To err is human, and astronauts are no different.

On November 2, when NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara were conducting repairs on the International Space Station’s (ISS) solar panels, they accidentally let&nbsp;a tool bag slip away.

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Last seen by <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Satoshi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Astro_Satoshi</a> while floating over Mount Fuji 🗻 the 'Orbital Police' can confirm that the lost EVA gear is being tracked 🫡 <a href="https://t.co/wz4MITmAfM">https://t.co/wz4MITmAfM</a> <a href="https://t.co/eksfu9fPFw">pic.twitter.com/eksfu9fPFw</a>
— Dr Meganne Christian (@astro_meganne) <a href="https://twitter.com/astro_meganne/status/1721297966999236802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Now, it is orbiting Earth, and some sky observers might actually spot it using binoculars at around magnitude +6.

<h2>What happened?</h2>

While spacewalkers were conducting repairs on the solar panel unit, they inadvertently lost one tool bag. Later, the bag was spotted using external station cameras.&nbsp;

Fortunately, the tool bag was no longer required in the repair operation. Later, NASA scientists predicted the bag’s trajectory and concluded that it posed no risk to the ISS or the onboard crew.

<h2>What will happen to the tool bag?</h2>

The tool bag is expected to orbit around Earth for a few months, during which it will continue to descend until 70 miles or 113 kilometres.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Cosmic journey: Space balloons &amp; space station visit part of the tour

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After reaching there, it will start to disintegrate in Earth’s atmosphere.

<h2>Can people on Earth see the tool bag?</h2>

Observers who can see the ISS can also spot the tool bag, extremely bright for its size, hovering near the space station.

They should scan the sky just ahead of the space station, using binoculars, for the next few weeks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/beam-me-up-scotty-scientists-to-use-sci-fi-beam-to-get-rid-of-real-space-junk-655715">Also read:&nbsp;`Beam me up, Scotty`: Scientists to use sci-fi beam to get rid of real space junk</a>

As the small object gradually loses height, it should appear a few seconds ahead of the ISS.

<h2>Previous such instances</h2>

Interestingly, on November 18, 2008, astronauts lost a similar repair kit during an operation outside the ISS.

It was visible from Earth even months later, just ahead of the ISS. Astronauts have lost several such items previously as well which are now part of the junkyard in near-Earth orbit.

(With inputs from agencies)

To err is human, and astronauts are no different. On November 2, when NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara were conducting repairs on the International Space Station’s (ISS) solar panels, they accidentally let a tool bag slip away.

To err is human, and astronauts are no different. On November 2, when NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara were conducting repairs on the International Space Station’s (ISS) solar panels, they accidentally let a tool bag slip away. Last seen by @Astro_Satoshi while floating over Mount Fuji 🗻 the 'Orbital Police' can confirm that the lost EVA gear is being tracked 🫡 https://t.co/wz4MITmAfM pic.twitter.com/eksfu9fPFw — Dr Meganne Christian (@astro_meganne) November 5, 2023 × Now, it is orbiting Earth, and some sky observers might actually spot it using binoculars at around magnitude +6. What happened? While spacewalkers were conducting repairs on the solar panel unit, they inadvertently lost one tool bag. Later, the bag was spotted using external station cameras. Fortunately, the tool bag was no longer required in the repair operation. Later, NASA scientists predicted the bag’s trajectory and concluded that it posed no risk to the ISS or the onboard crew. What will happen to the tool bag? The tool bag is expected to orbit around Earth for a few months, during which it will continue to descend until 70 miles or 113 kilometres. Watch: Cosmic journey: Space balloons & space station visit part of the tour × After reaching there, it will start to disintegrate in Earth’s atmosphere. Can people on Earth see the tool bag? Observers who can see the ISS can also spot the tool bag, extremely bright for its size, hovering near the space station. They should scan the sky just ahead of the space station, using binoculars, for the next few weeks. Also read: `Beam me up, Scotty`: Scientists to use sci-fi beam to get rid of real space junk As the small object gradually loses height, it should appear a few seconds ahead of the ISS. Previous such instances Interestingly, on November 18, 2008, astronauts lost a similar repair kit during an operation outside the ISS. It was visible from Earth even months later, just ahead of the ISS. Astronauts have lost several such items previously as well which are now part of the junkyard in near-Earth orbit. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Astronauts accidentally let a tool bag slip away in space. Now it is orbiting Earth

Sometimes, big rocks from space, called meteorites, hit our Earth. Some of these meteorites are actually parts of an old explosion that happened on our neighbouring planet&nbsp;Mars.

Scientists wanted to know how old these Martian meteorites are. And now they have reportedly solved this puzzle using a special, research-oriented nuclear reactor.&nbsp;

They found out that most of these meteorites are not very old, only a few hundred million years. They think these rocks came from recent volcanic activity on Mars, especially from the biggest volcano in our whole solar system, called Olympus Mons.

<h2>Argon-argon method</h2>

A scientist named Dr. Ben Cohen, along with a team from the University of Glasgow, the Natural History Museum, the University of Edinburgh, and some researchers in the US, worked very hard to figure out the exact age of these Martian meteorites. They used a special method called 'argon-argon' to measure the age.

"We know from certain chemical characteristics that these meteorites are definitely from Mars," explained Dr. Cohen.

Watch:&nbsp;NASA Mars sample return mission

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They put small pieces of seven Martian meteorites into the nuclear reactor to check the argon levels. They also considered the argon the rocks might have picked up in space and made sure they didn't get mixed with Earth's air.

"Once we did that, the argon-argon ages came out as being young and matched perfectly with other methods, like Uranium-Lead," said Dr. Cohen.

<h2>How come the Martian rocks are so young?</h2>

But here's a bit of a puzzle: Mars is very old, like three to four billion years old. But these meteorites are much younger, only a few hundred million years old.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/european-space-agency-shares-stunning-visualisation-of-mars-labyrinth-of-night-watch-here-647379">Also read:&nbsp;This stunning visualisation of Mars` gigantic `Labyrinth of Night` will blow your mind</a>

Dr. Cohen thinks that Mars gets hit by rocks often, and this creates a layer of crumbly rock on its surface. So, newer rocks keep coming up because of volcanoes. This means that with each new hit, older rocks are less likely to get sent into space.

This research helps us understand more about our solar system's history and is useful for missions to Mars, like the Perseverance rover, Curiosity rover, and ExoMars.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sometimes, big rocks from space, called meteorites, hit our Earth. Some of these meteorites are actually parts of an old explosion that happened on our neighbouring planet Mars.

Sometimes, big rocks from space, called meteorites, hit our Earth. Some of these meteorites are actually parts of an old explosion that happened on our neighbouring planet Mars. Scientists wanted to know how old these Martian meteorites are. And now they have reportedly solved this puzzle using a special, research-oriented nuclear reactor. They found out that most of these meteorites are not very old, only a few hundred million years. They think these rocks came from recent volcanic activity on Mars, especially from the biggest volcano in our whole solar system, called Olympus Mons. Argon-argon method A scientist named Dr. Ben Cohen, along with a team from the University of Glasgow, the Natural History Museum, the University of Edinburgh, and some researchers in the US, worked very hard to figure out the exact age of these Martian meteorites. They used a special method called 'argon-argon' to measure the age. "We know from certain chemical characteristics that these meteorites are definitely from Mars," explained Dr. Cohen. Watch: NASA Mars sample return mission × They put small pieces of seven Martian meteorites into the nuclear reactor to check the argon levels. They also considered the argon the rocks might have picked up in space and made sure they didn't get mixed with Earth's air. "Once we did that, the argon-argon ages came out as being young and matched perfectly with other methods, like Uranium-Lead," said Dr. Cohen. How come the Martian rocks are so young? But here's a bit of a puzzle: Mars is very old, like three to four billion years old. But these meteorites are much younger, only a few hundred million years old. Also read: This stunning visualisation of Mars` gigantic `Labyrinth of Night` will blow your mind Dr. Cohen thinks that Mars gets hit by rocks often, and this creates a layer of crumbly rock on its surface. So, newer rocks keep coming up because of volcanoes. This means that with each new hit, older rocks are less likely to get sent into space. This research helps us understand more about our solar system's history and is useful for missions to Mars, like the Perseverance rover, Curiosity rover, and ExoMars. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists put Martian rock that hit Earth in nuclear reactor and solve a tricky puzzle

Our planet is actually shaking, and it is not because of earthquakes. A new study sheds light on how climate change is leading to the generation of seismic waves, similar to the tremors felt during quakes.&nbsp;

The ocean waves apply forces to the sea floor below and generate seismic waves as they rise and fall, said the study, titled "Increasing ocean wave energy observed in Earth's seismic wavefield since the late 20th century". It was published in the journal Nature Communications on Nov 1.&nbsp;

The study said that these seismic waves are so intense and extensive that seismographs, which are used to monitor and analyse earthquakes, detect them as a constant thrum.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-put-martian-rock-that-hit-earth-in-nuclear-reactor-and-solved-tricky-puzzle-656117">Scientists put Martian rock that hit Earth in nuclear reactor and solved tricky puzzle</a>&nbsp;

Scientists said in the study that they used data from 52 globally distributed seismographs to analyse the "vertical component primary microseism wavefield" in the 14–20s period between the late 1980s and Aug 2022.&nbsp;

As per the study, the wave signal has been getting more intense in recent decades, which reflects increasingly stormy seas and higher ocean swell.&nbsp;

"This signal is principally composed of Rayleigh waves generated by ocean wave seafloor tractions at less than several hundred meters depth, and is thus a proxy for near-coastal swell activity," the study noted.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dazzling-geomagnetic-storm-triggered-auroras-over-north-america-europe-pics-inside-656107">Geomagnetic storm triggers auroras over North America, Europe | Pics inside</a>&nbsp;

The study reflects how these global statistics, together with other ocean, satellite, and regional seismic studies, demonstrate a decades-long rise in wave energy, which corresponds with increased storminess caused by rising global temperatures.

