Scientists are investigating claims of a massive structure hidden beneath the Bermuda Triangle, reigniting debate around one of the world’s most enduring mysteries. New data and underwater observations have raised questions about unusual formations below the ocean floor, leaving researchers searching for scientific explanations.


Giant structure found in Bermuda triangle

Bermuda Triangle's hidden secret: Scientists find colossal underwater structure

Discover the sweet mystery behind why chocolates taste so delicious! Learn how a new starter culture is ending the chocolate flavor lottery, ensuring consistent and rich flavors every time. Dive into the science and innovation transforming the chocolate industry.




Sweet Mystery: Why Are Chocolates So Tasty? New Culture Explained | WION

From ancient sciences to everyday essentials, let's find 10 fascinating inventions that trace their roots to India showcasing the nation’s rich legacy of innovation and creativity.

From ancient sciences to everyday essentials, let's find 10 fascinating inventions that trace their roots to India showcasing the nation’s rich legacy of innovation and creativity.

Did you know? These 10 incredible inventions India gave the world

The Space Shuttle programme, developed by NASA, introduced the world’s first reusable spacecraft. Operating from 1981 to 2011, the shuttles carried out 135 missions, completing over 21,000 orbits and covering more than 542 million miles. The fleet was used to transport satellites, conduct research, support space station assembly, and enable spacewalks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Evolution of the Space Shuttle Fleet</h2>NASA built five operational orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Each measured 37.2 metres in length, had a wingspan of 23.8 metres, and launch mass ranging between 104 and 109 tonnes. A sixth shuttle, Enterprise, was used only for test flights and did not go into orbit. The Soviet-built Buran orbiter, measuring 36.4 metres long and weighing 105 tonnes, flew a single automated mission in 1988 and remains one of the largest spacecraft constructed outside the United States.&nbsp;Columbia, launched in April 1981, was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It was also the heaviest, weighing 109 tonnes due to early design elements and limited ISS compatibility. It deployed key payloads like the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It was tragically lost in 2003 during re-entry after sustaining wing damage from launch debris. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla was among those lost in the Columbia disaster.&nbsp;Challenger entered service in 1983 and conducted several pioneering missions, including the deployment of the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. It also hosted the first spacewalk by a US woman. On January 28, 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, following a booster failure. All seven crew members were lost.&nbsp;Discovery, arriving in 1983, became NASA’s most flown orbiter with 39 missions. It deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and played a vital role in ISS construction. Lighter than Columbia, Discovery incorporated improved thermal protection and structure refinements. It retired in 2011 after completing the final shuttle flight to the ISS.&nbsp;Atlantis, which joined the fleet in 1985, completed 33 missions and was instrumental in both ISS assembly and the Shuttle-Mir programme, becoming the first shuttle to dock with a Russian space station. Its construction was completed faster and with fewer resources than Columbia.&nbsp;&nbsp;Endeavour, commissioned in 1991 to replace Challenger, carried out 25 missions. Its notable flights included satellite repairs and spacewalks, including a record-setting eight-hour EVA. It also introduced new technical features, such as the use of a drag chute on landing.&nbsp;The Buran orbiter, developed by the Soviet Union, was similar in design and size to the American shuttle. It completed its only mission without a crew in 1988, operating entirely on automated systems. Though the programme was cancelled, Buran demonstrated comparable capabilities in terms of payload and flight systems, adding to the global legacy of reusable spacecraft.&nbsp;NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. Since then, the shuttle fleet—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—has been retired. &nbsp;

NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. 

The Space Shuttle programme, developed by NASA, introduced the world’s first reusable spacecraft. Operating from 1981 to 2011, the shuttles carried out 135 missions, completing over 21,000 orbits and covering more than 542 million miles. The fleet was used to transport satellites, conduct research, support space station assembly, and enable spacewalks. Evolution of the Space Shuttle Fleet NASA built five operational orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Each measured 37.2 metres in length, had a wingspan of 23.8 metres, and launch mass ranging between 104 and 109 tonnes. A sixth shuttle, Enterprise, was used only for test flights and did not go into orbit. The Soviet-built Buran orbiter, measuring 36.4 metres long and weighing 105 tonnes, flew a single automated mission in 1988 and remains one of the largest spacecraft constructed outside the United States. Columbia, launched in April 1981, was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It was also the heaviest, weighing 109 tonnes due to early design elements and limited ISS compatibility. It deployed key payloads like the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It was tragically lost in 2003 during re-entry after sustaining wing damage from launch debris. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla was among those lost in the Columbia disaster. Challenger entered service in 1983 and conducted several pioneering missions, including the deployment of the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. It also hosted the first spacewalk by a US woman. On January 28, 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, following a booster failure. All seven crew members were lost. Discovery, arriving in 1983, became NASA’s most flown orbiter with 39 missions. It deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and played a vital role in ISS construction. Lighter than Columbia, Discovery incorporated improved thermal protection and structure refinements. It retired in 2011 after completing the final shuttle flight to the ISS. Atlantis, which joined the fleet in 1985, completed 33 missions and was instrumental in both ISS assembly and the Shuttle-Mir programme, becoming the first shuttle to dock with a Russian space station. Its construction was completed faster and with fewer resources than Columbia. Endeavour, commissioned in 1991 to replace Challenger, carried out 25 missions. Its notable flights included satellite repairs and spacewalks, including a record-setting eight-hour EVA. It also introduced new technical features, such as the use of a drag chute on landing. The Buran orbiter, developed by the Soviet Union, was similar in design and size to the American shuttle. It completed its only mission without a crew in 1988, operating entirely on automated systems. Though the programme was cancelled, Buran demonstrated comparable capabilities in terms of payload and flight systems, adding to the global legacy of reusable spacecraft. NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. Since then, the shuttle fleet—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—has been retired.

NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011.&nbsp;

From Columbia to Discovery: The five largest NASA space shuttles in history

The discoveries around Egyptian mummies always unravel vital information about the old civilisation. Sometimes there's an eerie and mysterious air in the stories that engulf the mighty pyramids. Adding to this curiosity is a 2,300-year-old mummy called 'Pacheri', also referred to as 'Bashiri', which was discovered by Egyptologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in 1919. Carter found this mummy three years before he uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Despite being found over a century ago, no archaeologist has opened this mummy yet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8n29xwu-1wojwbef-lsb77nfo">
Bashiri mummy is the only mummy from which scientists did not dare and refused to remove the linen because there is no human being or technology in the entire world that can return it as it was. Discovered in 1919 by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Egypt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Egypt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/stelle_lune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stelle_lune</a> <a href="https://t.co/RBUkGvlDeS">pic.twitter.com/RBUkGvlDeS</a>
&mdash; Miguel Calabria (@MiguelCalabria3) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiguelCalabria3/status/1885419919778390491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
What seems like a marvel, the mummy is said to be of a male who lived in the Ptolemaic era, i.e., between the second and the third century BCE. The mummification process of this particular corpse is very different from all those unravelled so far. From the ornaments to the unique patterns made on the face that resemble the pyramids, and the intricate detailing goes in a concentric geometric design.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologists-unseal-2000-year-old-mummy-discovered-in-italys-tomb-of-cerberus-745373">Archaeologists unseal 2000-year-old mummy discovered in Italy's 'Tomb of Cerberus'</a>
So far, the five-and-a-half-foot-tall mummy has been scanned through X-rays and most essential details have been recorded this way, but the linen wrap remains untouched. No archaeologist or researcher in the world so far is equipped or trained to unwrap this mysterious mummy, as reassembling it may be impossible.
The Egypt Museum mentions on its website, "According to the results of an X-ray analysis, this mummy is that of an adult man. His name, written hastily, can be read as either Pacheri or Nenu; the interpretation is still uncertain."
Further adding, "The wide, used collar covering his chest is formed of several rows of beads and includes falcon-headed clasps.
The apron covering the body features various scenes arranged in registers, notably the mummy lying on a bed, surrounded by the goddesses Isis and Nephtys and the four sons of Horus. Finally, the casing around the feet has two images of the funerary god Anubis."
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2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy Pacheri was discovered in 1919. Despite being found over a century ago, no archaeologist has opened this mummy yet. World

The discoveries around Egyptian mummies always unravel vital information about the old civilisation. Sometimes there's an eerie and mysterious air in the stories that engulf the mighty pyramids. Adding to this curiosity is a 2,300-year-old mummy called 'Pacheri', also referred to as 'Bashiri', which was discovered by Egyptologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in 1919. Carter found this mummy three years before he uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Despite being found over a century ago, no archaeologist has opened this mummy yet. Bashiri mummy is the only mummy from which scientists did not dare and refused to remove the linen because there is no human being or technology in the entire world that can return it as it was. Discovered in 1919 by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings #Egypt @stelle_lune pic.twitter.com/RBUkGvlDeS — Miguel Calabria (@MiguelCalabria3) January 31, 2025 What seems like a marvel, the mummy is said to be of a male who lived in the Ptolemaic era, i.e., between the second and the third century BCE. The mummification process of this particular corpse is very different from all those unravelled so far. From the ornaments to the unique patterns made on the face that resemble the pyramids, and the intricate detailing goes in a concentric geometric design. Also read: Archaeologists unseal 2000-year-old mummy discovered in Italy's 'Tomb of Cerberus' So far, the five-and-a-half-foot-tall mummy has been scanned through X-rays and most essential details have been recorded this way, but the linen wrap remains untouched. No archaeologist or researcher in the world so far is equipped or trained to unwrap this mysterious mummy, as reassembling it may be impossible. The Egypt Museum mentions on its website, "According to the results of an X-ray analysis, this mummy is that of an adult man. His name, written hastily, can be read as either Pacheri or Nenu; the interpretation is still uncertain." Further adding, "The wide, used collar covering his chest is formed of several rows of beads and includes falcon-headed clasps. The apron covering the body features various scenes arranged in registers, notably the mummy lying on a bed, surrounded by the goddesses Isis and Nephtys and the four sons of Horus. Finally, the casing around the feet has two images of the funerary god Anubis."

Discovered over 100 years ago, no archaeologist has dared to open THIS mysterious 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy

Apple TV+ is reportedly losing over $1 billion annually, despite spending more than $5 billion a year on content since its 2019 launch. In 2023, Apple cut content investments by $500 million, signaling a shift in strategy. With an estimated 40.4 million subscribers at the end of 2024, Apple TV+ lags far behind competitors like Netflix, which leads the industry with 301.6 million users. This is followed by Disney+ at 124.6 million and Warner Bros Discovery at 116.9 million.

Future of streaming: Ads, bundles & gaming

Archaeologists&nbsp;have made a stunning discovery of a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age town in the Arabian Peninsula where nearly 500 people used to live.&nbsp;

The discovery has shed light on how ancient societies transitioned from nomadic lifestyle to urban living.

French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, along with Saudi researchers, discovered the al-Natah settlement close to the Khaybar Oasis.

According to the researchers, al-Natah spans around 2.6 hectares (6.4 acres) and was constructed in 2400 BCE. The town remained inhabited till roughly 1300 BCE.

“Our findings suggest that the people of al-Natah engaged in a slower, region-specific process of urbanisation,” Charloux said while speaking to AFP.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mayan-city-with-buildings-and-plazas-hiding-in-plain-sight-has-only-now-been-found-771559">Mayan city with buildings and plazas hiding in plain sight has only now been found</a>

He emphasised that the structure and stone barriers of the town suggested that inhabitants were socially organised and the area was traditionally dominated by nomadic communities.&nbsp;

<h2>All about al-Natah</h2>

The site near the city of Al-Ula in western Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region was found by the archaeologists and it was named "al-Natah."&nbsp;

A 9-mile-long (14.5 kilometre) wall is believed to have encircled Al-Natah and protected it.

According to the archaeologists, a carefully planned settlement was created which had a central administrative zone, walled gardens, a necropolis and a residential district with interconnected streets.

