core module Tianhe had suffered a partial loss of power supply due to the impact of the space debris on the solar wing's power cables," Xinhua news agency reported, paraphrasing CMSA deputy director Lin Xiqiang. Though Xinhua did not specify if the debris was from micro-meteoroids or from human-made structures in space, both pose threats to permanently crewed space stations like Tiangong and the International Space Station (ISS). Space debris is a menace to space stations. How is China tackling this? Many reports by NASA show that human-generated orbital space debris is growing and would be the next biggest challenge for space companies. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks more than 43,000 overall space objects as of April 2024, according to SpaceTrack.org. There are more than 7500 active satellites in space right now, as per the Union for Concerned Scientists, most of them which are part of SpaceX’s giant Starlink network. Also Read | Debris from rare 'super' explosion on Sun with four solar flares erupting simultaneously likely to hit Earth Removing space debris is a difficult task. Instead, ISS controllers had to remove the space station out of the way of the debris. This is not an easy task either, as the guidelines for doing this are strict. A manoeuvre is mandated if any debris arrives in a "pizza box" roughly 2.5 miles by 30 miles by 30 miles (4 by 50 by 50 kilometres) with the ISS at the centre, according to agency officials. With the help of NORAD, the ISS controllers have done this more than 30 times since its first modules launched in 1998. Watch | China's Tiangong space station faces equipment delay from India × China's space station also has "executed manoeuvres on multiple occasions to evade space debris impacts", according to the Xinhua report, and Lin discussed several measures the CMSA is taking to prevent future issues. "China has enhanced its capability to precisely forecast the orbits of the space station and small low-orbit targets, optimized the procedures for space collision warning and avoidance, and reduced the false alarm rate by 30%, according to Lin," Xinhua wrote, without revealing specifics. Also Read | Is Mars seeping on methane? NASA scientists explain unusual behaviour of gas on the Red Planet's Gale Crater China is also planning to include more video-based scrutiny of Tiangong, like using a high-definition camera on its robotic arm and tasking the Shenzhou 18 crew to put in more reinforcements. The Shenzhou 18 mission is scheduled to launch on April 25. The crew of the mission will be tasked “with installing space debris protection reinforcements for extravehicular piping, cables and critical equipment during their extravehicular activities," Xinhua reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Tiangong space station damaged by space debris strike, China working on clean-up

A team of palaeontologists believe they have found a set of fossilized footprints of one of the largest raptors in China. The set of five fossilised footprints of dinosaur species is as big as half of the length of a school bus.&nbsp;

The footprints were discovered at a dinosaur trackway in south-eastern China, which was discovered in 2020. As per scientists, dinosaurs of all sorts used to walk over the muddy river during the Cretaceous period, which left&nbsp;muddy footprints in the area. Some footprints are even preserved for tens of millions of years.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/two-lifeforms-merge-into-one-organism-in-a-phenomenon-that-occurs-once-in-a-billion-years-714121">Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years</a>

The dino trackway was discovered in Longxiang, which is roughly the size of a hockey rink. A few of the footprints are oddly shaped, with preserved imprints featuring only two toes.

<h2>Fossilised footprint of megaraptor found in China</h2>

Raptors or predatory birds are usually small in size, and typically called deinonychosaurs. For example, a Velociraptor is roughly the size of a turkey. Few raptors like the Utahraptor and Dakotaraptor grew in size substantially, reaching lengths of 5 to 6 metres. The largest-ever raptor known till now was the Triassic ichthyosaur.

The predator probably would have attacked its prey using a pair of enormous “killing claws”, one on each foot, finds study.&nbsp;

What scientists discovered recently in China is huge and much larger than the largest ever superpredator known earlier.

Scott Persons at the College of Charleston in South Carolina and his colleagues added another giant raptor to the list. They named it Fujianipus, and they say it lived in East Asia about 96 million years ago.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologists-might-have-discovered-death-site-of-roman-empires-founder-714358">Archaeologists might have discovered death site of Roman Empire's founder</a>

Not much is known about Fujianipus, as Persons and his colleagues are still working on the parts of its skeleton. The teams just discovered a handful of its 36-centimetre-long footprints.&nbsp;

“Preservation conditions were right for footprints but not so great for bones,” says Persons. But they are sure the footprints belong to a raptor because each one carries the imprint of just two toes, which matches the foot anatomy of the raptors. Raptors are usually known to have three toes but hold one off the ground to protect the large claw at its tip from wear and tear.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-sabres-to-spikes-this-prehistoric-fish-had-tusks-like-a-warthog-714775">THIS prehistoric fish was nearly 9 feet long and had giant sabres for teeth</a>

Persons say Fujianipus shows that raptors had the potential to grow even larger and compete against the biggest predatory dinosaurs on the landscape at that time – the allosauroids, some of which measured 10 metres or more in length.&nbsp;

However, the raptors have had the advantage of speed over these allosauroids, said Persons. But without fossilised leg bones, the researchers cannot accurately estimate Fujianipus’s speed.

(With inputs from agencies)

A team of palaeontologists believe they have found a set of fossilized footprints of one of the largest raptors in China. The set of five fossilised footprints of dinosaur species is as big as half of the length of a school bus.

A team of palaeontologists believe they have found a set of fossilized footprints of one of the largest raptors in China. The set of five fossilised footprints of dinosaur species is as big as half of the length of a school bus. The footprints were discovered at a dinosaur trackway in south-eastern China, which was discovered in 2020. As per scientists, dinosaurs of all sorts used to walk over the muddy river during the Cretaceous period, which left muddy footprints in the area. Some footprints are even preserved for tens of millions of years. Also Read | Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years The dino trackway was discovered in Longxiang, which is roughly the size of a hockey rink. A few of the footprints are oddly shaped, with preserved imprints featuring only two toes. Fossilised footprint of megaraptor found in China Raptors or predatory birds are usually small in size, and typically called deinonychosaurs. For example, a Velociraptor is roughly the size of a turkey. Few raptors like the Utahraptor and Dakotaraptor grew in size substantially, reaching lengths of 5 to 6 metres. The largest-ever raptor known till now was the Triassic ichthyosaur. The predator probably would have attacked its prey using a pair of enormous “killing claws”, one on each foot, finds study. What scientists discovered recently in China is huge and much larger than the largest ever superpredator known earlier. Scott Persons at the College of Charleston in South Carolina and his colleagues added another giant raptor to the list. They named it Fujianipus, and they say it lived in East Asia about 96 million years ago. Also Read | Archaeologists might have discovered death site of Roman Empire's founder Not much is known about Fujianipus, as Persons and his colleagues are still working on the parts of its skeleton. The teams just discovered a handful of its 36-centimetre-long footprints. “Preservation conditions were right for footprints but not so great for bones,” says Persons. But they are sure the footprints belong to a raptor because each one carries the imprint of just two toes, which matches the foot anatomy of the raptors. Raptors are usually known to have three toes but hold one off the ground to protect the large claw at its tip from wear and tear. Also Read | THIS prehistoric fish was nearly 9 feet long and had giant sabres for teeth Persons say Fujianipus shows that raptors had the potential to grow even larger and compete against the biggest predatory dinosaurs on the landscape at that time – the allosauroids, some of which measured 10 metres or more in length. However, the raptors have had the advantage of speed over these allosauroids, said Persons. But without fossilised leg bones, the researchers cannot accurately estimate Fujianipus’s speed. (With inputs from agencies)

