<p>Researchers in Italy have recently found detailed maps of the night sky dating back to more than 2,400 years ago.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
According to a study published in the journal Astronomical Notes on November 22, researchers excavated a map carved into a circular white stone at an ancient fort in northeastern Italy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The map is about the size of a car tire and consists of 29 engravings. According to statistical analysis, human certainly created their engravings. Italy's National Institute of Astrophysics said in a news release that all but one of the sculptures matches the stars in the night sky.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-year-of-moon-missions-in-2023-many-aimed-for-the-moon-but-only-a-few-achieved-it-674268">Lunar missions of 2023: Several nations aimed for the Moon, including India's Chandrayaan</a></p>

<p>The researchers said the map was "very complete, with all bright stars represented," including the constellations Orion, Scorpius and the Pleiades.</p>

<p>However, one engraving did not match an existing star and was extremely difficult to explain. "One interesting possibility is that there was a bright star at the location that produced the supernova or that the supernova likely failed and left behind a black hole as a remnant," the researchers said.</p>

<p>People might have used the map to track seasonal changes before beginning agricultural activities. The study says the map dates from 1800 BC to 400 BC. It is one of the earliest depictions of the night sky ever found.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-new-method-which-can-destroy-99-of-cancer-cells-eliminate-need-for-invasive-surgeries-674342">Scientists find new method which can destroy 99% of cancer cells, eliminate need for invasive surgeries</a></p>

<p>However, the study also noted that one does not need advanced knowledge of space to create such maps. "A measurement unit of angular distance, such as the width of a finger or a simple ruler, and basic counting skills are sufficient," the researchers said.</p>

<p>About 2,200 years ago, Greek astronomer Hipparchus established a way to understand the motion of stars. He is famous for creating the first known star catalogue. Scientists still use his technique to map objects in the sky. He imagined Earth at the centre of a celestial sphere, and he used a coordinate system similar to latitude and longitude to measure the precise position of the stars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-juno-spacecraft-to-make-closest-flyby-of-jupiters-volcanic-moon-674309">NASA’s Juno spacecraft to make closest flyby of Jupiter’s volcanic moon</a></p>

<p>However, historians don't accurately know how Hipparchus measured the stars. According to National Geographic, they assume he may have used an armillary sphere, a mechanical device with rotating rings depicting the various parts of the celestial sphere.</p>

<p>The oldest evidence for stellar coordinates from Hipparchus was found in an 8th-century AD Latin translation of a poem about the constellations. These coordinates were included as a kind of annotation in the poem.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Researchers in Italy have recently found detailed maps of the night sky dating back to more than 2,400 years ago. According to a study published in the journal Astronomical Notes on November 22, researchers excavated a map carved into a circular white stone at an ancient fort in northeastern Italy.

Researchers in Italy have recently found detailed maps of the night sky dating back to more than 2,400 years ago. According to a study published in the journal Astronomical Notes on November 22, researchers excavated a map carved into a circular white stone at an ancient fort in northeastern Italy. The map is about the size of a car tire and consists of 29 engravings. According to statistical analysis, human certainly created their engravings. Italy's National Institute of Astrophysics said in a news release that all but one of the sculptures matches the stars in the night sky. Also Read | Lunar missions of 2023: Several nations aimed for the Moon, including India's Chandrayaan The researchers said the map was "very complete, with all bright stars represented," including the constellations Orion, Scorpius and the Pleiades. However, one engraving did not match an existing star and was extremely difficult to explain. "One interesting possibility is that there was a bright star at the location that produced the supernova or that the supernova likely failed and left behind a black hole as a remnant," the researchers said. People might have used the map to track seasonal changes before beginning agricultural activities. The study says the map dates from 1800 BC to 400 BC. It is one of the earliest depictions of the night sky ever found. Also Read | Scientists find new method which can destroy 99% of cancer cells, eliminate need for invasive surgeries However, the study also noted that one does not need advanced knowledge of space to create such maps. "A measurement unit of angular distance, such as the width of a finger or a simple ruler, and basic counting skills are sufficient," the researchers said. About 2,200 years ago, Greek astronomer Hipparchus established a way to understand the motion of stars. He is famous for creating the first known star catalogue. Scientists still use his technique to map objects in the sky. He imagined Earth at the centre of a celestial sphere, and he used a coordinate system similar to latitude and longitude to measure the precise position of the stars. Also Read | NASA’s Juno spacecraft to make closest flyby of Jupiter’s volcanic moon However, historians don't accurately know how Hipparchus measured the stars. According to National Geographic, they assume he may have used an armillary sphere, a mechanical device with rotating rings depicting the various parts of the celestial sphere. The oldest evidence for stellar coordinates from Hipparchus was found in an 8th-century AD Latin translation of a poem about the constellations. These coordinates were included as a kind of annotation in the poem. (With inputs from agencies)

Researchers discover 2,400-year-old celestial map which shows a star that is now dead

China’s secret space plane emits a strong signal to the ground when passing North America: satellite tracker. Amateur astronomer speculates the aircraft could be signalling ‘a clandestine ground station on the west coast of North America or on a ship off the coast.

China launches mystery reusable space plane

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<p>A strange and new kind of rock containing plastics has been found across the globe. They are deposits mainly formed by compressing rock and plastic polymers discarded by humans. So far, these plastic rocks have been found on the coast and inland in 11 countries across five continents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These bizarre plastic rocks are an alarming sign of global plastic pollution. A researcher told Newsweek that these rocks are harmful to ocean sustainability and human health.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are these plastic rocks called?</strong></h2>

<p>There has been a debate among the scientific community about what to call these plastic rocks. Among the various terms proposed, there are "plastistone," "plastiglomerate," "plasticrust," "plastitar," "plastisandstone" and "anthropoquinas." These different terms describe how the plastic rocks develop in specific ways.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>First samples of plastic rocks</strong></h2>

<p>Geologist Patricia Corcoran reported the first example of a plastic rock nearly a decade ago in Hawaii and termed it "plastiglomerate."</p>

<p>Deyi Hou, the author of a recent paper,&nbsp;<em>Plastistone: An emerging type of sedimentary rock</em>, said, "Molten plastic, sand grains, clasts from rock, coral, shells, and wood debris were held together after campfire burning on Kamilo Beach, Hawaii, USA." However, the paper called these plastic rocks "plastistones."<br />
<br />
Hou, an associate professor of environment at Tsinghua University in China, added, "Since then, they have been frequently found on beaches, both on islands and mainland coastlines."</p>

<p>Hou and his team were the first to report the discovery of plastic rocks in the inland region. They were also the first to mention the chemical bonding between plastic and rock. Their most recent review summarised that plastic rocks exist across five continents and 11 countries.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How are plastic rocks formed?</strong></h2>

<p>Hou and his team explained that plastic rocks can form via a wide range of methods. "Burning is a commonly proposed mechanism, where plastic debris is melted during campfire or waste burning and then held within the mineral matrix when it cools down," Hou said.</p>

<p>He added, "When waves crash against intertidal rocks, plastic debris from maritime sources can become physically adhered to the rock surface."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/australian-researchers-building-worlds-first-human-brain-scale-computer-it-will-go-online-next-year-670693">Australian researchers building world's first human brain-scale computer. It will go online next year</a></p>

<p>Another way these plastic rocks form is when oil that contains a massive amount of plastic reaches a beach after a leak. This material attaches firmly to the host rock matrix and then undergoes partial evaporation and solidification process, Hou explained.</p>

<p>"Finally, our study found that chemical binding contributed to plastistone generation in an inland region," said Hou. According to their hypothesis, sunlight irradiation causes plastic oxidation, leading to chemical binding between the plastic and rock material.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Plastic rocks have been found in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Hawaii, India, Italy, Japan, Peru, Portugal, the Spanish Curry Island and the United Kingdom.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Plastic pollution has become a complex problem</strong></h2>

<p>Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre, a plastic pollution researcher at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Peru, said, "Plastistone&nbsp;has&nbsp;emerged as a new term to describe plastics that have been incorporated into rocks." This will alter the fate of plastics in the environment, he said. "All in all, these findings show how complex the problem of plastic pollution has become," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the direct reason behind the formation of plastic rocks is the plastic pollution humans are pouring into the environment. According to the study, humans contribute roughly 22-48 million metric tonnes annually. "From a geologic perspective, the mass of plastic deposited by modern human beings is not trivial," Hou and his team wrote.</p>

<p>Furthermore, he believes that these plastic rocks will continue to increase as a part of natural geographical processes and stick around for a long time. They are likely to increase in places where plastic pollution is worse, like cities, mulched agricultural soils, and plastic waste dumping sites.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Plastistones can be made from a variety of plastic wastes. Plastic bags, bottles, fishing gear, maritime ropes, and agricultural mulching films can undergo lithification with rocks, giving rise to the formation of plastistones," Hou said.</p>

<h2><strong>How are plastic rocks harmful to us?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the study, plastic rocks alter the microbial communities within the soil and neighbouring environment. This way the plastic rocks directly affect the local ecosystems.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We observed a lower microbial diversity in the plastistone compared to the adjacent soil. Furthermore, we identified several microorganisms that showed a preference for colonising the plastistone," Hou said. However, the potential ecological risks associated with the phenomenon are still unexplored.</p>

<p>But the most dangerous fact about these plastic rocks is that they shed microplastics, tiny pieces of pollution which have spread across the globe and even into human and animal bodies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The occurrence of plastiglomerate in pristine coastal islands such as those found in India increases the possibility of release of microplastic as well as associated chemical forms from the same due to weathering and waves," biogeochemist professor Punyasloke Bhadury of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research told Newsweek.</p>

<p>"The released microplastic will end up in the ocean, reaching higher trophic levels such as marine mammals and humans through predominantly edible fish," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A strange and new kind of rock containing plastics has been found across the globe. They are deposits mainly formed by compressing rock and plastic polymers discarded by humans.

