2023 has been a year of extreme weather conditions. Earth's temperature crossed critical threshold in 2023. With wildfires in Canada, Horn of Africa & Middle East to summer heat waves in US & China. Watch to know more!

EU Scientists confirm 2023 as hottest year on Earth

Skywatchers in North America and some regions of South America will see Mercury, Mars and Venus line up in the sky on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday (Jan 9), a thin crescent moon, less than five per cent illuminated, will gather in the sky with three of our planet's closest neighbours in the solar system.

Skywatchers in North America and some regions of South America will see Mercury, Mars and Venus line up in the sky on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday (Jan 9), a thin crescent moon, less than five per cent illuminated, will gather in the sky with three of our planet's closest neighbours in the solar system. Venus, out of the three planets, will shine the brightest during the morning twilight. Mars will be less visible, requiring binoculars to see it near the horizon in the morning. Meanwhile, Mercury will be bright at around magnitude zero. In areas with low light pollution, it would be possible to have an unobstructed view of the horizon. At such places, one can view this gathering of planets without an optical aid. Venus would be the first to rise around 2.5 hours before the sunrise. To locate the evening star, find the brightly shining pale yellow planet in the early morning sky in the southeast direction. Mercury will rise roughly an hour after Venus, appearing on the Moon's left. Half an hour before sunrise, Mars will be visible above the horizon. On Monday (Jan 8), Mercury reached its highest point in the morning sky, elevating to some 16 degrees above the southeastern sky. ALSO READ | Peregrine Mission One: Private mission to land on Moon suffers ‘anomaly’ after entering safe operational state The innermost planet also reached the greatest elongation from the Sun on the same day. For skywatchers, it is the right opportunity to catch sight of the elusive planet, which only appears a few weeks a year during the greatest elongation. Furthermore, like Mercury, Mars is elusive this time of the year, as it will not rise high above the horizon. Even on Tuesday (Jan 9), it would be hard to spot the red planet, as it will be less than ten degrees above the horizon. However, Venus will be a beacon in the morning sky until it fades from the Northern Hemisphere's southern latitudes around May 2024. It will reappear as an evening apparition in June 2024. While using binoculars or a telescope to observe the trio of these planets alongside Earth's Moon, never look in the rising Sun's direction through an optical aid or with the naked eye. The planets will appear close to where the Sun will be rising. Avoid risking damage to your eyes and check sunrise timings in your area. (With inputs from agencies)

Cosmic alignment: Mercury, Venus and Mars to meet Moon on January 9 morning

NASA ha put an end to concerns about a lost 54-million-tonne asteroid hitting Earth in 2024. In response to a November report by a news outlet stating that 2007 FT3, the asteroid, had a slight possibility of striking Earth in 2024, the space agency has issued a statement saying that there are no known asteroid crash dangers to Earth at any time in the century.

NASA ha put an end to concerns about a lost 54-million-tonne asteroid hitting Earth in 2024. In response to a November report by a news outlet stating that 2007 FT3, the asteroid, had a slight possibility of striking Earth in 2024, the space agency has issued a statement saying that there are no known asteroid crash dangers to Earth at any time in the century. In 2007, scientists first spotted the 984-foot-long asteroid. However, eventually, they lost track of it and categorised it as a "lost asteroid." According to the report by the news outlet, the chances of the asteroid slamming into Earth were around 1 in 10 million on 3 March 2030 and 1 in 11.5 million on 5 October 2024. NASA told The Standard, "There are no known asteroid impact threats to Earth at any time in the next century. NASA and its partners diligently watch the skies to find, track, and categorise asteroids and near-Earth objects (NEOs), including those who come close to Earth." ALSO READ | In shocking first, shark’s fin regenerates less than a year after being ‘torn by humans’ Before scientists lost track of the 2007 FT3, they were able to gather information about the asteroid. They observed 14 points in its arc over the two days it remained in NASA's view. The researchers have also calculated its orbit and looked into its possible collisions with Earth. The asteroid has made it to NASA's Sentry Risk Table of objects that could impact our planet. NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies has also identified 89 potential impacts that 2007 FT3 can have on Earth, one of which is on 5 October 2024. However, the space agency clarified that it was nothing to worry about, as one potential point of impact when the asteroid was closest to the Earth had already passed in 2019. "An important note here is planetary scientists define asteroid approaches that come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit as close approaches. The larger an asteroid is, the easier it is for our planetary defence experts to find, meaning that their orbits around the sun are usually very well-known and understood for years or even decades," NASA said. NASA and other space agencies keep watching the near-Earth objects that could cause devastation if they cross paths with Earth. Astronomers can predict the orbits of these space bodies up to about a hundred years in the future. (With inputs from agencies)

Will a lost asteroid hit Earth this year? This is what NASA has to say

Intuitive Machines, Inc. announced last month — in coordination with SpaceX — the launch of the Company’s IM-1 lunar mission, now targeted for a multi-day launch window that opens no earlier than mid-February this year.

Intuitive Machines scheduled to launch IM-1 lunar mission in February

After remaining a mystery for years, scientists have finally discovered how diamonds emerge from the surface of the Earth. 
 
Diamonds get created in the upper mantle of the Earth's crust and if they do not shoot to the surface, which is called kimberlite eruptions, humans won't be able to find them. 
 
The eruption is a mixture of water, rock, carbon dioxide and many important kimberlite materials – which include diamonds – reaching the surface in what is also called a 'fountain of diamonds' and can travel up to 83 miles per hour. 
 
For a long time it has been a mystery what leads to such a 'fountain of diamonds and scientists from the University of Southampton, UK have finally got an answer.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/surat-diamond-bourse-meet-the-architects-behind-the-worlds-largest-office-surpassing-us-pentagon-670543">Exclusive: Meet the architects of Surat Diamond Bourse, world's largest office, surpassing US Pentagon</a>

After conducting research, the scientists concluded that the eruptions occur because of a major geological event in which tectonic plates get pulled apart. 
 
One such event occurred when the supercontinent Gondwana was divided into two around 180 million years ago and led to the creation of South America and Africa as well as sparked a series of diamond eruptions 25 million years later.

<h2 lang="en-US">How do geological events spark eruptions?</h2>

As per the scientists, when tectonic plates move, the rock present in the upper mantle and lower crust gets mixed and starts flowing against each other – which sparks similar eruptions. After analysing the data, researchers found that these 'fountains of diamonds' occur every 22 to 30 million years. 
 
Speaking about the findings, professor of Earth and Climate Science at the University of Southampton Thomas Gernon said that they are aiming to find new and unexplored diamond deposits. 
 
"The diamonds have been sat at the base of the continents for hundreds of millions or even billions of years. There must be some stimulus that just drives them suddenly because these eruptions themselves are really powerful, really explosive,” he said while speaking to LiveScience.

Watch:&nbsp;India PM Modi to inaugurate Surat Diamond Bourse, G7 nations announce ban on Russian diamonds | WION

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The data also explains why other types of volcanic eruptions, which occur a long time after supercontinent breakup in regions, should be largely stable. 
 
"It’s a fundamental and highly organized physical process, so it’s likely not just kimberlites responding to it, but it could be a whole array of Earth system processes that are responding to this as well,” he said. 
 
As per the University's website, the team “used statistical analysis, including machine learning, to forensically examine the link between continental breakup and kimberlite volcanism”. 
 
Meanwhile, Senior Research Fellow Dr Thea Hincks said, "Using geospatial analysis, we found that kimberlite eruptions tend to gradually migrate from the continental edges to the interiors over time at rates that are consistent across the continents."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After remaining a mystery for years, scientists have finally discovered how diamonds emerge from the surface of the Earth. Diamonds get created in the upper mantle of the Earth's crust and if they do not shoot to the surface, which is called kimberlite eruptions, humans won't be able to find them.

After remaining a mystery for years, scientists have finally discovered how diamonds emerge from the surface of the Earth. Diamonds get created in the upper mantle of the Earth's crust and if they do not shoot to the surface, which is called kimberlite eruptions, humans won't be able to find them. The eruption is a mixture of water, rock, carbon dioxide and many important kimberlite materials – which include diamonds – reaching the surface in what is also called a 'fountain of diamonds' and can travel up to 83 miles per hour. For a long time it has been a mystery what leads to such a 'fountain of diamonds and scientists from the University of Southampton, UK have finally got an answer. Also read: Exclusive: Meet the architects of Surat Diamond Bourse, world's largest office, surpassing US Pentagon After conducting research, the scientists concluded that the eruptions occur because of a major geological event in which tectonic plates get pulled apart. One such event occurred when the supercontinent Gondwana was divided into two around 180 million years ago and led to the creation of South America and Africa as well as sparked a series of diamond eruptions 25 million years later. How do geological events spark eruptions? As per the scientists, when tectonic plates move, the rock present in the upper mantle and lower crust gets mixed and starts flowing against each other – which sparks similar eruptions. After analysing the data, researchers found that these 'fountains of diamonds' occur every 22 to 30 million years. Speaking about the findings, professor of Earth and Climate Science at the University of Southampton Thomas Gernon said that they are aiming to find new and unexplored diamond deposits. "The diamonds have been sat at the base of the continents for hundreds of millions or even billions of years. There must be some stimulus that just drives them suddenly because these eruptions themselves are really powerful, really explosive,” he said while speaking to LiveScience. Watch: India PM Modi to inaugurate Surat Diamond Bourse, G7 nations announce ban on Russian diamonds | WION The data also explains why other types of volcanic eruptions, which occur a long time after supercontinent breakup in regions, should be largely stable. "It’s a fundamental and highly organized physical process, so it’s likely not just kimberlites responding to it, but it could be a whole array of Earth system processes that are responding to this as well,” he said. As per the University's website, the team “used statistical analysis, including machine learning, to forensically examine the link between continental breakup and kimberlite volcanism”. Meanwhile, Senior Research Fellow Dr Thea Hincks said, "Using geospatial analysis, we found that kimberlite eruptions tend to gradually migrate from the continental edges to the interiors over time at rates that are consistent across the continents." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have figured out what makes diamonds shoot up from Earth's crust to the surface

On the first day of 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) shared a captivating time-lapse video featuring our planet Earth as seen from the International Space Station (ISS).

The awe-inspiring footage, captured by ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, showcased the mesmerising ocean-blue Earth viewed from the space ship's window.