There were circular stepped tower tombs and multiple artefacts in the necropolis.

Archaeologists also discovered axes, daggers, precious stone rings made of agate and pieces of pottery on the site.

In the research conducted in al-Natah and other sites, it was found that urbanisation was slow in the Arabian Peninsula.&nbsp;

"Settlements in northern Arabia were in a transitional stage of urbanisation during the third to second millennium [B.C.]," said the researchers, in the statement.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-royal-piece-of-cloth-archaeologists-find-alexander-the-greats-tunic-at-a-tomb-772295">A royal piece of cloth? Archaeologists find Alexander the Great's tunic at a tomb</a>

This phase was called "low urbanisation" because it described a transitional stage between pastoralism and complex urban settlements.

"While urbanisation began in Mesopotamia and Egypt in the 4th millennium B.C., our study tends to show that social complexity increased late in north-western Arabia," said Charloux.

A similar fortification from the same epoch was found by the archaeologists in the neighbouring Tayma Oasis in January.

Archaeologists have still not figured out why al-Natah was abandoned between 1500–1300 BCE. “It’s a pertinent question that we can’t answer at the moment,” said Charloux, adding that extensive work is still required in this area.

(With inputs from agencies)

Archaeologists have made a stunning discovery of a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age town in the Arabian Peninsula where nearly 500 people used to live. The discovery has shed light on how ancient societies transitioned from nomadic lifestyle to urban living.

Archaeologists have made a stunning discovery of a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age town in the Arabian Peninsula where nearly 500 people used to live. The discovery has shed light on how ancient societies transitioned from nomadic lifestyle to urban living. French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, along with Saudi researchers, discovered the al-Natah settlement close to the Khaybar Oasis. According to the researchers, al-Natah spans around 2.6 hectares (6.4 acres) and was constructed in 2400 BCE. The town remained inhabited till roughly 1300 BCE. “Our findings suggest that the people of al-Natah engaged in a slower, region-specific process of urbanisation,” Charloux said while speaking to AFP. Also Read: Mayan city with buildings and plazas hiding in plain sight has only now been found He emphasised that the structure and stone barriers of the town suggested that inhabitants were socially organised and the area was traditionally dominated by nomadic communities. All about al-Natah The site near the city of Al-Ula in western Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region was found by the archaeologists and it was named "al-Natah." A 9-mile-long (14.5 kilometre) wall is believed to have encircled Al-Natah and protected it. According to the archaeologists, a carefully planned settlement was created which had a central administrative zone, walled gardens, a necropolis and a residential district with interconnected streets. There were circular stepped tower tombs and multiple artefacts in the necropolis. Archaeologists also discovered axes, daggers, precious stone rings made of agate and pieces of pottery on the site. In the research conducted in al-Natah and other sites, it was found that urbanisation was slow in the Arabian Peninsula. "Settlements in northern Arabia were in a transitional stage of urbanisation during the third to second millennium [B.C.]," said the researchers, in the statement. Also Read: A royal piece of cloth? Archaeologists find Alexander the Great's tunic at a tomb This phase was called "low urbanisation" because it described a transitional stage between pastoralism and complex urban settlements. "While urbanisation began in Mesopotamia and Egypt in the 4th millennium B.C., our study tends to show that social complexity increased late in north-western Arabia," said Charloux. A similar fortification from the same epoch was found by the archaeologists in the neighbouring Tayma Oasis in January. Archaeologists have still not figured out why al-Natah was abandoned between 1500–1300 BCE. “It’s a pertinent question that we can’t answer at the moment,” said Charloux, adding that extensive work is still required in this area. (With inputs from agencies)

Archaeologists find 4,000-year-old Bronze Age town in Saudi Arabia

In a new research, it has been discovered that there may be enough natural resources on the moon of Uranus which may support alien life.&nbsp;

According to scientists&nbsp;from Johns Hopkins and the University of North Dakota, the sophomoric-sounding planet's moon Miranda has sources of water hidden underneath its surface.

The discovery can prove to be a breakthrough in mankind's ongoing search for aliens.

“To find evidence of an ocean inside a small object like Miranda is incredibly surprising,” explained planetary scientist and researcher Tom Nordheim. The discovery was published in&nbsp;The Planetary Science Journal.

“It helps build on the story that some of these moons at Uranus may be really interesting — that there may be several ocean worlds around one of the most distant planets in our solar system, which is both exciting and bizarre,” he said about the “remarkable” potential.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/humans-can-hitch-a-ride-to-mars-on-board-an-asteroid-ukrainian-scientists-say-771624">Asteroids can take humans to other planets. 'Like an interplanetary bus...'</a>

The new study has been carried out on the basis of NASA research in which Uranus&nbsp;moons Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon were investigated for deep, water-filled gorges which can have signs of biological extraterrestrial life.

<h2>An ocean on Uranus'&nbsp;moon Miranda?</h2>

Researcher Sherry Fieber-Beyer said that the study gives clearer context regarding the formation of the solar system. She added that it can also help them understand how the giant planets' movement led to the creation of moons and asteroids.

With the help of the images clicked by the deep space probe Voyager 2 in 1986, the “Frankenstein-like hodgepodge of grooved terrain” on the southern hemisphere of Miranda was reanalysed to understand if the rugged ground was caused by the tidal forces which interacted with the heat.”

“This research helps us understand what the requirements are for an icy moon to be an ocean world, which is relevant to assessing the habitability of icy outer solar system satellites,” said researcher Caleb Strom.

“We do not know enough about the Uranian satellites to say whether there could be life on them, but understanding what factors would result in them having subsurface oceans is an important step toward addressing that question," he added.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-now-plan-to-grow-first-tree-on-planet-mars-heres-how-772050">&nbsp;Scientists now plan to grow first tree on planet Mars. Here's how</a>

Scientists discovered that there was probably an ocean below Miranda's icy surface around 100 to 500 million years ago.

According to the researchers, the ocean was formed because of the tidal forces between Miranda's gravity and other moons of the planet.

“That result was a big surprise to the team,” said Strom. “We won’t know for sure that it even has an ocean until we go back and collect more data,” explained Nordheim.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new research, it has been discovered that there may be enough natural resources on the moon of Uranus which may support alien life. According to scientists from Johns Hopkins and the University of North Dakota, the sophomoric-sounding planet's moon Miranda has sources of water hidden underneath its surface.

In a new research, it has been discovered that there may be enough natural resources on the moon of Uranus which may support alien life. According to scientists from Johns Hopkins and the University of North Dakota, the sophomoric-sounding planet's moon Miranda has sources of water hidden underneath its surface. The discovery can prove to be a breakthrough in mankind's ongoing search for aliens. “To find evidence of an ocean inside a small object like Miranda is incredibly surprising,” explained planetary scientist and researcher Tom Nordheim. The discovery was published in The Planetary Science Journal. “It helps build on the story that some of these moons at Uranus may be really interesting — that there may be several ocean worlds around one of the most distant planets in our solar system, which is both exciting and bizarre,” he said about the “remarkable” potential. Also Read: Asteroids can take humans to other planets. 'Like an interplanetary bus...' The new study has been carried out on the basis of NASA research in which Uranus moons Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon were investigated for deep, water-filled gorges which can have signs of biological extraterrestrial life. An ocean on Uranus' moon Miranda? Researcher Sherry Fieber-Beyer said that the study gives clearer context regarding the formation of the solar system. She added that it can also help them understand how the giant planets' movement led to the creation of moons and asteroids. With the help of the images clicked by the deep space probe Voyager 2 in 1986, the “Frankenstein-like hodgepodge of grooved terrain” on the southern hemisphere of Miranda was reanalysed to understand if the rugged ground was caused by the tidal forces which interacted with the heat.” “This research helps us understand what the requirements are for an icy moon to be an ocean world, which is relevant to assessing the habitability of icy outer solar system satellites,” said researcher Caleb Strom. “We do not know enough about the Uranian satellites to say whether there could be life on them, but understanding what factors would result in them having subsurface oceans is an important step toward addressing that question," he added. Also Read: Scientists now plan to grow first tree on planet Mars. Here's how Scientists discovered that there was probably an ocean below Miranda's icy surface around 100 to 500 million years ago. According to the researchers, the ocean was formed because of the tidal forces between Miranda's gravity and other moons of the planet. “That result was a big surprise to the team,” said Strom. “We won’t know for sure that it even has an ocean until we go back and collect more data,” explained Nordheim. (With inputs from agencies)

Are 'little green men' roaming on moon of Uranus? Scientists make 'bizarre' new find

A new fossil mammal, nearly the size of a muskrat, was found by a team of palaeontologists when they were scurrying through swamps during the Age of Dinosaurs.

The researchers, headed by the University of Colorado Boulder's Jaelyn Eberle, published the findings in the journal&nbsp;PLOS ONE on October 23.&nbsp;

The discovery was identified from a piece of jawbone and three&nbsp;molar teeth by Eberle and her colleagues and was named Heleocola piceanus.&nbsp;

According to the researchers, the animal existed in Colorado roughly 70 to 75 million years ago and in those times, large portions of the American West were covered by a vast inland sea.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/80-million-year-old-fully-intact-smallest-dinosaur-eggs-unearthed-in-china-scientists-suggest-770133">80 million-year-old 'fully intact' smallest dinosaur eggs unearthed in China. Scientists suggest...</a>

"Colorado is a great place to find fossils, but mammals from this time period tend to be pretty rare," said Eberle, who is the curator of fossil vertebrates at the CU Museum of Natural History and professor in the Department of Geological Sciences.&nbsp;

"So it's really neat to see this slice of time preserved in Colorado," he added.&nbsp;

<h2>New fossil&nbsp;comparatively large for mammals: Researchers</h2>

In comparison to larger dinosaurs like the horned ancestors of Triceratops or tyrannosaurs, the new fossil found in Colorado was tiny and insignificant. Eberle said that it was comparatively large for mammals at the time.&nbsp;

Eberle further expressed her happiness that the town of Rangely, which was near Dinosaur National Monument, is getting its due.

"It's a small town, but, in my experience as a palaeontologist, a lot of cool things come out of rural environments. It's nice to see western Colorado have an exciting discovery," Eberle said.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/tasmanian-tiger-that-went-extinct-may-come-back-soon-thanks-to-a-head-in-a-bucket-of-ethanol-768600">Tasmanian tiger that went extinct may come back soon, thanks to a head in a bucket of ethanol</a>

For nearly 15 years, palaeontologists and co-authors of the new study John Foster and ReBecca Hunt-Foster have been visiting this part of the state to dig up fossils every summer.&nbsp;

"The region might have looked kind of like Louisiana," explained ReBecca Hunt-Foster, who is a palaeontologist at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and western Colorado. "We see a lot of animals that were living in the water quite happily like sharks, rays and guitarfish," he added.&nbsp;

John Foster recalled that he first saw a bit of mammal jaw hidden beneath a slab of sandstone which he had found from the site in 2016. The measurement of the fossil was about an inch long.

"I said, 'Holy cow, that's huge,'" stated Foster, who is a scientist at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal, Utah.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new fossil mammal, nearly the size of a muskrat, was found by a team of palaeontologists when they were scurrying through swamps during the Age of Dinosaurs. The researchers, headed by the University of Colorado Boulder's Jaelyn Eberle, published the findings in the journal PLOS ONE on October 23.

