The North Sea has strange structures under it at a depth of 300 feet. They were born seven million years ago and go against the known rules of the ocean. After years of exploration, scientists finally know why they are topsy-turvy.

Upside-down world under North Sea: 7-million-year-old structures defy the rules of the ocean

Scientists have figured out the odds of a person dying from an asteroid over a human lifetime. In a strange experiment, they compared it with other scenarios that can kill human beings, such as lightning strikes, carbon monoxide poisoning, a car accident, contracted disease and more. They found that a lightning bolt is more likely to kill a person if it strikes them. The more surprising revelations were about asteroids. Simulations and experiments showed that the chances of an asteroid strike killing us are more than rabies causing death. Also, the chance of an asteroid hitting Earth is way higher than a person being struck by lightning. That's odd considering a few people get killed by lightning strikes almost every year, but an asteroid strike has not occurred since the dinosaurs were killed 65 million years ago. However, there have been some other major strikes, like the one in Tunguska, Siberia, on June 30, 1908.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/7-years-2-asteroids-and-tonnes-of-shooting-meteorites-are-earth-astronauts-and-satellites-really-safe-1751364306598">City killer asteroid can shoot meteorites like bullets at Earth in 2032. Who is at risk?</a>&nbsp;The study on the probability of a person experiencing a grisly death has been published on the preprint website arXiv. The study authors had a tough task on hand when they set out to understand the likelihood of an asteroid strike and whether or not it would kill a person. For this, they gathered data on all the Near-Earth objects, making a dataset of their numbers and the risk assessment of asteroids that were found to be potentially hazardous. Asteroids that are more than 460 feet wide are categorised as those that can cause devastation in the event that they hit Earth. The frequency of impacts was calculated based on the rest of the data and compared to the number of deaths caused by the other events.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/venus-asteroids-earth-nuclear-bomb-nasa-warning-1748417986834">Evil twin? Venus sheltering 'invisible' asteroids that can wipe off humanity with a minuscule change in course</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-2024-yr4-moon-earth-collision-2032-space-rock-1749628743606">What will happen on Dec 22, 2032? Not good things for our Moon, as scientists await major event</a><h2>Chances of an asteroid hitting Earth&nbsp;</h2>Even though there are records of lightning strikes killing humans, and none on an asteroid doing the same, the authors say the aim of the study was "to place the probability of an NEO impact within a mental framework of events they may have some familiarity with, such as car crashes and animal attacks." Experts say that the chances of an asteroid hitting Earth are next to zero, at least for the next few hundred years. However, it can not be said with certainty that it would never happen, as some visitors are known to pose sudden threats. An asteroid caused a scare this year when scientists said that it could hit Earth in 2032. However, now Asteroid 2024 YR4 is likely to hit our Moon.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/100-000-000kg-debris-from-asteroid-collision-with-moon-could-threaten-earth-for-years-1750233294370">'City-killer' asteroid will gouge 1km crater in Moon, releasing debris that will threaten Earth for years</a><h2>DART asteroid mission</h2>There is also Apophis, which many feared could hit Earth in 2029. But the chances of that happening were also later changed to zero. NASA has been preparing to tackle a rogue asteroid on a collision course with our planet. In 2022, the DART mission struck the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, part of the Didymos binary asteroid system. Later studies revealed that it changed the shape of the asteroid, triggering large amounts of debris to be released from it. We might soon even have a Dimorphos meteor shower.

What are the chances of someone dying due to an asteroid strike in their lifetime? Seems like a strange question to ask, but a team of scientists did just that and came up with a surprising answer. This is in comparison to deaths by lightning, rabies and more.

Scientists have figured out the odds of a person dying from an asteroid over a human lifetime. In a strange experiment, they compared it with other scenarios that can kill human beings, such as lightning strikes, carbon monoxide poisoning, a car accident, contracted disease and more. They found that a lightning bolt is more likely to kill a person if it strikes them. The more surprising revelations were about asteroids. Simulations and experiments showed that the chances of an asteroid strike killing us are more than rabies causing death. Also, the chance of an asteroid hitting Earth is way higher than a person being struck by lightning. That's odd considering a few people get killed by lightning strikes almost every year, but an asteroid strike has not occurred since the dinosaurs were killed 65 million years ago. However, there have been some other major strikes, like the one in Tunguska, Siberia, on June 30, 1908. Also Read: City killer asteroid can shoot meteorites like bullets at Earth in 2032. Who is at risk? The study on the probability of a person experiencing a grisly death has been published on the preprint website arXiv. The study authors had a tough task on hand when they set out to understand the likelihood of an asteroid strike and whether or not it would kill a person. For this, they gathered data on all the Near-Earth objects, making a dataset of their numbers and the risk assessment of asteroids that were found to be potentially hazardous. Asteroids that are more than 460 feet wide are categorised as those that can cause devastation in the event that they hit Earth. The frequency of impacts was calculated based on the rest of the data and compared to the number of deaths caused by the other events. Also Read: Evil twin? Venus sheltering 'invisible' asteroids that can wipe off humanity with a minuscule change in course Also Read: What will happen on Dec 22, 2032? Not good things for our Moon, as scientists await major event Chances of an asteroid hitting Earth Even though there are records of lightning strikes killing humans, and none on an asteroid doing the same, the authors say the aim of the study was "to place the probability of an NEO impact within a mental framework of events they may have some familiarity with, such as car crashes and animal attacks." Experts say that the chances of an asteroid hitting Earth are next to zero, at least for the next few hundred years. However, it can not be said with certainty that it would never happen, as some visitors are known to pose sudden threats. An asteroid caused a scare this year when scientists said that it could hit Earth in 2032. However, now Asteroid 2024 YR4 is likely to hit our Moon. Also Read: 'City-killer' asteroid will gouge 1km crater in Moon, releasing debris that will threaten Earth for years DART asteroid mission There is also Apophis, which many feared could hit Earth in 2029. But the chances of that happening were also later changed to zero. NASA has been preparing to tackle a rogue asteroid on a collision course with our planet. In 2022, the DART mission struck the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, part of the Didymos binary asteroid system. Later studies revealed that it changed the shape of the asteroid, triggering large amounts of debris to be released from it. We might soon even have a Dimorphos meteor shower.

What are the chances of someone dying due to an asteroid strike in their lifetime? Seems like a strange question to ask, but a team of scientists did just that and came up with a surprising answer. This is in comparison to deaths by lightning, rabies and more.

Shocking study reveals an asteroid could kill you before rabies and lightning do

Last year, Earth had a mini moon for a few weeks, and astronomers were all excited about it. Now a study has established that our planet has at least six such mini moons at any given time. A team os scientists from the US, Italy, Germany, Finland, and Sweden says that these cosmic objects are pieces of our actual moon which came apart following asteroid collisions. They are only around six feet in diameter and caught in the Earth's gravitational field. The authors noted that when the debris from the Moon was released from asteroid impacts, the larger chunks floated away. However, the smaller ones were pulled in and are in a somewhat stable orbit around Earth. These broken moon pieces, known as "lunar ejecta," orbit our planet for years before escaping. These temporarily bound objects (TBOs) then get caught in the Sun's gravity and start revolving around it. Some of them also crash into Earth or the Moon. More debris is released from the Moon and then undergoes the same process, as some of it ends up being Earth's new moons. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-can-t-figure-out-why-glaciers-in-world-s-most-dangerous-region-karakoram-range-are-growing-1753261712617">Scientists can't figure out why glaciers in world's most dangerous region are growing</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/total-solar-eclipse-2027-six-minutes-darkness-which-countries-cities-india-1752728414715">6-minute total solar eclipse will plunge major parts of world into darkness. Is your city on the list?</a><h2>Earth's mini moons</h2>Robert Jedicke, a researcher at the University of Hawaii, described it like a "square dance, where partners change regularly and sometimes leave the dance floor for a while." The study published in Icarus also cancels out scientific belief that every new mini moon that comes near Earth travels from the solar system's asteroid belt. "Given that 18 per cent of TBOs can also be classified as minimoons, our nominal results suggest that there should be about 6.5 minimoons larger than 1 m diameter in the [Earth-Moon system] at any time," the researchers wrote in their new report. To understand more about mini moons, scientists studied two such objects named Kamo'oalewa and 2024 PT5. Both the mini moons made headlines last year when they were spotted orbiting Earth. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sorry-space-buffs-but-planet-nine-might-be-an-illusion-a-new-world-has-revealed-that-1752635476153">New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sun-400000-kilometre-long-scar-solar-filament-plasma-explosion-1752727510857">Our Sun just inflicted a 400,000-kilometre-long scar on itself. Here's what happened</a><h2>Mini moons discovered orbiting Earth</h2>These cosmic creatures were found to have the same properties as the Moon. Kamo'oalewa, discovered in 2016 by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Hawaii, was large, measuring between 131 to 328 feet in diameter. It reflected light in the same way as the moon's surface composition. It also had the same composition of lunar rocks, which are rich in silicates. Mini moon 2024 PT5 also exhibited the same characteristics, Jedicke told Space.com. Asteroid 2024 PT5 was discovered on Aug 7, 2024. It was spotted by Sutherland, the South Africa telescope of the University of Hawaii’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). As it came near Earth, it got caught in its gravity at a distance of about nine times the Moon is from Earth. The asteroid remained Earth's mini-moon from Sep 29 to Nov 25 in 2024. It revisited us this year and was at its closest point to our planet in January 2025, at which time scientists really dug into it to know about its history.

Earth has not one but seven moons at any given point in time. Scientists say that when asteroids collide with the Moon, the pieces released become mini moons for a few years. The mini moon Earth had last year is also believed to be a part of the Moon.