Huge fossilised footprint of dinosaur found in China belongs to a megaraptor

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover has made the most surprising revelation that methane is seeping from the surface of Gale Crater. Since scientists did not find any signs of current or ancient life on Mars, they did not expect the gas to be present there, as living creatures produce most methane.

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover has made the most surprising revelation that methane is seeping from the surface of Gale Crater. Since scientists did not find any signs of current or ancient life on Mars, they did not expect the gas to be present there, as living creatures produce most methane. While SAM (Sample Analysis Mars) or the portable laboratory on Curiosity has detected traces of the gas near the surface of the Gale Crater, the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter found no methane in the atmosphere of the Red Planet. Furthermore, Gale Crater is the only place on Mars where traces of methane have been found, likely due to geological mechanisms involving water and rocks deep underground. Methane also exhibits unexpected behaviour in Gale Crater by appearing at night and disappearing during the day, fluctuating seasonally, and sometimes spiking 40 times higher than usual. In March, a NASA research group proposed a paper in the journal Geophysical Research: Planets, explaining why the gas behaves unexpectedly and is present in the Gale Crater. ALSO READ | Debris from rare 'super' explosion on Sun with four solar flares erupting simultaneously likely to hit Earth The "soil" on Mars comprises broken rock and dust. The study suggests that the solidified salt formed in the Martian regolith could seal methane underneath despite its origin. The methane could seep out as the temperature rises during warmer seasons or times of day, weakening the seal. Alexander Pavlov, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, led the research, which suggests that the gas could also erupt in whiffs when the seals crack under the pressure of a small SUV-sized rover. The origin of this hypothesis goes back to an experiment Pavlov conducted in 2017, which involved growing microorganisms in a simulated Martian permafrost infused with salt. While the microbe-growing results proved inconclusive, the researchers noticed that the top layer of the soil formed a salt crust as salty ice sublimated, turning from a solid to a gas and leaving the salt behind. The research team tested five samples of permafrost infused with varying concentrations of the salt perchlorate, widely present on Mars. They exposed each sample to different temperatures and air pressure inside a Mars simulation chamber. Periodically, they injected neon, a methane analogue, underneath the soil sample and measured the gas pressure below and above the surface. They found higher pressure under the sample, indicating the gas was trapped. Within three to 13 days, a seal formed under the Mars-like conditions only in samples with five to ten per cent perchlorate concentration. However, Curiosity has measured much higher concentration in Gale Crater. (With inputs from agencies)

Is methane seeping on Mars? NASA scientists explain unusual behaviour of gas on the Red Planet's Gale Crater

Archaeologists from the University of Tokyo might have finally discovered the death site of the Roman Empire's founder Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius).&nbsp;

The possible traces of the Villa of Augustus were found during excavations at Somma Vesuviana - a place where Augustus was said to have died in the year 14 AD.&nbsp;

Villa of Augustus is the first-century grand estate that was built near Somma Vesuviana, which is a town and commune in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-asteroid-kamooalewa-is-likely-the-second-moon-which-once-belonged-to-our-moon-714140">This asteroid orbits the Sun, left a massive crater on Moon, but without ever hitting it</a>&nbsp;

History books have mentioned that during the Roman period, the region area was a resort for the elite of Rome who constructed large villa complexes.&nbsp;

The villa was built on the northern side of Mount Vesuvius and was buried under tonnes of volcanic ash and molten lava after the catastrophic eruption of this volcano in 79 AD, which also destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.&nbsp;

The 1930 excavations in the Nola area uncovered a large Roman villa which was interpreted as the Villa of Augustus. Since 2002, it has been subjected to archaeological probes.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/two-lifeforms-merge-into-one-organism-in-a-phenomenon-that-occurs-once-in-a-billion-years-714121">Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years</a>&nbsp;

According to a press statement by the University of Tokyo: "This suggests that even the northern foothills of Mount Vesuvius, where the effects of the AD 79 eruption were said to have been less severe than the southeastern region of the mountain, were also affected by the eruption with destructive power."&nbsp;

The remains of a Roman-era estate, unearthed during the 1930s, were believed to be the long-buried villa, however, probes later revealed that the ruins dated to the second century AD, which means it had been built after Mount Vesuvius had already erupted.&nbsp;

The Japanese researchers conducted excavations in 2023 and uncovered evidence of a building from an earlier period, which was just below the second-century structure.&nbsp;

The researchers believed that the older building was the site where Augustus died.

Archaeologists from the University of Tokyo might have finally discovered the death site of the Roman Empire's founder Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius).

Archaeologists from the University of Tokyo might have finally discovered the death site of the Roman Empire's founder Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius). The possible traces of the Villa of Augustus were found during excavations at Somma Vesuviana - a place where Augustus was said to have died in the year 14 AD. Villa of Augustus is the first-century grand estate that was built near Somma Vesuviana, which is a town and commune in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy. Also read: This asteroid orbits the Sun, left a massive crater on Moon, but without ever hitting it History books have mentioned that during the Roman period, the region area was a resort for the elite of Rome who constructed large villa complexes. The villa was built on the northern side of Mount Vesuvius and was buried under tonnes of volcanic ash and molten lava after the catastrophic eruption of this volcano in 79 AD, which also destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. The 1930 excavations in the Nola area uncovered a large Roman villa which was interpreted as the Villa of Augustus. Since 2002, it has been subjected to archaeological probes. Also read: Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years According to a press statement by the University of Tokyo: "This suggests that even the northern foothills of Mount Vesuvius, where the effects of the AD 79 eruption were said to have been less severe than the southeastern region of the mountain, were also affected by the eruption with destructive power." The remains of a Roman-era estate, unearthed during the 1930s, were believed to be the long-buried villa, however, probes later revealed that the ruins dated to the second century AD, which means it had been built after Mount Vesuvius had already erupted. The Japanese researchers conducted excavations in 2023 and uncovered evidence of a building from an earlier period, which was just below the second-century structure. The researchers believed that the older building was the site where Augustus died.

