Researchers at the University of Minnesota have created SpudCell, the world's first fully synthetic cell built entirely from non-living chemical components. It feeds, grows, copies its own DNA and divides across multiple generations, completing a full life cycle that scientists have tried to replicate for decades. We break down what SpudCell is, how it was built, and why this breakthrough may be the most significant moment in the history of biology.


It's almost alive! Scientists build cell-like blob from scratch | Spudcell sparkling with life 

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and cricket legend is said to have expressed fears for his life while imprisoned in Adiala Jail, according to his sisters, Dr. Uzma Khan and Aleema Khan.
They allege a “lethal conspiracy” involving Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, claiming Khan himself warned them that “these people will kill me” if left in custody.

Imran Khan’s Sisters Allege “Lethal Conspiracy” to Kill Him in Jail 

7 Tips For a Long Life

Race Gurram

2. Sleep Like It Matters

3. Move Your Body Daily

4. Stay Connected With People

5. Manage Stress With Intention

6. Have a Purpose in Life

7. Keep Learning Something New

Life Fun: Discover essential tips for a long life by incorporating plant-based foods and reducing processed intake to boost your health and longevity starting from your kitchen.

7 Life-Changing Books Every Person Should Read Before 30

Introduction

1. "Man’s Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl

2. "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

3. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear

4. "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

5. "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle

6. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

7. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey

Broaden perspectives and inspire personal growth. Here are seven life-changing books that every person should consider reading before turning 30.


10 Quotes by May Ziadeh on Life

Who is May Ziadeh?

'Great pain is a great cleansing'

'No darkness in life, but it is our eyes, which can not see the light in the most majestic'

'Powerful is the one whose motto in life: I might suffer but will never surrender'

'It is not surprising that manifestations of falsehood are sometimes more capable of persuasion than manifestations of truth'

'Science and knowledge are honouring the genius, but they do not stand in their place'

'The tears of children are more painful than the tears of men'

'Revolution as a whole is daring in its time and place; it is genius and victory, otherwise folly and defeat'

'The prophets are believers and disbelievers'

'A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder, both will end up crushed by the rocks'

'The eyes of the world, even if armed with the telescope, are weak and helpless'

Life Fun: Discover the wisdom of May Ziadeh, a renowned Lebanese-Palestinian writer, translator, and poet, through her powerful quotes that delve into life, resilience, and growth.

Exciting new discoveries from asteroid Bennu reveal building blocks of life, shedding light on the origins of organic matter in space.

Fascinating, building blocks of life found in samples from Asteroid Bennu

In a massive breakthrough, scientists created a mouse with the use of ancient genetic tools which are older in comparison to animal life. The researchers took a gene from single-celled lifeforms and added it to the mouse cells for regenerating stem cells, which were then injected into a developing embryo for creating a living and breathing mouse.

In a massive breakthrough, scientists created a mouse with the use of ancient genetic tools which are older in comparison to animal life. The researchers took a gene from single-celled lifeforms and added it to the mouse cells for regenerating stem cells, which were then injected into a developing embryo for creating a living and breathing mouse. Millions of years ago, before multicellular organisms came into existence, there were single-celled organisms on planet Earth. Some of them, called choanoflagellates, were seen as the animals' closest living relatives. As per the new research, their genomes have different versions of genes Sox and POU, which are known to push stem cells' formation in mammals and, till now, were believed to be exclusive to animals. These were now found in a single-celled organism and were then used by scientists to reprogram mouse cells. Also Read: Scientists make robotic models of extinct animals to capture million-year evolution in single day “By successfully creating a mouse using molecular tools derived from our single-celled relatives, we’re witnessing an extraordinary continuity of function across nearly a billion years of evolution,” said study author Dr Alex de Mendoza in a statement. "The study implies that key genes involved in stem cell formation might have originated far earlier than the stem cells themselves, perhaps helping pave the way for the multicellular life we see today," Mendoza said. Here's how the mouse was created The choanoflagellate Sox genes were entered into the mouse cell, which replaced the existing Sox2 genes, and in the process turned the cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These cells can develop into any type of cell in the body. When scientists injected the iPSCs into a mouse embryo, they formed what is called a chimera, which is an animal whose body has cells that are different from each other and contain two different sets of DNA. The new mouse had traits of both the iPSCs and the donor embryo and had dark eyes and black fur patches, which confirmed that the ancient genes had influenced the development of the animal. Also Read: If all humans die, an animal that doesn't even live on land will RULE the world This is impressive considering the simple origins of the genes. It appears that the early lifeforms had evolved their ways of maintaining pluripotency, much before stem cells and multicellular organisms came into existence. "Choanoflagellates don’t have stem cells, they’re single-celled organisms, but they have these genes, likely to control basic cellular processes that multicellular animals probably later repurposed for building complex bodies,” Dr de Mendoza said. The discovery can also help in future advances in regenerative medicine, in which an integral part is played by the stem cells. "Studying the ancient roots of these genetic tools lets us innovate with a clearer view of how pluripotency mechanisms can be tweaked or optimised," said co-author Dr Ralf Jauch. (With inputs from agencies)

This 'strange' mouse has ancient genes older than animal life. Here's how it is different

In a recent study, scientists have hinted that secret alien life is hiding in the methane present on Saturn's largest moon Titan.&nbsp;

Titan is a celestial body which has an atmosphere filled with surface liquids and methane in the form of lakes, rivers and seas which are similar to those present on Earth.

Titan has subzero temperatures because of which the bodies of water are composed of hydrocarbons like ethane and methane and its land masses consist of solid water ice.

The study, published in The Planetary Science Journal, revealed some marvellous features about Titan.

The study, headed by planetary scientists at the&nbsp;University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, stated that methane gas was most probably present inside the ice which formed an isolated crust that was six miles thick.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-may-have-once-had-a-ring-system-just-like-saturn-it-was-created-by-759259">Earth likely had a ring around it 466 million years ago. It was created by...</a>

Lead research associate Lauren Schurmeier said that the crust warms the underlying ice shell and accounts for the rich methane atmosphere of Titan.

<h2>Titan’s unique topography</h2>

The impact craters of Titan were found to be much more shallow than expected which are only hundreds of metres deep. Also, only 90 such craters are on this moon.

“This was very surprising because, based on other moons, we expect to see many more impact craters on the surface and craters that are much deeper than what we observe on Titan,” Schurmeier said.

“We realised something unique to&nbsp;Titan&nbsp;must be making them become shallower and disappear relatively quickly," he added.

According to the computer simulations, the layer of insulating methane clathrate ice on Titan has a thickness of around 3 to 6 miles.

The crust is likely to result in a warmer interior which can cause rapid topographic relaxation that leads to the crater becoming shallow at a faster rate.

Watch:&nbsp;Study Suggests Earth Had Saturn-Like Rings That Lasted For Tens Of Millions Of Years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/study-suggests-earth-had-saturn-like-rings-that-lasted-for-tens-of-millions-of-years-759930/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The investigation into the thickness of the methane ice shell of Titan will throw light on the methane-rich atmosphere of the moon and will help scientists understand its carbon cycle, evolving climate and liquid methane-based “hydrological cycle".

“Titan is a natural laboratory to study how the greenhouse gas methane warms and cycles through the atmosphere,” Schurmeier said.

“Earth’s methane clathrate hydrates, found in the permafrost of Siberia and below the arctic seafloor, are currently destabilising and releasing methane. So, lessons from Titan can provide important insights into processes happening on Earth," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a recent study, scientists have hinted that secret alien life is hiding in the methane present on Saturn's largest moon Titan. Titan is a celestial body which has an atmosphere filled with surface liquids and methane in the form of lakes, rivers and seas which are similar to those present on Earth.

In a recent study, scientists have hinted that secret alien life is hiding in the methane present on Saturn's largest moon Titan. Titan is a celestial body which has an atmosphere filled with surface liquids and methane in the form of lakes, rivers and seas which are similar to those present on Earth. Titan has subzero temperatures because of which the bodies of water are composed of hydrocarbons like ethane and methane and its land masses consist of solid water ice. The study, published in The Planetary Science Journal, revealed some marvellous features about Titan. The study, headed by planetary scientists at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, stated that methane gas was most probably present inside the ice which formed an isolated crust that was six miles thick. Also Read: Earth likely had a ring around it 466 million years ago. It was created by... Lead research associate Lauren Schurmeier said that the crust warms the underlying ice shell and accounts for the rich methane atmosphere of Titan. Titan’s unique topography The impact craters of Titan were found to be much more shallow than expected which are only hundreds of metres deep. Also, only 90 such craters are on this moon. “This was very surprising because, based on other moons, we expect to see many more impact craters on the surface and craters that are much deeper than what we observe on Titan,” Schurmeier said. “We realised something unique to Titan must be making them become shallower and disappear relatively quickly," he added. According to the computer simulations, the layer of insulating methane clathrate ice on Titan has a thickness of around 3 to 6 miles. The crust is likely to result in a warmer interior which can cause rapid topographic relaxation that leads to the crater becoming shallow at a faster rate. Watch: Study Suggests Earth Had Saturn-Like Rings That Lasted For Tens Of Millions Of Years The investigation into the thickness of the methane ice shell of Titan will throw light on the methane-rich atmosphere of the moon and will help scientists understand its carbon cycle, evolving climate and liquid methane-based “hydrological cycle". “Titan is a natural laboratory to study how the greenhouse gas methane warms and cycles through the atmosphere,” Schurmeier said. “Earth’s methane clathrate hydrates, found in the permafrost of Siberia and below the arctic seafloor, are currently destabilising and releasing methane. So, lessons from Titan can provide important insights into processes happening on Earth," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Is the methane world on Titan hiding secret alien life? Scientists say...