Last year, Earth had a mini moon for a few weeks, and astronomers were all excited about it. Now a study has established that our planet has at least six such mini moons at any given time. A team os scientists from the US, Italy, Germany, Finland, and Sweden says that these cosmic objects are pieces of our actual moon which came apart following asteroid collisions. They are only around six feet in diameter and caught in the Earth's gravitational field. The authors noted that when the debris from the Moon was released from asteroid impacts, the larger chunks floated away. However, the smaller ones were pulled in and are in a somewhat stable orbit around Earth. These broken moon pieces, known as "lunar ejecta," orbit our planet for years before escaping. These temporarily bound objects (TBOs) then get caught in the Sun's gravity and start revolving around it. Some of them also crash into Earth or the Moon. More debris is released from the Moon and then undergoes the same process, as some of it ends up being Earth's new moons. Also Read: Scientists can't figure out why glaciers in world's most dangerous region are growing Also Read: 6-minute total solar eclipse will plunge major parts of world into darkness. Is your city on the list? Earth's mini moons Robert Jedicke, a researcher at the University of Hawaii, described it like a "square dance, where partners change regularly and sometimes leave the dance floor for a while." The study published in Icarus also cancels out scientific belief that every new mini moon that comes near Earth travels from the solar system's asteroid belt. "Given that 18 per cent of TBOs can also be classified as minimoons, our nominal results suggest that there should be about 6.5 minimoons larger than 1 m diameter in the [Earth-Moon system] at any time," the researchers wrote in their new report. To understand more about mini moons, scientists studied two such objects named Kamo'oalewa and 2024 PT5. Both the mini moons made headlines last year when they were spotted orbiting Earth. Also Read: New world Sedna discovered in solar system. What this means for Planet Nine Also Read: Our Sun just inflicted a 400,000-kilometre-long scar on itself. Here's what happened Mini moons discovered orbiting Earth These cosmic creatures were found to have the same properties as the Moon. Kamo'oalewa, discovered in 2016 by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Hawaii, was large, measuring between 131 to 328 feet in diameter. It reflected light in the same way as the moon's surface composition. It also had the same composition of lunar rocks, which are rich in silicates. Mini moon 2024 PT5 also exhibited the same characteristics, Jedicke told Space.com. Asteroid 2024 PT5 was discovered on Aug 7, 2024. It was spotted by Sutherland, the South Africa telescope of the University of Hawaii’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). As it came near Earth, it got caught in its gravity at a distance of about nine times the Moon is from Earth. The asteroid remained Earth's mini-moon from Sep 29 to Nov 25 in 2024. It revisited us this year and was at its closest point to our planet in January 2025, at which time scientists really dug into it to know about its history.

Earth has not one but seven moons at any given point in time. Scientists say that when asteroids collide with the Moon, the pieces released become mini moons for a few years. The mini moon that Earth got last year is also believed to be a part of the Moon.

Moon babies from asteroid collisions mean Earth has 7 moons at all times

The Earth will spin a little faster than its usual rotation on July 22 (Tuesday), making it slightly shorter than the normal day. The difference will be just 1.34 milliseconds, which is slightly less than the standard 24 hours timing. The gap will be so small that people won't notice it but scientists are paying close attention to it because of a strange pattern that has started happening recently. According to scientists, if this trend continues, then we might have to remove a second from atomic clocks by the year 2029. The speed of the Earth’s rotation is not constant and a study in 2023 states that, billions of years ago, Earth’s days lasted only about 19 hours and this happened due to the effects of the Sun and the Moon pulling on the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="What is NISAR satellite and it's mission? India, US join hands for first time for Earth-observation project | Details inside">What is NISAR satellite and it's mission? India, US join hands for first time for Earth-observation project | Details inside</a><h2>So why is Earth now spinning faster?</h2>Scientists still don't have an accurate answer for why Earth is moving so faster but some studies suggest that the Moon has been slowing down and it is deeply effecting the Earth's rotation for billion of years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Other things like movements in Earth’s core, the oceans and the atmosphere also play a role in these long-term changes. It also changes the planet’s spinning speed over the time.&nbsp;For 2025, scientists have mentioned that July 9, July 22 and August 5 might be the shortest days in the year. But the new data shows that July 10 was actually the shortest day so far at a gap of 1.36 milliseconds under 24 hours.&nbsp;Now, July 22 is expected to come close at 1.34 milliseconds and it will make this date as the second-shortest day this year.&nbsp;

For 2025, scientists have mentioned that July 9, July 22 and August 5 might be the shortest days in the year. But the new data shows that July 10 was actually the shortest day so far.

The Earth will spin a little faster than its usual rotation on July 22 (Tuesday), making it slightly shorter than the normal day. The difference will be just 1.34 milliseconds, which is slightly less than the standard 24 hours timing. The gap will be so small that people won't notice it but scientists are paying close attention to it because of a strange pattern that has started happening recently. According to scientists, if this trend continues, then we might have to remove a second from atomic clocks by the year 2029. The speed of the Earth’s rotation is not constant and a study in 2023 states that, billions of years ago, Earth’s days lasted only about 19 hours and this happened due to the effects of the Sun and the Moon pulling on the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. Also Check - What is NISAR satellite and it's mission? India, US join hands for first time for Earth-observation project | Details inside So why is Earth now spinning faster? Scientists still don't have an accurate answer for why Earth is moving so faster but some studies suggest that the Moon has been slowing down and it is deeply effecting the Earth's rotation for billion of years. Other things like movements in Earth’s core, the oceans and the atmosphere also play a role in these long-term changes. It also changes the planet’s spinning speed over the time. For 2025, scientists have mentioned that July 9, July 22 and August 5 might be the shortest days in the year. But the new data shows that July 10 was actually the shortest day so far at a gap of 1.36 milliseconds under 24 hours. Now, July 22 is expected to come close at 1.34 milliseconds and it will make this date as the second-shortest day this year.

For 2025, scientists have mentioned that July 9, July 22 and August 5 might be the shortest days in the year. But the new data shows that July 10 was actually the shortest day so far.

Earth will spin faster on July 22 to create 2nd-shortest day in history, the gap between rotations will be...

Asteroid 2024 YR4 won’t hit Earth; however, it might hit the Moon in 2032, as per news reports. That could trigger a massive lunar blast and send debris flying through space, putting space satellites at risk. What happens next Here's what we know so far.

Is Earth safe from asteroid 2024 YR4's? Scientists warns hit risk on Moon with a nuke like explosion

Earth is floating in a vast void in space, according to new findings. Not only our planet, but the entire Milky Way galaxy could be sitting inside a mysterious giant hole in space, astronomers have claimed. The research will be presented at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) in Durham, UK. The study, led by Indo-British scientist Indranil Banik, states that this theory could also be a possible explanation for the Hubble tension, EarthSky reported. If it holds true, then the age of our universe could also change. Right now, it is estimated to be 13.8 billion years old. Banik states that the theory of Earth sitting in a void is backed by the sound waves from the early universe, also known as "the sound of the Big Bang." Hubble tension remains a huge problem in astronomy.&nbsp;<h2>What is the Hubble Tension?</h2>Proposed by Edwin Hubble in 1929, the Hubble constant was used to express the rate of expansion of the Universe. This rate has been observed to be increasing. Astronomers observe the distance of celestial objects and how fast they are moving away from us to know how fast the universe is expanding. But, the problem is that when measurements of the distant, early Universe are compared to measurements of the nearby, more recent Universe, the former reveals a slower rate of expansion. This is called the Hubble tension, and some even call it the Hubble crisis. This is where Banik and his team bring in their new theory. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/great-wall-of-universe-10-billion-light-years-cosmic-monster-detected-in-space-should-not-exist-1751950803162">GREAT WALL of universe: 10 billion light-years long cosmic monster detected in space should not exist</a>&nbsp;<h2>Indo-British scientist says it is highly likely we are in a void</h2>Banik said, "A potential solution to this inconsistency is that our galaxy is close to the centre of a large, local void. It would cause matter to be pulled by gravity toward the higher-density exterior of the void, leading to the void becoming emptier with time. As the void is emptying out, the velocity of objects away from us would be larger than if the void were not there. This, therefore, gives the appearance of a faster local expansion rate." About the Hubble tension, Banik says that it is a "local phenomenon with little evidence that the expansion rate disagrees with expectations in the standard cosmology further back in time. So a local solution like a local void is a promising way to go about solving the problem." Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-use-nasa-s-tess-to-discover-super-earth-that-could-host-billions-is-toi-1846-b-humanity-s-next-home-1751872216783">Scientists use NASA's TESS to discover ‘super-earth’ that could host billions—Is TOI-1846 b humanity's next home?</a>&nbsp;<h2>Sound of the Big Bang&nbsp;</h2>This would mean that Earth and our solar system are near the centre of a two-billion-light-year-wide void. The number of galaxies present in our local universe is lower than in neighbouring regions, which further backs the theory. But it goes against the standard model of cosmology, according to which matter should be more uniformly spread. But there is still something else that supports the idea of a void - the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs) – or the “sound of the Big Bang”. Banik said, "These sound waves travelled for only a short while before becoming frozen in place once the universe cooled enough for neutral atoms to form. They act as a standard ruler, whose angular size we can use to chart the cosmic expansion history." Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/interstellar-visitor-solar-system-is-only-the-third-other-two-objects-oumuamua-and-comet-with-huge-tail-1751518381560">Interstellar visitor spotted is only the third: One of the other two appeared to be an 'alien vessel'</a>&nbsp;Banik said that their model and measurements support the idea of Earth lying in a void. His team checked BAOs measurements from over the last 20 years, according to which, it is about 100 million times more likely that a void model exists than a void-free model. Researchers now plan to compare their local void model with other methods to learn more about the history of the universe’s expansion.&nbsp;

A void in universe? Earth and the Milky Way are lying in a large void in space, a study has stated. Researchers backed it up with the sound of the Big Bang and the smaller number of galaxies near us. The void theory also solves the Hubble tension. 