Archaeologists might have discovered death site of Roman Empire's founder

In a rare event, four solar flares simultaneously exploded from four different points across the Sun's surface. The "quadruple" solar flare might have also sent a solar storm towards Earth, which could reach our planet in the coming days, Spaceweather.

In a rare event, four solar flares simultaneously exploded from four different points across the Sun's surface. The "quadruple" solar flare might have also sent a solar storm towards Earth, which could reach our planet in the coming days, Spaceweather.com reported. According to NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the tetrad eruption started at around 01:00 am EDT (10:30 am IST) on Tuesday (April 23). While three of the outbursts came from sunspots, one came from a magnetic filament, a large loop of plasma suspended over the solar surface between the three dark patches. The eruption sites were hundreds of miles away. The area between them covered around a third of the solar surface facing Earth. Such concurrent blasts, called sympathetic solar flares, are part of a single eruption. It occurs when massive magnetic field loops that arch above the solar surface link these sunspots or filaments with each other. When one of them erupts, the others quickly follow. ALSO READ | Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth In most cases, sympathetic flares linked two sunspots, ranging in intensity from small outbursts to X-class flares, the strongest solar flares the Sun can produce. However this time, there were twice as many flares as usual, making it a "super-sympathetic" flare. It is currently uncertain how powerful the blast was when the sunspots combined. However, due to the large area affected, there is a possibility that some of the debris could be directed towards Earth. This debris would likely be a massive cloud of plasma and radiation, called a coronal mass ejection (CME). If confirmed, the CME could hit our planet within the next few days and cause stunning auroras near the magnetic poles. It is the third sympathetic solar flare of 2024. The first occurred in January, followed by an X-class flare duo in March. According to a study conducted in 2022, sympathetic solar flares are more likely to happen during or around solar maximum, the most active phase of the Sun's approximately 11-year solar cycle. The study analysed almost 40 years of solar flare data. Some researchers think this explosive peak has already started about a year earlier than predicted. (With inputs from agencies)

Debris from rare 'super' explosion on Sun with four solar flares erupting simultaneously likely to hit Earth

Io, Jupiter's moon and the most volcanic body in the solar system, has been in upheaval for at least 4.57 billion years. Scientists used the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) to track sulphur and chlorine in the Jovian moon's atmosphere.

Io, Jupiter's moon and the most volcanic body in the solar system, has been in upheaval for at least 4.57 billion years. Scientists used the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) to track sulphur and chlorine in the Jovian moon's atmosphere. While they knew that the gravitational forces between Jupiter and the neighbouring Jovian moons Europa and Ganymede generate immense tidal forces within Io, causing intense volcanism, they weren't sure about how long the influence of Jupiter and its moons had been causing the disruption. It was tough to investigate as the continuous flow of lava from the extreme volcanism across the surface of Io keeps it looking fresh. Katherine de Kleer, team leader and assistant professor of planetary science and astronomy at Caltech, told Space.com, "Io's surface is very 'young,' meaning that the lava flows and volcanic plume deposits cover up any features that are more than around 1 million years old. Therefore, it has not previously been possible to learn anything about Io's volcanic history beyond the past million years, which is very recent from a geological perspective. Io represented a big mystery because its surface doesn't hold a record of its history the way that the surfaces of less active moons do." Katherine and her colleagues used ALMA, an array of 66 radio antennas in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, to look for clues in Io's thin atmosphere. ALSO READ | A ninth planet? Scientists are convinced that our solar system might be hosting a 'Planet X' They specifically searched for stable radio isotopes of sulphur and chlorine-bearing molecules. The researchers found that both elements are more present in heavy isotope variants, atoms with a higher number of neutrons, than the average value found across the solar system that occurs as the result of lighter isotopes from other world's upper atmospheres. They found that the Jovian moon has lost 94 to 96 per cent of its lighter sulphur isotopes. It would have only been possible in the face of billions of years of volcanism going back to the origin of Io. "We used sulfur isotopes in Io's atmosphere to deduce that Io has been producing sulphur-rich gas — and, therefore, that it has been volcanically active — for billions of years," de Kleer said. "This is a nice confirmation of some prior predictions that have been made," she added. While de Kleer's team has found something crucial, they aren't done with Io yet. "As for what is next, I'd love to know whether Io once had a water ocean and ice crust, as its neighbors Europa and Ganymede do, that was subsequently lost by volcanism or some other means," de Kleer concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Volcanoes have been violently erupting on Jupiter's moon Io ever since it was born

After five months of radio silence, National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Voyager 1 probe is back from the dead.&nbsp;

In a stellar display of problem-solving, a team of mission engineers have devised a workaround to a key computer chip whose failure led the 46-year-old spacecraft to only beam back an indecipherable repeating pattern of code.

<h2>Beaming gibberish</h2>

Since November last year, Voyager 1's flight data system had been stuck in a loop. The spacecraft, which is currently around 15 billion miles away from earth, began sending gibberish that NASA could not decipher. The data received was unusable, and the scientists were unable to determine Voyager 1's health status.

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Months later, in March, the Voyager engineering team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California confirmed that the "issue was tied to one of the spacecraft's three onboard computers, called the flight data subsystem (FDS)."

"The FDS is responsible for packaging the science and engineering data before it's sent to Earth," reports NASA.

They found that a single chip responsible for storing a portion of the FDS memory wasn't working.

Now, NASA scientists have devised an audacious workaround the ageing spacecraft's faulty chip — they rewrote the corrupted software from scratch and relocated it piecemeal into unaffected areas of the probe's computer memory.

<h2>How did they do it?</h2>

The team started their journey towards finding a possible solution by "singling out the code responsible for packaging the spacecraft's engineering data," and sending "it to its new location in the FDS memory on April 18."

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According to NASA, "a radio signal takes about 22 ½ hours to reach Voyager 1, which is over 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometres) from Earth, and another 22 ½ hours for a signal to come back to Earth."