A new fossil mammal, nearly the size of a muskrat, was found by a team of palaeontologists when they were scurrying through swamps during the Age of Dinosaurs. The researchers, headed by the University of Colorado Boulder's Jaelyn Eberle, published the findings in the journal PLOS ONE on October 23. The discovery was identified from a piece of jawbone and three molar teeth by Eberle and her colleagues and was named Heleocola piceanus. According to the researchers, the animal existed in Colorado roughly 70 to 75 million years ago and in those times, large portions of the American West were covered by a vast inland sea. Also Read: 80 million-year-old 'fully intact' smallest dinosaur eggs unearthed in China. Scientists suggest... "Colorado is a great place to find fossils, but mammals from this time period tend to be pretty rare," said Eberle, who is the curator of fossil vertebrates at the CU Museum of Natural History and professor in the Department of Geological Sciences. "So it's really neat to see this slice of time preserved in Colorado," he added. New fossil comparatively large for mammals: Researchers In comparison to larger dinosaurs like the horned ancestors of Triceratops or tyrannosaurs, the new fossil found in Colorado was tiny and insignificant. Eberle said that it was comparatively large for mammals at the time. Eberle further expressed her happiness that the town of Rangely, which was near Dinosaur National Monument, is getting its due. "It's a small town, but, in my experience as a palaeontologist, a lot of cool things come out of rural environments. It's nice to see western Colorado have an exciting discovery," Eberle said. Also Read: Tasmanian tiger that went extinct may come back soon, thanks to a head in a bucket of ethanol For nearly 15 years, palaeontologists and co-authors of the new study John Foster and ReBecca Hunt-Foster have been visiting this part of the state to dig up fossils every summer. "The region might have looked kind of like Louisiana," explained ReBecca Hunt-Foster, who is a palaeontologist at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and western Colorado. "We see a lot of animals that were living in the water quite happily like sharks, rays and guitarfish," he added. John Foster recalled that he first saw a bit of mammal jaw hidden beneath a slab of sandstone which he had found from the site in 2016. The measurement of the fossil was about an inch long. "I said, 'Holy cow, that's huge,'" stated Foster, who is a scientist at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal, Utah. (With inputs from agencies)

New discovery suggests THIS mammal existed alongside dinosaurs

The doctors made a startling discovery as they began dissecting the hands of one of the controversial Peru's 'alien mummies'.&nbsp;

Among the bones of what some have claimed are mummies of aliens, doctors found strange and complex metallic structures.&nbsp;

The dozen strange specimens, known as 'Nazca Tridactyls', were believed to belong to Peru and were found by anonymous local 'huaqueros' (tomb raiders).

The doctors said that they removed a "light metal" implant&nbsp;from the palm of the new specimen, reported The Daily Mail.

A video was recorded of the dissection in which a physician was seen carefully pulling out the suspected 'alien implant' from the severed, three-fingered hand of Nazca Tridacty with tweezers.

The metal was removed by the Mexican Navy forensic doctor and examiner Dr Jose Zalce Benitez.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-believe-theyll-soon-spot-alien-civilisation-communicating-with-its-spacecraft-768395">Scientists scan star system potentially hosting alien life</a>

"It is a very complex metal alloy that requires special knowledge and techniques to be able to achieve it with such quality and purity,"&nbsp;Benitez said.

"It was possible to identify elements such as aluminium, tin, silver, copper, cadmium and osmium among others in smaller quantities and percentages," he added.

In the video, one of the mummified hands was peeled back and its metacarpal' or 'palm' bones were revealed.

"This tridactyl hand, from which I obtained the metal, does not belong to any of the bodies presented at the Mexican&nbsp;Congress," Dr Zalce said.&nbsp;

"This hand is part of a series of loose pieces that belong to the place where the tridactyl bodies of Peru were found," added the physician and forensic expert.

<h2>A 'metal implant' in alien mummies?</h2>

In the video, the alleged 'metal implant' appeared like a torn patch of silvery reptilian scales.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-telescopes-have-evidence-of-aliens-will-reveal-it-next-month-claims-nasa-filmmaker-767016">Earth's telescopes have evidence of aliens, will reveal it next month, claims NASA filmmaker</a>

Speaking to The Daily Mail, reporter Fernando Correa Dominguez said that the hand was rehydrated by the doctors to remove the "metal implant."

Earlier, Correa said that "they did not see any moisture inside the hand, [only] dehydrated skin tissue was observed inside the tendons and muscles."&nbsp;

Speaking about the procedure in detail, Dr Zalce said, "We used a forensic technique to protect the tissue and minimize its degradation [...] a special serum that is used for the rehydration of corpses that has very specific concentration percentages."

"We use sterile swabs with a soft surgical cotton tip to avoid any type of damage or contamination to both the metal sample and the tridactyl hand," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The doctors made a startling discovery as they began dissecting the hands of one of the controversial Peru's 'alien mummies'. Among the bones of what some have claimed are mummies of aliens, doctors found strange and complex metallic structures.

The doctors made a startling discovery as they began dissecting the hands of one of the controversial Peru's 'alien mummies'. Among the bones of what some have claimed are mummies of aliens, doctors found strange and complex metallic structures. The dozen strange specimens, known as 'Nazca Tridactyls', were believed to belong to Peru and were found by anonymous local 'huaqueros' (tomb raiders). The doctors said that they removed a "light metal" implant from the palm of the new specimen, reported The Daily Mail. A video was recorded of the dissection in which a physician was seen carefully pulling out the suspected 'alien implant' from the severed, three-fingered hand of Nazca Tridacty with tweezers. The metal was removed by the Mexican Navy forensic doctor and examiner Dr Jose Zalce Benitez. Also Read: Scientists scan star system potentially hosting alien life "It is a very complex metal alloy that requires special knowledge and techniques to be able to achieve it with such quality and purity," Benitez said. "It was possible to identify elements such as aluminium, tin, silver, copper, cadmium and osmium among others in smaller quantities and percentages," he added. In the video, one of the mummified hands was peeled back and its metacarpal' or 'palm' bones were revealed. "This tridactyl hand, from which I obtained the metal, does not belong to any of the bodies presented at the Mexican Congress," Dr Zalce said. "This hand is part of a series of loose pieces that belong to the place where the tridactyl bodies of Peru were found," added the physician and forensic expert. A 'metal implant' in alien mummies? In the video, the alleged 'metal implant' appeared like a torn patch of silvery reptilian scales. Also Read: Earth's telescopes have evidence of aliens, will reveal it next month, claims NASA filmmaker Speaking to The Daily Mail, reporter Fernando Correa Dominguez said that the hand was rehydrated by the doctors to remove the "metal implant." Earlier, Correa said that "they did not see any moisture inside the hand, [only] dehydrated skin tissue was observed inside the tendons and muscles." Speaking about the procedure in detail, Dr Zalce said, "We used a forensic technique to protect the tissue and minimize its degradation [...] a special serum that is used for the rehydration of corpses that has very specific concentration percentages." "We use sterile swabs with a soft surgical cotton tip to avoid any type of damage or contamination to both the metal sample and the tridactyl hand," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Experts dissect hands of Peruvian 'alien mummies', make a shocking discovery of...

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission has achieved another remarkable success by discovering a key geological feature on the Moon. Following the successful deployment of its Pragyan rover at the Moon’s south pole in 2023, the mission has now captured images of a buried ancient crater measuring 160 kilometers wide near its landing site. Watch in for more details!

Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan Rover Discovers 160 Km Wide Crater On Moon

In a stunning discovery, astronomers spotted the eruption of the largest twin jets from a black hole&nbsp;that&nbsp;can stretch for around 23 million light-years, which is equivalent to lined-up 140&nbsp;Milky Way&nbsp;galaxies.&nbsp; 
 
The scientists saw the jets erupting from the heart of a supermassive black hole, which is located nearly 7.5 billion light-years away.&nbsp;

The jets which blasted out from the black hole released trillions of times more energy every second compared to our Sun.

"We've known about these structures made by jets from galactic-centre&nbsp;supermassive black holes&nbsp;for a long time, but this particular one stands out for three reasons," said team member Martin Hardcastle of the University of Hertfordshire, while speaking to Space.com.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-primordial-black-hole-will-pass-through-our-solar-system-after-every-10-years-will-it-harm-759740">A 'primordial' black hole will pass through our solar system every 10 years. Will it harm?</a>

"First, it's the largest yet, at over 20 million light years from end to end, which means it goes from the centre of its parent galaxy right out into the void between galaxies and galaxy groups," he added.

"Secondly, it's one of the most powerful we know about, with a fast rate of matter infall onto the black hole. And finally, it is found when the universe was only roughly half of its present age, and is thought to have been a much more violent place with much more going on that could have disrupted the jets," Hardcastle said.

<h2>Scientists name the powerful jets 'Porphyrion'</h2>

The scientists, along with the team which discovered the megastructure, gave the gigantic jets a suitable mythic name, "Porphyrion," which was borrowed from&nbsp;Greek mythology.&nbsp;

According to the researchers, such an outflow of jets is likely to have played an important role in the&nbsp;evolution of galaxies in the early universe.

"Astronomers believe that&nbsp;galaxies and their central black holes co-evolve, and one key aspect of this is that jets can spread huge amounts of energy that affect the growth of their host galaxies and other galaxies near them," said team member George Djorgovski, professor of astronomy and data science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in a statement.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Astronomers find a rare black hole that defies current theories

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/astronomers-find-a-rare-black-hole-that-defies-current-theories-758816/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"This discovery shows that their effects can extend much farther out than we thought," he added.

Pophyrion was discovered by scientists using the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) radio telescope.&nbsp;

"Giant jets were known before we started the campaign, but we had no idea that there would turn out to be so many," said Hardcastle.&nbsp;

"Usually, when we get a new observational capability, such as LOFAR's combination of wide field of view and very high sensitivity to extended structures, we find something new, but it was still very exciting to see so many of these objects emerging," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a stunning discovery, astronomers spotted the eruption of the largest twin jets from a black hole that can stretch for around 23 million light-years, which is equivalent to lined-up 140 Milky Way galaxies.

In a stunning discovery, astronomers spotted the eruption of the largest twin jets from a black hole that can stretch for around 23 million light-years, which is equivalent to lined-up 140 Milky Way galaxies. The scientists saw the jets erupting from the heart of a supermassive black hole, which is located nearly 7.5 billion light-years away. The jets which blasted out from the black hole released trillions of times more energy every second compared to our Sun. "We've known about these structures made by jets from galactic-centre supermassive black holes for a long time, but this particular one stands out for three reasons," said team member Martin Hardcastle of the University of Hertfordshire, while speaking to Space.com. Also Read: A 'primordial' black hole will pass through our solar system every 10 years. Will it harm? "First, it's the largest yet, at over 20 million light years from end to end, which means it goes from the centre of its parent galaxy right out into the void between galaxies and galaxy groups," he added. "Secondly, it's one of the most powerful we know about, with a fast rate of matter infall onto the black hole. And finally, it is found when the universe was only roughly half of its present age, and is thought to have been a much more violent place with much more going on that could have disrupted the jets," Hardcastle said. Scientists name the powerful jets 'Porphyrion' The scientists, along with the team which discovered the megastructure, gave the gigantic jets a suitable mythic name, "Porphyrion," which was borrowed from Greek mythology. According to the researchers, such an outflow of jets is likely to have played an important role in the evolution of galaxies in the early universe. "Astronomers believe that galaxies and their central black holes co-evolve, and one key aspect of this is that jets can spread huge amounts of energy that affect the growth of their host galaxies and other galaxies near them," said team member George Djorgovski, professor of astronomy and data science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in a statement. Watch: Astronomers find a rare black hole that defies current theories "This discovery shows that their effects can extend much farther out than we thought," he added. Pophyrion was discovered by scientists using the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) radio telescope. "Giant jets were known before we started the campaign, but we had no idea that there would turn out to be so many," said Hardcastle. "Usually, when we get a new observational capability, such as LOFAR's combination of wide field of view and very high sensitivity to extended structures, we find something new, but it was still very exciting to see so many of these objects emerging," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Largest twin jets erupt from a black hole, can stretch for 23 million light-years

An 'astonishing' discovery was made by an international team of researchers as they mapped a network of rivers and estuaries in 3D around the sunken but "beautifully preserved" landscape of a 7,000-year-old underwater city.&nbsp;

The area was scanned after a Stone Age road, which was 13 feet beneath the Adriatic Sea, was found in last year's discovery. The road once connected the ancient city to the mainland.