In an Instagram post, ESA conveyed New Year wishes, stating, "Happy New Year, Earth. With this Timelapse captured from the @iss by our astronaut Andreas Mogensen, we want to wish you a peaceful, safe, and exciting year 2024! May the new year be full of grand adventures and opportunities! We’ll keep bringing the wonders of the universe and Earth to the palm of your hands."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-snapshot-of-oldest-spiral-galaxy-reveals-seismic-wave-similar-to-ripples-in-water-675973">New snapshot of oldest spiral galaxy reveals seismic wave similar to ripples in water</a>

The video has garnered attention from nearly 14,000 online users, with many expressing their awe at the breathtaking scenes.

One Instagram user commented, “Thank you so much for sharing it. It’s amazing,” while another remarked, “To another wonderful year of what our species can do… when we dare to transcend.”

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who captured the remarkable footage, also shared the video on his personal Instagram account.

In his caption, he shared insights into celebrating New Year's in space, stating, “New Year’s Greetings from space! Traveling at 28,000 kilometers per hour, the Space Station will cross the International Date Line several times tonight, so we will be celebrating New Year’s multiple times up here."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-bracing-for-geomagnetic-storm-after-massive-flare-erupts-on-sun-675971">Earth bracing for geomagnetic storm after massive flare erupts on Sun</a>

Mogensen explained the crew's celebration routine, mentioning, "The day is spent with the crew, where we relax, enjoy some good food, and perhaps take a trip to the Cupola to look down at Earth. Unfortunately, we can’t see fireworks from up here, but the view of Earth is still fantastic. And we have 1 January off to slowly start up the New Year.”

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-earthquake-land-shifts-to-west-by-13-meters-after-series-of-earthquakes-675987">Japan Earthquake: Land shifts to west by 1.3 meters after series of earthquakes</a>

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Earlier, Mogensen shared candid pictures from the ISS, capturing Christmas celebrations with his colleagues.

The images featured Christmas decor in the background, and Mogensen captioned the post, "Now it's Christmas at the Space Station too! Merry Christmas from our 'family' to yours. Hope your evening was as fun as ours." The post garnered numerous comments from netizens extending their holiday wishes to the astronauts on board the spacecraft.

(With inputs from agencies)

On the first day of 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) shared a captivating time-lapse video featuring our planet Earth as seen from the International Space Station (ISS).

On the first day of 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) shared a captivating time-lapse video featuring our planet Earth as seen from the International Space Station (ISS). The awe-inspiring footage, captured by ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, showcased the mesmerising ocean-blue Earth viewed from the space ship's window. In an Instagram post, ESA conveyed New Year wishes, stating, "Happy New Year, Earth. With this Timelapse captured from the @iss by our astronaut Andreas Mogensen, we want to wish you a peaceful, safe, and exciting year 2024! May the new year be full of grand adventures and opportunities! We’ll keep bringing the wonders of the universe and Earth to the palm of your hands." Also Read | New snapshot of oldest spiral galaxy reveals seismic wave similar to ripples in water The video has garnered attention from nearly 14,000 online users, with many expressing their awe at the breathtaking scenes. One Instagram user commented, “Thank you so much for sharing it. It’s amazing,” while another remarked, “To another wonderful year of what our species can do… when we dare to transcend.” ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who captured the remarkable footage, also shared the video on his personal Instagram account. In his caption, he shared insights into celebrating New Year's in space, stating, “New Year’s Greetings from space! Traveling at 28,000 kilometers per hour, the Space Station will cross the International Date Line several times tonight, so we will be celebrating New Year’s multiple times up here." Also Read | Earth bracing for geomagnetic storm after massive flare erupts on Sun Mogensen explained the crew's celebration routine, mentioning, "The day is spent with the crew, where we relax, enjoy some good food, and perhaps take a trip to the Cupola to look down at Earth. Unfortunately, we can’t see fireworks from up here, but the view of Earth is still fantastic. And we have 1 January off to slowly start up the New Year.” Watch | Japan Earthquake: Land shifts to west by 1.3 meters after series of earthquakes × Earlier, Mogensen shared candid pictures from the ISS, capturing Christmas celebrations with his colleagues. The images featured Christmas decor in the background, and Mogensen captioned the post, "Now it's Christmas at the Space Station too! Merry Christmas from our 'family' to yours. Hope your evening was as fun as ours." The post garnered numerous comments from netizens extending their holiday wishes to the astronauts on board the spacecraft. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH | Mesmerising time-lapse video captures Earth's beauty from International Space Station

A massive solar flare was detected on the Sun’s surface on New Year’s Eve, prompting space observers to issue a warning to high-frequency radio users. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Sunday (Dec 31) released an image of the flare, which looks like a bright spot on the surface of the Sun.

“A flare is an eruption of energy from the sun that generally lasts minutes to hours,” the SWPC said. The flare spotted on Sunday was categorised as an X5 flare.

<h2>What’s X class flare?</h2>

NASA classifies solar flares based on strength, similar to earthquake categorisation. The scale includes B-class, C-class, M-class, and X-class, with each letter representing a ten-fold increase in energy output.&nbsp;

X-class flares, surpassing 9, can lead to significant impacts, such as radiation storms affecting satellites and causing global transmission issues. The strongest recorded X-class flare was an X45 in 2003.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/perihelion-day-2024-when-earth-is-closest-to-the-sun-all-you-need-to-know-about-astronomical-event-675924">Also read:&nbsp;Perihelion Day 2024: When Earth is closest to the Sun | All you need to know about astronomical event</a>

Flares of B- or C-class are too weak for Earth's notice, while M-class flares may cause radio blackouts at the poles and minor radiation storms.&nbsp;

The recent X5 flare, though smaller than the 2003 record, was the strongest since September 2017. It had the power to affect high-frequency radio signals, causing temporary degradation or loss on the sunlit side of Earth.&nbsp;

The general public had no reason to worry, but the SWPC warned that emergency managers could experience disruptions. It also added that the chances of observing auroras from Sunday's flare were slim.

Watch:&nbsp;New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller

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As per SWPC’s forecast, a minor geomagnetic storm was expected Tuesday night (Jan 2); however, there was an even slimmer possibility of spotting aurora.

<h2>Solar activity expected to intensify</h2>

As the Sun continues through Solar Cycle 25, Solar activity and CMEs are expected to intensify throughout 2024.&nbsp;

According to NOAA, “Solar cycles are 11-year periods when the sun flips its magnetic poles, sparking space weather like flares and CMEs, which are explosions of plasma and magnetic material from the sun that can reach Earth in as little as 15 to 18 hours.”

(With inputs from agencies)

A massive solar flare was detected on the Sun’s surface on New Year’s Eve, prompting space observers to issue a warning to high-frequency radio users. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Sunday (Dec 31) released an image of the flare, which looks like a bright spot on the surface of the Sun.

A massive solar flare was detected on the Sun’s surface on New Year’s Eve, prompting space observers to issue a warning to high-frequency radio users. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Sunday (Dec 31) released an image of the flare, which looks like a bright spot on the surface of the Sun. “A flare is an eruption of energy from the sun that generally lasts minutes to hours,” the SWPC said. The flare spotted on Sunday was categorised as an X5 flare. What’s X class flare? NASA classifies solar flares based on strength, similar to earthquake categorisation. The scale includes B-class, C-class, M-class, and X-class, with each letter representing a ten-fold increase in energy output. X-class flares, surpassing 9, can lead to significant impacts, such as radiation storms affecting satellites and causing global transmission issues. The strongest recorded X-class flare was an X45 in 2003. Also read: Perihelion Day 2024: When Earth is closest to the Sun | All you need to know about astronomical event Flares of B- or C-class are too weak for Earth's notice, while M-class flares may cause radio blackouts at the poles and minor radiation storms. The recent X5 flare, though smaller than the 2003 record, was the strongest since September 2017. It had the power to affect high-frequency radio signals, causing temporary degradation or loss on the sunlit side of Earth. The general public had no reason to worry, but the SWPC warned that emergency managers could experience disruptions. It also added that the chances of observing auroras from Sunday's flare were slim. Watch: New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller × As per SWPC’s forecast, a minor geomagnetic storm was expected Tuesday night (Jan 2); however, there was an even slimmer possibility of spotting aurora. Solar activity expected to intensify As the Sun continues through Solar Cycle 25, Solar activity and CMEs are expected to intensify throughout 2024. According to NOAA, “Solar cycles are 11-year periods when the sun flips its magnetic poles, sparking space weather like flares and CMEs, which are explosions of plasma and magnetic material from the sun that can reach Earth in as little as 15 to 18 hours.” (With inputs from agencies)

Massive solar flare unlike any in years recorded on New Year's Eve

China has recently introduced its groundbreaking ocean-drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, designed to embark on a&nbsp;mission of penetrating the Earth's crust.

If successful, this&nbsp;would be&nbsp;humanity's first&nbsp;exploration into the upper mantle of the planet.

Crafted by the China Geological Survey in collaboration with over 150 research institutes and companies, the Mengxiang is a colossal ship with a cargo capacity of 33,000 tonnes.

Spanning 179 metres in length and 32.8 metres&nbsp;in width, the vessel can traverse 15,000 nautical miles and operate for 120 days per port call, according to the South China Morning Post.

Its robust stability and structure makes it resilient against the fiercest tropical cyclones, while its drilling capabilities allow it to reach an impressive depth of 11,000 metres below the ocean's surface.

Traditionally, human activities and scientific exploration have been confined to the Earth's crust, which has an average thickness of 15,000 metres.&nbsp;Beneath the crust lies the mantle, a pivotal layer connecting the surface to the core.

The Mengxiang aims to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho, located about 7,000 metres&nbsp;beneath the ocean floor, opening the door to previously unexplored scientific territories.

Also watch this report

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<h2>Historical attempts&nbsp;</h2>

Despite attempts since the 1960s by American scientists to breach the Moho and reach the mantle, the goal has remained elusive.

However, advancements in deep ocean drilling technology have provided valuable insights into the Earth's structure.

Rock samples from ultra-deep boreholes have unveiled crucial information about plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, ancient ocean climates, and seabed resources.