"When the mission flight team heard back from the spacecraft on April 20, they saw that the modification worked: For the first time in five months, they have been able to check the health and status of the spacecraft," added the space agency.

Although old, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are one of humanity's greatest achievements. The twin voyager spacecraft "are the longest-running and most distant spacecraft in history."

(With inputs from agencies)

After five months of radio silence, National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Voyager 1 probe is back from the dead. In a stellar display of problem-solving, a team of mission engineers have devised a workaround to a key computer chip whose failure led the 46-year-old spacecraft to only beam back an indecipherable repeating pattern of code.

After five months of radio silence, National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Voyager 1 probe is back from the dead. In a stellar display of problem-solving, a team of mission engineers have devised a workaround to a key computer chip whose failure led the 46-year-old spacecraft to only beam back an indecipherable repeating pattern of code. Beaming gibberish Since November last year, Voyager 1's flight data system had been stuck in a loop. The spacecraft, which is currently around 15 billion miles away from earth, began sending gibberish that NASA could not decipher. The data received was unusable, and the scientists were unable to determine Voyager 1's health status. Also read | Scientists believe Uranus and Neptune are 'ice giants,' but a new study hints at something else Months later, in March, the Voyager engineering team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California confirmed that the "issue was tied to one of the spacecraft's three onboard computers, called the flight data subsystem (FDS)." "The FDS is responsible for packaging the science and engineering data before it's sent to Earth," reports NASA. They found that a single chip responsible for storing a portion of the FDS memory wasn't working. Now, NASA scientists have devised an audacious workaround the ageing spacecraft's faulty chip — they rewrote the corrupted software from scratch and relocated it piecemeal into unaffected areas of the probe's computer memory. How did they do it? The team started their journey towards finding a possible solution by "singling out the code responsible for packaging the spacecraft's engineering data," and sending "it to its new location in the FDS memory on April 18." Also read | Nature’s grand theatre: Volcanic eruption and northern lights create stunning visuals in Iceland. Watch! According to NASA, "a radio signal takes about 22 ½ hours to reach Voyager 1, which is over 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometres) from Earth, and another 22 ½ hours for a signal to come back to Earth." "When the mission flight team heard back from the spacecraft on April 20, they saw that the modification worked: For the first time in five months, they have been able to check the health and status of the spacecraft," added the space agency. Although old, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are one of humanity's greatest achievements. The twin voyager spacecraft "are the longest-running and most distant spacecraft in history." (With inputs from agencies)

Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA's software repair 15 billion miles away from Earth

A recent study shows women are less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital when treated by a female doctor. Gender playing a role in a medical scenario might seem bizarre at first.&nbsp;but once you peel the layers, you understand why this might be true. Medical students&nbsp;not being properly taught about how to deal with women’s health issues is one of the reasons.

The study, which was published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examines people between the ages of 65 and older. About 8.15 per cent of women treated by female physicians died within 30 days as compared with 8.38 per cent of women when treated by male physicians.&nbsp;

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The difference might seem small, but erasing this gap could save up to 5000 women’s lives every year.

Some experts aren’t convinced that the new study proves a physician’s gender makes a big difference, but here's what the study found.

<h2>Female doctors are more empathetic towards women and minorities: Study</h2>

The study included about 800,000 male and female patients who were hospitalised from 2016 through 2019. The gender of the doctor had no impact on the risk of death or hospital readmission of male patients. The data only showed the gap between the treatments of female patients when treated by different genders.

Though the study did not explain why women feel better when treated by other women, other studies have shown that women are less likely to experience “miscommunication, misunderstanding and bias” when treated by female doctors, said lead author of the study Dr Atsushi Miyawaki. Miyawaki is a senior assistant professor of health services research at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine.

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The study is part of a growing field of research examining why women and minorities tend to receive worse&nbsp;medical care than men and white patients. For example, women and minority patients are up to 30 per cent more likely to be misdiagnosed than white men.

“Our pain and our symptoms are often dismissed,” said Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health. “It may be that women physicians are more aware of that and are more empathetic.”

Watch |&nbsp;US: Women's healthcare doesn't matter in the US?

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Part of the problem, Miyawaki said, is that medical students get “limited training in women’s health issues.”

Dr Ronald Wyatt, a former chief science and chief medical officer at the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, a non-profit research and advocacy group, said there is a tendency in doctors to harbour sexist stereotypes about women, regardless of age.

“The notion that women’s symptoms are more emotional or their pain is less severe or more psychological in origin”, said Wyatt.

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Women seem to experience fewer of these problems when treated by other women. A study published by JAMA Surgery in 2021 showed the same results. It found that women patients developed fewer complications if their surgeon was female.

Wyatt said the country needs to take several steps to better care for women patients, including “de-biasing training” to teach doctors to overcome stereotypes.

The healthcare system also needs to increase the number of women physicians in leadership, recruit more female doctors and do a better job at retaining them, he said further.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A recent study shows women are less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital when treated by a female doctor. Gender playing a role in a medical scenario might seem bizarre at first.

A recent study shows women are less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital when treated by a female doctor. Gender playing a role in a medical scenario might seem bizarre at first. but once you peel the layers, you understand why this might be true. Medical students not being properly taught about how to deal with women’s health issues is one of the reasons. The study, which was published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examines people between the ages of 65 and older. About 8.15 per cent of women treated by female physicians died within 30 days as compared with 8.38 per cent of women when treated by male physicians. Also Read | Cosmic explosion in centre of galaxy releases massive gas which may create 50 million suns The difference might seem small, but erasing this gap could save up to 5000 women’s lives every year. Some experts aren’t convinced that the new study proves a physician’s gender makes a big difference, but here's what the study found. Female doctors are more empathetic towards women and minorities: Study The study included about 800,000 male and female patients who were hospitalised from 2016 through 2019. The gender of the doctor had no impact on the risk of death or hospital readmission of male patients. The data only showed the gap between the treatments of female patients when treated by different genders. Though the study did not explain why women feel better when treated by other women, other studies have shown that women are less likely to experience “miscommunication, misunderstanding and bias” when treated by female doctors, said lead author of the study Dr Atsushi Miyawaki. Miyawaki is a senior assistant professor of health services research at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine. Also Read | Chang’e 6 mission’s experimental satellites beam back eerie image of Moon and Earth The study is part of a growing field of research examining why women and minorities tend to receive worse medical care than men and white patients. For example, women and minority patients are up to 30 per cent more likely to be misdiagnosed than white men. “Our pain and our symptoms are often dismissed,” said Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health. “It may be that women physicians are more aware of that and are more empathetic.” Watch | US: Women's healthcare doesn't matter in the US? × Part of the problem, Miyawaki said, is that medical students get “limited training in women’s health issues.” Dr Ronald Wyatt, a former chief science and chief medical officer at the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, a non-profit research and advocacy group, said there is a tendency in doctors to harbour sexist stereotypes about women, regardless of age. “The notion that women’s symptoms are more emotional or their pain is less severe or more psychological in origin”, said Wyatt. Also Read | Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years Women seem to experience fewer of these problems when treated by other women. A study published by JAMA Surgery in 2021 showed the same results. It found that women patients developed fewer complications if their surgeon was female. Wyatt said the country needs to take several steps to better care for women patients, including “de-biasing training” to teach doctors to overcome stereotypes. The healthcare system also needs to increase the number of women physicians in leadership, recruit more female doctors and do a better job at retaining them, he said further. (With inputs from agencies)