A strange and new kind of rock containing plastics has been found across the globe. They are deposits mainly formed by compressing rock and plastic polymers discarded by humans. So far, these plastic rocks have been found on the coast and inland in 11 countries across five continents. These bizarre plastic rocks are an alarming sign of global plastic pollution. A researcher told Newsweek that these rocks are harmful to ocean sustainability and human health. What are these plastic rocks called? There has been a debate among the scientific community about what to call these plastic rocks. Among the various terms proposed, there are "plastistone," "plastiglomerate," "plasticrust," "plastitar," "plastisandstone" and "anthropoquinas." These different terms describe how the plastic rocks develop in specific ways. First samples of plastic rocks Geologist Patricia Corcoran reported the first example of a plastic rock nearly a decade ago in Hawaii and termed it "plastiglomerate." Deyi Hou, the author of a recent paper, Plastistone: An emerging type of sedimentary rock, said, "Molten plastic, sand grains, clasts from rock, coral, shells, and wood debris were held together after campfire burning on Kamilo Beach, Hawaii, USA." However, the paper called these plastic rocks "plastistones." Hou, an associate professor of environment at Tsinghua University in China, added, "Since then, they have been frequently found on beaches, both on islands and mainland coastlines." Hou and his team were the first to report the discovery of plastic rocks in the inland region. They were also the first to mention the chemical bonding between plastic and rock. Their most recent review summarised that plastic rocks exist across five continents and 11 countries. How are plastic rocks formed? Hou and his team explained that plastic rocks can form via a wide range of methods. "Burning is a commonly proposed mechanism, where plastic debris is melted during campfire or waste burning and then held within the mineral matrix when it cools down," Hou said. He added, "When waves crash against intertidal rocks, plastic debris from maritime sources can become physically adhered to the rock surface." ALSO READ | Australian researchers building world's first human brain-scale computer. It will go online next year Another way these plastic rocks form is when oil that contains a massive amount of plastic reaches a beach after a leak. This material attaches firmly to the host rock matrix and then undergoes partial evaporation and solidification process, Hou explained. "Finally, our study found that chemical binding contributed to plastistone generation in an inland region," said Hou. According to their hypothesis, sunlight irradiation causes plastic oxidation, leading to chemical binding between the plastic and rock material. Plastic rocks have been found in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Hawaii, India, Italy, Japan, Peru, Portugal, the Spanish Curry Island and the United Kingdom. Plastic pollution has become a complex problem Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre, a plastic pollution researcher at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Peru, said, "Plastistone has emerged as a new term to describe plastics that have been incorporated into rocks." This will alter the fate of plastics in the environment, he said. "All in all, these findings show how complex the problem of plastic pollution has become," he added. However, the direct reason behind the formation of plastic rocks is the plastic pollution humans are pouring into the environment. According to the study, humans contribute roughly 22-48 million metric tonnes annually. "From a geologic perspective, the mass of plastic deposited by modern human beings is not trivial," Hou and his team wrote. Furthermore, he believes that these plastic rocks will continue to increase as a part of natural geographical processes and stick around for a long time. They are likely to increase in places where plastic pollution is worse, like cities, mulched agricultural soils, and plastic waste dumping sites. "Plastistones can be made from a variety of plastic wastes. Plastic bags, bottles, fishing gear, maritime ropes, and agricultural mulching films can undergo lithification with rocks, giving rise to the formation of plastistones," Hou said. How are plastic rocks harmful to us? According to the study, plastic rocks alter the microbial communities within the soil and neighbouring environment. This way the plastic rocks directly affect the local ecosystems. "We observed a lower microbial diversity in the plastistone compared to the adjacent soil. Furthermore, we identified several microorganisms that showed a preference for colonising the plastistone," Hou said. However, the potential ecological risks associated with the phenomenon are still unexplored. But the most dangerous fact about these plastic rocks is that they shed microplastics, tiny pieces of pollution which have spread across the globe and even into human and animal bodies. "The occurrence of plastiglomerate in pristine coastal islands such as those found in India increases the possibility of release of microplastic as well as associated chemical forms from the same due to weathering and waves," biogeochemist professor Punyasloke Bhadury of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research told Newsweek. "The released microplastic will end up in the ocean, reaching higher trophic levels such as marine mammals and humans through predominantly edible fish," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Decoding the mystery of plastic rocks discovered on five continents

The Bermuda Triangle is a fascinating region of the earth that has been the subject of numerous allegations and conspiracy theories in recent years. One diver on the Triangle responded to "paranormal" accusations by searching thousands of shipwrecks. Scientists have now found that the archipelago's surrounding Atlantic Ocean is rapidly warming and losing oxygen.

Strange changes affecting the waters surrounding Bermuda Triangle

<p>Close to the summit of an underwater mountain near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is where the Lost City Hydrothermal Field exits.&nbsp;Jagged towers, bathed in ghostly blue light, tell a story of discovery, resilience, and impending threats.</p>

<p>Discovered in 2000, the Lost City Hydrothermal Field lies over 700 metres beneath the ocean surface, shrouded in mystery. This venting environment, enduring for at least 120,000 years, testifies to the unique interaction of the upthrusting mantle with seawater, a saga unparalleled in the ocean's depths.</p>

<p>Despite its extreme locale, life thrives in the Lost City. The vents release hydrogen, methane, and gases that sustain thriving microbial communities in the absence of oxygen, according to Science Alert. From snails to crustaceans, an range of creatures live in its chimneys, showcasing the adaptability of life in unconventional ecosystems.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-pilots-spellbinding-encounter-with-northern-lights-from-cockpit-takes-internet-by-storm-660162">Also read | Pilot's spellbinding encounter with Northern Lights from cockpit takes internet by storm</a></p>

<h2><strong>A glimpse into extraterrestrial habitats</strong></h2>

<p>The hydrocarbons emanating from the Lost City's vents spark intrigue, suggesting a potential parallel to extraterrestrial habitats.</p>

<p>Scientists ponder the&nbsp;question of life's origin in analogous environments, speculating about the possibilities on celestial bodies such as Enceladus, Europa, or Mars.</p>

<p>In stark contrast to black smokers, traditional underwater volcanic vents, the Lost City's calcite vents defy expectations. They produce copious amounts of hydrogen and methane, diverging from the mineral-rich emissions of black smokers. The sheer size of these vents hints at a storied history and prolonged activity.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/at-global-average-temperature-of-2-degrees-earth-likely-to-see-disastrous-40-feet-of-sea-level-rise-659748">Also read |&nbsp;At global average temperature of 2 degrees, Earth likely to see disastrous 40 feet of sea level rise</a></p>

<h2><strong>Mining threatens this habitat</strong></h2>

<p>The allure of the Lost City extends beyond scientific fascination, attracting commercial interests. In 2018, Poland secured mining rights around the area, posing a substantial threat to this delicate ecosystem. Scientists raise alarm about potential plumes and discharges from mining activities, urging for the Lost City's protection.</p>

<p>Urgent calls resonate for its designation as a World Heritage site, a plea to shield this underwater marvel from the irreversible impacts of mining and environmental degradation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Close to the summit of an underwater mountain near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is where the Lost City Hydrothermal Field exits. Jagged towers, bathed in ghostly blue light, tell a story of discovery, resilience, and impending threats.

Close to the summit of an underwater mountain near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is where the Lost City Hydrothermal Field exits. Jagged towers, bathed in ghostly blue light, tell a story of discovery, resilience, and impending threats. Discovered in 2000, the Lost City Hydrothermal Field lies over 700 metres beneath the ocean surface, shrouded in mystery. This venting environment, enduring for at least 120,000 years, testifies to the unique interaction of the upthrusting mantle with seawater, a saga unparalleled in the ocean's depths. Despite its extreme locale, life thrives in the Lost City. The vents release hydrogen, methane, and gases that sustain thriving microbial communities in the absence of oxygen, according to Science Alert. From snails to crustaceans, an range of creatures live in its chimneys, showcasing the adaptability of life in unconventional ecosystems. Also read | Pilot's spellbinding encounter with Northern Lights from cockpit takes internet by storm A glimpse into extraterrestrial habitats The hydrocarbons emanating from the Lost City's vents spark intrigue, suggesting a potential parallel to extraterrestrial habitats. Scientists ponder the question of life's origin in analogous environments, speculating about the possibilities on celestial bodies such as Enceladus, Europa, or Mars. In stark contrast to black smokers, traditional underwater volcanic vents, the Lost City's calcite vents defy expectations. They produce copious amounts of hydrogen and methane, diverging from the mineral-rich emissions of black smokers. The sheer size of these vents hints at a storied history and prolonged activity. Also read | At global average temperature of 2 degrees, Earth likely to see disastrous 40 feet of sea level rise Mining threatens this habitat The allure of the Lost City extends beyond scientific fascination, attracting commercial interests. In 2018, Poland secured mining rights around the area, posing a substantial threat to this delicate ecosystem. Scientists raise alarm about potential plumes and discharges from mining activities, urging for the Lost City's protection. Urgent calls resonate for its designation as a World Heritage site, a plea to shield this underwater marvel from the irreversible impacts of mining and environmental degradation. (With inputs from agencies)

Unique 'Lost City' deep in the ocean is a marvel, but it now faces mining threats

<p>In July 1952, Palomar's astronomical research observatory in US California was conducting a night sky photographic survey. It involved taking multiple images of the same sky region to identify celestial objects, including asteroids.</p>

<p>But during this survey, a peculiar event unfolded. Three stars just vanished.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The survey was undergoing when at 8:52 pm a photographic plate recorded the presence of three stars grouped closely together. It appeared relatively bright with a magnitude of 15.</p>

<p>However, just 53 minutes later, at around 9:45 pm, when the same section of the sky was captured once more, those three stars had seemingly disappeared without a trace.</p>