Speculations about life existing within the mantle abound, fueled by discoveries of organisms capable of withstanding extreme conditions. The mantle's composition, particularly peridotite, could produce energy for life forms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-inner-core-might-have-stopped-and-changed-direction-check-what-happens-now-555556">Also read |&nbsp;Earth's inner core might have stopped and changed direction: Check out what happens now!</a>

However, skepticism exists, even as some scientists point to the presence of dormant microbes with slow metabolism in seabed rocks.

The recent trials of the Mengxiang primarily focused on testing its propulsion system, powered by a 30-megawatt station. Challenges, however, persist in reaching the targeted 11,000 metres&nbsp;beneath the water's surface, including high temperatures and pressures. Advanced drilling techniques, high-quality drill bits, and circulation systems are deemed necessary, requiring substantial time, money, and facing potential failure risks.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

China has recently introduced its groundbreaking ocean-drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, designed to embark on a mission of penetrating the Earth's crust. If successful, this would be humanity's first exploration into the upper mantle of the planet.

China has recently introduced its groundbreaking ocean-drilling vessel, the Mengxiang, designed to embark on a mission of penetrating the Earth's crust. If successful, this would be humanity's first exploration into the upper mantle of the planet. Crafted by the China Geological Survey in collaboration with over 150 research institutes and companies, the Mengxiang is a colossal ship with a cargo capacity of 33,000 tonnes. Spanning 179 metres in length and 32.8 metres in width, the vessel can traverse 15,000 nautical miles and operate for 120 days per port call, according to the South China Morning Post. Its robust stability and structure makes it resilient against the fiercest tropical cyclones, while its drilling capabilities allow it to reach an impressive depth of 11,000 metres below the ocean's surface. Traditionally, human activities and scientific exploration have been confined to the Earth's crust, which has an average thickness of 15,000 metres. Beneath the crust lies the mantle, a pivotal layer connecting the surface to the core. The Mengxiang aims to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho, located about 7,000 metres beneath the ocean floor, opening the door to previously unexplored scientific territories. Also watch this report Historical attempts Despite attempts since the 1960s by American scientists to breach the Moho and reach the mantle, the goal has remained elusive. However, advancements in deep ocean drilling technology have provided valuable insights into the Earth's structure. Rock samples from ultra-deep boreholes have unveiled crucial information about plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, ancient ocean climates, and seabed resources. Speculations about life existing within the mantle abound, fueled by discoveries of organisms capable of withstanding extreme conditions. The mantle's composition, particularly peridotite, could produce energy for life forms. Also read | Earth's inner core might have stopped and changed direction: Check out what happens now! However, skepticism exists, even as some scientists point to the presence of dormant microbes with slow metabolism in seabed rocks. The recent trials of the Mengxiang primarily focused on testing its propulsion system, powered by a 30-megawatt station. Challenges, however, persist in reaching the targeted 11,000 metres beneath the water's surface, including high temperatures and pressures. Advanced drilling techniques, high-quality drill bits, and circulation systems are deemed necessary, requiring substantial time, money, and facing potential failure risks. (With inputs from agencies)

China's ocean-drilling ship Mengxiang sets sail to reach earth's mantle

Perihelion Day 2024: This year has just started and we are already set to observe the first astronomical event in January. Though January is packed with spectacular astronomical events, this event will mark the onset of galactic dance. Our planet Earth will make its closest approach to the Sun on January 3, which is called Perihelion Day.&nbsp;

The term “perihelion” is a Greek word that refers to the point in the orbit of a planet or any other astronomical body, at which it is closest to the Sun. “Peri” means around and “helios” means the sun in Greek. The opposite of perihelion is aphelion - a point where an orbiting body is farthest from the Sun.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rewind-2023-india-has-204-space-startups-sector-received-123mn-investments-675353">Rewind 2023: India has 204 space startups, sector received $123mn investments</a>

Here’s more you need to know about the day:

<h2>What is Perihelion Day?</h2>

The orbit of Earth is not a perfect circle but an elliptical one. It revolves around the Sun in this elliptical path and completes its revolution. As Earth’s orbital velocity decreases it moves away from the Sun, as the Earth does. It travels at its slowest speed as it approaches the farthest point from the Sun, i.e. aphelion.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-successfully-launches-xposat-on-first-day-of-new-year-2024-675427">ISRO successfully launches XPoSat on first day of New Year 2024</a>

It accelerates as it begins to move back towards the Sun. Earth then travels at maximum speed as it approaches the closest point to the Sun, or perihelion, almost defying the Sun’s gravitational pull. It is then eventually overpowered by the Sun’s force and falls back into its normal cycle.&nbsp;

However, the process is never exactly repeated and that is why the date for the occurrence of Perihelion Day also keeps changing from year to year.&nbsp;

<h2>When is Perihelion Day in 2024?</h2>

Perihelion Day generally occurs in early January of every year, which is almost two weeks after the December Solstice. For 2024, our Earth will make its closest appearance to the Sun on Wednesday (Jan 3) at 1:00 UTC.&nbsp;

Early January will see Earth approximately 3 per cent closer to the Sun than early July when Earth is at its aphelion. Thus, during the first part of January, when winter is in the northern hemisphere, Earth comes closest to the Sun annually.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronauts-aboard-iss-had-chance-to-celebrate-new-yers-eve-16-times-675607">Astronauts aboard ISS had chance to celebrate New Year’s Eve 16 times</a>

For your understanding, here is a quantification of the perihelion and aphelion of Earth in 2024. It will be 91,404,095 miles away from the Sun at perihelion and 94,510,539 miles away from the Sun at aphelion. So, Earth is about 4,800,000 km (3,000,000 miles) farther from the Sun in July than in January. Isn’t that fascinating?&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Perihelion Day 2024: This year has just started and we are already set to observe the first astronomical event in January. Though January is packed with spectacular astronomical events, this event will mark the onset of galactic dance.

Perihelion Day 2024: This year has just started and we are already set to observe the first astronomical event in January. Though January is packed with spectacular astronomical events, this event will mark the onset of galactic dance. Our planet Earth will make its closest approach to the Sun on January 3, which is called Perihelion Day. The term “perihelion” is a Greek word that refers to the point in the orbit of a planet or any other astronomical body, at which it is closest to the Sun. “Peri” means around and “helios” means the sun in Greek. The opposite of perihelion is aphelion - a point where an orbiting body is farthest from the Sun. Also Read | Rewind 2023: India has 204 space startups, sector received $123mn investments Here’s more you need to know about the day: What is Perihelion Day? The orbit of Earth is not a perfect circle but an elliptical one. It revolves around the Sun in this elliptical path and completes its revolution. As Earth’s orbital velocity decreases it moves away from the Sun, as the Earth does. It travels at its slowest speed as it approaches the farthest point from the Sun, i.e. aphelion. Also Read | ISRO successfully launches XPoSat on first day of New Year 2024 It accelerates as it begins to move back towards the Sun. Earth then travels at maximum speed as it approaches the closest point to the Sun, or perihelion, almost defying the Sun’s gravitational pull. It is then eventually overpowered by the Sun’s force and falls back into its normal cycle. However, the process is never exactly repeated and that is why the date for the occurrence of Perihelion Day also keeps changing from year to year. When is Perihelion Day in 2024? Perihelion Day generally occurs in early January of every year, which is almost two weeks after the December Solstice. For 2024, our Earth will make its closest appearance to the Sun on Wednesday (Jan 3) at 1:00 UTC. Early January will see Earth approximately 3 per cent closer to the Sun than early July when Earth is at its aphelion. Thus, during the first part of January, when winter is in the northern hemisphere, Earth comes closest to the Sun annually. Also Read | Astronauts aboard ISS had chance to celebrate New Year’s Eve 16 times For your understanding, here is a quantification of the perihelion and aphelion of Earth in 2024. It will be 91,404,095 miles away from the Sun at perihelion and 94,510,539 miles away from the Sun at aphelion. So, Earth is about 4,800,000 km (3,000,000 miles) farther from the Sun in July than in January. Isn’t that fascinating? (With inputs from agencies)

Perihelion Day 2024: When Earth is closest to the Sun | All you need to know about astronomical event

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to race past the sun at a godly speed of 195 km/s, or 435,000 mph on December 24, 2024.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe plans to ‘touch the Sun’ in 2024

China is trying to drill through the Earth's crust and reach the mantle. Beijing has unveiled a ship named Mengxiang that has been tasked with drilling through the Earth's surface. Why does China want to reach the mantle? How risky is this endeavour? Can it endanger your life?

Gravitas: China's plan to dominate the Earth's mantle | Details of the daring mission

NASA relaunched a mission to study&nbsp;the “God of Chaos” asteroid as it started coming closer to the orbit of Earth.&nbsp;

A spacecraft, which had recently returned from deep space, was returned by NASA to carry out three studies.&nbsp;

NASA’s spacecraft OSIRIS-REx - which has been named the OSIRIS-APEX - was sent off to study the extremely close flyby of asteroid Apophis&nbsp;in 2029, the like&nbsp;of which “hasn’t happened since the dawn of recorded history,” announced NASA.

The spacecraft came back to Earth in September after it collected samples from space rock Bennu for seven years.&nbsp;

Apophis, also called the “God of Chaos”, is likely to fly close to Earth on April 13, 2029, and will be only 20,000 miles away, which is closer in comparison to a few manmade satellites and will be visible in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-says-an-asteroid-has-come-near-earth-check-details-673517">NASA says an asteroid has come near Earth, check details</a>

The space rock, which measures nearly 370 yards across, approaches the Earth every 7,500 years.&nbsp;

The gravity of Earth will affect the space rock as it comes close to the orbit and OSIRIS-APEX will understand the aftermath to see “how its surface changes,” as per Amy Simon, the mission’s project scientist.

<h2>Earth to alter length of day on asteroid</h2>

The Earth’s effects are likely to change the length of the asteroid's day, which at present is around 30.6 hours per day. It can also lead to landslides and quakes on the "God of Chaos".

"We know that tidal forces and the accumulation of rubble pile material are foundational processes that could play a role in planet formation,” said Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, principal investigator for OSIRIS-APEX at the University of Arizona in Tucson, in a statement.

"They could inform how we got from debris in the early solar system to full-blown planets," DellaGiustina added. On April 13, 2029, the spacecraft will meet the S-type asteroid, but will not land on its surface, and will “operate in proximity” to it for the next 18 months.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;WION Rewind India's moments of glory: India creates Lunar history with Chandrayaan-3

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NASA said that the spacecraft would not only look to observe the surface changes but would also map the surface and analyse the chemical makeup of the rock.