Women are less likely to die if treated by female doctors: Study

A team of astronomers, who have been trying to track the origin of the near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa, are now proposing a theory which hints that it was most likely part of the Moon.

A team of astronomers, who have been trying to track the origin of the near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa, are now proposing a theory which hints that it was most likely part of the Moon. The mysterious space rock was first discovered in 2016 and was between 130 and 328 feet in diameter. A research team, headed by Tsinghua University astronomer Yifei Jiao, has hinted that the rock had broken from a geological feature of the Moon known as the Giordano Bruno crater. The crater was named after a 16th-century Italian cosmological theorist. "We have explored the processes for impact-induced lunar fragments migrating into Earth co-orbital space and presented support for Kamo'oalewa's possible origin from the formation of the Giordano Bruno crater a few million years ago," wrote the researchers, in their paper which was published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Also Read: NASA's Juno spacecraft spots glass-smooth lava lake and a mountain on a moon "This would directly link a specific asteroid in space to its source crater on the Moon and suggests the existence of more small asteroids composed of lunar material yet to be discovered in near-Earth space," the researchers added. For years, astronomers have remained fascinated by the space rock because it is orbiting the Sun in an Earth-like orbit and is likely to remain stable there for millions of years. Space rock matches Moon's composition According to spectrum analysis, the rock also perfectly matches the composition of the Moon. University of Arizona planetary sciences professor Renu Malhotra, who is also a coauthor of another paper which also suggests that the chunk once belonged to the moon, while speaking to Astronomy, said, "We looked at Kamo’oalewa’s spectrum only because it was in an unusual orbit. If it had been a typical near-Earth asteroid, no one would have thought to find its spectrum and we wouldn’t have known Kamo’oalewa could be a lunar fragment." With the use of computer models to simulate how Kamo’oalewa would have impacted the Moon's surface, Jiao and his colleagues reached the conclusion that it would have created a crater larger than 12 miles. Watch: US government asks NASA to create time zones for the moon The Giordano crater - which is spread across 13.6 miles - appeared like the best candidate to the scientists. The lack of debris further suggested that the space rock is somewhere around ten and 100 million years old, which makes it relatively younger than the Moon. "It is clear that the largest, youngest craters are more probable sources, as they produce more escaping fragments that still remain in space or the Earth co-orbital region," wrote Jiao and his team, adding that Giordano Bruno "is the only possible source crater satisfying the criterion."

This asteroid orbits the Sun, left a massive crater on Moon, but without ever hitting it

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aims to achieve 'debris-free' space missions by 2030. ISRO announced in late March that one of its satellite missions "practically left zero debris in orbit" after they lowered a spent rocket stage to burn up in Earth's atmosphere during re-entry.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aims to achieve 'debris-free' space missions by 2030. ISRO announced in late March that one of its satellite missions "practically left zero debris in orbit" after they lowered a spent rocket stage to burn up in Earth's atmosphere during re-entry. Chairman S Somnath said last week that they will use similar deorbiting techniques to make future missions "debris-free" by the end of this decade. In a session hosted by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordinating Committee (IADC), Somnath said, "Over the years, sufficient skill has been developed within ISRO in dealing with topics related to debris management." He added, "We want to make sure that for all the spacecraft we are likely to launch in the future, we will be taking action to make sure that we deorbit and bring it to a safe location." IADC has 13 spacefaring member nations. Currently, India has 54 spacecraft in orbit, excluding non-functional satellites. Of these, 13 were deorbited for reentry into Earth's atmosphere last year. In February, ISRO lowered an Earth-observation satellite named Cartostat-2, launched in 2007, for a controlled atmospheric reentry over the Indian Ocean. As per predictions, all major parts of the satellite vapourised during the event. ALSO READ | Crater-filled Moon and faint Earth in the background: Chinese satellites beam eerie image from space However, this may not always be the case as it's tough to foretell whether a certain satellite will burn entirely during reentry. Scientists are realising that more entities endure the journey to the surface than previously thought, Space.com reported. Last month, a piece of debris from a pallet of used batteries thrown overboard from the International Space Station slammed into a home in Florida. This proved NASA's prediction wrong that it would burn up completely in space. Approximately 30,000 objects in low Earth orbit are larger than a softball, and millions of smaller objects are less than a centimetre in size. These objects can circle the Earth at speeds that can reach up to ten times that of a bullet. The primary source of space junk is owing to spent rocket stages, dead satellites, and malfunctioning satellites which have been abandoned in their orbits around Earth. These abandoned objects have caused collisions and accidental explosions which have prompted space agencies and private companies to intentionally lower their satellites for atmospheric reentries. (With inputs from agencies)

India eyes 'debris-free' space mission by the end of decade, says ISRO Chairman

China’s experimental satellites -&nbsp;Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 beamed back an eerie picture of the Moon and Earth recently. The pair of two small satellites, which were launched on March 19 aboard the Long March 8 rocket, are part of China’s upcoming lunar mission.&nbsp;

The Long March 8 rocket also took the Queqia-2 lunar spacecraft to space. Queqia-2 is a communications relay satellite, which will be a major support in Chang’e 6 lunar mission.&nbsp;

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With the Chang’e 6 mission, China will aim for the far side of the moon, where it will collect some samples from the lunar surface and bring them back to Earth. While Queqia-2 acts as a communication channel between space and Earth, the duo of Tiandu satellites will act as a pathfinder for future lunar infrastructure.&nbsp;

<h2>Chang’e 6 mission’s experimental satellites beam back eerie image of Moon and Earth</h2>

China's Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) stated on April 13 that Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 had carried out tests of high-reliability transmission and routing between Earth and the lunar surface.&nbsp;

One of them also transmitted an infrared image showing the heavily cratered far side of the moon, including a distant view of Earth.