<p>As per reports stars typically do not vanish. What can happen is that they can undergo processes like explosions or sudden increases in brightness.</p>

<p>But complete disappearance is an unusual phenomenon. Yet, the photographic evidence clearly showed their presence in the first image and their absence in the second.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-curiosity-rover-finds-evidence-mars-was-once-a-planet-of-rivers-651444">NASA Curiosity rover finds evidence, Mars was once a 'planet of rivers'</a></p>

<h2><strong>Did the stars dim?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>One of the theories that could be thought of is that these stars had dimmed quickly. However, this phenomenon faced significant challenges.</p>

<p>Subsequent observations found no evidence of these stars getting dimmer than magnitude 24. What this implied was that these then could have dimmed by a staggering factor of over 10,000 in less than an hour.</p>

<p>So, what are the possible explanations for the sudden disappearance of these stars?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Several theories have emerged to account for this enigmatic event.</p>

<p>One was that these three stars might actually be a single star that experienced a transient increase in brightness, such as from a fast radio burst emitted by a magnetar.</p>

<p>During this brightness surge, a stellar-mass black hole might have passed between the star and Earth, causing the burst to gravitationally lens and appear as three distinct images briefly, media reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lunar-eclipse-2023-will-it-be-visible-in-india-check-date-and-time-all-you-need-to-know-651411">Lunar Eclipse 2023: Will it be visible in India? Check date and time | All you need to know</a></p>

<p>However, the rarity of such an event also raised doubts. An alternative idea is that these were not stars at all.</p>

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<p>A third hypothesis was about the possibility that these were not celestial objects but rather cropped up due to contamination.</p>

<p>Palomar Observatory was not far from the New Mexico deserts where nuclear weapons testing occurred. Radioactive dust from these tests might have contaminated the photographic plates, causing bright spots to appear in some images but not others.</p>

<p>At this stage, the true explanation remains elusive.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In July 1952, Palomar's astronomical research observatory in US California was conducting a night sky photographic survey. It involved taking multiple images of the same sky region to identify celestial objects, including asteroids.

In July 1952, Palomar's astronomical research observatory in US California was conducting a night sky photographic survey. It involved taking multiple images of the same sky region to identify celestial objects, including asteroids. But during this survey, a peculiar event unfolded. Three stars just vanished. The survey was undergoing when at 8:52 pm a photographic plate recorded the presence of three stars grouped closely together. It appeared relatively bright with a magnitude of 15. However, just 53 minutes later, at around 9:45 pm, when the same section of the sky was captured once more, those three stars had seemingly disappeared without a trace. As per reports stars typically do not vanish. What can happen is that they can undergo processes like explosions or sudden increases in brightness. But complete disappearance is an unusual phenomenon. Yet, the photographic evidence clearly showed their presence in the first image and their absence in the second. Also Read | NASA Curiosity rover finds evidence, Mars was once a 'planet of rivers' Did the stars dim? One of the theories that could be thought of is that these stars had dimmed quickly. However, this phenomenon faced significant challenges. Subsequent observations found no evidence of these stars getting dimmer than magnitude 24. What this implied was that these then could have dimmed by a staggering factor of over 10,000 in less than an hour. So, what are the possible explanations for the sudden disappearance of these stars? Several theories have emerged to account for this enigmatic event. One was that these three stars might actually be a single star that experienced a transient increase in brightness, such as from a fast radio burst emitted by a magnetar. During this brightness surge, a stellar-mass black hole might have passed between the star and Earth, causing the burst to gravitationally lens and appear as three distinct images briefly, media reports said. Also Read | Lunar Eclipse 2023: Will it be visible in India? Check date and time | All you need to know However, the rarity of such an event also raised doubts. An alternative idea is that these were not stars at all. Watch | Interest rate on 30-year home loans reach 23-year high | World Business Watch × A third hypothesis was about the possibility that these were not celestial objects but rather cropped up due to contamination. Palomar Observatory was not far from the New Mexico deserts where nuclear weapons testing occurred. Radioactive dust from these tests might have contaminated the photographic plates, causing bright spots to appear in some images but not others. At this stage, the true explanation remains elusive. (With inputs from agencies)

Three stars mysteriously disappeared in 1952, and conjecture is all we have

What happened to Qin Gang? As the mystery deepens, China has increased the surveillance of its people. Watch this report to know more.

Qin Gang affair: How China dictates private and social lives of officials

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<p>The most extensive hunt for the elusive Loch Ness monster, lovingly dubbed 'Nessie,' ended on Sunday, August 27, in Scotland.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Loch Ness monster, rooted in Scottish folklore, has had its presence whispered through generations, and its myth has grown more compelling. The legend about a monster in a water body originated around 565 AD when Saint Columba, an Irish monk, described a creature attacking a swimmer in his account.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The United Kingdom's Daily Mail published a picture showing the Loch Ness monster in 1934. The famous 'surgeon's photo,' declared a hoax later, helped popularise the creature's image globally. According to the Loch Ness Center in the Highland village of Drumnadrochit, they have officially recorded 1,100 sightings of Nessie.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Loss Ness Center collaborated with Loch Ness Exploration, a volunteer research team, to organise 'The Quest.' The two-day hunt was the most systematic search since 1972 for the mysterious monster.</p>

<p>The dedicated gathering of modern monster hunters claimed they had cutting-edge technology, including surveying equipment, thermal drones and hydrophones, and determination to find the truth. The volunteers from around the world searched 17 locations around the lake to collect evidence proving the presence of Nessie.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong>Life on Mars discovered 50 years ago but killed accidentally, claims scientist</p>

<p>The project leader, Alan McKenna, and his team dropped the underwater microphone several times in the lake to record 'strange noises' that might signal the presence of the elusive creature. Their objective was to obtain sufficient proof to dispel the veil of doubt that had surrounded Nessie for hundreds of years.</p>

<p>The team reported several possible sightings and intriguing audio signals, sparking excitement and anticipation. However, the mystery persists. McKenna stated that he was given a collection of videos and advice from individuals watching live-streaming cameras focused on the well-known lake in the Scottish Highlands. However, according to him, it will take a significant time to sift through the data and distinguish truth from hopeful speculation.</p>

<p>It is not the first time researchers have searched the lake for signs of Nessie. A team of researchers conducted a DNA survey in 2018 in Loch Ness, which revealed no evidence of any giant creatures. Instead, the study only detected the existence of many eels.</p>

<p>Located in the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness is the largest lake in the United Kingdom in terms of volume. It spans 23 miles (36 kilometres) lengthwise and has a maximum depth of 788 feet (240 meters).</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The most extensive hunt for the elusive Loch Ness monster, lovingly dubbed 'Nessie,' ended on Sunday, August 27, in Scotland. The Loch Ness monster, rooted in Scottish folklore, has had its presence whispered through generations, and its myth has grown more compelling.

The most extensive hunt for the elusive Loch Ness monster, lovingly dubbed 'Nessie,' ended on Sunday, August 27, in Scotland. The Loch Ness monster, rooted in Scottish folklore, has had its presence whispered through generations, and its myth has grown more compelling. The legend about a monster in a water body originated around 565 AD when Saint Columba, an Irish monk, described a creature attacking a swimmer in his account. The United Kingdom's Daily Mail published a picture showing the Loch Ness monster in 1934. The famous 'surgeon's photo,' declared a hoax later, helped popularise the creature's image globally. According to the Loch Ness Center in the Highland village of Drumnadrochit, they have officially recorded 1,100 sightings of Nessie. The Loss Ness Center collaborated with Loch Ness Exploration, a volunteer research team, to organise 'The Quest.' The two-day hunt was the most systematic search since 1972 for the mysterious monster. The dedicated gathering of modern monster hunters claimed they had cutting-edge technology, including surveying equipment, thermal drones and hydrophones, and determination to find the truth. The volunteers from around the world searched 17 locations around the lake to collect evidence proving the presence of Nessie. ALSO READ | Life on Mars discovered 50 years ago but killed accidentally, claims scientist The project leader, Alan McKenna, and his team dropped the underwater microphone several times in the lake to record 'strange noises' that might signal the presence of the elusive creature. Their objective was to obtain sufficient proof to dispel the veil of doubt that had surrounded Nessie for hundreds of years. The team reported several possible sightings and intriguing audio signals, sparking excitement and anticipation. However, the mystery persists. McKenna stated that he was given a collection of videos and advice from individuals watching live-streaming cameras focused on the well-known lake in the Scottish Highlands. However, according to him, it will take a significant time to sift through the data and distinguish truth from hopeful speculation. It is not the first time researchers have searched the lake for signs of Nessie. A team of researchers conducted a DNA survey in 2018 in Loch Ness, which revealed no evidence of any giant creatures. Instead, the study only detected the existence of many eels. Located in the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness is the largest lake in the United Kingdom in terms of volume. It spans 23 miles (36 kilometres) lengthwise and has a maximum depth of 788 feet (240 meters). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Hunt for Loch Ness monster 'Nessie' comes to an end; mystery remains unsolved

<p>More than 100 people were locked inside the former house of famed British mystery writer Agatha Christie for several hours in the English countryside on Friday.<br />
<br />
In a series of mysterious occurrences, which seemed to have been lifted straight from the pages of one of the mystery novels of Christie, the group of tourists was trapped inside the house after a tree was knocked down by stormy weather which led to blockage of the road leading down to the property located in the county of Devon, southwest England.<br />
<br />
One of the tourists, Caroline Heaven, who was visiting Greenway, reached out to local news outlet Devon Live to spread the news of around 100 tourists being trapped on the grounds of the former holiday home of Agatha Christie.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-begin-from-eiffel-tower-pm-modi-announces-upi-use-in-france-615334">Indian tourists at Eiffel Tower can pay in rupees as PM Modi announces UPI use in France</a></p>

