There are about 2000 active satellites orbiting the Earth and around 3000 dead satellites are littering the space. WION's Molly Gambhir tells you why is space junk a problem and who is going to fix it.

WION Fineprint: Why is space junk a problem?

It is well known that Earth takes approximately 24 hours to rotate on its axis. But this established fact is seeing some major seismic changes. According to scientists, on July 29, Earth completed a full spin in about 1.59 milliseconds shorter than its standard timeframe ( 23 hours and 56 minutes). Notably, this is not the first time that the blue planet has spun faster. Atomic clocks have, however, recently revealed that the Earth's rotation is rapidly accelerating.

In 2020, Earth recorded its shortest month and July 19 was recorded to be the shortest day of that year. It was 1.47 milliseconds under 24 hours.

The following year, Earth continued to rotate at a generally increased pace, but it did not break any records.

On June 29, 2022, Earth made its fastest-ever rotation, and on July 26, 2022, there was a day that lasted 1.50 milliseconds less.

There are reports that the planet may continue to witness such shorter days in the upcoming years. According to Interesting Engineering (IE) news outlet, a 50-year phase of shorter days may be starting right now for Earth.

Why is Earth rotating fast?

There are no conclusive proofs at the moment to decipher why Earth has been spinning fast. But there are some leading theories that are doing the rounds.

<ul>
	<li>Some claim that poles’ weight has seen a drop due to the melting of glaciers</li>
	<li>Others note that the molten core of our&nbsp;planet's interior is moving over time.</li>
	<li>While some believe that seismic activity could be the reason</li>
	<li>Others believe it is because of "Chandler wobble”, which is a small deviation in the Earth's geographic poles across its surface</li>
</ul>

What are the consequences?

According to reports, Earth’s fastening rotation could have major consequences on atomic clocks, which are used in GPS satellites. It won’t take into account the Earth’s changing rotation.

This means that GPS satellites—which already have to be corrected for the effect of Einstein's Theory of Relativity&nbsp;— will quickly become useless.

Apart from that, smartphones, computers, and other communications systems will render useless as they are&nbsp;synchronised with Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers.

Since the clock progresses from 23:59:59 to 23:59:60 before resetting to 00:00:00, a time jump like this can crash programmes and corrupt data.

(With inputs from agencies)

It is well known that Earth takes approximately 24 hours to rotate on its axis. But this established fact is seeing some major seismic changes. According to scientists, on July 29, Earth completed a full spin in about 1.

It is well known that Earth takes approximately 24 hours to rotate on its axis. But this established fact is seeing some major seismic changes. According to scientists, on July 29, Earth completed a full spin in about 1.59 milliseconds shorter than its standard timeframe ( 23 hours and 56 minutes). Notably, this is not the first time that the blue planet has spun faster. Atomic clocks have, however, recently revealed that the Earth's rotation is rapidly accelerating. In 2020, Earth recorded its shortest month and July 19 was recorded to be the shortest day of that year. It was 1.47 milliseconds under 24 hours. The following year, Earth continued to rotate at a generally increased pace, but it did not break any records. On June 29, 2022, Earth made its fastest-ever rotation, and on July 26, 2022, there was a day that lasted 1.50 milliseconds less. There are reports that the planet may continue to witness such shorter days in the upcoming years. According to Interesting Engineering (IE) news outlet, a 50-year phase of shorter days may be starting right now for Earth. Why is Earth rotating fast? There are no conclusive proofs at the moment to decipher why Earth has been spinning fast. But there are some leading theories that are doing the rounds. Some claim that poles’ weight has seen a drop due to the melting of glaciers Others note that the molten core of our planet's interior is moving over time. While some believe that seismic activity could be the reason Others believe it is because of "Chandler wobble”, which is a small deviation in the Earth's geographic poles across its surface What are the consequences? According to reports, Earth’s fastening rotation could have major consequences on atomic clocks, which are used in GPS satellites. It won’t take into account the Earth’s changing rotation. This means that GPS satellites—which already have to be corrected for the effect of Einstein's Theory of Relativity — will quickly become useless. Apart from that, smartphones, computers, and other communications systems will render useless as they are synchronised with Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers. Since the clock progresses from 23:59:59 to 23:59:60 before resetting to 00:00:00, a time jump like this can crash programmes and corrupt data. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth is suddenly spinning faster than usual, and it can spell doom for us

Our Earth has begun spinning faster. On July 29, it completed a full spin in less than 24 hours. What does this mean? Should you be worried? Palki Sharma brings you report.

Gravitas: Earth just completed a rotation in less than 24 hours!

A new study, published in Nature Communications, states that life on earth was only possible due to the “rejuvenation” of the planet’s core. The study also says that around 565 million years ago, the magnetic field of earth was down to almost ten percent of its strength right now and the planet was on its way to have the same fate as Mars where life has not been found till now. The magnetic field was bolstered by the phenomenon known as the Cambrian explosion or the “biological big bang”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/can-chinese-ship-snoop-on-india-from-sri-lanka-port-india-raises-concerns-502609">Can Chinese ship snoop on India from Sri Lanka port? India raises concerns</a>

“The inner core is tremendously important. Right before the inner core started to grow, the magnetic field was at the point of collapse, but as soon as the inner core started to grow, the field was regenerated,” John Tarduno, corresponding author of the paper, said in a press statement.

The study takes into account rocks near the centre of the earth which were experimented on with the help of carbon dioxide laser and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The goal was to find out the changes in the earth’s core over time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-woman-forced-to-carry-her-own-foul-discharge-to-hospital-just-so-she-can-be-granted-an-abortion-502531" hreflang="en">Texas woman forced to carry her foul discharge to hospital just so she can be 'granted' an abortion</a>

According to the study, the rocks on the outer core of the earth’s surface showed that electric currents generated by the magma present result in the magnetic field gaining strength.

“Because we constrained the inner core’s age more accurately, we could explore the fact that the present-day inner core is actually composed of two parts. Plate tectonic movements on Earth’s surface indirectly affected the inner core, and the history of these movements is imprinted deep within Earth in the inner core’s structure,” added Tarduno, in the press statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new study, published in Nature Communications, states that life on earth was only possible due to the “rejuvenation” of the planet’s core. The study also says that around 565 million years ago, the magnetic field of earth was down to almost ten percent of its strength right now and the planet was on its way to have the same fate as Mars where life has not been found till now.

