In stunning research, scientists have observed that Antarctica has been losing weight and the continent is rising from the ocean.

The process is known as post-glacial uplift and as per the new research, this will massively impact the global sea level rise in the future.

This can reduce the contribution of Antarctica by up to 40 per cent or can make things worse depending on how much heat-trapping and ice-melting fossil fuels we are losing.

"With nearly 700 million people living in coastal areas and the potential cost of sea-level rise reaching trillions of dollars by the end of the century, understanding the domino effect of Antarctic ice melt is crucial,"&nbsp;said McGill University glaciologist Natalya Gomez, who carried out the study.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/antarctica-is-turning-green-heres-what-first-continent-wide-map-tells-about-plant-life-750130">Antarctica is turning green! Here's what first continent-wide map tells about plant life</a>

In the last few years, the ice in Antarctica has been very low. Gomez, along with their colleagues, examined the mantle of the Earth beneath the ice sheet of Antarctica and discovered that it was squishy in some areas. 
&nbsp; 
According to the seismic data, this high level of viscosity is leading to an unexpected rise in the land.

"Our measurements show that the solid earth that forms the base of the Antarctic ice sheet is changing shape surprisingly quickly,"&nbsp;Ohio State University geologist Terry Wilson said.

"The land uplift from reduced ice on the surface is happening in decades, rather than over thousands of years," he added.

<h2>Scientists use 3D models to simulate sea level rise</h2>

The team used 3D modelling to understand how the sea level is rising because of the changing landmass in Antarctica.

"This study marks a breakthrough in our ability to better predict the impacts of&nbsp;climate change&nbsp;on rising seas and to inform effective environmental policy,"&nbsp;University of Massachusetts glaciologist Rob DeConto said.&nbsp;

Since Earth does not have a smooth sphere, unique sea-level impacts will be seen in different parts of our planet because of gravitational, rotational, and geological quirks.

Watch:&nbsp;Antarctic faces melting 'tipping point' as oceans warm: Study

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/antarctic-faces-melting-tipping-point-as-oceans-warm-study-735604/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Our results further support&nbsp;recent&nbsp;findings&nbsp;that low-latitude islands and coastal sites already being affected by sea level rise will experience higher than average sea level rise associated with Antarctic ice loss, regardless of the ice loss scenario," explained Gomez and team.

"This finding highlights the&nbsp;climate injustice&nbsp;toward nations whose emissions are low, while their exposure and vulnerability to sea level rise is high," they added.

According to researchers, there is a lot of uncertainty in the model, because of the lack of seismic data from West Antarctica.&nbsp;

"To document how fast our world is changing, it's very important to continue advancing our ability to make predictions that are more certain, which is the only path that will allow us to tend to our future in a meaningful way,"&nbsp;Wilson said.

(With inputs from agencies)

In stunning research, scientists have observed that Antarctica has been losing weight and the continent is rising from the ocean. The process is known as post-glacial uplift and as per the new research, this will massively impact the global sea level rise in the future.

In stunning research, scientists have observed that Antarctica has been losing weight and the continent is rising from the ocean. The process is known as post-glacial uplift and as per the new research, this will massively impact the global sea level rise in the future. This can reduce the contribution of Antarctica by up to 40 per cent or can make things worse depending on how much heat-trapping and ice-melting fossil fuels we are losing. "With nearly 700 million people living in coastal areas and the potential cost of sea-level rise reaching trillions of dollars by the end of the century, understanding the domino effect of Antarctic ice melt is crucial," said McGill University glaciologist Natalya Gomez, who carried out the study. Also Read: Antarctica is turning green! Here's what first continent-wide map tells about plant life In the last few years, the ice in Antarctica has been very low. Gomez, along with their colleagues, examined the mantle of the Earth beneath the ice sheet of Antarctica and discovered that it was squishy in some areas. According to the seismic data, this high level of viscosity is leading to an unexpected rise in the land. "Our measurements show that the solid earth that forms the base of the Antarctic ice sheet is changing shape surprisingly quickly," Ohio State University geologist Terry Wilson said. "The land uplift from reduced ice on the surface is happening in decades, rather than over thousands of years," he added. Scientists use 3D models to simulate sea level rise The team used 3D modelling to understand how the sea level is rising because of the changing landmass in Antarctica. "This study marks a breakthrough in our ability to better predict the impacts of climate change on rising seas and to inform effective environmental policy," University of Massachusetts glaciologist Rob DeConto said. Since Earth does not have a smooth sphere, unique sea-level impacts will be seen in different parts of our planet because of gravitational, rotational, and geological quirks. Watch: Antarctic faces melting 'tipping point' as oceans warm: Study "Our results further support recent findings that low-latitude islands and coastal sites already being affected by sea level rise will experience higher than average sea level rise associated with Antarctic ice loss, regardless of the ice loss scenario," explained Gomez and team. "This finding highlights the climate injustice toward nations whose emissions are low, while their exposure and vulnerability to sea level rise is high," they added. According to researchers, there is a lot of uncertainty in the model, because of the lack of seismic data from West Antarctica. "To document how fast our world is changing, it's very important to continue advancing our ability to make predictions that are more certain, which is the only path that will allow us to tend to our future in a meaningful way," Wilson said. (With inputs from agencies)

Antarctica is rising from ocean and losing weight. Here's how it will impact Earth

Scientists have now figured out that 95 per cent of water present on any exoplanet may be trapped deep inside the planet's iron core, making it more potentially habitable.

"It is only in recent years that we have begun to realize that planets are more complex than we had thought. Planets&nbsp;are much more water-abundant than previously assumed," said Caroline Dorn, professor of&nbsp;exoplanets&nbsp;at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, in a&nbsp;statement.

Initially, they are made of hot worlds of oceans of molten magma which have not yet cooled. After cooling, they form a solid mantle of silicate bedrock.&nbsp;

In such magma oceans, water dissolves easily, unlike carbon dioxide, which outgasses and rises in the atmosphere.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-telescope-captures-one-of-the-coldest-exoplanets-six-times-the-size-of-jupiter-12-light-years-away-744049">James Webb telescope captures one of the coldest exoplanets, 6 times the size of Jupiter, 12 light years away</a>

Dorn, along with Haiyang Luo and Jie Deng from Princeton University, investigated how the water gets distributed between the silicates and the&nbsp;iron.&nbsp;

Explaining the results of the study, Dorn said, "The iron core takes time to develop. A large share of the iron is initially contained in the hot magma soup in the form of droplets."&nbsp;

<h2>Here's how water enters the iron core of rocky planets</h2>

The water then combines with the iron droplets and carries them to the core. "The iron droplets behave like a lift that is conveyed downward by the water," Dorn said.

"This is one of the key results of our study. The larger the planet and the greater its mass, the more the water tends to go with the iron droplets and become integrated into the core. Under certain circumstances, iron can absorb up to 70 times more water than silicates. However, owing to the enormous pressure at the core, the water no longer takes the form of H2O molecules but is present in hydrogen and oxygen," Dorn said.

Watch:&nbsp;Mercury's Diamonds: What lies beneath the planet's crust?&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mercurys-diamonds-what-lies-beneath-the-planets-crust-743204/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The scientists used a computer model to understand how water reacts with molten magma on a young planet and found that much of the water, even on super-earth, can end up in its interior.&nbsp;

"The larger the planet and the greater its mass, the more the water tends to go with the iron droplets and become integrated into the core," Dorn said.&nbsp;

"Under certain circumstances, iron can absorb up to 70 times more water than silicates. However, owing to the enormous pressure at the core, the water no longer takes the form of H20 molecules but is present in hydrogen and oxygen. So if we find water in a planet's atmosphere, there is probably a great deal more in its interior," she explained.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Scientists have now figured out that 95 per cent of water present on any exoplanet may be trapped deep inside the planet's iron core, making it more potentially habitable.

Scientists have now figured out that 95 per cent of water present on any exoplanet may be trapped deep inside the planet's iron core, making it more potentially habitable. "It is only in recent years that we have begun to realize that planets are more complex than we had thought. Planets are much more water-abundant than previously assumed," said Caroline Dorn, professor of exoplanets at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, in a statement. Initially, they are made of hot worlds of oceans of molten magma which have not yet cooled. After cooling, they form a solid mantle of silicate bedrock. In such magma oceans, water dissolves easily, unlike carbon dioxide, which outgasses and rises in the atmosphere. Also Read: James Webb telescope captures one of the coldest exoplanets, 6 times the size of Jupiter, 12 light years away Dorn, along with Haiyang Luo and Jie Deng from Princeton University, investigated how the water gets distributed between the silicates and the iron. Explaining the results of the study, Dorn said, "The iron core takes time to develop. A large share of the iron is initially contained in the hot magma soup in the form of droplets." Here's how water enters the iron core of rocky planets The water then combines with the iron droplets and carries them to the core. "The iron droplets behave like a lift that is conveyed downward by the water," Dorn said. "This is one of the key results of our study. The larger the planet and the greater its mass, the more the water tends to go with the iron droplets and become integrated into the core. Under certain circumstances, iron can absorb up to 70 times more water than silicates. However, owing to the enormous pressure at the core, the water no longer takes the form of H2O molecules but is present in hydrogen and oxygen," Dorn said. Watch: Mercury's Diamonds: What lies beneath the planet's crust? The scientists used a computer model to understand how water reacts with molten magma on a young planet and found that much of the water, even on super-earth, can end up in its interior. "The larger the planet and the greater its mass, the more the water tends to go with the iron droplets and become integrated into the core," Dorn said. "Under certain circumstances, iron can absorb up to 70 times more water than silicates. However, owing to the enormous pressure at the core, the water no longer takes the form of H20 molecules but is present in hydrogen and oxygen. So if we find water in a planet's atmosphere, there is probably a great deal more in its interior," she explained. (With inputs from agencies)

Water on exoplanets? Earth-like planets may be holding water in molten cores

NASA is on alert as massive 110-feet asteroid 2020 RL is about to make its close approach to Earth on August 27.

The asteroid, which is around the size of a commercial aeroplane, will pass the Earth at a scary distance of 2.91 million miles.

This is a close approach but it is not dangerous as this is more than 12 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon, which is a safe distance as per the cosmic standards.

The asteroid is hurtling towards Earth at a staggering speed of about 20,000 miles per hour. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Programme, which tracks space rocks, marked 2020 RL as not being a potential threat to Earth.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-issues-warning-as-huge-asteroid-set-to-come-dangerously-close-on-this-date-750066">NASA issues warning as huge asteroid set to come dangerously close on THIS date</a>

Asteroid 2020 RL, even though it is not the largest or closest space rock to fly by Earth, is significant because of its size and proximity.&nbsp;

Such asteroids are not uncommon and provide opportunities for scientists to study the trajectory, composition and potential impact risks of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).

