Astronaut Thomas Pesquet has a fanbase of his own! The European Space Agency astronaut is perched on the International Space Station (ISS). And from there, he clicks beautiful pics of Earth and space. His posts on his Instagram account reveal wonders of our own planet and space alike.

On October 8, Pesquet posted an image in which part of night side of Earth was visible. The land could be seen lit up with cities and roads and more. While this alone very much made for a beautiful image, a certain detail in the photo was unmissable.

Prominent among the yellow lights was a blue glow just near the centre of the image. It resembled movie depiction of a blast taking place. The bluish hue appears mysterious and certainly piques interest.

Pesquet explains in his post that the blue glow is of a '...thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’...' The phenomenon, he says has taken place in upper atmosphere.

"A single frame from a timelapse over Europe, showing a thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’ in the upper atmosphere!! This is a very rare occurrence and we have a facility outside Europe's Columbus laboratory dedicated to observing these flashes of light. The Space Station is extremely well suited for this observatory as it flies over the equator where there are more thunderstorms. What is fascinating about this lightning is that just a few decades ago they had been observed anecdotally by pilots and scientists were not convinced they actually existed. Fast forward a few years and we can confirm elves, and sprites are very real and could be influencing our climate too! My friend Andreas Mogensen has a large part to play in this story, he was the first to capture them from space (in only ten days on the Space Station he did all this, legend!) proving the worth of having a facility to monitor the flashes!" says Pesquet in his Instagram post.

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Like any other Instagram post of Pesquet, this one has mesmerised thousands. The image has got more than 40,000 likes.

Astronaut Thomas Pesquet has a fanbase of his own! The European Space Agency astronaut is perched on the International Space Station (ISS). And from there, he clicks beautiful pics of Earth and space.

Astronaut Thomas Pesquet has a fanbase of his own! The European Space Agency astronaut is perched on the International Space Station (ISS). And from there, he clicks beautiful pics of Earth and space. His posts on his Instagram account reveal wonders of our own planet and space alike. On October 8, Pesquet posted an image in which part of night side of Earth was visible. The land could be seen lit up with cities and roads and more. While this alone very much made for a beautiful image, a certain detail in the photo was unmissable. Prominent among the yellow lights was a blue glow just near the centre of the image. It resembled movie depiction of a blast taking place. The bluish hue appears mysterious and certainly piques interest. Pesquet explains in his post that the blue glow is of a '...thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’...' The phenomenon, he says has taken place in upper atmosphere. "A single frame from a timelapse over Europe, showing a thunder strike with a ‘transient luminous event’ in the upper atmosphere!! This is a very rare occurrence and we have a facility outside Europe's Columbus laboratory dedicated to observing these flashes of light. The Space Station is extremely well suited for this observatory as it flies over the equator where there are more thunderstorms. What is fascinating about this lightning is that just a few decades ago they had been observed anecdotally by pilots and scientists were not convinced they actually existed. Fast forward a few years and we can confirm elves, and sprites are very real and could be influencing our climate too! My friend Andreas Mogensen has a large part to play in this story, he was the first to capture them from space (in only ten days on the Space Station he did all this, legend!) proving the worth of having a facility to monitor the flashes!" says Pesquet in his Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thomas Pesquet (@thom_astro) × Like any other Instagram post of Pesquet, this one has mesmerised thousands. The image has got more than 40,000 likes.

Astronaut's photo from space reveals a strange blue glow on Earth

Earth and Venus are somewhat similar planets when it comes to size. But there are vast differences. Earth is moderate and supports life while Venus is quite literally hellish. It is the hottest planet in the solar system with surface temperature of 475 degrees Celcius.

The early solar system was a violent place. There were huge collisions between space rocks. Some of them grew in size because of that and became planet. Both, Earth and Venus underwent this violent process.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-posts-video-of-moon-parade-with-saturn-in-background-419171">NASA posts video of 'moon parade' with Saturn in background</a>

Now a study has said that there were some space rocks that grazed the Earth but collided with Venus. So what was hit-and-run for Earth was a full-blown collision for Venus. In other words, these huge space rocks 'bounced off' the early Earth and collided with early Venus often becoming part of the planet.

The study has been published in Planetary Journal Science.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-the-significance-of-change-5-less-than-2-billion-years-old-lunar-samples-419140">What is the significance of Chang'e-5 less than 2 billion years old lunar samples?</a>

The scientists carrying out the study analysed 4000 computer simulations. In these simulations, Mars-sized protoplanets were crashing with early Earth and Venus. The researchers found that about half of the space rocks just grazed the Earth and about half of these collided with Venus. Grazing the Earth slowed down the speed of these protoplanets because of which they were able to collide and stick with Venus.

Such studies hold potential to shed more light on why there is (literally) world of a difference between Earth and Venus, planets with similar mass and almost similar orbit around the Sun.

Earth and Venus are somewhat similar planets when it comes to size. But there are vast differences. Earth is moderate and supports life while Venus is quite literally hellish.

Earth and Venus are somewhat similar planets when it comes to size. But there are vast differences. Earth is moderate and supports life while Venus is quite literally hellish. It is the hottest planet in the solar system with surface temperature of 475 degrees Celcius. The early solar system was a violent place. There were huge collisions between space rocks. Some of them grew in size because of that and became planet. Both, Earth and Venus underwent this violent process. Also Read | NASA posts video of 'moon parade' with Saturn in background Now a study has said that there were some space rocks that grazed the Earth but collided with Venus. So what was hit-and-run for Earth was a full-blown collision for Venus. In other words, these huge space rocks 'bounced off' the early Earth and collided with early Venus often becoming part of the planet. The study has been published in Planetary Journal Science. Also Read | What is the significance of Chang'e-5 less than 2 billion years old lunar samples? The scientists carrying out the study analysed 4000 computer simulations. In these simulations, Mars-sized protoplanets were crashing with early Earth and Venus. The researchers found that about half of the space rocks just grazed the Earth and about half of these collided with Venus. Grazing the Earth slowed down the speed of these protoplanets because of which they were able to collide and stick with Venus. Such studies hold potential to shed more light on why there is (literally) world of a difference between Earth and Venus, planets with similar mass and almost similar orbit around the Sun.

Space rocks bounced off Earth before collision with Venus: Study

Pope Francis has said that the Earth will become uninhabitable if there is no concrete action taken on climate change. He further asserted the complexity of the ecological crisis.

Pope Francis talks about climate change, pollution and development

What if an asteroid is headed on a collision course? What would we do to escape the fate of dinosaurs? Well, we have nuclear weapons that can possibly be fired at the asteroid. But what if the broken pieces are still large enough to create major mayhem on Earth?

Questions like these are important for our planetary defence. And we need a plan in place to better tackle such a situation when it occurs.

Perhaps as a step in that direction, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to intentionally crash a spacecraft into a moon of an asteroid to see what happens to its orbit.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/winds-on-jupiter-are-speeding-up-and-no-one-knows-why-416727">Winds on Jupiter are speeding up and no one knows why</a>

NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission (DART) is set to lift-off this November. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will be used for this.

The mission is targetting Dimorphos, a small moon that revolves around the asteroid Didymos.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-has-captured-image-of-eye-in-the-sky-418294">NASA has captured image of 'eye in the sky'</a>

Didymos is a Near Earth Object (NEO). These are space objects whose orbits bring them within 30 million miles radius around Earth.

Didymos (the asteroid) and Dimorphos (the moon) will come within a distance of 6,835,083 miles (11 million kilometers).

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/cosmic-music-check-out-nasa-post-on-heavenly-sounds-from-galaxys-centre-418128">'Cosmic Music': Check out NASA post on 'heavenly' sounds from galaxy's centre</a>

The NASA spacecraft will deliberately crash into Dimorphos and see what happens to its motion in space. It is estimated that motion of the moon will change by 1 per cent. Though this doesn't sound much, it would affect the period of revolution by about seven minutes.

A DART program executive at NASA headquarters has been quoted by CNN as saying that the mission was the first step to test methods for hazardous asteroid deflection.

What if an asteroid is headed on a collision course? What would we do to escape the fate of dinosaurs? Well, we have nuclear weapons that can possibly be fired at the asteroid.

What if an asteroid is headed on a collision course? What would we do to escape the fate of dinosaurs? Well, we have nuclear weapons that can possibly be fired at the asteroid. But what if the broken pieces are still large enough to create major mayhem on Earth? Questions like these are important for our planetary defence. And we need a plan in place to better tackle such a situation when it occurs. Perhaps as a step in that direction, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to intentionally crash a spacecraft into a moon of an asteroid to see what happens to its orbit. Also Read | Winds on Jupiter are speeding up and no one knows why NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission (DART) is set to lift-off this November. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will be used for this. The mission is targetting Dimorphos, a small moon that revolves around the asteroid Didymos. Also Read | NASA has captured image of 'eye in the sky' Didymos is a Near Earth Object (NEO). These are space objects whose orbits bring them within 30 million miles radius around Earth. Didymos (the asteroid) and Dimorphos (the moon) will come within a distance of 6,835,083 miles (11 million kilometers). Also Read | 'Cosmic Music': Check out NASA post on 'heavenly' sounds from galaxy's centre The NASA spacecraft will deliberately crash into Dimorphos and see what happens to its motion in space. It is estimated that motion of the moon will change by 1 per cent. Though this doesn't sound much, it would affect the period of revolution by about seven minutes. A DART program executive at NASA headquarters has been quoted by CNN as saying that the mission was the first step to test methods for hazardous asteroid deflection.

NASA to crash spacecraft into asteroid's moon to save Earth

The US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Monday successfully launched Landsat 9 which is a powerful satellite built to monitor Earth's land surface. The launch took place at 2:12 pm EDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Landsat 9 is a joiNT NASA and US Geological Survey (USGS) mission. The satellite was carried by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg`s Space Launch Complex 3E.

Norway`s Svalbard satellite-monitoring ground station acquired signals from the spacecraft about 83 minutes after launch. Landsat 9 is performing as expected and will eventually settle into its final orbit that takes it over the planet`s poles, at an altitude of about 438 miles (705 kilometres).