A new study, published in Nature Communications, states that life on earth was only possible due to the “rejuvenation” of the planet’s core. The study also says that around 565 million years ago, the magnetic field of earth was down to almost ten percent of its strength right now and the planet was on its way to have the same fate as Mars where life has not been found till now. The magnetic field was bolstered by the phenomenon known as the Cambrian explosion or the “biological big bang”. Also read | Can Chinese ship snoop on India from Sri Lanka port? India raises concerns “The inner core is tremendously important. Right before the inner core started to grow, the magnetic field was at the point of collapse, but as soon as the inner core started to grow, the field was regenerated,” John Tarduno, corresponding author of the paper, said in a press statement. The study takes into account rocks near the centre of the earth which were experimented on with the help of carbon dioxide laser and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The goal was to find out the changes in the earth’s core over time. Also read | Texas woman forced to carry her foul discharge to hospital just so she can be 'granted' an abortion According to the study, the rocks on the outer core of the earth’s surface showed that electric currents generated by the magma present result in the magnetic field gaining strength. “Because we constrained the inner core’s age more accurately, we could explore the fact that the present-day inner core is actually composed of two parts. Plate tectonic movements on Earth’s surface indirectly affected the inner core, and the history of these movements is imprinted deep within Earth in the inner core’s structure,” added Tarduno, in the press statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Ancient rocks can show how Earth was able to sustain life, study says

China's Long March 5B rocket re-entered Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. NASA said that Beijing did not share the necessary, "specific trajectory information" to alert where possible debris may fall.

Debris from Chinese Long March 5B rocket falls back to Earth

Debris from out-of-control Chinese rocket is headed to earth and the crash is expected on Saturday or Sunday. Meanwhile, no one knows where the crash will unfold.

WION Fineprint: Out-of-control Chinese rocket's debris to crash on Earth

The World is consuming way more natural resources. 28th of July dubbed "Earth Overshoot Day" marks a tipping point when people have used up all that ecosystems can regenerate in one year.

WION Climate Tracker | Alarm as Earth hits 'overshoot day' | World marks a dubious milestone

Debris from a Chinese rocket is headed towards Earth. It could crash early next week, but no one knows where. Debris from the same rocket has crashed on earth once in 2020 & again in 2021. Palki Sharma asks: Why is China so irresponsible?

Gravitas: Out-of-control Chinese rocket to crash on earth

Scientists from the American space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), found that surface regeneration happens a lot quicker on asteroids than on Earth, a report published on the official website of NASA stated.&nbsp;

NASA experts from the OSIRIS-REx mission have learned about surface regeneration after analysing rock fractures on asteroid Bennu from high-resolution images taken by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.&nbsp;

They discovered that the Sun’s heat fractures rocks on Bennu in just 10,000 to 100,000 years, a finding tha will help space scientists to estimate and understand how long it takes boulders on asteroids like Bennu to break down into smaller particles. The particles may either eject into space or stay on the asteroid's surface, the NASA article mentioned.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dogs-may-be-seeing-through-smells-says-a-study-500591">Dogs may be 'seeing' through smells, says a study&nbsp;</a>

Marco Delbo, senior scientist at Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France, said that tens of thousands of years might sound pretty slow, but "we thought surface regeneration on asteroids took a few millions of years".&nbsp;

Delbo, who is the lead author of a paper published in June 2022 in Nature Geoscience, added, "We were surprised to learn that the ageing and weathering process on asteroids happens so quickly, geologically speaking."&nbsp;

NASA has mentioned that surface changes on Earth are gradual, however, landslides, volcanoes and earthquakes can bring about surface changes suddenly. NASA said that the water, wind and temperature changes slowly break down rock layers, creating new surfaces over millions of years.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-looking-to-repurpose-existing-satellites-to-search-for-alien-life-in-space-500527">NASA looking to repurpose existing satellites to search for alien life in space</a>&nbsp;

But while mentioning the Bennu, NASA stated that rapid temperature changes on Bennu create internal stress that fractures and breaks down rocks.&nbsp;

The Sun rises every 4.3 hours on Bennu. At the equator, daytime highs can reach almost 260 F and nighttime lows plummet to nearly minus 10 F.&nbsp;

The cracks in the rocks on Bennu were spotted by the scientists in spacecraft images from the first surveys. Delbo said that the fractures seemed to point in the same direction, "a distinct signature that temperature shocks between the day and the night could be the cause."&nbsp;

The length and angles of more than 1,500 fractures were measured by Delbo and his colleagues in OSIRIS-REx images by hand. NASA said that some were shorter than a tennis racket, others longer than a tennis court.&nbsp;

The fractures were predominantly aligning in the northwest-southeast direction, suggesting they were caused by the Sun. Delbo said, "If landslides or impacts were moving boulders faster than the boulders were cracking, the fractures would point in random directions."&nbsp;

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Scientists from the American space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), found that surface regeneration happens a lot quicker on asteroids than on Earth, a report published on the official website of NASA stated.

Scientists from the American space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), found that surface regeneration happens a lot quicker on asteroids than on Earth, a report published on the official website of NASA stated. NASA experts from the OSIRIS-REx mission have learned about surface regeneration after analysing rock fractures on asteroid Bennu from high-resolution images taken by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. They discovered that the Sun’s heat fractures rocks on Bennu in just 10,000 to 100,000 years, a finding tha will help space scientists to estimate and understand how long it takes boulders on asteroids like Bennu to break down into smaller particles. The particles may either eject into space or stay on the asteroid's surface, the NASA article mentioned. ALSO READ | Dogs may be 'seeing' through smells, says a study Marco Delbo, senior scientist at Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France, said that tens of thousands of years might sound pretty slow, but "we thought surface regeneration on asteroids took a few millions of years". Delbo, who is the lead author of a paper published in June 2022 in Nature Geoscience, added, "We were surprised to learn that the ageing and weathering process on asteroids happens so quickly, geologically speaking." NASA has mentioned that surface changes on Earth are gradual, however, landslides, volcanoes and earthquakes can bring about surface changes suddenly. NASA said that the water, wind and temperature changes slowly break down rock layers, creating new surfaces over millions of years. ALSO READ | NASA looking to repurpose existing satellites to search for alien life in space But while mentioning the Bennu, NASA stated that rapid temperature changes on Bennu create internal stress that fractures and breaks down rocks. The Sun rises every 4.3 hours on Bennu. At the equator, daytime highs can reach almost 260 F and nighttime lows plummet to nearly minus 10 F. The cracks in the rocks on Bennu were spotted by the scientists in spacecraft images from the first surveys. Delbo said that the fractures seemed to point in the same direction, "a distinct signature that temperature shocks between the day and the night could be the cause." The length and angles of more than 1,500 fractures were measured by Delbo and his colleagues in OSIRIS-REx images by hand. NASA said that some were shorter than a tennis racket, others longer than a tennis court. The fractures were predominantly aligning in the northwest-southeast direction, suggesting they were caused by the Sun. Delbo said, "If landslides or impacts were moving boulders faster than the boulders were cracking, the fractures would point in random directions." 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.