See the full image below.
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The Tiandu pair entered lunar orbit on April 3 and since has been flying in formation around 124 miles (200 kilometres) apart.&nbsp;

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Tiandu-1 weighs 134 pounds (61 kilogrammes) and is equipped with a Ka-band dual-frequency communicator, a laser retroreflector and a space router. Tiandu-2 weighs 33 lbs (15 kg) and carries communication and navigation devices.

DSEL said that the test satellites will further conduct lunar communication and navigation technology experiments. The data collected from these satellites will become the building blocks for the design and construction of the planned International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) and a Queqia satellite constellation for lunar communication, navigation and remote sensing.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-gibberish-to-clarity-voyager-1-ends-radio-silence-thanks-to-nasa-engineers-ingenious-repair-714089">From gibberish to clarity: Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA engineers' ingenious repair</a>

Chang’e 6 is China’s robotic lunar exploration mission that is expected to launch&nbsp;next month. It will be China’s second such attempt to&nbsp;retrieve samples from the moon's surface back to Earth.&nbsp;

The mission will attempt to obtain the first-ever soil and rock samples from the lunar far side and return them to the Earth. The primary phase of the mission is expected to last about 53 days.

(With inputs from agencies)

China’s experimental satellites - Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 beamed back an eerie picture of the Moon and Earth recently. The pair of two small satellites, which were launched on March 19 aboard the Long March 8 rocket, are part of China’s upcoming lunar mission.

China’s experimental satellites - Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 beamed back an eerie picture of the Moon and Earth recently. The pair of two small satellites, which were launched on March 19 aboard the Long March 8 rocket, are part of China’s upcoming lunar mission. The Long March 8 rocket also took the Queqia-2 lunar spacecraft to space. Queqia-2 is a communications relay satellite, which will be a major support in Chang’e 6 lunar mission. Also Read | A ninth planet? Scientists are convinced that our solar system might be hosting a 'Planet X' With the Chang’e 6 mission, China will aim for the far side of the moon, where it will collect some samples from the lunar surface and bring them back to Earth. While Queqia-2 acts as a communication channel between space and Earth, the duo of Tiandu satellites will act as a pathfinder for future lunar infrastructure. Chang’e 6 mission’s experimental satellites beam back eerie image of Moon and Earth China's Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) stated on April 13 that Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 had carried out tests of high-reliability transmission and routing between Earth and the lunar surface. One of them also transmitted an infrared image showing the heavily cratered far side of the moon, including a distant view of Earth. See the full image below. The Tiandu pair entered lunar orbit on April 3 and since has been flying in formation around 124 miles (200 kilometres) apart. Also Read | Pink Moon to peak amid Lyrid meteor shower: Check when and how to watch Tiandu-1 weighs 134 pounds (61 kilogrammes) and is equipped with a Ka-band dual-frequency communicator, a laser retroreflector and a space router. Tiandu-2 weighs 33 lbs (15 kg) and carries communication and navigation devices. DSEL said that the test satellites will further conduct lunar communication and navigation technology experiments. The data collected from these satellites will become the building blocks for the design and construction of the planned International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) and a Queqia satellite constellation for lunar communication, navigation and remote sensing. Also Read | From gibberish to clarity: Voyager 1 ends 'radio silence' thanks to NASA engineers' ingenious repair Chang’e 6 is China’s robotic lunar exploration mission that is expected to launch next month. It will be China’s second such attempt to retrieve samples from the moon's surface back to Earth. The mission will attempt to obtain the first-ever soil and rock samples from the lunar far side and return them to the Earth. The primary phase of the mission is expected to last about 53 days. (With inputs from agencies)

Crater-filled Moon and faint Earth in the background: Chinese satellites beam eerie image from space

Scientists have spotted a massive explosion of cosmic gas in the centre of a galaxy which has released cosmic material worth 50 million suns in the universe. The gigantic outburst, which is known as a "gas outflow," is nearly 20,000 light-years across almost a fifth of the entire Milky Way galaxy's diameter, as per a new paper published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Scientists have spotted a massive explosion of cosmic gas in the centre of a galaxy which has released cosmic material worth 50 million suns in the universe. The gigantic outburst, which is known as a "gas outflow," is nearly 20,000 light-years across almost a fifth of the entire Milky Way galaxy's diameter, as per a new paper published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Also Read: Space trash threatens Earth's magnetic field The scientists discovered this strange astronomical phenomenon when it occurred in the galaxy NGC 4383, which is around 54,000,000 light-years away from the nearby Virgo cluster as the gas flowed out from the galaxy at a rate of over 447,000 miles per hour. What are gas outflows and when do they occur? The gas outflows take place when large amounts of gas get blown out from one galaxy into intergalactic space and they are generally driven by some energetic cosmic events like supernovae. Such gas outflows can have a major impact on their host galaxies by regulating the formation of stars. Through the ejection of gas from the galaxy, the outflows limit the material available for new stars which affects the growth and structure of the galaxy. Such gas outflows also fill the space between the galaxies with the heavy elements which have been produced inside stars. This particular outflow is said to have occurred because of huge stellar explosions near the centre of NGC 4383 that ejected major amounts of hydrogen gas as well as other elements. As per the paper, nearly 50 million suns' worth of gas was released from these explosions. "Very little is known about the physics of outflows and their properties because outflows are very hard to detect," said study co-author Adam Watts, who is an astrophysicist at the University of Western Australia and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), in a statement. Watch: China 'militarising' space? "The ejected gas is quite rich in heavy elements giving us a unique view of the complex process of mixing between hydrogen and metals in the outflowing gas," he stated. "In this particular case, we detected oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and many other chemical elements," he added. In the research paper, the scientists have revealed a high-resolution map of the explosion through which they plan to decode the mysteries of how chemical elements have polluted the space between galaxies, and how the loss of this gas has impacted the galaxies. (With inputs from agencies)

Cosmic explosion in centre of galaxy releases massive gas which may create 50 million suns

Two life forms have merged into a single organism for the first time in at least a billion years. Primary endosymbiosis, or two life forms merging into one, has occurred only twice in the history of Earth.