The observations of such objects help in refining models of their orbits and also help in decoding the behaviour of asteroids when they come close to the Earth.

NASA and other space agencies have been monitoring NEOs to ensure they are able to identify any potential threats in advance.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;China space rocket blows up, causes massive fireball

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-space-rocket-blows-up-causes-massive-fireball-736905/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On August 28, the 92-foot asteroid 2021 RA10 will fly by Earth and asteroid 2012 SX49, which is 110 feet wide, will make its close approach on August 29.

<h2>How is NASA tracking asteroids?</h2>

NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).&nbsp;

Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.&nbsp;

Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA is on alert as massive 110-feet asteroid 2020 RL is about to make its close approach to Earth on August 27. The asteroid, which is around the size of a commercial aeroplane, will pass the Earth at a scary distance of 2.

NASA is on alert as massive 110-feet asteroid 2020 RL is about to make its close approach to Earth on August 27. The asteroid, which is around the size of a commercial aeroplane, will pass the Earth at a scary distance of 2.91 million miles. This is a close approach but it is not dangerous as this is more than 12 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon, which is a safe distance as per the cosmic standards. The asteroid is hurtling towards Earth at a staggering speed of about 20,000 miles per hour. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Programme, which tracks space rocks, marked 2020 RL as not being a potential threat to Earth. Also Read: NASA issues warning as huge asteroid set to come dangerously close on THIS date Asteroid 2020 RL, even though it is not the largest or closest space rock to fly by Earth, is significant because of its size and proximity. Such asteroids are not uncommon and provide opportunities for scientists to study the trajectory, composition and potential impact risks of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). The observations of such objects help in refining models of their orbits and also help in decoding the behaviour of asteroids when they come close to the Earth. NASA and other space agencies have been monitoring NEOs to ensure they are able to identify any potential threats in advance. Watch: China space rocket blows up, causes massive fireball On August 28, the 92-foot asteroid 2021 RA10 will fly by Earth and asteroid 2012 SX49, which is 110 feet wide, will make its close approach on August 29. How is NASA tracking asteroids? NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs). Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention. Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA is on alert as a massive aeroplane-sized asteroid closely approaches Earth

In an unexpected discovery, scientists have stumbled upon an ancient ocean which once sunk in the inner core of the Earth.&nbsp;

What now is left of this ancient ocean is an enigmatic layer of ocean floor which is filled with secrets of the past.

According to scientists, the hidden layer was formed millions of years ago and is filled with sediment and minerals and helps in understanding the geological history of the Earth.

The discovery of this ancient ocean was made by a seasoned geophysicist from the&nbsp;University of Alabama&nbsp;and the lead author of the study Dr Samantha Hansen.

<h2>What lies hidden in the beefy crust of Earth?</h2>

In the Earth's crust, some of the tectonic plates - which were remnants of the ocean floor - got placed at the core-mantle boundary and formed what was known as an ultra-low velocity zone (ULVZ).

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/martian-rocks-containing-signs-of-life-to-be-brought-to-earth-can-reveal-750758">Martian rocks containing signs of life to be brought to Earth, can reveal...</a>

This ULVZ layer, which is just tens of kilometres thick, is dense in comparison to the surrounding mantle.

“As seismic investigators. Our work is like a high-resolution snapshot of the Earth’s inner structure, and boy, is it more complex than we ever thought!" explained Dr. Hansen.

The scientists have been shocked by the activity going on at the core-mantle boundary. However, the breadth and intricacy of these zones were not known till Arizona State University geophysicist Dr. Edward Garnero and his team started making seismic recordings from Antarctica.

The scientists carried out high-definition imaging which helped them discover gigantic ‘mountains’ at the core, which is five times the height of Mount Everest.

<h2>How will the submerged ocean impact Earth?</h2>

The lost ocean gives a crucial glance into the heat escape mechanisms of our planet which is important for operating its magnetic field.

The subducted ocean floors, which have now formed ULVZs, will be playing a major role in heat regulation.

Watch:&nbsp;Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-slows-down-by-133-milliseconds-741345/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These layers can also be instrumental in creating mantle plumes or columns of hot rock that form from the core-mantle boundary to the surface of Earth.&nbsp;

Dr. Garnero said, “It’s incredible how much we can unravel about our Earth by simply listening to the whispers of earthquakes.”

(With inputs from agencies)

In an unexpected discovery, scientists have stumbled upon an ancient ocean which once sunk in the inner core of the Earth. What now is left of this ancient ocean is an enigmatic layer of ocean floor which is filled with secrets of the past.

In an unexpected discovery, scientists have stumbled upon an ancient ocean which once sunk in the inner core of the Earth. What now is left of this ancient ocean is an enigmatic layer of ocean floor which is filled with secrets of the past. According to scientists, the hidden layer was formed millions of years ago and is filled with sediment and minerals and helps in understanding the geological history of the Earth. The discovery of this ancient ocean was made by a seasoned geophysicist from the University of Alabama and the lead author of the study Dr Samantha Hansen. What lies hidden in the beefy crust of Earth? In the Earth's crust, some of the tectonic plates - which were remnants of the ocean floor - got placed at the core-mantle boundary and formed what was known as an ultra-low velocity zone (ULVZ). Also Read: Martian rocks containing signs of life to be brought to Earth, can reveal... This ULVZ layer, which is just tens of kilometres thick, is dense in comparison to the surrounding mantle. “As seismic investigators. Our work is like a high-resolution snapshot of the Earth’s inner structure, and boy, is it more complex than we ever thought!" explained Dr. Hansen. The scientists have been shocked by the activity going on at the core-mantle boundary. However, the breadth and intricacy of these zones were not known till Arizona State University geophysicist Dr. Edward Garnero and his team started making seismic recordings from Antarctica. The scientists carried out high-definition imaging which helped them discover gigantic ‘mountains’ at the core, which is five times the height of Mount Everest. How will the submerged ocean impact Earth? The lost ocean gives a crucial glance into the heat escape mechanisms of our planet which is important for operating its magnetic field. The subducted ocean floors, which have now formed ULVZs, will be playing a major role in heat regulation. Watch: Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds These layers can also be instrumental in creating mantle plumes or columns of hot rock that form from the core-mantle boundary to the surface of Earth. Dr. Garnero said, “It’s incredible how much we can unravel about our Earth by simply listening to the whispers of earthquakes.” (With inputs from agencies)

A lost, sunken ocean has been found at Earth's inner core. Will it emerge?

In a rare cosmic event, a "two-way highway" was opened up between Earth and the Sun through which they exchanged charged particles. This caused the skies to light up&nbsp;with auroras in the US states of&nbsp;Arizona and Arkansas along with parts of Australia and New Zealand.

Generally, auroras are created on Earth when the planet is engulfed by a solar storm. However, that was not the case last April when a rare cosmic event occurred between the Earth and the Sun.

The wind of the Sun generally punches into the magnetic field of Earth and the planet creates a bow shock towards the Sun.

But on April 24, 2023, charged particles were released from the Sun and lit the skies of Arizona and Arkansas and parts of Australia and New Zealand.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-gets-hit-by-shocking-severe-g4-geomagnetic-storm-was-our-planet-prepared-749702">Earth gets hit by shocking 'severe' G4 geomagnetic storm. Was our planet prepared?</a>

For a moment, these particles were able to switch off the bow shock of the Earth which opened up a "two-way highway" between the planet and its star through which charged particles were also exchanged between the two and created a solar light show.

In comparison to the brightness of the Sun, those auroras were comparatively far too dim.&nbsp;

"Particles trapped by Earth's magnetism suddenly had an escape — a direct path to the sun!" wrote NASA&nbsp;last week on social media.&nbsp;

<h2>How was Earth's bow shock switched off?</h2>

The "two-way highway" was formed because of solar wind's plasma-rich component known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) which generally travels faster in comparison to the speed at which magnetic waves called Alfvén waves pass through plasma. The speed is called the&nbsp;Alfvén speed.

Watch:&nbsp;Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-there-life-on-mars-scientists-find-oceans-of-water-miles-beneath-surface-749934/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

During the solar eruption in April, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft observed that the CMEs were faster than usual which led to the temporary disappearance of the bow shock.&nbsp;

NASA explained that the Alfvén "wings" magnetically connected the Earth to the portion of the Sun which had erupted recently.

The instruments of the spacecraft recorded plasma getting released from Earth and entering the Sun for nearly two hours, said the American space agency, in its social media post. "The data revealed unprecedented insights about the sun-Earth connection," NASA stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a rare cosmic event, a "two-way highway" was opened up between Earth and the Sun through which they exchanged charged particles. This caused the skies to light up with auroras in the US states of Arizona and Arkansas along with parts of Australia and New Zealand.

In a rare cosmic event, a "two-way highway" was opened up between Earth and the Sun through which they exchanged charged particles. This caused the skies to light up with auroras in the US states of Arizona and Arkansas along with parts of Australia and New Zealand. Generally, auroras are created on Earth when the planet is engulfed by a solar storm. However, that was not the case last April when a rare cosmic event occurred between the Earth and the Sun. The wind of the Sun generally punches into the magnetic field of Earth and the planet creates a bow shock towards the Sun. But on April 24, 2023, charged particles were released from the Sun and lit the skies of Arizona and Arkansas and parts of Australia and New Zealand. Also Read: Earth gets hit by shocking 'severe' G4 geomagnetic storm. Was our planet prepared? For a moment, these particles were able to switch off the bow shock of the Earth which opened up a "two-way highway" between the planet and its star through which charged particles were also exchanged between the two and created a solar light show. In comparison to the brightness of the Sun, those auroras were comparatively far too dim. "Particles trapped by Earth's magnetism suddenly had an escape — a direct path to the sun!" wrote NASA last week on social media. How was Earth's bow shock switched off? The "two-way highway" was formed because of solar wind's plasma-rich component known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) which generally travels faster in comparison to the speed at which magnetic waves called Alfvén waves pass through plasma. The speed is called the Alfvén speed. Watch: Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface During the solar eruption in April, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft observed that the CMEs were faster than usual which led to the temporary disappearance of the bow shock. NASA explained that the Alfvén "wings" magnetically connected the Earth to the portion of the Sun which had erupted recently. The instruments of the spacecraft recorded plasma getting released from Earth and entering the Sun for nearly two hours, said the American space agency, in its social media post. "The data revealed unprecedented insights about the sun-Earth connection," NASA stated. (With inputs from agencies)

A 'two-way highway' opened between Earth and Sun to exchange charged particles. Here's what happened next

The scientists at NASA and MIT have decided to bring to Earth seven rock samples in which minerals have been found that were said to be&nbsp;formed when there is water present in a specific area on Mars.&nbsp;&nbsp;

These rock samples were found in the “fan front” of Mars’ Jezero Crater and it suggests that such rocks were either formed in watery environments or deposited by water which underlines the presence of water in the crater's past.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-and-jupiter-to-get-closest-in-this-spectacular-astronomical-event-of-decade-749099">Mars and Jupiter to get closest in this spectacular astronomical event of decade</a>

In 2022, the seven samples were collected by the Perseverance rover when it was exploring the western slope of the crater where it was suspected by the scientists that some rocks were present which were likely to have originated from an ancient lake which had since dried up.&nbsp;

<h2>Signs of life in Martian&nbsp;rocks?</h2>

The Perseverance science team looked into the images and chemical data of the rover and confirmed that the rocks actually have signs of water.