Asteroids 'aged early': Surface regeneration happens a lot quicker on asteroids than on Earth, tells NASA

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a large solar flare erupted from the Sun on June 14 and is on its way to Earth.

This solar storm may cause radio blackout

The discovery was made as a result of the first clear picture of the chemistry beneath the opaque outer atmosphere of the largest planet, according to a study that was published online in the journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Jupiter consumes other planets? What this new research has revealed

Space watchers have spotted a giant sunspot triple the size of the Earth, expressing concern over its potential to beam medium-class (M-class) solar flares towards the Earth.

NASA heliophysicst C. Alex Young, writing at EarthSky, said that between Sunday and Monday, Sunspot AR3038 more than doubled in size, making it several times wider than Earth's diameter, and continuing to expand in the past 48 hours.

Similar observations were made by Tony Phillips, the author of&nbsp;SpaceWeather.com, saying that he was astonished by the pace at which the sunspot has been growing in the past 24 to 48 hours.

"The fast-growing sunspot has doubled in size in only 24 hours," he said on Wednesday, noting that the magnetic field surrounding it has the potential to blast M-class solar flares&nbsp;toward our planet.

In the past few months, the sun has been particularly sending out many M-class and X-class flares as activity grows in the regular 11-year cycle of sunspots.

Sunspots are black-coloured regions on the surface of the Sun, which are colder than the other areas. They emit powerful bursts of radiation/ solar flares. Sunspots are very cold because they develop over locations with extremely powerful magnetic fields.

Scientists have classified solar flares according to their brightness in the x-ray wavelengths.

X-class flares&nbsp;are big; they are major events that can trigger radio blackouts around the whole world and long-lasting radiation storms in the upper atmosphere.

M-class flares&nbsp;are medium-sized; they generally cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare.

C-class flares&nbsp;are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-posts-amazing-photo-of-recent-solar-flare-was-it-harmful-for-us-on-earth-476584">&nbsp;NASA posts amazing photo of recent solar flare. Was this release harmful for us on Earth?</a>

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's&nbsp;Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts&nbsp;a 25 per cent to 30 per cent chance of M-class flares over the next three days and a 5 per cent to 10 per cent chance of X-class flares.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-evidence-of-an-extreme-solar-tsunami-deep-within-earths-ice-448784">Scientists find evidence of an extreme solar 'tsunami' deep within Earth's ice</a>

NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission is flying very close to the sun periodically to learn more about the origins of sunspots and to better understand the space weather the sun creates.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Space watchers have spotted a giant sunspot triple the size of the Earth, expressing concern over its potential to beam medium-class (M-class) solar flares towards the Earth.

Space watchers have spotted a giant sunspot triple the size of the Earth, expressing concern over its potential to beam medium-class (M-class) solar flares towards the Earth. NASA heliophysicst C. Alex Young, writing at EarthSky, said that between Sunday and Monday, Sunspot AR3038 more than doubled in size, making it several times wider than Earth's diameter, and continuing to expand in the past 48 hours. Similar observations were made by Tony Phillips, the author of SpaceWeather.com, saying that he was astonished by the pace at which the sunspot has been growing in the past 24 to 48 hours. "The fast-growing sunspot has doubled in size in only 24 hours," he said on Wednesday, noting that the magnetic field surrounding it has the potential to blast M-class solar flares toward our planet. In the past few months, the sun has been particularly sending out many M-class and X-class flares as activity grows in the regular 11-year cycle of sunspots. Sunspots are black-coloured regions on the surface of the Sun, which are colder than the other areas. They emit powerful bursts of radiation/ solar flares. Sunspots are very cold because they develop over locations with extremely powerful magnetic fields. Scientists have classified solar flares according to their brightness in the x-ray wavelengths. X-class flares are big; they are major events that can trigger radio blackouts around the whole world and long-lasting radiation storms in the upper atmosphere. M-class flares are medium-sized; they generally cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare. C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth. Also read | NASA posts amazing photo of recent solar flare. Was this release harmful for us on Earth? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts a 25 per cent to 30 per cent chance of M-class flares over the next three days and a 5 per cent to 10 per cent chance of X-class flares. Also read | Scientists find evidence of an extreme solar 'tsunami' deep within Earth's ice NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission is flying very close to the sun periodically to learn more about the origins of sunspots and to better understand the space weather the sun creates. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Giant sunspot that can emit strong solar flares is facing Earth, experts raise concern

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has spotted a buzzing multiplanet system within our galactic neighbourhood about 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems to our own.

At the heart of the system lies a small and cool M-dwarf star, named HD 260655, and astronomers have found that it hosts at least two terrestrial, Earth-sized planets.

However, the planets are likely not habitable, as their orbits are relatively tight, exposing the planets to temperatures that are too high to sustain liquid surface water, the astronomers from MIT who made the discovery said.

The inner plant orbits its star every 2.8 Earth days and is about 1.2 times the size of Earth and twice as massive. The other orbits every 5.7 Earth days and is 1.5 times the size of Earth and three times as massive. They have both been described considered "rocky."

Nevertheless, the latest discovery has caused excitement among the scientific community as it will help them understand what this neighbourhood looks like.

It will also give them a closer look at the properties of the planets and signs of any atmosphere they might hold.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-rogue-black-hole-spotted-wandering-5000-light-years-from-earth-488363" hreflang="en">A rogue black hole spotted wandering 5,000 light-years from Earth</a>

“Both planets in this system are each considered among the best targets for atmospheric study because of the brightness of their star," said Michelle Kunimoto, a postdoc in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and one of the discovery's lead scientists.

"Is there a volatile-rich atmosphere around these planets? And are there signs of water or carbon-based species? These planets are fantastic test beds for those&nbsp;explorations."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/plants-can-break-biochemistry-rules-by-making-secret-decisions-about-our-future-study-488289" hreflang="en">Plants can break biochemistry rules and make 'secret decisions' about our future: Study</a>

The team will present its findings at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California.

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NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has spotted a buzzing multiplanet system within our galactic neighbourhood about 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems to our own.