Earth is floating in a vast void in space, according to new findings. Not only our planet, but the entire Milky Way galaxy could be sitting inside a mysterious giant hole in space, astronomers have claimed. The research will be presented at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) in Durham, UK. The study, led by Indo-British scientist Indranil Banik, states that this theory could also be a possible explanation for the Hubble tension, EarthSky reported. If it holds true, then the age of our universe could also change. Right now, it is estimated to be 13.8 billion years old. Banik states that the theory of Earth sitting in a void is backed by the sound waves from the early universe, also known as "the sound of the Big Bang." Hubble tension remains a huge problem in astronomy. What is the Hubble Tension? Proposed by Edwin Hubble in 1929, the Hubble constant was used to express the rate of expansion of the Universe. This rate has been observed to be increasing. Astronomers observe the distance of celestial objects and how fast they are moving away from us to know how fast the universe is expanding. But, the problem is that when measurements of the distant, early Universe are compared to measurements of the nearby, more recent Universe, the former reveals a slower rate of expansion. This is called the Hubble tension, and some even call it the Hubble crisis. This is where Banik and his team bring in their new theory. Also Read: GREAT WALL of universe: 10 billion light-years long cosmic monster detected in space should not exist Indo-British scientist says it is highly likely we are in a void Banik said, "A potential solution to this inconsistency is that our galaxy is close to the centre of a large, local void. It would cause matter to be pulled by gravity toward the higher-density exterior of the void, leading to the void becoming emptier with time. As the void is emptying out, the velocity of objects away from us would be larger than if the void were not there. This, therefore, gives the appearance of a faster local expansion rate." About the Hubble tension, Banik says that it is a "local phenomenon with little evidence that the expansion rate disagrees with expectations in the standard cosmology further back in time. So a local solution like a local void is a promising way to go about solving the problem." Also Read: Scientists use NASA's TESS to discover ‘super-earth’ that could host billions—Is TOI-1846 b humanity's next home? Sound of the Big Bang This would mean that Earth and our solar system are near the centre of a two-billion-light-year-wide void. The number of galaxies present in our local universe is lower than in neighbouring regions, which further backs the theory. But it goes against the standard model of cosmology, according to which matter should be more uniformly spread. But there is still something else that supports the idea of a void - the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs) – or the “sound of the Big Bang”. Banik said, "These sound waves travelled for only a short while before becoming frozen in place once the universe cooled enough for neutral atoms to form. They act as a standard ruler, whose angular size we can use to chart the cosmic expansion history." Also Read: Interstellar visitor spotted is only the third: One of the other two appeared to be an 'alien vessel' Banik said that their model and measurements support the idea of Earth lying in a void. His team checked BAOs measurements from over the last 20 years, according to which, it is about 100 million times more likely that a void model exists than a void-free model. Researchers now plan to compare their local void model with other methods to learn more about the history of the universe’s expansion.

A void in universe? Earth and the Milky Way are lying in a large void in space, a study has stated. Researchers backed it up with the sound of the Big Bang and the smaller number of galaxies near us. The void theory also solves the Hubble tension.&nbsp;

2-billion-light-year-wide cosmic void cocoons Earth and even the Milky Way

Earth recorded its shortest day in history, scientists say, and even shorter days are coming. This summer, Earth is spinning unusually fast. Our planet completed a full rotation in slightly under 24 hours, 1.3 milliseconds faster than the standard. According to the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), July 22 and August 5 are expected to be similarly short.The reason is a complex interplay of geophysical forces. Experts point to a shift in the Earth's core, climate change-induced glacial melting, seismic activity, and even strong ocean tides as contributors to this acceleration. The phenomenon is known as “Chandler wobble”, a small irregular movement of Earth's geographical poles.“It’s a reminder,” said a geophysicist from the International Earth Rotation Service, “that our planet is not a static ball but a dynamic system constantly in flux.”&nbsp;<h2>Some Scientists say, ‘blame the moon’</h2>Scientists say this is also a result of the moon's position; when it is closer to the Moon, it rotates faster, when it's further away from the Moon, it slows down. The moon has always affected our Earth's spin through tidal braking, where our Moon's gravitational pull causes our planet to bulge. This deformation also slowly pulls away momentum from the Earth's rotation, causing our planet to slow down by 2 milliseconds every century.&nbsp;“It’s not a huge change in the Earth’s rotation that’s going to lead to some catastrophe or anything, but it is something notable,” said Duncan Agnew, a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.While the difference might be imperceptible to our human life, it resulted in IERS skipping a leap second in 2025, and may have to take back one leap second in 2029. But it is apparent that our planet has slowed down a little bit&nbsp; &nbsp;

The shortest ever day on Earth is recorded today, with Earth rotating 1.3 milliseconds faster than the standard time, scientists predicting even shorter days coming. 

Earth recorded its shortest day in history, scientists say, and even shorter days are coming. This summer, Earth is spinning unusually fast. Our planet completed a full rotation in slightly under 24 hours, 1.3 milliseconds faster than the standard. According to the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), July 22 and August 5 are expected to be similarly short. The reason is a complex interplay of geophysical forces. Experts point to a shift in the Earth's core, climate change-induced glacial melting, seismic activity, and even strong ocean tides as contributors to this acceleration. The phenomenon is known as “Chandler wobble”, a small irregular movement of Earth's geographical poles. “It’s a reminder,” said a geophysicist from the International Earth Rotation Service, “that our planet is not a static ball but a dynamic system constantly in flux.” Some Scientists say, ‘blame the moon’ Scientists say this is also a result of the moon's position; when it is closer to the Moon, it rotates faster, when it's further away from the Moon, it slows down. The moon has always affected our Earth's spin through tidal braking, where our Moon's gravitational pull causes our planet to bulge. This deformation also slowly pulls away momentum from the Earth's rotation, causing our planet to slow down by 2 milliseconds every century. “It’s not a huge change in the Earth’s rotation that’s going to lead to some catastrophe or anything, but it is something notable,” said Duncan Agnew, a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. While the difference might be imperceptible to our human life, it resulted in IERS skipping a leap second in 2025, and may have to take back one leap second in 2029. But it is apparent that our planet has slowed down a little bit

The shortest ever day on Earth is recorded today, with Earth rotating 1.3 milliseconds faster than the standard time, scientists predicting even shorter days coming.&nbsp;

Today was the shortest day ever recorded, even shorter days are coming

The shortest day to be ever recorded by man is here. July 9 will have a few milliseconds less than your average day. This is because of our Moon's current position. Scientists say the phenomenon is rare, although this is the sixth one to occur since 2020. In the next few weeks, we'll have two more shorter days, one of them even shorter than July 9. The Moon is making the Earth spin faster this summer and will cut off anywhere from 1.3 to 1.6 milliseconds from the 24 hours on July 9. International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) stated that the Moon will be furthest from the equator on this day, and this will impact the speed of Earth’s rotation. The same will again happen on July 22, and then again on August 5, Popular Mechanics reported. Of the three, August 5 will be the shortest day. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/511-billion-barrels-of-oil-discovered-in-antarctica-can-trigger-world-war-1752036274384">511 billion barrels of oil discovered in Antarctica can trigger World War. Here's how</a>&nbsp;<h2>Shortest day in history</h2>The shortest day in the history of Earth was recorded on July 5, 2024 - 1.66 milliseconds shorter than average. It might sound too small to matter, but even this was a full half-millisecond faster than when Earth was observed to spin faster in 2020 for the first time. While this year's phenomenon is attributed to the Moon's position from the Equator, the past rotational changes were because of other things. Earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tidal forces, and other mechanisms could either lead Earth to slow down or move faster. Noting the frequency of change in Earth's rotation, Leonid Zotov, an Earth rotation expert from Moscow State University, told timeanddate.com, in 2022, “The cause of this acceleration is not explained. Most scientists believe it is something inside the Earth. Ocean and atmospheric models don’t explain this huge acceleration.” Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/great-wall-of-universe-10-billion-light-years-cosmic-monster-detected-in-space-should-not-exist-1751950803162">GREAT WALL of universe: 10 billion light-years long cosmic monster detected in space should not exist</a> &nbsp;<h2>World timekeepers will reduce a leap second</h2>This sudden change will lead the world timekeepers to subtract a leap second for the first time ever in 2029. &nbsp;Clocks may have to skip a second — called a “negative leap second” — around 2029, a study in the journal Nature noted in 2024. “This is an unprecedented situation and a big deal,” said geophysicist and study lead author Duncan Agnew. “It’s not a huge change in the Earth’s rotation that’s going to lead to some catastrophe or anything, but it is something notable. It’s yet another indication that we’re in a very unusual time.” Earth has not always had 24 hours in a day. Today, Earth completes one full rotation in 86,400 seconds. But during the era of the dinosaurs, days were 23 hours long. Similarly, during the Bronze Age, the average day was 0.47 seconds shorter. This trend continues as Earth ages, and 200 million years from now, a standard Earth day will actually be 25 hours long.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Earths days have been getting shorter since 2020. What has changed since then? Scientists are trying to understand what is going on. Is it something inside the planet? Although the July 9 event is due to the Moon. 