The study said that microseism intensity was measured at 52 seismograph locations around the world with extended histories of continuous recording dating back to the late 1980s. The authors found that 41 (79%) of these stations saw quite significant and progressive energy increases over the decades.

According to the findings, globally averaged ocean wave energy has increased at a median rate of 0.27% each year since the late twentieth century. However, the global average annual growth in the rate has been 0.35% since 2000.

Our planet is actually shaking, and it is not because of earthquakes. A new study sheds light on how climate change is leading to the generation of seismic waves, similar to the tremors felt during quakes.

Our planet is actually shaking, and it is not because of earthquakes. A new study sheds light on how climate change is leading to the generation of seismic waves, similar to the tremors felt during quakes. The ocean waves apply forces to the sea floor below and generate seismic waves as they rise and fall, said the study, titled "Increasing ocean wave energy observed in Earth's seismic wavefield since the late 20th century". It was published in the journal Nature Communications on Nov 1. The study said that these seismic waves are so intense and extensive that seismographs, which are used to monitor and analyse earthquakes, detect them as a constant thrum. Also read: Scientists put Martian rock that hit Earth in nuclear reactor and solved tricky puzzle Scientists said in the study that they used data from 52 globally distributed seismographs to analyse the "vertical component primary microseism wavefield" in the 14–20s period between the late 1980s and Aug 2022. As per the study, the wave signal has been getting more intense in recent decades, which reflects increasingly stormy seas and higher ocean swell. "This signal is principally composed of Rayleigh waves generated by ocean wave seafloor tractions at less than several hundred meters depth, and is thus a proxy for near-coastal swell activity," the study noted. Also read: Geomagnetic storm triggers auroras over North America, Europe | Pics inside The study reflects how these global statistics, together with other ocean, satellite, and regional seismic studies, demonstrate a decades-long rise in wave energy, which corresponds with increased storminess caused by rising global temperatures. The study said that microseism intensity was measured at 52 seismograph locations around the world with extended histories of continuous recording dating back to the late 1980s. The authors found that 41 (79%) of these stations saw quite significant and progressive energy increases over the decades. According to the findings, globally averaged ocean wave energy has increased at a median rate of 0.27% each year since the late twentieth century. However, the global average annual growth in the rate has been 0.35% since 2000.

Earth is literally shaking. Latest study finds out why exactly

The earth planet is our home but how was it formed scientists have proposed a novel theory that might explain two of the world's enduring mysteries.

Remains of an ancient planet lie deep within earth

Earth is on the cusp of exceeding an internationally agreed-upon point for global warming, according to researchers. According to the study published on Monday in Nature Climate Change journal, if greenhouse gases continue to increase at the current rate, Earth's temperature might surpass the ideal threshold, causing disastrous consequences in several regions worldwide.

Earth is on the cusp of exceeding an internationally agreed-upon point for global warming, according to researchers. According to the study published on Monday in Nature Climate Change journal, if greenhouse gases continue to increase at the current rate, Earth's temperature might surpass the ideal threshold, causing disastrous consequences in several regions worldwide. In 2015, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change created the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed by several countries to mitigate climate change, establishing a 1.5 degrees Celsius global mean temperature rise above pre-industrial levels as the long-term warming limit. In 2021, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determined a carbon budget of 500 billion metric tonnes would keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius until mid-2032. But, according to the study, if carbon dioxide emissions remain at the current levels, the remaining carbon budget will be exhausted by early 2029. The most recent analysis brings the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius three years closer. ALSO READ | A gene adapted from archaic hominins may increase mental health risk in modern humans, says study Researchers say surpassing the 1.5 degrees Celsius benchmark increases the risk of warming-related catastrophes. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that global warming would threaten coral reefs, melt Antarctic ice sheets, increase sea levels, make the ocean more acidic and negatively impact crops. Rob Jackson, a professor of Earth System Science at Stanford University, told ABC News, "The world will blow past 1.5 degrees Celsius well before today's kindergarteners finish school." Once the Earth passes the 1.5 degrees Celsius benchmark, the next countdown would be two degrees Celsius of warming, likely to be reached in the 2040s, says the study. It also mentioned that a half-degree rise in warming can lead to even more catastrophic climate-related situations. If the global mean temperature increases to three degrees Celsius, many places will become unliveable. Although climate researchers have not predicted a specific time for the surpassing, they have mentioned the intensity of the disastrous impacts it can cause. While droughts will worsen and last longer, hurricanes will increase in ocean waters. Wildfires will become more common due to the hot climates and drying landscapes. Furthermore, melting ice sheets will flood populated coastal regions. Extreme weather events in recent years are some consequences of climate change due to global warming. According to a report by the World Meteorological Organization, published in October 2023, global water cycles have become erratic due to warming temperatures. Sea levels continue to rise, and glaciers are rapidly melting. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

New study paints a scary scenario for when Earth passes the 1.5 degree threshold

The vast expanse of the universe, with its stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and asteroids, is often associated with silence. However, a fascinating aspect of the cosmos is that certain objects within our solar system emit sounds – sounds that are often beyond human hearing but can be captured and translated into audible frequencies using sophisticated space agency tools like NASA's.

This novel technique, known as data sonification, takes the digital data collected by space instruments and transforms it into sound, said NASA in its<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/sonifications/"> report</a>.

NASA has compiled a captivating playlist of these space sonifications, providing a unique auditory experience that offers a fresh perspective on the universe.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nisar-in-a-first-nasa-and-isro-to-collaboratively-launch-earth-observing-satellite-in-2024-654044">Also read |&nbsp;NISAR: In a first, NASA and ISRO to collaboratively launch earth-observing satellite in 2024</a>

<h2>NASA's playlist</h2>

From Mercury to Jupiter, NASA's playlist includes eerie sounds captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and other space instruments.

Among these celestial auditory offerings is the haunting resonance of a supermassive black hole, an awe-inspiring sound originating from a location 250 million light years away.

This process of converting light and data into sound is not merely for the sake of creating an auditory spectacle; it serves a crucial scientific purpose.

Data sonification enables scientists to uncover hidden details of the universe that may have otherwise eluded them. For instance, Mars, a planet lacking a robust magnetic field, produces the eerie sounds of its winds as dust devils dance across its dusty terrain.

Jupiter's moons Europa and Ganymede contribute to the cosmic symphony by emitting plasma sounds that resemble robotic blips and bleeps. These intriguing sounds offer valuable insights into the mysterious workings of these celestial bodies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/guide-for-skygazers-november-night-sky-to-bring-meteor-showers-stunning-views-of-jupiter-and-moon-653961">Also read |&nbsp;Guide for skygazers: November night sky to bring meteor showers, stunning views of Jupiter and Moon</a>

Even our home planet has a place in this cosmic orchestra, offering sounds reminiscent of birdsong or the haunting calls of whales. Saturn, with its majestic rings, contributes a soundscape that could easily be the score of a science fiction movie.

NASA explains the process of converting digital data into sound, where elements from the original image, such as brightness and position, are assigned specific pitches and volumes.

This transformation provides a new way to experience and conceptualise astronomical data.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The vast expanse of the universe, with its stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and asteroids, is often associated with silence. However, a fascinating aspect of the cosmos is that certain objects within our solar system emit sounds – sounds that are often beyond human hearing but can be captured and translated into audible frequencies using sophisticated space agency tools like NASA's.

The vast expanse of the universe, with its stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and asteroids, is often associated with silence. However, a fascinating aspect of the cosmos is that certain objects within our solar system emit sounds – sounds that are often beyond human hearing but can be captured and translated into audible frequencies using sophisticated space agency tools like NASA's. This novel technique, known as data sonification, takes the digital data collected by space instruments and transforms it into sound, said NASA in its report. NASA has compiled a captivating playlist of these space sonifications, providing a unique auditory experience that offers a fresh perspective on the universe. Also read | NISAR: In a first, NASA and ISRO to collaboratively launch earth-observing satellite in 2024 NASA's playlist From Mercury to Jupiter, NASA's playlist includes eerie sounds captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and other space instruments. Among these celestial auditory offerings is the haunting resonance of a supermassive black hole, an awe-inspiring sound originating from a location 250 million light years away. This process of converting light and data into sound is not merely for the sake of creating an auditory spectacle; it serves a crucial scientific purpose. Data sonification enables scientists to uncover hidden details of the universe that may have otherwise eluded them. For instance, Mars, a planet lacking a robust magnetic field, produces the eerie sounds of its winds as dust devils dance across its dusty terrain. Jupiter's moons Europa and Ganymede contribute to the cosmic symphony by emitting plasma sounds that resemble robotic blips and bleeps. These intriguing sounds offer valuable insights into the mysterious workings of these celestial bodies. Also read | Guide for skygazers: November night sky to bring meteor showers, stunning views of Jupiter and Moon Even our home planet has a place in this cosmic orchestra, offering sounds reminiscent of birdsong or the haunting calls of whales. Saturn, with its majestic rings, contributes a soundscape that could easily be the score of a science fiction movie. NASA explains the process of converting digital data into sound, where elements from the original image, such as brightness and position, are assigned specific pitches and volumes. This transformation provides a new way to experience and conceptualise astronomical data.