<p>Britain’s National Trust, which is responsible for managing the historic site, quickly placed a message on its website, stating that a single-track road leading into Greenway has been blocked completely due to the falling of a large tree.<br />
<br />
National Trust's spokesperson said that they were aware that there were “visitors, staff and volunteers still at Greenway unable to leave,” further stating that the National Trust was “doing everything” to ensure the comfort of the tourists while they wait&nbsp;for the road to reopen.<br />
<br />
The tourists, who were stranded, kept themselves busy by playing rounds of croquet on the lawn and drinking cups of tea in the tearoom of the house, said Heaven while speaking to Devon Live.</p>

<h2><strong>'And Then There Were None'</strong></h2>

<p>Heaven, who reached the house of the author at around 11:30 am local time (6.30aET) on Friday, appreciated the efforts made by the staff in taking care of the tourists. “They are doing a great job, they are giving us free teas and things. It’s a bit bleak,” she stated.<br />
<br />
As per the National Trust website, Agatha Christie used to spend hours on the lawn of the Greenway, playing croquet and golf, and entertaining guests by reading snippets from her latest mystery novels.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Death Valley is a hot, hot, hot tourist spot</strong></p>

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<p><br />
The tourists, who were stuck inside the house, also got time to explore the walled gardens of the estate and the famous boathouse which had inspired the scene of the crime novel “Dead Man’s Folly” written by Christie.<br />
<br />
Even though there was a seemingly calm atmosphere, few social media users were forced to compare the situation with Christie’s novel “And Then There Were None”, in which ten strangers were invited to a mansion off the Devon coast.</p>

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More than 100 people were locked inside the former house of famed British mystery writer Agatha Christie for several hours in the English countryside on Friday. In a series of mysterious occurrences, which seemed to have been lifted straight from the pages of one of the mystery novels of Christie, the group of tourists was trapped inside the house after a tree was knocked down by stormy weather which led to blockage of the road leading down to the property located in the county of Devon, southwest England.

More than 100 people were locked inside the former house of famed British mystery writer Agatha Christie for several hours in the English countryside on Friday. In a series of mysterious occurrences, which seemed to have been lifted straight from the pages of one of the mystery novels of Christie, the group of tourists was trapped inside the house after a tree was knocked down by stormy weather which led to blockage of the road leading down to the property located in the county of Devon, southwest England. One of the tourists, Caroline Heaven, who was visiting Greenway, reached out to local news outlet Devon Live to spread the news of around 100 tourists being trapped on the grounds of the former holiday home of Agatha Christie. ALSO READ | Indian tourists at Eiffel Tower can pay in rupees as PM Modi announces UPI use in France Britain’s National Trust, which is responsible for managing the historic site, quickly placed a message on its website, stating that a single-track road leading into Greenway has been blocked completely due to the falling of a large tree. National Trust's spokesperson said that they were aware that there were “visitors, staff and volunteers still at Greenway unable to leave,” further stating that the National Trust was “doing everything” to ensure the comfort of the tourists while they wait for the road to reopen. The tourists, who were stranded, kept themselves busy by playing rounds of croquet on the lawn and drinking cups of tea in the tearoom of the house, said Heaven while speaking to Devon Live. 'And Then There Were None' Heaven, who reached the house of the author at around 11:30 am local time (6.30aET) on Friday, appreciated the efforts made by the staff in taking care of the tourists. “They are doing a great job, they are giving us free teas and things. It’s a bit bleak,” she stated. As per the National Trust website, Agatha Christie used to spend hours on the lawn of the Greenway, playing croquet and golf, and entertaining guests by reading snippets from her latest mystery novels. WATCH | Death Valley is a hot, hot, hot tourist spot The tourists, who were stuck inside the house, also got time to explore the walled gardens of the estate and the famous boathouse which had inspired the scene of the crime novel “Dead Man’s Folly” written by Christie. Even though there was a seemingly calm atmosphere, few social media users were forced to compare the situation with Christie’s novel “And Then There Were None”, in which ten strangers were invited to a mansion off the Devon coast. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

More than 100 tourists get trapped in mystery writer Agatha Christie’s former house

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<p>In September 2019, Serbia Today published an article about a creepy video of a woman dancing in the streets of Serbia with movements similar to Serbian folklore. The woman allegedly carries a knife that she uses to threaten anyone who passes by. On December 29, a TikToker posted a video of the 'Serbian Dancing Lady.' In the video, she slowly stops dancing, notices the camera operator filming her and charges towards him with a knife. On February 11, the Jumpers Jump podcast discussed another viral video of the Serbian Dancing Lady, which garnered over 50 million views in one week.</p>

<p>Soon, people on TikTok started warning about the dangers of seeing the Serbian Dancing Lady on the streets. Many people also impersonated the viral video as a prank. However, some people believe that the Serbian Dancing Lady might not be a hoax or myth, and it might be related to the urban legend of a Serbian woman named Mira who carries the so-called Devil's child. Several people also shared their experience of witnessing the Serbian Dancing Lady and being chased by her.</p>

<h2><strong>Mystery of Serbian Dancing Lady</strong></h2>

<p>The mystery of the Serbian Dancing Lady dates back to 1998. However, the video came to light in 2019. Although the event details are ambiguous, several accounts narrated their encounter with the Serbian Dancing Lady. However, it's tough to verify the sources of the community blogs as users can post independently.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/trending/is-time-trave-real-apple-ceo-tim-cook-baffled-after-iphone-spotted-at-350-year-old-painting-603375">Is time travel real? Apple CEO Tim Cook baffled after iPhone spotted in 350-year-old painting</a></strong></p>

<p>While some reports say that police have arrested the woman in the video for vile behaviour, most claim that the creepy lady remains elusive despite police searches. After the video went viral on the internet, the myths surrounding her have frightened people, and they have attempted to verify her existence. The lack of trustworthy sources pointed out that the Serbian Dancing Lady is a myth. However, there is a heated debate on social media about the presence of the mythical figure.</p>

<p>Although the urban legend says that the Serbian Dancing Lady kills or attacks anyone who stops her dance, there are no reports of any deaths surrounding it. Serbian authorities have also been closely monitoring the situation. While the mythical figure scares many people to date, content creators have highly capitalised on the viral video.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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In September 2019, Serbia Today published an article about a creepy video of a woman dancing in the streets of Serbia with movements similar to Serbian folklore.

In September 2019, Serbia Today published an article about a creepy video of a woman dancing in the streets of Serbia with movements similar to Serbian folklore. The woman allegedly carries a knife that she uses to threaten anyone who passes by. On December 29, a TikToker posted a video of the 'Serbian Dancing Lady.' In the video, she slowly stops dancing, notices the camera operator filming her and charges towards him with a knife. On February 11, the Jumpers Jump podcast discussed another viral video of the Serbian Dancing Lady, which garnered over 50 million views in one week. Soon, people on TikTok started warning about the dangers of seeing the Serbian Dancing Lady on the streets. Many people also impersonated the viral video as a prank. However, some people believe that the Serbian Dancing Lady might not be a hoax or myth, and it might be related to the urban legend of a Serbian woman named Mira who carries the so-called Devil's child. Several people also shared their experience of witnessing the Serbian Dancing Lady and being chased by her. Mystery of Serbian Dancing Lady The mystery of the Serbian Dancing Lady dates back to 1998. However, the video came to light in 2019. Although the event details are ambiguous, several accounts narrated their encounter with the Serbian Dancing Lady. However, it's tough to verify the sources of the community blogs as users can post independently. ALSO READ | Is time travel real? Apple CEO Tim Cook baffled after iPhone spotted in 350-year-old painting While some reports say that police have arrested the woman in the video for vile behaviour, most claim that the creepy lady remains elusive despite police searches. After the video went viral on the internet, the myths surrounding her have frightened people, and they have attempted to verify her existence. The lack of trustworthy sources pointed out that the Serbian Dancing Lady is a myth. However, there is a heated debate on social media about the presence of the mythical figure. Although the urban legend says that the Serbian Dancing Lady kills or attacks anyone who stops her dance, there are no reports of any deaths surrounding it. Serbian authorities have also been closely monitoring the situation. While the mythical figure scares many people to date, content creators have highly capitalised on the viral video. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Serbian Dancing Lady: Real or Fake? Know the truth behind mysterious, creepy viral TikTok video

Scientists say that mountains with peaks three to four times higher than Mount Everest have been discovered deep inside the earth. Using seismology centres in Antarctica, experts found these astonishingly huge mountains in the boundary between the core and mantle, around 2,900 kilometres deep.

Mountains inside earth mystify scientists

A long expedition across the desert of northeastern Niger brings you to one of the most rewarding sights. These are the fortified villages of salt & clay built on rocks, besieged by the Sahara sands. This lost city in the Sahel, "ksars" of Djado, has a long unknown history. Generations of travellers have stood before it. Travellers are often amazed by the crenellated walls, watchtowers, secretive passages & wells. This structure testifies to skilled but unknown hands.

Mystery of the Desert: Who built these lost cities of the Nigerien Sahara?