The city, which is called Soline, was created on an artificial landmass by the ancient Hvar culture. However, the city slowly started sinking off the coast of what today is called Croatia as sea levels increased with the melting glaciers of the last Ice Age around 12,000 BC.

The researchers now hope that this discovery will help them strategise their deep-sea hunts to find ancient submerged sites and artefacts of the Hvar people.&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologists-discover-ruins-of-4000-year-old-temple-738555">&nbsp;Archaeologists discover ruins of 4,000-year-old ceremonial temple</a>

The new project's lead investigator and geo-archaeologist&nbsp;Dr Simon Fitch said, "It's a more diverse landscape and it's better preserved than we expected."&nbsp;

He said, "The results provided way more detail than we were expecting."

<h2>Scientists carry out first-ever seafloor scanning&nbsp;</h2>

The scientists found the undersea landscape, where the Hvar culture once existed, near Croatia's&nbsp;second-largest&nbsp;Split where Dr Fitch had gone in March 2023 to start the first-ever seafloor scanning with the help of state-of-the-art underwater 3D seismic sensors.

"There are beautifully preserved rivers and estuaries buried beneath what is now the seafloor," explained Dr Fitch.

"The unique environment of the area around Split, which is quite sheltered, has preserved a lot of it," he added.&nbsp;

The company's data was used by Dr Fitch and his team to map an ancient lost island in the North Sea, Doggerland, which once existed between Great Britain and the Netherlands.

Watch:&nbsp;India's first sunken museum opens at Humayun's Tomb site

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-first-sunken-museum-opens-at-humayuns-tomb-site-746896/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"When we went in with our high-resolution sensors, we found more rivers, more water in the landscape and more environments," said Dr Fitch.&nbsp;

"That's amazing, because it suggests it is more likely that people lived there. Our ultimate goal is to find human artefacts," Dr Fitch added and further noted, "and having this new understanding of the landscape makes that more likely."&nbsp;

"Croatia is the gateway to Europe," he said and added, "so if you think about the advance of farming in Europe, it is and always has been a very important landscape."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

An 'astonishing' discovery was made by an international team of researchers as they mapped a network of rivers and estuaries in 3D around the sunken but "beautifully preserved" landscape of a 7,000-year-old underwater city.

An 'astonishing' discovery was made by an international team of researchers as they mapped a network of rivers and estuaries in 3D around the sunken but "beautifully preserved" landscape of a 7,000-year-old underwater city. The area was scanned after a Stone Age road, which was 13 feet beneath the Adriatic Sea, was found in last year's discovery. The road once connected the ancient city to the mainland. The city, which is called Soline, was created on an artificial landmass by the ancient Hvar culture. However, the city slowly started sinking off the coast of what today is called Croatia as sea levels increased with the melting glaciers of the last Ice Age around 12,000 BC. The researchers now hope that this discovery will help them strategise their deep-sea hunts to find ancient submerged sites and artefacts of the Hvar people. Also Read: Archaeologists discover ruins of 4,000-year-old ceremonial temple The new project's lead investigator and geo-archaeologist Dr Simon Fitch said, "It's a more diverse landscape and it's better preserved than we expected." He said, "The results provided way more detail than we were expecting." Scientists carry out first-ever seafloor scanning The scientists found the undersea landscape, where the Hvar culture once existed, near Croatia's second-largest Split where Dr Fitch had gone in March 2023 to start the first-ever seafloor scanning with the help of state-of-the-art underwater 3D seismic sensors. "There are beautifully preserved rivers and estuaries buried beneath what is now the seafloor," explained Dr Fitch. "The unique environment of the area around Split, which is quite sheltered, has preserved a lot of it," he added. The company's data was used by Dr Fitch and his team to map an ancient lost island in the North Sea, Doggerland, which once existed between Great Britain and the Netherlands. Watch: India's first sunken museum opens at Humayun's Tomb site "When we went in with our high-resolution sensors, we found more rivers, more water in the landscape and more environments," said Dr Fitch. "That's amazing, because it suggests it is more likely that people lived there. Our ultimate goal is to find human artefacts," Dr Fitch added and further noted, "and having this new understanding of the landscape makes that more likely." "Croatia is the gateway to Europe," he said and added, "so if you think about the advance of farming in Europe, it is and always has been a very important landscape." (With inputs from agencies)

Rivers and estuaries still remain preserved in THIS 7,000-year-old underwater city

A 10-year-old was casually strolling on a&nbsp;beach in the UK with her mother when she came across five massive footprints. According to dinosaur experts, the footprints are of a Camelot that roamed the area around 100 years ago.&nbsp;

<h2>Experts to verify the discovery&nbsp;</h2>

The gigantic prints were spaced at the distance 75 cm apart, and are believed to have been left by a large herbivore from the late Triassic period. Palaeontologists and the National Museum Wales' palaeontology curator, Cindy Howells, are working together to verify this discovery, and they are expressing confidence that the footprints are genuine.&nbsp;

Cindy Howells is a seasoned dinosaur expert, having 40 years of experience in the region. She was confident about the authenticity of the footprints, and that they belonged to the dinosaurs. She told the BBC's The Dinohunters programme that they've got five footprints, and the prints are so big that they could have been of dinosaur sauropodomorpha.&nbsp;

<h2>Tegan finds the discovery exciting</h2>

Tegan, the 10-year-old girl, said it was so cool and exciting. She said, "We were just out looking to see what we could find, we didn't think we'd find anything. We found these were big holes that looked like dinosaur footprints, so mum took some pictures, emailed the museum and it was from a long-necked dinosaur." This discovery happened on the South Wales coast.&nbsp;

Also Read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-presidential-election-harris-walz-campaign-to-spend-370-million-on-digital-tv-ads-751033">US prez election: Harris-Walz campaign to spend $370 mn on digital, TV ads</a>|

Claire, the mother of a 10-year-old girl, reached out to Cindy via email just a few days after the discovery. She mentioned that the footprints of dinosaurs have been found in the red siltstone at Lavernock Point.&nbsp;

<h2>Expert finds discovery 'significant'</h2>

Cindy Howells said it is a unique and significant discovery, and the excitement is palpable when they get information from people with confirmed dinosaur finds. She explained the reason for her being sure, and said, "What's telling is the alternating left and right feet, with a consistent distance between them. If they were just random holes, we'd be sceptical, but this pattern suggests a deliberate gait." She further said, "It's hard to comprehend you're walking on the same beach that hundreds of millions of years ago some massive prehistoric animal was here. You can spend a lifetime looking for dinosaur treasures so for Tegan at this age, it is great,"&nbsp;expressing her excitement for the discovery.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A 10-year-old was casually strolling on a beach in the UK with her mother when she came across five massive footprints. According to dinosaur experts, the footprints are of a Camelot that roamed the area around 100 years ago.

A 10-year-old was casually strolling on a beach in the UK with her mother when she came across five massive footprints. According to dinosaur experts, the footprints are of a Camelot that roamed the area around 100 years ago. Experts to verify the discovery The gigantic prints were spaced at the distance 75 cm apart, and are believed to have been left by a large herbivore from the late Triassic period. Palaeontologists and the National Museum Wales' palaeontology curator, Cindy Howells, are working together to verify this discovery, and they are expressing confidence that the footprints are genuine. Cindy Howells is a seasoned dinosaur expert, having 40 years of experience in the region. She was confident about the authenticity of the footprints, and that they belonged to the dinosaurs. She told the BBC's The Dinohunters programme that they've got five footprints, and the prints are so big that they could have been of dinosaur sauropodomorpha. Tegan finds the discovery exciting Tegan, the 10-year-old girl, said it was so cool and exciting. She said, "We were just out looking to see what we could find, we didn't think we'd find anything. We found these were big holes that looked like dinosaur footprints, so mum took some pictures, emailed the museum and it was from a long-necked dinosaur." This discovery happened on the South Wales coast. Also Read|US prez election: Harris-Walz campaign to spend $370 mn on digital, TV ads| Claire, the mother of a 10-year-old girl, reached out to Cindy via email just a few days after the discovery. She mentioned that the footprints of dinosaurs have been found in the red siltstone at Lavernock Point. Expert finds discovery 'significant' Cindy Howells said it is a unique and significant discovery, and the excitement is palpable when they get information from people with confirmed dinosaur finds. She explained the reason for her being sure, and said, "What's telling is the alternating left and right feet, with a consistent distance between them. If they were just random holes, we'd be sceptical, but this pattern suggests a deliberate gait." She further said, "It's hard to comprehend you're walking on the same beach that hundreds of millions of years ago some massive prehistoric animal was here. You can spend a lifetime looking for dinosaur treasures so for Tegan at this age, it is great," expressing her excitement for the discovery. (With inputs from agencies)

10-year-old girl discovers dinosaur footprints on beach in UK during stroll

Archaeologists have discovered a 4000-year-old rock art in Venezuela that represents a new culture that was unknown earlier. The team of researchers found 20 such rock art sites in the Canaima National Park, in the country's southeastern region.

Similar designs have also been found in South America previously, however, archaeologists believe the recently discovered art depicts "a new culture previously unknown", José Miguel Pérez-Gómez, the lead archaeologist in the team, told Live Science in an email. He is an archaeologist and researcher at Simón Bolívar University in Caracas.

Some designs depict pictograms and geometric patterns including straight lines, star patterns, lines of dots, and rows of X's. Additionally, archaeologists discovered some petroglyphs, which are rock carvings made by pecking the stone surface with a tool. Some simple representations of stick figures and leaves were also found.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologist-uncover-city-of-the-dead-with-more-than-300-tombs-report-736825">Archaeologists uncover ‘City of the Dead’ with more than 300 tombs: Report</a>

Pérez-Gómez highlighted that although the purpose of the art is unclear, it had a ritual significance which may be related to the revival of nature, good hunting, birth, or diseases. "It's unclear why people created this art. It is almost impossible to get into the minds of people living so many [thousands of] years ago" he said and added "definitely these signs had a ritual meaning."&nbsp;

Although the exact age of the recent rock art findings in Venezuela cannot be determined yet, it is thought to be older than previous similar findings&nbsp;in Brazil dating&nbsp;4,000 years ago, according to Pérez-Gómez.

Nearly the size of Belgium, Canaima National Park comprises mountainous and forest terrain. The world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls is also located in this park. Pérez-Gómez said this park may have been the initial site from where this culture developed and further spread to other locations like the Amazon River basin, the Guianas, and southern Colombia.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/evidence-found-in-australian-cave-shows-sorcery-is-the-worlds-continuously-practiced-oldest-ritual-737027">Sorcery is the world’s continuously practiced oldest ritual, sticks found in Australian cave show</a>

The stone tools and ceramics, which might have been used to create the ancient rock art were also found at the 20 sites. However, this theory is yet to be confirmed with further research, according to Pérez-Gómez. He believes more such sites are likely to be found in the park as the research continues.

The research findings were first presented at the "New Worlds New Ideas", an international conference held in Valcamonica, Italy, from June 26 to 29. A paper discussing the findings of one of the rock art sites was published in the Rock Art Research journal in November.

“This is relevant not only for Venezuela but points at a cultural and ethnic richness that will enhance, worldwide, how we think about the region,” Pérez-Gómez told Axios Latino.

Archaeologists have discovered a 4000-year-old rock art in Venezuela that represents a new culture that was unknown earlier. The team of researchers found 20 such rock art sites in the Canaima National Park, in the country's southeastern region.