NASA releases playlist of eerie recordings from the solar system

Researchers have come up with a theory about the mysterious, dense, continent-sized blobs of material, which are buried deep under Earth's mantle some 2,900 kilometres down.&nbsp;

If this hypothesis is correct or in the right direction, the scientists could solve a mystery that intrigued scientists for more than a decade as this research tells a lot about the two giant blobs buried deep inside Earth's mantle — beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;

In a study published on Wednesday (Nov 1) in the journal Nature, researchers have said that the blobs may be remnants of a planet which slammed into Earth in the early solar system.&nbsp;

When the so-called planet smacked into the Earth, it produced a shower of debris that formed the Moon.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-releases-playlist-of-eerie-recordings-from-the-solar-system-654069">NASA releases playlist of eerie recordings from the solar system</a>&nbsp;

The smashing of the planet into Earth is an old theory, as previous studies have mentioned that planet-sized object Theia crashed into&nbsp;Earth around 4.5 billion years ago.&nbsp;

Some of the ejected debris gathered to form the Moon. In a study titled, "Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle anomalies", researchers from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom have found evidence which suggests that chunks of Theia ended up inside Earth.&nbsp;

The researchers are Dr Qian Yuan at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and Prof Hongping Deng at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Researchers said in the study that the seismic images of Earth's interior have revealed two continent-sized anomalies with low seismic velocities, known as the large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), in the lowermost mantle.&nbsp;

To carry out the study, the researchers used computer simulations of the giant impact and convection currents inside Earth.&nbsp;

Watch: NASA Mars sample return mission | NASA to work with ESA for bringing Mars samples to Earth&nbsp;

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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nisar-in-a-first-nasa-and-isro-to-collaboratively-launch-earth-observing-satellite-in-2024-654044">In a first, NASA and ISRO to collaboratively launch earth-observing satellite in 2024</a>&nbsp;

As quoted by Science Alert, Hongping Deng of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: "Our findings challenge the traditional notion that the giant impact led to the homogenization of the early Earth."&nbsp;

"Instead, the Moon-forming giant impact appears to be the origin of the early mantle's heterogeneity and marks the starting point for the Earth's geological evolution over the course of 4.5 billion years," Hongping added.&nbsp;

The study noted that the LLVPs are often interpreted as "intrinsically dense heterogeneities" that are "compositionally distinct from the surrounding mantle".&nbsp;

The researchers have shown that LLVPs may represent buried relics of Theia mantle material that was preserved in proto-Earth's mantle after the Moon-forming giant impact.&nbsp;

Researchers have come up with a theory about the mysterious, dense, continent-sized blobs of material, which are buried deep under Earth's mantle some 2,900 kilometres down.

Researchers have come up with a theory about the mysterious, dense, continent-sized blobs of material, which are buried deep under Earth's mantle some 2,900 kilometres down. If this hypothesis is correct or in the right direction, the scientists could solve a mystery that intrigued scientists for more than a decade as this research tells a lot about the two giant blobs buried deep inside Earth's mantle — beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. In a study published on Wednesday (Nov 1) in the journal Nature, researchers have said that the blobs may be remnants of a planet which slammed into Earth in the early solar system. When the so-called planet smacked into the Earth, it produced a shower of debris that formed the Moon. Also read: NASA releases playlist of eerie recordings from the solar system The smashing of the planet into Earth is an old theory, as previous studies have mentioned that planet-sized object Theia crashed into Earth around 4.5 billion years ago. Some of the ejected debris gathered to form the Moon. In a study titled, "Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle anomalies", researchers from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom have found evidence which suggests that chunks of Theia ended up inside Earth. The researchers are Dr Qian Yuan at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and Prof Hongping Deng at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Researchers said in the study that the seismic images of Earth's interior have revealed two continent-sized anomalies with low seismic velocities, known as the large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), in the lowermost mantle. To carry out the study, the researchers used computer simulations of the giant impact and convection currents inside Earth. Watch: NASA Mars sample return mission | NASA to work with ESA for bringing Mars samples to Earth × Also read: In a first, NASA and ISRO to collaboratively launch earth-observing satellite in 2024 As quoted by Science Alert, Hongping Deng of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: "Our findings challenge the traditional notion that the giant impact led to the homogenization of the early Earth." "Instead, the Moon-forming giant impact appears to be the origin of the early mantle's heterogeneity and marks the starting point for the Earth's geological evolution over the course of 4.5 billion years," Hongping added. The study noted that the LLVPs are often interpreted as "intrinsically dense heterogeneities" that are "compositionally distinct from the surrounding mantle". The researchers have shown that LLVPs may represent buried relics of Theia mantle material that was preserved in proto-Earth's mantle after the Moon-forming giant impact.

A planet crashed into Earth 4.5bn yrs ago, and so the moon was born

For the first time in history, the space agencies of the United States and India have joined forces to develop the hardware for an Earth-observing mission.

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, nearing completion, represents a significant collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Set to launch in 2024, NISAR will revolutionise Earth's surveillance by continuously scanning the planet's surface with radar, providing valuable insights into changes over time.

The NISAR satellite will conduct a comprehensive scan of Earth's land and ice surfaces every 12 days, completing two cycles during that time frame.

This remarkable capability is made possible by equipping the satellite with two distinct synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. NASA is responsible for the L-band SAR, while ISRO handles the S-band SAR, utilizing radio waves of shorter wavelengths.

By employing different wavelengths, NISAR aims to deliver a thorough understanding of the planet's evolving landscapes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/guide-for-skygazers-november-night-sky-to-bring-meteor-showers-stunning-views-of-jupiter-and-moon-653961">Also read |&nbsp;Guide for skygazers: November night sky to bring meteor showers, stunning views of Jupiter and Moon</a>

<h2>Unprecedented insights into forests and wetlands</h2>

NISAR's primary focus will be Earth's forests and wetlands, of particular interest to climate scientists.

These ecosystems play a critical role as carbon sinks, sequestering carbon that would otherwise contribute to atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

However, human activities such as deforestation for agriculture and urban expansion encroach upon these vital ecosystems, diminishing their carbon storage potential.

It is estimated that land use changes, including these alterations, account for approximately 11 per cent&nbsp;of global carbon emissions.

The NISAR satellite is scheduled for launch in early 2024 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern India.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-juno-observes-mineral-salts-organic-treasures-on-jupiters-moon-ganymede-653935">Also read |&nbsp;NASA's Juno observes mineral salts, organic treasures on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede</a>

This collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO signifies a groundbreaking partnership aimed at advancing our understanding of Earth's changing landscapes and ecosystems.

NISAR's observations will be instrumental in addressing critical environmental challenges and bolstering efforts to mitigate climate change's impact on our planet. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

For the first time in history, the space agencies of the United States and India have joined forces to develop the hardware for an Earth-observing mission. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, nearing completion, represents a significant collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

For the first time in history, the space agencies of the United States and India have joined forces to develop the hardware for an Earth-observing mission. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, nearing completion, represents a significant collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Set to launch in 2024, NISAR will revolutionise Earth's surveillance by continuously scanning the planet's surface with radar, providing valuable insights into changes over time. The NISAR satellite will conduct a comprehensive scan of Earth's land and ice surfaces every 12 days, completing two cycles during that time frame. This remarkable capability is made possible by equipping the satellite with two distinct synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. NASA is responsible for the L-band SAR, while ISRO handles the S-band SAR, utilizing radio waves of shorter wavelengths. By employing different wavelengths, NISAR aims to deliver a thorough understanding of the planet's evolving landscapes. Also read | Guide for skygazers: November night sky to bring meteor showers, stunning views of Jupiter and Moon Unprecedented insights into forests and wetlands NISAR's primary focus will be Earth's forests and wetlands, of particular interest to climate scientists. These ecosystems play a critical role as carbon sinks, sequestering carbon that would otherwise contribute to atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. However, human activities such as deforestation for agriculture and urban expansion encroach upon these vital ecosystems, diminishing their carbon storage potential. It is estimated that land use changes, including these alterations, account for approximately 11 per cent of global carbon emissions. The NISAR satellite is scheduled for launch in early 2024 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern India. Also read | NASA's Juno observes mineral salts, organic treasures on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede This collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO signifies a groundbreaking partnership aimed at advancing our understanding of Earth's changing landscapes and ecosystems. NISAR's observations will be instrumental in addressing critical environmental challenges and bolstering efforts to mitigate climate change's impact on our planet. (With inputs from agencies)

NISAR: In a first, NASA and ISRO to collaboratively launch earth-observing satellite in 2024

Venus, as we know it today, has little resemblance to Earth. But a recent study has revealed that in its youth, Venus&nbsp;likely had some of our planet's features.&nbsp;Currently, Venus' extreme temperatures and sulfuric acid-laden clouds make it a hostile environment.

