A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bodies-of-23-myanmar-landslide-victims-found-official-155663">landslide at a Myanmar jade mine</a> killed 14 people including at least one policemen in the early hours of Sunday as earth and mud engulfed a guard post, and four people were missing and feared dead, police said.

The jade hub of Hpakant, in Kachin State in the north of the country, is frequently hit by deadly accidents, despite government pledges to clean up the lucrative mining industry.

In April, 55 mining company employees were killed when a pond up to a slope from where they were digging breached its banks, leading authorities to suspended 17 mining blocks over safety concerns.

The police chief in the area, Than Win Aung, told Reuters from the accident site that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/landslide-at-myanmar-jade-mine-kills-at-least-15-injures-45-official-151691">14 bodies had been recovered </a>and four people, two of them policemen who were guarding the mining site, were missing and feared dead.

"We were able to rescue two members of the police who only injured their heads, and sent them to hospital," he said.

One policeman was confirmed dead, he said.

The government has ordered all mining activity in Hpakant to cease during Myanmar's May-October monsoon season, but people in the area say scavengers still scour tailing piles for jade.

"The companies aren't operating because of the water," said Than Win Aung. "Security people are on duty to prevent landslides due to illegal mining."

Yau Dau, 25, who lives next to the mining site, said the landslide happened after midnight.

"I was still awake. The sound of the landslide was frightening. I thought we're gone ... our house was shaking," he said.

Official sales of jade in Myanmar were worth 671 million euros ($750.04 million) in 2016-17, according to the most recent data published by the government as part of an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

But analysts believe the true value of the industry, which mainly exports to China, is much larger.

A landslide at a Myanmar jade mine killed 14 people including at least one policemen in the early hours of Sunday as earth and mud engulfed a guard post, and four people were missing and feared dead, police said.

A landslide at a Myanmar jade mine killed 14 people including at least one policemen in the early hours of Sunday as earth and mud engulfed a guard post, and four people were missing and feared dead, police said. The jade hub of Hpakant, in Kachin State in the north of the country, is frequently hit by deadly accidents, despite government pledges to clean up the lucrative mining industry. In April, 55 mining company employees were killed when a pond up to a slope from where they were digging breached its banks, leading authorities to suspended 17 mining blocks over safety concerns. The police chief in the area, Than Win Aung, told Reuters from the accident site that 14 bodies had been recovered and four people, two of them policemen who were guarding the mining site, were missing and feared dead. "We were able to rescue two members of the police who only injured their heads, and sent them to hospital," he said. One policeman was confirmed dead, he said. The government has ordered all mining activity in Hpakant to cease during Myanmar's May-October monsoon season, but people in the area say scavengers still scour tailing piles for jade. "The companies aren't operating because of the water," said Than Win Aung. "Security people are on duty to prevent landslides due to illegal mining." Yau Dau, 25, who lives next to the mining site, said the landslide happened after midnight. "I was still awake. The sound of the landslide was frightening. I thought we're gone ... our house was shaking," he said. Official sales of jade in Myanmar were worth 671 million euros ($750.04 million) in 2016-17, according to the most recent data published by the government as part of an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. But analysts believe the true value of the industry, which mainly exports to China, is much larger.

Police among 18 feared killed in landslide at Myanmar jade mine

A suspected meteorite the size of a football plunged into a rice field in Madhubani's Laukahi, Bihar startling farmers to the point of amazement, authorities said Thursday. The stone that weighed 10 kg was brought to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's notice who inspected it with high interest.&nbsp;

Onlookers said the light brown-coloured object sent them fleeing from the field when it fell at their rural village on Wednesday afternoon, sending up smoke.

"The farmers were working in the paddy field when this heavy rock fell from the sky with a very loud noise," Shirsat Kapil Ashok, the magistrate for Madhubani district in Bihar state, told AFP.&nbsp;

The villagers returned after the smoke subsided and pulled the rock out from its four-feet-deep crater.

"We saw it has very strong magnetic properties, some shine and weighs around 15 kilograms (33 pounds)," Ashok added.

The find is being analysed by scientists as a possible meteorite.

Meteors are particles of dust and rock that usually burn up as they pass through Earth's atmosphere, with those that survive the fall known as meteorites.

In 2016 authorities in southern India's Tamil Nadu state said a meteorite killed a bus driver and injured three others.&nbsp;

While Indian scientists backed the claim of the regional authorities, the US space agency NASA later said did not believe the object was a meteorite.

In February 2013 a meteorite plunged over Russia's Ural Mountains, creating a shockwave that injured around 1,200 people and damaged thousands of homes.

A suspected meteorite the size of a football plunged into a rice field in Madhubani's Laukahi, Bihar startling farmers to the point of amazement, authorities said Thursday.

A suspected meteorite the size of a football plunged into a rice field in Madhubani's Laukahi, Bihar startling farmers to the point of amazement, authorities said Thursday. The stone that weighed 10 kg was brought to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's notice who inspected it with high interest. Onlookers said the light brown-coloured object sent them fleeing from the field when it fell at their rural village on Wednesday afternoon, sending up smoke. "The farmers were working in the paddy field when this heavy rock fell from the sky with a very loud noise," Shirsat Kapil Ashok, the magistrate for Madhubani district in Bihar state, told AFP. The villagers returned after the smoke subsided and pulled the rock out from its four-feet-deep crater. "We saw it has very strong magnetic properties, some shine and weighs around 15 kilograms (33 pounds)," Ashok added. The find is being analysed by scientists as a possible meteorite. Meteors are particles of dust and rock that usually burn up as they pass through Earth's atmosphere, with those that survive the fall known as meteorites. In 2016 authorities in southern India's Tamil Nadu state said a meteorite killed a bus driver and injured three others. While Indian scientists backed the claim of the regional authorities, the US space agency NASA later said did not believe the object was a meteorite. In February 2013 a meteorite plunged over Russia's Ural Mountains, creating a shockwave that injured around 1,200 people and damaged thousands of homes.

India farmers shocked as suspected meteorite crashes into rice field

India will be able to see the partial lunar eclipse on July 17 beginning at 1:31am.

The Moon will enter penumbra on Wednesday around 12.12 am, after which the moon will enter umbra at 1:31am. The maximum of partial lunar eclipse 2019 will be witnessed around 3am.

The country can witness a three-hour-long partial lunar eclipse when the earth will move between the sun and the moon.

The celestial phenomenon will also be visible to South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

It is a good opportunity for all the skywatchers as the next lunar eclipse will be visible on May 26, 2021.

Unlike the solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye.

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the earth moves between the sun and the moon but they do not form a straight line.

India will be able to see the partial lunar eclipse on July 17 beginning at 1:31am. The Moon will enter penumbra on Wednesday around 12.12 am, after which the moon will enter umbra at 1:31am.

India will be able to see the partial lunar eclipse on July 17 beginning at 1:31am. The Moon will enter penumbra on Wednesday around 12.12 am, after which the moon will enter umbra at 1:31am. The maximum of partial lunar eclipse 2019 will be witnessed around 3am. The country can witness a three-hour-long partial lunar eclipse when the earth will move between the sun and the moon. The celestial phenomenon will also be visible to South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. It is a good opportunity for all the skywatchers as the next lunar eclipse will be visible on May 26, 2021. Unlike the solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the earth moves between the sun and the moon but they do not form a straight line.

Here's when you can see partial lunar eclipse in India

Chandrayaan-2: ISRO gears up to launch second sojourn to the moon

Gravitas: Why moon exploration is back in fashion?

A recent study has suggested that the process of reforestation around the world would be the most effective method to combat <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tornado-hits-northeast-china-as-more-extreme-weather-strikes-six-killed-190-injured-232916">climate change</a>.

Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions.

Researchers investigated nature-based solutions to climate change. In the latest study published in the journal 'Science', researchers for the first time, showed where in the world new trees could grow and how much carbon they would store.

"One aspect was of particular importance to us as we did the calculations, we excluded cities or agricultural areas from the total restoration potential as these areas are needed for human life," study lead author Jean-Francois Bastin explained.

The researchers calculated that under the current climate conditions, Earth's land could support 4.4 billion hectares of continuous tree cover. That is 1.6 billion more than the currently existing 2.8 billion hectares.

Of these 1.6 billion hectares, 0.9 billion hectares fulfil the criterion of not being used by humans. This means that there is currently an area of the size of the US available for tree restoration.

Once mature, these new forests could store 205 billion tonnes of carbon,&nbsp;about two-thirds of the 300 billion tonnes of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere as a result of human activity since the Industrial Revolution.