On the basis of the data, the theory that Jezero Crater was at one point watery and had a habitable environment has also been strengthened.&nbsp;

The minerals present in the rocks give the best opportunity for scientists to search for&nbsp;signs of ancient Martian life.

Professor of geobiology in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) and study’s lead author Tanja Bosak said, “These rocks confirm the presence, at least temporarily, of habitable environments on Mars."&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-there-life-on-mars-scientists-find-oceans-of-water-miles-beneath-surface-749934/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“What we’ve found is that indeed there was a lot of water activity. For how long, we don’t know, but certainly for long enough to create these big sedimentary deposits," he added.

According to the scientists, some of these samples were likely deposited in the ancient lake nearly 3.5 billion years ago.

Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT and co-author Benjamin Weiss said, “These are the oldest rocks that may have been deposited by water that we’ve ever laid hands or rover arms on."

“That’s exciting, because it means these are the most promising rocks that may have preserved fossils and signatures of life," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The scientists at NASA and MIT have decided to bring to Earth seven rock samples in which minerals have been found that were said to be formed when there is water present in a specific area on Mars.

The scientists at NASA and MIT have decided to bring to Earth seven rock samples in which minerals have been found that were said to be formed when there is water present in a specific area on Mars. These rock samples were found in the “fan front” of Mars’ Jezero Crater and it suggests that such rocks were either formed in watery environments or deposited by water which underlines the presence of water in the crater's past. Also Read: Mars and Jupiter to get closest in this spectacular astronomical event of decade In 2022, the seven samples were collected by the Perseverance rover when it was exploring the western slope of the crater where it was suspected by the scientists that some rocks were present which were likely to have originated from an ancient lake which had since dried up. Signs of life in Martian rocks? The Perseverance science team looked into the images and chemical data of the rover and confirmed that the rocks actually have signs of water. On the basis of the data, the theory that Jezero Crater was at one point watery and had a habitable environment has also been strengthened. The minerals present in the rocks give the best opportunity for scientists to search for signs of ancient Martian life. Professor of geobiology in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) and study’s lead author Tanja Bosak said, “These rocks confirm the presence, at least temporarily, of habitable environments on Mars." Watch: Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface “What we’ve found is that indeed there was a lot of water activity. For how long, we don’t know, but certainly for long enough to create these big sedimentary deposits," he added. According to the scientists, some of these samples were likely deposited in the ancient lake nearly 3.5 billion years ago. Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT and co-author Benjamin Weiss said, “These are the oldest rocks that may have been deposited by water that we’ve ever laid hands or rover arms on." “That’s exciting, because it means these are the most promising rocks that may have preserved fossils and signatures of life," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Martian rocks containing signs of life to be brought to Earth, can reveal...

NASA issued an alert after spotting asteroid 2024 PZ3 that will come scarily close to Earth on August 15 at 01:39 UTC (7:09 AM IST).&nbsp;

The 96-foot asteroid, which is roughly as big as a large aeroplane, will zoom past our planet at the dangerous speed of 43,867 km/h.&nbsp;

Asteroid 2024 PZ3 has been classified as an Apollo asteroid, which is one of the categories of near-Earth objects (NEOs) which have orbits that cross the path of the Earth.

Generally, NEOs are not a threat because their orbits do not bring them close to the Earth.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-on-alert-after-410ft-massive-asteroid-suddenly-spotted-hurtling-towards-earth-if-it-hits-747083">NASA on alert after 410ft massive asteroid suddenly spotted hurtling towards Earth. If it hits...</a>

However, some of them get labelled as potentially hazardous asteroids, because of their scary distance and need to be monitored.&nbsp;

Such asteroids are larger than nearly 460 feet (140 metres) and have orbits which are likely to bring them at a distance of 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometres) from Earth’s orbit.&nbsp;

Asteroid 2024 PZ3 has not been labelled as a potentially hazardous asteroid, however, its close approach distance of only 277,018 kilometres from Earth makes it important to be monitored.&nbsp;

<h2>What will happen if asteroid 2024 PZ3 hits Earth?</h2>

If asteroid 2024 PZ3 hits Earth, its impact will depend on its size and the location at which it hits the planet.

A 96-foot asteroid has the capability to cause localised damage and a noticeable explosion.&nbsp;

Although 2024 PZ3 will pass close from Earth, it will not be dangerous for the planet.&nbsp;

<h2>How is NASA tracking asteroids?</h2>

NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;China proposes information superhighway between Earth and Moon

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Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.&nbsp;

Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA issued an alert after spotting asteroid 2024 PZ3 that will come scarily close to Earth on August 15 at 01:39 UTC (7:09 AM IST). The 96-foot asteroid, which is roughly as big as a large aeroplane, will zoom past our planet at the dangerous speed of 43,867 km/h.

NASA issued an alert after spotting asteroid 2024 PZ3 that will come scarily close to Earth on August 15 at 01:39 UTC (7:09 AM IST). The 96-foot asteroid, which is roughly as big as a large aeroplane, will zoom past our planet at the dangerous speed of 43,867 km/h. Asteroid 2024 PZ3 has been classified as an Apollo asteroid, which is one of the categories of near-Earth objects (NEOs) which have orbits that cross the path of the Earth. Generally, NEOs are not a threat because their orbits do not bring them close to the Earth. Also Read: NASA on alert after 410ft massive asteroid suddenly spotted hurtling towards Earth. If it hits... However, some of them get labelled as potentially hazardous asteroids, because of their scary distance and need to be monitored. Such asteroids are larger than nearly 460 feet (140 metres) and have orbits which are likely to bring them at a distance of 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometres) from Earth’s orbit. Asteroid 2024 PZ3 has not been labelled as a potentially hazardous asteroid, however, its close approach distance of only 277,018 kilometres from Earth makes it important to be monitored. What will happen if asteroid 2024 PZ3 hits Earth? If asteroid 2024 PZ3 hits Earth, its impact will depend on its size and the location at which it hits the planet. A 96-foot asteroid has the capability to cause localised damage and a noticeable explosion. Although 2024 PZ3 will pass close from Earth, it will not be dangerous for the planet. How is NASA tracking asteroids? NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs). Watch: China proposes information superhighway between Earth and Moon Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention. Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA issues warning as huge asteroid set to come dangerously close on THIS date

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick shared a mesmerizing time lapse video from the International Space Station, which captures the moon setting against a backdrop of vibrant red and green auroras.

Astronaut records Moon setting behind Earth amid auroras

Earth was hit by a "severe" G4-scale geomagnetic storm after multiple powerful solar eruptions, confirmed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).&nbsp;

The storms later subsided but resulted in bright&nbsp;auroras&nbsp;which filled the night skies in the United States and Canada.&nbsp;

G4-scale storms carry the chances of badly impacting the satellites, power grids and radio communication systems, stated NOAA. Generally, such impacts are mitigable because of advanced warning.

<h2>Were scientists prepared for G4 geomagnetic storm?</h2>

"Potential impacts of this level of storming include degradation of high-frequency communications at high latitudes and increased drag on satellites in low earth orbit," read a&nbsp;NOAA advisory which was released on Monday (Aug&nbsp;12).&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/our-sun-has-been-emanating-mysterious-radio-signals-for-decades-nasa-plans-to-find-the-exact-source-740983">Our sun is sending mysterious radio signals for decades. NASA plans to find the exact source</a>

"A further increase in space weather activity is not anticipated at this time," it added. The G4-class storm conditions were first recorded on Monday (Aug&nbsp;12) around 11 am EDT.&nbsp;

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We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm! 🌎🧲💥 
 
A series of solar eruptions arriving at Earth are triggering widespread auroras. Here’s what NASA space weather analyst Carina Alden saw last night as she traveled through Michigan and Wisconsin! <a href="https://t.co/KG5pvCdyit">https://t.co/KG5pvCdyit</a> <a href="https://t.co/qrpdkva4Vj">pic.twitter.com/qrpdkva4Vj</a>
— NASA Sun &amp; Space (@NASASun) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASun/status/1823024755269599369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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NOAA space weather forecasters continue monitoring around five CMEs that erupted from the Sun last week and checking if they are headed towards Earth.&nbsp;

“Some seem to have missed Earth, some clipped Earth, and then eventually one of those we were anticipating was much more of a good punch,” said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Space Weather Prediction Centre, while speaking to Gizmodo.

Space weather forecasters accepted that such events are difficult to predict.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;China proposes information superhighway between Earth and Moon

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“We never know what’s actually going to be, what the CME is composed of, and what to make of it until it gets just 1 million miles from Earth, where it’s only 15 to 45 minutes away. That’s when we can see what the CME is composed of. How strong is it magnetically? What’s the speed of its movement? Is it going to connect with Earth?” said Dahl.

He added that all the information regarding the latest CME to hit Earth came together on Sunday night (August 11) and that's when they predicted that Earth will be hit by a severe solar storm.