However, the study published in the journal Nature Astronomy says that in its early days, Venus might have shared Earth-like characteristics that involved plate tectonics.&nbsp;

The research, led by Matthew B. Weller, a planetary scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, indicated that both Earth and Venus likely experienced plate tectonics during a similar time period.

Reports quoting the study said that the geological processes related to plate tectonics might have hidden away a substantial amount of the carbon dioxide responsible for the current scorching conditions on Venus.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-390-million-year-old-murder-mystery-finally-solved-and-the-culprit-still-exists-651774">A 390 million-year-old murder mystery finally solved and the culprit still exists</a>

<h2>Is Venus a potential haven for life?&nbsp;</h2>

According to Dr. Weller, this information opens up the possibility that billions of years ago, Venus might have been a place where life could have thrived.

The presence of plate tectonics implied that Venus would have been "cooler&nbsp;and then there would have been more liquid water,"&nbsp;Dr. Weller said.&nbsp;

Rather than identifying visible surface features like the San Andreas fault, the researchers focused on the composition of the atmosphere, specifically nitrogen.

When rocky planets such as Earth and Venus form, nitrogen gets trapped in minerals. However, during volcanic eruptions, these minerals melt, breaking chemical bonds and allowing nitrogen to escape into the atmosphere, where it remains.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/russia-to-put-first-segment-of-its-own-iss-in-orbit-by-2027-says-putin-651763">Russia to put first segment of its own ISS in orbit by 2027, says Putin</a>

Dr. Weller explained that nitrogen serves as a diagnostic tool for deciphering a planet's tectonic history.

To reach their conclusions, Dr. Weller and his colleagues from Brown University and Purdue University employed computer simulations to explore two tectonic models.

The first, known as the "stagnant lid," applies to worlds like Mars and the Earth's moon, where the outer crust forms a solid, immobile shell, trapping most gases beneath it.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/malaysia-warns-meta-tiktok-over-allegedly-restricting-content-supporting-palestinians-651793">Malaysia warns Meta, TikTok over allegedly restricting content supporting Palestinians</a>

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The second model was about plate tectonics. About 80 per cent of volcanic activity on Earth occurs along mid-oceanic ridges, where tectonic plates spread apart and magma rises.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Venus, as we know it today, has little resemblance to Earth. But a recent study has revealed that in its youth, Venus likely had some of our planet's features. Currently, Venus' extreme temperatures and sulfuric acid-laden clouds make it a hostile environment.

Venus, as we know it today, has little resemblance to Earth. But a recent study has revealed that in its youth, Venus likely had some of our planet's features. Currently, Venus' extreme temperatures and sulfuric acid-laden clouds make it a hostile environment. However, the study published in the journal Nature Astronomy says that in its early days, Venus might have shared Earth-like characteristics that involved plate tectonics. The research, led by Matthew B. Weller, a planetary scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, indicated that both Earth and Venus likely experienced plate tectonics during a similar time period. Reports quoting the study said that the geological processes related to plate tectonics might have hidden away a substantial amount of the carbon dioxide responsible for the current scorching conditions on Venus. Also Read | A 390 million-year-old murder mystery finally solved and the culprit still exists Is Venus a potential haven for life? According to Dr. Weller, this information opens up the possibility that billions of years ago, Venus might have been a place where life could have thrived. The presence of plate tectonics implied that Venus would have been "cooler and then there would have been more liquid water," Dr. Weller said. Rather than identifying visible surface features like the San Andreas fault, the researchers focused on the composition of the atmosphere, specifically nitrogen. When rocky planets such as Earth and Venus form, nitrogen gets trapped in minerals. However, during volcanic eruptions, these minerals melt, breaking chemical bonds and allowing nitrogen to escape into the atmosphere, where it remains. Also Read | Russia to put first segment of its own ISS in orbit by 2027, says Putin Dr. Weller explained that nitrogen serves as a diagnostic tool for deciphering a planet's tectonic history. To reach their conclusions, Dr. Weller and his colleagues from Brown University and Purdue University employed computer simulations to explore two tectonic models. The first, known as the "stagnant lid," applies to worlds like Mars and the Earth's moon, where the outer crust forms a solid, immobile shell, trapping most gases beneath it. Watch | Malaysia warns Meta, TikTok over allegedly restricting content supporting Palestinians × The second model was about plate tectonics. About 80 per cent of volcanic activity on Earth occurs along mid-oceanic ridges, where tectonic plates spread apart and magma rises. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Venus in its youth likely had Earth-like features and probably hosted life: Study

As per the latest study, if two decaying stars get involved in a rare cataclysmic collision in the Milky Way galaxy, it can rip off the protective ozone layer from Earth and lead to the mass extinction of all life forms on the planet. 
 
Till now, only some similar neutron star collision events, which are known as kilonovas, have been observed by astronomers. If such an explosion occurs in Earth's close proximity, it may turn dangerous for life on Earth, stated scientists, including those who worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States. 
 
The research, which is yet-to-be peer-reviewed, can help determine the possibility of life surviving on other worlds, which are close to these star collision events. 
 
The biggest threat to the planes from such a collision between stars is the burst of radiation from them, which includes an X-ray afterglow they produce and gamma rays, as per the scientists.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/halleys-comet-set-to-unleash-shooting-stars-for-the-first-time-in-37-years-heres-when-to-watch-648249">Orionid meteor shower is coming this weekend, courtesy Halley's Comet</a>

“Ionizing radiation from these sources can be dangerous for life on Earth-like planets when located too close,” stated researchers, in the study. The possibilities of these events and how they will affect Earth were studied by scientists on the basis of an analysis of what we know is the first-ever neutron star collision detected, a stellar event called GW170817. 
 
The researchers stated that any living thing which is present within the narrow range of around 297 light-years (97 parsecs) of such an explosion faces the possibility of getting burned by powerful gamma radiation.

<h2>Explosion can rip off Earth's&nbsp;stratospheric ozone</h2>

If the Earth was in such a zone, scientists stated that the stratospheric ozone may get stripped from the Earth due to the radiation, which may require some years to recover. 
 
The scientists said that the x-rays from the afterglow of the kilonova are likely to be more lethal as they are likely to last longer than the gamma-ray emissions, adding that the life-destroying effects will remain within about 16 light years.

WATCH |&nbsp;Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space

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“For baseline kilonova parameters, we find that the X-ray emission from the afterglow may be lethal out to ∼5 pc and the off-axis gamma-ray emission may threaten a range out to ∼4 pc,” noted scientists. 
 
“The greatest threat comes years after the explosion, from the cosmic rays accelerated by the kilonova blast, which can be lethal out to distances up to ∼ 11 pc,” they stated. 
 
The study, however, cautioned that the findings have “significant uncertainties” and they will depend on the “viewing angle, ejected mass, and explosion energy”. 
 
“The rarity of binary neutron star mergers combined with a small range of lethality means that they are probably not important threats to life on Earth. We find that the mean recurrence time of lethal mergers at the location of the Sun is much larger than the age of the Universe,” they stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As per the latest study, if two decaying stars get involved in a rare cataclysmic collision in the Milky Way galaxy, it can rip off the protective ozone layer from Earth and lead to the mass extinction of all life forms on the planet.

As per the latest study, if two decaying stars get involved in a rare cataclysmic collision in the Milky Way galaxy, it can rip off the protective ozone layer from Earth and lead to the mass extinction of all life forms on the planet. Till now, only some similar neutron star collision events, which are known as kilonovas, have been observed by astronomers. If such an explosion occurs in Earth's close proximity, it may turn dangerous for life on Earth, stated scientists, including those who worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States. The research, which is yet-to-be peer-reviewed, can help determine the possibility of life surviving on other worlds, which are close to these star collision events. The biggest threat to the planes from such a collision between stars is the burst of radiation from them, which includes an X-ray afterglow they produce and gamma rays, as per the scientists. ALSO READ | Orionid meteor shower is coming this weekend, courtesy Halley's Comet “Ionizing radiation from these sources can be dangerous for life on Earth-like planets when located too close,” stated researchers, in the study. The possibilities of these events and how they will affect Earth were studied by scientists on the basis of an analysis of what we know is the first-ever neutron star collision detected, a stellar event called GW170817. The researchers stated that any living thing which is present within the narrow range of around 297 light-years (97 parsecs) of such an explosion faces the possibility of getting burned by powerful gamma radiation. Explosion can rip off Earth's stratospheric ozone If the Earth was in such a zone, scientists stated that the stratospheric ozone may get stripped from the Earth due to the radiation, which may require some years to recover. The scientists said that the x-rays from the afterglow of the kilonova are likely to be more lethal as they are likely to last longer than the gamma-ray emissions, adding that the life-destroying effects will remain within about 16 light years. WATCH | Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space “For baseline kilonova parameters, we find that the X-ray emission from the afterglow may be lethal out to ∼5 pc and the off-axis gamma-ray emission may threaten a range out to ∼4 pc,” noted scientists. “The greatest threat comes years after the explosion, from the cosmic rays accelerated by the kilonova blast, which can be lethal out to distances up to ∼ 11 pc,” they stated. The study, however, cautioned that the findings have “significant uncertainties” and they will depend on the “viewing angle, ejected mass, and explosion energy”. “The rarity of binary neutron star mergers combined with a small range of lethality means that they are probably not important threats to life on Earth. We find that the mean recurrence time of lethal mergers at the location of the Sun is much larger than the age of the Universe,” they stated. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Collision between rare stars in Milky Way to end life on Earth, says study

Following the conclusion of an independent evaluation that the existing Mars Sample Return (MSR) design has a "unrealistic" budget and timeline, NASA has begun to modify its strategy to retrieving samples from Mars.