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronaut-posts-breathtaking-photo-of-aurora-taken-from-above-earth-416595">Astronaut posts breathtaking photo of aurora taken from above Earth</a>

"NASA uses the unique assets of our own unprecedented fleet, as well as the instruments of other nations, to study our own planet and its climate systems," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson."With a 50-year data bank to build on, Landsat 9 will take this historic and invaluable global program to the next level. We look forward to working with our partners at the US Geological Survey and the Department of the Interior again on Landsat Next, because we never stop advancing our work to understand our planet," added Nelson.

"Today`s successful launch is a major milestone in the nearly 50-year joint partnership between USGS and NASA who, for decades, have partnered to collect valuable scientific information and use that data to shape policy with the utmost scientific integrity," said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-posts-image-of-hand-of-god-netizens-are-awestruck-416265">NASA posts image of 'Hand of God', netizens are awestruck</a>

"As the impacts of the climate crisis intensify in the United States and across the globe, Landsat 9 will provide data and imagery to help make science-based decisions on key issues including water use, wildfire impacts, coral reef degradation, glacier and ice-shelf retreat, and tropical deforestation," added Haaland.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-super-huge-comet-is-hurtling-through-space-towards-solar-system-asteroids-black-hole-416501">A super-huge comet is hurtling through space towards solar system</a>

The first Landsat satellite launched in 1972. Since then, the US space agency has always kept a Landsat in orbit to collect images of the physical material covering our planet`s surface and changes to land usage.The images allow researchers to monitor phenomena including agricultural productivity, forest extent and health, water quality, coral reef habitat health, and glacier dynamics. "The Landsat mission is like no other," said Karen St. Germain, director of the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Monday successfully launched Landsat 9 which is a powerful satellite built to monitor Earth's land surface.

The US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Monday successfully launched Landsat 9 which is a powerful satellite built to monitor Earth's land surface. The launch took place at 2:12 pm EDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Landsat 9 is a joiNT NASA and US Geological Survey (USGS) mission. The satellite was carried by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg`s Space Launch Complex 3E. Norway`s Svalbard satellite-monitoring ground station acquired signals from the spacecraft about 83 minutes after launch. Landsat 9 is performing as expected and will eventually settle into its final orbit that takes it over the planet`s poles, at an altitude of about 438 miles (705 kilometres). Also Read | Astronaut posts breathtaking photo of aurora taken from above Earth "NASA uses the unique assets of our own unprecedented fleet, as well as the instruments of other nations, to study our own planet and its climate systems," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson."With a 50-year data bank to build on, Landsat 9 will take this historic and invaluable global program to the next level. We look forward to working with our partners at the US Geological Survey and the Department of the Interior again on Landsat Next, because we never stop advancing our work to understand our planet," added Nelson. "Today`s successful launch is a major milestone in the nearly 50-year joint partnership between USGS and NASA who, for decades, have partnered to collect valuable scientific information and use that data to shape policy with the utmost scientific integrity," said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Also Read | NASA posts image of 'Hand of God', netizens are awestruck "As the impacts of the climate crisis intensify in the United States and across the globe, Landsat 9 will provide data and imagery to help make science-based decisions on key issues including water use, wildfire impacts, coral reef degradation, glacier and ice-shelf retreat, and tropical deforestation," added Haaland. Also Read | A super-huge comet is hurtling through space towards solar system The first Landsat satellite launched in 1972. Since then, the US space agency has always kept a Landsat in orbit to collect images of the physical material covering our planet`s surface and changes to land usage.The images allow researchers to monitor phenomena including agricultural productivity, forest extent and health, water quality, coral reef habitat health, and glacier dynamics. "The Landsat mission is like no other," said Karen St. Germain, director of the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA launches Landsat 9 satellite to monitor Earth's surface

On realising how fragile the Earth was after looking at it from space, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said he is committing $1bn for its conservation. The billionaire is going to invest in such projects around the world. &nbsp;

Last year, the Amazon founder had formed $10bn Bezos Earth Fund. The money made through it will go for conservation of nature in the tropical Andes, Congo Basin and Pacific Ocean. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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It will also be used to protect 30% of the world’s oceans and land by the end of the decade. The billionaire made the announcement during New York Climate Week. &nbsp;

At the launch event on Monday, the Washington Post owner said, “Nature is our life support system and it’s fragile. I was reminded of this just this July when I went into space with Blue Origin. I’d heard that seeing the Earth from space changes one’s point of view of the world. But I was not prepared for just how much that would be true.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-rare-60-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-melbourne-414800" hreflang="en">Australia: Rare 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Melbourne</a>

“Living down here, the world and the atmosphere seem vast and they seem stable. But looking back at Earth from there, the atmosphere seems thin and the world finite. Both beautiful, both fragile,” said Bezos. &nbsp;

The grants will be distributed this year. It will prioritise regions and countries with a standing commitment of protecting nature. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-california-even-fire-resistant-trees-need-to-be-protected-from-flames-414740" hreflang="en">In California, even fire-resistant trees need to be protected from flames</a>

The money would help in expanding, managing and monitoring protected areas while also putting indigenous and local communities at the heart of efforts to protect biodiversity, Bezos said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

On realising how fragile the Earth was after looking at it from space, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said he is committing $1bn for its conservation. The billionaire is going to invest in such projects around the world.

On realising how fragile the Earth was after looking at it from space, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said he is committing $1bn for its conservation. The billionaire is going to invest in such projects around the world. Last year, the Amazon founder had formed $10bn Bezos Earth Fund. The money made through it will go for conservation of nature in the tropical Andes, Congo Basin and Pacific Ocean. Watch: × It will also be used to protect 30% of the world’s oceans and land by the end of the decade. The billionaire made the announcement during New York Climate Week. At the launch event on Monday, the Washington Post owner said, “Nature is our life support system and it’s fragile. I was reminded of this just this July when I went into space with Blue Origin. I’d heard that seeing the Earth from space changes one’s point of view of the world. But I was not prepared for just how much that would be true.” Also Read: Australia: Rare 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Melbourne “Living down here, the world and the atmosphere seem vast and they seem stable. But looking back at Earth from there, the atmosphere seems thin and the world finite. Both beautiful, both fragile,” said Bezos. The grants will be distributed this year. It will prioritise regions and countries with a standing commitment of protecting nature. Also Read: In California, even fire-resistant trees need to be protected from flames The money would help in expanding, managing and monitoring protected areas while also putting indigenous and local communities at the heart of efforts to protect biodiversity, Bezos said. (With inputs from agencies)

After finding Earth fragile from space, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos commits $1bn for conservation

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission is now officially a success. The four SpaceX tourists landed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida Saturday evening after spending three days in space, successfully concluding the first orbital mission in history with no professional astronauts on board.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule's heat shield allowed it to withstand the descent before it was slowed down by four large parachutes and then splashed into the ocean just after 7:00 pm.

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Splashdown! Welcome back to planet Earth, <a href="https://twitter.com/inspiration4x?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Inspiration4x</a>! <a href="https://t.co/94yLjMBqWt">pic.twitter.com/94yLjMBqWt</a>
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"That was a heck of a ride for us, and we're just getting started," said billionaire captain Jared Isaacman, who financed the trip.

The stated goal of the mission, called Inspiration4, was to encourage the democratisation of space by proving that the cosmos are accessible to crews that have neither been handpicked nor in training for years.

The Dragon capsule travelled farther than the International Space Station (ISS) at an orbit of about 575 kilometres (357 miles) high, and circled the globe more than 15 times each day.

This marked the debut flight of SpaceX owner Elon Musk's new orbital tourism business, and a leap ahead of competitors likewise offering rides on rocket ships to customers willing to pay a small fortune for the exhilaration - and bragging rights - of spaceflight.

Isaacman has paid an undisclosed sum to fellow billionaire Musk to send himself and his three crewmates aloft. Time magazine has put the ticket price for all four seats at $200 million.

Inspiration4 aimed for an orbital altitude of 360 miles (575 km) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station or Hubble Space Telescope, and the farthest any human will have flown from Earth since the end of NASA's Apollo moon program in 1972, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission is now officially a success. The four SpaceX tourists landed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida Saturday evening after spending three days in space, successfully concluding the first orbital mission in history with no professional astronauts on board.

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission is now officially a success. The four SpaceX tourists landed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida Saturday evening after spending three days in space, successfully concluding the first orbital mission in history with no professional astronauts on board. The SpaceX Dragon capsule's heat shield allowed it to withstand the descent before it was slowed down by four large parachutes and then splashed into the ocean just after 7:00 pm. Splashdown! Welcome back to planet Earth, @Inspiration4x! pic.twitter.com/94yLjMBqWt — SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 18, 2021 × "That was a heck of a ride for us, and we're just getting started," said billionaire captain Jared Isaacman, who financed the trip. The stated goal of the mission, called Inspiration4, was to encourage the democratisation of space by proving that the cosmos are accessible to crews that have neither been handpicked nor in training for years. The Dragon capsule travelled farther than the International Space Station (ISS) at an orbit of about 575 kilometres (357 miles) high, and circled the globe more than 15 times each day. This marked the debut flight of SpaceX owner Elon Musk's new orbital tourism business, and a leap ahead of competitors likewise offering rides on rocket ships to customers willing to pay a small fortune for the exhilaration - and bragging rights - of spaceflight. Isaacman has paid an undisclosed sum to fellow billionaire Musk to send himself and his three crewmates aloft. Time magazine has put the ticket price for all four seats at $200 million. Inspiration4 aimed for an orbital altitude of 360 miles (575 km) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station or Hubble Space Telescope, and the farthest any human will have flown from Earth since the end of NASA's Apollo moon program in 1972, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX's first all-civilian orbital mission returns to Earth

An invisible layer protects our planet from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the Sun. It is crucial for the survival of life on Earth. World Ozone Day focuses on the importance of preserving this layer and understanding the risks faced by the shield. WION tells you the significance of the ozone layer.

World Ozone Day: Ozone layer critical for survival of life on Earth

NASA's Mars science rover&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;has collected and stashed away the first of numerous mineral samples that the US&nbsp;space agency hopes to retrieve from the surface of the Red Planet for analysis on Earth, NASA said on Frida.