"We all knew that restoring forests could play a part in tackling climate change, but we didn't really know how big the impact would be. Our study shows clearly that forest restoration is the best climate change solution available today. But we must act quickly, as new forests will take decades to mature and achieve their full potential as a source of natural carbon storage," said co-author of the study, Prof. Thomas Crowther.

The study also shows which parts of the world are most suited to forest restoration.

The greatest potential can be found in just six countries:

Russia (151 million hectares)&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-china-is-afraid-of-us-abrams-tanks-to-be-delivered-to-taiwan-234260#us-army-infantry-battalions-m1-abrams-tanks-234232">US</a> (103 million hectares)

Canada (78.4 million hectares)

Australia (58 million hectares)

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-slams-brazil-fix-after-copa-red-card-233729/amp">Brazil</a> (49.7 million hectares)

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sale-of-weapons-to-taiwan-violates-one-china-policy-cancel-it-immediately-china-to-us-234236">China</a> (40.2 million hectares).

Many current climate models are wrong in expecting climate change to increase global tree cover, the study warns. It finds that there is likely to be an increase in the area of northern boreal forests in regions such as Siberia, but tree cover there averages only 30 to 40 per cent.&nbsp;

These gains would be outweighed by the losses suffered in dense tropical forests, which typically have 90 to 100 per cent tree cover.

A recent study has suggested that the process of reforestation around the world would be the most effective method to combat climate change. Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions.

A recent study has suggested that the process of reforestation around the world would be the most effective method to combat climate change. Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions. Researchers investigated nature-based solutions to climate change. In the latest study published in the journal 'Science', researchers for the first time, showed where in the world new trees could grow and how much carbon they would store. "One aspect was of particular importance to us as we did the calculations, we excluded cities or agricultural areas from the total restoration potential as these areas are needed for human life," study lead author Jean-Francois Bastin explained. The researchers calculated that under the current climate conditions, Earth's land could support 4.4 billion hectares of continuous tree cover. That is 1.6 billion more than the currently existing 2.8 billion hectares. Of these 1.6 billion hectares, 0.9 billion hectares fulfil the criterion of not being used by humans. This means that there is currently an area of the size of the US available for tree restoration. Once mature, these new forests could store 205 billion tonnes of carbon, about two-thirds of the 300 billion tonnes of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere as a result of human activity since the Industrial Revolution. "We all knew that restoring forests could play a part in tackling climate change, but we didn't really know how big the impact would be. Our study shows clearly that forest restoration is the best climate change solution available today. But we must act quickly, as new forests will take decades to mature and achieve their full potential as a source of natural carbon storage," said co-author of the study, Prof. Thomas Crowther. The study also shows which parts of the world are most suited to forest restoration. The greatest potential can be found in just six countries: Russia (151 million hectares) US (103 million hectares) Canada (78.4 million hectares) Australia (58 million hectares) Brazil (49.7 million hectares) China (40.2 million hectares). Many current climate models are wrong in expecting climate change to increase global tree cover, the study warns. It finds that there is likely to be an increase in the area of northern boreal forests in regions such as Siberia, but tree cover there averages only 30 to 40 per cent. These gains would be outweighed by the losses suffered in dense tropical forests, which typically have 90 to 100 per cent tree cover.

Experts find land as big as US for reforestation to reverse climate change effects

When solar eclipse plunged Argentina, Peru and Chile into darkness

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/change-4-mission-chinas-second-probe-into-moon-189547">China's Chang'e-4 mission</a>, the first to perform a soft landing on the far side of the Moon, has shed light on the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar mantle, an advance that could unravel the mystery of the evolution of Earth and its natural satellite.

The Chinese spacecraft became the first misson to land on the lunar far side also known as the dark side of the moon in January. The rover Yutu-2 then rolled off the lander to explore its surroundings.

Using data obtained by the visible and near infrared spectrometer installed on Yutu-2, a research team led by Li Chunlai, with the National Astronomical Observatories of China under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found that the lunar soil in the landing area of the Chang'e-4 probe contains olivine and pyroxene which came from the lunar mantle deep inside the Moon.

The first important scientific discovery of the Chang'e-4 probe was published online in the latest issue of the academic journal Nature.

The Moon comprises a core, mantle and crust, like the Earth. With the evolution of lunar magma, the light plagioclase rose to the upper layer to form the lunar crust, while the heavier olivine and pyroxene sank to form the lunar mantle, Li said.

"But since the lunar crust is very thick, and there has been no volcanic activity and plate movement on the Moon for billions of years, it's hard to find materials from the lunar mantle on the surface," Li told state-run Xinhua news agency.

As a result of the tidal locking effect, the Moon's revolution cycle is the same as its rotation cycle, and the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

The lunar far side, which is turned away from Earth, is more rugged than the familiar near side and has fewer "maria" - dark plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.

The rover landed inside a 180 kilometre wide impact bowl called Von Karman crater.

But that smaller crater lies within the 2,300 kilometer wide South Pole Aitken (SPA) Basin, which covers nearly a quarter of the Moon's circumference.

It is not known exactly how old the SPA Basin is, but is thought to be at least 3.9 billion years old. The asteroid that carved it out is thought to have been about 170-kilometer wide, BBC reported.

The rover has now identified rocks with a very different chemical make-up to those found elsewhere on the moon, the report said.

Early results from the rover's Visible and Near Infrared Spectrometer (VNIS) suggest the rocks contain minerals known as low-calcium (ortho)pyroxene and olivine.

They fit the profile of rocks from the lunar mantle and suggest that the ancient impact that created the SPA drove right through the 50-kilometer deep crust into the mantle.

Observational data taken by the Moon-orbiting spacecraft have been inconclusive as to the presence of mantle rocks on the surface.

The authors of the paper want to continue their examination of these rocks and find others.

They have also raised the possibility of sending another mission to deliver some of them to Earth for study in laboratories.

The results could now help scientists understand the chemical and mineralogical composition of the mantle, which could shed light on the origins and evolution of the moon itself, it said.

The team members also want to find out more about what happened after the asteroid collided with the Moon and formed the SPA Basin.

Scientists predict that the hole in the surface may have been filled by molten rock - forming a "melt sheet" within the impact bowl, which complicates the picture of this region's geology.

Patrick Pinet, from the Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP) in Toulouse, France, called the results "thrilling" and said they "could have considerable implications for characterising the composition of the Moon's upper mantle".

"It is of the utmost importance to make progress towards unpacking the geology of the lunar far side, expanding our fundamental knowledge of the Moon's formation and the origin of the crustal asymmetry that exists between its near and far sides, and preparing future sample-return missions," he said.

Analysis showed the lunar soil in the landing area contains a large amount of olivine, low-calcium pyroxene and a small amount of high-calcium pyroxene, which are very likely from the lunar mantle, Li said.

China's Chang'e-4 mission, the first to perform a soft landing on the far side of the Moon, has shed light on the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar mantle, an advance that could unravel the mystery of the evolution of Earth and its natural satellite.

China's Chang'e-4 mission, the first to perform a soft landing on the far side of the Moon, has shed light on the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar mantle, an advance that could unravel the mystery of the evolution of Earth and its natural satellite. The Chinese spacecraft became the first misson to land on the lunar far side also known as the dark side of the moon in January. The rover Yutu-2 then rolled off the lander to explore its surroundings. Using data obtained by the visible and near infrared spectrometer installed on Yutu-2, a research team led by Li Chunlai, with the National Astronomical Observatories of China under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found that the lunar soil in the landing area of the Chang'e-4 probe contains olivine and pyroxene which came from the lunar mantle deep inside the Moon. The first important scientific discovery of the Chang'e-4 probe was published online in the latest issue of the academic journal Nature. The Moon comprises a core, mantle and crust, like the Earth. With the evolution of lunar magma, the light plagioclase rose to the upper layer to form the lunar crust, while the heavier olivine and pyroxene sank to form the lunar mantle, Li said. "But since the lunar crust is very thick, and there has been no volcanic activity and plate movement on the Moon for billions of years, it's hard to find materials from the lunar mantle on the surface," Li told state-run Xinhua news agency. As a result of the tidal locking effect, the Moon's revolution cycle is the same as its rotation cycle, and the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. The lunar far side, which is turned away from Earth, is more rugged than the familiar near side and has fewer "maria" - dark plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. The rover landed inside a 180 kilometre wide impact bowl called Von Karman crater. But that smaller crater lies within the 2,300 kilometer wide South Pole Aitken (SPA) Basin, which covers nearly a quarter of the Moon's circumference. It is not known exactly how old the SPA Basin is, but is thought to be at least 3.9 billion years old. The asteroid that carved it out is thought to have been about 170-kilometer wide, BBC reported. The rover has now identified rocks with a very different chemical make-up to those found elsewhere on the moon, the report said. Early results from the rover's Visible and Near Infrared Spectrometer (VNIS) suggest the rocks contain minerals known as low-calcium (ortho)pyroxene and olivine. They fit the profile of rocks from the lunar mantle and suggest that the ancient impact that created the SPA drove right through the 50-kilometer deep crust into the mantle. Observational data taken by the Moon-orbiting spacecraft have been inconclusive as to the presence of mantle rocks on the surface. The authors of the paper want to continue their examination of these rocks and find others. They have also raised the possibility of sending another mission to deliver some of them to Earth for study in laboratories. The results could now help scientists understand the chemical and mineralogical composition of the mantle, which could shed light on the origins and evolution of the moon itself, it said. The team members also want to find out more about what happened after the asteroid collided with the Moon and formed the SPA Basin. Scientists predict that the hole in the surface may have been filled by molten rock - forming a "melt sheet" within the impact bowl, which complicates the picture of this region's geology. Patrick Pinet, from the Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP) in Toulouse, France, called the results "thrilling" and said they "could have considerable implications for characterising the composition of the Moon's upper mantle". "It is of the utmost importance to make progress towards unpacking the geology of the lunar far side, expanding our fundamental knowledge of the Moon's formation and the origin of the crustal asymmetry that exists between its near and far sides, and preparing future sample-return missions," he said. Analysis showed the lunar soil in the landing area contains a large amount of olivine, low-calcium pyroxene and a small amount of high-calcium pyroxene, which are very likely from the lunar mantle, Li said.