NASA Mars sample return mission | NASA to work with ESA for bringing Mars samples to Earth

The "Devil Comet" which is hurtling towards Earth and has exploded on its way from the sun has created a lot of buzz about being roughly twice the size of Mount Everest and having cloud horns, which make it appear menacing. 
 
However, researchers who have been studying such phenomenon, while speaking to Insider, said that although the comet is large and unusual, it does not mean that it poses any threat to planet Earth. 
 
The comet, which is called “12P/Pons-Brooks” by scientists made an appearance in the skies of the Earth last time more than 70 years ago. Judging by the comet's brightness, astronomers estimated that the comet's solid part or its nucleus is around 12.4 miles across, which is approximately double the size of Mount Everest.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/enormous-volcanic-comet-races-towards-earth-with-regrown-horns-647885">Giant cryovolcanic comet with 'horns' is racing towards Earth after exploding in space</a>

Generally, comets are between 0.6 and 1.8 miles wide, as per Teddy Kareta, who is a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. "We know it's big. We know it's an outlier. We know it's rare," Kareta said while speaking to Insider.

<h2>An extinction-level event threat?</h2>

He added that it is most likely to be visible to the naked eye next spring, however, it is not barrelling towards our planet with a scope of carrying out an extinction-level event. 
 
Kareta clarified that the comet will still remain around one-and-half astronomical units away from Earth. "It might be bright enough that you can see with your naked eye or with binoculars, but that's not because it's going to be super close. It's because it's just generally very bright,” said Kareta.

Watch |&nbsp;Cosmic journey: Space balloons &amp; space station visit part of the tour

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The “horns” of the comet have been formed by tails of gas and dust released in an odd series of explosive outbursts which scientists have still not been able to understand. Two such outbursts were seen this year – the first occurred in July and the other earlier this month. 
 
An "outburst" as per Kareta, is "where comets suddenly get much more active," throwing off tons of gas and dust in a short period of time. “When this happens the comet brightens really rapidly and then sort of fades back to the brightness it had before," he said. 
 
"And in Pons-Brooks, these are really, really bright — really, really large outbursts. And this is what makes this comet so interesting to scientists,” he added. 
 
The outbursts have been particularly interesting because of their frequency and where they took place. As per one theory, the comet contains forms of ice which after getting exposed to the sun's heat for the time leads to volatile explosions. 
 
However, those explosions have typically been seen closer to the sun and do not occur often. As per Kareta, "It might happen twice in five years."

(With inputs from agencies)

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The "Devil Comet" which is hurtling towards Earth and has exploded on its way from the sun has created a lot of buzz about being roughly twice the size of Mount Everest and having cloud horns, which make it appear menacing.

The "Devil Comet" which is hurtling towards Earth and has exploded on its way from the sun has created a lot of buzz about being roughly twice the size of Mount Everest and having cloud horns, which make it appear menacing. However, researchers who have been studying such phenomenon, while speaking to Insider, said that although the comet is large and unusual, it does not mean that it poses any threat to planet Earth. The comet, which is called “12P/Pons-Brooks” by scientists made an appearance in the skies of the Earth last time more than 70 years ago. Judging by the comet's brightness, astronomers estimated that the comet's solid part or its nucleus is around 12.4 miles across, which is approximately double the size of Mount Everest. ALSO READ | Giant cryovolcanic comet with 'horns' is racing towards Earth after exploding in space Generally, comets are between 0.6 and 1.8 miles wide, as per Teddy Kareta, who is a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. "We know it's big. We know it's an outlier. We know it's rare," Kareta said while speaking to Insider. An extinction-level event threat? He added that it is most likely to be visible to the naked eye next spring, however, it is not barrelling towards our planet with a scope of carrying out an extinction-level event. Kareta clarified that the comet will still remain around one-and-half astronomical units away from Earth. "It might be bright enough that you can see with your naked eye or with binoculars, but that's not because it's going to be super close. It's because it's just generally very bright,” said Kareta. Watch | Cosmic journey: Space balloons & space station visit part of the tour The “horns” of the comet have been formed by tails of gas and dust released in an odd series of explosive outbursts which scientists have still not been able to understand. Two such outbursts were seen this year – the first occurred in July and the other earlier this month. An "outburst" as per Kareta, is "where comets suddenly get much more active," throwing off tons of gas and dust in a short period of time. “When this happens the comet brightens really rapidly and then sort of fades back to the brightness it had before," he said. "And in Pons-Brooks, these are really, really bright — really, really large outbursts. And this is what makes this comet so interesting to scientists,” he added. The outbursts have been particularly interesting because of their frequency and where they took place. As per one theory, the comet contains forms of ice which after getting exposed to the sun's heat for the time leads to volatile explosions. However, those explosions have typically been seen closer to the sun and do not occur often. As per Kareta, "It might happen twice in five years." (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Will 'Devil Comet' hurtling towards Earth bring devastation? Here's what scientists suggest

Our planet consists of three main layers, the solid crust that we inhabit the mantle beneath that's filled with hot magma and concealed beneath miles of rock. Watch our report to know more.

Earth's core has been leaking for billions of years

Scientists have been baffled after discovering mysterious elements in ancient lava which led to the conclusion that the core of the Earth is leaking. A study was carried out on a 62-million-year-old lava which flows on Baffin Island in Canada's Arctic Archipelago. Watch this story to know how the discovery also holds clues for our planet's origin.

Troubling discovery baffles scientists

Millions of asteroids are floating in our solar system in the massive asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and some of them are so close to our planet, that they are deemed to be "near-Earth asteroids".

Millions of asteroids are floating in our solar system in the massive asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and some of them are so close to our planet, that they are deemed to be "near-Earth asteroids". The majority of these orbiting rocks don't attract any attention, but a handful of asteroids and their compositions have recently fascinated astrophysicists around the world. That includes scientists at NASA, who have lately been rushing to obtain asteroid samples. Also read: Scientists to delve deep into mysterious signals from 'hell-like' exoplanet using James Webb Telescope Now in the latest research, a team at the University of Arizona in Tucson while analysing an incredibly dense asteroid named 33 Polyhymnia has made a mystifying discovery. This asteroid is so dense that it may be made of naturally occurring "superheavy elements" beyond those listed in the periodic table, the research suggests. "If asteroids do indeed contain superheavy elements, it would open numerous questions surrounding how these elements were formed and why we have not discovered them outside of asteroids yet," study co-author Johann Rafelski, a physics professor at the University of Arizona, told Live Science. Also read: A radio signal took 8 billion years to reach Earth, but its source is a mystery In a study published in The European Physical Journal Plus in mid-September, researchers deduced that Polyhymnia has a measured density higher than all the elements that exist on Earth. The team identified Polyhymnia as a compact ultradense object (CUDO), indicating that it might contain superheavy components that were previously unknown to humans. In other words, it comprises elements that are not listed in the periodic table. These elements would be stable around an atomic number of 164, which is significantly more dense than osmium, the element with the most protons known to exist naturally. The team's discoveries come as NASA plans to launch unmanned spacecraft to study and potentially return samples from far-off asteroids. The space agency and the University of Arizona, with the help of Queen guitarist Brian May, recently recovered its first-ever asteroid sample that was successfully transported to Earth late last month. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

This near-Earth asteroid possibly contains elements not found in the periodic table

Scientists have claimed that the upper part of the Earth’s atmosphere—the stratosphere— has become polluted due to constant rocket and satellite launches.

A team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have found a significant amount of space debris littered in the second layer of the atmosphere.

They found traces of aluminum, lithium, copper, and lead embedded in about 10 per cent of the particles that make up the majority of the stratosphere.

<h2>Rockets and satellites polluting atmosphere</h2>

The team said that they came from rockets and satellites re-entering Earth's atmosphere.

This happens when the debris of rockets and satellites, upon re-entering the planet’s atmosphere, burn up and as a consequence, leave traces of metal vapour.

They warn that the rate of metal vapour is expected to rise in the years to come as countries race to dominate the space exploration market.

"There are so many rockets&nbsp;going up and coming back&nbsp;and so many satellites&nbsp;falling back through the atmosphere&nbsp;that it's starting to show up in the stratosphere as these aerosol particles," Dan Cziczo, one of the scientists behind a new study detailing the team's findings, said in a&nbsp;statement from Purdue University.