Tools attached to&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;and operated by mission specialists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) near Los Angeles drilled a rock core slightly thicker than a pencil from an ancient Martian lake bed called the Jezero Crater, then hermetically sealed it in a titanium specimen tube inside the rover.

The feat, accomplished on September&nbsp;6 and initially announced by NASA the same day, marked the first such mineral sample obtained from the surface of another planet, according to the space agency.

"We get to see a lot of things that rewrite the history books and what occurred September 6th at Jezero Crater is right up there with any of them," Lori Glaze, Director Of NASA's Planetary Science Division, said at the top of a news conference on Friday to make the announcement.

The space agency plans to collect as many as 43 mineral samples over the next few months from the floor of Jerezo, a wide basin where scientists think water flowed and microbial life may have flourished billions of years ago.

The six-wheeled, SUV-sized vehicle is also expected to explore walls of sediment deposited at the foot of a remnant river delta once etched into a corner of the crater and considered a prime spot for study.

Mineral collection is the heart of the $2.7 billion&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;project.

Among the early findings from preliminary analysis of the samples was the presence of salt, NASA said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-mars-rover-fails-to-collect-rock-in-search-of-alien-life-403600">Also read |&nbsp;NASA Mars rover fails to collect rock in search of alien life</a>

"The presence of salt indicates that this rock was subject to water," Yulia Goreva,&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;Return Sample Investigation Scientist, said at the news conference.

"We can look at the composition and look for tiny inclusions such as&nbsp;liquid bubbles or bubble fluids inside the salt. That would actually give us a glimpse of the Jezero crater at the time when it was wet and was able to sustain an ancient Martian life," she said.

Two future missions to Mars, to be jointly conducted by NASA and the European Space Agency, are planned to retrieve those specimens in the next decade and return them to Earth, where astrobiologists will examine them for signs of tiny fossilised organisms.

Such fossils would represent the first conclusive proof that life has ever existed beyond Earth.

Perseverance, the fifth and by far most sophisticated rover NASA has sent to Mars since its first, Sojourner, arrived in 1997, landed in Jerezo Crater in February after a 293 million-mile flight from Earth.

Success of the first sample collection, taken from a flat, briefcase-sized rock using the rotary-percussive drill at the end of&nbsp;Perseverance's robotic arm, was verified through imagery taken by the rover's cameras as the sample was measured, cataloged and stored, NASA said.

The rover's sampling and caching system, consisting of more than 3,000 parts, was described by JPL's interim director, Larry James, as "the most complex mechanism ever sent into space."

"This is the first time we have ever collected a sample of a rock from another planet with the intention to bring that sample back to Earth where we can analyse it," NASA's Glaze said at the news conference.

"This is perhaps the most challenging thing we've ever tried to do on another planet," she said.

NASA's Mars science rover Perseverance has collected and stashed away the first of numerous mineral samples that the US space agency hopes to retrieve from the surface of the Red Planet for analysis on Earth, NASA said on Frida.

NASA's Mars science rover Perseverance has collected and stashed away the first of numerous mineral samples that the US space agency hopes to retrieve from the surface of the Red Planet for analysis on Earth, NASA said on Frida. Tools attached to Perseverance and operated by mission specialists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) near Los Angeles drilled a rock core slightly thicker than a pencil from an ancient Martian lake bed called the Jezero Crater, then hermetically sealed it in a titanium specimen tube inside the rover. The feat, accomplished on September 6 and initially announced by NASA the same day, marked the first such mineral sample obtained from the surface of another planet, according to the space agency. "We get to see a lot of things that rewrite the history books and what occurred September 6th at Jezero Crater is right up there with any of them," Lori Glaze, Director Of NASA's Planetary Science Division, said at the top of a news conference on Friday to make the announcement. The space agency plans to collect as many as 43 mineral samples over the next few months from the floor of Jerezo, a wide basin where scientists think water flowed and microbial life may have flourished billions of years ago. The six-wheeled, SUV-sized vehicle is also expected to explore walls of sediment deposited at the foot of a remnant river delta once etched into a corner of the crater and considered a prime spot for study. Mineral collection is the heart of the $2.7 billion Perseverance project. Among the early findings from preliminary analysis of the samples was the presence of salt, NASA said. Also read | NASA Mars rover fails to collect rock in search of alien life "The presence of salt indicates that this rock was subject to water," Yulia Goreva, Perseverance Return Sample Investigation Scientist, said at the news conference. "We can look at the composition and look for tiny inclusions such as liquid bubbles or bubble fluids inside the salt. That would actually give us a glimpse of the Jezero crater at the time when it was wet and was able to sustain an ancient Martian life," she said. Two future missions to Mars, to be jointly conducted by NASA and the European Space Agency, are planned to retrieve those specimens in the next decade and return them to Earth, where astrobiologists will examine them for signs of tiny fossilised organisms. Such fossils would represent the first conclusive proof that life has ever existed beyond Earth. Perseverance, the fifth and by far most sophisticated rover NASA has sent to Mars since its first, Sojourner, arrived in 1997, landed in Jerezo Crater in February after a 293 million-mile flight from Earth. Success of the first sample collection, taken from a flat, briefcase-sized rock using the rotary-percussive drill at the end of Perseverance's robotic arm, was verified through imagery taken by the rover's cameras as the sample was measured, cataloged and stored, NASA said. The rover's sampling and caching system, consisting of more than 3,000 parts, was described by JPL's interim director, Larry James, as "the most complex mechanism ever sent into space." "This is the first time we have ever collected a sample of a rock from another planet with the intention to bring that sample back to Earth where we can analyse it," NASA's Glaze said at the news conference. "This is perhaps the most challenging thing we've ever tried to do on another planet," she said.

NASA's Mars Rover collects first planetary samples for return to Earth

As per the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's asteroid database browser, a large asteroid nearly twice the size of the Empire State Building in New York will fly past Earth on Thursday.&nbsp;

Known as 2010 RJ53, the asteroid is approximately 774 meters in diameter will zoom past the planet today.

The asteroid will pass by approximately 366,000 kilometres away from the planet, which means that it will be closer to earth than the moon.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/guam-boosts-reproductive-rights-by-clearing-path-for-tele-abortion-411834">Also read |&nbsp;Guam boosts reproductive rights by clearing path for 'tele-abortion'</a>

However, it is very unlikely that 2010 RJ53 will impact the Earth.&nbsp;

NASA has already declared the planet free of any risk of an asteroid impact for the next century.

Researchers and astronomers around the world, including NASA, monitor nearby asteroids and calculate their trajectory.

This is to see if they pose any threat.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

As per the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's asteroid database browser, a large asteroid nearly twice the size of the Empire State Building in New York will fly past Earth on Thursday.

As per the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's asteroid database browser, a large asteroid nearly twice the size of the Empire State Building in New York will fly past Earth on Thursday. Known as 2010 RJ53, the asteroid is approximately 774 meters in diameter will zoom past the planet today. The asteroid will pass by approximately 366,000 kilometres away from the planet, which means that it will be closer to earth than the moon. Also read | Guam boosts reproductive rights by clearing path for 'tele-abortion' However, it is very unlikely that 2010 RJ53 will impact the Earth. NASA has already declared the planet free of any risk of an asteroid impact for the next century. Researchers and astronomers around the world, including NASA, monitor nearby asteroids and calculate their trajectory. This is to see if they pose any threat.

Asteroid, twice the size of Empire State building, rushing towards earth

Scientists have discovered a natural shelter on Mars that can protect it against the radiation on the Red planet.

Radiation from space has a nearly unimpeded path to the Martian surface without a protective magnetic shield.

The atmosphere of Mars is extremely thin in comparison to Earth and it lacks a global magnetic shield required for protection against harmful radiation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-collects-first-rock-samples-on-mars-411283" hreflang="en">NASA's Perseverance rover collects first rock samples on Mars</a>

With the latest discovery by astronomers, not only machines but also human beings can roam the surface of Mars without the fear of radiation.

The findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, is titled ''Directionality of the Martian Surface Radiation and Derivation of the Upward Albedo Radiation.''

The research was conducted by the University of Science and Technology in China and its lead author is Guo Jingnan.

It states the use of natural geological structures on Mars, including cave skylights and lava tubes as a mitigation strategy for space radiation.

The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) will be used by the Mars Science Laboratory in its future visits to the Red planet.

It is used to detect harmful radiation on Mars that originates from the Sun and other sources in the universe.

The study is significant because the energetic particles in the interplanetary space can adversely affect astronauts and cause cancer amid other hereditary diseases.

Scientists have discovered a natural shelter on Mars that can protect it against the radiation on the Red planet. Radiation from space has a nearly unimpeded path to the Martian surface without a protective magnetic shield.

Scientists have discovered a natural shelter on Mars that can protect it against the radiation on the Red planet. Radiation from space has a nearly unimpeded path to the Martian surface without a protective magnetic shield. The atmosphere of Mars is extremely thin in comparison to Earth and it lacks a global magnetic shield required for protection against harmful radiation. Also read | NASA's Perseverance rover collects first rock samples on Mars With the latest discovery by astronomers, not only machines but also human beings can roam the surface of Mars without the fear of radiation. The findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, is titled ''Directionality of the Martian Surface Radiation and Derivation of the Upward Albedo Radiation.'' The research was conducted by the University of Science and Technology in China and its lead author is Guo Jingnan. It states the use of natural geological structures on Mars, including cave skylights and lava tubes as a mitigation strategy for space radiation. The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) will be used by the Mars Science Laboratory in its future visits to the Red planet. It is used to detect harmful radiation on Mars that originates from the Sun and other sources in the universe. The study is significant because the energetic particles in the interplanetary space can adversely affect astronauts and cause cancer amid other hereditary diseases.

Astronomers discover natural shelter on Mars against radiation

Sun is a source that sustains all life on Earth. But there will come a time when the Sun will begin to run out of the fuel a billion years from now. At this time, Sun will expand in size and literally burn our planet. There will be no escape.