(With inputs from agencies)

Earth was hit by a "severe" G4-scale geomagnetic storm after multiple powerful solar eruptions, confirmed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Earth was hit by a "severe" G4-scale geomagnetic storm after multiple powerful solar eruptions, confirmed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The storms later subsided but resulted in bright auroras which filled the night skies in the United States and Canada. G4-scale storms carry the chances of badly impacting the satellites, power grids and radio communication systems, stated NOAA. Generally, such impacts are mitigable because of advanced warning. Were scientists prepared for G4 geomagnetic storm? "Potential impacts of this level of storming include degradation of high-frequency communications at high latitudes and increased drag on satellites in low earth orbit," read a NOAA advisory which was released on Monday (Aug 12). Also Read: Our sun is sending mysterious radio signals for decades. NASA plans to find the exact source "A further increase in space weather activity is not anticipated at this time," it added. The G4-class storm conditions were first recorded on Monday (Aug 12) around 11 am EDT. We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm! 🌎🧲💥 A series of solar eruptions arriving at Earth are triggering widespread auroras. Here’s what NASA space weather analyst Carina Alden saw last night as she traveled through Michigan and Wisconsin! https://t.co/KG5pvCdyit pic.twitter.com/qrpdkva4Vj — NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) August 12, 2024 × NOAA space weather forecasters continue monitoring around five CMEs that erupted from the Sun last week and checking if they are headed towards Earth. “Some seem to have missed Earth, some clipped Earth, and then eventually one of those we were anticipating was much more of a good punch,” said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Space Weather Prediction Centre, while speaking to Gizmodo. Space weather forecasters accepted that such events are difficult to predict. Watch: China proposes information superhighway between Earth and Moon “We never know what’s actually going to be, what the CME is composed of, and what to make of it until it gets just 1 million miles from Earth, where it’s only 15 to 45 minutes away. That’s when we can see what the CME is composed of. How strong is it magnetically? What’s the speed of its movement? Is it going to connect with Earth?” said Dahl. He added that all the information regarding the latest CME to hit Earth came together on Sunday night (August 11) and that's when they predicted that Earth will be hit by a severe solar storm. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth gets hit by shocking 'severe' G4 geomagnetic storm. Was our planet prepared?

A new catalogue of 126 strange worlds was published by NASA which in detail talked about these alien planets and how they are different from Earth.&nbsp;

Multiple papers were published related to this survey which specified some of the features of these alien planets.&nbsp;

The most extreme planet amongst them was TOI-1798 which was looked into by Alex Polanski, a physics and astronomy graduate student from the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

In the paper, lead author Polanski explained that this planet's orbit makes it travel very close to an orange dwarf star in a span of less than 12 hours.

What was more interesting was to find that one year on this planet is equal to less than half a day on planet Earth. The planet is also boiling hot as it gets more than 3,000 times the radiation Earth gets from the Sun.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-diamond-planet-is-lurking-near-earth-can-it-make-earthlings-richer-anytime-soon-742248">THIS diamond planet is lurking near Earth. Can it make Earthlings richer anytime soon?</a>

TOI-1798 is not just a planet but a system which has two planets. In this system, the inner planet is like a Super-Earth which is near its star and one year lasts about half an Earth day.&nbsp;

<h2>All about other alien exoplanets catalogued by NASA&nbsp;</h2>

In another paper, which was authored by UCR graduate student Michelle Hill, the discovery of two planets was mentioned which were spotted orbiting a star which is like our Sun that is almost 479 light years away.&nbsp;

Amongst the two, one was planet TOI-1386 b which is a “sub-Saturn” planet whose radius and mass are between that of Neptune and Saturn.

This planet needs just 26 days to orbit its star. Meanwhile, its neighbour TOI-1386 c is a gas giant which is as big as Jupiter, however, has a mass closer to Saturn’s and takes 227 days to complete a roundabout of the same star.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Mercury's Diamonds: What lies beneath the planet's crust?&nbsp;

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UCR graduate student Daria Pidhorodetska mentioned another planet in the paper which is half the size of Neptune and has a 19-day orbit around a star which is similar to our Sun.&nbsp;

“Planets smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth are the most prevalent worlds in our galaxy, yet they are absent from our own Solar System," said Pidhorodetska, in a&nbsp;news release.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A new catalogue of 126 strange worlds was published by NASA which in detail talked about these alien planets and how they are different from Earth. Multiple papers were published related to this survey which specified some of the features of these alien planets.

A new catalogue of 126 strange worlds was published by NASA which in detail talked about these alien planets and how they are different from Earth. Multiple papers were published related to this survey which specified some of the features of these alien planets. The most extreme planet amongst them was TOI-1798 which was looked into by Alex Polanski, a physics and astronomy graduate student from the University of Kansas. In the paper, lead author Polanski explained that this planet's orbit makes it travel very close to an orange dwarf star in a span of less than 12 hours. What was more interesting was to find that one year on this planet is equal to less than half a day on planet Earth. The planet is also boiling hot as it gets more than 3,000 times the radiation Earth gets from the Sun. Also Read: THIS diamond planet is lurking near Earth. Can it make Earthlings richer anytime soon? TOI-1798 is not just a planet but a system which has two planets. In this system, the inner planet is like a Super-Earth which is near its star and one year lasts about half an Earth day. All about other alien exoplanets catalogued by NASA In another paper, which was authored by UCR graduate student Michelle Hill, the discovery of two planets was mentioned which were spotted orbiting a star which is like our Sun that is almost 479 light years away. Amongst the two, one was planet TOI-1386 b which is a “sub-Saturn” planet whose radius and mass are between that of Neptune and Saturn. This planet needs just 26 days to orbit its star. Meanwhile, its neighbour TOI-1386 c is a gas giant which is as big as Jupiter, however, has a mass closer to Saturn’s and takes 227 days to complete a roundabout of the same star. Watch: Mercury's Diamonds: What lies beneath the planet's crust? UCR graduate student Daria Pidhorodetska mentioned another planet in the paper which is half the size of Neptune and has a 19-day orbit around a star which is similar to our Sun. “Planets smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth are the most prevalent worlds in our galaxy, yet they are absent from our own Solar System," said Pidhorodetska, in a news release. (With inputs from agencies)

THIS strange, alien world is boiling hot and completes one year in just half Earth day

The Earth has been hit by strong geomagnetic storms which have led to the formation of mesmerising auroras that are&nbsp;making our planet appear like never before in space.&nbsp;

Capturing a stunning moment from this spectacular phase, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick posted a timelapse video in which the Moon is seen setting behind the Earth which is dazzling with vibrant red and green auroras.

The moment was captured by the astronaut from the International Space Station (ISS).

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Timelapse of the moon setting into streams of red and green aurora followed by a sunrise lighting up Soyuz with a light blue. 
 
The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens that recently arrived on Cygnus. 
 
15mm, T1.8, 1/3s exposure,… <a href="https://t.co/otFv5pZ6vd">pic.twitter.com/otFv5pZ6vd</a>
— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) <a href="https://twitter.com/dominickmatthew/status/1823081465753825718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The timelapse video, which left audiences mesmerised worldwide, also showed a beautiful sunrise because of which the Soyuz spacecraft illuminated with a light blue hue.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-mesmerising-perseid-meteor-shower-and-magical-auroras-fill-night-sky-749367">Watch: Mesmerising Perseid meteor shower and magical auroras fill night sky</a>

Dominick wrote regarding the experience on social media platform X and said that the display of "amazing" auroras was the perfect opportunity to test the new lens sent by the Cygnus cargo spacecraft.

<h2>Solar eruptions trigger auroras across the globe</h2>

The astronaut captured breathtaking visuals because auroras filled the sky across the globe after getting triggered by multiple solar eruptions.&nbsp;

The geomagnetic storms are the result of the charged particles which get ejected from the sun and interact with the atmosphere of the Earth. These particles were intense and created the northern and southern lights.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said that the geomagnetic storms are likely to continue which will ensure more celestial spectacle for skygazers.

Watch:&nbsp;Sunita Williams could have to stay in space till 2025

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This solar activity took place because of increased solar flares and coronal mass ejections. They are known to cause disruptions in satellite communications and power grids.&nbsp;

Such solar activities also pave the way for the creation of auroras in regions far from the poles.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Earth has been hit by strong geomagnetic storms which have led to the formation of mesmerising auroras that are making our planet appear like never before in space.

The Earth has been hit by strong geomagnetic storms which have led to the formation of mesmerising auroras that are making our planet appear like never before in space. Capturing a stunning moment from this spectacular phase, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick posted a timelapse video in which the Moon is seen setting behind the Earth which is dazzling with vibrant red and green auroras. The moment was captured by the astronaut from the International Space Station (ISS). Timelapse of the moon setting into streams of red and green aurora followed by a sunrise lighting up Soyuz with a light blue. The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens that recently arrived on Cygnus. 15mm, T1.8, 1/3s exposure,… pic.twitter.com/otFv5pZ6vd — Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) August 12, 2024 × The timelapse video, which left audiences mesmerised worldwide, also showed a beautiful sunrise because of which the Soyuz spacecraft illuminated with a light blue hue. Also Read: Watch: Mesmerising Perseid meteor shower and magical auroras fill night sky Dominick wrote regarding the experience on social media platform X and said that the display of "amazing" auroras was the perfect opportunity to test the new lens sent by the Cygnus cargo spacecraft. Solar eruptions trigger auroras across the globe The astronaut captured breathtaking visuals because auroras filled the sky across the globe after getting triggered by multiple solar eruptions. The geomagnetic storms are the result of the charged particles which get ejected from the sun and interact with the atmosphere of the Earth. These particles were intense and created the northern and southern lights. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said that the geomagnetic storms are likely to continue which will ensure more celestial spectacle for skygazers. Watch: Sunita Williams could have to stay in space till 2025 This solar activity took place because of increased solar flares and coronal mass ejections. They are known to cause disruptions in satellite communications and power grids. Such solar activities also pave the way for the creation of auroras in regions far from the poles. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: NASA astronaut captures mesmerising setting of Moon behind Earth amid auroras

The polar vortex of Antarctica is on the verge of splitting in two for the first time in more than two decades because of a sudden increase in stratospheric temperatures.&nbsp;

If the vortex splits into two, it can result in major warming in Antarctica as Australia and South America will witness an unusually hot summer.

The southern polar vortex is a swirl of winds which will move clockwise and trap a cold air current above Antarctica amid the southern hemisphere winter.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/antarctic-temperatures-rise-10c-above-average-experts-are-calling-it-a-near-record-heatwave-746539">Antarctic temperatures rise 10C above average, experts are calling it a near-record heatwave</a>

Generally, the vortex remains stable at this time of year and the temperature inside its core remains about -80°C (-112°F).

<h2>Antarctic's polar vortex remains unstable, in future it can...</h2>

However, the latest signs indicate that the vortex has been increasingly unstable this year.

In mid-July, the southern polar vortex's wind speeds slowed from 300 to 230 kilometres per hour which permitted cold air to descend and led to a record increase in stratospheric temperatures.&nbsp;

Inside the vortex, the temperatures remained nearly 20°C (36°F) above the long-term average of around -80°C.

UK Met Office's Steven Keates said that they recorded another slowdown in wind speed in early August which was followed by a rapid increase in stratospheric temperatures.&nbsp;

“We started to see a marked warming in the very highest layers of the stratosphere,” he said.