Archaeologists have discovered a 4000-year-old rock art in Venezuela that represents a new culture that was unknown earlier. The team of researchers found 20 such rock art sites in the Canaima National Park, in the country's southeastern region. Similar designs have also been found in South America previously, however, archaeologists believe the recently discovered art depicts "a new culture previously unknown", José Miguel Pérez-Gómez, the lead archaeologist in the team, told Live Science in an email. He is an archaeologist and researcher at Simón Bolívar University in Caracas. Some designs depict pictograms and geometric patterns including straight lines, star patterns, lines of dots, and rows of X's. Additionally, archaeologists discovered some petroglyphs, which are rock carvings made by pecking the stone surface with a tool. Some simple representations of stick figures and leaves were also found. Also Read | Archaeologists uncover ‘City of the Dead’ with more than 300 tombs: Report Pérez-Gómez highlighted that although the purpose of the art is unclear, it had a ritual significance which may be related to the revival of nature, good hunting, birth, or diseases. "It's unclear why people created this art. It is almost impossible to get into the minds of people living so many [thousands of] years ago" he said and added "definitely these signs had a ritual meaning." Although the exact age of the recent rock art findings in Venezuela cannot be determined yet, it is thought to be older than previous similar findings in Brazil dating 4,000 years ago, according to Pérez-Gómez. Nearly the size of Belgium, Canaima National Park comprises mountainous and forest terrain. The world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls is also located in this park. Pérez-Gómez said this park may have been the initial site from where this culture developed and further spread to other locations like the Amazon River basin, the Guianas, and southern Colombia. Also Read | Sorcery is the world’s continuously practiced oldest ritual, sticks found in Australian cave show The stone tools and ceramics, which might have been used to create the ancient rock art were also found at the 20 sites. However, this theory is yet to be confirmed with further research, according to Pérez-Gómez. He believes more such sites are likely to be found in the park as the research continues. The research findings were first presented at the "New Worlds New Ideas", an international conference held in Valcamonica, Italy, from June 26 to 29. A paper discussing the findings of one of the rock art sites was published in the Rock Art Research journal in November. “This is relevant not only for Venezuela but points at a cultural and ethnic richness that will enhance, worldwide, how we think about the region,” Pérez-Gómez told Axios Latino.

Venezuela archaeologists discover ancient rock art sites from a 'previously unknown' culture

On June 27, an international team led by Penn State researchers announced their unprecedented&nbsp;discovery&nbsp;after they found three mysterious objects in the universe, which date back to about 600-800 million years after the Big Bang.&nbsp;

The discovery was made using the NIRSpec instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of the RUBIES survey. The results after studying the intensity of light emitted from these objects surprised the researchers&nbsp;and made them question the theories related to the origin of galaxies and black holes.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-gets-another-moon-this-quasi-satellite-to-lurk-around-for-thousands-of-years-736029">Earth gets another 'moon'. This 'quasi-satellite' to lurk around for thousands of years</a>

"It was totally unexpected to find old stars in a very young universe. The standard models of cosmology and galaxy formation have been incredibly successful, yet, these luminous objects do not quite fit comfortably into those theories," Bingjie Wang, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State and lead author on the paper told ScienceDaily.&nbsp;

<h2>What was discovered using the JWST?&nbsp;</h2>

The researchers found signs of 'old' stars by analysing the intensity of wavelengths emitted by the objects. The stars were hundreds of millions of years old compared to a relatively young universe.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Russia to resume ICBM manufacturing

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russia-to-resume-icbm-manufacturing-736243/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Furthermore, traces of supermassive black holes were discovered that were 100 to 1,000 times more massive than the black holes in the Milky Way galaxy. According to current cosmic theories, black holes and their galaxies are supposed to grow together. However, finding such massive holes in young galaxies is highly unexpected and contradicts the theory.&nbsp;

<h2>More about the discovery of these objects&nbsp;</h2>

These massive objects were first spotted in July 2022. At the time of the discovery, researchers believed the mysterious objects were galaxies.&nbsp;

After the study and interpretation of the new data, the researchers confirmed that the objects discovered using the JWST were indeed galaxies near the beginning of time while surprisingly the team also detected the evidence of old stars and massive black holes.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/more-proof-found-that-asteroid-bennu-came-from-a-wet-world-736032">&nbsp;More proof found that asteroid Bennu came from a wet world</a>

"It's very confusing. You can make this uncomfortably fit in our current model of the universe, but only if we evoke some exotic, insanely rapid formation at the beginning of time. This is, without a doubt, the most peculiar and interesting set of objects I've seen in my career," Joel Leja, a co-author on both papers and assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State told the DailyScience.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

On June 27, an international team led by Penn State researchers announced their unprecedented discovery after they found three mysterious objects in the universe, which date back to about 600-800 million years after the Big Bang.

On June 27, an international team led by Penn State researchers announced their unprecedented discovery after they found three mysterious objects in the universe, which date back to about 600-800 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery was made using the NIRSpec instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of the RUBIES survey. The results after studying the intensity of light emitted from these objects surprised the researchers and made them question the theories related to the origin of galaxies and black holes. Also read | Earth gets another 'moon'. This 'quasi-satellite' to lurk around for thousands of years "It was totally unexpected to find old stars in a very young universe. The standard models of cosmology and galaxy formation have been incredibly successful, yet, these luminous objects do not quite fit comfortably into those theories," Bingjie Wang, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State and lead author on the paper told ScienceDaily. What was discovered using the JWST? The researchers found signs of 'old' stars by analysing the intensity of wavelengths emitted by the objects. The stars were hundreds of millions of years old compared to a relatively young universe. Watch | Russia-Ukraine war: Russia to resume ICBM manufacturing Furthermore, traces of supermassive black holes were discovered that were 100 to 1,000 times more massive than the black holes in the Milky Way galaxy. According to current cosmic theories, black holes and their galaxies are supposed to grow together. However, finding such massive holes in young galaxies is highly unexpected and contradicts the theory. More about the discovery of these objects These massive objects were first spotted in July 2022. At the time of the discovery, researchers believed the mysterious objects were galaxies. After the study and interpretation of the new data, the researchers confirmed that the objects discovered using the JWST were indeed galaxies near the beginning of time while surprisingly the team also detected the evidence of old stars and massive black holes. Also read | More proof found that asteroid Bennu came from a wet world "It's very confusing. You can make this uncomfortably fit in our current model of the universe, but only if we evoke some exotic, insanely rapid formation at the beginning of time. This is, without a doubt, the most peculiar and interesting set of objects I've seen in my career," Joel Leja, a co-author on both papers and assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State told the DailyScience. (With inputs from agencies)

Discovery of ancient stars and massive black holes in young galaxies challenges cosmic theories

In a shocking discovery, scientists have now found microplastics in human testicles. The researchers at the University of New Mexico studied the testicular tissues covered by humans and dogs and found the presence of microplastics in every sample.

In a shocking discovery, scientists have now found microplastics in human testicles. The researchers at the University of New Mexico studied the testicular tissues covered by humans and dogs and found the presence of microplastics in every sample. However, microplastics were found to be three times higher in humans in comparison to dogs. In the examination, the scientists found an average of 329.44 micrograms of microplastics per gram of tissue in people and 122.63 microgrammes in canines. Also Read: Practice makes a person almost perfect, science confirms Microplastics may be impacting male fertility: study The study not only emphasised how plastic pollution is now entering every part of our body but also raised concerns regarding how these microscopic fragments may impact male fertility. Speaking to Science Alert, Environmental health scientist Xiaozhong Yu from the University of New Mexico said, "At the beginning, I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system. When I first received the results for dogs I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I received the results for humans." The researchers identified 12 different types of microplastics, among which the one which was found in abundance in both dogs and humans, was polyethylene (PE). Polyethylene is used in the manufacturing of plastic bottles and bags. The researchers were not able to test human tissue for sperm count, however, they checked the canine samples. In the canine samples, the scientists found higher levels of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic which is related to a lower sperm count in the animals. With this discovery, the scientists found that plastics may be contributing to decreasing sperm count worldwide. Watch: Scientists unveil Black Hole's plunge, bizarre region around black holes found "The plastic makes a difference – what type of plastic might be correlated with potential function," Yu said. "PVC can release a lot of chemicals that interfere with spermatogenesis and it contains chemicals that cause endocrine disruption," he added. The researchers now wish to compare canine and human testes since there are many biological similarities between our species, and that of canines. "We don't want to scare people. We want to scientifically provide the data and make people aware there are a lot of microplastics," said Yu. "We can make our own choices to better avoid exposures, change our lifestyle and change our behaviour," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists baffled after discovery of microplastics in human testicles. Here's why you should be worried

Russia discovered enormous oil and gas deposits in the Antarctic, much of it in regions claimed by the United Kingdom. MPs have cautioned that the studies are a prelude to bringing in drilling rigs to extract fossil fuels from the pristine region. Watch to know more.

Russia's oil discovery in the Antarctic

Russian 'threat' to Antarctica from mining & exploiting oil

Scientists have always known that deep down in the core of the Earth, there exist&nbsp;two blobs the size of continents. One is under the African continent and the other one is under the Pacific Ocean.

How these two blobs have spanned through centuries of Earth’s history always remained a mystery, until now. In the new research, scientists gathered that the blobs muster together and then break apart, much like continents and supercontinents.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/historic-image-japanese-space-company-unveils-worlds-first-close-up-image-of-space-debris-719238">Historic image! Japanese space company unveils world’s first close-up image of space debris</a>

The blobs have their roots 2,900 km (1,800 miles) below the surface, which is almost halfway to the centre of the Earth. These are thought to be the birthplace of rising columns of hot rock called “deep mantle plumes” that reach Earth’s surface and cause volcanic eruptions. Hence, these blobs have always remained an area of interest amongst the scientific fraternity.

<h2>Model demonstrating evolution of Earth blobs</h2>

The blobs are present in the mantle as they slow down waves caused by earthquakes, which suggest they are hotter than their surroundings. Scientists generally say that these blobs are linked with the movement of tectonic plates at Earth’s surface. However, how the blobs have changed over the course has puzzled the scientists.&nbsp;

One lot of scientists is of the opinion that the present blobs have acted as anchors, locked in place for hundreds of millions of years while other rocks move around them. But as we know tectonic plates and mantle changed over time, it means blobs were also changing and taking new shapes.

The new research shows Earth's blobs have changed shape and location far more than previously thought. In fact, over time they have assembled and broken up in the same way that continents and supercontinents have at Earth's surface.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/have-we-already-lost-the-battle-april-continues-damning-11-month-trend-emerges-as-hottest-since-1940-719261">Have we 'already lost climate battle'?: April continues damning 11-month trend, emerges as hottest since 1940</a>

The team of scientists used Australia's National Computational Infrastructure to run advanced computer simulations of how Earth's mantle has flowed over a billion years.

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“We found that just like continents, the blobs can assemble – forming "superblobs" as in the current configuration – and break up over time,” wrote the team of scientists from various universities, in their research paper.

“A key aspect of our models is that although the blobs change position and shape over time, they still fit the pattern of volcanic and kimberlite eruptions recorded at Earth's surface. This pattern was previously a key argument for the blobs as unmoving 'anchors'.”

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-telescope-hunts-for-featherweight-black-holes-which-have-gone-undetected-719305">NASA&nbsp;telescope hunts for 'featherweight' black holes&nbsp;which have gone undetected</a>

“Strikingly, our models reveal the African blob assembled as recently as 60 million years ago – in stark contrast to previous suggestions the blob could have existed in roughly its present form for nearly ten times as long,” read the research paper.

The team is yet to know the origin of blobs and how they were made in the first place. The authors of the original research are - Nicolas Flament, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong; Andrew Merdith, Research fellow, University of Leeds; Ömer F. Bodur, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Wollongong and Simon Williams, Research Fellow, Northwest University, Xi'an.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have always known that deep down in the core of the Earth, there exist two blobs the size of continents. One is under the African continent and the other one is under the Pacific Ocean.