The spacecraft will also go within 16 feet of the surface of the rock so that its thrusters can be fired downwards to see what has stirred it up and provide scientists with a “peek at the material that lies below.”

Even though the rock is still five years away from coming close to the Earth, scientists will keep tracking it as it reaches its first of six close passes with the sun.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA relaunched a mission to study the “God of Chaos” asteroid as it started coming closer to the orbit of Earth. A spacecraft, which had recently returned from deep space, was returned by NASA to carry out three studies.

NASA relaunched a mission to study the “God of Chaos” asteroid as it started coming closer to the orbit of Earth. A spacecraft, which had recently returned from deep space, was returned by NASA to carry out three studies. NASA’s spacecraft OSIRIS-REx - which has been named the OSIRIS-APEX - was sent off to study the extremely close flyby of asteroid Apophis in 2029, the like of which “hasn’t happened since the dawn of recorded history,” announced NASA. The spacecraft came back to Earth in September after it collected samples from space rock Bennu for seven years. Apophis, also called the “God of Chaos”, is likely to fly close to Earth on April 13, 2029, and will be only 20,000 miles away, which is closer in comparison to a few manmade satellites and will be visible in the Eastern Hemisphere. Also read: NASA says an asteroid has come near Earth, check details The space rock, which measures nearly 370 yards across, approaches the Earth every 7,500 years. The gravity of Earth will affect the space rock as it comes close to the orbit and OSIRIS-APEX will understand the aftermath to see “how its surface changes,” as per Amy Simon, the mission’s project scientist. Earth to alter length of day on asteroid The Earth’s effects are likely to change the length of the asteroid's day, which at present is around 30.6 hours per day. It can also lead to landslides and quakes on the "God of Chaos". "We know that tidal forces and the accumulation of rubble pile material are foundational processes that could play a role in planet formation,” said Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, principal investigator for OSIRIS-APEX at the University of Arizona in Tucson, in a statement. "They could inform how we got from debris in the early solar system to full-blown planets," DellaGiustina added. On April 13, 2029, the spacecraft will meet the S-type asteroid, but will not land on its surface, and will “operate in proximity” to it for the next 18 months. Watch: WION Rewind India's moments of glory: India creates Lunar history with Chandrayaan-3 NASA said that the spacecraft would not only look to observe the surface changes but would also map the surface and analyse the chemical makeup of the rock. The spacecraft will also go within 16 feet of the surface of the rock so that its thrusters can be fired downwards to see what has stirred it up and provide scientists with a “peek at the material that lies below.” Even though the rock is still five years away from coming close to the Earth, scientists will keep tracking it as it reaches its first of six close passes with the sun. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid Apophis to flyby Earth in first of its kind encounter in recorded history

Asteroid strikes can spell an end for thriving life on a planet. Just ask dinosaurs. Oh yeah, they are not here anymore. But based on what we've learnt from their broken, mangled sometimes charred remains obtained from their deep geologic graveyards, we know for sure that a space rock travelling at a speed of thousands of kilometres per second cannot exactly bring good tidings when it is resolved to hit Earth head on. Scientists and governments have been expending considerable energy to create a fool-proof solution to guard humanity in case another asteroid poses an existential threat to us.&nbsp;

Nuking the asteroid to pieces is an option. But it may make things worse as smaller pieces of the asteroid may still hit Earth. So the problem does require more looking into.

Watch | NASA streams an ultra-high-definition video of a cat back to Earth from deep space

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Experts at Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) now have made a simuation that tells us what may happen if an asteroid is nuked. Is it really a bad idea?

<h2>The 'nuclear ablation'</h2>

The explosive technique these scientists have considered is called nuclear ablation. This technique involves vaporisation of some of asteroid's surface using radiation from the nuclear blast. This would in turn create an explosive thrust and change the velocity of the asteroid.

The model is called X-ray energy deposition model.

The researchers have written a paper on this which has been published in The Planetary Science Journal.

To make the simulation model, the researchers considered a wide range of conditions that took into account different types of asteroids humanity has been able to study closely. Some of the asteroids considered for the simulation were solid rocks to rubble piles. The wide range of data considered to make the simulation expansive.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/arctic-skies-lit-up-by-extremely-rare-rainbow-clouds-whats-the-phenomenon-672505">Arctic skies lit up by extremely rare rainbow clouds. What's the phenomenon?</a>

"If we have enough warning time, we could potentially launch a nuclear device, sending it millions of miles away to an asteroid that is headed toward Earth," said researcher Mary Burkey as quoted in a press release from LLNL.

"We would then detonate the device and either deflect the asteroid, keeping it intact but providing a controlled push away from Earth, or we could disrupt the asteroid, breaking it up into small, fast-moving fragments that would also miss the planet."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/its-holiday-season-in-space-too-eso-captured-a-running-chicken-like-nebula-in-a-15-billion-pixel-image-672397">It's holiday season in space too! See the beautiful running-chicken-like nebula</a>

NASA has already carried out the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in which a kinetic impacter was crashed on an asteroid to study how such an approach would alter the trajectory.

The new model created by LLNL's scientists is likely to give other scientists from around the world to better understand and build upon the knowledge already gathered about deflecting or destroying a dangerous asteroid.

"While the probability of a large asteroid impact during our lifetime is low, the potential consequences could be devastating," said Megan Bruck Syal, LLNL's planetary defense project lead.

(With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid strikes can spell an end for thriving life on a planet. Just ask dinosaurs. Oh yeah, they are not here anymore. But based on what we've learnt from their broken, mangled sometimes charred remains obtained from their deep geologic graveyards, we know for sure that a space rock travelling at a speed of thousands of kilometres per second cannot exactly bring good tidings when it is resolved to hit Earth head on.

Asteroid strikes can spell an end for thriving life on a planet. Just ask dinosaurs. Oh yeah, they are not here anymore. But based on what we've learnt from their broken, mangled sometimes charred remains obtained from their deep geologic graveyards, we know for sure that a space rock travelling at a speed of thousands of kilometres per second cannot exactly bring good tidings when it is resolved to hit Earth head on. Scientists and governments have been expending considerable energy to create a fool-proof solution to guard humanity in case another asteroid poses an existential threat to us. Nuking the asteroid to pieces is an option. But it may make things worse as smaller pieces of the asteroid may still hit Earth. So the problem does require more looking into. Watch | NASA streams an ultra-high-definition video of a cat back to Earth from deep space × Experts at Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) now have made a simuation that tells us what may happen if an asteroid is nuked. Is it really a bad idea? The 'nuclear ablation' The explosive technique these scientists have considered is called nuclear ablation. This technique involves vaporisation of some of asteroid's surface using radiation from the nuclear blast. This would in turn create an explosive thrust and change the velocity of the asteroid. The model is called X-ray energy deposition model. The researchers have written a paper on this which has been published in The Planetary Science Journal. To make the simulation model, the researchers considered a wide range of conditions that took into account different types of asteroids humanity has been able to study closely. Some of the asteroids considered for the simulation were solid rocks to rubble piles. The wide range of data considered to make the simulation expansive. Also Read | Arctic skies lit up by extremely rare rainbow clouds. What's the phenomenon? "If we have enough warning time, we could potentially launch a nuclear device, sending it millions of miles away to an asteroid that is headed toward Earth," said researcher Mary Burkey as quoted in a press release from LLNL. "We would then detonate the device and either deflect the asteroid, keeping it intact but providing a controlled push away from Earth, or we could disrupt the asteroid, breaking it up into small, fast-moving fragments that would also miss the planet." Also Read | It's holiday season in space too! See the beautiful running-chicken-like nebula NASA has already carried out the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in which a kinetic impacter was crashed on an asteroid to study how such an approach would alter the trajectory. The new model created by LLNL's scientists is likely to give other scientists from around the world to better understand and build upon the knowledge already gathered about deflecting or destroying a dangerous asteroid. "While the probability of a large asteroid impact during our lifetime is low, the potential consequences could be devastating," said Megan Bruck Syal, LLNL's planetary defense project lead. (With inputs from agencies)

How safe is nuking earth-bound asteroid? Scientists create simulation to answer

In a new survey, which was done using ground penetrating radar and satellite imagery, scientists spotted signs of volcanic activity, which may have taken place far more recently than was expected by anyone.&nbsp;

The discovery, when combined with other evidence, revealed that beneath its barren crust, Mars is likely to have quite a bit more going on compared to what is seen in the outside appearances.&nbsp;

The study was carried over a plain called the Elysium Planitia and it was revealed that the volcanic activity may have taken place in the last 120 million years.

"Elysium Planitia is the youngest volcanic terrain on the planet, and studying it helps us to better understand Mars' past as well as recent hydrological and volcanic history," wrote the authors, in their paper.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-decodes-martian-lakes-ancient-history-after-spending-1000-martian-days-669370">Perseverance completes 1,000 days on Mars, decodes mystery of ancient crater lake</a>

Meanwhile, some of the volcanic activity which has been identified dates to only 1 million years ago.&nbsp;

This is very recent and geologically, the scientists have still not observed any volcanic activity actually taking place.&nbsp;

However, somewhere on Mars, this might exist as per recent studies.&nbsp;

<h2>Volcanic activity likely took place on Mars when&nbsp; dinosaurs roamed on Earth</h2>

According to scientists, the volcanic activity appeared very recent but they need to find where it actually took place.&nbsp;

"Elysium Planitia was volcanically much more active than previously thought and might even still be volcanically alive today," said Joana Voigt, who co-led the study alongside planetary scientist Christopher Hamilton of the University of Arizona and is a part of the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.&nbsp;

As per the scientists, some of the lava flowing on the surface of Mars looked pretty young which left them baffled.&nbsp;

"Elysium Planitia is the perfect location to try to understand the link between what we see at the surface and the interior dynamics that manifested itself through volcanic eruptions,” said Voigt.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;NASA's Perseverance Rover finds new clues about water on Mars

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"I paid a lot of attention to the details on the lava surfaces to try and untangle the different eruption events and reconstruct the entire history of these geologic entities,” he added.

A plethora of quakes on Mars was recorded by NASA's InSight lander between 2018 and 2022 which proved that the red planet is anything but dead beneath its surface.