The shortest day to be ever recorded by man is here. July 9 will have a few milliseconds less than your average day. This is because of our Moon's current position. Scientists say the phenomenon is rare, although this is the sixth one to occur since 2020. In the next few weeks, we'll have two more shorter days, one of them even shorter than July 9. The Moon is making the Earth spin faster this summer and will cut off anywhere from 1.3 to 1.6 milliseconds from the 24 hours on July 9. International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) stated that the Moon will be furthest from the equator on this day, and this will impact the speed of Earth’s rotation. The same will again happen on July 22, and then again on August 5, Popular Mechanics reported. Of the three, August 5 will be the shortest day. Also Read: 511 billion barrels of oil discovered in Antarctica can trigger World War. Here's how Shortest day in history The shortest day in the history of Earth was recorded on July 5, 2024 - 1.66 milliseconds shorter than average. It might sound too small to matter, but even this was a full half-millisecond faster than when Earth was observed to spin faster in 2020 for the first time. While this year's phenomenon is attributed to the Moon's position from the Equator, the past rotational changes were because of other things. Earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tidal forces, and other mechanisms could either lead Earth to slow down or move faster. Noting the frequency of change in Earth's rotation, Leonid Zotov, an Earth rotation expert from Moscow State University, told timeanddate.com, in 2022, “The cause of this acceleration is not explained. Most scientists believe it is something inside the Earth. Ocean and atmospheric models don’t explain this huge acceleration.” Also Read: GREAT WALL of universe: 10 billion light-years long cosmic monster detected in space should not exist World timekeepers will reduce a leap second This sudden change will lead the world timekeepers to subtract a leap second for the first time ever in 2029. Clocks may have to skip a second — called a “negative leap second” — around 2029, a study in the journal Nature noted in 2024. “This is an unprecedented situation and a big deal,” said geophysicist and study lead author Duncan Agnew. “It’s not a huge change in the Earth’s rotation that’s going to lead to some catastrophe or anything, but it is something notable. It’s yet another indication that we’re in a very unusual time.” Earth has not always had 24 hours in a day. Today, Earth completes one full rotation in 86,400 seconds. But during the era of the dinosaurs, days were 23 hours long. Similarly, during the Bronze Age, the average day was 0.47 seconds shorter. This trend continues as Earth ages, and 200 million years from now, a standard Earth day will actually be 25 hours long.

Earth's days have been getting shorter since 2020. What has changed since then? Scientists are trying to understand what's going on. Is it something inside the planet? Although the July 9 event is due to the Moon.&nbsp;

Curse of 2020? Time will change in 2029 because of mysterious factors

Before rockets, astronomers like Camille Flammarion used telescopes and imagination to explore Mars. He blended science and fiction, creating maps and stories that inspired many. His ideas shaped early views of martian life and still influence space dreams today.

How a 19th-century astronomer imagined life on Mars and mapped it from Earth: What did they see?

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to enter Space, but decades later, now, another name has emerged and will be penned down in the history books. Shubhanshu Shukla, Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force, and a serving pilot, has become the second Indian to travel to space in a Falcon 9 rocket.Shubhanshu Shukla flew as the mission pilot on Axiom Space's fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla will also carry out research designed by ISRO and Indian institutions, including studies on muscle strength, cognitive response, and gut health in microgravity.The IAF Group Captain is joined on the station by three other international astronauts: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, Peggy Whitson from the United States, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.<h2>A look at Indian citizens, Indian-origin astronauts who flew to space -</h2><h3>Rakesh Sharma</h3>Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative.On April 3, 1984, he flew abroad Soyuz T-11 and spent over a week abroad the Salyut 7 space station. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked her how India looked from space. To this, Sharma replied, "Saare Jahan Se Achha."<h3>Kalpana Chawla</h3>Kalpana Chawla, who was born in Karnal, Punjab, moved to the United States after completing her aeronautical engineering degree. Since she moved, Kalpana became a naturalised US citizen and joined NASA in 1994.Later, in 1997, she flew aboard Columbia STS-87 and became the first Indian-born woman to enter into space.However, her second flight in 2003 suffered tragedy when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry to Earth and killed all crew members.<h3>Sunita Williams</h3>Indian-American astronaut, Sunita Williams, also known for her long-duration missions on the International Space Station, joined NASA.Williams was also a former US Navy pilot and she had logged over 300 days in space. Another surprising achievement of hers, includes seven spacewalks she did, while also setting a record for the highest time spent on spacewalks by a woman.<h3>Sirish Bandla</h3>Sirish Bandla was born in Andhra Pradesh and raised in the US. She studied aeronautical engineering and worked in the private space sector. Bandla flew aboard Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 suborbital mission, and her role included conducting scientific research during the flight.She certainly created a milestone in commercial spaceflight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative.

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to enter Space, but decades later, now, another name has emerged and will be penned down in the history books. Shubhanshu Shukla, Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force, and a serving pilot, has become the second Indian to travel to space in a Falcon 9 rocket. Shubhanshu Shukla flew as the mission pilot on Axiom Space's fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla will also carry out research designed by ISRO and Indian institutions, including studies on muscle strength, cognitive response, and gut health in microgravity. The IAF Group Captain is joined on the station by three other international astronauts: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, Peggy Whitson from the United States, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. A look at Indian citizens, Indian-origin astronauts who flew to space - Rakesh Sharma Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative. On April 3, 1984, he flew abroad Soyuz T-11 and spent over a week abroad the Salyut 7 space station. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked her how India looked from space. To this, Sharma replied, "Saare Jahan Se Achha." Kalpana Chawla Kalpana Chawla, who was born in Karnal, Punjab, moved to the United States after completing her aeronautical engineering degree. Since she moved, Kalpana became a naturalised US citizen and joined NASA in 1994. Later, in 1997, she flew aboard Columbia STS-87 and became the first Indian-born woman to enter into space. However, her second flight in 2003 suffered tragedy when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry to Earth and killed all crew members. Sunita Williams Indian-American astronaut, Sunita Williams, also known for her long-duration missions on the International Space Station, joined NASA. Williams was also a former US Navy pilot and she had logged over 300 days in space. Another surprising achievement of hers, includes seven spacewalks she did, while also setting a record for the highest time spent on spacewalks by a woman. Sirish Bandla Sirish Bandla was born in Andhra Pradesh and raised in the US. She studied aeronautical engineering and worked in the private space sector. Bandla flew aboard Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 suborbital mission, and her role included conducting scientific research during the flight. She certainly created a milestone in commercial spaceflight.

Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was selected under a joint programme between ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos initiative.

From Rakesh Sharma to today's space pioneers: Meet Indians and Indian-origin icons who reached beyond Earth

Chile’s Vera Rubin telescope captures 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. A powerful new eye in the sky. Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially begun its mission to observe the universe like never before. The Chile observatory features the world’s largest digital camera, a 3,200 Megapixel sensor, and recently shared its first images from space. Located on Pachon Hill in northern Chile, the telescope aims to uncover new details about how the solar system formed and spot possible asteroid threats to Earth.<h2>2,100 new asteroids detected</h2>In just 10 hours, the Rubin Observatory discovered more than 2,100 previously unknown asteroids, focusing on a small area of the visible sky. To compare, all global observatories combined typically detect about 20,000 asteroids per year.&nbsp;“It’s really going to change and challenge the way people work with their data,” said William O’Mullane, a project leader for data at the observatory.&nbsp;The telescope's vast capabilities allow it to collect data on a massive scale. “I’ll give you a million galaxies. I’ll give you a million stars or a billion even,” O’Mullane said.<h2>Covering the whole southern sky</h2>Each night, the observatory takes around 1,000 images of the southern hemisphere sky. Within three to four nights, it can complete a full scan of the entire southern sky. Its location in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the darkest and driest regions on Earth, makes it ideal for deep-sky observations.&nbsp;The observatory is named after Vera C. Rubin, an American astronomer known for her work on dark matter, an invisible substance that makes up most of the universe’s mass.<h2>Data flood needs artificial intelligence</h2>The Rubin Observatory is expected to send out so much information that it would overwhelm any human team working alone. “The number of alerts the telescope will send every night is equivalent to the inboxes of 83,000 people,” said Chilean astrophysicist Francisco Foster.&nbsp;To handle this, astronomers plan to use artificial intelligence tools to help process and analyse the data in real time.&nbsp;The observatory is set to play a major role in discovering asteroids, galaxies, stars, and dark matter; it can be considered as one of the most important astronomical projects of this decade.&nbsp;

Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has made a groundbreaking discovery, detecting 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. With its powerful 3,200 Megapixel camera, the telescope aims to reshape our understanding of the universe and track potential asteroid threats to Earth.


Chile’s Vera Rubin telescope captures 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. A powerful new eye in the sky. Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially begun its mission to observe the universe like never before. The Chile observatory features the world’s largest digital camera, a 3,200 Megapixel sensor, and recently shared its first images from space. Located on Pachon Hill in northern Chile, the telescope aims to uncover new details about how the solar system formed and spot possible asteroid threats to Earth. 2,100 new asteroids detected In just 10 hours, the Rubin Observatory discovered more than 2,100 previously unknown asteroids, focusing on a small area of the visible sky. To compare, all global observatories combined typically detect about 20,000 asteroids per year. “It’s really going to change and challenge the way people work with their data,” said William O’Mullane, a project leader for data at the observatory. The telescope's vast capabilities allow it to collect data on a massive scale. “I’ll give you a million galaxies. I’ll give you a million stars or a billion even,” O’Mullane said. Covering the whole southern sky Each night, the observatory takes around 1,000 images of the southern hemisphere sky. Within three to four nights, it can complete a full scan of the entire southern sky. Its location in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the darkest and driest regions on Earth, makes it ideal for deep-sky observations. The observatory is named after Vera C. Rubin, an American astronomer known for her work on dark matter, an invisible substance that makes up most of the universe’s mass. Data flood needs artificial intelligence The Rubin Observatory is expected to send out so much information that it would overwhelm any human team working alone. “The number of alerts the telescope will send every night is equivalent to the inboxes of 83,000 people,” said Chilean astrophysicist Francisco Foster. To handle this, astronomers plan to use artificial intelligence tools to help process and analyse the data in real time. The observatory is set to play a major role in discovering asteroids, galaxies, stars, and dark matter; it can be considered as one of the most important astronomical projects of this decade.

Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has made a groundbreaking discovery, detecting 2,100 new asteroids in just 10 hours. With its powerful 3,200 Megapixel camera, the telescope aims to reshape our understanding of the universe and track potential asteroid threats to Earth.

The world’s largest space telescope finds 2,100 new asteroids. Know what else it can do.

Earth, the pale blue dot, as seen by Voyager 1 on 14 February 1990, wasn't always blue. Studies suggest that the earliest colour exuded by the oceans was purple, and even pink. This was between 3.5 and 2.4 billion years ago during the Archean eon. The theory was first proposed by Indian-American molecular biologist Shiladitya DasSarma, and has been termed the "Purple Earth Hypothesis." DasSarma theorised that early life on the planet did not work with chlorophyll but a molecule called retinal. It absorbed green and yellow light and reflected red and blue, which gave Earth the appearance of a purple planet. Some even say that the Earth's earliest colour was pink.Retinal is still present around us and can be found in the plum-colored membrane of a photosynthetic microbe called halobacteria. This bacterium absorbs green light and reflects back red and violet light, so you see purple.&nbsp;DasSarma says that primitive microbes that used retinal to harness the sun's energy dominated early Earth. So things on Earth at the time appeared purple. There were microbes that used chlorophyll but could not compete directly with those utilising retinal, DasSarma said. But they evolved the ability to absorb the wavelengths retinal did not use, helping them survive.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-something-unexpected-moving-2-700km-under-earth-s-surface-1750225822229">Scientists discover something unexpected moving 2,700km under Earth's surface</a>&nbsp;"Chlorophyll was forced to make use of the blue and red light, since all the green light was absorbed by the purple membrane-containing organisms," William Sparks, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Maryland, said. He helped DasSarma with his research.&nbsp;<h2>A pink Earth</h2>&nbsp;Today, the oceans are blue and plants green. But over 650 million years ago, cyanobacteria dominated Earth's oceans. Researchers have found the pink pigment in bacterial fossils from the Sahara Desert in Mauritania, West Africa. In fact, pink is considered the world's oldest-known colour. This pigment in the cyanobacteria living in the oceans gave the water a pinkish hue, making the "blue dot" a pink planet. According to findings published on July 9, 2018, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, cyanobacteria are even older than algae.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/astronomers-find-128-new-moons-orbiting-planet-saturn-dont-think-jupiter-will-ever-catch-up-8845107">Astronomers find 128 new moons orbiting planet Saturn: 'Don't think Jupiter will ever catch up'</a>&nbsp;Ancient chlorophyll had been found fossilised in these bacteria. They survived on sunlight and spread everywhere on Earth. The fossilised chlorophyll has been discovered in concentrated form inside them. Scientists suggest that when they mixed with water, they released a pink colour. So everything, the water in the oceans and the land, likely appeared pink back then.&nbsp;Organisms using chlorophyll and retinal survived together at one time. Over the years, chlorophyll won because it is more efficient than retinal. So today, Earth is green and the waters appear blue.

Earth was not always blue. It was once purple and even pink, as per some scientists. Research has shown that millions of years ago, our planet was dominated by bacteria that reflected red and blue. 

Earth, the pale blue dot, as seen by Voyager 1 on 14 February 1990, wasn't always blue. Studies suggest that the earliest colour exuded by the oceans was purple, and even pink. This was between 3.5 and 2.4 billion years ago during the Archean eon. The theory was first proposed by Indian-American molecular biologist Shiladitya DasSarma, and has been termed the "Purple Earth Hypothesis." DasSarma theorised that early life on the planet did not work with chlorophyll but a molecule called retinal. It absorbed green and yellow light and reflected red and blue, which gave Earth the appearance of a purple planet. Some even say that the Earth's earliest colour was pink. Retinal is still present around us and can be found in the plum-colored membrane of a photosynthetic microbe called halobacteria. This bacterium absorbs green light and reflects back red and violet light, so you see purple. DasSarma says that primitive microbes that used retinal to harness the sun's energy dominated early Earth. So things on Earth at the time appeared purple. There were microbes that used chlorophyll but could not compete directly with those utilising retinal, DasSarma said. But they evolved the ability to absorb the wavelengths retinal did not use, helping them survive. Also Read: Scientists discover something unexpected moving 2,700km under Earth's surface "Chlorophyll was forced to make use of the blue and red light, since all the green light was absorbed by the purple membrane-containing organisms," William Sparks, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Maryland, said. He helped DasSarma with his research. A pink Earth Today, the oceans are blue and plants green. But over 650 million years ago, cyanobacteria dominated Earth's oceans. Researchers have found the pink pigment in bacterial fossils from the Sahara Desert in Mauritania, West Africa. In fact, pink is considered the world's oldest-known colour. This pigment in the cyanobacteria living in the oceans gave the water a pinkish hue, making the "blue dot" a pink planet. According to findings published on July 9, 2018, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, cyanobacteria are even older than algae. Also Read: Astronomers find 128 new moons orbiting planet Saturn: 'Don't think Jupiter will ever catch up' Ancient chlorophyll had been found fossilised in these bacteria. They survived on sunlight and spread everywhere on Earth. The fossilised chlorophyll has been discovered in concentrated form inside them. Scientists suggest that when they mixed with water, they released a pink colour. So everything, the water in the oceans and the land, likely appeared pink back then. Organisms using chlorophyll and retinal survived together at one time. Over the years, chlorophyll won because it is more efficient than retinal. So today, Earth is green and the waters appear blue.

Earth was not always blue. It was once purple and even pink, as per some scientists. Research has shown that millions of years ago, our planet was dominated by bacteria that reflected red and blue.&nbsp;

Billions of years ago, Earth was purple in colour, sometimes even pink

Scientists have found proof that the insides of the Earth are highly active. The discovery was made at a depth of 2,700km, where the team from ETH Zurich said that solid rock is in constant motion. Flowing rock might sound like a strange term, but the researchers say that's the consistency of the rock."Our discovery shows that the Earth is not only active on the surface, but is also in motion deep inside," said lead author Professor Motohiko Murakami.&nbsp;"We have finally found the last piece of the puzzle."&nbsp;It is neither liquid nor hard and brittle like the regular rocks found on the surface. Instead, it is like boiling water in a pot and moves on convection currents. The next step is to map the hidden currents of solid rock deep inside the Earth.&nbsp;Further studies into the flowing rock could also pinpoint the energy that powers volcanoes, earthquakes, tectonic plates, and the Earth's magnetic field.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/us-military-video-shows-strange-flying-disc-over-afghan-pakistan-border-1750221595672">US military footage shows strange flying disc over Afghan-Pakistan border. Watch</a>&nbsp;Scientists studied a part of the Earth's mantle known as the D' layer. It is seen as a strange region since seismic waves from earthquakes hit high speeds every time they hit this layer. They think it is because of the presence of a different type of material here. Murakami had earlier discovered that perovskite, the material which makes up most of the lower mantle, transforms into a new mineral around the D' layer when there is extreme heat and pressure, called post-perovskite.&nbsp;&nbsp;He pointed out that this is why seismic waves started behaving strangely when they hit this portion.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/did-nasa-find-life-on-mars-in-2013-curiosity-photo-of-a-mushroom-raises-suspicion-1750216019369">Did NASA find life on Mars in 2013? Curiosity photo of a 'mushroom' raises suspicion</a>&nbsp;However, they argued that this phenomenon alone could not explain the change in speed of seismic waves. Professor Murakami knew that when seismic waves travelled through harder material, they sped up.&nbsp;So he created the conditions in Earth's mantle in a laboratory. As part of the experiment, he crushed tiny grains of perovskite at pressures up to 115 gigapascals, over 16 million pounds per square inch. This helped him replicate the conditions of the D' layer. He found that the crystals in the post-perovskite lined up in the same direction.&nbsp;He tested this area and found that only this specific alignment could cause the seismic waves to travel faster. They argued that something was happening around the D' layer that forced the crystals to face the same direction. This led them to conclude that solid rock was flowing horizontally along the boundary between the Earth's mantle and the core.&nbsp;

A mysterious zone in Earth's mantle is constantly in motion. Scientists have discovered that something is travelling deep inside the planet.