Chinese rover sheds light on lunar mantle, may help unlock secrets of Earth, Moon's evolution

Scientists in the United States have detected the highest levels of planet-warming carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere since records began, sounding new alarm over the relentless rise of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, which has tracked atmospheric CO2 levels since the late 1950s, on Saturday morning detected 415.26 parts per million (ppm). It was also the first time on record that the observatory measured a daily baseline above 415 ppm.

Atmospheric CO2 levels just hit a scary new milestone

Relentless pursuit of economic growth, twinned with the impact of climate change, has put an "unprecedented" one million species at risk of extinction, scientists said on Monday in a landmark report on the damage done by modern civilisation to the natural world.

Only a wide-ranging transformation of the global economic and financial system could pull ecosystems that are vital to the future of human communities worldwide back from the brink of collapse, concluded the report, which was endorsed by 130 countries, including the United States, Russia and China.

"The essential, interconnected web of life on Earth is getting smaller and increasingly frayed," said Professor Josef Settele, who co-chaired the study, launched in Paris on Monday by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

"This loss is a direct result of human activity and constitutes a direct threat to human well-being in all regions of the world."

Compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries, the study is a cornerstone of an emerging body of research that suggests the world may need to embrace a new "post-growth" form of economics if it is to avert the existential risks posed by the mutually-reinforcing consequences of pollution, habitat destruction and carbon emissions.

Known as the Global Assessment, the report found that up to one million of Earth's estimated eight million plant, insect and animal species is at risk of extinction, many within decades.

The authors identified industrial farming and fishing as major drivers – with the current rate of species extinction tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the last 10 million years.

Climate change caused by burning the coal, oil and gas produced by the fossil fuel industry is exacerbating the losses, the report found.

Change needed at every level

Robert Watson, a British environmental scientist who chairs the IPBES, said it would be possible to start conserving, restoring and using nature sustainably only if societies were prepared to confront "vested interests" committed to preserving the status quo.

"The report also tells us that it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global," Watson said in a statement.

"By transformative change, we mean a fundamental, system-wide reorganization across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values."

The report's blunt language echoed the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which said in October that profound economic and social changes would be needed to curb greenhouse gases quickly enough to avert the most devastating consequences of a warming world.

The findings will also add to pressure for countries to agree bold action to protect wildlife at a major conference on biodiversity due to take place in China towards the end of next year, a focal point for governments and campaigners.

The Global Assessment contained a litany of estimates made after a three-year review of some 15,000 scientific papers that showed the profound impact of the rise of a globalised industrial society on the planet over the past half-century.

Combining wide-ranging disciplines to measure how the loss of the natural world affects human societies, the report identified a range of risks, from the disappearance of insects vital for pollinating food crops, to the destruction of coral reefs that support fish populations that sustain coastal communities, or the loss of medicinal plants.

The report found that the average abundance of native species in most major land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20 per cent, mostly since 1900.

The threatened list includes more than 40 per cent of amphibian species, almost 33 per cent of reef-forming corals, and more than a third of all marine mammals. The picture was less clear for insect species, but a tentative estimate suggests 10 per cent are at risk of extinction.

"We have been running from one frontier to another frontier trying to find cheap nature (to exploit) in every corner of the planet," Eduardo Brondizio, a professor of anthropology at Indiana University in the United States who co-chaired the Global Assessment, told Reuters.

Relentless pursuit of economic growth, twinned with the impact of climate change, has put an "unprecedented" one million species at risk of extinction, scientists said on Monday in a landmark report on the damage done by modern civilisation to the natural world.

Relentless pursuit of economic growth, twinned with the impact of climate change, has put an "unprecedented" one million species at risk of extinction, scientists said on Monday in a landmark report on the damage done by modern civilisation to the natural world. Only a wide-ranging transformation of the global economic and financial system could pull ecosystems that are vital to the future of human communities worldwide back from the brink of collapse, concluded the report, which was endorsed by 130 countries, including the United States, Russia and China. "The essential, interconnected web of life on Earth is getting smaller and increasingly frayed," said Professor Josef Settele, who co-chaired the study, launched in Paris on Monday by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). "This loss is a direct result of human activity and constitutes a direct threat to human well-being in all regions of the world." Compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries, the study is a cornerstone of an emerging body of research that suggests the world may need to embrace a new "post-growth" form of economics if it is to avert the existential risks posed by the mutually-reinforcing consequences of pollution, habitat destruction and carbon emissions. Known as the Global Assessment, the report found that up to one million of Earth's estimated eight million plant, insect and animal species is at risk of extinction, many within decades. The authors identified industrial farming and fishing as major drivers – with the current rate of species extinction tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the last 10 million years. Climate change caused by burning the coal, oil and gas produced by the fossil fuel industry is exacerbating the losses, the report found. Change needed at every level Robert Watson, a British environmental scientist who chairs the IPBES, said it would be possible to start conserving, restoring and using nature sustainably only if societies were prepared to confront "vested interests" committed to preserving the status quo. "The report also tells us that it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global," Watson said in a statement. "By transformative change, we mean a fundamental, system-wide reorganization across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values." The report's blunt language echoed the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which said in October that profound economic and social changes would be needed to curb greenhouse gases quickly enough to avert the most devastating consequences of a warming world. The findings will also add to pressure for countries to agree bold action to protect wildlife at a major conference on biodiversity due to take place in China towards the end of next year, a focal point for governments and campaigners. The Global Assessment contained a litany of estimates made after a three-year review of some 15,000 scientific papers that showed the profound impact of the rise of a globalised industrial society on the planet over the past half-century. Combining wide-ranging disciplines to measure how the loss of the natural world affects human societies, the report identified a range of risks, from the disappearance of insects vital for pollinating food crops, to the destruction of coral reefs that support fish populations that sustain coastal communities, or the loss of medicinal plants. The report found that the average abundance of native species in most major land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20 per cent, mostly since 1900. The threatened list includes more than 40 per cent of amphibian species, almost 33 per cent of reef-forming corals, and more than a third of all marine mammals. The picture was less clear for insect species, but a tentative estimate suggests 10 per cent are at risk of extinction. "We have been running from one frontier to another frontier trying to find cheap nature (to exploit) in every corner of the planet," Eduardo Brondizio, a professor of anthropology at Indiana University in the United States who co-chaired the Global Assessment, told Reuters.

One million species risk extinction due to modern civilisation: Scientists

In pics: Temperatures soar to near 50 as heatwave hits southeast Australia

Australian towns were among the hottest places on Earth this week as a severe heatwave hit the continent's southeast, with forecasters warning of more record-breaking temperatures before the weekend.

The past four days were among the country's top 10 warmest on record, with temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in some spots, the Bureau of Meteorology said Wednesday.

"With South Australia breaking some all-time records yesterday, it would certainly put this region as one of the warmest parts of the world yesterday, if not the warmest," the bureau's senior meteorologist Philip Perkins told AFP.

"The places that broke records yesterday are already warmer at this time today as they were yesterday."

High temperatures are not unusual in Australia during its arid southern hemisphere summer, with bushfires a common occurrence.

But climate change has pushed up land and sea temperatures and led to more extremely hot days and severe fire seasons.