Two life forms have merged into a single organism for the first time in at least a billion years. Primary endosymbiosis, or two life forms merging into one, has occurred only twice in the history of Earth. The first time, it gave rise to all complex life as we know it through mitochondria. The second time, it caused the emergence of plants. An international team of scientists have observed the evolutionary phenomenon between a species of algae commonly found in the ocean and a bacterium. Tyler Coale, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said, "The first time we think it happened, it gave rise to all complex life." Coale, the lead researcher on one of the two studies that uncovered the phenomenon, added, "Everything more complicated than a bacterial cell owes its existence to that event. A billion years ago or so, it happened again with the chloroplast, and that gave us plants." According to the study published in Science and Cell, the algae engulfed the bacterium, providing it nutrients, energy and protection in return for functions. The algae could not perform some functions earlier, like the ability to "fix" nitrogen from the air. ALSO READ | Chang’e 6 mission’s experimental satellites beam back eerie image of Moon and Earth Then, the algae incorporated the bacterium as an internal organ. This organelle became crucial to the host's ability to function. "That's exactly what happens with organelles," said Jonathan Zehr, one of the study's authors. "If you look at the mitochondria and the chloroplast, it's the same thing: they scale with the cell." Researchers from the United States and Japan who made the discovery said it will offer new insights into evolution. This rare phenomenon also has the potential to change agriculture fundamentally. Dr Coale stated, "This system is a new perspective on nitrogen fixation, and it might provide clues into how such an organelle could be engineered into crop plants." The scientists involved came from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Rhode Island, the University of California, San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Institut de Ciències del Mar in Barcelona, National Taiwan Ocean University, and Kochi University in Japan. (With inputs from agencies)

Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years

Hindu deity Shiva 'the destroyer' has inspired the name of a titan dinosaur that roamed Argentina more than 90 million years ago. A fossil of the colossal creature named Bustingorrytitan Shiva was discovered late last year in western Argentina.

This newly discovered dinosaur, B. Shiva, is among the largest sauropods, and as per a study published December 18, 2023, in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, stretched an impressive 98 feet (29.87 metres) in length and is thought to have weighed about 74 tonnes.

This is what it looked like:

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<h2>Mega-Titanosaurs</h2>

Found in the North Patagonia region of southern South America, the discovery of B. shiva adds to the family of "megatitanosaurs"– enormous titanosaurs that exceeded 55 tonnes (50 metric tons). This finding indicates that such giant sauropods evolved separately within their lineage titanosaurs, said the study lead author María Edith Simón, a palaeontologist who ran the B. shiva excavation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-believe-uranus-and-neptune-are-ice-giants-but-a-new-study-hints-at-something-else-712635">Scientists believe Uranus and Neptune are 'ice giants,' but a new study hints at something else</a>

The remains of B. shiva were initially unearthed by a local farmer named Manuel Bustingorry in 2000, and subsequent excavations led by palaeontologist María Edith Simón have revealed at least four individual dinosaurs from this species.&nbsp;

These include a relatively complete skeleton alongside three other partial specimens, all dating back to the Huincul Formation, the same geological formation where the famous Argentinosaurus was discovered.

<h2>Bustingorrytitan Shiva</h2>

Unlike other known sauropods, B. shiva exhibits unique characteristics such as distinctively shaped crests on the humerus and femur, reports Live Science.&nbsp;

This differentiation suggests the presence of at least two gigantic titanosaur lineages — B. Shiva's saltasauroids and Argentinosaurus' lognkosaurs — coexisting in North Patagonia during the middle of the Cretaceous period(145 million to 66 million years ago).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/when-small-dinosaurs-roamed-earth-scientists-discover-smallest-ever-titanosaur-species-712164">A 6-foot-tall dinosaur? Smallest-ever Titanosaurs to have walked the Earth discovered in Argentina</a>

"Ecologically, each of the sauropods were distinct from one another, with different teeth, heads and bodies," Simón told Live Science.&nbsp;

"This shows that they were all able to find a form where they could live without competing with one another."

The name "Bustingorrytitan" combines the surname of the farmer who found the fossils with "titan," a nod to the giants of Greek mythology.&nbsp;The species name "Shiva" as per&nbsp;Simón, references the supreme deity of Shaivism, who destroys and transforms the universe. &nbsp;

The cretaceous period, as per the study, saw the extinction of certain dinosaur groups such as early diplodocoid sauropods and certain titanosaurs and the rise of others, with B. Shiva's lineage surviving until the end of the Cretaceous period.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hindu deity Shiva 'the destroyer' has inspired the name of a titan dinosaur that roamed Argentina more than 90 million years ago. A fossil of the colossal creature named Bustingorrytitan Shiva was discovered late last year in western Argentina.

Hindu deity Shiva 'the destroyer' has inspired the name of a titan dinosaur that roamed Argentina more than 90 million years ago. A fossil of the colossal creature named Bustingorrytitan Shiva was discovered late last year in western Argentina. This newly discovered dinosaur, B. Shiva, is among the largest sauropods, and as per a study published December 18, 2023, in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, stretched an impressive 98 feet (29.87 metres) in length and is thought to have weighed about 74 tonnes. This is what it looked like: × Mega-Titanosaurs Found in the North Patagonia region of southern South America, the discovery of B. shiva adds to the family of "megatitanosaurs"– enormous titanosaurs that exceeded 55 tonnes (50 metric tons). This finding indicates that such giant sauropods evolved separately within their lineage titanosaurs, said the study lead author María Edith Simón, a palaeontologist who ran the B. shiva excavation. Also read | Scientists believe Uranus and Neptune are 'ice giants,' but a new study hints at something else The remains of B. shiva were initially unearthed by a local farmer named Manuel Bustingorry in 2000, and subsequent excavations led by palaeontologist María Edith Simón have revealed at least four individual dinosaurs from this species. These include a relatively complete skeleton alongside three other partial specimens, all dating back to the Huincul Formation, the same geological formation where the famous Argentinosaurus was discovered. Bustingorrytitan Shiva Unlike other known sauropods, B. shiva exhibits unique characteristics such as distinctively shaped crests on the humerus and femur, reports Live Science. This differentiation suggests the presence of at least two gigantic titanosaur lineages — B. Shiva's saltasauroids and Argentinosaurus' lognkosaurs — coexisting in North Patagonia during the middle of the Cretaceous period(145 million to 66 million years ago). Also read | A 6-foot-tall dinosaur? Smallest-ever Titanosaurs to have walked the Earth discovered in Argentina "Ecologically, each of the sauropods were distinct from one another, with different teeth, heads and bodies," Simón told Live Science. "This shows that they were all able to find a form where they could live without competing with one another." The name "Bustingorrytitan" combines the surname of the farmer who found the fossils with "titan," a nod to the giants of Greek mythology. The species name "Shiva" as per Simón, references the supreme deity of Shaivism, who destroys and transforms the universe. The cretaceous period, as per the study, saw the extinction of certain dinosaur groups such as early diplodocoid sauropods and certain titanosaurs and the rise of others, with B. Shiva's lineage surviving until the end of the Cretaceous period. (With inputs from agencies)

Megatitanosaur 'Shiva the destroyer' discovered in Argentina. This is what it looked like. Watch!