But an ex-NASA scientist has come up with a whacky theory that is being talked about in amused tones.

The scientist wants to expand the radius of Earth's rotational path around the Sun. And he suggests making use of asteroids and 'stealing' energy from Jupiter!

David Holz, Ph.D. says that if his suggestions are actually implemented, Earth may remain habitable for 5 billion years more! This to become reality would need considerable technological advancement

Holz has explained his idea in his new academic paper and the paper has been published by NASA, University of California, and University of Michigan professors

The title of the paper is “Astronomical engineering: a strategy for modifying planetary orbits".

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/washington-post-columnist-says-indian-food-is-based-on-just-one-spice-408241">Washington Post columnist says Indian food is based on just 'one spice'</a>

He has also made a tweet about his idea.

"Earth burns in a billion years when the sun expands. UNLESS we steal energy from Jupiter to gradually expand Earth's orbit! We can *actually* do this by diverting a large asteroid (0.01% the size of the moon) to pass between Earth and Jupiter every 6000(!) years." he says in his tweet

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Earth burns in a billion years when the sun expands. UNLESS we steal energy from Jupiter to gradually expand Earth's orbit! We can *actually* do this by diverting a large asteroid (0.01% the size of the moon) to pass between Earth and Jupiter every 6000(!) years. <a href="https://t.co/lidW1ebaoD">pic.twitter.com/lidW1ebaoD</a>
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This is not Holz's first ambitious suggestion to solve a global problem. In February 2020, he proposed floating nation-sized solar panels high in air so that sun rays will be blocked and Earth's temperature can be adjusted manually.

Sun is a source that sustains all life on Earth. But there will come a time when the Sun will begin to run out of the fuel a billion years from now. At this time, Sun will expand in size and literally burn our planet.

Sun is a source that sustains all life on Earth. But there will come a time when the Sun will begin to run out of the fuel a billion years from now. At this time, Sun will expand in size and literally burn our planet. There will be no escape. But an ex-NASA scientist has come up with a whacky theory that is being talked about in amused tones. The scientist wants to expand the radius of Earth's rotational path around the Sun. And he suggests making use of asteroids and 'stealing' energy from Jupiter! David Holz, Ph.D. says that if his suggestions are actually implemented, Earth may remain habitable for 5 billion years more! This to become reality would need considerable technological advancement Holz has explained his idea in his new academic paper and the paper has been published by NASA, University of California, and University of Michigan professors The title of the paper is “Astronomical engineering: a strategy for modifying planetary orbits". Also Read | Washington Post columnist says Indian food is based on just 'one spice' He has also made a tweet about his idea. "Earth burns in a billion years when the sun expands. UNLESS we steal energy from Jupiter to gradually expand Earth's orbit! We can *actually* do this by diverting a large asteroid (0.01% the size of the moon) to pass between Earth and Jupiter every 6000(!) years." he says in his tweet Earth burns in a billion years when the sun expands. UNLESS we steal energy from Jupiter to gradually expand Earth's orbit! We can *actually* do this by diverting a large asteroid (0.01% the size of the moon) to pass between Earth and Jupiter every 6000(!) years. pic.twitter.com/lidW1ebaoD — David Holz (@DavidSHolz) August 10, 2021 × This is not Holz's first ambitious suggestion to solve a global problem. In February 2020, he proposed floating nation-sized solar panels high in air so that sun rays will be blocked and Earth's temperature can be adjusted manually.

Ex-NASA scientist's Earth-saving idea involves stealing energy from Jupiter

A recent Global survey found that three-quarters of people from the world's richest nations believe humanity is pushing the earth towards dangerous tipping points and favour a shift of priorities away from economic gain.

In the survey for the Global Commons Alliance (GCA), Ipsos Mori found that around 58 per cent of people are extremely concerned with the state of the planet.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-dont-know-how-the-story-is-going-to-end-melting-glaciers-climate-change-alarm-scientists-405722" hreflang="en">'We don't know how the story is going to end': Melting glaciers, climate change alarm scientists</a>

Four out of five respondents reported willingness to do more to regenerate the global commons.

Owen Gaffney the lead author of this report, says the results show that the global community backs quick, decisive action to address the climate and ecological crises.

According to him, the world is aware of the crisis. People know we are taking huge risks, and they want their governments to do more.

The majority of respondents (59 per cent) stated that nature has already been damaged enough to no longer be able to meet human needs.

In general, 74 per cent agreed that nations should focus more on the wellbeing and health of people and nature instead of GDP and profits.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-is-a-hammer-hitting-us-on-the-head-developing-nations-say-405011">Climate change is a ‘hammer hitting us on the head,’ developing nations say</a>

Across the G20 nations, this was generally well supported. Just 25 per cent of respondents believed that governments should prioritize jobs and profits over nature.

The only country with a 50 per cent approval rate for economic priority was India.

In this survey of G20 nation's citizens, eighty-three per cent said they want to protect and restore nature more and more than two thirds (69 per cent) believe the benefits of protecting the global commons exceed the costs.&nbsp;

According to Kenya's environmentalist Elizabeth Wathuti, people are beginning to feel that nature is striking back.

She says that the power elite seems to believe it is okay to fell old trees, destruct natural ecosystems, dig up oil and plant new trees as long as they plant more trees later. However, these approaches are not working, and this report shows that many people aren't supportive of such economic idiocy, she added.

It is likely that vested political and economic interests will continue to resist moves to strengthen planetary ecosystems, as they have throughout the last half-century. Yet, a vast majority of the world's population supported overcoming those obstacles.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-floods-scientists-warn-climate-change-may-cause-erratic-rain-patterns-worldwide-405692" hreflang="en">Japan floods: Scientists warn climate change may cause erratic rain patterns worldwide</a>

The report identified a group that they labelled&nbsp;“emerging planetary stewards”.

This group&nbsp;generally consists of well-educated, urban, first-generation, global female citizens, under 45 years of age. These people are&nbsp;the most aware of the risks and are eager to work for change.&nbsp;

However, among men, older individuals, rural dwellers, nationalists, and residents of wealthy countries, awareness and willingness to act were lowest.

&nbsp;

A recent Global survey found that three-quarters of people from the world's richest nations believe humanity is pushing the earth towards dangerous tipping points and favour a shift of priorities away from economic gain.

A recent Global survey found that three-quarters of people from the world's richest nations believe humanity is pushing the earth towards dangerous tipping points and favour a shift of priorities away from economic gain. In the survey for the Global Commons Alliance (GCA), Ipsos Mori found that around 58 per cent of people are extremely concerned with the state of the planet. Also read | 'We don't know how the story is going to end': Melting glaciers, climate change alarm scientists Four out of five respondents reported willingness to do more to regenerate the global commons. Owen Gaffney the lead author of this report, says the results show that the global community backs quick, decisive action to address the climate and ecological crises. According to him, the world is aware of the crisis. People know we are taking huge risks, and they want their governments to do more. The majority of respondents (59 per cent) stated that nature has already been damaged enough to no longer be able to meet human needs. In general, 74 per cent agreed that nations should focus more on the wellbeing and health of people and nature instead of GDP and profits. Also read | Climate change is a ‘hammer hitting us on the head,’ developing nations say Across the G20 nations, this was generally well supported. Just 25 per cent of respondents believed that governments should prioritize jobs and profits over nature. The only country with a 50 per cent approval rate for economic priority was India. In this survey of G20 nation's citizens, eighty-three per cent said they want to protect and restore nature more and more than two thirds (69 per cent) believe the benefits of protecting the global commons exceed the costs. According to Kenya's environmentalist Elizabeth Wathuti, people are beginning to feel that nature is striking back. She says that the power elite seems to believe it is okay to fell old trees, destruct natural ecosystems, dig up oil and plant new trees as long as they plant more trees later. However, these approaches are not working, and this report shows that many people aren't supportive of such economic idiocy, she added. It is likely that vested political and economic interests will continue to resist moves to strengthen planetary ecosystems, as they have throughout the last half-century. Yet, a vast majority of the world's population supported overcoming those obstacles. Also read | Japan floods: Scientists warn climate change may cause erratic rain patterns worldwide The report identified a group that they labelled “emerging planetary stewards”. This group generally consists of well-educated, urban, first-generation, global female citizens, under 45 years of age. These people are the most aware of the risks and are eager to work for change. However, among men, older individuals, rural dwellers, nationalists, and residents of wealthy countries, awareness and willingness to act were lowest.

Humans pushing planet towards 'tipping point'; Global citizens concerned

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon.&nbsp;

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On Wednesday, researchers that constitute a group of over 14,000 professionals signed an international declaration calling recent events a "climate emergency" and added that governments across the globe had failed to acknowledge the crisis adequately.

The scientists also made a similar assessment in 2019, when they noted an "unprecedented surge" in climate-related disasters. An array of conditions were noted including record-breaking heatwaves, floods in South America and Southeast Asia, wildfires in Australia and the United states along with cyclones in Africa and South Asia.

The "vital signs" were measures from a key metric system which took into account greenhouse gas emissions, thickness of glaciers, sea-ice extent, and deforestation. The scientists found that 18 of these parameters hit record highs or lows.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-to-search-for-signs-of-extraterrestrial-technology-401116" hreflang="en">Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology</a>

For instance, a dip in pollution was noted during the pandemic, with which it was also linked. But as countries resumed industrial activity, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and methane hit an all-time high in 2021.

In Greenland and Antarctica, all-time low levels of ice mass were noted by scientists. They also found that glaciers are currently melting 31 per cent faster than they did 15 years ago.

Ocean heat and global sea levels have set new records since 2019. In 2020, the annual loss rate of the Amazon rainforest situated in Brazil hit a 12-year high.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-will-russias-nauka-do-at-the-international-space-station-401014" hreflang="en">What will Russia's 'Nauka' do at the International Space Station?</a>

The study was undertaken by the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Researchers said there exists "mounting evidence" of humanity having crossed a number of climate tipping points which primarily include the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica.&nbsp;

Along with these events, the scientists also noted how climate change may now be irreversible on a scale of centuries, regardless of whether&nbsp;humans are able to cut down harmful emissions.

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday. Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon.