Indian Army dog Phantom on Monday (Oct 28) lost his life while engaging in an operation to nab terrorists near Asan, Sunderbani Sector in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

Phantom lost his life when trapped terrorists opened fire during an operation after they had attacked an Army convoy&nbsp;near Asan, Sunderbani Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The demise of the Army dog was announced by the White Knight Corps on the social media platform X on Monday (Oct 28).

The army had launched a search operation after the attack on the Army convoy which led to the gunfight.

"We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero—a valiant #IndianArmy Dog, #Phantom," wrote White Knight Corps on X.

"As our troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists,&nbsp;Phantom&nbsp;drew enemy fire, sustaining fatal injuries. His courage, loyalty, and dedication will never be forgotten," it added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-killed-after-attack-on-army-convoy-in-akhnoor-sector-of-jammu-and-kashmir-771407">Terrorist killed after attack on army convoy in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir</a>

The dog was a Belgium Malinois and was born on May 25, 2020, reported news agency ANI.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Update 
 
We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero—a valiant <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianArmy</a> Dog, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Phantom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Phantom</a>. 
 
As our troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Phantom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Phantom</a> drew enemy fire, sustaining fatal injuries. His courage, loyalty, and dedication will never be forgotten. 
 
In the… <a href="https://t.co/XhTQtFQFJg">pic.twitter.com/XhTQtFQFJg</a>
— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Whiteknight_IA/status/1850921449499848969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to the Army, in the operation, one terrorist was "neutralised and warlike stores have been recovered thus far".

<h2>Army carries out operation against terrorists</h2>

During the operation, the Army also recovered war-like stores. It is believed that two other terrorists are still hiding in the area.

The police encounter started at around 7.25 am near the Shivassan temple, which is located in the Jogwan region of Battal. The police have not reported any additional fatalities so far.

The Indian Army's BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles were also deployed to the encounter site.

The Army also used its four BMP-II infantry combat vehicles to carry out surveillance and strengthen the cordon near the attack site, reported PTI.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Jammu &amp; Kashmir Terror Attack: Terrorists Target Convoy Of Army Vehicles

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jammu-kashmir-terror-attack-terrorists-target-convoy-of-army-vehicles-770684/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police stated that three terrorists were seen near Assan Mandir in the Battal area of Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor.

"They fired some rounds on the Army Ambulance," stated J&amp;K police, as quoted by ANI.

"Terrorists fired upon a convoy near #Asan, #Sunderbani Sector, targeting Army vehicles in the morning. Swift retaliation by own troops ensured foiling of the attempt, ensuring no injuries. The area has been cordoned off, and a search operation to neutralize the terrorists is ongoing," wrote White Knight Corps on X.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Army dog Phantom on Monday (Oct 28) lost his life while engaging in an operation to nab terrorists near Asan, Sunderbani Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Phantom lost his life when trapped terrorists opened fire during an operation after they had attacked an Army convoy near Asan, Sunderbani Sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian Army dog Phantom on Monday (Oct 28) lost his life while engaging in an operation to nab terrorists near Asan, Sunderbani Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Phantom lost his life when trapped terrorists opened fire during an operation after they had attacked an Army convoy near Asan, Sunderbani Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The demise of the Army dog was announced by the White Knight Corps on the social media platform X on Monday (Oct 28). The army had launched a search operation after the attack on the Army convoy which led to the gunfight. "We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero—a valiant #IndianArmy Dog, #Phantom," wrote White Knight Corps on X. "As our troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists, Phantom drew enemy fire, sustaining fatal injuries. His courage, loyalty, and dedication will never be forgotten," it added. Also Read: Terrorist killed after attack on army convoy in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir The dog was a Belgium Malinois and was born on May 25, 2020, reported news agency ANI. Update We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero—a valiant #IndianArmy Dog, #Phantom. As our troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists, #Phantom drew enemy fire, sustaining fatal injuries. His courage, loyalty, and dedication will never be forgotten. In the… pic.twitter.com/XhTQtFQFJg — White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) October 28, 2024 × According to the Army, in the operation, one terrorist was "neutralised and warlike stores have been recovered thus far". Army carries out operation against terrorists During the operation, the Army also recovered war-like stores. It is believed that two other terrorists are still hiding in the area. The police encounter started at around 7.25 am near the Shivassan temple, which is located in the Jogwan region of Battal. The police have not reported any additional fatalities so far. The Indian Army's BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles were also deployed to the encounter site. The Army also used its four BMP-II infantry combat vehicles to carry out surveillance and strengthen the cordon near the attack site, reported PTI. Watch: Jammu & Kashmir Terror Attack: Terrorists Target Convoy Of Army Vehicles Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police stated that three terrorists were seen near Assan Mandir in the Battal area of Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor. "They fired some rounds on the Army Ambulance," stated J&K police, as quoted by ANI. "Terrorists fired upon a convoy near #Asan, #Sunderbani Sector, targeting Army vehicles in the morning. Swift retaliation by own troops ensured foiling of the attempt, ensuring no injuries. The area has been cordoned off, and a search operation to neutralize the terrorists is ongoing," wrote White Knight Corps on X. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Army's dog Phantom sacrifices his life while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir

Looking at photos of yourself can sometimes be an uncomfortable experience. It can feel even worse when the photos make you look not as nice&nbsp;as you look while your friends and family insist the photos are nice. Even if you generally feel confident about your appearance, a bad photo can hurt your self-esteem and make you feel bad about how you look. &nbsp;

Is it&nbsp;common to sulk when we see a photo of ourselves which is&nbsp;not great? Our discomfort is rooted in a psychological phenomenon known as the&nbsp;mere-exposure&nbsp;effect, “where people tend to prefer things they see repeatedly”, said&nbsp;Dr Matt Johnson, a neuroscientist and professor of consumer psychology at&nbsp;Hult International Business School,&nbsp;according to The Independent.&nbsp;

“Since we see our mirror reflection far more often than photos, we become more comfortable with it,” Johnson stated.&nbsp;

<h3 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{5dfbe4b0-1ee5-46c6-bce4-287867f44f66}{145}" paraid="1509978795" >Sense of familiarity</h3>

If you look at yourself every day in the mirror, you get familiar with a particular image of yourself. “You’re normally seeing yourself in the same mirror with the same lighting, the same perspective and angle,” stated Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist who has also worked as a commercial model since childhood. &nbsp;

She added, “Then when a photo is taken, it can catch you at a moment where you’ve never seen your face or body from that perspective before, so it can be a bit of a disconnect”.&nbsp;

<h3 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f4477b9a-c923-4e2b-a1b2-195059c57e48}{72}" paraid="2130668146" >'True' image</h3>

The image you see in a mirror is flipped from left to right compared to how you look. But in a photograph, the image is usually not flipped - it shows you the way others see you. This can make a difference, since your face may have some asymmetries that you notice more in a mirror than in a photo.&nbsp;Instead, it “presents our ‘true’ image, which feels unfamiliar and less attractive due to this lack of exposure”, Johnson added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-rise-of-matcha-latte-is-it-show-of-wealth-or-fitness-771411">Rise of Matcha Latte: Is it a show of wealth or fitness?</a>

We usually see other people's true, unaltered appearance more often than we see ourselves in photos or mirrors. So, we get used to how they look. Unlike with ourselves, there isn't a big disconnect between how others look in photos versus how we expect them to look. Even though they may think they look bad in photos, we probably see them the same way we normally do.&nbsp;

Looking at photos of yourself can sometimes be an uncomfortable experience. It can feel even worse when the photos make you look not as nice as you look while your friends and family insist the photos are nice.

Looking at photos of yourself can sometimes be an uncomfortable experience. It can feel even worse when the photos make you look not as nice as you look while your friends and family insist the photos are nice. Even if you generally feel confident about your appearance, a bad photo can hurt your self-esteem and make you feel bad about how you look. Is it common to sulk when we see a photo of ourselves which is not great? Our discomfort is rooted in a psychological phenomenon known as the mere-exposure effect, “where people tend to prefer things they see repeatedly”, said Dr Matt Johnson, a neuroscientist and professor of consumer psychology at Hult International Business School, according to The Independent. “Since we see our mirror reflection far more often than photos, we become more comfortable with it,” Johnson stated. Sense of familiarity If you look at yourself every day in the mirror, you get familiar with a particular image of yourself. “You’re normally seeing yourself in the same mirror with the same lighting, the same perspective and angle,” stated Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist who has also worked as a commercial model since childhood. She added, “Then when a photo is taken, it can catch you at a moment where you’ve never seen your face or body from that perspective before, so it can be a bit of a disconnect”. 'True' image The image you see in a mirror is flipped from left to right compared to how you look. But in a photograph, the image is usually not flipped - it shows you the way others see you. This can make a difference, since your face may have some asymmetries that you notice more in a mirror than in a photo. Instead, it “presents our ‘true’ image, which feels unfamiliar and less attractive due to this lack of exposure”, Johnson added. Also read: Rise of Matcha Latte: Is it a show of wealth or fitness? We usually see other people's true, unaltered appearance more often than we see ourselves in photos or mirrors. So, we get used to how they look. Unlike with ourselves, there isn't a big disconnect between how others look in photos versus how we expect them to look. Even though they may think they look bad in photos, we probably see them the same way we normally do.

Selfie and Instagram photos: Why do you dislike your own photos?