<p>A panel of NASA, which is studying what has been termed by the government as "unidentified aerial phenomena," commonly called as UFOs, held its first public meeting on Wednesday to discuss their findings since the panel was established last year.<br />
<br />
The 16-member panel, which includes experts from fields ranging from astrobiology to physics, was established last June to study unclassified UFO sightings, which have been referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) or the sightings "that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective".<br />
<br />
"If I were to summarise in one line what I feel we've learned, it's we need high-quality data," stated panel chair David Spergel in his opening remarks.<br />
<br />
NASA stated that the four-hour public session held at the agency's headquarters on Wednesday was focused on holding "final deliberations" before a report is published by the team, which Spergel confirmed will be released by late July.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-ufo-panel-to-explain-mysterious-sightings-for-first-time-ever-598843">NASA's 'UFO panel' to explain mysterious sightings for first time ever</a></p>

<h2><strong>Explained and mysterious sightings</strong></h2>

<p>"We have 50 to 100-ish new reports each month," stated Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). He added that only 2 per cent to 5 per cent of the sightings collected in the database are "possibly really anomalous”.<br />
<br />
During the public meeting, a video taken by a naval aircraft was shared which showed a series of dots slowly moving across the night sky in the United States. The object was not intercepted by the military plane and it later turned out to be a commercial aircraft which was flying towards a major airport.<br />
<br />
However, some sightings remain more mysterious. A report published by Pentagon in 2021 had stated that out of 144 sightings noted by military pilots since 2004, one remained unexplained. Officials have not rejected the possibility of objects being extra-terrestrial.<br />
<br />
The head of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office stated said that they cannot rule out the existence of intelligent alien life but that no sighting till now has been observed which can be considered as evidence of extraterrestrial origins.</p>

<h2><strong>Privacy limits investigations of NASA</strong></h2>

<p>Kirkpatrick further stated that privacy concerns have been limiting the investigations carried out by the agency. "We can point the largest collection apparatus in the entire globe at any point we want," he stated.</p>

<p>"A lot of what we have is around the continental United States. Most people...don't like it when we point our entire collection apparatus at your backyard,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;NASA launches uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Harassment and stigma hamper research</strong></h2>

<p>Senior research official at NASA's science unit Dan Evans said that the team has "several months of work ahead of them”, and further added that the members of the panel have faced harassment and online abuse since they started their work.</p>

<p>"Harassment only leads to further stigmatisation of the UAP field, significantly hindering the scientific process and discouraging others to study this important subject matter," said NASA's science chief Nicola Fox.</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong><br />
<br />
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A panel of NASA, which is studying what has been termed by the government as "unidentified aerial phenomena," commonly called as UFOs, held its first public meeting on Wednesday to discuss their findings since the panel was established last year.

A panel of NASA, which is studying what has been termed by the government as "unidentified aerial phenomena," commonly called as UFOs, held its first public meeting on Wednesday to discuss their findings since the panel was established last year. The 16-member panel, which includes experts from fields ranging from astrobiology to physics, was established last June to study unclassified UFO sightings, which have been referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) or the sightings "that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective". "If I were to summarise in one line what I feel we've learned, it's we need high-quality data," stated panel chair David Spergel in his opening remarks. NASA stated that the four-hour public session held at the agency's headquarters on Wednesday was focused on holding "final deliberations" before a report is published by the team, which Spergel confirmed will be released by late July. ALSO READ | NASA's 'UFO panel' to explain mysterious sightings for first time ever Explained and mysterious sightings "We have 50 to 100-ish new reports each month," stated Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). He added that only 2 per cent to 5 per cent of the sightings collected in the database are "possibly really anomalous”. During the public meeting, a video taken by a naval aircraft was shared which showed a series of dots slowly moving across the night sky in the United States. The object was not intercepted by the military plane and it later turned out to be a commercial aircraft which was flying towards a major airport. However, some sightings remain more mysterious. A report published by Pentagon in 2021 had stated that out of 144 sightings noted by military pilots since 2004, one remained unexplained. Officials have not rejected the possibility of objects being extra-terrestrial. The head of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office stated said that they cannot rule out the existence of intelligent alien life but that no sighting till now has been observed which can be considered as evidence of extraterrestrial origins. Privacy limits investigations of NASA Kirkpatrick further stated that privacy concerns have been limiting the investigations carried out by the agency. "We can point the largest collection apparatus in the entire globe at any point we want," he stated. "A lot of what we have is around the continental United States. Most people...don't like it when we point our entire collection apparatus at your backyard,” he added. WATCH | NASA launches uncrewed Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft Harassment and stigma hamper research Senior research official at NASA's science unit Dan Evans said that the team has "several months of work ahead of them”, and further added that the members of the panel have faced harassment and online abuse since they started their work. "Harassment only leads to further stigmatisation of the UAP field, significantly hindering the scientific process and discouraging others to study this important subject matter," said NASA's science chief Nicola Fox. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Can explain many sightings but some remain mystery, says NASA's 'UFO' panel

<p>Park authorities in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley are baffled by a strange-looking animal that has been spotted there. The "mystery animal" seen on a game camera is being identified by park officials.</p>

<p>Employees at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park released a picture of the animal on Facebook and asked&nbsp;users to identify it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We're scratching our heads trying to identify this elusive creature," read a post from the Mission, Texas-based park. "Is it a new species? An escapee from a nearby zoo? Or just a park ranger in disguise?"</p>

<p>The small, fuzzy animal with four legs was seen on camera wandering&nbsp;at night.</p>

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<p>Social media users' flooded&nbsp;the comment section with their best guesses. A user wrote, "If it's not a bear, then I would guess a park ranger in disguise!!"</p>

<p>Another commented, "A good ol' Texas-size rat."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alcoholic-dog-coco-the-labrador-cross-becomes-the-first-canine-to-be-treated-for-addiction-581336">'Alcoholic' dog: Coco, the Labrador cross becomes the first canine to be treated for addiction</a></p>

<p>Others referred to it as a beaver, wolverine, capybara, and even an otter. A user even described the creature as a "pregnant badger," according to some users, who even labelled it a badger.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Meet the tiniest dog on Earth, smaller than a popsicle stick</strong></p>

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<p>Officials from the park revealed what they thought it might be after making various guesses.</p>

<p>"Wow, this photo has got a lot of attention! We agree with most of the comments that this is very likely an American Badger (not to be confused with the Honey Badger that lives in Africa and Asia and is rumoured to not care very much)," the state park stated.</p>

<p>"While American Badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behaviour), this is part of their natural range," it added.&nbsp;</p>

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Park authorities in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley are baffled by a strange-looking animal that has been spotted there. The "mystery animal" seen on a game camera is being identified by park officials.

Park authorities in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley are baffled by a strange-looking animal that has been spotted there. The "mystery animal" seen on a game camera is being identified by park officials. Employees at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park released a picture of the animal on Facebook and asked users to identify it. "We're scratching our heads trying to identify this elusive creature," read a post from the Mission, Texas-based park. "Is it a new species? An escapee from a nearby zoo? Or just a park ranger in disguise?" The small, fuzzy animal with four legs was seen on camera wandering at night. × Social media users' flooded the comment section with their best guesses. A user wrote, "If it's not a bear, then I would guess a park ranger in disguise!!" Another commented, "A good ol' Texas-size rat." ALSO READ | 'Alcoholic' dog: Coco, the Labrador cross becomes the first canine to be treated for addiction Others referred to it as a beaver, wolverine, capybara, and even an otter. A user even described the creature as a "pregnant badger," according to some users, who even labelled it a badger. ALSO WATCH | Meet the tiniest dog on Earth, smaller than a popsicle stick Officials from the park revealed what they thought it might be after making various guesses. "Wow, this photo has got a lot of attention! We agree with most of the comments that this is very likely an American Badger (not to be confused with the Honey Badger that lives in Africa and Asia and is rumoured to not care very much)," the state park stated. "While American Badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behaviour), this is part of their natural range," it added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Caught on camera! 'Mystery' animal wanders around Texas state park, leaves internet baffled

<p>Mysterious streaks of light were seen across the night sky in the United States’ Sacramento area late Friday, shocking those who were in the midst of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day who went on to post videos of the incident on social media, said a report by the Associated Press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 40-second video was captured by Jaime Hernandez who was at the King Cong Brewing Company in Sacramento, California celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and was among a group of people who witnessed the surprising sight and quickly started filming. In an email to AP, Hernandez said, “Mainly, we were in shock, but amazed that we got to witness it. None of us had ever seen anything like it.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Subsequently, the owner of the King Cong Brewing Company posted the video shot by Hernandez on their Instagram page calling it “crazy fireworks” which flew over the brewery.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>But what was it? Seems like an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics had the answer which was space debris. In an interview with AP, the astronomer said that he was 99.99 per cent sure that the streaks of light were from burning space debris. A Japanese Inter-Orbit Communication System that relayed information from the International Space Station to a satellite and back to Earth became obsolete in 2017 and was retired.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Space Force also confirmed the re-entry of the equipment weighing 310 kilograms was jettisoned from the space station in 2020 as it was occupying space and would burn up completely upon re-entry. The space force also confirmed that the timing is consistent with what people saw in the sky, McDowell told AP. The flaming bits of wreckage created a “spectacular light show in the sky”, said the astronomer.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Mysterious streaks of light were seen across the night sky in the United States’ Sacramento area late Friday, shocking those who were in the midst of celebrating St.

Mysterious streaks of light were seen across the night sky in the United States’ Sacramento area late Friday, shocking those who were in the midst of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day who went on to post videos of the incident on social media, said a report by the Associated Press. The 40-second video was captured by Jaime Hernandez who was at the King Cong Brewing Company in Sacramento, California celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and was among a group of people who witnessed the surprising sight and quickly started filming. In an email to AP, Hernandez said, “Mainly, we were in shock, but amazed that we got to witness it. None of us had ever seen anything like it.” Subsequently, the owner of the King Cong Brewing Company posted the video shot by Hernandez on their Instagram page calling it “crazy fireworks” which flew over the brewery. View this post on Instagram A post shared by King Cong Brewing Company (@kingcongbrewing) × But what was it? Seems like an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics had the answer which was space debris. In an interview with AP, the astronomer said that he was 99.99 per cent sure that the streaks of light were from burning space debris. A Japanese Inter-Orbit Communication System that relayed information from the International Space Station to a satellite and back to Earth became obsolete in 2017 and was retired. The US Space Force also confirmed the re-entry of the equipment weighing 310 kilograms was jettisoned from the space station in 2020 as it was occupying space and would burn up completely upon re-entry. The space force also confirmed that the timing is consistent with what people saw in the sky, McDowell told AP. The flaming bits of wreckage created a “spectacular light show in the sky”, said the astronomer. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch | ‘Crazy fireworks’: Mysterious lights in night sky leave Californians shocked, amazed

On the rugged shoreline of Cyprus' north coast, seven whales mysteriously washed up dead. Alyson Le Grange tells you about what is being done to understand such strandings.