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday. Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon. On Wednesday, researchers that constitute a group of over 14,000 professionals signed an international declaration calling recent events a "climate emergency" and added that governments across the globe had failed to acknowledge the crisis adequately. The scientists also made a similar assessment in 2019, when they noted an "unprecedented surge" in climate-related disasters. An array of conditions were noted including record-breaking heatwaves, floods in South America and Southeast Asia, wildfires in Australia and the United states along with cyclones in Africa and South Asia. The "vital signs" were measures from a key metric system which took into account greenhouse gas emissions, thickness of glaciers, sea-ice extent, and deforestation. The scientists found that 18 of these parameters hit record highs or lows. Also read: Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology For instance, a dip in pollution was noted during the pandemic, with which it was also linked. But as countries resumed industrial activity, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and methane hit an all-time high in 2021. In Greenland and Antarctica, all-time low levels of ice mass were noted by scientists. They also found that glaciers are currently melting 31 per cent faster than they did 15 years ago. Ocean heat and global sea levels have set new records since 2019. In 2020, the annual loss rate of the Amazon rainforest situated in Brazil hit a 12-year high. Also read: What will Russia's 'Nauka' do at the International Space Station? The study was undertaken by the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Researchers said there exists "mounting evidence" of humanity having crossed a number of climate tipping points which primarily include the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica. Along with these events, the scientists also noted how climate change may now be irreversible on a scale of centuries, regardless of whether humans are able to cut down harmful emissions.

Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn

Nicole Oliviera, a seven-year-old Brazilian girl who found seven asteroids, has been named the world's youngest astronomer.&nbsp;

Nicole's fascination with space and astronomy began when she was just two years old.

She took part in the ‘Asteroid Hunt' citizen science programme, which is run by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and includes NASA.&nbsp;

Oliviera's passion for astronomy developed by leaps and bounds, according to R7, a Brazilian news agency.

She asked her mother for a star when she was two years old.

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She made do with a toy star at the time, but it wasn't until later that she discovered what her kid really needed.&nbsp;

Oliveira was recently asked to speak at the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation's 1st International Seminar on Astronomy and Aeronautics.

Oliveira is used to presenting lectures in schools in her hometown of Maceió, despite her age.&nbsp;

They invited her after learning that Oliveria is the youngest member of the Alagoas Astronomical Studies Center, Centro de Estudos Astronômico de Alagoas (CEAAL).&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Nicole Oliviera, a seven-year-old Brazilian girl who found seven asteroids, has been named the world's youngest astronomer. Nicole's fascination with space and astronomy began when she was just two years old.

Nicole Oliviera, a seven-year-old Brazilian girl who found seven asteroids, has been named the world's youngest astronomer. Nicole's fascination with space and astronomy began when she was just two years old. She took part in the ‘Asteroid Hunt' citizen science programme, which is run by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and includes NASA. Oliviera's passion for astronomy developed by leaps and bounds, according to R7, a Brazilian news agency. She asked her mother for a star when she was two years old. × She made do with a toy star at the time, but it wasn't until later that she discovered what her kid really needed. Oliveira was recently asked to speak at the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation's 1st International Seminar on Astronomy and Aeronautics. Oliveira is used to presenting lectures in schools in her hometown of Maceió, despite her age. They invited her after learning that Oliveria is the youngest member of the Alagoas Astronomical Studies Center, Centro de Estudos Astronômico de Alagoas (CEAAL). (With inputs from agencies)

World's youngest astronomer: This seven-year old girl discovered seven asteroids for NASA

A massive asteroid, thrice the size of the Taj Mahal, is set to whizz past the earth on July 24 but would not pose a threat to the planet.

NASA revealed the e size of the asteroid to be 220 meters (in diameter). The space agency further disclosed that the burning piece of space stone, named ‘2008 Go20’ hurtling towards the earth at a speed of 18,000 miles per hour, an average of eight kilometres per second.

Dr Subhendu Pattnaik, the deputy director of the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Odisha's Bhubaneswar has assured that there is no need to worry.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-asteroid-day-2021-how-close-are-we-to-a-dangerous-collision-394885">Also read |&nbsp;World Asteroid Day 2021: How prepared are we for a dangerous collision?</a>

Speaking with ANI, he said, "We should not panic. We can safely say that it will not hit the earth".

"This asteroid has visited Earth at a much closer distance of 19 lakh km and 29 lakh km in 1935 and 1977 respectively. At that time, it flew away and never came towards Earth. This time it is around 45 lakh km, which is about 11 to 12 times the Earth-Moon distance, so there is no danger of hitting Earth," he added.

As per Pattnaik, 2008 GO20 will be closest to Earth on Sunday at 11:21pm Indian Standard Time (IST).&nbsp;

Asteroids are minor planets situated in the inner solar system. Large asteroids are sometimes called “planetoids”.&nbsp;

There are millions of asteroids in our solar system that hail from violent events in our solar system and bodies that never grew large enough to become planets. Most asteroids can be located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

A massive asteroid, thrice the size of the Taj Mahal, is set to whizz past the earth on July 24 but would not pose a threat to the planet. NASA revealed the e size of the asteroid to be 220 meters (in diameter).

A massive asteroid, thrice the size of the Taj Mahal, is set to whizz past the earth on July 24 but would not pose a threat to the planet. NASA revealed the e size of the asteroid to be 220 meters (in diameter). The space agency further disclosed that the burning piece of space stone, named ‘2008 Go20’ hurtling towards the earth at a speed of 18,000 miles per hour, an average of eight kilometres per second. Dr Subhendu Pattnaik, the deputy director of the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Odisha's Bhubaneswar has assured that there is no need to worry. Also read | World Asteroid Day 2021: How prepared are we for a dangerous collision? Speaking with ANI, he said, "We should not panic. We can safely say that it will not hit the earth". "This asteroid has visited Earth at a much closer distance of 19 lakh km and 29 lakh km in 1935 and 1977 respectively. At that time, it flew away and never came towards Earth. This time it is around 45 lakh km, which is about 11 to 12 times the Earth-Moon distance, so there is no danger of hitting Earth," he added. As per Pattnaik, 2008 GO20 will be closest to Earth on Sunday at 11:21pm Indian Standard Time (IST). Asteroids are minor planets situated in the inner solar system. Large asteroids are sometimes called “planetoids”. There are millions of asteroids in our solar system that hail from violent events in our solar system and bodies that never grew large enough to become planets. Most asteroids can be located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Asteroid 3 times the size of Taj Mahal to whizz past Earth

In a&nbsp;recent&nbsp;tweet, Tech mogul Elon Musk supported&nbsp;colonisation&nbsp;of Mars, saying population collapse is a big problem on Earth and as the&nbsp;population of Mars is zero, it needs people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Elon Musk tweeted, “I’m trying to set a good example!&nbsp;Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth.&nbsp;Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero.&nbsp;Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars!”&nbsp;

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I’m trying to set a good example! Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth. 
 
Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero. 
 
Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1415348519381217281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Musk has been advocating Mars’&nbsp;colonisation&nbsp;for a long time, even with a set deadline and plan of action.&nbsp;The Tesla CEO’s tweet&nbsp;was in response to a post shared by a Twitter handle titled ‘Tesla Owners of the East Bay’.&nbsp;

Bringing the problem of&nbsp;‘population collapse’&nbsp;on the fore,&nbsp;the fan club&nbsp;handle had&nbsp;tweeted how it is upon earth&nbsp;to solve it&nbsp;with&nbsp;reducing the birth rate&nbsp;in the world.&nbsp;

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Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off. <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> 👶🏻💚🌎 <a href="https://t.co/qlwz1JBUhj">pic.twitter.com/qlwz1JBUhj</a>
— Tesla Owners of the East Bay (@TeslaOwnersEBay) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeslaOwnersEBay/status/1415169164650565632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On the microblogging site,&nbsp;the club wrote,&nbsp;“Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off."&nbsp;Musk,&nbsp;who is&nbsp;father of seven&nbsp;children, said that he is trying to set a good example.&nbsp;

In a recent tweet, Tech mogul Elon Musk supported colonisation of Mars, saying population collapse is a big problem on Earth and as the population of Mars is zero, it needs people.

In a recent tweet, Tech mogul Elon Musk supported colonisation of Mars, saying population collapse is a big problem on Earth and as the population of Mars is zero, it needs people. Elon Musk tweeted, “I’m trying to set a good example! Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth. Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero. Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars!” I’m trying to set a good example! Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth. Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero. Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2021 × Musk has been advocating Mars’ colonisation for a long time, even with a set deadline and plan of action. The Tesla CEO’s tweet was in response to a post shared by a Twitter handle titled ‘Tesla Owners of the East Bay’. Bringing the problem of ‘population collapse’ on the fore, the fan club handle had tweeted how it is upon earth to solve it with reducing the birth rate in the world. Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off. @elonmusk 👶🏻💚🌎 pic.twitter.com/qlwz1JBUhj — Tesla Owners of the East Bay (@TeslaOwnersEBay) July 14, 2021 × On the microblogging site, the club wrote, “Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off." Musk, who is father of seven children, said that he is trying to set a good example.

Warning of 'population collapse' on Earth, Elon Musk calls for colonisation of Mars  

Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is set to join the astronaut club Tuesday on the first crewed launch by Blue Origin, another key moment in a big month for the fledgling space tourism industry.

The mission comes days after Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson crossed the final frontier, narrowly besting the Amazon magnate in their battle of the billionaires.

Blue Origin's sights are, however, set higher: both literally in terms of the altitude to which its reusable New Shepard craft will ascend compared to Virgin's spaceplane, but also in its future ambitions.

Bezos founded Blue Origin back in 2000, with the goal of one-day building floating space colonies with artificial gravity where millions of people will work and live.

Today, the company is developing a heavy-lift orbital rocket called New Glenn and also a Moon lander it is hoping to contract to NASA under the Artemis program.

"They've had 15 successful New Shepard uncrewed flights and we've been waiting years to see when they're going to start flying people," Laura Forczyk, founder of space consulting firm Astralytical, told AFP, calling it an "exciting time" for enthusiasts.