The Curiosity rover of NASA is exploring the Gale crater on Mars currently and is providing more details about how the Red Planet's climate turned from potentially suitable for life to inhospitable to terrestrial life.&nbsp;

It has been known that Mars was holding widespread liquid water in ancient times, as per the evidence.&nbsp;

Even though the surface of Mars is hostile and frigid to life, NASA's robotic explorers&nbsp;have been finding clues about whether the planet supported life in the distant past.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-spooky-smiley-face-appears-on-mars-scientists-say-its-hiding-life-forms-757191">A 'spooky smiley face' appears on Mars. Scientists say it's hiding life forms...</a>

The instruments on board Curiosity have been used by the researchers for measuring the isotopic composition of carbon-rich minerals (carbonates) which were discovered in the Gale crater and found new insights into how the ancient climate of the Red Planet transformed.

<h2>Here's what happened to ancient Mars</h2>

"The isotope values of these carbonates point toward extreme amounts of evaporation, suggesting that these carbonates likely formed in a climate that could only support transient liquid&nbsp;water," said David Burtt, who is lead author of a paper and works at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.&nbsp;

The research was&nbsp;published&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Our samples are not consistent with an ancient environment with life (biosphere) on the surface of Mars, although this does not rule out the possibility of an underground biosphere or a surface biosphere that began and ended before these carbonates formed," Burtt said.&nbsp;

Isotopes are different versions of an element which have different masses. With the evaporation of water, light versions of carbon and oxygen escaped into the atmosphere while the heavy versions remained behind, accumulated in high abundances and were eventually incorporated into the carbonate rocks.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/perseverance-spots-an-odd-rock-on-mars-with-zebra-stripes-where-did-it-come-from-761350">Perseverance spots an odd rock on Mars with zebra stripes. Where did it come from?</a>

In the paper, the researchers proposed two ways in which carbonates present at Gale were formed.

In the first case, carbonates were created in a series of wet-dry cycles that took place in the Gale Crater. In the second way, carbonates were formed in very salty water that was under cold, ice-forming (cryogenic) conditions in the Gale Crater.

"These formation mechanisms represent two different climate regimes that may present different habitability scenarios," said Jennifer Stern, who is co-author of the paper and is from NASA Goddard.

"Wet-dry cycling would indicate alternation between more-habitable and less-habitable environments, while&nbsp;cryogenic temperatures&nbsp;in the mid-latitudes of Mars would indicate a less-habitable environment where most water is locked up in ice and not available for chemistry or biology, and what is there is extremely salty and unpleasant for life," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Curiosity rover of NASA is exploring the Gale crater on Mars currently and is providing more details about how the Red Planet's climate turned from potentially suitable for life to inhospitable to terrestrial life.

The Curiosity rover of NASA is exploring the Gale crater on Mars currently and is providing more details about how the Red Planet's climate turned from potentially suitable for life to inhospitable to terrestrial life. It has been known that Mars was holding widespread liquid water in ancient times, as per the evidence. Even though the surface of Mars is hostile and frigid to life, NASA's robotic explorers have been finding clues about whether the planet supported life in the distant past. Also Read: A 'spooky smiley face' appears on Mars. Scientists say it's hiding life forms... The instruments on board Curiosity have been used by the researchers for measuring the isotopic composition of carbon-rich minerals (carbonates) which were discovered in the Gale crater and found new insights into how the ancient climate of the Red Planet transformed. Here's what happened to ancient Mars "The isotope values of these carbonates point toward extreme amounts of evaporation, suggesting that these carbonates likely formed in a climate that could only support transient liquid water," said David Burtt, who is lead author of a paper and works at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Our samples are not consistent with an ancient environment with life (biosphere) on the surface of Mars, although this does not rule out the possibility of an underground biosphere or a surface biosphere that began and ended before these carbonates formed," Burtt said. Isotopes are different versions of an element which have different masses. With the evaporation of water, light versions of carbon and oxygen escaped into the atmosphere while the heavy versions remained behind, accumulated in high abundances and were eventually incorporated into the carbonate rocks. Also Read: Perseverance spots an odd rock on Mars with zebra stripes. Where did it come from? In the paper, the researchers proposed two ways in which carbonates present at Gale were formed. In the first case, carbonates were created in a series of wet-dry cycles that took place in the Gale Crater. In the second way, carbonates were formed in very salty water that was under cold, ice-forming (cryogenic) conditions in the Gale Crater. "These formation mechanisms represent two different climate regimes that may present different habitability scenarios," said Jennifer Stern, who is co-author of the paper and is from NASA Goddard. "Wet-dry cycling would indicate alternation between more-habitable and less-habitable environments, while cryogenic temperatures in the mid-latitudes of Mars would indicate a less-habitable environment where most water is locked up in ice and not available for chemistry or biology, and what is there is extremely salty and unpleasant for life," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Mars once had water to support life. Curiosity rover now finds what made it uninhabitable

The asteroid belt that sits between Mars and Jupiter might be holding the building blocks of life, according to a new study. The dwarf planet Ceres in the region has a hidden ocean which harbours such ingredients, the research published in the journal Science Advances says.&nbsp;

Ceres is the largest object in our Solar System’s asteroid belt, and its icy surface hides several small underground water bodies containing salt water. But the most fascinating discovery has been made around one of its largest craters, the Ertunet Crater.&nbsp;

Maria Cristina De Sanctis, a planetary scientist at Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, and her colleagues found the basics of life here.

Hundreds of square miles of area around this crater are covered with a layer of organic chemicals, also called aliphatics. Researchers suggest that the chemicals must have formed only in the past few million years or so. This is because aliphatic compounds cannot sustain the constant bombardment of radiation in deep space for a long time.&nbsp;

This has led them to conclude that these organic molecules formed in Ceres’s underground ocean within the last 10 million years or so.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jwst-spots-unique-exoplanet-with-inflated-asymmetric-atmosphere-761897">JWST spots unique exoplanet with inflated 'asymmetric' atmosphere</a>

De Sanctis and her colleagues created the Ceres sediment in their lab using data from NASA’s Dawn mission which flew by the dwarf planet in 2012. They added aliphatic organics to the mix, the hydrocarbon found near the Ertunet Crater.&nbsp;

To get an estimate of how long they have been there, they struck the mixture with powerful ultraviolet radiation and fast-moving ions.

This so-called “space weathering” can break down organic molecules. Turns out, the aliphatic compounds could not hold on for long, and this made the researchers realise that the substance had not been on Ceres for long either.&nbsp;

There is an abundance of this type of hydrocarbon on its surface, and so the researchers believe it must have gotten there within the last 10 million years.

"The organic compounds found at the Ertunet Crater might have evolved over the life span of Ceres’s deep ocean, lasting at least a few hundred million years,” De Sanctis and her colleagues write in their recent paper.&nbsp;

Besides, simulations show that these organic molecules weren't delivered by any asteroid or comet and formed deep inside Ceres.

Ceres was once covered with a huge ocean of salt water beneath its crust, but today only pockets of it survive. Previous studies hint at the possibility that rock and salt water interacted with each other, releasing enough energy to create little pockets of habitability.

“This makes the region a preferred site for a future in situ or sample return mission to Ceres,” they write.&nbsp;

The asteroid belt that sits between Mars and Jupiter might be holding the building blocks of life, according to a new study. The dwarf planet Ceres in the region has a hidden ocean which harbours such ingredients, the research published in the journal Science Advances says.

The asteroid belt that sits between Mars and Jupiter might be holding the building blocks of life, according to a new study. The dwarf planet Ceres in the region has a hidden ocean which harbours such ingredients, the research published in the journal Science Advances says. Ceres is the largest object in our Solar System’s asteroid belt, and its icy surface hides several small underground water bodies containing salt water. But the most fascinating discovery has been made around one of its largest craters, the Ertunet Crater. Maria Cristina De Sanctis, a planetary scientist at Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, and her colleagues found the basics of life here. Hundreds of square miles of area around this crater are covered with a layer of organic chemicals, also called aliphatics. Researchers suggest that the chemicals must have formed only in the past few million years or so. This is because aliphatic compounds cannot sustain the constant bombardment of radiation in deep space for a long time. This has led them to conclude that these organic molecules formed in Ceres’s underground ocean within the last 10 million years or so. Also Read: JWST spots unique exoplanet with inflated 'asymmetric' atmosphere De Sanctis and her colleagues created the Ceres sediment in their lab using data from NASA’s Dawn mission which flew by the dwarf planet in 2012. They added aliphatic organics to the mix, the hydrocarbon found near the Ertunet Crater. To get an estimate of how long they have been there, they struck the mixture with powerful ultraviolet radiation and fast-moving ions. This so-called “space weathering” can break down organic molecules. Turns out, the aliphatic compounds could not hold on for long, and this made the researchers realise that the substance had not been on Ceres for long either. There is an abundance of this type of hydrocarbon on its surface, and so the researchers believe it must have gotten there within the last 10 million years. "The organic compounds found at the Ertunet Crater might have evolved over the life span of Ceres’s deep ocean, lasting at least a few hundred million years,” De Sanctis and her colleagues write in their recent paper. Besides, simulations show that these organic molecules weren't delivered by any asteroid or comet and formed deep inside Ceres. Ceres was once covered with a huge ocean of salt water beneath its crust, but today only pockets of it survive. Previous studies hint at the possibility that rock and salt water interacted with each other, releasing enough energy to create little pockets of habitability. “This makes the region a preferred site for a future in situ or sample return mission to Ceres,” they write.