The mystery behind Whale strandings on shores of Cyprus

Which one came first? The egg or the chicken? Has the age-old mystery been solved? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas | Which came first: The egg or the chicken?

<p>Furniture conservator Ben Bacon made a crucial discovery in London which helped in understanding why cave paintings were drawn by the Ice Age hunter-gatherers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 20,000-year-old markings present on the drawings were analysed by Bacon who concluded that they may be referring to a lunar calendar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This helped a specialist team in proving how notes were made by early Europeans about the timing of the reproductive cycles of the animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ|</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-have-found-where-fearful-memories-live-in-our-brains-550278">Scientists have found where scary memories 'live' in our brains</a></p>

<p>Bacon stated he felt “surreal” to work on what hunter-gatherers were trying to say. Across Europe, researchers have found cave paintings of animals like fish, cattle and reindeer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, archaeologists had failed to decode the meaning of different marks on the paintings, which included dots. So, Bacon took it upon himself to decode the mystery behind marks.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
After spending long hours researching in the British Library and on the internet, he "amassed as much data as possible and began looking for repeating patterns".</p>

<p>Specifically, he looked for a 'Y' sign which was present in a few paintings, which he decoded can be a symbol for “giving birth” as it showed one line extending from the other.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As his research advanced, he took the help of senior academics and friends. He collaborated with a team which included Durham University's two professors and one professor from University College London.</p>

<p>As they worked on the birth cycles of animals present in today's world, they decoded that the hunter-gatherers were maintaining a record of the mating seasons of the animals using the markings on the cave paintings by lunar month.</p>

<p>The Cambridge Archeological Journal published the findings of the team. Durham University's Prof Paul Pettitt said that he is "glad he took it seriously" when Bacon reached out to him.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH| Do mosquitos bite you more than others? Here's why! | Science News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>"The results show that Ice Age hunter-gatherers were the first to use a systemic calendar and marks to record information about major ecological events within that calendar,” he said.</p>

<p>"In turn, we're able to show that these people, who left a legacy of spectacular art in the caves of Lascaux (in France) and Altamira (in Spain), also left a record of early timekeeping that would eventually become commonplace among our species,” the professor said.</p>

<p>Bacon added that the ancestors were "a lot more like us than we had previously thought. These people, separated from us by many millennia, are suddenly a lot closer".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Furniture conservator Ben Bacon made a crucial discovery in London which helped in understanding why cave paintings were drawn by the Ice Age hunter-gatherers. The 20,000-year-old markings present on the drawings were analysed by Bacon who concluded that they may be referring to a lunar calendar.

Furniture conservator Ben Bacon made a crucial discovery in London which helped in understanding why cave paintings were drawn by the Ice Age hunter-gatherers. The 20,000-year-old markings present on the drawings were analysed by Bacon who concluded that they may be referring to a lunar calendar. This helped a specialist team in proving how notes were made by early Europeans about the timing of the reproductive cycles of the animals. ALSO READ| Scientists have found where scary memories 'live' in our brains Bacon stated he felt “surreal” to work on what hunter-gatherers were trying to say. Across Europe, researchers have found cave paintings of animals like fish, cattle and reindeer. However, archaeologists had failed to decode the meaning of different marks on the paintings, which included dots. So, Bacon took it upon himself to decode the mystery behind marks. After spending long hours researching in the British Library and on the internet, he "amassed as much data as possible and began looking for repeating patterns". Specifically, he looked for a 'Y' sign which was present in a few paintings, which he decoded can be a symbol for “giving birth” as it showed one line extending from the other. As his research advanced, he took the help of senior academics and friends. He collaborated with a team which included Durham University's two professors and one professor from University College London. As they worked on the birth cycles of animals present in today's world, they decoded that the hunter-gatherers were maintaining a record of the mating seasons of the animals using the markings on the cave paintings by lunar month. The Cambridge Archeological Journal published the findings of the team. Durham University's Prof Paul Pettitt said that he is "glad he took it seriously" when Bacon reached out to him. WATCH| Do mosquitos bite you more than others? Here's why! | Science News | WION "The results show that Ice Age hunter-gatherers were the first to use a systemic calendar and marks to record information about major ecological events within that calendar,” he said. "In turn, we're able to show that these people, who left a legacy of spectacular art in the caves of Lascaux (in France) and Altamira (in Spain), also left a record of early timekeeping that would eventually become commonplace among our species,” the professor said. Bacon added that the ancestors were "a lot more like us than we had previously thought. These people, separated from us by many millennia, are suddenly a lot closer". (With inputs from agencies)

Furniture conservator solves mystery of 20,000-year-old Ice Age drawings

<p>Taapsee Pannu-starrer Bollywood movie 'Blurr' is creating a lot of buzz on social media, especially after the release of its motion poster. Digressing from the usual theatrical release, the movie has instead chosen to make a big bang on OTT platforms. Hindi film Blurr will have Indian actor Taapsee Pannu in a leading role. It is not the first time that Taapsee starter will put on a show beginning from OTT platforms. Earlier as well, Taapsee Pannu's 'Tadka: Love is Cooking' also made a straight OTT release on the same platform.</p>

<h2><strong>When the movie is out? and Where can you stream?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Bollywood movie Blurr will stream on the OTT platform Zee5. &nbsp;The movie will be made available to the fans from 9 December 2022. The release announcement was made by the platform on its social media handle. The post had a video which shows a motion picture where two pictures of Taapsee is displayed and the video is a bit blurred. Not much is revealed about the movie storyline or other details in the shared motion picture. The post read, “There’s always more than what meets the eye! #BlurrOnZEE5 premieres 9th December. #Blurr #ZEE5." The poster did a good job in building up anticipation ahead of the release. It will be interesting to see whether the movie will be a success to make a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Blurr Cast and Crew</strong></h2>

<p>It is Taapsee Pannu's first venture as a producer. With the stunning Taapsee Pannu in the leading role, the movie also stars Gulshan Devaiah, Kruttika Desai, Babita Anant, Abhilash Thapliyal, Sorabh Chauhan, and Manish Sharma. Pannu will be seen playing the charater Gayatri in her acting. Blurr's director is Ajay Bahl and the movie is written by Pawan Sony and Ajay Bahl. The film's producers are Vishal Rana, Taapsee Pannu, Pranjal Khandhdiya, Tony D'souza, Pradeep Sharma, and Manav Durga. The production banners include Zee Studios, Outsiders Films, and Echelon Productions.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Blurr's plot</strong></h2>

<p>The 2010 Spanish horror and psychological thriller Julia's Eyes by Guillem Morales served as the inspiration for the movie. Since the complete trailer has not been released and only the motion picture is available there is not much out about Blurr's plot. However, it is known that the movie will be anchored on a woman who is slowly losing her vision while trying to look into the death of her twin sister. Back in July 2021, Taapsee Pannu posted the movie's first image to her Instagram page.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There's always more than what meets the eye! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlurrOnZEE5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlurrOnZEE5</a> premieres 9th December. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blurr?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blurr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZEE5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZEE5</a> <a href="https://t.co/zp72HROv52">pic.twitter.com/zp72HROv52</a></p>
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<p>In addition to Blurr, Taapsee will appear in Rajkumar Hirani's forthcoming film Dunki. She will star with Shah Rukh Khan in the film and the movie will premiere in December 2023.</p>


Taapsee Pannu-starrer Bollywood movie 'Blurr' is creating a lot of buzz on social media, especially after the release of its motion poster. Digressing from the usual theatrical release, the movie has instead chosen to make a big bang on OTT platforms.

Taapsee Pannu-starrer Bollywood movie 'Blurr' is creating a lot of buzz on social media, especially after the release of its motion poster. Digressing from the usual theatrical release, the movie has instead chosen to make a big bang on OTT platforms. Hindi film Blurr will have Indian actor Taapsee Pannu in a leading role. It is not the first time that Taapsee starter will put on a show beginning from OTT platforms. Earlier as well, Taapsee Pannu's 'Tadka: Love is Cooking' also made a straight OTT release on the same platform. When the movie is out? and Where can you stream? Bollywood movie Blurr will stream on the OTT platform Zee5. The movie will be made available to the fans from 9 December 2022. The release announcement was made by the platform on its social media handle. The post had a video which shows a motion picture where two pictures of Taapsee is displayed and the video is a bit blurred. Not much is revealed about the movie storyline or other details in the shared motion picture. The post read, “There’s always more than what meets the eye! #BlurrOnZEE5 premieres 9th December. #Blurr #ZEE5." The poster did a good job in building up anticipation ahead of the release. It will be interesting to see whether the movie will be a success to make a statement. Blurr Cast and Crew It is Taapsee Pannu's first venture as a producer. With the stunning Taapsee Pannu in the leading role, the movie also stars Gulshan Devaiah, Kruttika Desai, Babita Anant, Abhilash Thapliyal, Sorabh Chauhan, and Manish Sharma. Pannu will be seen playing the charater Gayatri in her acting. Blurr's director is Ajay Bahl and the movie is written by Pawan Sony and Ajay Bahl. The film's producers are Vishal Rana, Taapsee Pannu, Pranjal Khandhdiya, Tony D'souza, Pradeep Sharma, and Manav Durga. The production banners include Zee Studios, Outsiders Films, and Echelon Productions. Blurr's plot The 2010 Spanish horror and psychological thriller Julia's Eyes by Guillem Morales served as the inspiration for the movie. Since the complete trailer has not been released and only the motion picture is available there is not much out about Blurr's plot. However, it is known that the movie will be anchored on a woman who is slowly losing her vision while trying to look into the death of her twin sister. Back in July 2021, Taapsee Pannu posted the movie's first image to her Instagram page. There's always more than what meets the eye! #BlurrOnZEE5 premieres 9th December. #Blurr #ZEE5 pic.twitter.com/zp72HROv52 — ZEE5 (@ZEE5India) November 23, 2022 × In addition to Blurr, Taapsee will appear in Rajkumar Hirani's forthcoming film Dunki. She will star with Shah Rukh Khan in the film and the movie will premiere in December 2023.