Scientists have found proof that the insides of the Earth are highly active. The discovery was made at a depth of 2,700km, where the team from ETH Zurich said that solid rock is in constant motion. Flowing rock might sound like a strange term, but the researchers say that's the consistency of the rock. "Our discovery shows that the Earth is not only active on the surface, but is also in motion deep inside," said lead author Professor Motohiko Murakami. "We have finally found the last piece of the puzzle." It is neither liquid nor hard and brittle like the regular rocks found on the surface. Instead, it is like boiling water in a pot and moves on convection currents. The next step is to map the hidden currents of solid rock deep inside the Earth. Further studies into the flowing rock could also pinpoint the energy that powers volcanoes, earthquakes, tectonic plates, and the Earth's magnetic field. Also Read: US military footage shows strange flying disc over Afghan-Pakistan border. Watch Scientists studied a part of the Earth's mantle known as the D' layer. It is seen as a strange region since seismic waves from earthquakes hit high speeds every time they hit this layer. They think it is because of the presence of a different type of material here. Murakami had earlier discovered that perovskite, the material which makes up most of the lower mantle, transforms into a new mineral around the D' layer when there is extreme heat and pressure, called post-perovskite. He pointed out that this is why seismic waves started behaving strangely when they hit this portion. Also Read: Did NASA find life on Mars in 2013? Curiosity photo of a 'mushroom' raises suspicion However, they argued that this phenomenon alone could not explain the change in speed of seismic waves. Professor Murakami knew that when seismic waves travelled through harder material, they sped up. So he created the conditions in Earth's mantle in a laboratory. As part of the experiment, he crushed tiny grains of perovskite at pressures up to 115 gigapascals, over 16 million pounds per square inch. This helped him replicate the conditions of the D' layer. He found that the crystals in the post-perovskite lined up in the same direction. He tested this area and found that only this specific alignment could cause the seismic waves to travel faster. They argued that something was happening around the D' layer that forced the crystals to face the same direction. This led them to conclude that solid rock was flowing horizontally along the boundary between the Earth's mantle and the core.

A mysterious zone in Earth's mantle is constantly in motion. Scientists have discovered that something is travelling deep inside the planet.

Scientists discover something unexpected moving 2,700km under Earth's surface

The UK is funding $60 million in real-world experiments to reflect sunlight and cool the Earth, marking its first foray into climate geoengineering.

Why Is UK Trying To Turn Down Sun's Heat? |

Picture a skyscraper that doesn't rise up from the ground&mdash;but is hanging in the sky. That's the bold concept behind Analemma Tower, a space-age structure that would be suspended from an asteroid orbiting the Earth.
The concept, unveiled by Clouds Architecture Office, visualises a building that would hang well above cities such as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/dubai">Dubai</a>, held aloft by a space-based anchor.
Rather than standing on land, Analemma would be suspended from a gargantuan cable attached to an asteroid in geosynchronous orbit. This orbiting anchor would enable the tower to gradually mark out a figure-eight course above the Earth's surface daily, called an analemma&mdash;a trajectory created by the planet's tilt and orbital eccentricity.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/boycott-turkey-jnu-suspends-agreement-with-inonu-university-amid-recep-tayyip-erdogans-support-for-pakistan-9068846">Boycott Turkey | JNU suspends MoU with Inonu University amid Ankara's support for Pakistan, cites 'national security'</a>
Different functions would be accommodated by the tower's vertical structure at different levels: Residential areas would be situated higher up, with panoramic views,&nbsp;commercial districts and office spaces would be situated mid-tower and&nbsp;transportation hubs and shopping areas would be at the lower levels, accessible to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/earth" rel="dofollow">Earth</a>.
<h2>An ambitious vision</h2>
Due to the extreme height, Analemma Tower would need advanced technology to control gravity, pressure, and atmospheric pressure at different heights. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/solar-panels">Solar panels</a> would provide energy, and water would be harvested from clouds or brought from Earth.
While it sounds like science fiction, the project reflects increasing interest in marrying space technology with urban planning. While the engineering problem is enormous&mdash;and launching the venture would take staggering resources&mdash;the concept marks the ambitious vision some architects have for tomorrow's cities.
For now, Analemma Tower is still a proposal. But in an age when skyscrapers are hurtling toward the sky, this one could literally hang in mid-air among them.

World: The project, revealed by Clouds Architecture Office, proposes a structure that would float high above cities like Dubai, supported by a space-based anchor

Picture a skyscraper that doesn't rise up from the ground—but is hanging in the sky. That's the bold concept behind Analemma Tower, a space-age structure that would be suspended from an asteroid orbiting the Earth. The concept, unveiled by Clouds Architecture Office, visualises a building that would hang well above cities such as Dubai, held aloft by a space-based anchor. Rather than standing on land, Analemma would be suspended from a gargantuan cable attached to an asteroid in geosynchronous orbit. This orbiting anchor would enable the tower to gradually mark out a figure-eight course above the Earth's surface daily, called an analemma—a trajectory created by the planet's tilt and orbital eccentricity. Also Read: Boycott Turkey | JNU suspends MoU with Inonu University amid Ankara's support for Pakistan, cites 'national security' Different functions would be accommodated by the tower's vertical structure at different levels: Residential areas would be situated higher up, with panoramic views, commercial districts and office spaces would be situated mid-tower and transportation hubs and shopping areas would be at the lower levels, accessible to Earth. An ambitious vision Due to the extreme height, Analemma Tower would need advanced technology to control gravity, pressure, and atmospheric pressure at different heights. Solar panels would provide energy, and water would be harvested from clouds or brought from Earth. While it sounds like science fiction, the project reflects increasing interest in marrying space technology with urban planning. While the engineering problem is enormous—and launching the venture would take staggering resources—the concept marks the ambitious vision some architects have for tomorrow's cities. For now, Analemma Tower is still a proposal. But in an age when skyscrapers are hurtling toward the sky, this one could literally hang in mid-air among them.

Defying gravity: Plans unveiled for world's first hanging tower suspended from orbit

Earth is getting hotter by the day, and soon it might become uninhabitable. Conditions would worsen to such an extent that life would no longer be able to exist on the planet. Scientists have now figured out the exact year in which all life will cease to exist on Earth.
NASA scientists and researchers from Japan&rsquo;s University of Toho used supercomputers to study habitability conditions on Earth in the future. They have the precise year when life will end - 1,000,002,021.&nbsp;
The study pinpoints that the Sun will ultimately spell doom for our planet. The sun has been burning for millions of years, and as it progresses in its life cycle, it will become hotter. Scientists say that the energy output of the Sun will increase in the coming years. It will reach a point where it will start heating the planets in the solar system rapidly.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deadly-fungus-that-grows-astonishingly-quickly-in-heat-threatens-the-world-9043900" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'33% more likely to die': Deadly fungus with high fatality rate threatens a hotter world</a>
Earth will also bear the brunt of this activity. The extreme heat will make the surface conditions so extreme that even the most resilient organisms won't be able to exist on Earth.&nbsp;
<h2>Solar flares and an active Sun</h2>
However, the process to this end would begin years earlier. Researchers say Earth is already experiencing these symptoms since the Sun has been extremely active in the past few months. The increased Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), solar flares and sunspots prove that our star is undergoing transformation.
Detailed climate change and solar radiation models have projected the changes that will start occurring in the coming years. Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere will start feeling the effects of a hotter Sun. There would be a lack of oxygen, temperatures will start increasing, and air quality will worsen.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/india-in-danger-zone-as-soviet-spacecraft-kosmos-482-tumbles-down-9038929" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India in danger zone as out-of-control spacecraft comes crashing down, estimate suggests</a>
A gradual and irreversible process of change will be set in motion, ultimately taking Earth to its deathbed.
<h2>Climate change</h2>
Human-induced climate change will aid the process. Temperatures across the world are already witnessing an increase each year. Icebergs are breaking off, and the increasing heat will trigger a meltdown, thus increasing sea levels.&nbsp;
While the year 1,000,002,021 is still too far away, experts have been working on solutions to save Earth. There are others who do not think Earth can be saved and are looking to establish human colonies on other planets, like Mars.&nbsp;

What sustains life on Earth will one day turn into an enemy and kill everything on the planet. A supercomputer has predicted the exact year everything will collapse. Science & Tech World Trending

Earth is getting hotter by the day, and soon it might become uninhabitable. Conditions would worsen to such an extent that life would no longer be able to exist on the planet. Scientists have now figured out the exact year in which all life will cease to exist on Earth. NASA scientists and researchers from Japan’s University of Toho used supercomputers to study habitability conditions on Earth in the future. They have the precise year when life will end - 1,000,002,021. The study pinpoints that the Sun will ultimately spell doom for our planet. The sun has been burning for millions of years, and as it progresses in its life cycle, it will become hotter. Scientists say that the energy output of the Sun will increase in the coming years. It will reach a point where it will start heating the planets in the solar system rapidly. Also Read: '33% more likely to die': Deadly fungus with high fatality rate threatens a hotter world Earth will also bear the brunt of this activity. The extreme heat will make the surface conditions so extreme that even the most resilient organisms won't be able to exist on Earth. Solar flares and an active Sun However, the process to this end would begin years earlier. Researchers say Earth is already experiencing these symptoms since the Sun has been extremely active in the past few months. The increased Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), solar flares and sunspots prove that our star is undergoing transformation. Detailed climate change and solar radiation models have projected the changes that will start occurring in the coming years. Earth’s atmosphere will start feeling the effects of a hotter Sun. There would be a lack of oxygen, temperatures will start increasing, and air quality will worsen. Also Read: India in danger zone as out-of-control spacecraft comes crashing down, estimate suggests A gradual and irreversible process of change will be set in motion, ultimately taking Earth to its deathbed. Climate change Human-induced climate change will aid the process. Temperatures across the world are already witnessing an increase each year. Icebergs are breaking off, and the increasing heat will trigger a meltdown, thus increasing sea levels. While the year 1,000,002,021 is still too far away, experts have been working on solutions to save Earth. There are others who do not think Earth can be saved and are looking to establish human colonies on other planets, like Mars.