New Shepard will blast off at 8:00 am Central Time (1300 GMT) on July 20 from a remote facility in the west Texas desert called Launch Site One, some 25 miles (40 kilometres) north of the nearest town, Van Horn.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dreamers-programme-deemed-unlawful-by-us-federal-judge-biden-says-deeply-disappointed-398708">Also read |&nbsp;'Dreamers' programme deemed unlawful by US Federal Judge, Biden says 'deeply disappointed'</a>

The event will be live-streamed on BlueOrigin.com beginning an hour and a half before.

Richest, oldest and youngest

Joining Bezos on the fully autonomous flight will be barrier-breaking female aviator Wally Funk, who at 82 is set to be the oldest ever astronaut, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, the company's first paying customer, who will become the youngest astronaut.

Rounding out the four-member crew is Jeff Bezos' brother Mark, a financier who directs the Bezos Family Foundation and works as a volunteer firefighter.

The pair are best friends, and Jeff shared the moment he asked his younger sibling to join him in a viral video on Instagram last month.

Notably absent is the mysterious winner of a $28 million auction for a seat, who had "scheduling conflicts" and will take part in a future flight, and has asked to remain anonymous, the company said.

After lift-off, New Shepard will accelerate towards space at speeds exceeding Mach 3 using a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine with no carbon emissions.

The capsule soon separates from its booster, and the astronauts unbuckle and begin to experience weightlessness.

The crew will spend a few minutes beyond the Karman line -- the internationally recognized boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space, at 62 miles altitude (100 kilometres), as the spacecraft peaks at 65 miles high (106 kilometres).

They will be able to admire the curvature of the planet -- and the inky black of the rest of the universe -- from large windows that comprise a third of the cabin's surface area.

The booster returns autonomously to a landing pad just north of its launch site, while the capsule freefalls back to Earth before deploying three giant parachutes, and finally a thruster, to land gently in the west Texas desert.

Bigger prizes

Beyond the first flight, relatively little is known about Blue Origin's future tourism plans.&nbsp;

The company has a history of secrecy, its existence only becoming public knowledge three years after its creation. It then pursued a policy of "self-imposed silence" until 2015.

Unlike Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin hasn't officially started selling tickets -- Daemen won his spot through the auction process. The company wants two more flights this year, then "many more" in 2022, it told AFP.

Forczyk, the analyst, said it will all depend on the level of demand that is generated by these early flights, and how well the industry recovers from accidents "which there inevitably will be, because spaceflight is inherently risky."

Elon Musk's SpaceX will enter the fray in September with an all-civilian orbital expedition on its Crew Dragon and is tying up with another company, Axiom, for visits to the International Space Station.

Beyond tourism, Blue Origin would like to supplant SpaceX is NASA's leading private sector partner, and sees New Shepard as "sort of the stepping stone and also the way to make money along the way for the greater ambition," said Forczyk.

Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is set to join the astronaut club Tuesday on the first crewed launch by Blue Origin, another key moment in a big month for the fledgling space tourism industry.

Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is set to join the astronaut club Tuesday on the first crewed launch by Blue Origin, another key moment in a big month for the fledgling space tourism industry. The mission comes days after Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson crossed the final frontier, narrowly besting the Amazon magnate in their battle of the billionaires. Blue Origin's sights are, however, set higher: both literally in terms of the altitude to which its reusable New Shepard craft will ascend compared to Virgin's spaceplane, but also in its future ambitions. Bezos founded Blue Origin back in 2000, with the goal of one-day building floating space colonies with artificial gravity where millions of people will work and live. Today, the company is developing a heavy-lift orbital rocket called New Glenn and also a Moon lander it is hoping to contract to NASA under the Artemis program. "They've had 15 successful New Shepard uncrewed flights and we've been waiting years to see when they're going to start flying people," Laura Forczyk, founder of space consulting firm Astralytical, told AFP, calling it an "exciting time" for enthusiasts. New Shepard will blast off at 8:00 am Central Time (1300 GMT) on July 20 from a remote facility in the west Texas desert called Launch Site One, some 25 miles (40 kilometres) north of the nearest town, Van Horn. Also read | 'Dreamers' programme deemed unlawful by US Federal Judge, Biden says 'deeply disappointed' The event will be live-streamed on BlueOrigin.com beginning an hour and a half before. Richest, oldest and youngest Joining Bezos on the fully autonomous flight will be barrier-breaking female aviator Wally Funk, who at 82 is set to be the oldest ever astronaut, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, the company's first paying customer, who will become the youngest astronaut. Rounding out the four-member crew is Jeff Bezos' brother Mark, a financier who directs the Bezos Family Foundation and works as a volunteer firefighter. The pair are best friends, and Jeff shared the moment he asked his younger sibling to join him in a viral video on Instagram last month. Notably absent is the mysterious winner of a $28 million auction for a seat, who had "scheduling conflicts" and will take part in a future flight, and has asked to remain anonymous, the company said. After lift-off, New Shepard will accelerate towards space at speeds exceeding Mach 3 using a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine with no carbon emissions. The capsule soon separates from its booster, and the astronauts unbuckle and begin to experience weightlessness. The crew will spend a few minutes beyond the Karman line -- the internationally recognized boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space, at 62 miles altitude (100 kilometres), as the spacecraft peaks at 65 miles high (106 kilometres). They will be able to admire the curvature of the planet -- and the inky black of the rest of the universe -- from large windows that comprise a third of the cabin's surface area. The booster returns autonomously to a landing pad just north of its launch site, while the capsule freefalls back to Earth before deploying three giant parachutes, and finally a thruster, to land gently in the west Texas desert. Bigger prizes Beyond the first flight, relatively little is known about Blue Origin's future tourism plans. The company has a history of secrecy, its existence only becoming public knowledge three years after its creation. It then pursued a policy of "self-imposed silence" until 2015. Unlike Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin hasn't officially started selling tickets -- Daemen won his spot through the auction process. The company wants two more flights this year, then "many more" in 2022, it told AFP. Forczyk, the analyst, said it will all depend on the level of demand that is generated by these early flights, and how well the industry recovers from accidents "which there inevitably will be, because spaceflight is inherently risky." Elon Musk's SpaceX will enter the fray in September with an all-civilian orbital expedition on its Crew Dragon and is tying up with another company, Axiom, for visits to the International Space Station. Beyond tourism, Blue Origin would like to supplant SpaceX is NASA's leading private sector partner, and sees New Shepard as "sort of the stepping stone and also the way to make money along the way for the greater ambition," said Forczyk.

Earth's richest man Bezos to blast off into space

A massive solar storm is on its way to the Earth. When it hits, it's likely to interrupt phone and GPS communications.&nbsp;

According to a report from Spaceweather.com, the storm, which might interrupt telecommunications, could produce wind rates of up to 600 km per second.&nbsp;

Solar storms can heat the Earth's outer atmosphere, which can have a direct impact on satellites.

This can cause GPS navigation, cell phone signal, and satellite TV to be disrupted.

Scientists studying the phenomenon have discovered that they appear in an 11-year cycle and can assault the globe many times per day at their height.

Scientists predict that solar storms will peak around 2024, based on present activity on the Sun.&nbsp;

A large solar storm above Quebec in 1989, for example, produced a major blackout, and multiple ejections colliding into the Earth's magnetic field were reported in May this year.

Solar storms are known to disrupt satellites and electronic communications, as well as creating a spectacular display in the sky, which can be seen in places around the Arctic Circle.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A massive solar storm is on its way to the Earth. When it hits, it's likely to interrupt phone and GPS communications. According to a report from Spaceweather.com, the storm, which might interrupt telecommunications, could produce wind rates of up to 600 km per second.

A massive solar storm is on its way to the Earth. When it hits, it's likely to interrupt phone and GPS communications. According to a report from Spaceweather.com, the storm, which might interrupt telecommunications, could produce wind rates of up to 600 km per second. Solar storms can heat the Earth's outer atmosphere, which can have a direct impact on satellites. This can cause GPS navigation, cell phone signal, and satellite TV to be disrupted. Scientists studying the phenomenon have discovered that they appear in an 11-year cycle and can assault the globe many times per day at their height. Scientists predict that solar storms will peak around 2024, based on present activity on the Sun. A large solar storm above Quebec in 1989, for example, produced a major blackout, and multiple ejections colliding into the Earth's magnetic field were reported in May this year. Solar storms are known to disrupt satellites and electronic communications, as well as creating a spectacular display in the sky, which can be seen in places around the Arctic Circle. (With inputs from agencies)

Phone and GPS signals may be disrupted as high-speed solar storm heading towards Earth

A recent study conducted by the European aerospace company Airbus suggests that when an asteroid is hurtling toward our planets, we could deploy large TV broadcasting satellites to deflect the space rock.

The study is a part of the European Space Agency's efforts to prepare for a possible apocalyptic event, similar to the one that wiped out dinosaurs.&nbsp;

Conducted under the mission concept codenamed FastKD or Fast Kinetic Deflection, it envisions using telecommunications satellites in particular, as these are placed in a geostationary orbit. This means that they are placed in such a way that their position looks stationary, as these satellites circle the Earth at a speed that matches the planet's speed of rotation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/stellar-explosion-helps-scientists-explain-13-billion-year-old-mystery-of-milky-ways-elements-397024" hreflang="en">Stellar explosion helps scientists explain 13-billion-year-old mystery of Milky Way's elements</a>

Usually very large, on average, these weigh around 4 to 6 tonnes. This weight would aid in giving the object in question enough force to affect the trajectory of space rock.&nbsp;

However, according to Albert Falke, the lead researcher of this study, it would take around 10 such satellites to sufficiently change the trajectory of 300 meters or 1,000-foot wide asteroid.&nbsp;

But what about a Dinosaur extinction-size Asteroid?

Falke is hesitant to say whether an asteroid could still be deflected using this method if it is more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) in diameter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-resolve-mystery-of-why-otters-stay-warm-in-cold-surroundings-397003" hreflang="en">Scientists resolve mystery of why otters stay warm in cold surroundings</a>

Interestingly, the asteroid that led to the extinction of dinosaurs is believed to have been 9.6 kilometres or 6 miles in diameter.