Taapsee Pannu's 'Blurr' to soon unravel mystery on OTT, check release date, plot inside

The mystery around Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif's death has intensified. Media reports in Kenya show how the police has offered contradictory statements. Back in Pakistan, former PM Imran Khan PTI is calling Sharif's death a 'targeted killing'. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Mystery around Pak journalist's death deepens

Let us take a look at stories generating interest across WION's social media channels.

Trending on WION: NASA solves mystery of 'Spaghetti-like' object found on surface of Mars

Authorities in Chile began looking into a mysterious sinkhole with a diameter of around 25 metres that appeared over the weekend in a mining area in the north of the country.

Authorities in Chile are looking into a mysterious big sinkhole close to a copper mine

<p>In what scientists believe was likely a meteor drop, New Zealanders across the North Island have reported rumbling, crackling sounds, a fireball and a huge flash of light streaking across the sky on Thursday afternoon. Local media outlets and social media were flooded with reports and queries about the sight, with some witnesses describing rumbles, bangs, a crackling sound in their ears, hair standing on end, rattling windows or a streak or explosion of light, followed by a smoke trail, as reported by The Guardian.</p>

<p>Plumber Curtis Powell captured the phenomenon on his dashcam while driving north of Shannon at 1:39 pm on Thursday. “We were just driving to a job in Shannon when I saw a blue line falling in the sky, then a massive bright light,” he said. “Realised my dashcam was recording and downloaded the video – once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.”</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;Timeline: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/timeline-three-years-of-boris-johnson-as-british-pm-from-brexit-hero-to-sex-scandals-495347">Three years of Boris Johnson as British PM - from Brexit hero to sex scandals</a></p>

<p>On social media, people shared photos and swapped stories of their sightings. “I’m so glad someone caught it … I thought I was hallucinating,” said one commenter. A number of people mistook the rumbling sound for an earthquake. “We thought it was an earthquake, but it didn’t sound right, more like a large heavy truck, with a beat, but there were no trucks near our house at the time. The house vibrated slightly too,” one Twitter user said.</p>

<p>As reported by The Guardian, some eyewitnesses described hearing crackling as the object moved through the sky, in what Steel said was likely “electrophonic sound”. Allan Gilmore of Canterbury University’s Mt John Observatory said in a radio interview that meteors, and their accompanying electrical charge, could cause some people’s hair to stand on end. “People with frizzy hair often hear it, while the people who don’t have frizzy hair don’t hear it,” Gilmore said.</p>

<p><em>(with inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In what scientists believe was likely a meteor drop, New Zealanders across the North Island have reported rumbling, crackling sounds, a fireball and a huge flash of light streaking across the sky on Thursday afternoon.

In what scientists believe was likely a meteor drop, New Zealanders across the North Island have reported rumbling, crackling sounds, a fireball and a huge flash of light streaking across the sky on Thursday afternoon. Local media outlets and social media were flooded with reports and queries about the sight, with some witnesses describing rumbles, bangs, a crackling sound in their ears, hair standing on end, rattling windows or a streak or explosion of light, followed by a smoke trail, as reported by The Guardian. Plumber Curtis Powell captured the phenomenon on his dashcam while driving north of Shannon at 1:39 pm on Thursday. “We were just driving to a job in Shannon when I saw a blue line falling in the sky, then a massive bright light,” he said. “Realised my dashcam was recording and downloaded the video – once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.” Also Read: Timeline: Three years of Boris Johnson as British PM - from Brexit hero to sex scandals On social media, people shared photos and swapped stories of their sightings. “I’m so glad someone caught it … I thought I was hallucinating,” said one commenter. A number of people mistook the rumbling sound for an earthquake. “We thought it was an earthquake, but it didn’t sound right, more like a large heavy truck, with a beat, but there were no trucks near our house at the time. The house vibrated slightly too,” one Twitter user said. As reported by The Guardian, some eyewitnesses described hearing crackling as the object moved through the sky, in what Steel said was likely “electrophonic sound”. Allan Gilmore of Canterbury University’s Mt John Observatory said in a radio interview that meteors, and their accompanying electrical charge, could cause some people’s hair to stand on end. “People with frizzy hair often hear it, while the people who don’t have frizzy hair don’t hear it,” Gilmore said. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Rumbling, crackling sounds, a fireball and a huge flash of light': mysterious object strikes New Zealand

At least 21 young people have died in a township pub in South Africa but the cause of their death remains a mystery. Mortuary vehicles have collected corpses from the club.

21 die in South African township club, reasons unclear

<p>Mystery over whether the financially struggling tourist attraction, Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant, had actually sunk while being towed away from the city last week deepened on Friday after its owner stirred confusion, as reported y AFP.</p>

<p>On Monday Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises released a statement saying the vessel had capsized on Sunday near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea after it "encountered adverse conditions" and began to take on water.</p>

<p>"The water depth at the scene is over 1,000 metres, making it extremely difficult to carry out salvage works," it added.</p>

<p>On Thursday night, Hong Kong's Marine Department put out a statement saying it had only learnt of the incident from media reports and had immediately requested a report from the company.</p>

<p>The department said the report was delivered on Thursday, saying the restaurant had capsized but that "at present, both Jumbo and the tugboat are still in the waters off Xisha islands," using the Chinese name for the Paracels.</p>

<p>Hours later an AFP journalist was contacted by a spokesman representing the restaurant who said the company had always used the word "capsized" not "sank".</p>

<p>Asked directly if the boat had sunk, he said again the statement had said "capsized", and did not explain why it had referred to the depth of the water when mentioning salvage.</p>

<p>Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-parliament-voiced-support-for-bill-enshrining-right-to-abortion-in-constitution-491809">&nbsp;French parliament voiced support for bill enshrining right to abortion in constitution</a></p>

<p>The South China Morning Post reported a similar conversation with a spokeswoman for the company, in which they insisted the boat had "capsized", not "sank", but refused to clarify whether it was still afloat.</p>

<p>The newspaper said it had been told by the Marine Department that the company might have breached local regulations if it had not notified the authorities of a sinking incident within 24 hours.</p>

<p>Widespread reporting in both local and international media at the beginning of the week that Jumbo had sunk was not contradicted by the company.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(with inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Mystery over whether the financially struggling tourist attraction, Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant, had actually sunk while being towed away from the city last week deepened on Friday after its owner stirred confusion, as reported y AFP.

Mystery over whether the financially struggling tourist attraction, Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant, had actually sunk while being towed away from the city last week deepened on Friday after its owner stirred confusion, as reported y AFP. On Monday Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises released a statement saying the vessel had capsized on Sunday near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea after it "encountered adverse conditions" and began to take on water. "The water depth at the scene is over 1,000 metres, making it extremely difficult to carry out salvage works," it added. On Thursday night, Hong Kong's Marine Department put out a statement saying it had only learnt of the incident from media reports and had immediately requested a report from the company. The department said the report was delivered on Thursday, saying the restaurant had capsized but that "at present, both Jumbo and the tugboat are still in the waters off Xisha islands," using the Chinese name for the Paracels. Hours later an AFP journalist was contacted by a spokesman representing the restaurant who said the company had always used the word "capsized" not "sank". Asked directly if the boat had sunk, he said again the statement had said "capsized", and did not explain why it had referred to the depth of the water when mentioning salvage. Also Read: French parliament voiced support for bill enshrining right to abortion in constitution The South China Morning Post reported a similar conversation with a spokeswoman for the company, in which they insisted the boat had "capsized", not "sank", but refused to clarify whether it was still afloat. The newspaper said it had been told by the Marine Department that the company might have breached local regulations if it had not notified the authorities of a sinking incident within 24 hours. Widespread reporting in both local and international media at the beginning of the week that Jumbo had sunk was not contradicted by the company. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sinking of Hong Kong's jumbo floating restaurant engulfed in mystery

<p>Finally, the 700-year-old mystery of the origins of the Black Death seems to have been solved by researchers. After in-depth study, the experts have traced it to Central Asia.&nbsp;Occurred in the mid-14th century, Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemic in history as it had swept across Asia, Europe and north Africa. This bubonic plague seems to have spread along trade routes. At that time, millions of people died. At two cemeteries near Lake Issyk-Kul in the north of modern-day Kyrgyzstan, the evidence has been discovered for surge in deaths in the late 1330s by Dr Philip Slavin, historian, University of Stirling. After this development, an international team was formed to unravel the mystery of the Black Death. &nbsp;</p>

<p>At these cemeteries, 467 tombstones dated between 1248 and 1345 were present. Among them, around 118 stones were dated 1338 or 1339. Slavin found that the reason for spike in deaths was “mawtānā” (Syriac language term), which means “pestilence” as mentioned on the tombstones. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/believe-it-or-not-even-an-eye-test-may-be-able-to-predict-risk-of-heart-attack-says-study-487635" hreflang="en">Even an eye test may be able to predict risk of heart attack, says study</a></strong></p>

<p>In 1880s, the sites were excavated and 30 skeletons were removed from the graves. On studying the excavations, the team traced the remains to particular tombstones at the cemeteries. Further probe was carried out by ancient DNA specialists like Prof Johannes Krause of Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Dr Maria Spyrou at the University of Tübingen in Germany. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Superfetation: Can a woman get pregnant again while already being pregnant?</strong></p>

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<p>On extracting the genetic material from the teeth of the skeletons, these experts found the DNA from Yersinia pestis in three people buried at the cemeteries. Yersinia pestis is the bacterium, which causes bubonic plague. The bacterium’s genome analysis revealed that it is an ancestor of the strain, which led to the Black Death in Europe some years later.</p>

<p>Krause said, “We have basically located the origin in time and space, which is really remarkable. We found not only the ancestor of the Black Death, but the ancestor of the majority of the plague strains that are circulating in the world today.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><em>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</em></strong></p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Finally, the 700-year-old mystery of the origins of the Black Death seems to have been solved by researchers. After in-depth study, the experts have traced it to Central Asia.