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has spotted a buzzing multiplanet system within our galactic neighbourhood about 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems to our own. At the heart of the system lies a small and cool M-dwarf star, named HD 260655, and astronomers have found that it hosts at least two terrestrial, Earth-sized planets. However, the planets are likely not habitable, as their orbits are relatively tight, exposing the planets to temperatures that are too high to sustain liquid surface water, the astronomers from MIT who made the discovery said. The inner plant orbits its star every 2.8 Earth days and is about 1.2 times the size of Earth and twice as massive. The other orbits every 5.7 Earth days and is 1.5 times the size of Earth and three times as massive. They have both been described considered "rocky." Nevertheless, the latest discovery has caused excitement among the scientific community as it will help them understand what this neighbourhood looks like. It will also give them a closer look at the properties of the planets and signs of any atmosphere they might hold. Also read | A rogue black hole spotted wandering 5,000 light-years from Earth “Both planets in this system are each considered among the best targets for atmospheric study because of the brightness of their star," said Michelle Kunimoto, a postdoc in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and one of the discovery's lead scientists. "Is there a volatile-rich atmosphere around these planets? And are there signs of water or carbon-based species? These planets are fantastic test beds for those explorations." Also read | Plants can break biochemistry rules and make 'secret decisions' about our future: Study The team will present its findings at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists find multiplanet system that hosts two Earth-type planets just 33 light years away

In pics: People across the globe observe World Environment Day

Scientists have spotted unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years from Earth. This strange “pulse” is being emitted from a neutron star, which rotates extremely slowly, completing one rotation every 76 seconds. The team went through old data from that region of space and found similar signals had been emitted before but had been missed by previous research. They say that this neutron star has the characteristics of a "pulsar" or even a "magnetar." Pulsars are very dense and the remains of a collapsed giant star. They emit radio waves from their poles and can be measured from Earth as the star rotates.

Manisha Caleb, a lecturer at the University of Sydney and MeerTRAP team traced the strange pulse to the distant Cela-X 1 region of the Milky Way. It lasted for around 300 milliseconds. When they went further from that region, they found records of more pulses.

Scientists are now calling it PSR J0941-4046. They think it’s a new type of radio-emitting galactic neutron star.

The team, led by members of The European Research Council-funded MeerTRAP (More Transients and Pulsars) group at The University of Manchester, say it is a unique discovery as it resides in the neutron star graveyard where they do not expect to see any radio emission at all.

The discovery was made using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa and published in the journal, Nature Astronomy.

Neutron stars are extremely dense remnants of a supernova explosion of a massive star. They can produce beams of radio waves which sweep around the sky as the neutron star spins, producing regular flashes like cosmic lighthouses.

Scientists have so far found 3000 of these in our own Galaxy. However, the new discovery is unlike anything seen so far. The team thinks that it could belong to the theorised class of ultra-long period magnetars with extremely strong magnetic fields.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shares-breathtaking-close-up-clip-of-jupiter-taken-from-juno-spacecraft-watch-484955" hreflang="en">NASA shares breathtaking close-up clip of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft. Watch!</a>

“Amazingly we only detect radio emission from this source for 0.5% of its rotation period. This means that it is very fortuitous that the radio beam intersected with the Earth. It is therefore likely that there are many more of these very slowly spinning sources in the Galaxy which has important implications for how neutron stars are born and age,” Caleb said in a statement.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/dazzling-tau-herculid-meteor-shower-lights-up-sky-check-out-the-amazing-photos-484033" hreflang="en">Dazzling tau Herculids meteor shower lights up sky. Check out these amazing photos</a>

“The majority of pulsar surveys do not search for periods this long and so we have no idea how many of these sources there might be. In this case the source was bright enough that we could detect the single pulses with the MeerTRAP instrument at MeerKAT.”

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Scientists have spotted unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years from Earth. This strange “pulse” is being emitted from a neutron star, which rotates extremely slowly, completing one rotation every 76 seconds.

Scientists have spotted unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years from Earth. This strange “pulse” is being emitted from a neutron star, which rotates extremely slowly, completing one rotation every 76 seconds. The team went through old data from that region of space and found similar signals had been emitted before but had been missed by previous research. They say that this neutron star has the characteristics of a "pulsar" or even a "magnetar." Pulsars are very dense and the remains of a collapsed giant star. They emit radio waves from their poles and can be measured from Earth as the star rotates. Manisha Caleb, a lecturer at the University of Sydney and MeerTRAP team traced the strange pulse to the distant Cela-X 1 region of the Milky Way. It lasted for around 300 milliseconds. When they went further from that region, they found records of more pulses. Scientists are now calling it PSR J0941-4046. They think it’s a new type of radio-emitting galactic neutron star. The team, led by members of The European Research Council-funded MeerTRAP (More Transients and Pulsars) group at The University of Manchester, say it is a unique discovery as it resides in the neutron star graveyard where they do not expect to see any radio emission at all. The discovery was made using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa and published in the journal, Nature Astronomy. Neutron stars are extremely dense remnants of a supernova explosion of a massive star. They can produce beams of radio waves which sweep around the sky as the neutron star spins, producing regular flashes like cosmic lighthouses. Scientists have so far found 3000 of these in our own Galaxy. However, the new discovery is unlike anything seen so far. The team thinks that it could belong to the theorised class of ultra-long period magnetars with extremely strong magnetic fields. Also read | NASA shares breathtaking close-up clip of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft. Watch! “Amazingly we only detect radio emission from this source for 0.5% of its rotation period. This means that it is very fortuitous that the radio beam intersected with the Earth. It is therefore likely that there are many more of these very slowly spinning sources in the Galaxy which has important implications for how neutron stars are born and age,” Caleb said in a statement. Also see | Dazzling tau Herculids meteor shower lights up sky. Check out these amazing photos “The majority of pulsar surveys do not search for periods this long and so we have no idea how many of these sources there might be. In this case the source was bright enough that we could detect the single pulses with the MeerTRAP instrument at MeerKAT.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists discover unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years away from Earth

A researcher has claimed that there may be four extraterrestrial civilisations in the Milky Way that could attack or invade the planet Earth. As reported by Vice News, Alberto Caballero, who is a PhD student at the University of Vigo in Spain, estimated the prevalence of "malicious extraterrestrial" civilisations.&nbsp;

In the paper which is titled "Estimating the Prevalence of Malicious Extraterrestrial Civilizations," Caballero has attempted to provide an estimation of the prevalence of hostile extraterrestrial civilisations. Although, he admitted that there are "some limitations".&nbsp;