<h2>Effect on stratosphere unknown&nbsp;</h2>

The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth’s atmosphere. It contains the ozone layer which protects the planet from the harmful ultraviolet rays emitted from the Sun.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-dwarf-planet-near-mars-that-might-be-hosting-alien-life-648822">Scientists find dwarf planet near Mars that might be hosting alien life</a>

Scientists believe that the presence of metal aerosols is changing the stratosphere's chemistry. But they are unable to determine how is it changing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-finally-know-what-really-caused-the-massive-marsquake-of-2022-648265">Mars shook for over 6 hours in 2022 and its source is quite shocking</a>

"What this research shows us is that the impact of human occupation and human spaceflight on the planet may be significant — perhaps more significant than we have yet imagined," Cziczo said in the statement.

The research was published on Monday in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ journal.

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Scientists have claimed that the upper part of the Earth’s atmosphere—the stratosphere— has become polluted due to constant rocket and satellite launches. A team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have found a significant amount of space debris littered in the second layer of the atmosphere.

Scientists have claimed that the upper part of the Earth’s atmosphere—the stratosphere— has become polluted due to constant rocket and satellite launches. A team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have found a significant amount of space debris littered in the second layer of the atmosphere. They found traces of aluminum, lithium, copper, and lead embedded in about 10 per cent of the particles that make up the majority of the stratosphere. Rockets and satellites polluting atmosphere The team said that they came from rockets and satellites re-entering Earth's atmosphere. This happens when the debris of rockets and satellites, upon re-entering the planet’s atmosphere, burn up and as a consequence, leave traces of metal vapour. They warn that the rate of metal vapour is expected to rise in the years to come as countries race to dominate the space exploration market. "There are so many rockets going up and coming back and so many satellites falling back through the atmosphere that it's starting to show up in the stratosphere as these aerosol particles," Dan Cziczo, one of the scientists behind a new study detailing the team's findings, said in a statement from Purdue University. Effect on stratosphere unknown The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth’s atmosphere. It contains the ozone layer which protects the planet from the harmful ultraviolet rays emitted from the Sun. Also read | Scientists find dwarf planet near Mars that might be hosting alien life Scientists believe that the presence of metal aerosols is changing the stratosphere's chemistry. But they are unable to determine how is it changing. Also read | Mars shook for over 6 hours in 2022 and its source is quite shocking "What this research shows us is that the impact of human occupation and human spaceflight on the planet may be significant — perhaps more significant than we have yet imagined," Cziczo said in the statement. The research was published on Monday in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ journal. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Space junk galore stratosphere: Scientists find metal aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere

A huge volcanic comet, which is as big as a city, has exploded violently for the second time in four months while it hurtled towards the sun. Similar to the previous eruption, it emitted a cloud of gas and ice which appeared like a gigantic pair of horns.&nbsp;

The comet, which is called 12P/Pons-Brooks, is a cryovolcanic or cold volcano comet. The comet has a solid nucleus which has an estimated diameter of 18.6 miles (30 kilometers), and contains a mix of dust, gas and ice known as cryomagma.&nbsp;

The nucleus has been surrounded by a fuzzy cloud of gas known as a coma, which leaks out of the interior of the comet. When the insides of the comet are heated by solar radiation, the pressure increases and the comet explodes violently, releasing its frosty guts through the cracks of the shell of the nucleus into space.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nearly-13000-years-ago-a-comet-impact-may-have-sparked-major-change-in-climate-644678">Nearly 13,000 years ago a comet impact may have sparked major change in climate</a>

On October 5, a large outburst from 12P was detected by astronomers after the comet turned a dozen times brighter because of extra light reflecting from its expanded coma, as per the British Astronomical Association (BAA), which has been observing the comet closely. &nbsp;

In the next few days, the coma of the comet further expanded and grew its "peculiar horns," reported Spaceweather.com. Few of the experts said that the coma's irregular shape makes it look like a science fiction spaceship, such as the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars.

<h2>Comet may return to Earth in 2095</h2>

The unusual shape of the coma was most probably because of an irregularity in the shape of 12P's nucleus, said BAA astronomer Richard Miles, while speaking to Live Science after the previous eruption of the comet. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Most likely, the outflowing gas is being obstructed partially by a notch sticking out on the nucleus, said Miles. He added that as the gas has been expanding away from the comet, the irregularity in the shape of the coma becomes more noticeable and defined.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Indian space agency ISRO fights over 100 cyber attacks every day

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Currently, 12P has been hurtling towards the inner side of the solar system where it will slingshot on the highly elliptical 71-year orbit of the sun, &nbsp;similar to how a near-identical manoeuvre was pulled off by green comet Nishimura on September 17.&nbsp;

On April 21, 2024, 12P will be coming closest to Earth and it is likely to become visible to the naked eye before getting catapulted back towards the outer solar system. The comet is not likely to return till 2095.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A huge volcanic comet, which is as big as a city, has exploded violently for the second time in four months while it hurtled towards the sun. Similar to the previous eruption, it emitted a cloud of gas and ice which appeared like a gigantic pair of horns.

A huge volcanic comet, which is as big as a city, has exploded violently for the second time in four months while it hurtled towards the sun. Similar to the previous eruption, it emitted a cloud of gas and ice which appeared like a gigantic pair of horns. The comet, which is called 12P/Pons-Brooks, is a cryovolcanic or cold volcano comet. The comet has a solid nucleus which has an estimated diameter of 18.6 miles (30 kilometers), and contains a mix of dust, gas and ice known as cryomagma. The nucleus has been surrounded by a fuzzy cloud of gas known as a coma, which leaks out of the interior of the comet. When the insides of the comet are heated by solar radiation, the pressure increases and the comet explodes violently, releasing its frosty guts through the cracks of the shell of the nucleus into space. ALSO READ | Nearly 13,000 years ago a comet impact may have sparked major change in climate On October 5, a large outburst from 12P was detected by astronomers after the comet turned a dozen times brighter because of extra light reflecting from its expanded coma, as per the British Astronomical Association (BAA), which has been observing the comet closely. In the next few days, the coma of the comet further expanded and grew its "peculiar horns," reported Spaceweather.com. Few of the experts said that the coma's irregular shape makes it look like a science fiction spaceship, such as the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars. Comet may return to Earth in 2095 The unusual shape of the coma was most probably because of an irregularity in the shape of 12P's nucleus, said BAA astronomer Richard Miles, while speaking to Live Science after the previous eruption of the comet. Most likely, the outflowing gas is being obstructed partially by a notch sticking out on the nucleus, said Miles. He added that as the gas has been expanding away from the comet, the irregularity in the shape of the coma becomes more noticeable and defined. WATCH | Indian space agency ISRO fights over 100 cyber attacks every day Currently, 12P has been hurtling towards the inner side of the solar system where it will slingshot on the highly elliptical 71-year orbit of the sun, similar to how a near-identical manoeuvre was pulled off by green comet Nishimura on September 17. On April 21, 2024, 12P will be coming closest to Earth and it is likely to become visible to the naked eye before getting catapulted back towards the outer solar system. The comet is not likely to return till 2095. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Giant cryovolcanic comet with 'horns' is racing towards Earth after exploding in space

Space scientists are working day and night to expand the human presence in the solar system, especially on the Moon. But what if there's a way to bring part of the Moon here on Earth? Sounds interesting, and it may happen.&nbsp;

In Germany's proof-of-concept study, the researchers have said that it was found that solar energy could be harnessed to turn lunar dust to pave for landing pads and roads.&nbsp;

As quoted by media reports, Prof Jens Günster, who is from the Federal Institute of Materials Research and Testing in Berlin, said: "You might think: 'Streets on the moon, who needs that?'"&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/glass-shards-from-ancient-new-zealand-volcanic-eruption-found-3000-miles-away-645692">Glass shards from ancient New Zealand volcanic eruption found 3,000 miles away</a>&nbsp;

Günster, who is the co-author of a report, said: "But in fact, it's a kind of depressing demand [even] early on. It's very loose material, there's no atmosphere, gravity is weak, so the dust gets everywhere."&nbsp;

"It contaminates not only your equipment but other nations'. No one would be happy to be covered in dust from another rocket," Günster added.&nbsp;

The study said that to increase the sustainability of future lunar missions, in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) techniques must be developed.&nbsp;

The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports on Thursday (Oct 12), investigates the use of concentrated light for paving on the Moon by melting the lunar regolith.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-telescope-clicks-a-beautiful-star-forming-region-645456">James Webb telescope clicks a beautiful star-forming region</a>&nbsp;

The study used&nbsp;a high-power CO2 laser as a substitute for the concentrated sunlight in the experiments. A maximum laser spot diameter of 100mm can be achieved with this setup. It translated into high thicknesses of the consolidated layers.&nbsp;

"At the end of the study, large samples (approximately 250 × 250 mm) with interlocking capabilities were fabricated by melting the lunar simulant with the laser directly on the powder bed," the study said.&nbsp;

Researchers say that large areas of lunar soil can be covered with these samples and serve as roads and landing pads, decreasing the propagation of lunar dust. These manufactured samples were analysed regarding their mineralogical composition, internal structure and mechanical properties.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Space scientists are working day and night to expand the human presence in the solar system, especially on the Moon. But what if there's a way to bring part of the Moon here on Earth?