Because of this, the vortex was pushed out of its place at the South Pole which resulted in cold polar air at the surface flowing towards Australia, New Zealand and South America and warm air moving towards Antarctica which can result in a heatwave in the continent.

Watch:&nbsp;Iceberg remains north of South Orkney islands

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If the speed of the wind is slow, the vortex can lead to a sudden change in direction and swirl anticlockwise in what is called a sudden stratospheric warming.&nbsp;

"Repeated slowdowns in wind speeds could increase the chances of a vortex split and sudden stratospheric warming taking place this year," said Keates.

Simon Lee&nbsp;at the University of St Andrews in the UK said that comparatively small disruptions to the vortex can lead to a cumulative effect.&nbsp;

“Sometimes minor warmings can set the vortex up for something major later on. Because Antarctic vortex variability is small, if something even slightly unusual happens it can very quickly grow to become an extreme event," he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The polar vortex of Antarctica is on the verge of splitting in two for the first time in more than two decades because of a sudden increase in stratospheric temperatures.

The polar vortex of Antarctica is on the verge of splitting in two for the first time in more than two decades because of a sudden increase in stratospheric temperatures. If the vortex splits into two, it can result in major warming in Antarctica as Australia and South America will witness an unusually hot summer. The southern polar vortex is a swirl of winds which will move clockwise and trap a cold air current above Antarctica amid the southern hemisphere winter. Also Read: Antarctic temperatures rise 10C above average, experts are calling it a near-record heatwave Generally, the vortex remains stable at this time of year and the temperature inside its core remains about -80°C (-112°F). Antarctic's polar vortex remains unstable, in future it can... However, the latest signs indicate that the vortex has been increasingly unstable this year. In mid-July, the southern polar vortex's wind speeds slowed from 300 to 230 kilometres per hour which permitted cold air to descend and led to a record increase in stratospheric temperatures. Inside the vortex, the temperatures remained nearly 20°C (36°F) above the long-term average of around -80°C. UK Met Office's Steven Keates said that they recorded another slowdown in wind speed in early August which was followed by a rapid increase in stratospheric temperatures. “We started to see a marked warming in the very highest layers of the stratosphere,” he said. Because of this, the vortex was pushed out of its place at the South Pole which resulted in cold polar air at the surface flowing towards Australia, New Zealand and South America and warm air moving towards Antarctica which can result in a heatwave in the continent. Watch: Iceberg remains north of South Orkney islands If the speed of the wind is slow, the vortex can lead to a sudden change in direction and swirl anticlockwise in what is called a sudden stratospheric warming. "Repeated slowdowns in wind speeds could increase the chances of a vortex split and sudden stratospheric warming taking place this year," said Keates. Simon Lee at the University of St Andrews in the UK said that comparatively small disruptions to the vortex can lead to a cumulative effect. “Sometimes minor warmings can set the vortex up for something major later on. Because Antarctic vortex variability is small, if something even slightly unusual happens it can very quickly grow to become an extreme event," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth's polar vortex in Antarctica is set to tear apart. Here's how it will impact planet

NASA's satellite Neowise, which was being used as a "planetary defence mission" to track asteroids&nbsp;and comets which can prove threatening to Earth, will be crashing into our atmosphere.&nbsp;

Neowise (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) was on the hunt for dangerous celestial bodies for a decade but after it fell too low into the orbit of Earth, NASA engineers had to send the final command to the satellite.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-issues-sudden-alert-as-massive-asteroid-rushes-to-come-too-close-to-earth-at-scary-speed-749113">NASA issues sudden alert as massive asteroid come too close to Earth at scary speed</a>

NASA chiefs said that Neowise will soon fall too low in Earth's orbit to prove the required scientific data, however, since there is an "uptick in&nbsp;solar activity" which means that the upper atmosphere of Earth will be heated and expanded to the point.

<h2>Here's how NASA sent the final command to NEOWISE</h2>

The space agency's officials gathered at its Jet Propulsion Lab in California and sent the final command to NEOWISE&nbsp;(Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) to turn off its transmitter after remaining in operation for nearly 15 years as technicians worked to retrieve the remaining data.

"The NEOWISE mission has been an extraordinary success story as it helped us better understand our place in the universe by tracking&nbsp;asteroids&nbsp;and&nbsp;comets&nbsp;that could be hazardous for us on Earth," said Nicola Fox, who is an associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, in a&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;NASA faces tight deadline to return stranded astronauts to Earth

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"While we are sad to see this brave mission come to an end, we are excited for the future scientific discoveries it has opened by setting the foundation for the next generation planetary defence telescope," she said.

In December 2009, NEOWISE was launched with a different name and it had a different mission.&nbsp;

Earlier, it was called WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) and its work was to scan the entire infrared sky in the span of a seven-month prime mission.

It did so "with far greater sensitivity than previous surveys," said NASA officials in the statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA's satellite Neowise, which was being used as a "planetary defence mission" to track asteroids and comets which can prove threatening to Earth, will be crashing into our atmosphere.

NASA's satellite Neowise, which was being used as a "planetary defence mission" to track asteroids and comets which can prove threatening to Earth, will be crashing into our atmosphere. Neowise (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) was on the hunt for dangerous celestial bodies for a decade but after it fell too low into the orbit of Earth, NASA engineers had to send the final command to the satellite. Also Read: NASA issues sudden alert as massive asteroid come too close to Earth at scary speed NASA chiefs said that Neowise will soon fall too low in Earth's orbit to prove the required scientific data, however, since there is an "uptick in solar activity" which means that the upper atmosphere of Earth will be heated and expanded to the point. Here's how NASA sent the final command to NEOWISE The space agency's officials gathered at its Jet Propulsion Lab in California and sent the final command to NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) to turn off its transmitter after remaining in operation for nearly 15 years as technicians worked to retrieve the remaining data. "The NEOWISE mission has been an extraordinary success story as it helped us better understand our place in the universe by tracking asteroids and comets that could be hazardous for us on Earth," said Nicola Fox, who is an associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, in a statement. Watch: NASA faces tight deadline to return stranded astronauts to Earth "While we are sad to see this brave mission come to an end, we are excited for the future scientific discoveries it has opened by setting the foundation for the next generation planetary defence telescope," she said. In December 2009, NEOWISE was launched with a different name and it had a different mission. Earlier, it was called WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) and its work was to scan the entire infrared sky in the span of a seven-month prime mission. It did so "with far greater sensitivity than previous surveys," said NASA officials in the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's asteroid-hunting telescope set to crash on Earth, turn into a fireball

A sudden asteroid alert has been issued by NASA regarding a near-Earth object after they detected that space rock 2024 PK2 will make its closest approach on August 11.

The 83-foot asteroid is as big as a small building and is set to pass by Earth at a distance of 795,000 miles.&nbsp;

The asteroid is part of the Aten group, which is a group of asteroids that frequently intersect Earth's orbit.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/supergiant-610-ft-asteroid-will-make-a-close-flyby-earth-on-this-date-is-it-dangerous-or-748081">Supergiant 610-ft asteroid will make a close flyby Earth on THIS date. Is it dangerous or...</a>

The asteroid will approach Earth at a scary speed of approximately 19,500 miles per hour (31,380 kilometres per hour).

Although the distance appears vast, it is very close in astronomical terms which is why it becomes imperative for NASA to monitor these near-Earth objects (NEOs) like 2024 PK2. &nbsp;

The distance between the asteroid and Earth is three times the distance between the Moon and the planet which makes the space rock a near-Earth object which needs to be tracked by NASA because of its proximity to the planet.&nbsp;

<h2>How is NASA tracking near-Earth asteroids?</h2>

NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).&nbsp;

Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Sunita Williams could have to stay in space till 2025

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Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

A sudden asteroid alert has been issued by NASA regarding a near-Earth object after they detected that space rock 2024 PK2 will make its closest approach on August 11.

A sudden asteroid alert has been issued by NASA regarding a near-Earth object after they detected that space rock 2024 PK2 will make its closest approach on August 11. The 83-foot asteroid is as big as a small building and is set to pass by Earth at a distance of 795,000 miles. The asteroid is part of the Aten group, which is a group of asteroids that frequently intersect Earth's orbit. Also Read: Supergiant 610-ft asteroid will make a close flyby Earth on THIS date. Is it dangerous or... The asteroid will approach Earth at a scary speed of approximately 19,500 miles per hour (31,380 kilometres per hour). Although the distance appears vast, it is very close in astronomical terms which is why it becomes imperative for NASA to monitor these near-Earth objects (NEOs) like 2024 PK2. The distance between the asteroid and Earth is three times the distance between the Moon and the planet which makes the space rock a near-Earth object which needs to be tracked by NASA because of its proximity to the planet. How is NASA tracking near-Earth asteroids? NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs). Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention. Watch: Sunita Williams could have to stay in space till 2025 Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA issues sudden alert as massive asteroid comes too close to Earth at scary speed

The JUICE mission of the European Space Agency is set to complete a new manoeuvre and break two records.

This is the first time the spacecraft will use two objects to carry out a gravity assist maneuver,&nbsp;and for the first time, it will also attempt Lunar-Earth flyby.&nbsp;

The Lunar-Earth Gravity Assist (LEGA) is likely to save JUICE many propellants, which the mission will use at a later stage.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-issues-sudden-alert-as-massive-asteroid-rushes-to-come-too-close-to-earth-at-scary-speed-749113">NASA issues sudden alert as massive asteroid rushes to come too close to Earth at scary speed</a>

This is a tough manoeuvre which was first planned 15 years ago and for this, the spacecraft should be launched at a precise second so that it is able to find the Earth and the Moon in the correct position.&nbsp;

<h2>How ESA's JUICE mission will fly by the Moon and Earth?</h2>

The spacecraft will first go around the Moon at 21:16 UTC on Monday evening (August 19) while losing some of its speed.

After 25 hours, it is expected to approach Earth. Because of Earth, it will slow down further and go towards Venus, however, there will be no room for errors.

“It’s like passing through a very narrow corridor, very, very quickly: pushing the accelerator to the maximum when the margin at the side of the road is just millimetres," said Spacecraft Operations Manager, Ignacio Tanco, in a&nbsp;statement.

“It’s a very important mission because we want to find out whether there are habitable places inside the icy moons, so Europa, Ganymede, or Callisto. That’s the main question of the mission,” said Dr Olivier Witasse, who is a planetary scientist working on the scientific aspects of the mission,&nbsp;while speaking to IFLScience.