Caballero noted that the estimation is based on the "world's history of invasions in the last century, military capabilities of the countries involved, and the global growth rate of energy consumption".&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-detect-new-type-of-extremely-reactive-substance-in-the-earths-atmosphere-482942">Scientists detect new type of extremely reactive substance in the Earth's atmosphere</a>

In the non-peer-reviewed research published in Arxiv journal, Caballero stated that the upper limits of standard deviations are used to obtain the "estimated probability of extraterrestrial invasion" by a civilisation whose planet we send a message to.&nbsp;

He further stated that results show that such probability is "two orders of magnitude lower than the impact probability of a planet-killer asteroid".&nbsp;

Scientists are planning to send a message (METI, or "Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence") to the so-called alien civilisation. Although there is no definitive proof but the US government is serious about the increasing signs of extraterrestrial life.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-study-claims-earths-iron-rich-core-may-be-rusting-483310">New study claims Earth’s iron-rich core may be rusting</a>

However, as a warning to the scientists, Caballero in his paper stated that the findings could serve as a starting point for an international debate about sending the first serious interstellar radio messages to nearby potentially habitable planets.&nbsp;

"I did the paper-based only on life as we know it. We don't know the mind of extraterrestrials. An extraterrestrial civilization may have a brain with a different chemical composition and they might not have empathy or they might have more psychopathological behaviours," Caballero told Vice.&nbsp;

"I found this way to do [the study], which has limitations because we don't know the mind of what aliens would be like," he added.&nbsp;

In his paper, he wrote that such an event takes place once every 100 million years. Caballero researched human "invasions" of other countries over the last 50 years as he mentioned that he did the paper-based "only on life as we know it".&nbsp;

The report noted that he applied the data he gathered to the number of known "exoplanets" in our galaxy. Claudio Maccone, an Italian scientist, estimated that there are around 15,785 exoplanets. After analysing the data, Caballero estimated that there could be four "malicious" alien civilisations.&nbsp;

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Caballero also authored a study in the International Journal of Astrobiology earlier this month. He claimed that he pinpointed the "WoW! Signal" that was first detected by a radio telescope in 1977.&nbsp;

It was a strange minute-long burst of radio energy. According to Caballero, the signal might have originated from a Sun-like star 1,800 lightyears from the Earth.&nbsp;

As per Vice, the signal was first received by the Big Ear telescope at Ohio State University.&nbsp;

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A researcher has claimed that there may be four extraterrestrial civilisations in the Milky Way that could attack or invade the planet Earth. As reported by Vice News, Alberto Caballero, who is a PhD student at the University of Vigo in Spain, estimated the prevalence of "malicious extraterrestrial" civilisations.

A researcher has claimed that there may be four extraterrestrial civilisations in the Milky Way that could attack or invade the planet Earth. As reported by Vice News, Alberto Caballero, who is a PhD student at the University of Vigo in Spain, estimated the prevalence of "malicious extraterrestrial" civilisations. In the paper which is titled "Estimating the Prevalence of Malicious Extraterrestrial Civilizations," Caballero has attempted to provide an estimation of the prevalence of hostile extraterrestrial civilisations. Although, he admitted that there are "some limitations". Caballero noted that the estimation is based on the "world's history of invasions in the last century, military capabilities of the countries involved, and the global growth rate of energy consumption". ALSO READ | Scientists detect new type of extremely reactive substance in the Earth's atmosphere In the non-peer-reviewed research published in Arxiv journal, Caballero stated that the upper limits of standard deviations are used to obtain the "estimated probability of extraterrestrial invasion" by a civilisation whose planet we send a message to. He further stated that results show that such probability is "two orders of magnitude lower than the impact probability of a planet-killer asteroid". Scientists are planning to send a message (METI, or "Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence") to the so-called alien civilisation. Although there is no definitive proof but the US government is serious about the increasing signs of extraterrestrial life. ALSO READ | New study claims Earth’s iron-rich core may be rusting However, as a warning to the scientists, Caballero in his paper stated that the findings could serve as a starting point for an international debate about sending the first serious interstellar radio messages to nearby potentially habitable planets. "I did the paper-based only on life as we know it. We don't know the mind of extraterrestrials. An extraterrestrial civilization may have a brain with a different chemical composition and they might not have empathy or they might have more psychopathological behaviours," Caballero told Vice. "I found this way to do [the study], which has limitations because we don't know the mind of what aliens would be like," he added. In his paper, he wrote that such an event takes place once every 100 million years. Caballero researched human "invasions" of other countries over the last 50 years as he mentioned that he did the paper-based "only on life as we know it". The report noted that he applied the data he gathered to the number of known "exoplanets" in our galaxy. Claudio Maccone, an Italian scientist, estimated that there are around 15,785 exoplanets. After analysing the data, Caballero estimated that there could be four "malicious" alien civilisations. WATCH | Boeing Starliner capsule returns to Earth from ISS × Caballero also authored a study in the International Journal of Astrobiology earlier this month. He claimed that he pinpointed the "WoW! Signal" that was first detected by a radio telescope in 1977. It was a strange minute-long burst of radio energy. According to Caballero, the signal might have originated from a Sun-like star 1,800 lightyears from the Earth. As per Vice, the signal was first received by the Big Ear telescope at Ohio State University. 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.

Four 'malicious' alien civilisations could attack or invade Earth: Researcher

A new study has said that the Earth’s core, which is composed of molten nickel and iron, is rusting. The study was published in the journal Advancing Earth and Space Science.

Rusting happens when iron is exposed to moist air or oxygenated water, leading to a chemical reaction that leaves a reddish residue and&nbsp;&nbsp;making strong iron weak.

Since the core is situated 1,800 miles (2,900km) below the Earth’s surface, it was assumed that the high-pressure environment and paucity of water-bearing minerals have protected the molten outer core from rust.

But recent experiments suggested that rust can form at high pressures and could plausibly be formed at locations where water-rich slabs of Earth’s crust have sunk to the core-mantle boundary.

In the experiment, the scientists created high-pressure conditions that would exist in Earth's core. Then they introduced moisture to iron in the form of a hydroxyl-bearing mineral.

At the pressure of nearly a million atmospheres, scientists found that the chemical reaction produced iron peroxide, bearing the same structure as pyrite. This indicates that rust formation could happen in the Earth's core as well.

"This rust could shed light on the deep-water cycle in the lower mantle and the enigmatic origins of ultralow-velocity zones (ULVZs)—small, thin regions atop Earth’s fluid core that slow seismic waves significantly. It could also help answer questions about the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), which marked the beginning of Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere some 2.5 billion to 2.3 billion years ago," a report in the Advancing Earth and Space Science journal said.