Ceres, largest object in asteroid belt, shows signs of habitability near Ertunet Crater

Scientists have been hunting the source which kick-started life on Earth and as new theories keep on emerging, a new study has hinted that perhaps it was the cosmic dust which began life on our planet.

In the latest findings, scientists have suggested that the mystery of the origin of life on Earth will most probably be solved with the thorough investigation of cosmic dust.

Earlier theories suggested that life began on Earth from "prebiotic chemistry," in which the formation of organic compounds took place, which then self-organised themselves till life developed.

The scientists noted that the rocks found on the surface of the Earth are deficient in reactive and soluble forms of the essential elements like phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen and carbon, which were required for this prebiotic process.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-will-soon-have-two-moons-just-not-in-the-way-you-think-758421">Earth will soon have two moons, just not in the way you think</a>

In a paper published this year in the&nbsp;journal Nature Astronomy, the scientists noted that Earth has remained engaged in "fierce competition" for the limited reservoirs of such elements, which then raised questions about how life could have evolved in such conditions.

The most prominent theory has suggested that the ingredients necessary for life were delivered to Earth. However, the scientists were not able to explain how these materials reached the surface of the planet without getting spoiled.

<h2>Does the answer to the beginning of life on Earth lie in cosmic dust?</h2>

In the study published in Nature Astronomy, the scientists studied the fine-grained "cosmic dust" which is produced by the collisions of asteroids or the disintegration and vaporisation of comets when they move around in the solar system in space.

"In contrast to larger objects, the flux of cosmic dust to Earth is essentially constant on yearly timescales," scientists wrote.&nbsp;

"Moreover, some fraction of cosmic dust grains pass relatively gently through the&nbsp;Earth's atmosphere, thereby retaining a greater fraction of primitive" elements than large impactors do, they added.

Watch:&nbsp;Earth's spin killed life

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earths-spin-killed-life-754692/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The team stated that this material is not considered in prebiotic theories because it spreads across a large area and hence becomes difficult to get noticed or harder to study.

However, normal sedimentary processes do form concentrated cosmic dust deposits on Earth.

"There are many planetary processes that can concentrate fine-grained materials from across large surface areas to form concentrated deposits," the team said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have been hunting the source which kick-started life on Earth and as new theories keep on emerging, a new study has hinted that perhaps it was the cosmic dust which began life on our planet.

Scientists have been hunting the source which kick-started life on Earth and as new theories keep on emerging, a new study has hinted that perhaps it was the cosmic dust which began life on our planet. In the latest findings, scientists have suggested that the mystery of the origin of life on Earth will most probably be solved with the thorough investigation of cosmic dust. Earlier theories suggested that life began on Earth from "prebiotic chemistry," in which the formation of organic compounds took place, which then self-organised themselves till life developed. The scientists noted that the rocks found on the surface of the Earth are deficient in reactive and soluble forms of the essential elements like phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen and carbon, which were required for this prebiotic process. Also Read: Earth will soon have two moons, just not in the way you think In a paper published this year in the journal Nature Astronomy, the scientists noted that Earth has remained engaged in "fierce competition" for the limited reservoirs of such elements, which then raised questions about how life could have evolved in such conditions. The most prominent theory has suggested that the ingredients necessary for life were delivered to Earth. However, the scientists were not able to explain how these materials reached the surface of the planet without getting spoiled. Does the answer to the beginning of life on Earth lie in cosmic dust? In the study published in Nature Astronomy, the scientists studied the fine-grained "cosmic dust" which is produced by the collisions of asteroids or the disintegration and vaporisation of comets when they move around in the solar system in space. "In contrast to larger objects, the flux of cosmic dust to Earth is essentially constant on yearly timescales," scientists wrote. "Moreover, some fraction of cosmic dust grains pass relatively gently through the Earth's atmosphere, thereby retaining a greater fraction of primitive" elements than large impactors do, they added. Watch: Earth's spin killed life The team stated that this material is not considered in prebiotic theories because it spreads across a large area and hence becomes difficult to get noticed or harder to study. However, normal sedimentary processes do form concentrated cosmic dust deposits on Earth. "There are many planetary processes that can concentrate fine-grained materials from across large surface areas to form concentrated deposits," the team said. (With inputs from agencies)

Collision of asteroids created cosmic dust and sparked life on Earth: Study

The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from&nbsp;Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system.&nbsp;

The scientists carrying out the research have said that the asteroid most likely existed before the birth of the Solar System and may have brought water and life to Earth.&nbsp;

NASA’s billion-dollar&nbsp;OSIRIS-REx&nbsp;mission completed its seven-year journey in September last year and brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu. Its specimens were sent to different research laboratories across the world, which included Curtin.

In a new study, which has been published in&nbsp;Meteoritics and Planetary Science, some amazing findings from the samples have been revealed.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-20-times-bigger-than-dinosaur-killer-deviated-solar-systems-largest-moon-755527">Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position</a>

The scientists found dark particles, which ranged from dust-sized to approximately 3.5 cm long, along with some lighter particles and stones, with&nbsp;brighter material that formed veins and crusts in the samples of the asteroid.

“Analyses show Bennu is among the most chemically primitive materials known, similar in composition to the visible surface of the sun,” said OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team member Associate Professor Nick Timms.

“This indicates Bennu has undergone different processes to the planets, and these processes changed the abundance of particular elements relative to the sun," he added.

In the analysis of the samples, the presence of various components were also confirmed, like hydrated phyllosilicates, which is a type of mineral that forms when water is present, and carbon-rich material.

“This means asteroids such as this may have played a key role in delivering water and the building blocks of life to Earth,” said Associate Professor Timms.

<h2>Asteroid Bennu's samples have presolar grains which existed before Solar System</h2>

The scientists also found some unexpected components in the samples. “We were surprised to find magnesium-sodium phosphates, which further suggests Bennu experienced chemical environments which possibly involved water," said Associate Professor Timms.

Watch:&nbsp;China plans nukes against asteroids

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-plans-nukes-against-asteroids-754309/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“We also found other trace minerals, which offer clues as to the processes which have happened on Bennu over billions of years, such as temperature and pressure conditions. These trace minerals help paint a picture of Bennu’s evolution and also offer insights into the early solar system and how the different planetary bodies in the solar system were created," he added.

“The sample has presolar grains created before our solar system existed, which can provide a detailed biography of the lives of ancient stars,” the professor further said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system.

The samples collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old Asteroid Bennu and brought to Earth are being studied by researchers from Curtin University, who are part of an international team, to understand the origins of our solar system. The scientists carrying out the research have said that the asteroid most likely existed before the birth of the Solar System and may have brought water and life to Earth. NASA’s billion-dollar OSIRIS-REx mission completed its seven-year journey in September last year and brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu. Its specimens were sent to different research laboratories across the world, which included Curtin. In a new study, which has been published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science, some amazing findings from the samples have been revealed. Also Read: Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position The scientists found dark particles, which ranged from dust-sized to approximately 3.5 cm long, along with some lighter particles and stones, with brighter material that formed veins and crusts in the samples of the asteroid. “Analyses show Bennu is among the most chemically primitive materials known, similar in composition to the visible surface of the sun,” said OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team member Associate Professor Nick Timms. “This indicates Bennu has undergone different processes to the planets, and these processes changed the abundance of particular elements relative to the sun," he added. In the analysis of the samples, the presence of various components were also confirmed, like hydrated phyllosilicates, which is a type of mineral that forms when water is present, and carbon-rich material. “This means asteroids such as this may have played a key role in delivering water and the building blocks of life to Earth,” said Associate Professor Timms. Asteroid Bennu's samples have presolar grains which existed before Solar System The scientists also found some unexpected components in the samples. “We were surprised to find magnesium-sodium phosphates, which further suggests Bennu experienced chemical environments which possibly involved water," said Associate Professor Timms. Watch: China plans nukes against asteroids “We also found other trace minerals, which offer clues as to the processes which have happened on Bennu over billions of years, such as temperature and pressure conditions. These trace minerals help paint a picture of Bennu’s evolution and also offer insights into the early solar system and how the different planetary bodies in the solar system were created," he added. “The sample has presolar grains created before our solar system existed, which can provide a detailed biography of the lives of ancient stars,” the professor further said. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid Bennu brought life and water to Earth, it existed before Solar System's origin: Study

The Earth started rotating at a dramatically slow speed twice in the last hundreds of millions of years and one of those times was when the biggest mass extinction took place, as per the latest study.

The other time it slowed was when rapid expansion of life took place on the planet, which was called the Cambrian explosion, said the Chinese scientists-led team.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-mantle-is-hosting-strange-black-holes-with-mysterious-waves-heres-what-they-are-753231">Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are</a>

Even though the world appears to rotate at a constant speed, the exact timing can change and does not remain precisely 24 hours.&nbsp;

<h2>Why did the Earth's rotation slow down?</h2>

The changes in gravity happen because of variations in the distance between the Earth and the moon and are known to cause ocean tides, however, the friction between the surface of the Earth and the tides also leads to a slight deceleration in its rotation.&nbsp;

At the same time, the momentum is transferred by the Earth to the moon, because of which it gradually moves outward.

As per the study, the rotation of the Earth has decelerated because of this phenomenon in the past.

After analysing for two years, the team, headed by Ma Chao from the Institute of Sedimentary Geology at Chengdu University of Technology, concluded that there was an increase of 20,000 km&nbsp;between Earth and the moon between 700 million and 200 million years ago, because of which the length of the day increased by around 2.2 hours.