"Our study provides the most comprehensive account of geologically recent volcanism on a planet other than Earth," said Hamilton.&nbsp;

"It is the best estimate of Mars' young volcanic activity for about the past 120 million years, which corresponds to when the dinosaurs roamed on the Earth at their peak to present," he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new survey, which was done using ground penetrating radar and satellite imagery, scientists spotted signs of volcanic activity, which may have taken place far more recently than was expected by anyone.

In a new survey, which was done using ground penetrating radar and satellite imagery, scientists spotted signs of volcanic activity, which may have taken place far more recently than was expected by anyone. The discovery, when combined with other evidence, revealed that beneath its barren crust, Mars is likely to have quite a bit more going on compared to what is seen in the outside appearances. The study was carried over a plain called the Elysium Planitia and it was revealed that the volcanic activity may have taken place in the last 120 million years. "Elysium Planitia is the youngest volcanic terrain on the planet, and studying it helps us to better understand Mars' past as well as recent hydrological and volcanic history," wrote the authors, in their paper. Also read: Perseverance completes 1,000 days on Mars, decodes mystery of ancient crater lake Meanwhile, some of the volcanic activity which has been identified dates to only 1 million years ago. This is very recent and geologically, the scientists have still not observed any volcanic activity actually taking place. However, somewhere on Mars, this might exist as per recent studies. Volcanic activity likely took place on Mars when dinosaurs roamed on Earth According to scientists, the volcanic activity appeared very recent but they need to find where it actually took place. "Elysium Planitia was volcanically much more active than previously thought and might even still be volcanically alive today," said Joana Voigt, who co-led the study alongside planetary scientist Christopher Hamilton of the University of Arizona and is a part of the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. As per the scientists, some of the lava flowing on the surface of Mars looked pretty young which left them baffled. "Elysium Planitia is the perfect location to try to understand the link between what we see at the surface and the interior dynamics that manifested itself through volcanic eruptions,” said Voigt. Watch: NASA's Perseverance Rover finds new clues about water on Mars "I paid a lot of attention to the details on the lava surfaces to try and untangle the different eruption events and reconstruct the entire history of these geologic entities,” he added. A plethora of quakes on Mars was recorded by NASA's InSight lander between 2018 and 2022 which proved that the red planet is anything but dead beneath its surface. "Our study provides the most comprehensive account of geologically recent volcanism on a planet other than Earth," said Hamilton. "It is the best estimate of Mars' young volcanic activity for about the past 120 million years, which corresponds to when the dinosaurs roamed on the Earth at their peak to present," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists spot recent volcanic activity on Earth’s neighbour Mars

Researchers for the first time have simulated all stages of a runaway greenhouse effect and found that our green and blue planet will turn into an uninhabitable “hell” in the coming centuries.&nbsp;

A team of astronomers on Monday (Dec 18)&nbsp;said that it would take only a couple of degrees of rise in Earth’s temperature or a slight increase in the Sun’s luminosity&nbsp;to initiate an “irreversible” runaway warming, making it as inhospitable as Venus whose average surface temperature is around 464 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

<h2>What was the research about?</h2>

A team of astronomers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), with support from France’s CNRS laboratories in Paris and Bordeaux, said that they were the first ones to simulate all stages of a runaway greenhouse effect, the results of which were published in the Astronomy and Astrophysics review.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop28-summit-kicks-off-with-breakthrough-climate-disaster-fund-agreement-664840">COP28 summit kicks off with breakthrough climate disaster fund agreement</a>

The greenhouse effect is the process through which certain gases including water vapour in Earth’s atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat. While some of these gases occur naturally, others are generated by human activity like burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

The runaway greenhouse effect is when solar irradiation increases to a point that it sets off a dramatic, snowballing rise in a planet’s temperature.&nbsp;

The idea of a runaway of the greenhouse effect is not new and climate change is not the same as a runaway greenhouse process, but researchers warned that Earth was not far from the “apocalyptical scenario”.&nbsp;

The runaway greenhouse effect envisions a planet evolving from a temperate state like the one currently on Earth to one with surface temperatures of above 1,000 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

For this study, scientists “demonstrated that from initial stages of the process, the atmospheric structure and cloud coverage undergo significant changes, leading to an almost-unstoppable and very complicated to reverse runaway greenhouse effect".

<h2>What would cause the Earth to turn into ‘hell’?</h2>

While the research, in part, was designed to provide a tool for studying the climate on other planets, particularly those outside our solar system or exoplanets in order to determine their potential for hosting life, it also provides an insight into what Earth may look like in the centuries to come.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/global-warming-has-upped-greenland-glacier-melting-five-folds-in-20-years-657471">Global warming has upped Greenland glacier melting five-folds in 20 years</a>

The researchers noted that a small amount of greenhouse effect is necessary to keep the Earth’s average temperature below the freezing point of water, without which it would turn into an ice-covered ball hostile to life.

However, too much of it increases the rate of evaporation of oceans which also raises the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere and traps heat like a rescue blanket.

“There is a critical threshold for this amount of water vapor, beyond which the planet cannot cool down anymore,” said Guillaume Chaverot, former postdoctoral scholar at UNIGE and main author of the study, in a statement.&nbsp;

“From there, everything gets carried away until the oceans end up getting fully evaporated and the temperature reaches several hundred degrees,” Chaverot added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-nations-at-cop28-adopt-historic-deal-to-transition-away-from-fossil-fuels-what-is-it-about-669389">Explained | Nations at COP28 adopt historic deal to transition away from fossil fuels. What is it about?</a>

One of the most important and rather surprising aspects of the study was the observation of an odd cloud pattern.“From the start of the transition, we can observe some very dense clouds developing in the high atmosphere,” said Chaverot.&nbsp;

This dense cloud pattern appearing in the high atmosphere increases the runaway effect and makes the process irreversible.&nbsp;

The study comes as countries across the world are attempting to cap Earth’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers for the first time have simulated all stages of a runaway greenhouse effect and found that our green and blue planet will turn into an uninhabitable “hell” in the coming centuries.

Researchers for the first time have simulated all stages of a runaway greenhouse effect and found that our green and blue planet will turn into an uninhabitable “hell” in the coming centuries. A team of astronomers on Monday (Dec 18) said that it would take only a couple of degrees of rise in Earth’s temperature or a slight increase in the Sun’s luminosity to initiate an “irreversible” runaway warming, making it as inhospitable as Venus whose average surface temperature is around 464 degrees Celsius. What was the research about? A team of astronomers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), with support from France’s CNRS laboratories in Paris and Bordeaux, said that they were the first ones to simulate all stages of a runaway greenhouse effect, the results of which were published in the Astronomy and Astrophysics review. ALSO READ | COP28 summit kicks off with breakthrough climate disaster fund agreement The greenhouse effect is the process through which certain gases including water vapour in Earth’s atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat. While some of these gases occur naturally, others are generated by human activity like burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. The runaway greenhouse effect is when solar irradiation increases to a point that it sets off a dramatic, snowballing rise in a planet’s temperature. The idea of a runaway of the greenhouse effect is not new and climate change is not the same as a runaway greenhouse process, but researchers warned that Earth was not far from the “apocalyptical scenario”. The runaway greenhouse effect envisions a planet evolving from a temperate state like the one currently on Earth to one with surface temperatures of above 1,000 degrees Celsius. For this study, scientists “demonstrated that from initial stages of the process, the atmospheric structure and cloud coverage undergo significant changes, leading to an almost-unstoppable and very complicated to reverse runaway greenhouse effect". What would cause the Earth to turn into ‘hell’? While the research, in part, was designed to provide a tool for studying the climate on other planets, particularly those outside our solar system or exoplanets in order to determine their potential for hosting life, it also provides an insight into what Earth may look like in the centuries to come. ALSO READ | Global warming has upped Greenland glacier melting five-folds in 20 years The researchers noted that a small amount of greenhouse effect is necessary to keep the Earth’s average temperature below the freezing point of water, without which it would turn into an ice-covered ball hostile to life. However, too much of it increases the rate of evaporation of oceans which also raises the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere and traps heat like a rescue blanket. “There is a critical threshold for this amount of water vapor, beyond which the planet cannot cool down anymore,” said Guillaume Chaverot, former postdoctoral scholar at UNIGE and main author of the study, in a statement. “From there, everything gets carried away until the oceans end up getting fully evaporated and the temperature reaches several hundred degrees,” Chaverot added. ALSO READ | Explained | Nations at COP28 adopt historic deal to transition away from fossil fuels. What is it about? One of the most important and rather surprising aspects of the study was the observation of an odd cloud pattern.“From the start of the transition, we can observe some very dense clouds developing in the high atmosphere,” said Chaverot. This dense cloud pattern appearing in the high atmosphere increases the runaway effect and makes the process irreversible. The study comes as countries across the world are attempting to cap Earth’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050. (With inputs from agencies)

It will be 'hell': Earth might turn into Venus some day, greenhouse effect simulation shows

NASA on Monday (Nov 18) said that they made use of a state-of-the-art laser communication system&nbsp;to send a high-definition cat video from a spaceship to the Earth, covering a distance of 31 million kilometres.&nbsp;

The 15-second video features an orange tabby named Taters. This is the video which has been streamed from deep space and this shows that it is possible to transmit the higher-data-rate communications which is required for supporting complex missions like sending humans to Mars.

The video was sent to Earth by using a laser transceiver which was available on the Psyche probe. The probe has been moving in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter to explore a mysterious metal-rich object. &nbsp;

When the video was sent, the spaceship was 80 times the distance between the Moon and the Earth.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-releases-footage-of-tomatoes-lost-in-space-for-eight-months-670397">NASA releases footage of tomatoes lost in space for eight months</a>

The Hale Telescope kept at Caltech's Palomar Observatory in San Diego County received the encoded near-infrared signal which was then sent to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California.

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We just streamed the first ultra-HD video brought to you via laser from deep space. And it’s a video of Taters, a tabby cat. 
 
This test will pave the way for high-data-rate communications in support of the next giant leap: sending humans to Mars. <a href="https://t.co/tf2hWxaHWO">https://t.co/tf2hWxaHWO</a> <a href="https://t.co/c1FwybYsxA">pic.twitter.com/c1FwybYsxA</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1736900843813605759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The tech demo's project manager at JPL Bill Klipstein said, "One of the goals is to demonstrate the ability to transmit broadband video across millions of miles. Nothing on Psyche generates video data, so we usually send packets of randomly generated test data."