Watch:&nbsp;Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds

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According to the team, the fuel saved in this manoeuvre will help the JUICE mission orbit at nearly 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the surface of Jupiter's moon Ganymede because of which the spacecraft will be able to make precise observations.&nbsp;

With the help of the flyby, the spacecraft will get in the right orbit and speed will make sure that the instruments are working well. This means that the scientists will be able to test a whole set of instruments during the flyby.

“This could not be done in the lab. This will be an excellent test to check the performance of the radar in the context of the full spacecraft operating,”&nbsp;said Nicolas Altobelli, planetary scientist with ESA, while speaking at a press conference.

(With inputs from agencies)

The JUICE mission of the European Space Agency is set to complete a new manoeuvre and break two records. This is the first time the spacecraft will use two objects to carry out a gravity assist maneuver, and for the first time, it will also attempt Lunar-Earth flyby.

The JUICE mission of the European Space Agency is set to complete a new manoeuvre and break two records. This is the first time the spacecraft will use two objects to carry out a gravity assist maneuver, and for the first time, it will also attempt Lunar-Earth flyby. The Lunar-Earth Gravity Assist (LEGA) is likely to save JUICE many propellants, which the mission will use at a later stage. Also Read: NASA issues sudden alert as massive asteroid rushes to come too close to Earth at scary speed This is a tough manoeuvre which was first planned 15 years ago and for this, the spacecraft should be launched at a precise second so that it is able to find the Earth and the Moon in the correct position. How ESA's JUICE mission will fly by the Moon and Earth? The spacecraft will first go around the Moon at 21:16 UTC on Monday evening (August 19) while losing some of its speed. After 25 hours, it is expected to approach Earth. Because of Earth, it will slow down further and go towards Venus, however, there will be no room for errors. “It’s like passing through a very narrow corridor, very, very quickly: pushing the accelerator to the maximum when the margin at the side of the road is just millimetres," said Spacecraft Operations Manager, Ignacio Tanco, in a statement. “It’s a very important mission because we want to find out whether there are habitable places inside the icy moons, so Europa, Ganymede, or Callisto. That’s the main question of the mission,” said Dr Olivier Witasse, who is a planetary scientist working on the scientific aspects of the mission, while speaking to IFLScience. Watch: Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds According to the team, the fuel saved in this manoeuvre will help the JUICE mission orbit at nearly 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the surface of Jupiter's moon Ganymede because of which the spacecraft will be able to make precise observations. With the help of the flyby, the spacecraft will get in the right orbit and speed will make sure that the instruments are working well. This means that the scientists will be able to test a whole set of instruments during the flyby. “This could not be done in the lab. This will be an excellent test to check the performance of the radar in the context of the full spacecraft operating,” said Nicolas Altobelli, planetary scientist with ESA, while speaking at a press conference. (With inputs from agencies)

ESA's JUICE mission is set to attempt first-ever Lunar-Earth flyby. Here's how it will impact planet

Scientists have pounced upon a scary theory according to which the universe shouldn't exist at all, and neither should we. In their quest to learn about how everything came into existence, several scientific models are created. They are based on hints and clues we find in the cosmos and man's understanding of it. It's all maths and physics and is bound to keep evolving with new pieces added to it. A study has challenged several such models saying that if most of them were true, the universe should have annihilated a long time ago.&nbsp;

They base their research on primordial black holes and the Higgs boson particle. Why do we exist? The answer can largely be attributed to the existence of the Higgs field. Similar to electricity or magnetism, this field gives everything mass. So if it weren't to exist, we wouldn't exist. But, experts say that it is not at its "lowest possible energy state", and if it fell to its lowest point "it would alter the laws of physics dramatically.”

Lucien Heurtier, a researcher on the study, in an article for The Conversation says, "The Higgs field isn’t likely to be in the lowest possible energy state it could be in. That means it could theoretically change its state, dropping to a lower energy state in a certain location. If that happened, however, it would alter the laws of physics dramatically.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-plan-life-bank-on-moon-to-save-dying-species-on-earth-heres-how-748397">Scientists plan 'life bank' on Moon to save dying species on Earth. Here's how</a>

If this happens, little “bubbles” of space will form which won't conform to current laws of physics. “In such a bubble, the mass of electrons would suddenly change, and so would its interactions with other particles. Protons and neutrons—which make up the atomic nucleus and are made of quarks—would suddenly dislocate. Essentially, anybody experiencing such a change would likely no longer be able to report it.”

<h2>The problem with&nbsp;primordial black holes</h2>

The problem with existing models arises when primordial black holes are taken into consideration. They are hypothetical objects much smaller than current black holes. As per current theories, they formed in the second right after the Big Bang and without a supernova because of extremely dense regions in the universe that likely collapsed in on themselves.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;From Big Bang Theory to Toddlerhood: Exploring Universe's early stages

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&nbsp;

Current models say that these black holes evaporated quickly, but according to Heurtier and his team, they would have had a massive effect on the Higgs field. They say if primordial black holes ever existed, there would have been tiny bubbles everywhere. So many of these bubbles would have existed that the study says nothing should have ever formed. So if all the current models are true, the universe would have annihilated itself.

<h2>Then how did everything originate?&nbsp;</h2>

The study says cites two reasons. One, that all models are wrong and that primordial black holes never existed, since we know that the Higgs field is present. The second scenario is that may be Physics is missing something and that humans likely still don't understand how the Higgs field works.

Scientists have pounced upon a scary theory according to which the universe shouldn't exist at all, and neither should we. In their quest to learn about how everything came into existence, several scientific models are created.

Scientists have pounced upon a scary theory according to which the universe shouldn't exist at all, and neither should we. In their quest to learn about how everything came into existence, several scientific models are created. They are based on hints and clues we find in the cosmos and man's understanding of it. It's all maths and physics and is bound to keep evolving with new pieces added to it. A study has challenged several such models saying that if most of them were true, the universe should have annihilated a long time ago. They base their research on primordial black holes and the Higgs boson particle. Why do we exist? The answer can largely be attributed to the existence of the Higgs field. Similar to electricity or magnetism, this field gives everything mass. So if it weren't to exist, we wouldn't exist. But, experts say that it is not at its "lowest possible energy state", and if it fell to its lowest point "it would alter the laws of physics dramatically.” Lucien Heurtier, a researcher on the study, in an article for The Conversation says, "The Higgs field isn’t likely to be in the lowest possible energy state it could be in. That means it could theoretically change its state, dropping to a lower energy state in a certain location. If that happened, however, it would alter the laws of physics dramatically.” Also Read: Scientists plan 'life bank' on Moon to save dying species on Earth. Here's how If this happens, little “bubbles” of space will form which won't conform to current laws of physics. “In such a bubble, the mass of electrons would suddenly change, and so would its interactions with other particles. Protons and neutrons—which make up the atomic nucleus and are made of quarks—would suddenly dislocate. Essentially, anybody experiencing such a change would likely no longer be able to report it.” The problem with primordial black holes The problem with existing models arises when primordial black holes are taken into consideration. They are hypothetical objects much smaller than current black holes. As per current theories, they formed in the second right after the Big Bang and without a supernova because of extremely dense regions in the universe that likely collapsed in on themselves. Watch: From Big Bang Theory to Toddlerhood: Exploring Universe's early stages × Current models say that these black holes evaporated quickly, but according to Heurtier and his team, they would have had a massive effect on the Higgs field. They say if primordial black holes ever existed, there would have been tiny bubbles everywhere. So many of these bubbles would have existed that the study says nothing should have ever formed. So if all the current models are true, the universe would have annihilated itself. Then how did everything originate? The study says cites two reasons. One, that all models are wrong and that primordial black holes never existed, since we know that the Higgs field is present. The second scenario is that may be Physics is missing something and that humans likely still don't understand how the Higgs field works.

Universe should have killed itself right after Big Bang, new study suggests

Every now and then certain stable parts of the continents on Earth begin to rise and develop into some stunning topographic features. The reason why this happens has now been revealed. Scientists at the University of Southampton studied plate tectonics to find out how did this happen. They say that tectonic plates often break apart, and this triggers powerful waves deep within the Earth. This event causes continental surfaces to rise, sometimes by over a kilometre.

Scientists have been trying to understand for years how these topographical features known as "escarpments" and "plateaus" come into existence. The findings published in the journal Nature are a result of studying the impact of global tectonic forces on landscape evolution over hundreds of millions of years.&nbsp;

"Scientists have long suspected that steep kilometre-high topographic features called Great Escarpments—like the classic example encircling South Africa—are formed when continents rift and eventually split apart," Tom Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study said.

The researchers from the University of Southampton - Dr Thea Hincks, Dr Derek Keir, and Alice Cunningham - collaborated with colleagues from the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam—GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and the University of Birmingham. They tried to understand&nbsp;why stable parts of continents sometimes move vertically.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sunita-williams-staring-at-a-massive-delay-in-return-trip-will-likely-return-in-748199">Sunita Williams staring at a MASSIVE delay in return trip, will likely return in 2025</a>

<h2>The study&nbsp;</h2>

They discovered that continental crust stretches when continents split apart, and this stretching causes stirring movements in Earth's mantle. Professor Sascha Brune, who leads the Geodynamic Modelling Section at GFZ Potsdam, said, "This process can be compared to a sweeping motion that moves towards the continents and disturbs their deep foundations."

Professor Brune and Dr Anne Glerum then ran simulations and noted that the speed of the mantle "waves" moving under the continents was extremely close to the speed of major erosion events that happened in the landscape in Southern Africa following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. They added that the Great Escarpments originate at the edges of ancient rift valleys. This led them to conclude that a rifting event also sets in motion a "deep mantle wave". This wave travels along the continent's base at about 15–20 kilometres per million years.

"Much like how a hot-air balloon sheds weight to rise higher, this loss of continental material causes the continents to rise—a process called isostasy," said Professor Brune.

Every now and then certain stable parts of the continents on Earth begin to rise and develop into some stunning topographic features. The reason why this happens has now been revealed.