Among the towns in South Australia state experiencing their hottest temperatures on record Tuesday was tiny Tarcoola in the region's far north, which reached 49 degrees Celsius.

The city of Port Augusta recorded a temperature of 48.9 degrees Celsius, almost one degree higher than its previous record set on February 7, 2009 -- the same day Victoria state endured the devastating "Black Saturday" bushfires that left 173 dead in the nation's worst natural disaster.

The desert town of Coober Pedy -- where some residents live underground to escape the harsh conditions -- equalled its temperature record of 47.4 degrees Celsius.

In the state's capital Adelaide, where cycling's Tour Down Under and the cricket One Day International between Australia and India were being held, athletes sweltered through a maximum temperature of 41.9 degree Celsius.

Overnight temperatures were also set to remain high, before a rapid change to cooler conditions from late Thursday when a cold front currently over the Southern Ocean sweeps across southern Australia, Perkins said.

"Everything's sort of a bit of a pressure cooker at the moment, and everything's getting hotter and more humid and we're all doing a slow clap waiting for this change to come through," he added.

Australia's creatures, already battered by a drought plaguing the east of the vast continent, are also feeling the heat.

Up to one million fish are believed to have died along the banks of a major river system, with authorities warning of more deaths to come as temperatures soar.

The New South Wales state government said it would install aerators in some waterways to keep the levels of oxygen up for fish to reduce the likelihood of more mass deaths.

Australian towns were among the hottest places on Earth this week as a severe heatwave hit the continent's southeast, with forecasters warning of more record-breaking temperatures before the weekend.

Australian towns were among the hottest places on Earth this week as a severe heatwave hit the continent's southeast, with forecasters warning of more record-breaking temperatures before the weekend. The past four days were among the country's top 10 warmest on record, with temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in some spots, the Bureau of Meteorology said Wednesday. "With South Australia breaking some all-time records yesterday, it would certainly put this region as one of the warmest parts of the world yesterday, if not the warmest," the bureau's senior meteorologist Philip Perkins told AFP. "The places that broke records yesterday are already warmer at this time today as they were yesterday." High temperatures are not unusual in Australia during its arid southern hemisphere summer, with bushfires a common occurrence. But climate change has pushed up land and sea temperatures and led to more extremely hot days and severe fire seasons. Among the towns in South Australia state experiencing their hottest temperatures on record Tuesday was tiny Tarcoola in the region's far north, which reached 49 degrees Celsius. The city of Port Augusta recorded a temperature of 48.9 degrees Celsius, almost one degree higher than its previous record set on February 7, 2009 -- the same day Victoria state endured the devastating "Black Saturday" bushfires that left 173 dead in the nation's worst natural disaster. The desert town of Coober Pedy -- where some residents live underground to escape the harsh conditions -- equalled its temperature record of 47.4 degrees Celsius. In the state's capital Adelaide, where cycling's Tour Down Under and the cricket One Day International between Australia and India were being held, athletes sweltered through a maximum temperature of 41.9 degree Celsius. Overnight temperatures were also set to remain high, before a rapid change to cooler conditions from late Thursday when a cold front currently over the Southern Ocean sweeps across southern Australia, Perkins said. "Everything's sort of a bit of a pressure cooker at the moment, and everything's getting hotter and more humid and we're all doing a slow clap waiting for this change to come through," he added. Australia's creatures, already battered by a drought plaguing the east of the vast continent, are also feeling the heat. Up to one million fish are believed to have died along the banks of a major river system, with authorities warning of more deaths to come as temperatures soar. The New South Wales state government said it would install aerators in some waterways to keep the levels of oxygen up for fish to reduce the likelihood of more mass deaths.

Australian towns among hottest spots on Earth with temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius

No <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-evolutionary-theory-can-teach-us-about-the-appearance-of-aliens-23464">alien activity</a> was suspected after PMO office ordered an immediate inquiry on the basis of a mail that alien-like elements were found near the house of the man who raised the issue.

At the PMO's direction, Sinhagad road police station started an inquiry and visited the place where the person who mailed the PMO was residing.&nbsp;

After a thorough investigation, it was found that the person is recovering from a brain tumour operation.&nbsp;

After he felt that he saw some alien-like elements next to his house, he wrote an email to PMO office mentioning that aliens were collecting information and sending it to their home planet and they were planning an attack on Earth from their planet.&nbsp;

Notably, the applicant is well qualified and holds a Masters degree in Chemistry.

Senior Police Inspector of Sinhagad Road Police Station Pune, Sardar Patil said: "We have received an application around 15 days back and the person is from Pune who registered a complaint stating that near Sinhagad road there is a forest where he noticed some suspicious activities. In his complaint, he mentioned that some aliens are there who are sending our country`s information to their planet for which they have set up radar and floodlight system."

"According to the claims made by the person, whenever he used to look outside from his window, aliens clicked his pictures and even tried to contact him. But when we reached there, nothing suspicious was found there. His wife told nothing is there. She informed us that her husband had a brain tumour operation recently and he is still recovering," Patil added.

No alien activity was suspected after PMO office ordered an immediate inquiry on the basis of a mail that alien-like elements were found near the house of the man who raised the issue.

No alien activity was suspected after PMO office ordered an immediate inquiry on the basis of a mail that alien-like elements were found near the house of the man who raised the issue. At the PMO's direction, Sinhagad road police station started an inquiry and visited the place where the person who mailed the PMO was residing. After a thorough investigation, it was found that the person is recovering from a brain tumour operation. After he felt that he saw some alien-like elements next to his house, he wrote an email to PMO office mentioning that aliens were collecting information and sending it to their home planet and they were planning an attack on Earth from their planet. Notably, the applicant is well qualified and holds a Masters degree in Chemistry. Senior Police Inspector of Sinhagad Road Police Station Pune, Sardar Patil said: "We have received an application around 15 days back and the person is from Pune who registered a complaint stating that near Sinhagad road there is a forest where he noticed some suspicious activities. In his complaint, he mentioned that some aliens are there who are sending our country`s information to their planet for which they have set up radar and floodlight system." "According to the claims made by the person, whenever he used to look outside from his window, aliens clicked his pictures and even tried to contact him. But when we reached there, nothing suspicious was found there. His wife told nothing is there. She informed us that her husband had a brain tumour operation recently and he is still recovering," Patil added.

Pune: PMO inquiry finds no alien-like activity

Earth's latest ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago may have been caused by changes deep inside the planet, according to a study.

Based on evidence from the Pacific Ocean, including the position of the Hawaiian Islands, geophysicists at Rice University in the US have determined Earth shifted relative to its spin axis within the past 12 million years.

This caused Greenland to move far enough towards the north pole to kick off the ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago.

The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, is based on an analysis of fossil signatures from deep ocean sediments, the magnetic signature of oceanic crust and the position of the mantle "hot spot" that created the Hawaiian Islands.

The evidence suggests Earth spun steadily for millions of years before shifting relative to its spin axis, an effect geophysicists refer to as "true polar wander," researchers said.

"The Hawaiian hot spot was fixed, relative to the spin axis, from about 48 million years ago to about 12 million years ago, but it was fixed at a latitude farther north than we find it today," said Daniel Woodworth, a graduate student at Rice University.

"By comparing the Hawaiian hot spot to the rest of the Earth, we can see that that shift in location was reflected in the rest of the Earth and is superimposed on the motion of tectonic plates," Woodworth said.

"That tells us that the entire Earth moved, relative to the spin axis, which we interpret to be true polar wander," he said.

By volume, Earth is mostly mantle, a thick layer of solid rock that flows under intense pressure and heat.

The mantle is covered by an interlocking puzzle of rocky tectonic plates that ride atop it, bumping and slipping against one another at seismically active boundaries.

Hot spots, like the one beneath Hawaii, are plumes of hot solid rock that rise from deep within the mantle.

"We are taking these hot spots as marked trackers of plumes that come from the deep mantle, and we're using that as our reference frame," said Richard Gordon, a professor at Rice University.

"We think the whole global network of hotspots was fixed, relative to the Earth's spin axis, for at least 36 million years before this shift," Gordon said.

Earth's latest ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago may have been caused by changes deep inside the planet, according to a study. Based on evidence from the Pacific Ocean, including the position of the Hawaiian Islands, geophysicists at Rice University in the US have determined Earth shifted relative to its spin axis within the past 12 million years.