Scientists have always known that deep down in the core of the Earth, there exist two blobs the size of continents. One is under the African continent and the other one is under the Pacific Ocean. How these two blobs have spanned through centuries of Earth’s history always remained a mystery, until now. In the new research, scientists gathered that the blobs muster together and then break apart, much like continents and supercontinents. Also Read | Historic image! Japanese space company unveils world’s first close-up image of space debris The blobs have their roots 2,900 km (1,800 miles) below the surface, which is almost halfway to the centre of the Earth. These are thought to be the birthplace of rising columns of hot rock called “deep mantle plumes” that reach Earth’s surface and cause volcanic eruptions. Hence, these blobs have always remained an area of interest amongst the scientific fraternity. Model demonstrating evolution of Earth blobs The blobs are present in the mantle as they slow down waves caused by earthquakes, which suggest they are hotter than their surroundings. Scientists generally say that these blobs are linked with the movement of tectonic plates at Earth’s surface. However, how the blobs have changed over the course has puzzled the scientists. One lot of scientists is of the opinion that the present blobs have acted as anchors, locked in place for hundreds of millions of years while other rocks move around them. But as we know tectonic plates and mantle changed over time, it means blobs were also changing and taking new shapes. The new research shows Earth's blobs have changed shape and location far more than previously thought. In fact, over time they have assembled and broken up in the same way that continents and supercontinents have at Earth's surface. Also Read | Have we 'already lost climate battle'?: April continues damning 11-month trend, emerges as hottest since 1940 The team of scientists used Australia's National Computational Infrastructure to run advanced computer simulations of how Earth's mantle has flowed over a billion years. × “We found that just like continents, the blobs can assemble – forming "superblobs" as in the current configuration – and break up over time,” wrote the team of scientists from various universities, in their research paper. “A key aspect of our models is that although the blobs change position and shape over time, they still fit the pattern of volcanic and kimberlite eruptions recorded at Earth's surface. This pattern was previously a key argument for the blobs as unmoving 'anchors'.” Also Read | NASA telescope hunts for 'featherweight' black holes which have gone undetected “Strikingly, our models reveal the African blob assembled as recently as 60 million years ago – in stark contrast to previous suggestions the blob could have existed in roughly its present form for nearly ten times as long,” read the research paper. The team is yet to know the origin of blobs and how they were made in the first place. The authors of the original research are - Nicolas Flament, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong; Andrew Merdith, Research fellow, University of Leeds; Ömer F. Bodur, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Wollongong and Simon Williams, Research Fellow, Northwest University, Xi'an. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth has two giant blobs deep beneath its surface which are likely shape shifters

The World's deepest blue hole has been discovered in Mexico. Researchers have reached 1,380 feet or 420 metres below sea level, but it is not the end of the hole. The latest expedition was aimed at surveying environmental conditions in Taam Ja'. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas | World's largest Blue Hole discovered in Mexico

Researchers have discovered the world’s deepest blue hole in Mexico, but the catch is they haven’t reached its bottom yet. The site named Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) is now the deepest known underwater sinkhole in the world. The measurements show TJBH extends at least 1,380 feet (420 metres) below sea level.&nbsp;

The newly found deepest blue hole, situated in Chetumal Bay off the southeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, is 480 feet deeper than what scientists documented in 2021.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hospital-toilets-may-harbour-drug-resistant-superbugs-posing-risk-to-patients-says-study-716666">Hospital toilets may harbour drug-resistant superbugs, posing risk to patients, says study</a>

In 2021, the first blue hole was discovered, which was found to be 390 feet (119 m) deeper than the previous record holder- the 990-foot-deep (301 m) Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also known as Dragon Hole in the South China Sea.

<h2>World’s deepest blue hole discovered in Mexico</h2>

TJBH was identified as the world’s deepest blue hole during a scuba diving expedition that took place on 6 December 2023. The expedition was conducted to analyse the environmental conditions prevailing at the site, as per the study published Monday in the Frontiers in Marine Science journal.&nbsp;

During the expedition, the researchers took measurements with a conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiler- a device with a set of probes that read and transmit water properties to the surface in real time via a cable.

The data from the device revealed that Taam Ja’ Blue Hole is indeed the “world’s deepest known blue hole, with its bottom still not reached”, the researchers wrote in the study.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/cosmic-rush-hour-traffic-jams-in-space-can-cause-black-holes-to-collide-716627">Cosmic vicious cycle: Black holes are crashing into each other due to 'traffic jams' in space</a>

The profiler also highlighted different layers of water within the blue hole, including a layer below 1,312 feet (400 m) where the temperature and salinity conditions resembled those of the Caribbean Sea and nearby coastal reef lagoons. This suggests the TJBH may be connected to the ocean via a hidden network of tunnels and caves, according to the study.

Initial measurements of the TJBH were taken with an echo sounder- another instrument that sends sound waves down to the bottom of the water and measures the speed they come back to calculate distance. However, the instrument had its limitations when it came to measuring deep blue holes. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/tiger-stripes-may-be-hiding-secrets-of-life-on-saturns-moon-enceladus-716629">'Tiger stripes' may be hiding secrets of life on Saturn's moon Enceladus</a>

The CTD instrument used for the recent work did not find the bottom of the blue hole either, as it could only operate down to depths of 1,640 feet (500 m). Scientists lowered the profiler down to that depth, but the cable it was attached to may have drifted on underwater currents or bumped into a ledge that stopped the device in its tracks 1,380 feet down, according to the study.

Next, the scientists plan to “decipher TJBH's "maximum depth and the possibilities of forming part of an underwater intricate and potentially interconnected system of caves and tunnels," the researchers wrote.

<h2>What is a blue hole?</h2>

Blue holes are water-filled vertical caverns, or sinkholes, found in coastal regions where the bedrock is made of soluble material, such as limestone, marble or gypsum. They are formed when water on the surface percolates through the rock, dissolving minerals and widening cracks, which eventually causes the rock to collapse.&nbsp;

Some famous examples include Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas, the Dahab Blue Hole in Egypt and the Great Blue Hole in Belize.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers have discovered the world’s deepest blue hole in Mexico, but the catch is they haven’t reached its bottom yet. The site named Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) is now the deepest known underwater sinkhole in the world.

Researchers have discovered the world’s deepest blue hole in Mexico, but the catch is they haven’t reached its bottom yet. The site named Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) is now the deepest known underwater sinkhole in the world. The measurements show TJBH extends at least 1,380 feet (420 metres) below sea level. The newly found deepest blue hole, situated in Chetumal Bay off the southeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, is 480 feet deeper than what scientists documented in 2021. Also Read | Hospital toilets may harbour drug-resistant superbugs, posing risk to patients, says study In 2021, the first blue hole was discovered, which was found to be 390 feet (119 m) deeper than the previous record holder- the 990-foot-deep (301 m) Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also known as Dragon Hole in the South China Sea. World’s deepest blue hole discovered in Mexico TJBH was identified as the world’s deepest blue hole during a scuba diving expedition that took place on 6 December 2023. The expedition was conducted to analyse the environmental conditions prevailing at the site, as per the study published Monday in the Frontiers in Marine Science journal. During the expedition, the researchers took measurements with a conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiler- a device with a set of probes that read and transmit water properties to the surface in real time via a cable. The data from the device revealed that Taam Ja’ Blue Hole is indeed the “world’s deepest known blue hole, with its bottom still not reached”, the researchers wrote in the study. Also Read | Cosmic vicious cycle: Black holes are crashing into each other due to 'traffic jams' in space The profiler also highlighted different layers of water within the blue hole, including a layer below 1,312 feet (400 m) where the temperature and salinity conditions resembled those of the Caribbean Sea and nearby coastal reef lagoons. This suggests the TJBH may be connected to the ocean via a hidden network of tunnels and caves, according to the study. Initial measurements of the TJBH were taken with an echo sounder- another instrument that sends sound waves down to the bottom of the water and measures the speed they come back to calculate distance. However, the instrument had its limitations when it came to measuring deep blue holes. Also Read | 'Tiger stripes' may be hiding secrets of life on Saturn's moon Enceladus The CTD instrument used for the recent work did not find the bottom of the blue hole either, as it could only operate down to depths of 1,640 feet (500 m). Scientists lowered the profiler down to that depth, but the cable it was attached to may have drifted on underwater currents or bumped into a ledge that stopped the device in its tracks 1,380 feet down, according to the study. Next, the scientists plan to “decipher TJBH's "maximum depth and the possibilities of forming part of an underwater intricate and potentially interconnected system of caves and tunnels," the researchers wrote. What is a blue hole? Blue holes are water-filled vertical caverns, or sinkholes, found in coastal regions where the bedrock is made of soluble material, such as limestone, marble or gypsum. They are formed when water on the surface percolates through the rock, dissolving minerals and widening cracks, which eventually causes the rock to collapse. Some famous examples include Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas, the Dahab Blue Hole in Egypt and the Great Blue Hole in Belize. (With inputs from agencies)

World's deepest blue hole discovered in Mexico during scuba diving expedition

A village settlement that dates back nearly 300 years, which was submerged by a dam in the 1970s, has resurfaced in the northern Philippines as a result of an extended period of drought.

Sections of the village, such as a church and tombstones, became visible as the waters of the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija province receded.

The water levels of the dam have decreased by almost 50 metres&nbsp;below their usual level, marking the sixth occasion on which the village has reappeared since the dam was built.

"This is the longest time (it was visible) based on my experience," Paladin told news agency AFP.

Half of the provinces in the Philippines, including Nueva Ecija, are officially facing drought conditions.

The ongoing heatwave is putting pressure on power supplies in Luzon, the country's primary island, which contributes three-quarters of the nation's economic output. According to the Philippines' grid operator, 13 power plants have gone offline, reducing reserves.

In response to a forecast of record-high heat indices, the Philippines' Ministry of Education has instructed public schools to transition to online learning.&nbsp;

Rising temperatures in Indonesia have led to a significant increase in dengue fever cases. Last month, reported cases jumped to 35,000, a sharp rise from 15,000 the previous year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-to-suspend-in-person-classes-in-public-schools-due-to-heat-wave-jeepney-drivers-strike-715906">Also read |&nbsp;Philippines to suspend in-person classes in public schools due to heat wave, jeepney drivers' strike</a>

<h2>Why is the Philippines facing a severe drought?</h2>

In the Philippines, March, April, and May are usually the hottest and driest months, but this year, the El Niño weather has made things even worse.

El Niño, which happens when the Pacific Ocean's central and eastern parts get warmer than usual, has caused less rain than normal in the country.

Also watch |&nbsp;The Philippines becomes Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy

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(With inputs from agencies)

A village settlement that dates back nearly 300 years, which was submerged by a dam in the 1970s, has resurfaced in the northern Philippines as a result of an extended period of drought.

A village settlement that dates back nearly 300 years, which was submerged by a dam in the 1970s, has resurfaced in the northern Philippines as a result of an extended period of drought. Sections of the village, such as a church and tombstones, became visible as the waters of the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija province receded. The water levels of the dam have decreased by almost 50 metres below their usual level, marking the sixth occasion on which the village has reappeared since the dam was built. "This is the longest time (it was visible) based on my experience," Paladin told news agency AFP. Half of the provinces in the Philippines, including Nueva Ecija, are officially facing drought conditions. The ongoing heatwave is putting pressure on power supplies in Luzon, the country's primary island, which contributes three-quarters of the nation's economic output. According to the Philippines' grid operator, 13 power plants have gone offline, reducing reserves. In response to a forecast of record-high heat indices, the Philippines' Ministry of Education has instructed public schools to transition to online learning. Rising temperatures in Indonesia have led to a significant increase in dengue fever cases. Last month, reported cases jumped to 35,000, a sharp rise from 15,000 the previous year. Also read | Philippines to suspend in-person classes in public schools due to heat wave, jeepney drivers' strike Why is the Philippines facing a severe drought? In the Philippines, March, April, and May are usually the hottest and driest months, but this year, the El Niño weather has made things even worse. El Niño, which happens when the Pacific Ocean's central and eastern parts get warmer than usual, has caused less rain than normal in the country. Also watch | The Philippines becomes Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy (With inputs from agencies)

300-year-old ancient submerged village rises from depths during severe Philippine drought

While fishing for bony fish off the Chilean coast, some fishermen made an unexpected discovery in their gill nets—they had captured a species believed to be lost. Described in 1887 as the Chilean angel shark, this small, flat shark resembling a ray lives&nbsp;in shallow coastal waters. However, a recent study published in the European Journal of Taxonomy (April 25th) suggested&nbsp;that the initial description was incomplete and inaccurate, according to The Miami Herald.