1,000,002,021: Scientists think THIS is the year all life will vanish from Earth

Scientists have detected a dark cloud right next door to Earth, which has somehow managed to evade sight before. Our Sun resides in a gigantic structure known as the Local Bubble. The cloud of molecular gas called Eos is right on the edge of this structure.&nbsp;
Molecular clouds exist throughout the universe, with several of them residing in the Milky Way as well. They are composed mostly of hydrogen gas and dust. A team of researchers announced the discovery on April 27, 2025. Eos is only 300 light-years away, which makes it the closest cloud ever seen near our solar system. It is also one of the largest single structures ever seen in space.
The discovery was published in Nature Astronomy on April 28, 2025.
Eos is humongous in size, about 3,400 times more massive than the sun. It is all gas, and yet monstrous. Researchers say that if we could look at it from Earth, it would be equal to seeing 40 full moons across the sky.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/scientists-detect-strongest-hints-of-planet-nine-lurking-way-beyond-pluto-9025324" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Planet Nine might exist after all as scientists detect something lurking way beyond Pluto</a>
The cloud is shaped like a crescent and is hovering on the edge of the huge &ldquo;cavity&rdquo; called the Local Bubble. However, it won't last forever and will dissipate in the next six million years.
<h2>How was the cloud detected?</h2>
Molecular clouds are made up of hydrogen, which glows in ultraviolet light. Scientists used a far-ultraviolet spectrograph (FIMS-SPEAR) on the Korean satellite STSAT-1 to look for ultraviolet emission of molecular hydrogen. Study authors say the cloud is "literally glowing in the dark".
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/black-hole-bomb-just-exploded-in-a-lab-and-physicists-could-not-be-happier-9016993" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">56-year-old theory is proven right as 'Black Hole bomb' explodes in a lab</a>
"This is the first-ever molecular cloud discovered by looking for far-ultraviolet emission of molecular hydrogen directly. The data showed glowing hydrogen molecules detected via fluorescence in the far ultraviolet," lead author Blakesley Burkhart, in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences in New Jersey, said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/53-year-old-venus-mission-kosmos-482-is-crashing-down-on-earth-9012796" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">WATCH OUT! Spacecraft that left for Venus 53 years ago is now tumbling towards us</a>
"This cloud is literally glowing in the dark. It was kind of like just waiting to be explored. This opens up new possibilities for studying the molecular universe."
The researchers say it wasn't seen till now because it has very little hydrogen, making it a "dark" cloud.
<h2>Cloud will let scientists see stars and planets</h2>
Scientists are intrigued by the cloud as they now have the opportunity to see stars and planets form. These clouds are the gaseous space between stars. They have the raw materials that contribute to the birth of new stars and planets.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/500-billion-year-spin-solves-a-cosmic-puzzle-panta-kykloutai-the-universe-is-rotating-8978908" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">500-billion-year spin solves a cosmic puzzle: Panta Kykloutai, the universe is rotating</a>
"When we look through our telescopes, we catch whole solar systems in the act of forming, but we don&rsquo;t know in detail how that happens. Our discovery of Eos is exciting because we can now directly measure how molecular clouds are forming and dissociating, and how a galaxy begins to transform interstellar gas and dust into stars and planets," Burkhart added.
The hydrogen in the cloud has covered a journey of 13.6 billion years since it existed from the time of the Big Bang.

Eos is humongous in size, about 3,400 times more massive than the sun. Molecular clouds exist throughout the universe. Science & Tech Trending

Scientists have detected a dark cloud right next door to Earth, which has somehow managed to evade sight before. Our Sun resides in a gigantic structure known as the Local Bubble. The cloud of molecular gas called Eos is right on the edge of this structure. Molecular clouds exist throughout the universe, with several of them residing in the Milky Way as well. They are composed mostly of hydrogen gas and dust. A team of researchers announced the discovery on April 27, 2025. Eos is only 300 light-years away, which makes it the closest cloud ever seen near our solar system. It is also one of the largest single structures ever seen in space. The discovery was published in Nature Astronomy on April 28, 2025. Eos is humongous in size, about 3,400 times more massive than the sun. It is all gas, and yet monstrous. Researchers say that if we could look at it from Earth, it would be equal to seeing 40 full moons across the sky. Also Read: Planet Nine might exist after all as scientists detect something lurking way beyond Pluto The cloud is shaped like a crescent and is hovering on the edge of the huge “cavity” called the Local Bubble. However, it won't last forever and will dissipate in the next six million years. How was the cloud detected? Molecular clouds are made up of hydrogen, which glows in ultraviolet light. Scientists used a far-ultraviolet spectrograph (FIMS-SPEAR) on the Korean satellite STSAT-1 to look for ultraviolet emission of molecular hydrogen. Study authors say the cloud is "literally glowing in the dark". Also Read: 56-year-old theory is proven right as 'Black Hole bomb' explodes in a lab "This is the first-ever molecular cloud discovered by looking for far-ultraviolet emission of molecular hydrogen directly. The data showed glowing hydrogen molecules detected via fluorescence in the far ultraviolet," lead author Blakesley Burkhart, in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences in New Jersey, said. Also Read: WATCH OUT! Spacecraft that left for Venus 53 years ago is now tumbling towards us "This cloud is literally glowing in the dark. It was kind of like just waiting to be explored. This opens up new possibilities for studying the molecular universe." The researchers say it wasn't seen till now because it has very little hydrogen, making it a "dark" cloud. Cloud will let scientists see stars and planets Scientists are intrigued by the cloud as they now have the opportunity to see stars and planets form. These clouds are the gaseous space between stars. They have the raw materials that contribute to the birth of new stars and planets. Also Read: 500-billion-year spin solves a cosmic puzzle: Panta Kykloutai, the universe is rotating "When we look through our telescopes, we catch whole solar systems in the act of forming, but we don’t know in detail how that happens. Our discovery of Eos is exciting because we can now directly measure how molecular clouds are forming and dissociating, and how a galaxy begins to transform interstellar gas and dust into stars and planets," Burkhart added. The hydrogen in the cloud has covered a journey of 13.6 billion years since it existed from the time of the Big Bang.

Monstrous cloud detected floating near Earth at edge of huge 'cavity'

The European Space Agency is set to launch a revolutionary satellite that will create 3D maps of Earth's forests. The Biomass mission will monitor forest health, respond to climate change, and reveal secrets of our planet's ecosystems.

Europe launches satellite to map Earth's forests in 3D

Why is the UK trying to turn down Sun's heat?

'Using gamma-ray bursts': Astronomers find cosmic superstructure is bigger and nearer to Earth

Gamma-Ray Bursts

Bigger and Closer Than Previously Estimated

Understanding the Hercules

Initial Discovery and Updated Analysis

Challenge to Cosmological Assumptions

Why GRBs Are Effective Tools

Further Observations and Future Missions

Astronomers have revised the scale of the Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall using gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) — the most powerful known cosmic explosions. The bursts helped trace the structure’s outline more accurately than previous studies.

Earth's geographic North and South poles are at risk of shifting from their position by as much as 90 feet due to climate change. This revelation was made in a study that states that the melting of the ice sheets will lead to the ocean mass getting redistributed around the planet. This scenario is likely to unfold by the year 2100. This shift is expected to be of a whopping 89 feet and will happen as the planet's axis of rotation changes.
The study was published on March 5 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The change in the position of the poles will affect satellite and spacecraft navigation, the researchers said. The study took meltwater from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets into consideration in the simulations, followed by glacier melt.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/a-spinning-dark-ghost-galaxy-discovered-in-our-galactic-neighbourhood-8978939" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">A spinning dark 'ghost' galaxy discovered in our galactic neighbourhood</a>
Earth begins to wobble on its axis when changes occur in the distribution of the planet's mass. This wobbling is regular and predictable and can happen due to several changes, such as those in atmospheric pressure and ocean currents. Sometimes interactions between the core and the mantle can also result in this happening.
<h2>Mass distribution can shift Earth's poles</h2>
Several other studies also suggest that changes in mass distribution can shift Earth's poles. The latest study was carried out by researchers at ETH Zurich. They looked into the movement of the poles from 1900 to 2018 and projections of ice sheet melt to learn how much the poles can shift because of changes in the climate.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/will-humans-hear-back-from-aliens-on-k2-18b-not-for-at-least-248-years-8975734" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Will humans hear back from aliens on K2-18b? Not for at least 248 years</a>
They found that if the world heats up at the worst rate, then the North Pole could shift towards the west by more than 89 feet by 2100. However, if things don't get as bad, even then the pole could shift by as much as 39 feet, as compared to its location in 1900.
"This effect is somewhat surpassing the effect of glacial isostatic adjustment, which is the effect of solid Earth rebound after the termination of the last ice age," study co-author Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi, told Live Science. Kiani is an Earth scientist at the University of Vienna.
This means that "land at the surface of the crust sank under the weight of ice age glaciers and rose when they melted". This changes the distribution of weight in Earth's crust, resulting in the shifting of the poles. "This means that what humans have done has somewhat shifted the pole more than the effect of ice ages," Kiani Shahvandi said.
Earth's rotation axis is used in part to map a spacecraft's location, and the shift in the poles will affect satellites and spacecraft navigation, the researchers said.