Space scientists are working day and night to expand the human presence in the solar system, especially on the Moon. But what if there's a way to bring part of the Moon here on Earth? Sounds interesting, and it may happen. In Germany's proof-of-concept study, the researchers have said that it was found that solar energy could be harnessed to turn lunar dust to pave for landing pads and roads. As quoted by media reports, Prof Jens Günster, who is from the Federal Institute of Materials Research and Testing in Berlin, said: "You might think: 'Streets on the moon, who needs that?'" Also read: Glass shards from ancient New Zealand volcanic eruption found 3,000 miles away Günster, who is the co-author of a report, said: "But in fact, it's a kind of depressing demand [even] early on. It's very loose material, there's no atmosphere, gravity is weak, so the dust gets everywhere." "It contaminates not only your equipment but other nations'. No one would be happy to be covered in dust from another rocket," Günster added. The study said that to increase the sustainability of future lunar missions, in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) techniques must be developed. The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports on Thursday (Oct 12), investigates the use of concentrated light for paving on the Moon by melting the lunar regolith. Also read: James Webb telescope clicks a beautiful star-forming region The study used a high-power CO2 laser as a substitute for the concentrated sunlight in the experiments. A maximum laser spot diameter of 100mm can be achieved with this setup. It translated into high thicknesses of the consolidated layers. "At the end of the study, large samples (approximately 250 × 250 mm) with interlocking capabilities were fabricated by melting the lunar simulant with the laser directly on the powder bed," the study said. Researchers say that large areas of lunar soil can be covered with these samples and serve as roads and landing pads, decreasing the propagation of lunar dust. These manufactured samples were analysed regarding their mineralogical composition, internal structure and mechanical properties. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Walk on the Moon to become reality? Roads on Earth could be made from lunar dust

Life on Earth depends on freshwater a resource that's under pressure companies around the world have been trying for several years to develop the technology that turns seawater into clean drinkable water. Watch this report for more.

Tech that turns seawater into fresh water in eco-friendly way

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently unveiled how it is planning to retire International Space Station (ISS), which is a unique space station currently in lower Earth orbit. The space station facilitates collaborative projects involving five participating space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA and CSA.&nbsp;

The ISS is often visible to the naked eye from Earth's surface as it is the largest artificial object in space and the largest satellite in low Earth orbit.&nbsp;

NASA disclosed the $1 billion plan to carry out the re-entry of ISS back to Earth as it said that it aims to develop a new orbital vehicle that will be vital in the process.&nbsp;

On September 20, NASA released an industry solicitation for a platform the agency is calling the US Deorbit Vehicle (USDV), which will be a catalyst in the safe return of the ISS.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/massive-earthquake-rocked-seattle-area-1100-years-ago-it-may-again-again-640621">Massive earthquake rocked Seattle area 1,100 years ago, it may happen again</a>&nbsp;

Calling it a 'space tug', NASA has invited companies to develop a specialised vehicle which would manoeuvre ISS from its position 175 miles above Earth to approximately 75 miles. This would start the process.&nbsp;

"The primary objective of this contract is to procure a safe, reliable and cost-effective de-orbit vehicle to meet NASA’s ISS end-of-life de-orbit mission requirements,"&nbsp;NASA said as quoted by Flight Global.&nbsp;

As quoted by Earth.com, Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Harvard University, said: "This has been done before, notably with the Mir space station. Many tons of material will hit the ocean relatively intact, and there will definitely be a warning to clear the airspace (we get about one of these a month for disposal of much smaller spacecraft like ISS cargo ships)."&nbsp;

"Here's what's tricky. You can fly the ISS safely down to an altitude of about 250 km. After that, you need this special USDV ship to take over the steering – it's like driving down a motorway with a lot of wind gusts – you need a lot of muscle power to stay on the road. If you ever lose control and the ISS starts tumbling, you're in trouble because then you can't reliably point the rocket engines in a particular direction," McDowell added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/einstein-is-right-again-scientists-observe-falling-antimatter-640529">Einstein proven right again, scientists find antimatter ‘falling’, not defying gravity</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Einstein proven right again! Humans are one step closer to understanding antimatter&nbsp;

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The ISS emerged as an extraordinary platform for space scientists to analyse and understand the gazillion aspects of the universe. It is an orbital microgravity research platform for research and development.&nbsp;

Scientists and researchers have used the ISS for more than 20 years to research biological, physical, biomedicine, materials and Earth and space science on the 444,615kg gigantic structure.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The crew at the space station is an integral part of the experiment and has been a critical part. They volunteer as test subjects for research into human adaptation to living and working in microgravity.&nbsp;

During their long stays, they perform various experiments besides doing their own work like cooking, cleaning, etc. &nbsp;Without these long-duration experiments, human exploration of the solar system will not be possible.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently unveiled how it is planning to retire International Space Station (ISS), which is a unique space station currently in lower Earth orbit.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently unveiled how it is planning to retire International Space Station (ISS), which is a unique space station currently in lower Earth orbit. The space station facilitates collaborative projects involving five participating space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA and CSA. The ISS is often visible to the naked eye from Earth's surface as it is the largest artificial object in space and the largest satellite in low Earth orbit. NASA disclosed the $1 billion plan to carry out the re-entry of ISS back to Earth as it said that it aims to develop a new orbital vehicle that will be vital in the process. On September 20, NASA released an industry solicitation for a platform the agency is calling the US Deorbit Vehicle (USDV), which will be a catalyst in the safe return of the ISS. Also read: Massive earthquake rocked Seattle area 1,100 years ago, it may happen again Calling it a 'space tug', NASA has invited companies to develop a specialised vehicle which would manoeuvre ISS from its position 175 miles above Earth to approximately 75 miles. This would start the process. "The primary objective of this contract is to procure a safe, reliable and cost-effective de-orbit vehicle to meet NASA’s ISS end-of-life de-orbit mission requirements," NASA said as quoted by Flight Global. As quoted by Earth.com, Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Harvard University, said: "This has been done before, notably with the Mir space station. Many tons of material will hit the ocean relatively intact, and there will definitely be a warning to clear the airspace (we get about one of these a month for disposal of much smaller spacecraft like ISS cargo ships)." "Here's what's tricky. You can fly the ISS safely down to an altitude of about 250 km. After that, you need this special USDV ship to take over the steering – it's like driving down a motorway with a lot of wind gusts – you need a lot of muscle power to stay on the road. If you ever lose control and the ISS starts tumbling, you're in trouble because then you can't reliably point the rocket engines in a particular direction," McDowell added. Also read: Einstein proven right again, scientists find antimatter ‘falling’, not defying gravity Watch: Einstein proven right again! Humans are one step closer to understanding antimatter × The ISS emerged as an extraordinary platform for space scientists to analyse and understand the gazillion aspects of the universe. It is an orbital microgravity research platform for research and development. Scientists and researchers have used the ISS for more than 20 years to research biological, physical, biomedicine, materials and Earth and space science on the 444,615kg gigantic structure. The crew at the space station is an integral part of the experiment and has been a critical part. They volunteer as test subjects for research into human adaptation to living and working in microgravity. During their long stays, they perform various experiments besides doing their own work like cooking, cleaning, etc. Without these long-duration experiments, human exploration of the solar system will not be possible. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

International Space Station will retire and return to Earth in 2031

As we continue to witness record-breaking heatwaves and other extreme weather events which researchers previously said have been exacerbated by human-induced climate change, several ideas have been pitched to mitigate the dire challenge but this one is out of the world (literally).&nbsp;

<h2>About a giant ‘sun umbrella’</h2>

Astronomer István Szapudi of the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy believes that a solar shield to reduce the amount of sunlight hitting Earth could help mitigate the problem. However, this is not the first time that the idea of a space-based solar radiation management (SRM) shield or shade has been proposed.&nbsp;

What makes this one different is the plan to tie the giant shield to a captured asteroid as a counterweight. The potential solution was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.&nbsp;

So far, the idea of a solar shield, in theory, can cool down the Earth by shading it from some of the sun’s rays but the issue was the large amount of weight needed to make a shield massive enough to balance gravitational forces and prevent solar radiation pressure from blowing it away.&nbsp;

Therefore, the US-based astronomer’s idea involves a tethered counterweight instead of just a massive shield and the use of a captured asteroid to counter said weight to avoid launching such a big mass from Earth to hold the “sun umbrella”.&nbsp;

<h2>What makes this idea almost achievable?</h2>

Szapudi’s approach brings the idea into the realm of possibility with greatly reduced cost as well as lowering the difficulty of implementation. “In Hawaiʻi, many use an umbrella to block the sunlight as they walk about during the day,” the astronomer explained in a statement.&nbsp;

He added, “I was thinking, could we do the same for Earth and thereby mitigate the impending catastrophe of climate change?”&nbsp;

Previous research has suggested that even if we managed to lower solar radiation by 1.7 per cent it could prevent a catastrophic rise in global temperatures. &nbsp;

In line with this, Szapudi proposed two ideas – the first one would involve placing a tethered counterbalance toward the Sun could reduce the weight of the shield. The second is a counterweight of approximately 3.5 million tonnes, which would be over 100 times lighter than previous estimates for an untethered shield.

While the 3.5 million tonnes might sound like a lot of mass, only one per cent of it would account for the actual shield, around 35,000 metric tonnes and the remaining would be the asteroid.