"But to make this significant event more memorable, we decided to work with designers at JPL to create a fun video, which captures the essence of the demo as part of the Psyche mission," he added.

Traditionally, space missions have relied on radio waves for sending and receiving data, however, working with lasers is likely to increase the data rate by 10 to 100 times.&nbsp;

<h2>Video sent in 101 seconds&nbsp;</h2>

It took 101 seconds to send the ultra-HD video to Earth at the maximum bit rate of 267 megabits per second in the system, which is faster than home broadband connections.

Project's receiver electronics lead at JPL Ryan Rogalin said, "In fact, after receiving the video at Palomar, it was sent to JPL over the internet, and that connection was slower than the signal coming from deep space."&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;NASA uses laser technology to send the first-ever cat footage from deep space

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Explaining why they streamed a cat video, JPL said that there is a historic connection. When the interest of Americans started growing in television in the 1920s, they broadcasted a statue of Felix the Cat as a test image.&nbsp;

Also, cats continue to dominate the number-one position in the world of viral internet videos and meme culture.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA on Monday (Nov 18) said that they made use of a state-of-the-art laser communication system to send a high-definition cat video from a spaceship to the Earth, covering a distance of 31 million kilometres.

NASA on Monday (Nov 18) said that they made use of a state-of-the-art laser communication system to send a high-definition cat video from a spaceship to the Earth, covering a distance of 31 million kilometres. The 15-second video features an orange tabby named Taters. This is the video which has been streamed from deep space and this shows that it is possible to transmit the higher-data-rate communications which is required for supporting complex missions like sending humans to Mars. The video was sent to Earth by using a laser transceiver which was available on the Psyche probe. The probe has been moving in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter to explore a mysterious metal-rich object. When the video was sent, the spaceship was 80 times the distance between the Moon and the Earth. Also read: NASA releases footage of tomatoes lost in space for eight months The Hale Telescope kept at Caltech's Palomar Observatory in San Diego County received the encoded near-infrared signal which was then sent to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. We just streamed the first ultra-HD video brought to you via laser from deep space. And it’s a video of Taters, a tabby cat. This test will pave the way for high-data-rate communications in support of the next giant leap: sending humans to Mars. https://t.co/tf2hWxaHWO pic.twitter.com/c1FwybYsxA — NASA (@NASA) December 19, 2023 × The tech demo's project manager at JPL Bill Klipstein said, "One of the goals is to demonstrate the ability to transmit broadband video across millions of miles. Nothing on Psyche generates video data, so we usually send packets of randomly generated test data." "But to make this significant event more memorable, we decided to work with designers at JPL to create a fun video, which captures the essence of the demo as part of the Psyche mission," he added. Traditionally, space missions have relied on radio waves for sending and receiving data, however, working with lasers is likely to increase the data rate by 10 to 100 times. Video sent in 101 seconds It took 101 seconds to send the ultra-HD video to Earth at the maximum bit rate of 267 megabits per second in the system, which is faster than home broadband connections. Project's receiver electronics lead at JPL Ryan Rogalin said, "In fact, after receiving the video at Palomar, it was sent to JPL over the internet, and that connection was slower than the signal coming from deep space." Watch: NASA uses laser technology to send the first-ever cat footage from deep space Explaining why they streamed a cat video, JPL said that there is a historic connection. When the interest of Americans started growing in television in the 1920s, they broadcasted a statue of Felix the Cat as a test image. Also, cats continue to dominate the number-one position in the world of viral internet videos and meme culture. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: NASA sends high-definition cat video from spaceship to Earth via laser, covering 31mn km

Changes in space weather, especially powerful solar storms can cause transport havoc like&nbsp;train accidents, researchers from Lancaster University have concluded.

According to experts, solar storms can trigger powerful magnetic disturbances on Earth, which can even lead to the flipping of red rail signals to green, posing great threats to railway infrastructure.

“Crucially, our research suggests that space weather is able to flip a signal in either direction, turning a red signal green or a green signal red. &nbsp;This is obviously very significant from a safety perspective," said PhD researcher Cameron Patterson.

Such storms can also interfere with electricity and distribution, causing blackouts in certain areas.

<h2>Lower geoelectric fields at the highest risk</h2>

According to the experts, such disruptions can occur at lower geoelectric field strengths, and so could be triggered by weaker storms.

Patterson said: “When we experience severe space weather which happens every few decades or extreme space weather seen every century or two, then there is a potential for significant signalling misoperation, which has an obvious safety impact.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-100-injured-as-train-carriages-detach-during-snowstorm-in-chinas-beijing-669949">Also read:&nbsp;`My train broke in two`: Over 100 injured as carriages detach from train owing to icy tracks in Beijing</a>

“Our research shows that space weather poses a serious, if relatively rare, risk to the rail signalling system, which could cause delays or even have more critical, safety implications. This natural hazard needs to be taken seriously. &nbsp;By their nature, high-impact, low-frequency events are hard to plan for, but ignoring them is rarely the best way forward,” he added.

<h2>Different sectors analysing threats</h2>

As per Jim Wild, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University, industries like aviation, electricity generation, space and railways are analysing the threats posed by these changes in space weather to their safety systems.

He added that it is possible to avert such incidents if efficient space weather forecast mechanisms are put in place.

Watch:&nbsp;The sun is getting angry; Should you really worry

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“As our understanding of the space weather hazard improves, it’s possible to consider how to reduce the risks. In future, we could see space weather forecasting being used to make decisions about limiting railway operations if an extreme event is expected, just as meteorological forecasts are used currently," Wild was quoted as saying by media outlets.

(With inputs from agencies)

Changes in space weather, especially powerful solar storms can cause transport havoc like train accidents, researchers from Lancaster University have concluded. According to experts, solar storms can trigger powerful magnetic disturbances on Earth, which can even lead to the flipping of red rail signals to green, posing great threats to railway infrastructure.

Changes in space weather, especially powerful solar storms can cause transport havoc like train accidents, researchers from Lancaster University have concluded. According to experts, solar storms can trigger powerful magnetic disturbances on Earth, which can even lead to the flipping of red rail signals to green, posing great threats to railway infrastructure. “Crucially, our research suggests that space weather is able to flip a signal in either direction, turning a red signal green or a green signal red. This is obviously very significant from a safety perspective," said PhD researcher Cameron Patterson. Such storms can also interfere with electricity and distribution, causing blackouts in certain areas. Lower geoelectric fields at the highest risk According to the experts, such disruptions can occur at lower geoelectric field strengths, and so could be triggered by weaker storms. Patterson said: “When we experience severe space weather which happens every few decades or extreme space weather seen every century or two, then there is a potential for significant signalling misoperation, which has an obvious safety impact.” Also read: `My train broke in two`: Over 100 injured as carriages detach from train owing to icy tracks in Beijing “Our research shows that space weather poses a serious, if relatively rare, risk to the rail signalling system, which could cause delays or even have more critical, safety implications. This natural hazard needs to be taken seriously. By their nature, high-impact, low-frequency events are hard to plan for, but ignoring them is rarely the best way forward,” he added. Different sectors analysing threats As per Jim Wild, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University, industries like aviation, electricity generation, space and railways are analysing the threats posed by these changes in space weather to their safety systems. He added that it is possible to avert such incidents if efficient space weather forecast mechanisms are put in place. Watch: The sun is getting angry; Should you really worry × “As our understanding of the space weather hazard improves, it’s possible to consider how to reduce the risks. In future, we could see space weather forecasting being used to make decisions about limiting railway operations if an extreme event is expected, just as meteorological forecasts are used currently," Wild was quoted as saying by media outlets. (With inputs from agencies)

Solar storms can cause train accidents on Earth, researchers warn

NASA is gearing up for the launch of PACE mission in 2024. The mission's objective is to enhance the understanding of Earth's atmosphere. PACE stands for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem. Watch this video for all details.

All about NASA's PACE mission to study Earth's clouds & oceans

Asteroids are fine till they're whooshing past our home planet. Even a nudge from these high-speed space rocks can spell disaster for Earth and all the life on it. A straight hit from an asteroid millions of years ago ended the reign of dinosaurs and paved the way for mammals to evolve.

NASA and other space agencies across the world keep an eye on the asteroids near Earth. The space agency has said that a bus-sized asteroid is set to go past Earth. The asteroid has been designated Asteroid 2023 XH7 by NASA.

NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has revealed that Asteroid 2023 XH7 will come as close as 940,148 kilometres to Earth. This may sound a lot but in terms of distances in space, this one is nothing. The asteroid is hurtling through space at 71276 kilometres per hour.

Watch | NASA sidesteps ban by US, appeals researchers to gather moon samples from China

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Asteroid 2023 XH7 is from the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids. These are the asteroids that fly close to Earth.&nbsp;

NASA says that this is not the first time Asteroid XH7 has come close to Earth. The asteroid came close to Earth for the first time on July 5, 2020. At that time, it had passed by Earth from a lot afar. It was &nbsp;9.7 million kilometers away.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-decodes-martian-lakes-ancient-history-after-spending-1000-martian-days-669370">NASA's Perseverance rover decodes Martian lake's ancient history after 1000 Martian days</a>

The same asteroid will come into our neighbourhood again on July 22, 2033. At that time, it will be 63 million kilometres away from the Earth.

<h2>Does it pose a threat?</h2>

The asteroid is just 34 feet across, the size of a bus. Due to its small size, it does not pose a big threat to Earth. Asteroids bigger than 492 feet that fly by Earth at a distance less than 7.5 kilometres are classified by NASA as 'Potentially Hazardous Objects'.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/heres-how-solar-systems-bizarre-phenomena-dramatically-ballooned-atmosphere-of-mars-669420">Here's how solar system's bizarre phenomena dramatically ballooned atmosphere of Mars</a>

NASA tracks asteroids using its vast network of telescopes that includes powerful ones such as NEOWISE telescope, Pans-STARRS1, Catalina Sky Survey, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and more.

(With inputs from agencies)

Asteroids are fine till they're whooshing past our home planet. Even a nudge from these high-speed space rocks can spell disaster for Earth and all the life on it.