Earth's latest ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago may have been caused by changes deep inside the planet, according to a study. Based on evidence from the Pacific Ocean, including the position of the Hawaiian Islands, geophysicists at Rice University in the US have determined Earth shifted relative to its spin axis within the past 12 million years. This caused Greenland to move far enough towards the north pole to kick off the ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, is based on an analysis of fossil signatures from deep ocean sediments, the magnetic signature of oceanic crust and the position of the mantle "hot spot" that created the Hawaiian Islands. The evidence suggests Earth spun steadily for millions of years before shifting relative to its spin axis, an effect geophysicists refer to as "true polar wander," researchers said. "The Hawaiian hot spot was fixed, relative to the spin axis, from about 48 million years ago to about 12 million years ago, but it was fixed at a latitude farther north than we find it today," said Daniel Woodworth, a graduate student at Rice University. "By comparing the Hawaiian hot spot to the rest of the Earth, we can see that that shift in location was reflected in the rest of the Earth and is superimposed on the motion of tectonic plates," Woodworth said. "That tells us that the entire Earth moved, relative to the spin axis, which we interpret to be true polar wander," he said. By volume, Earth is mostly mantle, a thick layer of solid rock that flows under intense pressure and heat. The mantle is covered by an interlocking puzzle of rocky tectonic plates that ride atop it, bumping and slipping against one another at seismically active boundaries. Hot spots, like the one beneath Hawaii, are plumes of hot solid rock that rise from deep within the mantle. "We are taking these hot spots as marked trackers of plumes that come from the deep mantle, and we're using that as our reference frame," said Richard Gordon, a professor at Rice University. "We think the whole global network of hotspots was fixed, relative to the Earth's spin axis, for at least 36 million years before this shift," Gordon said.

Changes inside Earth may have caused ice age: Study

Unbridled consumption has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/rising-mercury-levels-in-india-posing-threat-to-indias-wildlife--138386">decimated global wildlife</a>, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday.

From 1970 to 2014, 60 percent of all animals with a backbone -- fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals -- were <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-least-23-asiatic-lions-die-in-gir-forest-five-from-rare-virus-169713">wiped out</a> by human activity, according to WWF's "Living Planet" report, based on an ongoing survey of more than 4,000 species spread over 16,700 populations scattered across the globe.

"The situation is really bad, and it keeps getting worse," WWF International director general Marco Lambertini told AFP.

"The only good news is that we know exactly what is happening."

For freshwater fauna, the decline in population over the 44 years monitored was a staggering 80 percent. Regionally, Latin America was hit hardest, seeing a nearly 90 percent loss of wildlife over the same period.

Another dataset confirmed the depth of an unfolding mass extinction event, only the sixth in the last half-billion years.&nbsp;

Depending on which of Earth's lifeforms are included, the current rate of species loss is 100 to 1,000 times higher than only a few hundred years ago, when people began to alter Earth's chemistry and crowd other creatures out of existence.

Measured by weight, or biomass, wild animals today only account for four percent of mammals on Earth, with humans (36 percent) and livestock (60 percent) making up the rest.

The great acceleration

Ten thousand years ago that ratio was probably reversed. &nbsp;

"The statistics are scary," said Piero Visconti, a researcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and one of 59 co-authors of the 80-page report.

"Unlike population declines, extinctions are irreversible."

For corals, it may already be too late.

Back-to-back marine heatwaves have already wiped out up to half of the globe's shallow-water reefs, which support a quarter of all marine life.

Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) -- mission impossible, according to some scientists -- coral mortality will likely be 70 to 90 percent.

A 2C world would be a death sentence, a major UN report concluded last month.&nbsp;

Half-a-century of conservation efforts have scored spectacular successes, with significant recoveries among tigers, manatees, grizzly bears, bluefin tuna and bald eagles.

"If we didn't make those efforts, the situation would have been much worse," Lambertini said.

But the onslaught of hunting, shrinking habitat, pollution, illegal trade and climate change -- all caused by humans -- has been too much to overcome, he acknowledged.&nbsp;

"Scientists call it the 'great acceleration'," he said in a phone interview.&nbsp;

"It is the exponential growth over the last 50 years in the use of energy, water, timber, fish, food, fertiliser, pesticides, minerals, plastics –- everything."

'New deal' for nature 
The pace of population increase -- long taboo in development and conservation circles -- also took off around 1950, the date scientists have chosen as the "gold spike," or starting point, for a new geological period dubbed the Anthropocene, or "age of man".

In looking for answers, conservationists are turning to climate change for inspiration.

"We need a new global deal for nature," said Lambertini, noting two key ingredients in the 195-nation Paris climate treaty.

"One was the realisation that climate change was dangerous for the economy and society, not just polar bears," he said.

Similarly, he argued, threatened ecosystem services long taken for granted -- drinkable water, breathable air, heat-absorbing oceans, forests that soak up CO2, productive soil -- are worth tens of trillions of dollars every year.

"A healthy, sustainable future for all is only possible on a planet where nature thrives and forests, oceans and rivers are teeming with biodiversity and life," said Lambertini.

The Paris Agreement, negotiated under the UN convention on climate change, also set a clear target: global warming must be held to "well below" 2C, and 1.5C if possible.

The parallel UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), by contrast, has lots of targets running out to 2020 which are not only too weak, but -- with one possible exception -- will probably not be met, Lambertini said.

"The CBD is failing," he told AFP. But an upcoming meeting of the 195-nation body could be the beginning of a "revolution" that will see the Convention re-engineered in 2020 into "a new deal for Nature."

Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday.

Unbridled consumption has decimated global wildlife, triggered a mass extinction and exhausted Earth's capacity to accommodate humanity's expanding appetites, the conservation group WWF warned Tuesday. From 1970 to 2014, 60 percent of all animals with a backbone -- fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals -- were wiped out by human activity, according to WWF's "Living Planet" report, based on an ongoing survey of more than 4,000 species spread over 16,700 populations scattered across the globe. "The situation is really bad, and it keeps getting worse," WWF International director general Marco Lambertini told AFP. "The only good news is that we know exactly what is happening." For freshwater fauna, the decline in population over the 44 years monitored was a staggering 80 percent. Regionally, Latin America was hit hardest, seeing a nearly 90 percent loss of wildlife over the same period. Another dataset confirmed the depth of an unfolding mass extinction event, only the sixth in the last half-billion years. Depending on which of Earth's lifeforms are included, the current rate of species loss is 100 to 1,000 times higher than only a few hundred years ago, when people began to alter Earth's chemistry and crowd other creatures out of existence. Measured by weight, or biomass, wild animals today only account for four percent of mammals on Earth, with humans (36 percent) and livestock (60 percent) making up the rest. The great acceleration Ten thousand years ago that ratio was probably reversed. "The statistics are scary," said Piero Visconti, a researcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and one of 59 co-authors of the 80-page report. "Unlike population declines, extinctions are irreversible." For corals, it may already be too late. Back-to-back marine heatwaves have already wiped out up to half of the globe's shallow-water reefs, which support a quarter of all marine life. Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) -- mission impossible, according to some scientists -- coral mortality will likely be 70 to 90 percent. A 2C world would be a death sentence, a major UN report concluded last month. Half-a-century of conservation efforts have scored spectacular successes, with significant recoveries among tigers, manatees, grizzly bears, bluefin tuna and bald eagles. "If we didn't make those efforts, the situation would have been much worse," Lambertini said. But the onslaught of hunting, shrinking habitat, pollution, illegal trade and climate change -- all caused by humans -- has been too much to overcome, he acknowledged. "Scientists call it the 'great acceleration'," he said in a phone interview. "It is the exponential growth over the last 50 years in the use of energy, water, timber, fish, food, fertiliser, pesticides, minerals, plastics –- everything." 'New deal' for nature The pace of population increase -- long taboo in development and conservation circles -- also took off around 1950, the date scientists have chosen as the "gold spike," or starting point, for a new geological period dubbed the Anthropocene, or "age of man". In looking for answers, conservationists are turning to climate change for inspiration. "We need a new global deal for nature," said Lambertini, noting two key ingredients in the 195-nation Paris climate treaty. "One was the realisation that climate change was dangerous for the economy and society, not just polar bears," he said. Similarly, he argued, threatened ecosystem services long taken for granted -- drinkable water, breathable air, heat-absorbing oceans, forests that soak up CO2, productive soil -- are worth tens of trillions of dollars every year. "A healthy, sustainable future for all is only possible on a planet where nature thrives and forests, oceans and rivers are teeming with biodiversity and life," said Lambertini. The Paris Agreement, negotiated under the UN convention on climate change, also set a clear target: global warming must be held to "well below" 2C, and 1.5C if possible. The parallel UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), by contrast, has lots of targets running out to 2020 which are not only too weak, but -- with one possible exception -- will probably not be met, Lambertini said. "The CBD is failing," he told AFP. But an upcoming meeting of the 195-nation body could be the beginning of a "revolution" that will see the Convention re-engineered in 2020 into "a new deal for Nature."

In 44 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF

A recent study done by scientists in America has shown that days on earth are getting longer and in million years from now, a day will last 25 hours on earth.