Every now and then certain stable parts of the continents on Earth begin to rise and develop into some stunning topographic features. The reason why this happens has now been revealed. Scientists at the University of Southampton studied plate tectonics to find out how did this happen. They say that tectonic plates often break apart, and this triggers powerful waves deep within the Earth. This event causes continental surfaces to rise, sometimes by over a kilometre. Scientists have been trying to understand for years how these topographical features known as "escarpments" and "plateaus" come into existence. The findings published in the journal Nature are a result of studying the impact of global tectonic forces on landscape evolution over hundreds of millions of years. "Scientists have long suspected that steep kilometre-high topographic features called Great Escarpments—like the classic example encircling South Africa—are formed when continents rift and eventually split apart," Tom Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study said. The researchers from the University of Southampton - Dr Thea Hincks, Dr Derek Keir, and Alice Cunningham - collaborated with colleagues from the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam—GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and the University of Birmingham. They tried to understand why stable parts of continents sometimes move vertically. Also Read: Sunita Williams staring at a MASSIVE delay in return trip, will likely return in 2025 The study They discovered that continental crust stretches when continents split apart, and this stretching causes stirring movements in Earth's mantle. Professor Sascha Brune, who leads the Geodynamic Modelling Section at GFZ Potsdam, said, "This process can be compared to a sweeping motion that moves towards the continents and disturbs their deep foundations." Professor Brune and Dr Anne Glerum then ran simulations and noted that the speed of the mantle "waves" moving under the continents was extremely close to the speed of major erosion events that happened in the landscape in Southern Africa following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. They added that the Great Escarpments originate at the edges of ancient rift valleys. This led them to conclude that a rifting event also sets in motion a "deep mantle wave". This wave travels along the continent's base at about 15–20 kilometres per million years. "Much like how a hot-air balloon sheds weight to rise higher, this loss of continental material causes the continents to rise—a process called isostasy," said Professor Brune.

Continents have been mysteriously rising for years now. Scientists now know why

A supergiant asteroid 2024 KH3 is moving towards Earth at a scary speed and is set to make a close flyby of Earth on August 10.&nbsp;

As reported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Earth is set to face nearly five supergiant asteroids in the days ahead. The asteroids will be of different sizes and will&nbsp;pass by Earth between August 8 and August 13.&nbsp;

Among these, 2024 KH3 is the largest of the asteroids and is around the size of 610 feet which is nearly as big as a tall building.&nbsp;

On August 10, asteroid 2024 KH3 will make a close pass from Earth. Although the asteroid will pass at a close distance from Earth, it has been categorised by NASA as a safe pass with no risk of impacting our planet.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-on-alert-after-410ft-massive-asteroid-suddenly-spotted-hurtling-towards-earth-if-it-hits-747083">NASA on alert after 410ft massive asteroid suddenly spotted hurtling towards Earth. If it hits...</a>

The huge asteroid will reach a minimum distance of nearly 5.6 million&nbsp;km&nbsp;from Earth on August 10.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, an airplane-sized asteroid 2024 ON2 - which is nearly 120 feet in diameter - will make a close flyby of Earth on August 12. It will fly at a distance of nearly 6.8 million&nbsp;km, however, it has not been marked as a threat.

A 110 feet asteroid 2024 PK1 will make its closest approach to Earth on August 10. The asteroid will pass from Earth at a distance of nearly 6.4 million km.&nbsp;

Asteroid 2024 PN1 is nearly 86 feet in diameter and will make its closest approach to Earth on August 8. It will fly at a distance of nearly 2.4 million&nbsp;km.&nbsp;

Among these asteroids, the smallest one is nearly 58 feet in diameter. It is called 2024 PS1 and it will fly by Earth on August 13.

NASA has been monitoring the asteroids which will pass close to the Earth.

<h2>How is NASA tracking asteroids?</h2>

NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).&nbsp;

Watch: NASA resupply mission docks at International Space Station

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-resupply-mission-docks-at-international-space-station-747886/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.&nbsp;

Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

A supergiant asteroid 2024 KH3 is moving towards Earth at a scary speed and is set to make a close flyby of Earth on August 10. As reported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Earth is set to face nearly five supergiant asteroids in the days ahead.

A supergiant asteroid 2024 KH3 is moving towards Earth at a scary speed and is set to make a close flyby of Earth on August 10. As reported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Earth is set to face nearly five supergiant asteroids in the days ahead. The asteroids will be of different sizes and will pass by Earth between August 8 and August 13. Among these, 2024 KH3 is the largest of the asteroids and is around the size of 610 feet which is nearly as big as a tall building. On August 10, asteroid 2024 KH3 will make a close pass from Earth. Although the asteroid will pass at a close distance from Earth, it has been categorised by NASA as a safe pass with no risk of impacting our planet. Also Read: NASA on alert after 410ft massive asteroid suddenly spotted hurtling towards Earth. If it hits... The huge asteroid will reach a minimum distance of nearly 5.6 million km from Earth on August 10. Meanwhile, an airplane-sized asteroid 2024 ON2 - which is nearly 120 feet in diameter - will make a close flyby of Earth on August 12. It will fly at a distance of nearly 6.8 million km, however, it has not been marked as a threat. A 110 feet asteroid 2024 PK1 will make its closest approach to Earth on August 10. The asteroid will pass from Earth at a distance of nearly 6.4 million km. Asteroid 2024 PN1 is nearly 86 feet in diameter and will make its closest approach to Earth on August 8. It will fly at a distance of nearly 2.4 million km. Among these asteroids, the smallest one is nearly 58 feet in diameter. It is called 2024 PS1 and it will fly by Earth on August 13. NASA has been monitoring the asteroids which will pass close to the Earth. How is NASA tracking asteroids? NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs). Watch: NASA resupply mission docks at International Space Station Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention. Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks. (With inputs from agencies)

Supergiant 610-ft asteroid will make a close flyby Earth on THIS date. Is it dangerous or...

Humans across the world have&nbsp;been taught that there are seven continents on Earth, namely, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. However, this integral part of our geography now seems to be botched up as researchers in a new study have made a shocking claim that there are six and not seven continents on Earth.

The University of Derby's researchers said that the continents of North America and Europe have not broken up and the process is still ongoing.

The study's author Dr Jordan Phethean said: "The discovery indicates that the North America and Eurasian tectonic plates have not yet actually broken apart, as is traditionally thought to have happened 52 million years ago. They are, in fact, still stretching and in the process of breaking apart."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-is-going-far-away-from-the-earth-will-it-disappear-soon-from-night-sky-746236">Moon is going far away from the Earth. Will it disappear soon from night sky?</a>

The new study looked into the formation of Iceland, which is situated between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.

Till now, it was known that Iceland was formed nearly 60 million years ago when the mid-Atlantic ridge – which is the boundary between Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates - started to fall apart and led to the creation of a hot mantle plume that turned into a volcanic island.

In the new study, the team found evidence which challenged this theory.

<h2>North America and Europe are one continent and not two: study</h2>

The researchers analysed the tectonic plates' movement in Africa and suggested that Iceland and the Greenland Iceland Faroes Ridge (GIFR) have pieces of lost and submerged fragments which belong to both the North American and European continents.

This newly-recognised feature is known as a "Rifted Oceanic Magmatic Plateau" (ROMP) for short.

"I like to think of this concept as the Earth Science equivalent of finding the Lost City of Atlantis; fragments of lost continent submerged beneath the sea and kilometres of thin lava flows," said Dr Phethean.

Watch:&nbsp;Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-slows-down-by-133-milliseconds-741345/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"By studying the evolution of rifting in the volcanic Afra region in Africa and comparing this to the behaviour of the Earth in Iceland, we are able to see that these two regions are evolving in very similar ways," he added.&nbsp;

So, if the study is right it means that the European and North American continents are still breaking up and scientifically, they should be classed as one continent and not two continents.&nbsp;

"While it is controversial to suggest that the GIFR contains a large amount of continental crust within it, and that the European and North American tectonic plates have perhaps not yet officially broken up, our findings suggest this is the case," explained Dr Phethean.

(With inputs from agencies)

Humans across the world have been taught that there are seven continents on Earth, namely, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Humans across the world have been taught that there are seven continents on Earth, namely, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. However, this integral part of our geography now seems to be botched up as researchers in a new study have made a shocking claim that there are six and not seven continents on Earth. The University of Derby's researchers said that the continents of North America and Europe have not broken up and the process is still ongoing. The study's author Dr Jordan Phethean said: "The discovery indicates that the North America and Eurasian tectonic plates have not yet actually broken apart, as is traditionally thought to have happened 52 million years ago. They are, in fact, still stretching and in the process of breaking apart." Also Read: Moon is going far away from the Earth. Will it disappear soon from night sky? The new study looked into the formation of Iceland, which is situated between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Till now, it was known that Iceland was formed nearly 60 million years ago when the mid-Atlantic ridge – which is the boundary between Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates - started to fall apart and led to the creation of a hot mantle plume that turned into a volcanic island. In the new study, the team found evidence which challenged this theory. North America and Europe are one continent and not two: study The researchers analysed the tectonic plates' movement in Africa and suggested that Iceland and the Greenland Iceland Faroes Ridge (GIFR) have pieces of lost and submerged fragments which belong to both the North American and European continents. This newly-recognised feature is known as a "Rifted Oceanic Magmatic Plateau" (ROMP) for short. "I like to think of this concept as the Earth Science equivalent of finding the Lost City of Atlantis; fragments of lost continent submerged beneath the sea and kilometres of thin lava flows," said Dr Phethean. Watch: Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds "By studying the evolution of rifting in the volcanic Afra region in Africa and comparing this to the behaviour of the Earth in Iceland, we are able to see that these two regions are evolving in very similar ways," he added. So, if the study is right it means that the European and North American continents are still breaking up and scientifically, they should be classed as one continent and not two continents. "While it is controversial to suggest that the GIFR contains a large amount of continental crust within it, and that the European and North American tectonic plates have perhaps not yet officially broken up, our findings suggest this is the case," explained Dr Phethean. (With inputs from agencies)

Not seven but six continents are present on Earth, claims a shocking study. Here's how

NASA issued a sudden warning after a massive 410-foot asteroid '2024 OC' was spotted hurtling towards Earth at a scary speed on August 4 (Sunday) to make its closest approach at 16:10 UTC.&nbsp;

The asteroid, which is as big as a large building, will fly by Earth at a dangerous speed of 35,986 km/h. Asteroid 2024 OC is part of the Apollo asteroids which have been making their closest approach to Earth recently.&nbsp;

These asteroids are near-Earth objects (NEOs) and have orbits that cross the path of the Earth. Although most NEOs do not carry the risk of impact, some of them are considered potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) and need closer monitoring.&nbsp;

The asteroids which are larger than about 460 feet (140 metres) and have orbits which bring them at a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from the orbit of the Earth are considered as potentially hazardous.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/double-asteroid-threat-nasa-says-two-massive-space-rocks-to-make-scary-flyby-earth-today-746263">Double asteroid threat! NASA says two massive space rocks to make scary flyby Earth today</a>

Even though 2024 OC is sizable, it is expected to pass by Earth at a safe distance of 7.4 million kilometres. Even though it is making a close approach, the asteroid fails to meet the criteria of a PHA because of its slightly smaller size.&nbsp;

However, NASA has been tracking such objects to ensure that Earth does not face any danger.