Why telecommunication satellites?

This method does not require the invention and subsequent launch of a whole new device. Telecommunication satellites are available readily. In case astronomers were to detect an asteroid at a late stage, all that's required is to repurpose the satellites under construction and launch them within a short span of time.

The combined effort of multiple satellites could very well change the trajectory of the approaching object.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/winchcombe-meteorite-gets-official-classification-here-is-all-you-need-to-know-396877" hreflang="en">Winchcombe meteorite gets official classification, here is all you need to know</a>

Changing its trajectory by just a few inches may not totally avert a disaster, but it could nudge it off course, enough to avert a catastrophe if done well enough in advance of an expected impact.&nbsp;

For telecommunication satellites to be capable of executing an earth-saving mission in orbit, special equipment is needed to enable communication in deep space, along with navigation, and guidance required to reach the asteroid.

Modules for this project still need to be developed. The ideal situation would be to build and test these systems in advance of an emergency and have them ready.

That said, the human species definitely has an advantage over dinosaurs.&nbsp;

NASA is set to conduct a mission called DART next year. The experiment will be the first-ever asteroid deflection experiment.&nbsp;

A recent study conducted by the European aerospace company Airbus suggests that when an asteroid is hurtling toward our planets, we could deploy large TV broadcasting satellites to deflect the space rock.

A recent study conducted by the European aerospace company Airbus suggests that when an asteroid is hurtling toward our planets, we could deploy large TV broadcasting satellites to deflect the space rock. The study is a part of the European Space Agency's efforts to prepare for a possible apocalyptic event, similar to the one that wiped out dinosaurs. Conducted under the mission concept codenamed FastKD or Fast Kinetic Deflection, it envisions using telecommunications satellites in particular, as these are placed in a geostationary orbit. This means that they are placed in such a way that their position looks stationary, as these satellites circle the Earth at a speed that matches the planet's speed of rotation. Also read | Stellar explosion helps scientists explain 13-billion-year-old mystery of Milky Way's elements Usually very large, on average, these weigh around 4 to 6 tonnes. This weight would aid in giving the object in question enough force to affect the trajectory of space rock. However, according to Albert Falke, the lead researcher of this study, it would take around 10 such satellites to sufficiently change the trajectory of 300 meters or 1,000-foot wide asteroid. But what about a Dinosaur extinction-size Asteroid? Falke is hesitant to say whether an asteroid could still be deflected using this method if it is more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) in diameter. Also read | Scientists resolve mystery of why otters stay warm in cold surroundings Interestingly, the asteroid that led to the extinction of dinosaurs is believed to have been 9.6 kilometres or 6 miles in diameter. Why telecommunication satellites? This method does not require the invention and subsequent launch of a whole new device. Telecommunication satellites are available readily. In case astronomers were to detect an asteroid at a late stage, all that's required is to repurpose the satellites under construction and launch them within a short span of time. The combined effort of multiple satellites could very well change the trajectory of the approaching object. Also read | Winchcombe meteorite gets official classification, here is all you need to know Changing its trajectory by just a few inches may not totally avert a disaster, but it could nudge it off course, enough to avert a catastrophe if done well enough in advance of an expected impact. For telecommunication satellites to be capable of executing an earth-saving mission in orbit, special equipment is needed to enable communication in deep space, along with navigation, and guidance required to reach the asteroid. Modules for this project still need to be developed. The ideal situation would be to build and test these systems in advance of an emergency and have them ready. That said, the human species definitely has an advantage over dinosaurs. NASA is set to conduct a mission called DART next year. The experiment will be the first-ever asteroid deflection experiment.

Defending Earth: Repurposing telecommunication satellites to protect Earth from asteroid collision

New research has shown that dinosaurs may have been in decline millions of years before the meteor strike often attributed to their extinction.

The Chicxulub meteor, which slammed into what is now Mexico's Yucatan peninsula around 66 million years ago, is thought to have led to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that killed off three-quarters of life on Earth, dinosaurs included.

Now new research suggests that a number of species of the terrible lizards may have been declining up to 10 million years before the meteor strike.

Research published in the journal Nature examined data from 1600 dinosaur remains found across the planet to model how common certain species of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs were in the late Cretaceous.

The team found that species decline began around 76 million years ago.&nbsp;

Fabien Condamine, from the University of Montpellier's Institute of Evolutionary&nbsp;Science&nbsp;and lead study author, said his team had followed the decline of six families of dinosaurs, comprising nearly 250 distinct species.

"We have a peak in diversity around 76 million years ago," he told said.

"Then there's a decline that lasts 10 million years -- that's more than the entire duration of the Homo genus."

The team found two possible explanations for the falling dinosaur diversity identified in the fossil records and their own computer modelling.

For one, the pace of the species decline corresponded with a strong cooling of the global climate around 75 million years ago, when temperatures fell up to eight degrees Celsius.

Condamine said that dinosaurs were adapted to a mesothermal climate -- predominantly warm and damp -- that had prevailed for tens of millions of years throughout their time on Earth.

"With strong cooling, like other large animals, they likely weren't able to adapt," he said.

The second possible decline explanation came as something of shock to the team.

Whereas both herbivores and carnivores would have been expected to be impacted at roughly the same time, the team found a two-million year lag between their respective declines.

"So the decline of the herbivores, which were the prey, would therefore have cascaded into a decline in meat-eaters," said Condamine.

The study concluded that not only did a cooling climate and reduced diversity among herbivores lead to the dinosaurs' slow decline, it also left the various species unable to recover after the meteor strike.

"These factors impeded their recovery from the final catastrophic event," it said.

(With inputs from agencies)

New research has shown that dinosaurs may have been in decline millions of years before the meteor strike often attributed to their extinction. The Chicxulub meteor, which slammed into what is now Mexico's Yucatan peninsula around 66 million years ago, is thought to have led to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that killed off three-quarters of life on Earth, dinosaurs included.

New research has shown that dinosaurs may have been in decline millions of years before the meteor strike often attributed to their extinction. The Chicxulub meteor, which slammed into what is now Mexico's Yucatan peninsula around 66 million years ago, is thought to have led to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that killed off three-quarters of life on Earth, dinosaurs included. Now new research suggests that a number of species of the terrible lizards may have been declining up to 10 million years before the meteor strike. Research published in the journal Nature examined data from 1600 dinosaur remains found across the planet to model how common certain species of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs were in the late Cretaceous. The team found that species decline began around 76 million years ago. Fabien Condamine, from the University of Montpellier's Institute of Evolutionary Science and lead study author, said his team had followed the decline of six families of dinosaurs, comprising nearly 250 distinct species. "We have a peak in diversity around 76 million years ago," he told said. "Then there's a decline that lasts 10 million years -- that's more than the entire duration of the Homo genus." The team found two possible explanations for the falling dinosaur diversity identified in the fossil records and their own computer modelling. For one, the pace of the species decline corresponded with a strong cooling of the global climate around 75 million years ago, when temperatures fell up to eight degrees Celsius. Condamine said that dinosaurs were adapted to a mesothermal climate -- predominantly warm and damp -- that had prevailed for tens of millions of years throughout their time on Earth. "With strong cooling, like other large animals, they likely weren't able to adapt," he said. The second possible decline explanation came as something of shock to the team. Whereas both herbivores and carnivores would have been expected to be impacted at roughly the same time, the team found a two-million year lag between their respective declines. "So the decline of the herbivores, which were the prey, would therefore have cascaded into a decline in meat-eaters," said Condamine. The study concluded that not only did a cooling climate and reduced diversity among herbivores lead to the dinosaurs' slow decline, it also left the various species unable to recover after the meteor strike. "These factors impeded their recovery from the final catastrophic event," it said. (With inputs from agencies)

Dinosaurs were already extinct before meteor strike hit Earth, say scientists

June 30 is observed&nbsp;as the annual Asteroid Day, marking the anniversary of most dangerous asteroid-related event to happen on Earth in the planet’s known history - the Tunguska impact over Siberia.

Asteroid Day aims to spread awareness about the dangers posed by cosmic entities to Earth and ways to protect the planet, its inhabitants, as well as to mitigate potential disaster events in the future.

The history of Asteroid Day

Co-founded by late genius Stephen Hawking and a varied pool of personalities like filmmaker Grigorij Richets and Queen’s guitarist Brian May, the declaration was signed by 200 astronauts, scientists, and artists including engineer and part-time TV presenter Bill Nye and the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

<img alt="asteroid" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce6d74a3-2fad-4f7d-ba5f-028e956e425e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_70.jpg" />

Officially known as the “100X Declaration”, the instrument has received 22,000 signatures from private citizens, all of whom are not necessarily specialists.&nbsp;The declaration calls for improving the discovery rate of asteroids to 100,000 per year, hoping to achieve&nbsp;a 100-fold increase over the next decade.

What are asteroids?

Asteroids are minor planets situated in the inner solar system. Large asteroids are sometimes called “planetoids”.&nbsp;

There are millions of asteroids in our solar system that hail from violent events in our solar system and bodies that never grew large enough to become planets. Most asteroids can be located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

<img alt="asteroid" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d848f64-2f66-429b-8294-a401555da09a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_56.jpg" />

Composed mainly of minerals and rocks, asteroids are often confused with comets, which are made of dust and ice. Owing the proximity to our Sun, asteroids lack any comet-like characteristics. To be classified as an asteroid, objects need to have a diameter larger than one metre.&nbsp;

The Tunguska event

On June 30, 1908 an explosion of celestial proportions took place near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Yeniseysk Governorate (now known as Krasnoyarsk Krai) in Russia. Due to its historical significance, June 30 is vastly known for the “Tunguska Event”.

In the aftermath of the explosion in the eastern Siberian Taiga, over 80 million trees spread across 2,150 square kilometres (830 square miles) of forest were flattened. According to archival eyewitness records, at least three people may have died in the event, although it's impossible to ascertain the real number.

<img alt="asteroid" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fdb0baba-bd78-4d3f-8ee7-fdbabfcd6d0c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_45.jpg" />

Even though no impact crater was found, scientists remain confident that the disaster was caused by a stony object measuring upto 100 metres (330 feet), which is believed to have disintegrated at an altitude of 5-10 kilometres instead of directly hitting the Earth's surface.