“Specifically, there are two intervals with pronounced Earth rotation deceleration: between 650 and 500 million years ago (Mya), and between 350 and 280 Mya, separated by a period of stalled deceleration from 500 to 350 Mya,” wrote the team&nbsp;in a paper which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Watch:&nbsp;Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-slows-down-by-133-milliseconds-741345/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The first shift took place during the Cambrian explosion, when complex life forms diversified rapidly. The second deceleration happened around 250 million years ago and coincided with the “Great Dying”, which is also called the Permian-Triassic extinction event during which 90 per cent of life on Earth was wiped out.

According to the research, the volcanic activity along with changes in the climate, sea levels and salt levels led to the extinction.&nbsp;

Ma said that changes in sea conditions were linked to the shift in the rotation of the Earth. “The two major ‘fast-slow’ deceleration periods may have provided the necessary conditions for the early evolution of marine ecosystems," he said while speaking to Science and Technology Daily.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Earth started rotating at a dramatically slow speed twice in the last hundreds of millions of years and one of those times was when the biggest mass extinction took place, as per the latest study.

The Earth started rotating at a dramatically slow speed twice in the last hundreds of millions of years and one of those times was when the biggest mass extinction took place, as per the latest study. The other time it slowed was when rapid expansion of life took place on the planet, which was called the Cambrian explosion, said the Chinese scientists-led team. Also Read: Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are Even though the world appears to rotate at a constant speed, the exact timing can change and does not remain precisely 24 hours. Why did the Earth's rotation slow down? The changes in gravity happen because of variations in the distance between the Earth and the moon and are known to cause ocean tides, however, the friction between the surface of the Earth and the tides also leads to a slight deceleration in its rotation. At the same time, the momentum is transferred by the Earth to the moon, because of which it gradually moves outward. As per the study, the rotation of the Earth has decelerated because of this phenomenon in the past. After analysing for two years, the team, headed by Ma Chao from the Institute of Sedimentary Geology at Chengdu University of Technology, concluded that there was an increase of 20,000 km between Earth and the moon between 700 million and 200 million years ago, because of which the length of the day increased by around 2.2 hours. “Specifically, there are two intervals with pronounced Earth rotation deceleration: between 650 and 500 million years ago (Mya), and between 350 and 280 Mya, separated by a period of stalled deceleration from 500 to 350 Mya,” wrote the team in a paper which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Watch: Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds The first shift took place during the Cambrian explosion, when complex life forms diversified rapidly. The second deceleration happened around 250 million years ago and coincided with the “Great Dying”, which is also called the Permian-Triassic extinction event during which 90 per cent of life on Earth was wiped out. According to the research, the volcanic activity along with changes in the climate, sea levels and salt levels led to the extinction. Ma said that changes in sea conditions were linked to the shift in the rotation of the Earth. “The two major ‘fast-slow’ deceleration periods may have provided the necessary conditions for the early evolution of marine ecosystems," he said while speaking to Science and Technology Daily. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth rotated 'dramatically slowly' when life exploded and vanished on planet: Study

The scientists at NASA and MIT have decided to bring to Earth seven rock samples in which minerals have been found that were said to be&nbsp;formed when there is water present in a specific area on Mars.&nbsp;&nbsp;

These rock samples were found in the “fan front” of Mars’ Jezero Crater and it suggests that such rocks were either formed in watery environments or deposited by water which underlines the presence of water in the crater's past.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-and-jupiter-to-get-closest-in-this-spectacular-astronomical-event-of-decade-749099">Mars and Jupiter to get closest in this spectacular astronomical event of decade</a>

In 2022, the seven samples were collected by the Perseverance rover when it was exploring the western slope of the crater where it was suspected by the scientists that some rocks were present which were likely to have originated from an ancient lake which had since dried up.&nbsp;

<h2>Signs of life in Martian&nbsp;rocks?</h2>

The Perseverance science team looked into the images and chemical data of the rover and confirmed that the rocks actually have signs of water.

On the basis of the data, the theory that Jezero Crater was at one point watery and had a habitable environment has also been strengthened.&nbsp;

The minerals present in the rocks give the best opportunity for scientists to search for&nbsp;signs of ancient Martian life.

Professor of geobiology in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) and study’s lead author Tanja Bosak said, “These rocks confirm the presence, at least temporarily, of habitable environments on Mars."&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-there-life-on-mars-scientists-find-oceans-of-water-miles-beneath-surface-749934/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“What we’ve found is that indeed there was a lot of water activity. For how long, we don’t know, but certainly for long enough to create these big sedimentary deposits," he added.

According to the scientists, some of these samples were likely deposited in the ancient lake nearly 3.5 billion years ago.

Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT and co-author Benjamin Weiss said, “These are the oldest rocks that may have been deposited by water that we’ve ever laid hands or rover arms on."

“That’s exciting, because it means these are the most promising rocks that may have preserved fossils and signatures of life," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The scientists at NASA and MIT have decided to bring to Earth seven rock samples in which minerals have been found that were said to be formed when there is water present in a specific area on Mars.

The scientists at NASA and MIT have decided to bring to Earth seven rock samples in which minerals have been found that were said to be formed when there is water present in a specific area on Mars. These rock samples were found in the “fan front” of Mars’ Jezero Crater and it suggests that such rocks were either formed in watery environments or deposited by water which underlines the presence of water in the crater's past. Also Read: Mars and Jupiter to get closest in this spectacular astronomical event of decade In 2022, the seven samples were collected by the Perseverance rover when it was exploring the western slope of the crater where it was suspected by the scientists that some rocks were present which were likely to have originated from an ancient lake which had since dried up. Signs of life in Martian rocks? The Perseverance science team looked into the images and chemical data of the rover and confirmed that the rocks actually have signs of water. On the basis of the data, the theory that Jezero Crater was at one point watery and had a habitable environment has also been strengthened. The minerals present in the rocks give the best opportunity for scientists to search for signs of ancient Martian life. Professor of geobiology in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) and study’s lead author Tanja Bosak said, “These rocks confirm the presence, at least temporarily, of habitable environments on Mars." Watch: Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface “What we’ve found is that indeed there was a lot of water activity. For how long, we don’t know, but certainly for long enough to create these big sedimentary deposits," he added. According to the scientists, some of these samples were likely deposited in the ancient lake nearly 3.5 billion years ago. Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT and co-author Benjamin Weiss said, “These are the oldest rocks that may have been deposited by water that we’ve ever laid hands or rover arms on." “That’s exciting, because it means these are the most promising rocks that may have preserved fossils and signatures of life," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Martian rocks containing signs of life to be brought to Earth, can reveal...

Dramatic visuals surfaced as twin earthquakes - one of 6.9 magnitude and the other of 7.1 magnitude - rocked southern Japan and sent people into a frenzy as they ran for life and sought shelter beneath the furniture.&nbsp;

In the footage shared on social media platform X, people appeared afraid and clueless as things around them shook violently and some of the items even fell on the ground.&nbsp;

As reported by broadcaster NHK, tsunamis were expected to reach coastal areas in Kyushu and Shikoku islands.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-rocked-by-powerful-twin-earthquakes-tsunami-advisory-issued-748322">Japan rocked by powerful twin earthquakes, tsunami advisory issued</a>

The first quake took place at a depth of 33 kilometres (20 miles) and the second one struck at a depth of 25 kilometres, reported the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

A special task force was established by the Japanese government in response to the quakes, as per a statement.

<h2>Here are some of the frightening visuals which emerged from Japan amid earthquakes:&nbsp;</h2>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🇯🇵 There was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake south of Miyazaki. Tsunami warning issued for parts of Japan<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/japan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#japan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E5%9C%B0%E9%9C%87?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#地震</a> <a href="https://t.co/shIeQA0S4O">pic.twitter.com/shIeQA0S4O</a>
— Eren 𝕮🇹🇷 (@Eren50855570) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eren50855570/status/1821457315402240173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Western Japan struck by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake; Tsunami warning issued, emerging reports of resulting damage.<a href="https://t.co/J3EmwEQLog">pic.twitter.com/J3EmwEQLog</a>
— Explore (@Top1Rating) <a href="https://twitter.com/Top1Rating/status/1821455991940243460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🎥 
 
The earthquake in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Japan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Japan</a> is upgraded from 7.1 to 7.3 Magnitude. <a href="https://t.co/b0qcW5SgIG">pic.twitter.com/b0qcW5SgIG</a>
— SHAHID BUTT 🇵🇰 🇪🇸 🇵🇸 (@KINGNS1P) <a href="https://twitter.com/KINGNS1P/status/1821459568016179266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
VIDEO: Shaking felt at FM Kirishima studio in Japan after strong earthquake hits southern region. 
 
<a href="https://t.co/CAtsFFrfE4">pic.twitter.com/CAtsFFrfE4</a>
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AZ_Intel_/status/1821462440141312333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Another scary footage of earthquake from Japan. Tsunami warnings have also been issued. At least 9 persons have been injured so far, with reports of landslides.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Japan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Japan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquake</a> <a href="https://t.co/szLiVSAwcN">pic.twitter.com/szLiVSAwcN</a>
— Dekz (@Dekunle27) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dekunle27/status/1821473655836029339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After the earthquake, no reports of abnormalities emerged at nuclear power plants and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said that the government has been checking for any kind of damage and casualties.

The quake took place at around 4:43 p.m. (0743 GMT) near Miyazaki prefecture which is on the western major island of Kyushu, as stated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

As reported by public broadcaster NHK, the waves were as high as 50 cm (20 inches) in Miyazaki.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Dramatic visuals surfaced as twin earthquakes - one of 6.9 magnitude and the other of 7.1 magnitude - rocked southern Japan and sent people into a frenzy as they ran for life and sought shelter beneath the furniture.