However, the process will take 200 million years in stretching hours of the day to 25 hours from 24.

The study done by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has said that the reason of this is the moon as it is moving away from the earth, affecting the earth spins on its axis.

According to the research, currently,&nbspthe moon is pulling away at the rate of 3.82 centimetres a year. The scientists further said that over a few billion years it Moon has slowly moved away from the earth slowing the earth's spin.

Researchers at Durham University and the United Kingdom's nautical almanac office also said that the day is lengthening by two milliseconds every 100 years and getting an extra minute in a day will take 6.7 million years.

They studied some 1.4 billion-year-old rock layers in northern China, known as the xiamaling formation, to determine what the earth was doing at the point in history, including the length of its days and distance from the moon. &nbsp &nbsp

According to the research, 1.4 billion years ago a day on earth used to last for 18 hours.

The scientists'&nbspconclusions came through a new tool which combined astronomical theory, geologic data and a sophisticated statistical approach. &nbspIt enabled them to account for the uncertainty in the earth-moon relationship when studying rock samples. &nbsp 
&nbsp

The study done by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has said that the reason of this is the moon as it is moving away from the earth, affecting the earth spins on its axis

A recent study done by scientists in America has shown that days on earth are getting longer and in million years from now, a day will last 25 hours on earth. However, the process will take 200 million years in stretching hours of the day to 25 hours from 24. The study done by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has said that the reason of this is the moon as it is moving away from the earth, affecting the earth spins on its axis. According to the research, currently,&nbspthe moon is pulling away at the rate of 3.82 centimetres a year. The scientists further said that over a few billion years it Moon has slowly moved away from the earth slowing the earth's spin. Researchers at Durham University and the United Kingdom's nautical almanac office also said that the day is lengthening by two milliseconds every 100 years and getting an extra minute in a day will take 6.7 million years. They studied some 1.4 billion-year-old rock layers in northern China, known as the xiamaling formation, to determine what the earth was doing at the point in history, including the length of its days and distance from the moon. According to the research, 1.4 billion years ago a day on earth used to last for 18 hours. The scientists'&nbspconclusions came through a new tool which combined astronomical theory, geologic data and a sophisticated statistical approach. &nbspIt enabled them to account for the uncertainty in the earth-moon relationship when studying rock samples.

In million years, days on earth will last for 25 hours

His box office credentials are unmatched today but Aamir Khan says despite facing initial scepticism of the industry people, he has always been someone who believed in experimenting with film roles.

The actor, who has completed 30 years in Bollywood, walked down the memory lane to reflect on the film choices that set him apart from the crowd and made him feel like a 'lone ranger'.

"When I came into the industry, I was a minority, I was a lone ranger, who was trying to do films that I believed in, but the market did not believe in it and a host of people also did not believe in it," Aamir said in a group interview.

With hits such as "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak", "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander", "Baazi", "Earth", "Sarfarosh", "Lagaan" and "Dangal", Aamir has come to be known as one of the most bankable stars in cinema today but the actor said it has not been an easy ride to stardom.

"I was constantly swimming against the tide to do the films I believed in. Now the tide has changed. So the films that I believed in then and no one else did, have actually become more mainstream today."

Aamir, 53, believes the audiences' sensibilities are changing and if "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander" would have released today, it had better chances at the ticket window.

Asked if he thinks the risk has paid off now, he said, "I don't know if I can say that, I was not doing it for a pay-off, I was just doing it. I was not concerned if it will pay-off or not, my focus was to do films that I believed in. When I do a film like 'Talaash', I know it is not going to be the biggest hit of the year but I want to do it."

The actor has bridged the gap between commercial and content-driven cinema but insisted he is not searching for social content in a film.

"I am not setting out for what the next social issue. I have had a mixed range of films like ''Delhi Belly'', ''Thugs of Hindostan'', ''Dangal'', etc, I am getting drawn to stories which I like."&nbsp;

The actor said he reacts to a script like an audience member.

"It has to be something that excites me, engages me, sometimes it might have a message, sometimes it might not. I don't think whether it is commercial or not. I am not able to think like that. I feel my cinema should be good and I want it to be loved by as many people."

He became a star overnight with success of his debut film as the lead actor in "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" in 1988 and realised he had become famous when he could no longer use the public transport. In 1973, Aamir appeared as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film "Yaadon Ki Baaraat".

"The first time I sensed I had become popular was after ''Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak''. It was quite mad. I did a successful film, but I didn't have the money to buy a car. I used to travel by autorickshaw, bus or a train but after a point, I couldn't," he said.

"I used to ask my uncle, 'Can I borrow your car? I have to go somewhere... There are just people everywhere I go'," he added.

Aamir said he earned Rs 11,000 for his debut.

The actor, who has completed 30 years in Bollywood, walked down the memory lane

His box office credentials are unmatched today but Aamir Khan says despite facing initial scepticism of the industry people, he has always been someone who believed in experimenting with film roles. The actor, who has completed 30 years in Bollywood, walked down the memory lane to reflect on the film choices that set him apart from the crowd and made him feel like a 'lone ranger'. "When I came into the industry, I was a minority, I was a lone ranger, who was trying to do films that I believed in, but the market did not believe in it and a host of people also did not believe in it," Aamir said in a group interview. With hits such as "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak", "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander", "Baazi", "Earth", "Sarfarosh", "Lagaan" and "Dangal", Aamir has come to be known as one of the most bankable stars in cinema today but the actor said it has not been an easy ride to stardom. "I was constantly swimming against the tide to do the films I believed in. Now the tide has changed. So the films that I believed in then and no one else did, have actually become more mainstream today." Aamir, 53, believes the audiences' sensibilities are changing and if "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander" would have released today, it had better chances at the ticket window. Asked if he thinks the risk has paid off now, he said, "I don't know if I can say that, I was not doing it for a pay-off, I was just doing it. I was not concerned if it will pay-off or not, my focus was to do films that I believed in. When I do a film like 'Talaash', I know it is not going to be the biggest hit of the year but I want to do it." The actor has bridged the gap between commercial and content-driven cinema but insisted he is not searching for social content in a film. "I am not setting out for what the next social issue. I have had a mixed range of films like ''Delhi Belly'', ''Thugs of Hindostan'', ''Dangal'', etc, I am getting drawn to stories which I like." The actor said he reacts to a script like an audience member. "It has to be something that excites me, engages me, sometimes it might have a message, sometimes it might not. I don't think whether it is commercial or not. I am not able to think like that. I feel my cinema should be good and I want it to be loved by as many people." He became a star overnight with success of his debut film as the lead actor in "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" in 1988 and realised he had become famous when he could no longer use the public transport. In 1973, Aamir appeared as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film "Yaadon Ki Baaraat". "The first time I sensed I had become popular was after ''Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak''. It was quite mad. I did a successful film, but I didn't have the money to buy a car. I used to travel by autorickshaw, bus or a train but after a point, I couldn't," he said. "I used to ask my uncle, 'Can I borrow your car? I have to go somewhere... There are just people everywhere I go'," he added. Aamir said he earned Rs 11,000 for his debut.

I was constantly swimming against the tide: Aamir Khan on early film choices

People around the world are celebrating Earth Day on Sunday to celebrate and honour Earth.

Various events are being held across the world in order to show their support for environmental issues and encourage each and every individual to take steps towards the environment&nbspprotection.

Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week with an entire week of activities focused on the environmental issues that the world faces. In 2017, the March for Science occurred on Earth day (April 22, 2017) and was followed by the People's Climate Mobilization (April 29, 2017)

Here is everything you want to know about the day!

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and was founded by the United States Senator Gaylor Nelson as an environmental teach-in to encourage make people aware of the environment issues.

Earth Day Network is the organisation who leads Earth Day celebrations worldwide.

The day was first limited to United States only, However, with efforts of a Denis Hayes's organisation launched this event worldwide in 1990. He organised events in 141 nations in a collective coordination.

In 1969 the incident of Santa Barbara oil blowout and protests that were followed prompted the idea of a day dedicated to earth only in which more than three million gallons of oil spewed, killing 10,000 seabirds, dolphines, seals and sea lions.

According to reports currently, more than 1 billion people take part in Earth Day activities every year and put environmental issues on the world stage.

For this year's earth day the theme is 'end plastic pollution' which will be focused on to provide the information and inspiration needed to eventually end plastic pollution. This year various talks will be held to spread awareness regarding the plastic pollution and how recyling it is not enough and what other measure people can take to tackle the global crisis.