The plan is to launch the counterweight, which will be attached to the solar shield by a strong graphene tether, and then slowly open once in space, allowing it to gradually fill with lunar dust or asteroid material.&nbsp;

Since the asteroid material that would act as ballast would already be in space it would not need to be launched from Earth. However, some of the largest rockets can carry about 50 tons to low Earth orbit, which poses a big challenge to this particular SRM plan.&nbsp; 
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As we continue to witness record-breaking heatwaves and other extreme weather events which researchers previously said have been exacerbated by human-induced climate change, several ideas have been pitched to mitigate the dire challenge but this one is out of the world (literally).

As we continue to witness record-breaking heatwaves and other extreme weather events which researchers previously said have been exacerbated by human-induced climate change, several ideas have been pitched to mitigate the dire challenge but this one is out of the world (literally). About a giant ‘sun umbrella’ Astronomer István Szapudi of the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy believes that a solar shield to reduce the amount of sunlight hitting Earth could help mitigate the problem. However, this is not the first time that the idea of a space-based solar radiation management (SRM) shield or shade has been proposed. What makes this one different is the plan to tie the giant shield to a captured asteroid as a counterweight. The potential solution was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal. So far, the idea of a solar shield, in theory, can cool down the Earth by shading it from some of the sun’s rays but the issue was the large amount of weight needed to make a shield massive enough to balance gravitational forces and prevent solar radiation pressure from blowing it away. Therefore, the US-based astronomer’s idea involves a tethered counterweight instead of just a massive shield and the use of a captured asteroid to counter said weight to avoid launching such a big mass from Earth to hold the “sun umbrella”. What makes this idea almost achievable? Szapudi’s approach brings the idea into the realm of possibility with greatly reduced cost as well as lowering the difficulty of implementation. “In Hawaiʻi, many use an umbrella to block the sunlight as they walk about during the day,” the astronomer explained in a statement. He added, “I was thinking, could we do the same for Earth and thereby mitigate the impending catastrophe of climate change?” Previous research has suggested that even if we managed to lower solar radiation by 1.7 per cent it could prevent a catastrophic rise in global temperatures. In line with this, Szapudi proposed two ideas – the first one would involve placing a tethered counterbalance toward the Sun could reduce the weight of the shield. The second is a counterweight of approximately 3.5 million tonnes, which would be over 100 times lighter than previous estimates for an untethered shield. While the 3.5 million tonnes might sound like a lot of mass, only one per cent of it would account for the actual shield, around 35,000 metric tonnes and the remaining would be the asteroid. The plan is to launch the counterweight, which will be attached to the solar shield by a strong graphene tether, and then slowly open once in space, allowing it to gradually fill with lunar dust or asteroid material. Since the asteroid material that would act as ballast would already be in space it would not need to be launched from Earth. However, some of the largest rockets can carry about 50 tons to low Earth orbit, which poses a big challenge to this particular SRM plan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Giant ‘sun umbrella’ tethered to asteroid may help fight climate change: Study

Ever wondered what planet Earth would look like in the future? A new study has predicted the formation of a supercontinent called the Pangea Ultima. The supercontinent would be largely uninhabitable and it could wipe away all life forms.

Gravitas: A new continent taking shape: Will there be a mass extinction?

ISRO is setting the bar high. Chandrayaan-3's success has brought a ray of hope. ISRO is developing expertise in missions that would be capable of returning samples to Earth.

Chandrayaan-3: What are ISRO's plans to bring Moon samples to Earth?

The formation of the next “supercontinent” on Earth could wipe out most mammals, including <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/humans-are-driving-loss-of-entire-branches-of-tree-of-life-warn-scientists-study-637690">humans</a> and cause our planet, as we know it, to become uninhabitable. But there are still around 250 million years left for this to possibly happen, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience on Monday (September 25).&nbsp;

<h2>First-ever supercomputer climate model</h2>

A study led by researchers from the University of Bristol, in England, suggests that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/surprised-and-concerned-scientists-find-groundwater-extracted-by-humans-has-shifted-earths-tilt-606665">shifting of continents</a> may spell doom for mammals that have lived on Earth for more than 330 million years and are often known for being the world’s great evolutionary success story since the death of dinosaurs.&nbsp;

The research also was the first-ever attempt to model how extreme the climate might become during the formation of the next supercontinent – Pangea Ultima, which is expected to form when all the current continents merge together in the distant future.&nbsp;

It is believed that mass extinction would be caused primarily due to heat stress, and while mammals have had the ability to adapt to it in the past, we might be too slow this time around.&nbsp;

The recent model predicts that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/six-out-of-9-planetary-boundaries-breached-earth-increasingly-becoming-inhabitable-for-humans-scientists-635963">Earth’s greenhouse gas effect</a> could reach a tipping point during the formation of the Pangea Ultima which is supposed to happen in the next 250 million years or so, rendering most of the planet “uninhabitable to mammalian life”.

The heat stress would also be marked by greater volcanic activity which would pump twice as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and as the sun gets older it would emit more radiation.&nbsp;

“The formation and decay of Pangea Ultima will limit and…ultimately end terrestrial mammalian habitability on Earth by exceeding their warm thermal tolerances, billions of years earlier than previously hypothesized,” said the researchers.&nbsp;

<h2>What would happen?</h2>

There is very little known about what happens to Earth’s climate when its continents get smooshed together to form one big landmass which our planet has experienced on more than a few occasions.&nbsp;

The last one, Pangea, which happened around 310 million years ago and researchers know most about, served as a case study for this paper.&nbsp;

During the so-called Pangea Ultima era, the temperature is expected to be as high as 15 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and up to 30 degrees Celsius on land.&nbsp;

The Sun would emit around 2.5 per cent more radiation while the supercontinent would drastically alter the global climate system and possibly dry out large swathes of land which, in turn, would trap more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The study also predicts the worst-case scenario where Pangea Ultima could result in a warm month mean temperature of 46.5 degrees Celsius. This period, marked by high temperatures, would also lead to severe food supply problems due to the collapse of vegetation.&nbsp;

The paper also notes that most plants become stressed at temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius and break down completely if exposed to 60 degrees Celsius for prolonged periods.

“The Earth has a very changeable environment. Humans are very lucky with what we have now and we should not be pushing our own climate beyond the cooler climate that we evolved through,” said the paper’s lead author, Alexander Farnsworth, from the University of Bristol, as quoted by the Guardian.&nbsp;

He added, “We are the dominant species but Earth and its climate decide how long that lasts.” 
 
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The formation of the next “supercontinent” on Earth could wipe out most mammals, including humans and cause our planet, as we know it, to become uninhabitable. But there are still around 250 million years left for this to possibly happen, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience on Monday (September 25).

The formation of the next “supercontinent” on Earth could wipe out most mammals, including humans and cause our planet, as we know it, to become uninhabitable. But there are still around 250 million years left for this to possibly happen, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience on Monday (September 25). First-ever supercomputer climate model A study led by researchers from the University of Bristol, in England, suggests that the shifting of continents may spell doom for mammals that have lived on Earth for more than 330 million years and are often known for being the world’s great evolutionary success story since the death of dinosaurs. The research also was the first-ever attempt to model how extreme the climate might become during the formation of the next supercontinent – Pangea Ultima, which is expected to form when all the current continents merge together in the distant future. It is believed that mass extinction would be caused primarily due to heat stress, and while mammals have had the ability to adapt to it in the past, we might be too slow this time around. The recent model predicts that Earth’s greenhouse gas effect could reach a tipping point during the formation of the Pangea Ultima which is supposed to happen in the next 250 million years or so, rendering most of the planet “uninhabitable to mammalian life”. The heat stress would also be marked by greater volcanic activity which would pump twice as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and as the sun gets older it would emit more radiation. “The formation and decay of Pangea Ultima will limit and…ultimately end terrestrial mammalian habitability on Earth by exceeding their warm thermal tolerances, billions of years earlier than previously hypothesized,” said the researchers. What would happen? There is very little known about what happens to Earth’s climate when its continents get smooshed together to form one big landmass which our planet has experienced on more than a few occasions. The last one, Pangea, which happened around 310 million years ago and researchers know most about, served as a case study for this paper. During the so-called Pangea Ultima era, the temperature is expected to be as high as 15 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and up to 30 degrees Celsius on land. The Sun would emit around 2.5 per cent more radiation while the supercontinent would drastically alter the global climate system and possibly dry out large swathes of land which, in turn, would trap more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The study also predicts the worst-case scenario where Pangea Ultima could result in a warm month mean temperature of 46.5 degrees Celsius. This period, marked by high temperatures, would also lead to severe food supply problems due to the collapse of vegetation. The paper also notes that most plants become stressed at temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius and break down completely if exposed to 60 degrees Celsius for prolonged periods. “The Earth has a very changeable environment. Humans are very lucky with what we have now and we should not be pushing our own climate beyond the cooler climate that we evolved through,” said the paper’s lead author, Alexander Farnsworth, from the University of Bristol, as quoted by the Guardian. He added, “We are the dominant species but Earth and its climate decide how long that lasts.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Next ‘supercontinent’ formation could wipe out humans: Study

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