Dramatic visuals surfaced as twin earthquakes - one of 6.9 magnitude and the other of 7.1 magnitude - rocked southern Japan and sent people into a frenzy as they ran for life and sought shelter beneath the furniture. In the footage shared on social media platform X, people appeared afraid and clueless as things around them shook violently and some of the items even fell on the ground. As reported by broadcaster NHK, tsunamis were expected to reach coastal areas in Kyushu and Shikoku islands. Also Read: Japan rocked by powerful twin earthquakes, tsunami advisory issued The first quake took place at a depth of 33 kilometres (20 miles) and the second one struck at a depth of 25 kilometres, reported the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A special task force was established by the Japanese government in response to the quakes, as per a statement. Here are some of the frightening visuals which emerged from Japan amid earthquakes: 🇯🇵 There was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake south of Miyazaki. Tsunami warning issued for parts of Japan#japan #地震 pic.twitter.com/shIeQA0S4O — Eren 𝕮🇹🇷 (@Eren50855570) August 8, 2024 × BREAKING: Western Japan struck by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake; Tsunami warning issued, emerging reports of resulting damage.pic.twitter.com/J3EmwEQLog — Explore (@Top1Rating) August 8, 2024 × 🎥 The earthquake in #Japan is upgraded from 7.1 to 7.3 Magnitude. pic.twitter.com/b0qcW5SgIG — SHAHID BUTT 🇵🇰 🇪🇸 🇵🇸 (@KINGNS1P) August 8, 2024 × VIDEO: Shaking felt at FM Kirishima studio in Japan after strong earthquake hits southern region. pic.twitter.com/CAtsFFrfE4 — AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) August 8, 2024 × BREAKING: Another scary footage of earthquake from Japan. Tsunami warnings have also been issued. At least 9 persons have been injured so far, with reports of landslides.#BREAKING #Japan #earthquake pic.twitter.com/szLiVSAwcN — Dekz (@Dekunle27) August 8, 2024 × After the earthquake, no reports of abnormalities emerged at nuclear power plants and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said that the government has been checking for any kind of damage and casualties. The quake took place at around 4:43 p.m. (0743 GMT) near Miyazaki prefecture which is on the western major island of Kyushu, as stated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). As reported by public broadcaster NHK, the waves were as high as 50 cm (20 inches) in Miyazaki. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Scary visuals emerge as twin earthquakes rock Japan, people run for life

In a new study carried out by the chemists from&nbsp;Harvard University, it has been found that the first building blocks of life landed on Earth a bolt of lightning.&nbsp;

To make the stunning scientific revelation, the team made an attempt to reenact what may have occurred millions of years ago on Earth in their laboratory. &nbsp;

In this experiment, the scientists made a stunning discovery of cloud-to-ground lightning.

<h2>Origin of life puzzles scientists</h2>

Scientists have remained puzzled over how the origin of life took place on Earth. In their attempt to solve the jigsaw, they have come up with various possibilities of how life started to mushroom on Earth.&nbsp;

In this cosmic theory of the origin of life, it has been believed till now that the vital materials were deposited by comets or asteroids on the surface of Earth and that lightning struck the clouds which led to the creation of life.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/unusual-organisms-found-in-hot-springs-of-yellowstone-national-park-they-might-help-in-search-for-alien-life-746035">Unusual organisms found in hot springs of Yellowstone National Park might help in search for alien life</a>

However, when the scientists inspected these theories, the chances of such cosmic events leading to the creation of life seemed less likely and collisions from space objects appeared to have a rare chance.&nbsp;

Also, the lightning zapping between clouds appeared to the scientists to be an inefficient method for producing the&nbsp;necessary materials.

<h2>Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes behind the genesis of life?</h2>

Among these uncertainties, the scientists at Harvard University started exploring how cloud-to-ground lightning strikes may have led to the genesis of life.

To validate their new hypothesis, the scientists made their lab into a mini early Earth. The lightning strikes were stimulated across air, water, and land replicas which were kept in a controlled environment.

The scientists studied the products which were formed in these experiments. In their findings, the scientists discovered that both carbon and nitrogen went through a transformation into&nbsp;molecules which are likely early building blocks of life.

It was observed by the scientists that carbon morphed into formic acid and carbon monoxide and nitrogen turned into nitrite, nitrate and ammonium.

Watch:&nbsp;Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-say-the-earths-core-is-behaving-oddly-heres-why-739062/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The researchers also added some rocky elements in the experiment and the minerals which are found on the landscape of Earth.&nbsp;

While carrying out repeated simulations and lightning strikes, they found that sulfide minerals, which are similar to those found near volcanic eruptions, were created.

The experts observed a spike in ammonia production which is a molecule important for&nbsp;life on our planet.

“Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes could have generated high concentrations of reactive molecules locally, establishing diverse feedstocks for early life to emerge and survive globally,” the researchers observed.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new study carried out by the chemists from Harvard University, it has been found that the first building blocks of life landed on Earth a bolt of lightning.

In a new study carried out by the chemists from Harvard University, it has been found that the first building blocks of life landed on Earth a bolt of lightning. To make the stunning scientific revelation, the team made an attempt to reenact what may have occurred millions of years ago on Earth in their laboratory. In this experiment, the scientists made a stunning discovery of cloud-to-ground lightning. Origin of life puzzles scientists Scientists have remained puzzled over how the origin of life took place on Earth. In their attempt to solve the jigsaw, they have come up with various possibilities of how life started to mushroom on Earth. In this cosmic theory of the origin of life, it has been believed till now that the vital materials were deposited by comets or asteroids on the surface of Earth and that lightning struck the clouds which led to the creation of life. Also Read: Unusual organisms found in hot springs of Yellowstone National Park might help in search for alien life However, when the scientists inspected these theories, the chances of such cosmic events leading to the creation of life seemed less likely and collisions from space objects appeared to have a rare chance. Also, the lightning zapping between clouds appeared to the scientists to be an inefficient method for producing the necessary materials. Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes behind the genesis of life? Among these uncertainties, the scientists at Harvard University started exploring how cloud-to-ground lightning strikes may have led to the genesis of life. To validate their new hypothesis, the scientists made their lab into a mini early Earth. The lightning strikes were stimulated across air, water, and land replicas which were kept in a controlled environment. The scientists studied the products which were formed in these experiments. In their findings, the scientists discovered that both carbon and nitrogen went through a transformation into molecules which are likely early building blocks of life. It was observed by the scientists that carbon morphed into formic acid and carbon monoxide and nitrogen turned into nitrite, nitrate and ammonium. Watch: Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why The researchers also added some rocky elements in the experiment and the minerals which are found on the landscape of Earth. While carrying out repeated simulations and lightning strikes, they found that sulfide minerals, which are similar to those found near volcanic eruptions, were created. The experts observed a spike in ammonia production which is a molecule important for life on our planet. “Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes could have generated high concentrations of reactive molecules locally, establishing diverse feedstocks for early life to emerge and survive globally,” the researchers observed. (With inputs from agencies)

A bolt of lightning struck Earth with building blocks of life: Study

A team of scientists from the University of Bristol studied the earliest ecosystem on Earth to understand when life began flourishing on our planet, just a hundred million years after planetary formation.

The new study was published in&nbsp;Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution. The living beings are said to have come from a single common ancestor known as LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor), according to the scientists.

LUCA is a hypothesised common ancestor from which it is believed all modern cellular life has descended.

The living beings that evolved from LUCA also came from different sources: the amino acids which had built proteins in other cellular organisms, cellular machinery like the ribosome and others, and the shared energy currency.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-groundwater-to-turn-undrinkable-for-half-a-billion-people-by-2100-study-740031">Earth's groundwater to turn 'undrinkable' for half a billion people by 2100: Study</a>

The team compared all the genes in the genomes of living species, counting the mutations that have occurred within their sequences over time since they shared an ancestor in LUCA.

Some species' time of separation was understood from the fossil record and a genetic equivalent of the familiar equation was used by the team to understand when LUCA existed, which was found to be 4.2 billion years ago - nearly four hundred million years after the Earth and our solar system was formed.

<h2>LUCA was a complex organism, exploiting its environment: Scientists&nbsp;</h2>

The study's co-author Dr Sandra Álvarez-Carretero said, "We did not expect LUCA to be so old, within just hundreds of millions of years of Earth formation. However, our results fit with modern views on the habitability of early Earth."

The researchers also worked on LUCA's biology by modelling the physiological characteristics of living species with the genealogy of LUCA's life.

Explaining the process, lead author Dr Edmund Moody said, "The evolutionary history of genes is complicated by their exchange between lineages. We have to use complex evolutionary models to reconcile the evolutionary history of genes with the genealogy of species."

Watch:&nbsp;Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-say-the-earths-core-is-behaving-oddly-heres-why-739062/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Our study showed that LUCA was a complex organism, not too different from modern prokaryotes, but what is really interesting is that it's clear it possessed an early immune system, showing that even by 4.2 billion years ago, our ancestor was engaging in an arms race with viruses," said co-author Professor Davide Pisani, while speaking about the features of LUCA.

Taking this discussion further, co-author Tim Lenton said, "It's clear that LUCA was exploiting and changing its environment, but it is unlikely to have lived alone. Its waste would have been food for other microbes, like methanogens, that would have helped to create a recycling ecosystem."