 
&nbsp

&nbsp

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and was founded by the United States Senator Gaylor Nelson as an environmental teach-in to encourage make people aware of the environment issues

People around the world are celebrating Earth Day on Sunday to celebrate and honour Earth. Various events are being held across the world in order to show their support for environmental issues and encourage each and every individual to take steps towards the environment&nbspprotection. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week with an entire week of activities focused on the environmental issues that the world faces. In 2017, the March for Science occurred on Earth day (April 22, 2017) and was followed by the People's Climate Mobilization (April 29, 2017) Here is everything you want to know about the day! Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and was founded by the United States Senator Gaylor Nelson as an environmental teach-in to encourage make people aware of the environment issues. Earth Day Network is the organisation who leads Earth Day celebrations worldwide. The day was first limited to United States only, However, with efforts of a Denis Hayes's organisation launched this event worldwide in 1990. He organised events in 141 nations in a collective coordination. In 1969 the incident of Santa Barbara oil blowout and protests that were followed prompted the idea of a day dedicated to earth only in which more than three million gallons of oil spewed, killing 10,000 seabirds, dolphines, seals and sea lions. According to reports currently, more than 1 billion people take part in Earth Day activities every year and put environmental issues on the world stage. For this year's earth day the theme is 'end plastic pollution' which will be focused on to provide the information and inspiration needed to eventually end plastic pollution. This year various talks will be held to spread awareness regarding the plastic pollution and how recyling it is not enough and what other measure people can take to tackle the global crisis.

Earth Day: Everything you want to know

People will soon be able to witness 16 sunrises a day and be able to float in space, all in a span of four years. How? Orion Span announced on Thursday that they are building the first ever luxury "space hotel" to cost a space tourist a whopping $9.5 million.&nbsp

Orion Span made the announcement at the Space 2.0 Summit in San Jose, California on Thursday (April 05), unveiling their plans for “Aurora Station.” Orion Span says it plans to launch the initial Aurora Station module into a low-Earth orbit, at an altitude of 200 miles (322 km), in 2021.

Scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2022, Aurora is a planned modular space station, capable of hosting six people at a time.The hotel will orbit Earth every 90 minutes, which means guests will see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.

While a $10 million trip is outside the budget of most people's two-week vacations, Orion Span claims to offer an authentic "astronaut experience".

The Aurora Station is planned as a 35-by-14-foot module, or roughly the interior volume of a Gulfstream G550 private jet, reports say. It will hold up to six guests at a time plus two crew members. &nbsp

They have already started reservations with an $80,000 deposit - which is fully refundable - where the guests are told to undergo a three-month long training court, half online and half at the company's space in Houston, Texas.&nbsp

According to Orion Span, guests will be able to take part in “research experiments such as growing food while in orbit” and keep touch with people on Earth via high-speed Internet.

The hotel will also be equipped with a virtual reality “holodeck”.

“Arriving at Aurora Station on a partner spaceflight, you’ll be warmly greeted with an experience that blows your mind,” reads a statement on the Orion Span website.

“Every 90 minutes we complete an orbit, meaning you’ll see day and night over Earth hundreds of times during your 12-day stay, with ample opportunity to photograph your hometown from space.”

Gusts will take part in research experiments like growing food in the orbit which they can then take home. They will also be able to do live video chats with people back on Earth through high-speed wireless internet access.&nbsp

Reports say that the longer-term plan for the company is to expand Aurora Station from just one module to many, with a variety of potential uses.

Orion Span made the announcement at the Space 2.0 Summit in San Jose, California on Thursday (April 05), unveiling their plans for 'Aurora Station'

People will soon be able to witness 16 sunrises a day and be able to float in space, all in a span of four years. How? Orion Span announced on Thursday that they are building the first ever luxury "space hotel" to cost a space tourist a whopping $9.5 million. Orion Span made the announcement at the Space 2.0 Summit in San Jose, California on Thursday (April 05), unveiling their plans for “Aurora Station.” Orion Span says it plans to launch the initial Aurora Station module into a low-Earth orbit, at an altitude of 200 miles (322 km), in 2021. Scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2022, Aurora is a planned modular space station, capable of hosting six people at a time.The hotel will orbit Earth every 90 minutes, which means guests will see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. While a $10 million trip is outside the budget of most people's two-week vacations, Orion Span claims to offer an authentic "astronaut experience". The Aurora Station is planned as a 35-by-14-foot module, or roughly the interior volume of a Gulfstream G550 private jet, reports say. It will hold up to six guests at a time plus two crew members. They have already started reservations with an $80,000 deposit - which is fully refundable - where the guests are told to undergo a three-month long training court, half online and half at the company's space in Houston, Texas. According to Orion Span, guests will be able to take part in “research experiments such as growing food while in orbit” and keep touch with people on Earth via high-speed Internet. The hotel will also be equipped with a virtual reality “holodeck”. “Arriving at Aurora Station on a partner spaceflight, you’ll be warmly greeted with an experience that blows your mind,” reads a statement on the Orion Span website. “Every 90 minutes we complete an orbit, meaning you’ll see day and night over Earth hundreds of times during your 12-day stay, with ample opportunity to photograph your hometown from space.” Gusts will take part in research experiments like growing food in the orbit which they can then take home. They will also be able to do live video chats with people back on Earth through high-speed wireless internet access. Reports say that the longer-term plan for the company is to expand Aurora Station from just one module to many, with a variety of potential uses.

Now, book your luxury 'space hotel' for $9.5 million

A 61-year-old man from California, US is in headlines for his belief that the Earth is flat like a frisbee. Mike Hughes launched himself into the sky in a self-made steam-powered rocket on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;

According to reports, Hughes went as high as 1,875 feet in a rocket that has 'FLAT EARTH' painted on it.

The rocket was launched around 3 pm Pacific time on Saturday and reached its maximum speed at around 350 miles per hour.

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The 61-year-old limo driver believes that the Earth is flat and is on a mission to prove the same to the world. Hughes aims at propelling himself to at least 52 miles above the Earth's surface in order to prove that the planet is flat.

The rocket launch was supposed to happen in November last year but was postponed owing to delay in acquiring necessary permits.

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Another attempt was made in February this year but the rocket failed to ignite during the launch attempt.&nbsp;

 
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The rocket launch was supposed to happen in November last year but was postponed owing to delay in acquiring necessary permits

A 61-year-old man from California, US is in headlines for his belief that the Earth is flat like a frisbee. Mike Hughes launched himself into the sky in a self-made steam-powered rocket on Saturday afternoon. According to reports, Hughes went as high as 1,875 feet in a rocket that has 'FLAT EARTH' painted on it. The rocket was launched around 3 pm Pacific time on Saturday and reached its maximum speed at around 350 miles per hour. × The 61-year-old limo driver believes that the Earth is flat and is on a mission to prove the same to the world. Hughes aims at propelling himself to at least 52 miles above the Earth's surface in order to prove that the planet is flat. The rocket launch was supposed to happen in November last year but was postponed owing to delay in acquiring necessary permits. × Another attempt was made in February this year but the rocket failed to ignite during the launch attempt.

US: Man makes rocket, gets in, hits launch

Experts have predicted a small possibility of an asteroid hitting Earth in September 2135. The asteroid is likely to be the size of the Empire State Building and may cause significant damage to life and property on the planet.&nbsp;

A team of experts from NASA has already put a plan in place to avert the mishap. The asteroid, called Bennu, will be pushed out of Earth&#39;s orbit using a nuclear device -- a nearly nine-ton &quot;bulk impactor&quot;.&nbsp;

NASA&#39;s &nbsp;Planetary Defense Coordination Office aims at detecting dangerous asteroids and comets that threaten Earth&#39;s orbit. The space research agency also has a HAMMER (Hypervelocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response) scheme in place for similar purposes.

But, should the mankind be scared of facing extinction once Bennu hits? Experts don&#39;t think so. The odds of the steroid actually hitting Earth are dismal&nbsp;-- about 1 in 2,700, plus its size is not big enough to pack up the entire race as it happened for the mighty dinosaurs.&nbsp;

The asteroid, called Bennu, will be pushed out of Earth's orbit using a nuclear device -- a nearly nine-ton 'bulk impactor'

Experts have predicted a small possibility of an asteroid hitting Earth in September 2135. The asteroid is likely to be the size of the Empire State Building and may cause significant damage to life and property on the planet. A team of experts from NASA has already put a plan in place to avert the mishap. The asteroid, called Bennu, will be pushed out of Earth's orbit using a nuclear device -- a nearly nine-ton "bulk impactor". NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office aims at detecting dangerous asteroids and comets that threaten Earth's orbit. The space research agency also has a HAMMER (Hypervelocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response) scheme in place for similar purposes. But, should the mankind be scared of facing extinction once Bennu hits? Experts don't think so. The odds of the steroid actually hitting Earth are dismal -- about 1 in 2,700, plus its size is not big enough to pack up the entire race as it happened for the mighty dinosaurs.