Asteroids are fine till they're whooshing past our home planet. Even a nudge from these high-speed space rocks can spell disaster for Earth and all the life on it. A straight hit from an asteroid millions of years ago ended the reign of dinosaurs and paved the way for mammals to evolve. NASA and other space agencies across the world keep an eye on the asteroids near Earth. The space agency has said that a bus-sized asteroid is set to go past Earth. The asteroid has been designated Asteroid 2023 XH7 by NASA. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has revealed that Asteroid 2023 XH7 will come as close as 940,148 kilometres to Earth. This may sound a lot but in terms of distances in space, this one is nothing. The asteroid is hurtling through space at 71276 kilometres per hour. Watch | NASA sidesteps ban by US, appeals researchers to gather moon samples from China × Asteroid 2023 XH7 is from the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids. These are the asteroids that fly close to Earth. NASA says that this is not the first time Asteroid XH7 has come close to Earth. The asteroid came close to Earth for the first time on July 5, 2020. At that time, it had passed by Earth from a lot afar. It was 9.7 million kilometers away. Also Read | NASA's Perseverance rover decodes Martian lake's ancient history after 1000 Martian days The same asteroid will come into our neighbourhood again on July 22, 2033. At that time, it will be 63 million kilometres away from the Earth. Does it pose a threat? The asteroid is just 34 feet across, the size of a bus. Due to its small size, it does not pose a big threat to Earth. Asteroids bigger than 492 feet that fly by Earth at a distance less than 7.5 kilometres are classified by NASA as 'Potentially Hazardous Objects'. Also Read | Here's how solar system's bizarre phenomena dramatically ballooned atmosphere of Mars NASA tracks asteroids using its vast network of telescopes that includes powerful ones such as NEOWISE telescope, Pans-STARRS1, Catalina Sky Survey, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and more. (With inputs from agencies)

Bus-sized asteroid set to fly by Earth, says NASA

The scientists, in their latest discovery, found that when there is a collision between pieces of space debris, electric signals are released by them which help&nbsp;in tracking small debris that is littering the orbit of our planet and can prove beneficial in saving both spacecraft and satellites. 
 
The researchers at the University of Michigan have now proposed a new approach which can help spacecraft operators and satellites detect small pieces of debris which are orbiting Earth. 
 
“Right now, we detect space debris by looking for objects that reflect light or radar signals. The smaller the objects get, the harder it becomes to get sunlight or radar signals strong enough to detect them from the ground,” explained Nilton Renno, who is professor of climate and space sciences and engineering and aerospace engineering and the university team's principal investigator.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/iss-discovers-tomato-which-remained-lost-in-space-for-eight-months-667098">A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal</a>

Till now, they have been able to track objects which are much larger than a cricket ball and this applies to less than one per cent of the nearly 170 million pieces of trash leftover from old satellites, spacewalk and rocket launches. 
 
The researchers said that the new method can be used for detecting debris which is smaller than one millimetre in diameter.

<h2>How dangerous is trash in space?</h2>

The trash in space is dangerous in many ways. A piece of space debris, which is the size of a plum, will have a speed of around 35,000 kilometres per hour at typical orbit and hence, its momentum will be equal to a highway car crash. 
 
In such scenarios, a small piece of debris will carry the capacity to destroy satellites. Even very small and fine pieces can cause damage to the spacecraft. 
 
Generally, pieces of debris in space collide with each other which also becomes an issue because after collision they fragment into smaller and smaller pieces.

Watch:&nbsp;Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space

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Such collisions can turn disastrous and they can also give the scientists an opportunity to track space junk. When the collision of debris takes place and it gets fragmented&nbsp;into smaller pieces, some of it gets vapourised into a charged gas due to the heat from the impact. 
 
The collision creates bursts of lightning-like energy. As per the most recent simulations by the team, when the collision of two pieces of aluminium takes place at typical orbital speeds, they release an electrical burst, which is detected on Earth using a high-quality radio receiver. 
 
This eventually helps the scientists track the space junk and send alerts to keep the spacecraft in space safe and undamaged.

(With inputs from agencies)

The scientists, in their latest discovery, found that when there is a collision between pieces of space debris, electric signals are released by them which help in tracking small debris that is littering the orbit of our planet and can prove beneficial in saving both spacecraft and satellites.

The scientists, in their latest discovery, found that when there is a collision between pieces of space debris, electric signals are released by them which help in tracking small debris that is littering the orbit of our planet and can prove beneficial in saving both spacecraft and satellites. The researchers at the University of Michigan have now proposed a new approach which can help spacecraft operators and satellites detect small pieces of debris which are orbiting Earth. “Right now, we detect space debris by looking for objects that reflect light or radar signals. The smaller the objects get, the harder it becomes to get sunlight or radar signals strong enough to detect them from the ground,” explained Nilton Renno, who is professor of climate and space sciences and engineering and aerospace engineering and the university team's principal investigator. Also read: A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal Till now, they have been able to track objects which are much larger than a cricket ball and this applies to less than one per cent of the nearly 170 million pieces of trash leftover from old satellites, spacewalk and rocket launches. The researchers said that the new method can be used for detecting debris which is smaller than one millimetre in diameter. How dangerous is trash in space? The trash in space is dangerous in many ways. A piece of space debris, which is the size of a plum, will have a speed of around 35,000 kilometres per hour at typical orbit and hence, its momentum will be equal to a highway car crash. In such scenarios, a small piece of debris will carry the capacity to destroy satellites. Even very small and fine pieces can cause damage to the spacecraft. Generally, pieces of debris in space collide with each other which also becomes an issue because after collision they fragment into smaller and smaller pieces. Watch: Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space Such collisions can turn disastrous and they can also give the scientists an opportunity to track space junk. When the collision of debris takes place and it gets fragmented into smaller pieces, some of it gets vapourised into a charged gas due to the heat from the impact. The collision creates bursts of lightning-like energy. As per the most recent simulations by the team, when the collision of two pieces of aluminium takes place at typical orbital speeds, they release an electrical burst, which is detected on Earth using a high-quality radio receiver. This eventually helps the scientists track the space junk and send alerts to keep the spacecraft in space safe and undamaged. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find a 'unique' way to keep spacecraft safer than they ever were

In a new study, it has been found that the carbon dioxide level currently in the atmosphere is the same as it was 14 million years ago, which reflects&nbsp;upon the deteriorating climatic conditions and the grim future ahead. 
 
The paper, which was published in the Science journal, covers the time period of 66 million years and analyses geochemical and biological signatures from the past era for reconstructing the historic CO2 record with detailed precision. 
 
"It really brings it home to us that what we are doing is very, very unusual in Earth's history," said lead author Baerbel Hoenisch of the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, while speaking to news agency AFP. 
 
Along with other things, the new analysis discovered that the last time there was the presence of 420 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the air was between 14-16 million years ago when ice was not present in Greenland and the ancestors of humans had started transitioning from forests to grasslands.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-as-debate-over-fossil-fuels-rages-on-at-cop28-climate-summit-global-co2-emissions-hit-new-record-666515">Explained | Global CO2 emissions due to fossil fuels hit new record. Will world leaders at COP28 act now?</a>

This is even further back than the 3 to 5 million years which were studied in the prior analyses. 
 
Till the late 1700s, the atmospheric carbon dioxide was around 280 ppm, which meant humans had already led to increase of the greenhouse gas by about 50 per cent which traps heat in the atmosphere and the planet has been warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius in comparison to before industrialisation. 
 
"What's important is that Homo, our species, has only evolved 3 million years ago. And so our civilisation is tuned to sea level as it is today, to having warm tropics and cool poles and temperate regions that have a lot of rainfall,” said Hoenisch.

<h2>Global CO2 emissions can reach between 600-800 ppm by 2100</h2>

It has been estimated that if global CO2 emissions continue rising, it can reach between 600 - 800 ppm by the year 2100. 
 
Such kinds of levels were seen during the Eocene, 30-40 million years ago, before ice had covered Antarctica and the world's flora and fauna appeared vastly different.

Watch:&nbsp;Climate 'Tipping Point': World is at a pivotal point, govt should act now to save planet

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The latest study is the result of seven years of work by a team of 80 researchers across 16 countries and is now seen as the scientific community's updated consensus. 
 
No new data was collected by the team but the already published work was synthesised, re-evaluated and validated on the basis of updated science and they were categorised accordingly and the highest rated was combined into a new timeline.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new study, it has been found that the carbon dioxide level currently in the atmosphere is the same as it was 14 million years ago, which reflects upon the deteriorating climatic conditions and the grim future ahead.

In a new study, it has been found that the carbon dioxide level currently in the atmosphere is the same as it was 14 million years ago, which reflects upon the deteriorating climatic conditions and the grim future ahead. The paper, which was published in the Science journal, covers the time period of 66 million years and analyses geochemical and biological signatures from the past era for reconstructing the historic CO2 record with detailed precision. "It really brings it home to us that what we are doing is very, very unusual in Earth's history," said lead author Baerbel Hoenisch of the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, while speaking to news agency AFP. Along with other things, the new analysis discovered that the last time there was the presence of 420 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the air was between 14-16 million years ago when ice was not present in Greenland and the ancestors of humans had started transitioning from forests to grasslands. Also read: Explained | Global CO2 emissions due to fossil fuels hit new record. Will world leaders at COP28 act now? This is even further back than the 3 to 5 million years which were studied in the prior analyses. Till the late 1700s, the atmospheric carbon dioxide was around 280 ppm, which meant humans had already led to increase of the greenhouse gas by about 50 per cent which traps heat in the atmosphere and the planet has been warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius in comparison to before industrialisation. "What's important is that Homo, our species, has only evolved 3 million years ago. And so our civilisation is tuned to sea level as it is today, to having warm tropics and cool poles and temperate regions that have a lot of rainfall,” said Hoenisch. Global CO2 emissions can reach between 600-800 ppm by 2100 It has been estimated that if global CO2 emissions continue rising, it can reach between 600 - 800 ppm by the year 2100. Such kinds of levels were seen during the Eocene, 30-40 million years ago, before ice had covered Antarctica and the world's flora and fauna appeared vastly different. Watch: Climate 'Tipping Point': World is at a pivotal point, govt should act now to save planet The latest study is the result of seven years of work by a team of 80 researchers across 16 countries and is now seen as the scientific community's updated consensus. No new data was collected by the team but the already published work was synthesised, re-evaluated and validated on the basis of updated science and they were categorised accordingly and the highest rated was combined into a new timeline. (With inputs from agencies)

An ominous sign! CO2 levels are now same as they were 14 million years ago

Scientists have pinpointed the location of the place where an asteroid hit Earth approximately 750,000 years ago. In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the planetary scientists released evidence showing that the location of impact crater they have been seeking for decades is on the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos.