(With inputs from agencies)

A team of scientists from the University of Bristol studied the earliest ecosystem on Earth to understand when life began flourishing on our planet, just a hundred million years after planetary formation.

A team of scientists from the University of Bristol studied the earliest ecosystem on Earth to understand when life began flourishing on our planet, just a hundred million years after planetary formation. The new study was published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The living beings are said to have come from a single common ancestor known as LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor), according to the scientists. LUCA is a hypothesised common ancestor from which it is believed all modern cellular life has descended. The living beings that evolved from LUCA also came from different sources: the amino acids which had built proteins in other cellular organisms, cellular machinery like the ribosome and others, and the shared energy currency. Also Read: Earth's groundwater to turn 'undrinkable' for half a billion people by 2100: Study The team compared all the genes in the genomes of living species, counting the mutations that have occurred within their sequences over time since they shared an ancestor in LUCA. Some species' time of separation was understood from the fossil record and a genetic equivalent of the familiar equation was used by the team to understand when LUCA existed, which was found to be 4.2 billion years ago - nearly four hundred million years after the Earth and our solar system was formed. LUCA was a complex organism, exploiting its environment: Scientists The study's co-author Dr Sandra Álvarez-Carretero said, "We did not expect LUCA to be so old, within just hundreds of millions of years of Earth formation. However, our results fit with modern views on the habitability of early Earth." The researchers also worked on LUCA's biology by modelling the physiological characteristics of living species with the genealogy of LUCA's life. Explaining the process, lead author Dr Edmund Moody said, "The evolutionary history of genes is complicated by their exchange between lineages. We have to use complex evolutionary models to reconcile the evolutionary history of genes with the genealogy of species." Watch: Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why "Our study showed that LUCA was a complex organism, not too different from modern prokaryotes, but what is really interesting is that it's clear it possessed an early immune system, showing that even by 4.2 billion years ago, our ancestor was engaging in an arms race with viruses," said co-author Professor Davide Pisani, while speaking about the features of LUCA. Taking this discussion further, co-author Tim Lenton said, "It's clear that LUCA was exploiting and changing its environment, but it is unlikely to have lived alone. Its waste would have been food for other microbes, like methanogens, that would have helped to create a recycling ecosystem." (With inputs from agencies)

Earth was barren till life came into existence 4.2 billion years ago: Study

Scientists have made a stunning discovery of water vapours looming in the atmosphere of the hot exoplanet of Saturn with the help of the CARMENES spectrograph. The exoplanet has been designated the HD 149026 b, which has been dubbed Smertrios.

Scientists have made a stunning discovery of water vapours looming in the atmosphere of the hot exoplanet of Saturn with the help of the CARMENES spectrograph. The exoplanet has been designated the HD 149026 b, which has been dubbed Smertrios. The scientists reported the findings in a research paper which was published on the preprint server arXiv. The scientists said that research can give a better understanding of the structure of this alien planet and how it was formed. The exoplanet Smertrios is a metal-rich hot planet which orbits a yellow subgiant star of spectral type G0 IV named HD 149026. This is located at a distance of nearly 248.5 light years. The planet has a radius of about 0.81 Jupiter radii and is nearly three times less massive than Jupiter. According to the previous observations, Smertrios orbits its host every 2.876 days, which is nearly 0.043 AU from it. The equilibrium temperature of the planet is estimated to be 1,693 K. Also Read: Exoplanet which receives rains of glass and is close to Earth is stinking like rotten eggs. Here's why The team of astronomers led by Sayyed A Rafi of the University of Tokyo in Japan used CARMENES at the Calar-Alto Observatory to carry out high-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy of Smertrios. The scientists had aimed to gain more knowledge about the composition of the atmosphere of this exoplanet. "Transmission spectroscopy presents one of the most successful approaches for investigating the atmospheres of exoplanets. We analyzed the near-infrared high-resolution transmission spectrum of a hot Saturn, HD 149026 b, taken using CARMENES spectrograph," wrote the researchers in the paper. What does the existence of water vapour hint at? Rafi's team analysed the CARMENES data and discovered evidence of a water signal - which was found really close to the expected location of Smertrios. The signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the strongest signal was 4.8. The astronomers emphasised that the detected signal can be considered as evidence of the existence of water vapour. Watch: Earth's days may be getting little longer: Unveiling the planet's mysteries As per the study, the water vapour evidence in the atmosphere of the exoplanet suggests that the carbon-to-oxygen ratio of the planet is likely to be less than one if the atmosphere is homogeneous and remains at a chemical equilibrium since the hydrogen cyanide abundance is likely to be very low. The researchers looked for hydrogen cyanide in the atmosphere of Smertrios. However, they failed to find any evidence of this compound. The astronomers stated that this was because of the relatively low S/N dataset. (With inputs from agencies)

Saturn's hellish exoplanet has water vapours! What's hiding in this alien world?

The discovery of a tantalising exoplanet has been made by a team of researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope outside the solar system.&nbsp;

What makes this exoplanet special is the possibility of it hosting a temperate water ocean, which is nearly half the size of the Atlantic Ocean.

Scientists have been searching for habitability across&nbsp;the&nbsp;universe and even the slightest chance of water hints at the existence of extraterrestrial life.&nbsp;

The search for cosmic water trails has continued for ages and the possibility of liquid water and not just ice or water vapour increases the chances of the existence of life forms.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/exoplanet-which-receives-rains-of-glass-and-is-close-to-earth-is-stinking-like-rotten-eggs-heres-why-739116">Exoplanet which receives rains of glass and is close to Earth is stinking like rotten eggs. Here's why</a>

The exoplanet, which has been dubbed LHS 1140 b, orbits a red dwarf star which is nearly a fifth the size of the sun and is present 48 light-years away from Earth. It is situated in the constellation Cetus which translates to "the whale."

"Of all currently known temperate exoplanets, LHS 1140 b could well be our best bet to one day indirectly confirm liquid water on the surface of an alien world beyond our solar system," said Charles Cadieux, who is the lead author of a paper on the discovery and a doctoral student at the Université de Montréal,&nbsp;in a statement.&nbsp;

"This would be a major milestone in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets," he added.

<h2>Exoplanet in 'Goldilocks zone'. Is it habitable?</h2>

The exoplanet LHS 1140 b is present in the star's habitable zone which is called its "Goldilocks zone."&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Manned mission to Mars around corner? | Red planet reveals traces of life during its early years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/manned-mission-to-mars-around-corner-red-planet-reveals-traces-of-life-during-its-early-years-738813/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Goldilocks zone refers to the area around a star which is neither too hot nor too cold making it possible for the world to host liquid water.&nbsp;

"This is the first time we have ever seen a hint of an atmosphere on a&nbsp;habitable zone&nbsp;rocky or ice-rich exoplanet," said Ryan MacDonald, a&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;Sagan Fellow in the University of Michigan's Department of Astronomy, who helped in analysing the atmosphere of LHS 1140 b, in the statement.&nbsp;

According to Macdonald, the team may also have discovered evidence of "air" on it.

(With inputs from agencies)

The discovery of a tantalising exoplanet has been made by a team of researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope outside the solar system. What makes this exoplanet special is the possibility of it hosting a temperate water ocean, which is nearly half the size of the Atlantic Ocean.

The discovery of a tantalising exoplanet has been made by a team of researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope outside the solar system. What makes this exoplanet special is the possibility of it hosting a temperate water ocean, which is nearly half the size of the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists have been searching for habitability across the universe and even the slightest chance of water hints at the existence of extraterrestrial life. The search for cosmic water trails has continued for ages and the possibility of liquid water and not just ice or water vapour increases the chances of the existence of life forms. Also Read: Exoplanet which receives rains of glass and is close to Earth is stinking like rotten eggs. Here's why The exoplanet, which has been dubbed LHS 1140 b, orbits a red dwarf star which is nearly a fifth the size of the sun and is present 48 light-years away from Earth. It is situated in the constellation Cetus which translates to "the whale." "Of all currently known temperate exoplanets, LHS 1140 b could well be our best bet to one day indirectly confirm liquid water on the surface of an alien world beyond our solar system," said Charles Cadieux, who is the lead author of a paper on the discovery and a doctoral student at the Université de Montréal, in a statement. "This would be a major milestone in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets," he added. Exoplanet in 'Goldilocks zone'. Is it habitable? The exoplanet LHS 1140 b is present in the star's habitable zone which is called its "Goldilocks zone." Watch: Manned mission to Mars around corner? | Red planet reveals traces of life during its early years The Goldilocks zone refers to the area around a star which is neither too hot nor too cold making it possible for the world to host liquid water. "This is the first time we have ever seen a hint of an atmosphere on a habitable zone rocky or ice-rich exoplanet," said Ryan MacDonald, a NASA Sagan Fellow in the University of Michigan's Department of Astronomy, who helped in analysing the atmosphere of LHS 1140 b, in the statement. According to Macdonald, the team may also have discovered evidence of "air" on it. (With inputs from agencies)

This exoplanet may have an ocean half the size of Atlantic. Is it hosting life?

Scientists and space enthusiasts have been searching for every possible hint of the existence of water on Mars.&nbsp;

However, the traditional methods have not proved effective in detecting liquid water which is most likely present deep below the Martian surface.&nbsp;

Scientists are now looking at a new approach which involves marsquakes and holds the capacity to provide the breakthrough in this water hunt.