NASA plans to avert asteroid that may hit Earth in 2135

As the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) prepares to unveil a thorough diagnosis of the health of Earth&#39;s plant and animal species, here are some already known facts about the Earth.&nbsp;

Two species of vertebrate, animals with a backbone, have gone extinct every year, on average, for the past century.

Scientists say Earth is undergoing a &quot;mass extinction event&quot;, the first since the dinosaurs disappeared some 65 million years ago, and only the sixth in the last half-a-billion years.&nbsp;

About 41 per cent of amphibian species and more than a quarter of mammals are threatened with extinction.

About half of coral reefs have been lost in the last 30 years.

The global populations of 3,706 monitored vertebrate species -- fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles -- declined by nearly 60 per cent from 1970 to 2012.

25,821 species of 91,523 assessed for the 2017 &quot;Red List&quot; update were classified as &quot;threatened&quot;.

Of these, 5,583 were &quot;critically&quot; endangered, 8,455 &quot;endangered&quot;, and 11,783 &quot;vulnerable&quot;.

African elephant numbers dropped to 415,000 in 2016, down about 111,000 over 10 years.

There are an estimated 8.7 million plant and animal species on our planet. This means about 86 per cent of land species and 91 per cent of sea species remain undiscovered.

Of the ones we do know, 1,204 mammal, 1,469 bird, 1,215 reptile, 2,100 amphibian, and 2,386 fish species are considered threatened.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also threatened are 1,414 insect, 2,187 mollusc, 732 crustacean, 237 coral, 12,505 plant, 33 mushroom, and six brown algae species.

Annual economic losses as a result of deforestation and forest degradation alone may be as high as $4.5 trillion (3.6 trillion euros).

A conference of the UN&#39;s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed in Nagoya, Japan in 2010 on a 20-point plan to turn back biodiversity loss by 2020.

The plan&#39;s so-called &quot;Aichi Biodiversity Targets&quot; include halving the rate of habitat loss, expanding water and land areas under conservation, preventing the extinction of species on the threatened list, and restoring at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems.

SOURCES: WWF Living Planet Report, IUCN Red List, PLoS Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, CBD, UNEP.

&nbsp;

About 41 per cent of amphibian species and more than a quarter of mammals are threatened with extinction

As the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) prepares to unveil a thorough diagnosis of the health of Earth's plant and animal species, here are some already known facts about the Earth. Two species of vertebrate, animals with a backbone, have gone extinct every year, on average, for the past century. Scientists say Earth is undergoing a "mass extinction event", the first since the dinosaurs disappeared some 65 million years ago, and only the sixth in the last half-a-billion years. About 41 per cent of amphibian species and more than a quarter of mammals are threatened with extinction. About half of coral reefs have been lost in the last 30 years. The global populations of 3,706 monitored vertebrate species -- fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles -- declined by nearly 60 per cent from 1970 to 2012. 25,821 species of 91,523 assessed for the 2017 "Red List" update were classified as "threatened". Of these, 5,583 were "critically" endangered, 8,455 "endangered", and 11,783 "vulnerable". African elephant numbers dropped to 415,000 in 2016, down about 111,000 over 10 years. There are an estimated 8.7 million plant and animal species on our planet. This means about 86 per cent of land species and 91 per cent of sea species remain undiscovered. Of the ones we do know, 1,204 mammal, 1,469 bird, 1,215 reptile, 2,100 amphibian, and 2,386 fish species are considered threatened. Also threatened are 1,414 insect, 2,187 mollusc, 732 crustacean, 237 coral, 12,505 plant, 33 mushroom, and six brown algae species. Annual economic losses as a result of deforestation and forest degradation alone may be as high as $4.5 trillion (3.6 trillion euros). A conference of the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed in Nagoya, Japan in 2010 on a 20-point plan to turn back biodiversity loss by 2020. The plan's so-called "Aichi Biodiversity Targets" include halving the rate of habitat loss, expanding water and land areas under conservation, preventing the extinction of species on the threatened list, and restoring at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems. SOURCES: WWF Living Planet Report, IUCN Red List, PLoS Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, CBD, UNEP.

Earth is undergoing 'mass extinction event', the first since dinosaurs disappeared, Scientists say

Experts from Georgia Institute of Technology, US reveal that asteroids may help explain how life started on Earth.

According to a study conducted by a team of researchers at the institute, asteroids may act as &#39;time capsules&#39; and may help reveal what molecules originally existed in the solar system.&nbsp;

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&ldquo;We can look to the asteroids to help us understand what chemistry is possible in the universe,&rdquo; noted Nicholas Hud from Georgia Institute of Technology.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important for us to study materials from asteroids and meteorites, the smaller versions of asteroids that fall to Earth, to test the validity of our models for how molecules in them could have helped give rise to life. We also need to catalogue the molecules from asteroids and meteorites because there might be compounds there that we had not even considered important for starting life,&rdquo; Hud said.

For decades, NASA scientists have been analysing compounds found in asteroids and meteorites. The analysis provides an understanding of what might have been present when the Earth was formed.

&ldquo;Detection of a molecule in an asteroid or meteorite is about the only evidence everyone will accept for that molecule being prebiotic. It is something we can really lean on,&rdquo; he said.

In Hud&#39;s theory, there are many possible ways that the molecules of life could have been formed. He believes that life could have started with &quot;less sophisticated&quot; and &quot;less efficient&quot; molecules than what we see today. Like life itself, these molecules could have evolved over time.

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

Asteroids may act as 'time capsules' and may help reveal what molecules originally existed in the solar system

Experts from Georgia Institute of Technology, US reveal that asteroids may help explain how life started on Earth. According to a study conducted by a team of researchers at the institute, asteroids may act as 'time capsules' and may help reveal what molecules originally existed in the solar system. “We can look to the asteroids to help us understand what chemistry is possible in the universe,” noted Nicholas Hud from Georgia Institute of Technology. “It’s important for us to study materials from asteroids and meteorites, the smaller versions of asteroids that fall to Earth, to test the validity of our models for how molecules in them could have helped give rise to life. We also need to catalogue the molecules from asteroids and meteorites because there might be compounds there that we had not even considered important for starting life,” Hud said. For decades, NASA scientists have been analysing compounds found in asteroids and meteorites. The analysis provides an understanding of what might have been present when the Earth was formed. “Detection of a molecule in an asteroid or meteorite is about the only evidence everyone will accept for that molecule being prebiotic. It is something we can really lean on,” he said. In Hud's theory, there are many possible ways that the molecules of life could have been formed. He believes that life could have started with "less sophisticated" and "less efficient" molecules than what we see today. Like life itself, these molecules could have evolved over time. (With inputs from PTI)

Wonder how life started on Earth? Study asteroids: US experts

An asteroid larger than the world&#39;s tallest building Burj Khalifa is set to skim past Earth in February, reports said on Friday.&nbsp;

The rock, dubbed as 2002 AJ129, measuring up to 1.1 kilometres in diameters, will fly past Earth on February 4. It will be larger than the world&#39;s tallest building the Burj Khalifa which stands 0.8 kilometres high.

Reports said that the asteroid will miss our planet by 2.6 million miles, which could still be &quot;potentially hazardous,&quot; as per US space agency NASA.&nbsp;

If the 1.1 kilometre-wide asteroid was to strike us, it would likely send up enough soil and dust to blanket the planet and plunge Earth into darkness or could send our planet into a mini ice age.&nbsp;

February&#39;s asteroid is not expected to hit Earth, NASA informed, which details the rock as part of its research into close approaches to the Earth by near-Earth objects (NEOs).

The rock, dubbed as 2002 AJ129, measuring up to 1.1 kilometers in diameters, will fly past Earth on February 4. It will be larger than the world's tallest building the Burj Khalifa which stands 0.8km high

An asteroid larger than the world's tallest building Burj Khalifa is set to skim past Earth in February, reports said on Friday. The rock, dubbed as 2002 AJ129, measuring up to 1.1 kilometres in diameters, will fly past Earth on February 4. It will be larger than the world's tallest building the Burj Khalifa which stands 0.8 kilometres high. Reports said that the asteroid will miss our planet by 2.6 million miles, which could still be "potentially hazardous," as per US space agency NASA. If the 1.1 kilometre-wide asteroid was to strike us, it would likely send up enough soil and dust to blanket the planet and plunge Earth into darkness or could send our planet into a mini ice age. February's asteroid is not expected to hit Earth, NASA informed, which details the rock as part of its research into close approaches to the Earth by near-Earth objects (NEOs).

Astroid larger than Burj Khalifa to skim past Earth in February

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