Scientists have pinpointed the location of the place where an asteroid hit Earth approximately 750,000 years ago. In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the planetary scientists released evidence showing that the location of impact crater they have been seeking for decades is on the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos. Although the evidence for the asteroid's size and event's timing is far and wide, the discovery of the location has been a multi-year study. Earlier studies say an asteroid hit the Earth's surface about 789,000 years ago, producing many rocks in southeast Asia and Australia. These black glassy rocks, called tektites, formed the most prominent debris spray from an extraterrestrial impact. Although older and bigger collisions have produced larger sprays, geological processes have long buried the evidence. However, the tektites are recent enough to be visible in several places. Also Read | Twin temples linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great discovered on top of each other in Iraq The location remained hidden for a long time due to geological conditions and thick rainforests. It is also in the world's most politically isolated nations. The team led by Professor Kerry Sieh of the Nanyang Technological University mentioned in the study that "the unexpected ordnance hampered fieldwork for decades." Sieh's team used a layer of pebble and boulder-sized rocks called Bolaven diamicton to identify the impact site's location. According to the research team, the impact broke the ancient sandstone and basaltic lava to form the diamicton. The research team also studied the conclusions of other studies on the impact crater, which convinced them it had not been found as it was filled with lava. From 2015 to 2023, they conducted field research, gathering and analysing tektites from the Bolaven impact and marking their locations on the map. They found small samples that would fit in hand and large deposits up to nine meters thick. Later, the maps pointed to a radical pattern of thickening ejecta (material thrown out during volcanic explosion) linked around a single plateau. The team believed this indicated where the asteroid crashed into the Earth. When the team introduced the idea of the crater being beneath the Bolavean Volcanic Field, they did not have enough evidence to convince the geologists. However, they have five separate datasets that point towards the location. Although the team needs to perform more research at or near the proposed impact site's vicinity, they are confident about the recent study, calling their results "all but definitive." (With inputs from agencies)

This is the exact spot an asteroid made a crater 750,000 years ago

The study of asteroids is important. It can really be a marvellous field of study till all the space rocks are whooshing past Earth. It certainly must be a delight to see these world-ending space rocks do a flyby, a delight that dinosaurs could not get.

It is precisely for the preservation of this delight and prevention of its conversion into sheer, existential fright&nbsp;that we always have our lenses towards the sky to be on the lookout for any of these asteroids coming our way.

Unknown to most of us on Earth, asteroids are shooting past the Earth fairly regularly but&nbsp;some of them have a close encounter with our home planet.

<h4>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/iss-discovers-tomato-which-remained-lost-in-space-for-eight-months-667098">A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal</a></h4>

&nbsp;

Asteroid 2001 QQ142 is one such asteroid. This asteroid has been designated by NASA as a near-Earth space rock. It is expected that it will fly by Earth at a distance of only 5.5 million kilometres soon. This may look like a huge distance but considering cosmic distances, this is but a tiny stretch.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/monstrous-dark-hole-in-sun-releasing-superfast-solar-wind-towards-earth-scientists-warn-666834">Monstrous dark hole in Sun releasing superfast solar wind towards Earth. Scientists warn...</a>

The asteroid on its own doesn't have any sinister motive. It's doing its thing and orbiting around the Sun. Earth just happens to be in the vicinity. It is approaching Earth at a mind-boggling speed of 23975 kilometres per hour. This makes it much faster than Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles.

<h2>So, what's the size of this asteroid?</h2>

The asteroid is nearly 2,200 feet wide. So it can be compared to a huge bridge. It is bigger than the iconic Empire State Building.

When it flies by the Earth, it will not be the asteroid's first visit to Earth's neighbourhood. It came to say hello on August 1, 1901. But at that time it maintained a safe distance and at its closest, it was 72 million kilometres away from Earth. It will come back in our backyard again in January 2028.

(With inputs from agencies)

The study of asteroids is important. It can really be a marvellous field of study till all the space rocks are whooshing past Earth. It certainly must be a delight to see these world-ending space rocks do a flyby, a delight that dinosaurs could not get.

The study of asteroids is important. It can really be a marvellous field of study till all the space rocks are whooshing past Earth. It certainly must be a delight to see these world-ending space rocks do a flyby, a delight that dinosaurs could not get. It is precisely for the preservation of this delight and prevention of its conversion into sheer, existential fright that we always have our lenses towards the sky to be on the lookout for any of these asteroids coming our way. Unknown to most of us on Earth, asteroids are shooting past the Earth fairly regularly but some of them have a close encounter with our home planet. Also Read | A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal Asteroid 2001 QQ142 is one such asteroid. This asteroid has been designated by NASA as a near-Earth space rock. It is expected that it will fly by Earth at a distance of only 5.5 million kilometres soon. This may look like a huge distance but considering cosmic distances, this is but a tiny stretch. Also Read | Monstrous dark hole in Sun releasing superfast solar wind towards Earth. Scientists warn... The asteroid on its own doesn't have any sinister motive. It's doing its thing and orbiting around the Sun. Earth just happens to be in the vicinity. It is approaching Earth at a mind-boggling speed of 23975 kilometres per hour. This makes it much faster than Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles. So, what's the size of this asteroid? The asteroid is nearly 2,200 feet wide. So it can be compared to a huge bridge. It is bigger than the iconic Empire State Building. When it flies by the Earth, it will not be the asteroid's first visit to Earth's neighbourhood. It came to say hello on August 1, 1901. But at that time it maintained a safe distance and at its closest, it was 72 million kilometres away from Earth. It will come back in our backyard again in January 2028. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid bigger than Empire State Building set to approach Earth

In what appears to be a new challenge for astronomers, a gigantic dark hole has been created on the surface of the sun and is releasing powerful streams of fast radiation, also called solar wind, right towards the Earth. 
 
The temporary gap's size and orientation, which is wider than 60 Earths, remains unprecedented at the solar cycle's current stage, as per the scientists. 
 
The sun's giant dark patch, which is known as a coronal hole, appeared near the equator of the sun on December 2 and in 24 hours, it reached its maximum width of nearly 497,000 miles (800,000 kilometres), reported Spaceweather.com. Since December 4, the big void in the sun has been pointing directly at Earth. 
 
Initially, it was predicted by the experts that this most recent hole could cause a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm, which can trigger radio blackouts and the world may witness strong auroral displays for the next few days.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/suns-rampant-activity-cycle-likely-to-peak-january-2024-scientists-analysing-its-dangers-say-664781">Sun's rampant activity cycle likely to peak January 2024, scientists analysing its dangers say</a>

The solar wind, however, remained less intense than expected and hence, the resulting storm has only been weak (G1) till now, according to Spaceweather.com. However, there are formation of auroras at high latitudes. 
 
It remains unclear how long will it take for the hole to disappear from the sun, however, as per previous records the coronal holes have remained for more than a single solar rotation (27 days), as per the NOAA. The hole, however, will soon rotate away from Earth.

<h2>Why do coronal holes get created in the sun?</h2>

Coronal holes are created when the magnetic fields holding the sun in a place open up suddenly and cause content present in the upper surface of the sun to stream away in the form of solar wind, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 
 
Coronal holes look like dark patches on the sun because they are less dense and cooler in comparison to the surrounding plasma. This is equivalent to why sunspots appear to be black, however, unlike sunspots, one cannot see coronal holes unless they are viewed in ultraviolet light.

Watch:&nbsp;New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller, says report&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-evidence-suggests-size-of-the-sun-could-be-smaller-says-report-world-news-wion-656872/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to NOOA, the radiation streams which are released from coronal holes are much faster in comparison to the normal solar wind and often lead to disturbances in the magnetic shield of the Earth, called as geomagnetic storms. 
 
The last coronal hole, which was seen in March, had released the most powerful geomagnetic storm to have hit Earth in the last six years.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what appears to be a new challenge for astronomers, a gigantic dark hole has been created on the surface of the sun and is releasing powerful streams of fast radiation, also called solar wind, right towards the Earth.

In what appears to be a new challenge for astronomers, a gigantic dark hole has been created on the surface of the sun and is releasing powerful streams of fast radiation, also called solar wind, right towards the Earth. The temporary gap's size and orientation, which is wider than 60 Earths, remains unprecedented at the solar cycle's current stage, as per the scientists. The sun's giant dark patch, which is known as a coronal hole, appeared near the equator of the sun on December 2 and in 24 hours, it reached its maximum width of nearly 497,000 miles (800,000 kilometres), reported Spaceweather.com. Since December 4, the big void in the sun has been pointing directly at Earth. Initially, it was predicted by the experts that this most recent hole could cause a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm, which can trigger radio blackouts and the world may witness strong auroral displays for the next few days. Also read: Sun's rampant activity cycle likely to peak January 2024, scientists analysing its dangers say The solar wind, however, remained less intense than expected and hence, the resulting storm has only been weak (G1) till now, according to Spaceweather.com. However, there are formation of auroras at high latitudes. It remains unclear how long will it take for the hole to disappear from the sun, however, as per previous records the coronal holes have remained for more than a single solar rotation (27 days), as per the NOAA. The hole, however, will soon rotate away from Earth. Why do coronal holes get created in the sun? Coronal holes are created when the magnetic fields holding the sun in a place open up suddenly and cause content present in the upper surface of the sun to stream away in the form of solar wind, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Coronal holes look like dark patches on the sun because they are less dense and cooler in comparison to the surrounding plasma. This is equivalent to why sunspots appear to be black, however, unlike sunspots, one cannot see coronal holes unless they are viewed in ultraviolet light. Watch: New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller, says report According to NOOA, the radiation streams which are released from coronal holes are much faster in comparison to the normal solar wind and often lead to disturbances in the magnetic shield of the Earth, called as geomagnetic storms. The last coronal hole, which was seen in March, had released the most powerful geomagnetic storm to have hit Earth in the last six years. (With inputs from agencies)

Monstrous dark hole in Sun releasing superfast solar wind towards Earth. Scientists warn...

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