An innovative technique was proposed by researchers from&nbsp;Penn State, headed by doctoral candidate Nolan Roth and Professor Tieyuan Zhu which can revolutionise the understanding of the hydrological history of Mars.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hirise-camera-captures-image-of-phobos-mars-space-potato-moon-734199">NASA's HiRISE camera captures image of phobos, Mars' 'space potato' Moon</a>

According to the study, analysing electromagnetic signals which are produced by marsquakes can help in detecting water which is present underground.

“We explore the possibility of detecting and characterizing subsurface water on Mars using natural signals called seismo-electric interface responses,” stated the study authors.

“These seismo-electric interface responses can be created when marsquakes interact with liquid water held in deep aquifers, so they can be used as unambiguous signs of mobile water," they noted.

<h2>What are Marsquakes?&nbsp;</h2>

Marsquakes are a type of seismic activity&nbsp;that happens on Mars and is similar to earthquakes which occur on Earth.&nbsp;

They are created by the sudden release of energy in the interior of the planet which causes ground vibrations.

Marsquakes can be formed due to various factors which include volcanic activity, the impact of meteorites or tectonic movements.

Scientists by studying the marsquakes can understand the geological activity and internal structure of Mars.&nbsp;

NASA’s InSight lander has played a major role in detecting and studying these quakes after it landed on Mars in 2018.&nbsp;

It was once believed that Mars had vast oceans but through time most of that water vanished.

“The scientific community has theories that Mars used to have oceans and that, over the course of its history, all that water went away. But there is evidence that some water is trapped somewhere in the subsurface. We just haven’t been able to find it,” said Roth.

<h2>What did the researchers propose?</h2>

A technique known as the seismoelectric method has been proposed by researchers to detect&nbsp;water&nbsp;on Mars.&nbsp;

The approach depends on the unique electromagnetic signals which are produced when&nbsp;seismic&nbsp;waves cross the underground aquifers.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | The danger posed by Chinese space debris

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-danger-posed-by-chinese-space-debris-735444/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“If we listen to the marsquakes that are moving through the subsurface, if they pass through water, they’ll create these wonderful, unique signals of electromagnetic fields. These signals would be diagnostic of current, modern-day water on Mars," said Roth.&nbsp;

The dry surface of Mars interestingly makes it easier for scientists to detect the signals compared to Earth.

“On Mars, where the near-surface is certainly desiccated, no such separation is needed. In contrast to how seismoelectric signals often appear on Earth, Mars’ surface naturally removes the noise and exposes useful data that allows us to characterize several aquifer properties,” said Professor Zhu.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists and space enthusiasts have been searching for every possible hint of the existence of water on Mars. However, the traditional methods have not proved effective in detecting liquid water which is most likely present deep below the Martian surface.

Scientists and space enthusiasts have been searching for every possible hint of the existence of water on Mars. However, the traditional methods have not proved effective in detecting liquid water which is most likely present deep below the Martian surface. Scientists are now looking at a new approach which involves marsquakes and holds the capacity to provide the breakthrough in this water hunt. An innovative technique was proposed by researchers from Penn State, headed by doctoral candidate Nolan Roth and Professor Tieyuan Zhu which can revolutionise the understanding of the hydrological history of Mars. Also Read: NASA's HiRISE camera captures image of phobos, Mars' 'space potato' Moon According to the study, analysing electromagnetic signals which are produced by marsquakes can help in detecting water which is present underground. “We explore the possibility of detecting and characterizing subsurface water on Mars using natural signals called seismo-electric interface responses,” stated the study authors. “These seismo-electric interface responses can be created when marsquakes interact with liquid water held in deep aquifers, so they can be used as unambiguous signs of mobile water," they noted. What are Marsquakes? Marsquakes are a type of seismic activity that happens on Mars and is similar to earthquakes which occur on Earth. They are created by the sudden release of energy in the interior of the planet which causes ground vibrations. Marsquakes can be formed due to various factors which include volcanic activity, the impact of meteorites or tectonic movements. Scientists by studying the marsquakes can understand the geological activity and internal structure of Mars. NASA’s InSight lander has played a major role in detecting and studying these quakes after it landed on Mars in 2018. It was once believed that Mars had vast oceans but through time most of that water vanished. “The scientific community has theories that Mars used to have oceans and that, over the course of its history, all that water went away. But there is evidence that some water is trapped somewhere in the subsurface. We just haven’t been able to find it,” said Roth. What did the researchers propose? A technique known as the seismoelectric method has been proposed by researchers to detect water on Mars. The approach depends on the unique electromagnetic signals which are produced when seismic waves cross the underground aquifers. Watch: Gravitas | The danger posed by Chinese space debris “If we listen to the marsquakes that are moving through the subsurface, if they pass through water, they’ll create these wonderful, unique signals of electromagnetic fields. These signals would be diagnostic of current, modern-day water on Mars," said Roth. The dry surface of Mars interestingly makes it easier for scientists to detect the signals compared to Earth. “On Mars, where the near-surface is certainly desiccated, no such separation is needed. In contrast to how seismoelectric signals often appear on Earth, Mars’ surface naturally removes the noise and exposes useful data that allows us to characterize several aquifer properties,” said Professor Zhu. (With inputs from agencies)

Study suggests quakes on Mars hiding water secrets of red planet, hint at possibility of life

In new research, experts have projected that global life expectancy will increase by nearly five years by 2025. However, factors like high blood pressure and obesity will force people to spend more years battling their poor health.

In new research, experts have projected that global life expectancy will increase by nearly five years by 2025. However, factors like high blood pressure and obesity will force people to spend more years battling their poor health. The findings were published as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study 2021. The study was published in the medical journal The Lancet on Thursday (May 16). Lead research scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHMEE) at the University of Washington and research head Liane Ong said, "Future trends may be quite different than past trends because of factors such as climate change and increasing obesity and addiction." Also Read: Deaths due to heat at all-time high; heatwaves in Europe linked to 30% increase in fatalities It was predicted by the Global Burden of Diseases team said that life expectancy is likely to increase from 71.1 years to 76 years for men and from 76.2 years to 80.5 years for women. The biggest gains will be made by the countries which currently have lower life expectancies. "This is an indicator that while health inequalities between the highest and lowest income regions will remain, the gaps are shrinking, with the biggest increases anticipated in sub-Saharan Africa," stated IMHEE director Dr Chris Murray. According to the researchers, this trend is mostly driven by public health measures which have improved survival rates and prevented deaths from diseases like COVID-19, heart disease, and a range of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases. Obesity and high blood pressure negatively impact health of people It was found by the researchers that the total number of years lost by people is almost 49.4 per cent since 2000 because of metabolic risk factors like high blood sugar, high body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure. Watch: India: Crowdfunding helps toddler get life-saving $2 mn jab Low birth weight, smoking and air pollution were also some of the largest contributors to the number of years lost in life due to poor health and early death. "There is immense opportunity ahead for us to influence the future of global health by getting ahead of these rising metabolic and dietary risk factors, particularly those related to behavioural and lifestyle factors like high blood sugar, high body mass index, and high blood pressure," said Murray. (With inputs from agencies)

Global life expectancy to increase but people to spend more time battling health issues: Study

The origin of life in the universe has always remained shrouded in mystery. Now, in a recent find, astronomers have stumbled upon an ancient star explosion which may have birthed life in the cosmos.

The origin of life in the universe has always remained shrouded in mystery. Now, in a recent find, astronomers have stumbled upon an ancient star explosion which may have birthed life in the cosmos. The key element for the origin of life is phosphorus which is important for the creation of DNA, which is the blueprint of all life. The astronomers are now trying to study how the crucial element came into existence. A new theory has now proposed that a particular stellar explosion, called “ONe novae” can be phosphorus' primary source in the universe. How life came into existence with the Big Bang? At the inception of the universe, the lightest element - hydrogen - was generated by the Big Bang. Also Read: Space cookie still smells fresh after four years. Know how Heavier elements like helium are created from fiery cores of stars where there is intense pressure and heat fuses hydrogen atoms. The process continues and elements like oxygen and carbon are created. The fuel of the stars is eventually exhausted by these stellar furnaces which leads to cataclysmic explosions like novae and supernovae. Such events lead to the dispersal of the newly forged elements into the cosmos which enriches the interstellar medium by creating blocks for planets, asteroids, and eventually, life. How ONe novae lead to the production of phosphorus and eventually life? ONe novae are a category of stellar explosions which occur in white dwarf stars having a high composition of oxygen, neon, and magnesium. These white dwarfs take matter from a companion star and when the accumulated material reaches the critical stage, it leads to a runaway thermonuclear reaction. The explosive event releases a significant amount of stellar material which includes newly synthesised elements that surround the interstellar space. Astronomers Kenji Bekki and Takuji Tsujimoto have reached a hypothesis which suggests that these ONe novae can be the primarily mechanism which is responsible for the production and distribution of phosphorus, which is an important element for life. Watch: Boeing to send Starliner space capsule with 2 astronauts' “A ONe nova occurs when matter builds up on the surface of an oxygen-neon-magnesium rich white dwarf star and is heated to the point to ignite explosive run-away nuclear fusion,” Tsujimoto explained. According to Bekki and Tsujimoto’s model, the highest point was reached by ONe novae approximately 8 billion years ago. The peak in ONe novae activity may have led to phosphorus' major enrichment in the interstellar medium. Since our solar system was formed nearly 4.6 billion years ago, the timeline shows that phosphorus, which is a crucial element for life, would have been in abundance in the universe and would have been accessible during the early stages of the formation of Earth. The availability of phosphorus may have led to a pivotal role in the evolution and emergence of life on Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

As THIS star exploded, life probably originated in the universe, hints astronomers

life

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