The researchers found that the 1887 study provided only a few body measurements, which were insufficient to distinguish this specimen from its close relatives. Additionally, the collected animal was lost, leaving a significant gap in&nbsp;scientific understanding of the Chilean angel shark. While occasional bycatches provided glimpses of the species over time, a comprehensive description remained elusive. Then, fate intervened, and the elusive sharks landed in the hands of the fishermen.

<h2>Researches confirm the discovery of once-lost Chilean angel shark</h2>

After catching their unexpected discovery, the fishermen froze two whole sharks and the head of a third before sending&nbsp;them to the National Museum of Natural History in Santiago, Chile. Researchers there were excited to confirm that they had found two Squatina armata, also known as Angelote in Spanish and Chilean angel shark in English.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/enormous-15ft-sea-creature-washes-up-on-uk-coast-stunning-beachgoers-677526">Also read |&nbsp;Enormous 15ft sea creature washes up on UK coast, stunning beachgoers</a>

The study details the sharks as measuring slightly over three&nbsp;feet long and having flattened bodies, making them resemble rays more than sharks.

Adding to their distinctive appearance, these sharks have "enlarged dorsal thorns" – small, sharp, hook-shaped protrusions found on both their heads and backs, according to the researchers.

Despite this encounter, the Chilean angel shark remains shrouded in mystery. Limited research and rare sightings have led to their classification as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.&nbsp;

According to NOAA, these creatures are "nocturnal bottom-dwellers," spending most of their lives buried within the sand and mud of coastal sediment.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiny-sea-creatures-could-help-unravel-flight-mh370s-mysterious-disappearance-heres-how-698967">Also read |&nbsp;Tiny sea creatures could help unravel flight MH370’s mysterious disappearance. Here’s how</a>

"Recent taxonomic studies on angel sharks ... with this updated morphological characterization of the Chilean angel shark, questions on geographic range, estimations of abundance, and real incidence in landings can be clarified to ultimately inform better conservation practices of this critically endangered species and other angel sharks on the Pacific coast of America," the researchers said.

The sharks were caught near Playa Seremeno in northern Chile on the Pacific coast.

(With inputs from agencies)

While fishing for bony fish off the Chilean coast, some fishermen made an unexpected discovery in their gill nets—they had captured a species believed to be lost.

While fishing for bony fish off the Chilean coast, some fishermen made an unexpected discovery in their gill nets—they had captured a species believed to be lost. Described in 1887 as the Chilean angel shark, this small, flat shark resembling a ray lives in shallow coastal waters. However, a recent study published in the European Journal of Taxonomy (April 25th) suggested that the initial description was incomplete and inaccurate, according to The Miami Herald. The researchers found that the 1887 study provided only a few body measurements, which were insufficient to distinguish this specimen from its close relatives. Additionally, the collected animal was lost, leaving a significant gap in scientific understanding of the Chilean angel shark. While occasional bycatches provided glimpses of the species over time, a comprehensive description remained elusive. Then, fate intervened, and the elusive sharks landed in the hands of the fishermen. Researches confirm the discovery of once-lost Chilean angel shark After catching their unexpected discovery, the fishermen froze two whole sharks and the head of a third before sending them to the National Museum of Natural History in Santiago, Chile. Researchers there were excited to confirm that they had found two Squatina armata, also known as Angelote in Spanish and Chilean angel shark in English. Also read | Enormous 15ft sea creature washes up on UK coast, stunning beachgoers The study details the sharks as measuring slightly over three feet long and having flattened bodies, making them resemble rays more than sharks. Adding to their distinctive appearance, these sharks have "enlarged dorsal thorns" – small, sharp, hook-shaped protrusions found on both their heads and backs, according to the researchers. Despite this encounter, the Chilean angel shark remains shrouded in mystery. Limited research and rare sightings have led to their classification as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. According to NOAA, these creatures are "nocturnal bottom-dwellers," spending most of their lives buried within the sand and mud of coastal sediment. Also read | Tiny sea creatures could help unravel flight MH370’s mysterious disappearance. Here’s how "Recent taxonomic studies on angel sharks ... with this updated morphological characterization of the Chilean angel shark, questions on geographic range, estimations of abundance, and real incidence in landings can be clarified to ultimately inform better conservation practices of this critically endangered species and other angel sharks on the Pacific coast of America," the researchers said. The sharks were caught near Playa Seremeno in northern Chile on the Pacific coast. (With inputs from agencies)

Rare ocean predator missing since 1800s found in Chilean fishers' net

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

NASA's Webb Telescope discovered margarita and vinegar-like chemicals on a protostar. They shared this finding on Instagram. These substances were found in two young stars without planets.

"There are two servings in this discovery. This image shows the region near protostar IRAS 23385. Protostar IRAS 2A may be similar to the early stages of our own solar system. Chemicals identified around this protostar may also have been in the first stages of development of our solar system and later delivered to the primitive Earth," the post read.&nbsp;

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"Image of a molecular cloud region. The orange cloud is dense and bright near the top and grows darker and wispier toward the bottom. One bright star with short diffraction spikes and several dimmer stars are visible," NASA said.&nbsp;

This post, shared on April 14, has gathered over 300,000&nbsp;likes and many comments. People shared their reactions in the comments section.

A person wrote, "Then we can consider another exoplanet on the way? Or maybe planets that would eventually lead to develop life due to the presence of these chemicals?"

A second shared, "That looks like a snowflake only with gas."

"Gobsmacked again by the universe!" posted a third.

A fourth added, "What are those shapes? I've never seen shapes like that in space photos."

"Am I the only one that thinks the brightest dot (the star probably) looks like a pretty snowflake," said another.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Life beyond Earth? NASA probe bound for Jupiter's moon

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-life-beyond-earth-nasa-probe-bound-for-jupiters-moon-710673/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>NASA’s Europa Clipper mission</h2>

The primary scientific objective of the Europa Clipper mission is to assess whether there are potentially habitable environments beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon, Europa. The mission's three key scientific goals involve investigating the characteristics of the ice shell and the subsurface ocean, analysing the composition of Europa, and studying its geological features, according to NASA.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/exploring-jupiter-all-about-nasas-europa-clipper-mission-711220">Also read |&nbsp;Exploring Jupiter: All about NASA’s Europa Clipper mission</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

NASA's Webb Telescope discovered margarita and vinegar-like chemicals on a protostar. They shared this finding on Instagram. These substances were found in two young stars without planets.

NASA's Webb Telescope discovered margarita and vinegar-like chemicals on a protostar. They shared this finding on Instagram. These substances were found in two young stars without planets. "There are two servings in this discovery. This image shows the region near protostar IRAS 23385. Protostar IRAS 2A may be similar to the early stages of our own solar system. Chemicals identified around this protostar may also have been in the first stages of development of our solar system and later delivered to the primitive Earth," the post read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × "Image of a molecular cloud region. The orange cloud is dense and bright near the top and grows darker and wispier toward the bottom. One bright star with short diffraction spikes and several dimmer stars are visible," NASA said. This post, shared on April 14, has gathered over 300,000 likes and many comments. People shared their reactions in the comments section. A person wrote, "Then we can consider another exoplanet on the way? Or maybe planets that would eventually lead to develop life due to the presence of these chemicals?" A second shared, "That looks like a snowflake only with gas." "Gobsmacked again by the universe!" posted a third. A fourth added, "What are those shapes? I've never seen shapes like that in space photos." "Am I the only one that thinks the brightest dot (the star probably) looks like a pretty snowflake," said another. Also watch | Gravitas: Life beyond Earth? NASA probe bound for Jupiter's moon NASA’s Europa Clipper mission The primary scientific objective of the Europa Clipper mission is to assess whether there are potentially habitable environments beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon, Europa. The mission's three key scientific goals involve investigating the characteristics of the ice shell and the subsurface ocean, analysing the composition of Europa, and studying its geological features, according to NASA. Also read | Exploring Jupiter: All about NASA’s Europa Clipper mission (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Webb Telescope found margarita, vinegar-like chemicals on protostar

The scientists from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois have discovered a reservoir of water that is three times the size of all of Earth's oceans, deep beneath the planet's surface. This underground water supply rests some 700 km beneath our feet.

The quest to find the origins of Earth’s water led researchers to the&nbsp;massive find—a colossal ocean ensconced within the Earth’s mantle, over 700 kilometres below the surface.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-may-have-hosted-dune-like-sandworm-more-than-500-million-years-ago-706802">Earth may have hosted ‘Dune’-like sandworm more than 500 million years ago</a>

This hidden ocean, concealed within a blue rock known as ringwoodite, dares our understanding of where Earth’s water came from. The size of this subterranean sea is triple&nbsp;the volume of all the planet’s surface oceans combined.

This new discovery not only enthrals with its scale but also proposes a new theory about Earth’s water cycle. It recommends that instead of arriving via comet impacts, as some theories have posited, Earth’s oceans may have slowly seeped out from its very core.

Science Behind The Discovery

Steven Jacobsen, a researcher at Northwestern University in Illinois and the lead author of the study, informs, “This is substantial evidence that water on Earth came from within.”&nbsp;

To uncover this underground ocean, researchers used an array of 2000 seismographs across the United States, analysing seismic waves from over 500 earthquakes. Waves&nbsp;which travel through Earth’s inner layers, including its core, slow down when passing through wet rock, allowing scientists to assume the presence of this vast water deposit.

Earth’s Water Cycle Reimagined

The possibility that water exists in the Earth's mantle and sweats between the rock grains may change our perception of the planet's water cycle. Jacobsen further emphasised&nbsp;the importance of this reservoir, pointing out that without it, water would be on the surface of the Earth and that the only visible land may be the peaks of mountains.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-may-have-hosted-life-for-millions-of-years-longer-than-previously-thought-706772">Mars may have hosted life for millions of years longer than previously thought</a>

Now, with this revolutionary discovery, researchers are keen on gathering more seismic data from around the world to determine if this mantle melting is a common occurrence. Their findings could revolutionise our understanding of the water cycle on Earth, offering new insights into one of our planet’s most fundamental processes.

(With inputs from agencies)

The scientists from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois have discovered a reservoir of water that is three times the size of all of Earth's oceans, deep beneath the planet's surface.

The scientists from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois have discovered a reservoir of water that is three times the size of all of Earth's oceans, deep beneath the planet's surface. This underground water supply rests some 700 km beneath our feet. The quest to find the origins of Earth’s water led researchers to the massive find—a colossal ocean ensconced within the Earth’s mantle, over 700 kilometres below the surface. Also read: Earth may have hosted ‘Dune’-like sandworm more than 500 million years ago This hidden ocean, concealed within a blue rock known as ringwoodite, dares our understanding of where Earth’s water came from. The size of this subterranean sea is triple the volume of all the planet’s surface oceans combined. This new discovery not only enthrals with its scale but also proposes a new theory about Earth’s water cycle. It recommends that instead of arriving via comet impacts, as some theories have posited, Earth’s oceans may have slowly seeped out from its very core. Science Behind The Discovery Steven Jacobsen, a researcher at Northwestern University in Illinois and the lead author of the study, informs, “This is substantial evidence that water on Earth came from within.” To uncover this underground ocean, researchers used an array of 2000 seismographs across the United States, analysing seismic waves from over 500 earthquakes. Waves which travel through Earth’s inner layers, including its core, slow down when passing through wet rock, allowing scientists to assume the presence of this vast water deposit. Earth’s Water Cycle Reimagined The possibility that water exists in the Earth's mantle and sweats between the rock grains may change our perception of the planet's water cycle. Jacobsen further emphasised the importance of this reservoir, pointing out that without it, water would be on the surface of the Earth and that the only visible land may be the peaks of mountains. Also read: Mars may have hosted life for millions of years longer than previously thought Now, with this revolutionary discovery, researchers are keen on gathering more seismic data from around the world to determine if this mantle melting is a common occurrence. Their findings could revolutionise our understanding of the water cycle on Earth, offering new insights into one of our planet’s most fundamental processes. (With inputs from agencies)

Gigantic ocean triple the volume of all of Earth's surface oceans has just been found

During a camping trip in Australia's Lamington National Park, Queensland researcher James Tweed stumbled upon what he thought was bird poop. To his surprise, it turned out to be a unique beetle with a very unique appearance. Tweed told the BBC, "It's very unique. There are not many insects out there that have that trait."