<h2>What will happen if asteroid 2024 OC hits Earth?&nbsp;</h2>

If Earth is hit by an asteroid the size of 2024 OC, it will have a significant impact on the planet.&nbsp;

A building-sized asteroid can lead to widespread destruction, form a large crater and also result in regional damage.&nbsp;

The asteroid impact can also cause catastrophic effects on the environment and result in the loss of life and property.&nbsp;

However, the monitoring efforts of NASA will ensure that 2024 OC will pass by the Earth without leading to any harm.

<h2>How is NASA tracking asteroids?</h2>

NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Stuck in space for 52 days, no way home for astronauts; Helium leaks delaying return

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/stuck-in-space-for-52-days-no-way-home-for-astronauts-helium-leaks-delaying-return-746104/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.&nbsp;

Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA issued a sudden warning after a massive 410-foot asteroid '2024 OC' was spotted hurtling towards Earth at a scary speed on August 4 (Sunday) to make its closest approach at 16:10 UTC.

NASA issued a sudden warning after a massive 410-foot asteroid '2024 OC' was spotted hurtling towards Earth at a scary speed on August 4 (Sunday) to make its closest approach at 16:10 UTC. The asteroid, which is as big as a large building, will fly by Earth at a dangerous speed of 35,986 km/h. Asteroid 2024 OC is part of the Apollo asteroids which have been making their closest approach to Earth recently. These asteroids are near-Earth objects (NEOs) and have orbits that cross the path of the Earth. Although most NEOs do not carry the risk of impact, some of them are considered potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) and need closer monitoring. The asteroids which are larger than about 460 feet (140 metres) and have orbits which bring them at a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from the orbit of the Earth are considered as potentially hazardous. Also Read: Double asteroid threat! NASA says two massive space rocks to make scary flyby Earth today Even though 2024 OC is sizable, it is expected to pass by Earth at a safe distance of 7.4 million kilometres. Even though it is making a close approach, the asteroid fails to meet the criteria of a PHA because of its slightly smaller size. However, NASA has been tracking such objects to ensure that Earth does not face any danger. What will happen if asteroid 2024 OC hits Earth? If Earth is hit by an asteroid the size of 2024 OC, it will have a significant impact on the planet. A building-sized asteroid can lead to widespread destruction, form a large crater and also result in regional damage. The asteroid impact can also cause catastrophic effects on the environment and result in the loss of life and property. However, the monitoring efforts of NASA will ensure that 2024 OC will pass by the Earth without leading to any harm. How is NASA tracking asteroids? NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs). Watch: Stuck in space for 52 days, no way home for astronauts; Helium leaks delaying return Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention. Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA on alert after 410ft massive asteroid suddenly spotted hurtling towards Earth. If it hits...

The intense solar wind streams which have been slamming the magnetic field of Earth - also known as the magnetosphere - have led to some major changes.&nbsp;

The solar winds have formed the sunward side of the magnetosphere which is called a bow shock and has stretched the magnetic field in the shape of a wind sock with a long tail&nbsp;on the nightside.

The solar wind went through dramatic changes and has altered the dynamics and structure of the magnetosphere.

<h2>Powerful CMEs disrupting Earth's magnetosphere&nbsp;</h2>

In an article published&nbsp;in&nbsp;Geophysical Research Letters, Li‐Jen Chen and his colleagues reported that there were unprecedented observations of a rare phenomenon which has been created during a&nbsp;coronal mass ejection&nbsp;(CME).

It was observed that CMEs move faster in comparison to the Alfvén speed, which is the speed at which vibrating&nbsp;magnetic field lines move across magnetized plasma that can vary with the plasma environment.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/strictly-speaking-earth-is-not-revolving-around-the-sun-currently-heres-what-it-means-740359">Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means</a>

In 2023, a CME disrupted the normal configuration of the magnetosphere of Earth for nearly two hours.&nbsp;

The observations from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) were analysed by the researchers.

The MMS spacecraft on April 24, 2023, observed that although the solar wind's streaming speed was fast, the Alfvén speed noticed amid strong CME was even faster. Generally, solar wind&nbsp;travels faster in comparison to Alfvén's speed.&nbsp;

This anomaly causes the&nbsp;bow shock in Earth to temporarily disappear and let the plasma and magnetic field from the Sun interact directly with the magnetosphere.

<h2>What did the CMEs do to Earth's wind sock tail?</h2>

It was observed by scientists that the wind sock tail of the Earth was replaced by structures called Alfvén wings which formed a connection between the magnetosphere of the Earth to the recently erupted region of the sun.&nbsp;

This connection worked like a highway which was transporting plasma between the Sun and the magnetosphere.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Mysterious dark oxygen found on ocean floor

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-mysterious-dark-oxygen-found-on-ocean-floor-743594/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The unique CME event gave new insights into how the formation and evolution of the Alfvén wings took place, said the authors.

A similar process can take place near other magnetically active bodies in our solar system and universe and the observations of the researchers suggested that the auroras were formed on the moon of Jupiter, Ganymede, because of these Alfvén wings.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The intense solar wind streams which have been slamming the magnetic field of Earth - also known as the magnetosphere - have led to some major changes. The solar winds have formed the sunward side of the magnetosphere which is called a bow shock and has stretched the magnetic field in the shape of a wind sock with a long tail on the nightside.

The intense solar wind streams which have been slamming the magnetic field of Earth - also known as the magnetosphere - have led to some major changes. The solar winds have formed the sunward side of the magnetosphere which is called a bow shock and has stretched the magnetic field in the shape of a wind sock with a long tail on the nightside. The solar wind went through dramatic changes and has altered the dynamics and structure of the magnetosphere. Powerful CMEs disrupting Earth's magnetosphere In an article published in Geophysical Research Letters, Li‐Jen Chen and his colleagues reported that there were unprecedented observations of a rare phenomenon which has been created during a coronal mass ejection (CME). It was observed that CMEs move faster in comparison to the Alfvén speed, which is the speed at which vibrating magnetic field lines move across magnetized plasma that can vary with the plasma environment. Also Read: Strictly speaking, Earth is not revolving around the Sun currently. Here's what it means In 2023, a CME disrupted the normal configuration of the magnetosphere of Earth for nearly two hours. The observations from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) were analysed by the researchers. The MMS spacecraft on April 24, 2023, observed that although the solar wind's streaming speed was fast, the Alfvén speed noticed amid strong CME was even faster. Generally, solar wind travels faster in comparison to Alfvén's speed. This anomaly causes the bow shock in Earth to temporarily disappear and let the plasma and magnetic field from the Sun interact directly with the magnetosphere. What did the CMEs do to Earth's wind sock tail? It was observed by scientists that the wind sock tail of the Earth was replaced by structures called Alfvén wings which formed a connection between the magnetosphere of the Earth to the recently erupted region of the sun. This connection worked like a highway which was transporting plasma between the Sun and the magnetosphere. Watch: Gravitas: Mysterious dark oxygen found on ocean floor The unique CME event gave new insights into how the formation and evolution of the Alfvén wings took place, said the authors. A similar process can take place near other magnetically active bodies in our solar system and universe and the observations of the researchers suggested that the auroras were formed on the moon of Jupiter, Ganymede, because of these Alfvén wings. (With inputs from agencies)

Sun's coronal mass ejection bombarded Earth, changed its magnetic field. Here's how

Earth has a weird volcano located in Tanzania which, while continuously erupting carbonatite lava, is also sinking inside the ground at a speed of 1.4 inches per annum in the last decade.

Earth has a weird volcano located in Tanzania which, while continuously erupting carbonatite lava, is also sinking inside the ground at a speed of 1.4 inches per annum in the last decade. The Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano is filled with magma which has been erupting beyond the ground hose but at the same time sinking for the past 10 years, according to a new study. The scientists believe that the volcano is sinking because of the deflating reservoir which is located just beneath the two craters of the volcano. Here's what the study says about Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano In the new research, it has been found that the ground near the summit of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano - which is present along the active rift zone in East Africa - has been sinking at the rate of 1.4 inches (3.6 centimetres) every year between 2013 and 2023. Also Read: Researchers discover first deep-snouted tyrannosaur in Southern China This meant that the 9,718-foot-tall (2,962 meters) volcano shrank by nearly 1.2 feet (36 cm) during the study, which was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters on June 8. The data collected from two satellite systems, Sentinel-1 and Cosmo-SkyMed, was used by the researchers to produce maps which showed the changes taking place in the ground around Ol Doinyo Lengai through time. In the maps, a circular patch of ground was seen around the northern crater of the volcano, which indicated that it was "moving away from the satellite with a steady rate of displacement over time," said the researchers, in the study. Rare volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai boasts of extremely runny magma This volcano is the only one existing on Earth which has an actively erupting and extremely runny carbonatite magma. The magma is saturated with alkali elements, like calcium and sodium and is poor in silica. Volcanologist and associate professor at Denison University in Ohio Erik Klemetti, in a Wired article, wrote, "If you had to pick the most unique volcano on Earth, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than Tanzania's Ol Doinyo Lengai". The lava which is flowing from Ol Doinyo Lengai is "some of the strangest stuff you'll ever see," he said, adding that it is producing weird "garden hose" eruptions which will leave behind white stains. Watch: Europe: Footage shows explosive Mount Etna eruption In earlier research, it was said that the newly-blasted crater is likely to be subsiding, however, as per the new study, the crater's upper slopes have started sinking since 2013. As per the study, the likely cause for this sinking volcano was the deflating magma reservoir, which is located 3,300 feet (1,000 m) under the volcano. "The geometry and characteristics of the shallow magma plumbing system below Ol Doinyo Lengai remain elusive," wrote the researchers, in the study. There was a hint of a shallow reservoir in the previous studies. It is likely that this reservoir is connected to a bigger magma storage area of 9,900 feet (3,000 m) or is located deeper beneath the volcano, as per the study. (With inputs from agencies)

This volcano, with continuous eruption of magma, is sinking inside Earth. Here's why

#Gravitas | Studies indicate that the Moon has been drifting away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 centimetres per year. This phenomenon could impact length of days on our planet, resulting in Earth days lasting 25 hours.

Moon Drifting Away From Earth Approximately 3.8 Centimeter Per Year - Study

An international team of scientists has raised concerns that threats like climate change and habitat loss due to human activities have far outpaced humanity's ability to protect the many species on the verge of extinction. They suggest that the solution to this massive problem may lie outside our planet…on the moon, to be exact

How lunar craters could rescue earth's genes

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