But scientists are yet to identify the cause of the oxygenation event that may have triggered rusting.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-once-had-rivers-streams-and-lakes-but-why-did-the-red-planet-dry-out-482627" hreflang="en">Mars once had rivers, streams and lakes but why did the Red Planet dry out?</a>

They will now have to prove their hypothesis after analysing fresh plumes of lava erupting from the volcanoes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/are-these-the-lost-cities-of-amazon-monumental-platform-pyramid-architecture-discovered-hidden-under-trees-482697" hreflang="en">Are these the lost cities of Amazon? Monumental platform, pyramid architecture discovered hidden under trees</a>

"If the pieces of the puzzle all fall into place, then rusting of the core may, indeed, be a massive internal oxygen generator on Earth— and the next great atmospheric oxygenation event could be on its way," the report said.

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A new study has said that the Earth’s core, which is composed of molten nickel and iron, is rusting. The study was published in the journal Advancing Earth and Space Science.

A new study has said that the Earth’s core, which is composed of molten nickel and iron, is rusting. The study was published in the journal Advancing Earth and Space Science. Rusting happens when iron is exposed to moist air or oxygenated water, leading to a chemical reaction that leaves a reddish residue and making strong iron weak. Since the core is situated 1,800 miles (2,900km) below the Earth’s surface, it was assumed that the high-pressure environment and paucity of water-bearing minerals have protected the molten outer core from rust. But recent experiments suggested that rust can form at high pressures and could plausibly be formed at locations where water-rich slabs of Earth’s crust have sunk to the core-mantle boundary. In the experiment, the scientists created high-pressure conditions that would exist in Earth's core. Then they introduced moisture to iron in the form of a hydroxyl-bearing mineral. At the pressure of nearly a million atmospheres, scientists found that the chemical reaction produced iron peroxide, bearing the same structure as pyrite. This indicates that rust formation could happen in the Earth's core as well. "This rust could shed light on the deep-water cycle in the lower mantle and the enigmatic origins of ultralow-velocity zones (ULVZs)—small, thin regions atop Earth’s fluid core that slow seismic waves significantly. It could also help answer questions about the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), which marked the beginning of Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere some 2.5 billion to 2.3 billion years ago," a report in the Advancing Earth and Space Science journal said. But scientists are yet to identify the cause of the oxygenation event that may have triggered rusting. Also read | Mars once had rivers, streams and lakes but why did the Red Planet dry out? They will now have to prove their hypothesis after analysing fresh plumes of lava erupting from the volcanoes. Also read | Are these the lost cities of Amazon? Monumental platform, pyramid architecture discovered hidden under trees "If the pieces of the puzzle all fall into place, then rusting of the core may, indeed, be a massive internal oxygen generator on Earth— and the next great atmospheric oxygenation event could be on its way," the report said. 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.

New study claims Earth’s iron-rich core may be rusting

A new type of extremely reactive substance, organic hydrotrioxides (ROOOH), has been detected in the Earth's atmosphere for the first time. Scientists have stated that the substance can have effects that are still unknown.

A new type of extremely reactive substance, organic hydrotrioxides (ROOOH), has been detected in the Earth's atmosphere for the first time. Scientists have stated that the substance can have effects that are still unknown. It could pose threat to human health, or even impact the global climate. Trioxides are compounds with three oxygen atoms attached to each other. As per the researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the trioxides are formed under atmospheric conditions. Trioxides are even more reactive than peroxides, which have two oxygen atoms attached. Scientists had predicted that trioxides were probably in the atmosphere as well. However, it was never proven until now. ALSO READ | This adorable robotic crab is the 'smallest-ever' remote-controlled walking robot Professor Henrik Grum Kjærgaard of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark said, "These compounds have always been around – we just didn't know about them." "But the fact that we now have evidence that the compounds are formed and live for a certain amount of time means that it is possible to study their effect ... and respond if they turn out to be dangerous," he said. "This is what we have now accomplished. The type of compounds we discovered are unique in their structure. And, because they are extremely oxidising, they most likely bring a host of effects that we have yet to uncover," he added. ALSO READ | Archaeologists discover ancient Mayan city at construction site in Mexico - see pics WATCH | New study claims climate change intensifying winter storms × The study published in the journal Science reported that direct observation of "ROOOH formation from several atmospherically relevant RO2 radicals". The study added that kinetic analysis confirmed rapid RO2 + OH reactions forming ROOOH, with rate coefficients close to the collision limit. As per the study, the atmospheric lifetime of ROOOH is estimated to be minutes to hours. "Hydrotrioxides represent a previously omitted substance class in the atmosphere, the impact of which needs to be examined," the study added. 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.

Scientists detect new type of extremely reactive substance in the Earth's atmosphere

Climate change is real. Our Earth is dying a slow death. Whether one likes it or not, we are responsible for it in one way or the other. Unless we make right amends, nothing is going to change. It is not just about holding marches, discussions or coming up with innovative slogans or getting popular in the world by raising the voice. It is all about actually taking some corrective measures as if things go the way they are currently, we may be the reason for our own downfall. But yes, there is still time to make things right. &nbsp;&nbsp;

For years, the world has been using fossil fuels excessively, resorting to deforestation, killing animals for sport, harming ocean life as we please, etc. In all of these actions, hardly any consideration has been given to any of the ill-effects of these activities. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-global-warming-increase-killer-heatwaves-will-get-more-frequent-report-481799" hreflang="en">Global warming made killer heatwaves in India, Pakistan 30 times more likely: Report</a>

Due to this, the world is at a stage where the temperature is going to rise above 1.5C soon, glaciers are melting around the world, sea level is rising, deforestation is still continuing, use of fossil fuel is rising, etc. The scientists have already warned the world to make changes or face catastrophe at the end. But we are busy putting in all the resources in fighting our ‘so-called’ enemies. It seems to be high time to realise who is the real enemy. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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Nowadays, the world talks about saving Earth in climate change conferences, Earth Day rallies and so on. Only a little is being done on the ground. If we don’t act now, saving our planet will become impossible. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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To actually make any climate change initiative successful, the contribution of every person counts. It can be as small as planting a tree to using solar power at home. Even big steps like shunning the use of fossil fuels can help. You can go for electric vehicles or take up clean energy for various things. Anything is achievable if we come together and stay on the right course. So, let’s do our bit for the environment before it bids us final goodbye.&nbsp;

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Climate change is real. Our Earth is dying a slow death. Whether one likes it or not, we are responsible for it in one way or the other. Unless we make right amends, nothing is going to change.