Pink Moon 2024: This year has several spectacular events lined up for skygazers. The upcoming treat is the fourth full Moon of 2024, called Pink Moon. It will rise in the spring sky amid the Lyrid meteor shower.

Pink Moon 2024: This year has several spectacular events lined up for skygazers. The upcoming treat is the fourth full Moon of 2024, called Pink Moon. It will rise in the spring sky amid the Lyrid meteor shower. The nickname "Pink Moon" is not related to the Moon's colour, as many people might think. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, it is associated with the blooming of certain wildflowers in early spring, including a type known as "moss pink," native to eastern North America. Different indigenous cultures have given names to the Pink Moon, as the April's full Moon reflects the season's changes. The Oglala people call it the Moon of the Red Grass Appearing. The Tlingit refer to the Pink Moon as the Sprouting Grass Moon. The Choctaw people call it the Moon of Blackberry, the Cherokee refer to it as the Flower Moon, and the Apache name it the Moon of the Big Leaves, all of which highlight the new growth that comes with the season. In Judaism, the Pink Moon signals the beginning of Passover, an important festival that celebrates liberation and renewal. The Pink Moon is significant in the Christian tradition and is also known as the Paschal Moon. It is associated with Easter, and its arrival aligns with the lunar calendar. Falling on the first Sunday after the first full Moon following the vernal equinox, Easter celebrations coincide with the appearance of the Pink Moon. As a symbol of rebirth and spiritual renewal, the Pink Moon echoes the themes of Easter. When And How To Watch Pink Moon 2024? The spectacular meteor shower will peak on Monday (April 22). The Moon will be in its full glory, making it an even more breathtaking sight. However, the Pink Moon will be at its fullest on Tuesday (April 23). It will be visible in the constellation Virgo, close to Spica, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, according to NASA. While the Moon will be visible on Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday is the best day to view as it will be most prominent. Even for North Americans, Tuesday (April 23) will be the prime viewing opportunity as the full Moon rises in the east shortly after sunset. For the best views, one should look at the moonrise and moonset times to play the observation and look for a location with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. (With inputs from agencies)

Pink Moon to peak amid Lyrid meteor shower: Check when and how to watch

South Korean researchers have developed a high power hybrid sodium-ion battery that can be charged in seconds, in a potential breakthrough that could be consequential for the way critical minerals are required for technological innovations.&nbsp;

Co-authored by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) doctoral candidates Jong Hui Choi and Dong Won Kim, the study was published in the journal Energy Storage Materials.

<h2>Why a sodium battery?</h2>

Sodium is nearly 1000 times more abundant than lithium and is less rare a mineral. So a sodium-ion electrochemical energy storage would be a cheaper and potentially more feasible source of energy due to its comparative abundance in the world around us.&nbsp;

"The development of a hybrid battery with high energy and high power density requires an improvement to the slow energy storage rate of battery-type anodes as well as the enhancement of the relatively low capacity of supercapacitor-type cathode materials," the researchers said&nbsp;in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-superconductivity-breakthrough-for-next-age-electrical-transmission-570740">Scientists achieve superconductivity breakthrough for next-age electrical transmission</a>

Led by Professor Jeung Ku Kang from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the research team integrated anode materials typically used in batteries with cathodes suitable for supercapacitors.

The combination helped the battery to achieve high storage capacities and rapid charge-discharge rates.

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

The study indicates that the battery can be a viable next-generation alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

The battery may potentially&nbsp;fulfill an increasing demand for low-cost electrochemical energy storage devices with high energy density for prolonged operation on a single charge and fast-chargeable power density. It can then&nbsp;meet a wide range of applications ranging from mobile electronic devices through electric vehicles (EVs) to large-scale grid systems.

At present, the available sodium-ion energy storage systems are poor in rechargeability as they have a low power density while providing a relatively high energy density.

Researchers are focused to develop sodium-ion hybrid energy storage (SIHES) cells.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korean researchers have developed a high power hybrid sodium-ion battery that can be charged in seconds, in a potential breakthrough that could be consequential for the way critical minerals are required for technological innovations.

South Korean researchers have developed a high power hybrid sodium-ion battery that can be charged in seconds, in a potential breakthrough that could be consequential for the way critical minerals are required for technological innovations. Co-authored by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) doctoral candidates Jong Hui Choi and Dong Won Kim, the study was published in the journal Energy Storage Materials. Why a sodium battery? Sodium is nearly 1000 times more abundant than lithium and is less rare a mineral. So a sodium-ion electrochemical energy storage would be a cheaper and potentially more feasible source of energy due to its comparative abundance in the world around us. "The development of a hybrid battery with high energy and high power density requires an improvement to the slow energy storage rate of battery-type anodes as well as the enhancement of the relatively low capacity of supercapacitor-type cathode materials," the researchers said in a statement. Also read | Scientists achieve superconductivity breakthrough for next-age electrical transmission Led by Professor Jeung Ku Kang from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the research team integrated anode materials typically used in batteries with cathodes suitable for supercapacitors. The combination helped the battery to achieve high storage capacities and rapid charge-discharge rates. What does it mean? The study indicates that the battery can be a viable next-generation alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The battery may potentially fulfill an increasing demand for low-cost electrochemical energy storage devices with high energy density for prolonged operation on a single charge and fast-chargeable power density. It can then meet a wide range of applications ranging from mobile electronic devices through electric vehicles (EVs) to large-scale grid systems. At present, the available sodium-ion energy storage systems are poor in rechargeability as they have a low power density while providing a relatively high energy density. Researchers are focused to develop sodium-ion hybrid energy storage (SIHES) cells. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists develop sodium battery that can be charged in seconds

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