Dangers posed by asteroids

According to B612 Foundation, which is a non-profit dedicated to planetary science especially on defence mechanisms against other objects in space, it’s certain that at some point in Earth’s life-cycle, it would be hit by an asteroid, but the foundation claims it’s still unsure when such a catastrophe would strike.&nbsp;

In his final book, Stephen Hawking had also referred to an asteroid collision as the biggest threat to planet Earth.&nbsp;

Major countries of the world are ill-prepared to tackle a potential collision. In a US Congress testimony in 2013, it was revealed that NASA would require almost five years of time to launch any mission requiring interception of an asteroid.&nbsp;

(Images: Wikimedia Commons)

June 30 is observed as the annual Asteroid Day, marking the anniversary of most dangerous asteroid-related event to happen on Earth in the planet’s known history - the Tunguska impact over Siberia.

June 30 is observed as the annual Asteroid Day, marking the anniversary of most dangerous asteroid-related event to happen on Earth in the planet’s known history - the Tunguska impact over Siberia. Asteroid Day aims to spread awareness about the dangers posed by cosmic entities to Earth and ways to protect the planet, its inhabitants, as well as to mitigate potential disaster events in the future. The history of Asteroid Day Co-founded by late genius Stephen Hawking and a varied pool of personalities like filmmaker Grigorij Richets and Queen’s guitarist Brian May, the declaration was signed by 200 astronauts, scientists, and artists including engineer and part-time TV presenter Bill Nye and the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. Officially known as the “100X Declaration”, the instrument has received 22,000 signatures from private citizens, all of whom are not necessarily specialists. The declaration calls for improving the discovery rate of asteroids to 100,000 per year, hoping to achieve a 100-fold increase over the next decade. What are asteroids? Asteroids are minor planets situated in the inner solar system. Large asteroids are sometimes called “planetoids”. There are millions of asteroids in our solar system that hail from violent events in our solar system and bodies that never grew large enough to become planets. Most asteroids can be located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Composed mainly of minerals and rocks, asteroids are often confused with comets, which are made of dust and ice. Owing the proximity to our Sun, asteroids lack any comet-like characteristics. To be classified as an asteroid, objects need to have a diameter larger than one metre. The Tunguska event On June 30, 1908 an explosion of celestial proportions took place near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Yeniseysk Governorate (now known as Krasnoyarsk Krai) in Russia. Due to its historical significance, June 30 is vastly known for the “Tunguska Event”. In the aftermath of the explosion in the eastern Siberian Taiga, over 80 million trees spread across 2,150 square kilometres (830 square miles) of forest were flattened. According to archival eyewitness records, at least three people may have died in the event, although it's impossible to ascertain the real number. Even though no impact crater was found, scientists remain confident that the disaster was caused by a stony object measuring upto 100 metres (330 feet), which is believed to have disintegrated at an altitude of 5-10 kilometres instead of directly hitting the Earth's surface. Dangers posed by asteroids According to B612 Foundation, which is a non-profit dedicated to planetary science especially on defence mechanisms against other objects in space, it’s certain that at some point in Earth’s life-cycle, it would be hit by an asteroid, but the foundation claims it’s still unsure when such a catastrophe would strike. In his final book, Stephen Hawking had also referred to an asteroid collision as the biggest threat to planet Earth. Major countries of the world are ill-prepared to tackle a potential collision. In a US Congress testimony in 2013, it was revealed that NASA would require almost five years of time to launch any mission requiring interception of an asteroid. (Images: Wikimedia Commons)

World Asteroid Day 2021: How prepared are we for a dangerous collision?

The universe holds secrets we’re not completely programmed to understand. But humanity is always at the cusp of a breakthrough when it comes to knowledge accumulation and the new 3D map of our solar system proves just that!

Ever thought about what lies at the edge of our very own solar system? Turns out, it’s a blob!&nbsp;

What's the edge of our solar system?

The edge of our system is where cosmic forces collide. On one edge lies solar wind comprising charged particles that emanate from the Sun. On the other side lie winds of space, laden with radiation absorbed from billions of stars situated nearby.

Solar winds or flares cause blackouts on Earth every once in a while but otherwise do an excellent job of protecting the planet from space radiation.

According to LiveScience, the solar winds wrap our solar system in a protective layer, preventing 70 per cent of space radiation from entering our system. Earth’s own magnetic shield does the job of protecting us from the leftover radiation.

This protective layer is called the heliosphere and its edge is called heliopause. At this junction lies a physical border where our solar system ends and the outside space begins.&nbsp;

What does the 3D map reveal?

On June 10, a new study in the Astrophysical Journal revealed the first 3D map of the heliosphere ever.

To achieve this, scientists used data collected by NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer satellite over 10 years. Using this, they tracked particles in solar winds that travel from the Sun to the edge of solar system and back.

Based on this, they calculated how far the solar wind was able to go before being blown back by interstellar radiation. This allowed the researchers to map the edges of our solar system.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/we-finally-know-what-causes-mesmerising-auroras-in-polar-night-skies-393085" hreflang="en">We finally know what causes mesmerising auroras in polar night skies!</a>

The map shows how the heliosphere isn’t really a sphere, but a squishy looking blob-like entity with inconsistent borders. In one end the border is thick while it is extremely thin on the other side.

This is because the Sun is also locked in orbit at the centre of the Milky Way, akin to Earth’s orbit around Sun. In one direction, the Sun has more scope of pushing out solar winds that counter interstellar radiation, explaining the inconsistency of the border.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-scientists-discover-four-near-earth-asteroids-in-nasa-backed-research-programme-393060" hreflang="en">Indian scientists discover four near-Earth asteroids in NASA-backed research programme</a>

The universe holds secrets we’re not completely programmed to understand. But humanity is always at the cusp of a breakthrough when it comes to knowledge accumulation and the new 3D map of our solar system proves just that!

The universe holds secrets we’re not completely programmed to understand. But humanity is always at the cusp of a breakthrough when it comes to knowledge accumulation and the new 3D map of our solar system proves just that! Ever thought about what lies at the edge of our very own solar system? Turns out, it’s a blob! What's the edge of our solar system? The edge of our system is where cosmic forces collide. On one edge lies solar wind comprising charged particles that emanate from the Sun. On the other side lie winds of space, laden with radiation absorbed from billions of stars situated nearby. Solar winds or flares cause blackouts on Earth every once in a while but otherwise do an excellent job of protecting the planet from space radiation. According to LiveScience, the solar winds wrap our solar system in a protective layer, preventing 70 per cent of space radiation from entering our system. Earth’s own magnetic shield does the job of protecting us from the leftover radiation. This protective layer is called the heliosphere and its edge is called heliopause. At this junction lies a physical border where our solar system ends and the outside space begins. What does the 3D map reveal? On June 10, a new study in the Astrophysical Journal revealed the first 3D map of the heliosphere ever. To achieve this, scientists used data collected by NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer satellite over 10 years. Using this, they tracked particles in solar winds that travel from the Sun to the edge of solar system and back. Based on this, they calculated how far the solar wind was able to go before being blown back by interstellar radiation. This allowed the researchers to map the edges of our solar system. Also read: We finally know what causes mesmerising auroras in polar night skies! The map shows how the heliosphere isn’t really a sphere, but a squishy looking blob-like entity with inconsistent borders. In one end the border is thick while it is extremely thin on the other side. This is because the Sun is also locked in orbit at the centre of the Milky Way, akin to Earth’s orbit around Sun. In one direction, the Sun has more scope of pushing out solar winds that counter interstellar radiation, explaining the inconsistency of the border. Also read: Indian scientists discover four near-Earth asteroids in NASA-backed research programme

In a first, new 3D map reveals details about the edge of our solar system

Humans have been on Earth for just a fraction of its existence. The planet has a life, mind and nature or its own, so to speak. A lot keeps on happening without human even being aware of it, let alone having power to control it.&nbsp;

Now scientists have found that Earth has a 'heartbeat' and a even a 'pulse' of 27.5 million years. And we don't know what causes it. Michael Rampino, a Geologist of New York University led the team that carried out the study.&nbsp;

The 'heartbeat' is of clustered geological events. Scientists have found that major events such mass extinction, where major chunk of life on Earth died out, happened at the time of this 'pulse'. It is not the only catastrophic event that occurred around the pulse but others such as volcanic eruptions, sea-level fluctuations, intraplate magmatism, changes in seafloor and others.

The scientists found that most of these calamitous incidents happened over geologically small period of time every 27.5 million years. However, there is no firm reason for existence of this cycle

So does this mean that we are doomed? End of humanity is just around the corner?

Well we can take heart in knowing that scientists who did this study predict that the next such pulse is 20 million years away.

The study has been published in the scientific journal Geoscience Frontiers.

Humans have been on Earth for just a fraction of its existence. The planet has a life, mind and nature or its own, so to speak. A lot keeps on happening without human even being aware of it, let alone having power to control it.

Humans have been on Earth for just a fraction of its existence. The planet has a life, mind and nature or its own, so to speak. A lot keeps on happening without human even being aware of it, let alone having power to control it. Now scientists have found that Earth has a 'heartbeat' and a even a 'pulse' of 27.5 million years. And we don't know what causes it. Michael Rampino, a Geologist of New York University led the team that carried out the study. The 'heartbeat' is of clustered geological events. Scientists have found that major events such mass extinction, where major chunk of life on Earth died out, happened at the time of this 'pulse'. It is not the only catastrophic event that occurred around the pulse but others such as volcanic eruptions, sea-level fluctuations, intraplate magmatism, changes in seafloor and others. The scientists found that most of these calamitous incidents happened over geologically small period of time every 27.5 million years. However, there is no firm reason for existence of this cycle So does this mean that we are doomed? End of humanity is just around the corner? Well we can take heart in knowing that scientists who did this study predict that the next such pulse is 20 million years away. The study has been published in the scientific journal Geoscience Frontiers.

Earth has a 'heartbeat' and nobody knows what causes it

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