Climate change is real. Our Earth is dying a slow death. Whether one likes it or not, we are responsible for it in one way or the other. Unless we make right amends, nothing is going to change. It is not just about holding marches, discussions or coming up with innovative slogans or getting popular in the world by raising the voice. It is all about actually taking some corrective measures as if things go the way they are currently, we may be the reason for our own downfall. But yes, there is still time to make things right. For years, the world has been using fossil fuels excessively, resorting to deforestation, killing animals for sport, harming ocean life as we please, etc. In all of these actions, hardly any consideration has been given to any of the ill-effects of these activities. Also Read: Global warming made killer heatwaves in India, Pakistan 30 times more likely: Report Due to this, the world is at a stage where the temperature is going to rise above 1.5C soon, glaciers are melting around the world, sea level is rising, deforestation is still continuing, use of fossil fuel is rising, etc. The scientists have already warned the world to make changes or face catastrophe at the end. But we are busy putting in all the resources in fighting our ‘so-called’ enemies. It seems to be high time to realise who is the real enemy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE Nowadays, the world talks about saving Earth in climate change conferences, Earth Day rallies and so on. Only a little is being done on the ground. If we don’t act now, saving our planet will become impossible. Watch: Riyadh hit by second sandstorm in a week × To actually make any climate change initiative successful, the contribution of every person counts. It can be as small as planting a tree to using solar power at home. Even big steps like shunning the use of fossil fuels can help. You can go for electric vehicles or take up clean energy for various things. Anything is achievable if we come together and stay on the right course. So, let’s do our bit for the environment before it bids us final goodbye. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Climate change: Are we doing our bit for environment?  

Boeing’s Starliner space capsule landed in the New Mexico desert Wednesday, completing a six-day mission in which it finally reached the International Space Station and that could lead to flights with astronauts.

Boeing Starliner capsule returns to Earth from ISS

Tiny remnants of microorganisms were found trapped inside salt crystals from Central Australia, dating back to 830 million years. And there’s a slim chance that some of the microbes might still be alive.&nbsp;

A team of geologists discovered the single-celled organisms inside tiny fluid pockets in halite, or salt, from a formation of sedimentary rocks.

The researchers were unable to determine the precise species of these microorganisms, but Live Science reported quoting the researchers that it looks a lot like Dunaliella, a very common salt-loving algae found in both ancient and modern salty environments.

The organisms are tiny, ranging from half a micron to 5 microns in diameter—which is smaller than human hair.

The discovery is touted to be significant as it has implications for the search for ancient life in both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks, especially on Mars where large salt deposits have been identified as evidence of ancient, large-scale liquid water reservoirs.

According to the scientists, the microorganisms lived nearly 1 billion years ago in what was either a shallow, salty marine environment or a shallow, salty lake.

The researchers discovered this ancient life by peering into the salt crystals using light microscopy, meaning they didn’t disturb the fluid pockets.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-new-enzyme-that-can-chomp-off-plastic-in-record-16-hours-481062" hreflang="en">Scientists discover new enzyme that can chomp off plastic in record 16 hours</a>

But it begs the question of how these microorganisms managed to stay alive for billions of years.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-voyager-1-sending-weird-signals-from-beyond-solar-system-engineers-perplexed-481052">Voyager 1 sending weird signals from beyond solar system, engineers on edge</a>

Explaining the mystery, the study’s co-author Sara Schreder-Gomes, who conducted the research while at West Virginia University, said these salt-loving microorganisms are survivors, capable of going dormant or otherwise altering their metabolisms to stay alive during times when the water around them dries up.

“The findings could be used to search for ancient aliens,” she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tiny remnants of microorganisms were found trapped inside salt crystals from Central Australia, dating back to 830 million years. And there’s a slim chance that some of the microbes might still be alive.

Tiny remnants of microorganisms were found trapped inside salt crystals from Central Australia, dating back to 830 million years. And there’s a slim chance that some of the microbes might still be alive. A team of geologists discovered the single-celled organisms inside tiny fluid pockets in halite, or salt, from a formation of sedimentary rocks. The researchers were unable to determine the precise species of these microorganisms, but Live Science reported quoting the researchers that it looks a lot like Dunaliella, a very common salt-loving algae found in both ancient and modern salty environments. The organisms are tiny, ranging from half a micron to 5 microns in diameter—which is smaller than human hair. The discovery is touted to be significant as it has implications for the search for ancient life in both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks, especially on Mars where large salt deposits have been identified as evidence of ancient, large-scale liquid water reservoirs. According to the scientists, the microorganisms lived nearly 1 billion years ago in what was either a shallow, salty marine environment or a shallow, salty lake. The researchers discovered this ancient life by peering into the salt crystals using light microscopy, meaning they didn’t disturb the fluid pockets. Also read | Scientists discover new enzyme that can chomp off plastic in record 16 hours But it begs the question of how these microorganisms managed to stay alive for billions of years. Also read | Voyager 1 sending weird signals from beyond solar system, engineers on edge Explaining the mystery, the study’s co-author Sara Schreder-Gomes, who conducted the research while at West Virginia University, said these salt-loving microorganisms are survivors, capable of going dormant or otherwise altering their metabolisms to stay alive during times when the water around them dries up. “The findings could be used to search for ancient aliens,” she said. (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.

Key to study ancient life: Scientists find potentially alive 830-million-year-old microorganisms

Not just Earth, the soil of Moon is also fertile enough to grow plants successfully, proved scientists through a study after achieving the feat for the first time in history. The research, which was funded by NASA, was published in ‘Communications Biology’ on Thursday. The discovery comes as a breakthrough to give the possibility of harvesting plants on the moon in the future, NASA said. &nbsp;

In a statement on Thursday, Rob Ferl, who is one of the authors of the study, said, "We wanted to do this experiment because, for years, we were asking this question: Would plants grow in lunar soil. The answer, it turns out, is yes." &nbsp;

To conduct the experiment, NASA provided the soil of Moon, which is also called lunar regolith, to the researchers at the University of Florida. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-super-long-blood-moon-is-gonna-grace-the-skies-soon-heres-how-you-can-see-it-478343" hreflang="en">A super-long blood moon is gonna grace the skies soon. Here's how you can see it</a>

The soil given for the experiment had come from Apollo 11, 12 and 17 missions to the Moon. &nbsp;

All the plants had germinated within 48 to 60 hours, as per the study. &nbsp;

Anna-Lisa Paul, another author of the study, said, "We were amazed. We did not predict that. That told us that the lunar soils didn't interrupt the hormones and signals involved in plant germination."&nbsp; &nbsp;

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For the first time ever, scientists have grown plants in lunar soil. 
 