<h2>Meet the Punk beetle</h2>

Measuring less than a centimeter in length, this newly discovered longhorn beetle has tufts of spiky white hair, earning it the nickname "punk beetle." "A lot of the hairs stand basically straight upright, and so it gives it a bit of a mohawk type look," the entomologist told the BBC

<h2>From bird poop to beetle with a mohawk - A case of mistaken identity</h2>

Initially, when Tweed first saw this beetle on a leaf in December 2021 he mistook it for bird dropping but its distinct features captured Tweed's attention. "But something in my brain told me to turn around," Tweed recalled. He then took the insect to the CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC).

"I worked with a couple of colleagues from the national insect collection, who literally wrote the book on these groups of beetles... they examined tens of thousands of specimens in museums all over Australia and the world, and they've never found it before," he said.

<h2>A unique specimen</h2>

The beetle's appearance sets it apart from other insects, the researcher said that he never saw a hairdo like this one. "This is something pretty special, something pretty different," he remarked. Due to its unique appearance, the beetle got a whole new genus/group of its own.

<h2>Why so spikey albopilosa?</h2>

Experts speculate that the beetle's spiky hairs may be for camouflaging, helping it evade predators during the day by resembling bird poop or a fungal infection. The beetle has been officially named Excastra albopilosa, which means "from the camp" and "white and hairy" in Latin respectively.

During a camping trip in Australia's Lamington National Park, Queensland researcher James Tweed stumbled upon what he thought was bird poop. To his surprise, it turned out to be a unique beetle with a very unique appearance.

During a camping trip in Australia's Lamington National Park, Queensland researcher James Tweed stumbled upon what he thought was bird poop. To his surprise, it turned out to be a unique beetle with a very unique appearance. Tweed told the BBC, "It's very unique. There are not many insects out there that have that trait." Meet the Punk beetle Measuring less than a centimeter in length, this newly discovered longhorn beetle has tufts of spiky white hair, earning it the nickname "punk beetle." "A lot of the hairs stand basically straight upright, and so it gives it a bit of a mohawk type look," the entomologist told the BBC From bird poop to beetle with a mohawk - A case of mistaken identity Initially, when Tweed first saw this beetle on a leaf in December 2021 he mistook it for bird dropping but its distinct features captured Tweed's attention. "But something in my brain told me to turn around," Tweed recalled. He then took the insect to the CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC). "I worked with a couple of colleagues from the national insect collection, who literally wrote the book on these groups of beetles... they examined tens of thousands of specimens in museums all over Australia and the world, and they've never found it before," he said. A unique specimen The beetle's appearance sets it apart from other insects, the researcher said that he never saw a hairdo like this one. "This is something pretty special, something pretty different," he remarked. Due to its unique appearance, the beetle got a whole new genus/group of its own. Why so spikey albopilosa? Experts speculate that the beetle's spiky hairs may be for camouflaging, helping it evade predators during the day by resembling bird poop or a fungal infection. The beetle has been officially named Excastra albopilosa, which means "from the camp" and "white and hairy" in Latin respectively.

Mistaken for bird poop, newly discovered Australian beetle has a 'Mohawk' hairdo

In a significant development, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has found a substantial reserve of oil in the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea. The oil field, estimated at 100 million tonnes, is situated in the Pearl River Basin near Guangdong Province, as revealed in a recent press release by the state-owned CNOOC.

This discovery holds immense strategic importance for China, which is the world's largest net importer and second-largest consumer of oil. As China aims to enhance its energy independence and assert its influence in the region, the find in the Kaiping South oilfield signifies a substantial step forward.

<h2>Nature of the discovery</h2>

The oil found in the Kaiping South oilfield is classified as light crude, a highly desirable variant that yields a greater proportion of gasoline and diesel upon refinement.

The newly established well is projected to yield a remarkable daily output of 7,680 barrels of light crude oil alongside 520,000 cubic feet of natural gas, indicating significant potential for resource exploitation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-china-sea-philippines-slams-china-for-stirring-up-trouble-697395">Also read |&nbsp;South China Sea: Philippines slams China for 'stirring up trouble'</a>

Xu Changgui, Deputy Chief Exploration Officer at CNOOC, called the discovery as groundbreaking, saying it has&nbsp;implications for future exploration endeavours in the deep-water regions of the South China Sea. This find augments the resource base for CNOOC's sustainable development initiatives.

CEO Zhou Xinhuai stressed on&nbsp;CNOOC's commitment to exploring and developing the energy resources of the South China Sea.&nbsp;

The South China Sea, a vital conduit for global trade, contains major reserves of oil and natural gas, estimated by the US&nbsp;Energy Information Agency. However, overlapping territorial claims among neighbouring countries have engendered friction and periodic confrontations.

Also watch |&nbsp;Xi urges preparation for military conflict | South-China sea can face Chinese aggression?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/xi-urges-preparation-for-military-conflict-south-china-sea-can-face-chinese-aggression-697854/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China's expansive claims in the South China Sea have led to confrontations with neighbouring states, notably Vietnam and the Philippines. Incidents such as the 2014 standoff between CNOOC and Vietnam over oil exploration exemplify the volatility of the region.

Recent clashes between the Chinese coast guard and Philippine vessels underscore the heightened tensions in the region.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a significant development, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has found a substantial reserve of oil in the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea.

In a significant development, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has found a substantial reserve of oil in the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea. The oil field, estimated at 100 million tonnes, is situated in the Pearl River Basin near Guangdong Province, as revealed in a recent press release by the state-owned CNOOC. This discovery holds immense strategic importance for China, which is the world's largest net importer and second-largest consumer of oil. As China aims to enhance its energy independence and assert its influence in the region, the find in the Kaiping South oilfield signifies a substantial step forward. Nature of the discovery The oil found in the Kaiping South oilfield is classified as light crude, a highly desirable variant that yields a greater proportion of gasoline and diesel upon refinement. The newly established well is projected to yield a remarkable daily output of 7,680 barrels of light crude oil alongside 520,000 cubic feet of natural gas, indicating significant potential for resource exploitation. Also read | South China Sea: Philippines slams China for 'stirring up trouble' Xu Changgui, Deputy Chief Exploration Officer at CNOOC, called the discovery as groundbreaking, saying it has implications for future exploration endeavours in the deep-water regions of the South China Sea. This find augments the resource base for CNOOC's sustainable development initiatives. CEO Zhou Xinhuai stressed on CNOOC's commitment to exploring and developing the energy resources of the South China Sea. The South China Sea, a vital conduit for global trade, contains major reserves of oil and natural gas, estimated by the US Energy Information Agency. However, overlapping territorial claims among neighbouring countries have engendered friction and periodic confrontations. Also watch | Xi urges preparation for military conflict | South-China sea can face Chinese aggression? China's expansive claims in the South China Sea have led to confrontations with neighbouring states, notably Vietnam and the Philippines. Incidents such as the 2014 standoff between CNOOC and Vietnam over oil exploration exemplify the volatility of the region. Recent clashes between the Chinese coast guard and Philippine vessels underscore the heightened tensions in the region. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese energy giant CNOOC discovers new massive oilfield in South China Sea

An international team of scientists has made a significant discovery, identifying more than 100 potentially new species residing on seamounts off the Chilean coast, as reported by Voice of America (VOA).&nbsp;

Led by Erin Easton, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the expedition focused on the Nazca Ridge, Salas y Gomez Ridge, and the Juan Fernandez ridge. Using advanced underwater robotics, the team delved into the depths of the ocean to examine seamounts and collect specimens.

<h2>Investigating seafloor communities</h2>

The primary objective was to analyse changes in benthic communities across different depths and seamounts. By assessing the distinctiveness of each community, researchers aimed to inform conservation management strategies for these unique ecosystems.

The expedition yielded exciting findings, with observations of over 150 species previously unreported in the region. Of particular interest are the cactus urchins, towering at approximately half a meter, and ancient bamboo coral forests, suggesting thousands of years of growth.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/great-barrier-reef-authority-plans-full-survey-after-observing-extensive-coral-bleaching-694810">Also read |&nbsp;Great Barrier Reef authority plans full survey after observing extensive coral bleaching</a>

In addition to biological discoveries, the scientists meticulously mapped 52,777 square kilometres&nbsp;of seafloor terrain.&nbsp;

Jyotika Virmani, executive director at Schmidt Ocean Institute, told VOA&nbsp;the significance of these findings.

"There's a lot of areas of the world that have never been seen and never been mapped. So, in addition to the new species, they [scientists] discovered four new seamounts as well, which are basically underwater mountains," she said.

Beyond the discovery&nbsp;of new species, the expedition unveiled four previously unknown seamounts, highlighting the vast uncharted territories beneath the ocean's surface.

Also watch |&nbsp;Endangered marine species in 2023

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/endangered-marine-species-in-2023-597801/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The region's biodiversity and complex geological formations make it a focal point for scientific inquiry. Its convergence of tectonic plates adds to its geological significance, emphasising the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts.

The data gathered from this expedition holds the potential to support the establishment of an international high-seas marine protected area.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

An international team of scientists has made a significant discovery, identifying more than 100 potentially new species residing on seamounts off the Chilean coast, as reported by Voice of America (VOA).

An international team of scientists has made a significant discovery, identifying more than 100 potentially new species residing on seamounts off the Chilean coast, as reported by Voice of America (VOA). Led by Erin Easton, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the expedition focused on the Nazca Ridge, Salas y Gomez Ridge, and the Juan Fernandez ridge. Using advanced underwater robotics, the team delved into the depths of the ocean to examine seamounts and collect specimens. Investigating seafloor communities The primary objective was to analyse changes in benthic communities across different depths and seamounts. By assessing the distinctiveness of each community, researchers aimed to inform conservation management strategies for these unique ecosystems. The expedition yielded exciting findings, with observations of over 150 species previously unreported in the region. Of particular interest are the cactus urchins, towering at approximately half a meter, and ancient bamboo coral forests, suggesting thousands of years of growth. Also read | Great Barrier Reef authority plans full survey after observing extensive coral bleaching In addition to biological discoveries, the scientists meticulously mapped 52,777 square kilometres of seafloor terrain. Jyotika Virmani, executive director at Schmidt Ocean Institute, told VOA the significance of these findings. "There's a lot of areas of the world that have never been seen and never been mapped. So, in addition to the new species, they [scientists] discovered four new seamounts as well, which are basically underwater mountains," she said. Beyond the discovery of new species, the expedition unveiled four previously unknown seamounts, highlighting the vast uncharted territories beneath the ocean's surface. Also watch | Endangered marine species in 2023 The region's biodiversity and complex geological formations make it a focal point for scientific inquiry. Its convergence of tectonic plates adds to its geological significance, emphasising the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts. The data gathered from this expedition holds the potential to support the establishment of an international high-seas marine protected area. (With inputs from agencies)

Over 100 new deep sea species, including 'walking' fish, found by Chilean expedition

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