Earth's geographic North and South poles are at risk of shifting from their position by as much as 90 feet due to climate change. Science & Tech | World

Earth's geographic North and South poles are at risk of shifting from their position by as much as 90 feet due to climate change. This revelation was made in a study that states that the melting of the ice sheets will lead to the ocean mass getting redistributed around the planet. This scenario is likely to unfold by the year 2100. This shift is expected to be of a whopping 89 feet and will happen as the planet's axis of rotation changes. The study was published on March 5 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The change in the position of the poles will affect satellite and spacecraft navigation, the researchers said. The study took meltwater from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets into consideration in the simulations, followed by glacier melt. Also Read: A spinning dark 'ghost' galaxy discovered in our galactic neighbourhood Earth begins to wobble on its axis when changes occur in the distribution of the planet's mass. This wobbling is regular and predictable and can happen due to several changes, such as those in atmospheric pressure and ocean currents. Sometimes interactions between the core and the mantle can also result in this happening. Mass distribution can shift Earth's poles Several other studies also suggest that changes in mass distribution can shift Earth's poles. The latest study was carried out by researchers at ETH Zurich. They looked into the movement of the poles from 1900 to 2018 and projections of ice sheet melt to learn how much the poles can shift because of changes in the climate. Also Read: Will humans hear back from aliens on K2-18b? Not for at least 248 years They found that if the world heats up at the worst rate, then the North Pole could shift towards the west by more than 89 feet by 2100. However, if things don't get as bad, even then the pole could shift by as much as 39 feet, as compared to its location in 1900. "This effect is somewhat surpassing the effect of glacial isostatic adjustment, which is the effect of solid Earth rebound after the termination of the last ice age," study co-author Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi, told Live Science. Kiani is an Earth scientist at the University of Vienna. This means that "land at the surface of the crust sank under the weight of ice age glaciers and rose when they melted". This changes the distribution of weight in Earth's crust, resulting in the shifting of the poles. "This means that what humans have done has somewhat shifted the pole more than the effect of ice ages," Kiani Shahvandi said. Earth's rotation axis is used in part to map a spacecraft's location, and the shift in the poles will affect satellites and spacecraft navigation, the researchers said.

North Pole can shift 90 feet by 2100 because of humans

Observations by the James Webb Space Telescope of a planet called K2-18, located 124 light years from Earth, have yielded the strongest evidence yet that extraterrestrial life may be thriving beyond our solar system.

Scientists find strongest-ever evidence of life beyond Earth

The Milky Way has 44 planets in other star systems that resemble Earth, according to a new machine learning model. The AI Earth-like planet predictor has been created by Researchers at the University of Bern and the National Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS (NCCR PlanetS), Switzerland.
They say that the algorithm employed by the model is 99 per cent accurate. Their Earth-like planet predictor had the ability to tell which planetary systems might have planets like Earth. The research was published in Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics.
The scientists who were part of the study said that the AI model is extremely promising and can help astronomers focus their attention only on star systems that have a high chance of having exoplanets that might be able to host life.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/revolutionary-moment-as-astronomers-find-strongest-evidence-of-life-beyond-our-solar-system-8970458" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">K2-18b: 'Revolutionary moment' as astronomers find 'strongest evidence' of life beyond our solar system</a>
"The model identified 44 systems that are highly likely to harbour undetected Earth-like planets,&rdquo; Dr Jeanne Davoult, lead author of the paper, said.&nbsp;
The basis of discovering such exoplanets is the path of their orbit. A planet in the habitable zone is most likely to host life. This means it should be in a place where it is neither too hot nor too cold to be able to have liquid water. Exoplanets that fulfil this condition are the most promising candidates when looking for other worlds where life can exist.
The AI model was tested using known data about other planetary systems. The authors said that when information about systems whose properties the scientists are aware of was fed to the model, it did amazingly well.&nbsp;
According to the AI model, there are 44 such planets in the Milky Way. The researchers tested the results further, and a second study proved that there is a "theoretical possibility for these systems to host an Earth-like planet."
<h2>AI model is 99% accurate</h2>
Davoult says the model achieves precision values of up to 0.99. This means that of all the results, at least 99 per cent of systems have at least one Earth-like planet.
"This is a significant step in the search for planets with conditions favourable to life and, ultimately, for the search for life in the universe," co-author Dr. Yann Alibert said.
NASA, ESA and other space agencies are regularly looking to discover exoplanets that might be similar to Earth. Testing every planetary system is not possible. An AI model like this one can prove to be of great help in the endeavour by telling astronomers where exactly to look.

An Artificial Intelligence model has predicted that our galaxy has 44 planets that are just like Earth. Scientists say the results are almost completely accurate. Science & Tech Trending

The Milky Way has 44 planets in other star systems that resemble Earth, according to a new machine learning model. The AI Earth-like planet predictor has been created by Researchers at the University of Bern and the National Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS (NCCR PlanetS), Switzerland. They say that the algorithm employed by the model is 99 per cent accurate. Their Earth-like planet predictor had the ability to tell which planetary systems might have planets like Earth. The research was published in Astronomy & Astrophysics. The scientists who were part of the study said that the AI model is extremely promising and can help astronomers focus their attention only on star systems that have a high chance of having exoplanets that might be able to host life. Also Read: K2-18b: 'Revolutionary moment' as astronomers find 'strongest evidence' of life beyond our solar system "The model identified 44 systems that are highly likely to harbour undetected Earth-like planets,” Dr Jeanne Davoult, lead author of the paper, said. The basis of discovering such exoplanets is the path of their orbit. A planet in the habitable zone is most likely to host life. This means it should be in a place where it is neither too hot nor too cold to be able to have liquid water. Exoplanets that fulfil this condition are the most promising candidates when looking for other worlds where life can exist. The AI model was tested using known data about other planetary systems. The authors said that when information about systems whose properties the scientists are aware of was fed to the model, it did amazingly well. According to the AI model, there are 44 such planets in the Milky Way. The researchers tested the results further, and a second study proved that there is a "theoretical possibility for these systems to host an Earth-like planet." AI model is 99% accurate Davoult says the model achieves precision values of up to 0.99. This means that of all the results, at least 99 per cent of systems have at least one Earth-like planet. "This is a significant step in the search for planets with conditions favourable to life and, ultimately, for the search for life in the universe," co-author Dr. Yann Alibert said. NASA, ESA and other space agencies are regularly looking to discover exoplanets that might be similar to Earth. Testing every planetary system is not possible. An AI model like this one can prove to be of great help in the endeavour by telling astronomers where exactly to look.

How many Earth-like planets are in the Milky Way? AI has the answer

Using groundbreaking data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have captured a planet's final moments as it spirals into its star—and Earth is next. Discover the terrifying physics behind orbital decay, the "drag of doom" that could incinerate our world, and why astronomers say Earth’s fate is a 50/50 coin toss.

Cosmic countdown: Planet's death dive offers glimpse into Earth's future

earth

Earth, News on Earth, stories on Earth, articles on Earth, Earth stories at Wion, Earth news, Earth latest news

earth

Upside-down world under North Sea: 7-million-year-old structures defy the rules of the ocean

Shocking study reveals an asteroid could kill you before rabies and lightning do

Moon babies from asteroid collisions mean Earth has 7 moons at all times

Earth will spin faster on July 22 to create second shortest day in history

Moon impact in 2032? How asteroid 2024 YR4 might spark space debris chaos

2-billion-light-year-wide cosmic void cocoons Earth and even the Milky Way

Today was the shortest day ever recorded, even shorter days are coming

Curse of 2020? Time will change in 2029 because of mysterious factors

How a 19th-century astronomer imagined life on Mars and mapped it from Earth

Meet Indians and Indian-origin icons who reached beyond Earth

World’s largest space telescope finds 2,100 asteroids.

Billions of years ago, Earth was purple in colour, sometimes even pink

Scientists discover something unexpected moving 2,700km under Earth's surface

Why Is UK Trying To Turn Down Sun's Heat? |

Defying gravity: Plans unveiled for world's first hanging tower suspended from orbit

1,000,002,021: Scientists think THIS is the year all life will vanish from Earth

Monstrous cloud detected floating near Earth at edge of huge 'cavity'

Europe launches satellite to map Earth's forests in 3D

Why is the UK trying to turn down Sun's heat?

'Using gamma-ray bursts': Astronomers find cosmic superstructure is bigger and nearer to Earth

North Pole can shift 90 feet by 2100 because of humans

Scientists find strongest-ever evidence of life beyond Earth

How many Earth-like planets are in the Milky Way? AI has the answer

Cosmic countdown: Planet's death dive offers glimpse into Earth's future

earth

Upside-down world under North Sea: 7-million-year-old structures defy the rules of the ocean

Shocking study reveals an asteroid could kill you before rabies and lightning do

Moon babies from asteroid collisions mean Earth has 7 moons at all times

Earth will spin faster on July 22 to create second shortest day in history

Moon impact in 2032? How asteroid 2024 YR4 might spark space debris chaos

2-billion-light-year-wide cosmic void cocoons Earth and even the Milky Way

Today was the shortest day ever recorded, even shorter days are coming

Curse of 2020? Time will change in 2029 because of mysterious factors

How a 19th-century astronomer imagined life on Mars and mapped it from Earth

Meet Indians and Indian-origin icons who reached beyond Earth

World’s largest space telescope finds 2,100 asteroids.

Billions of years ago, Earth was purple in colour, sometimes even pink

Scientists discover something unexpected moving 2,700km under Earth's surface

Why Is UK Trying To Turn Down Sun's Heat? |

Defying gravity: Plans unveiled for world's first hanging tower suspended from orbit

1,000,002,021: Scientists think THIS is the year all life will vanish from Earth

Monstrous cloud detected floating near Earth at edge of huge 'cavity'

Europe launches satellite to map Earth's forests in 3D

Why is the UK trying to turn down Sun's heat?

'Using gamma-ray bursts': Astronomers find cosmic superstructure is bigger and nearer to Earth

North Pole can shift 90 feet by 2100 because of humans

Scientists find strongest-ever evidence of life beyond Earth

How many Earth-like planets are in the Milky Way? AI has the answer

Cosmic countdown: Planet's death dive offers glimpse into Earth's future

Moon impact in 2032? How asteroid 2024 YR4 might spark space debris chaos