This <a href="https://twitter.com/UF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UF</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceSci?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASASpaceSci</a> experiment using Apollo Moon samples could shape the future of sustainable astronaut missions to deep space. Dig into the story: <a href="https://t.co/ZtUvowKi8e">https://t.co/ZtUvowKi8e</a> <a href="https://t.co/PWGzev7lmN">pic.twitter.com/PWGzev7lmN</a>
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With around a gram of lunar soil, the researchers potted the plants in plastic plates with thimble-sized wells. The soil was moistened with a nutrient solution and thale cress seeds were added. The trays were then put into terrarium boxes by the researchers. &nbsp;

Nutrient solution was added daily, NASA said. A control group had also used volcanic ash as soil. &nbsp;

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By the sixth day, the plants began to grow differently in lunar soil than the control group. The plants in Moon soil grew slower and displayed "stunted roots, the researchers found. “Additionally, some had stunted leaves and sported reddish pigmentation," NASA said. &nbsp;

After tests were conducted on the completion of 20 days, the plants in lunar soil were found to be under stress, NASA said. &nbsp;

The research is key to understanding "how plants might overcome stressful conditions in food-scarce areas here on Earth," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Not just Earth, the soil of Moon is also fertile enough to grow plants successfully, proved scientists through a study after achieving the feat for the first time in history.

Not just Earth, the soil of Moon is also fertile enough to grow plants successfully, proved scientists through a study after achieving the feat for the first time in history. The research, which was funded by NASA, was published in ‘Communications Biology’ on Thursday. The discovery comes as a breakthrough to give the possibility of harvesting plants on the moon in the future, NASA said. In a statement on Thursday, Rob Ferl, who is one of the authors of the study, said, "We wanted to do this experiment because, for years, we were asking this question: Would plants grow in lunar soil. The answer, it turns out, is yes." To conduct the experiment, NASA provided the soil of Moon, which is also called lunar regolith, to the researchers at the University of Florida. Also Read: A super-long blood moon is gonna grace the skies soon. Here's how you can see it The soil given for the experiment had come from Apollo 11, 12 and 17 missions to the Moon. All the plants had germinated within 48 to 60 hours, as per the study. Anna-Lisa Paul, another author of the study, said, "We were amazed. We did not predict that. That told us that the lunar soils didn't interrupt the hormones and signals involved in plant germination." For the first time ever, scientists have grown plants in lunar soil. This @UF and @NASASpaceSci experiment using Apollo Moon samples could shape the future of sustainable astronaut missions to deep space. Dig into the story: https://t.co/ZtUvowKi8e pic.twitter.com/PWGzev7lmN — NASA (@NASA) May 12, 2022 × With around a gram of lunar soil, the researchers potted the plants in plastic plates with thimble-sized wells. The soil was moistened with a nutrient solution and thale cress seeds were added. The trays were then put into terrarium boxes by the researchers. Nutrient solution was added daily, NASA said. A control group had also used volcanic ash as soil. Watch | Decoding UFOs: What do we know about ‘flying saucers’? By the sixth day, the plants began to grow differently in lunar soil than the control group. The plants in Moon soil grew slower and displayed "stunted roots, the researchers found. “Additionally, some had stunted leaves and sported reddish pigmentation," NASA said. After tests were conducted on the completion of 20 days, the plants in lunar soil were found to be under stress, NASA said. The research is key to understanding "how plants might overcome stressful conditions in food-scarce areas here on Earth," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies)

Astonishing discovery! Not just Earth, Moon’s soil fertile enough to grow plants successfully

A giant 1,600-foot wide asteroid, which is larger than the Empire State Building in New York City, will come dangerously close to Earth in 72 hours, NASA scientists have predicted.

The space rock — designated as 388945 (2008 TZ3) — is expected to make its closest approach on Sunday, May 15.

According to NASA's Near Earth Object (NEO), the space rock's size is estimated to be about 1,150 to 2,560 feet (350 to 780 meters) in diameter. It is currently travelling through space at about 23,300 miles per hour (37,400 kilometres an hour).

According to Live Science, at its closest approach to Earth, its speed will be about 30 times faster than the speed of sound, and it will cross Earth's orbit within 2 million miles&nbsp;(3.2 million kilometres).

But thankfully, its risk to humans will be pretty much non-existent because the Earth will keep it 3.5 million miles away from us.

NASA has been keeping a close eye on the rock and has revealed it’ll be a “close approach” in space terms, The New York Times reported.

Notably, this isn’t the one time that this asteroid has paid a visit to Earth. In 2020, it came even closer at 1.7 million miles away.

The asteroid actually passed Earth with no problems.

It routinely gives Earth a wave about every two years, as it circles around the Sun just like our planet.

It is due to zoom past again in May 2024 but much farther at 6.9 million miles.

The next time it’ll come anywhere near as close as this weekend won’t be until May 2163.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A giant 1,600-foot wide asteroid, which is larger than the Empire State Building in New York City, will come dangerously close to Earth in 72 hours, NASA scientists have predicted.

A giant 1,600-foot wide asteroid, which is larger than the Empire State Building in New York City, will come dangerously close to Earth in 72 hours, NASA scientists have predicted. The space rock — designated as 388945 (2008 TZ3) — is expected to make its closest approach on Sunday, May 15. According to NASA's Near Earth Object (NEO), the space rock's size is estimated to be about 1,150 to 2,560 feet (350 to 780 meters) in diameter. It is currently travelling through space at about 23,300 miles per hour (37,400 kilometres an hour). According to Live Science, at its closest approach to Earth, its speed will be about 30 times faster than the speed of sound, and it will cross Earth's orbit within 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometres). But thankfully, its risk to humans will be pretty much non-existent because the Earth will keep it 3.5 million miles away from us. NASA has been keeping a close eye on the rock and has revealed it’ll be a “close approach” in space terms, The New York Times reported. Notably, this isn’t the one time that this asteroid has paid a visit to Earth. In 2020, it came even closer at 1.7 million miles away. The asteroid actually passed Earth with no problems. It routinely gives Earth a wave about every two years, as it circles around the Sun just like our planet. It is due to zoom past again in May 2024 but much farther at 6.9 million miles. The next time it’ll come anywhere near as close as this weekend won’t be until May 2163. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

In a few hours, 1,600-ft wide asteroid will come close to Earth, say scientists

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