Finally, the 700-year-old mystery of the origins of the Black Death seems to have been solved by researchers. After in-depth study, the experts have traced it to Central Asia. Occurred in the mid-14th century, Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemic in history as it had swept across Asia, Europe and north Africa. This bubonic plague seems to have spread along trade routes. At that time, millions of people died. At two cemeteries near Lake Issyk-Kul in the north of modern-day Kyrgyzstan, the evidence has been discovered for surge in deaths in the late 1330s by Dr Philip Slavin, historian, University of Stirling. After this development, an international team was formed to unravel the mystery of the Black Death. At these cemeteries, 467 tombstones dated between 1248 and 1345 were present. Among them, around 118 stones were dated 1338 or 1339. Slavin found that the reason for spike in deaths was “mawtānā” (Syriac language term), which means “pestilence” as mentioned on the tombstones. Also Read: Even an eye test may be able to predict risk of heart attack, says study In 1880s, the sites were excavated and 30 skeletons were removed from the graves. On studying the excavations, the team traced the remains to particular tombstones at the cemeteries. Further probe was carried out by ancient DNA specialists like Prof Johannes Krause of Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Dr Maria Spyrou at the University of Tübingen in Germany. Watch | Superfetation: Can a woman get pregnant again while already being pregnant? On extracting the genetic material from the teeth of the skeletons, these experts found the DNA from Yersinia pestis in three people buried at the cemeteries. Yersinia pestis is the bacterium, which causes bubonic plague. The bacterium’s genome analysis revealed that it is an ancestor of the strain, which led to the Black Death in Europe some years later. Krause said, “We have basically located the origin in time and space, which is really remarkable. We found not only the ancestor of the Black Death, but the ancestor of the majority of the plague strains that are circulating in the world today.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Researchers unravel 700-year-old mystery of origins of deadly pandemic 'Black Death'

A Mystery spill has been reported in the Baltic sea. Swedish coast guards have mapped the spill using planes. Samples were sent to a lab to know the cause.

Mystery spill in the Baltic sea: Swedish coast guards map spill using planes

<p>An Australian scientist has dared to declare that the Bermuda Triangle enigma has been'solved' - by asserting that there was never a mystery in the first place, defying 70 years of fevered conjecture.</p>

<p>The disappearance of so many ships and planes in the area between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico, according to Karl Kruszelnicki, a fellow at Sydney University, has nothing to do with aliens or fire-crystals from the lost city of Atlantis.</p>

<p>Instead, the large number of disappearances is explained by nothing more supernatural than plain old human error, bad weather, and the fact that many planes and ships approach that part of the Atlantic Ocean in the first place.</p>

<p>Bermuda Triangle (also known as the 'Hodoo Sea,' 'Devil's Triangle,' 'Limbo of the Lost,' and other names) cover a wide, 700,000 square-kilometer (270,000 square-mile) expanse of ocean, but it is also a highly busy patch of sea.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gravitas Plus: The Bermuda Triangle</strong></p>

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<p>According to Kruszelnicki, disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle aren't uncommon because it's a bustling stretch of sea (he points to its proximity to the United States).</p>

<p>In 2017, Kruszelnicki told news.com.au: "It is close to the Equator, near a wealthy part of the world – America - therefore you have a lot of traffic.According to Lloyd’s of London and the US Coastguard, the number of people that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis."</p>

<p>Kruszelnicki also addressed Flight 19, the most well-known of the triangle's disappearances.</p>

<p>Flight 19 was a five-plane flight that took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 5, 1945, with 14 crew members on board.</p>

<p>The TBM Avenger torpedo bombers of the US Navy were on a two-hour normal training flight when they lost communication with the base. The planes vanished, along with their crews, and no debris was ever discovered.</p>

<p>A PBM-Mariner seaplane despatched on a search-and-rescue mission to locate Flight 19 also vanished, according to allegations, as did the 13 crew men onboard.</p>


An Australian scientist has dared to declare that the Bermuda Triangle enigma has been'solved' - by asserting that there was never a mystery in the first place, defying 70 years of fevered conjecture.

An Australian scientist has dared to declare that the Bermuda Triangle enigma has been'solved' - by asserting that there was never a mystery in the first place, defying 70 years of fevered conjecture. The disappearance of so many ships and planes in the area between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico, according to Karl Kruszelnicki, a fellow at Sydney University, has nothing to do with aliens or fire-crystals from the lost city of Atlantis. Instead, the large number of disappearances is explained by nothing more supernatural than plain old human error, bad weather, and the fact that many planes and ships approach that part of the Atlantic Ocean in the first place. Bermuda Triangle (also known as the 'Hodoo Sea,' 'Devil's Triangle,' 'Limbo of the Lost,' and other names) cover a wide, 700,000 square-kilometer (270,000 square-mile) expanse of ocean, but it is also a highly busy patch of sea. Watch | Gravitas Plus: The Bermuda Triangle According to Kruszelnicki, disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle aren't uncommon because it's a bustling stretch of sea (he points to its proximity to the United States). In 2017, Kruszelnicki told news.com.au: "It is close to the Equator, near a wealthy part of the world – America - therefore you have a lot of traffic.According to Lloyd’s of London and the US Coastguard, the number of people that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis." Kruszelnicki also addressed Flight 19, the most well-known of the triangle's disappearances. Flight 19 was a five-plane flight that took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 5, 1945, with 14 crew members on board. The TBM Avenger torpedo bombers of the US Navy were on a two-hour normal training flight when they lost communication with the base. The planes vanished, along with their crews, and no debris was ever discovered. A PBM-Mariner seaplane despatched on a search-and-rescue mission to locate Flight 19 also vanished, according to allegations, as did the 13 crew men onboard.

'Bermuda Triangle mystery solved', claims Australian scientist

In Pics | Unravel the mystery: What are solar flares?

<p>The better we know how a machine works, the more likely we are to understand the ways and means of fixing any troubles that it may cause. What if that machine happens to be the human brain? That's where the complexity begins. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">To study almost any organ in the human body, there are both invasive and non-invasive techniques that doctors employ. But, when it comes to the human brain, studies aren't available in as much detail as doctors would require. It is to bridge this gap that experts from various domains have come together and established a 'Brain Centre' at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras in Chennai. WION spoke to the key resource persons at this newly inaugurated centre, to understand their work and its applications. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">According to those working on this project, the work being performed at the 'Brain Centre', is an intersection of Neuroscience, Engineering, Medicine and advanced computing. It involves mapping the human brain (post mortem) in incredibly high resolution, at the cellular level. Simply put, it is like a mapping company taking billions of photographs of various places, streets, buildings, terrain on earth and combining them to make a digital world map.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gulmarg-hosts-national-snowshoe-championship-463801" hreflang="en">Gulmarg hosts national snowshoe championship</a></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">When queried about the purpose of such research, Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, explained to WION that scientific understanding of the human brain (in terms of diseases) has been largely gained by looking at it from the outside and by testing certain drugs. "To understand the human brain better, we need to look at it from inside" he added on how the new facility would perform anatomy at high-resolution. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Approved in February 2020, the new facility at IIT Madras was brought to fruition amid the pandemic and is now at a fully functional level. Over the last eight months, the facility has performed high-resolution imagery on three human brains (from cadavers), while mapping is to be commenced shortly. Over the next one year, they are expected to perform imaging of ten human brains.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Experts associated with the lab tell me , their work is an intersection of of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/neuroscience?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#neuroscience</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/computing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#computing</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/medicine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#medicine</a>.. They aim to make high-res images of human brain, Map it (like an earth map) to help better understand the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/brain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#brain</a> , associated ailments etc. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BrainAwarenessWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BrainAwarenessWeek</a> <a href="https://t.co/jPOJCMvaae">pic.twitter.com/jPOJCMvaae</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1505154932244058117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p class="MsoNormal">"High-resolution imaging of the brain is a complex procedure that requires the highest amount of technical precision, takes months of work and also consumes hundreds of thousands of gigabytes of storage space" said Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, and Head, Brain Centre.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">While imaging and mapping are half the battle, medical studies from the rest. "Rabies, Encephalitis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's are all conditions that affect the brain. Unlike other organs, it is unusual to perform a biopsy (removal of tissue for analysis) on the brain. But, with a high-resolution digital reconstruction of the entire brain, we can identify how the diseases manifest and affect different regions, even at a cellular level" Dr. George Varghese, Professor, CMC Vellore told WION. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">At the intial level, the researchers have been working on imaging the brains of stillborns. Later, they will move to complex projects that involve brains from adult cadavers. As they progress, IIT Madras plans to train hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate students at this Centre in neuroscience and computing, machine learning techniques on cutting-edge brain data.<o:p></o:p></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thread: In my hand is the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3dprint?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#3dprint</a> model of the human brain(seen in vessel)..this brain will undergo high-res imaging, detailed mapping over next few months at <a href="https://twitter.com/iitmadras?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iitmadras</a> newly-inaugurated ‘Brain Centre’ , which is also the first-of-it’s-kind in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/research?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#research</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a href="https://t.co/POPNYmBC09">pic.twitter.com/POPNYmBC09</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1505152306311938048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Inaugurated on Saturday, the 'Brain Centre' at IIT Madras is supported by Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan and Mrs. Sudha Gopalakrishnan. Known as the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, it is named after the wife of IIT Madras Alumnus Kris Gopalakrishnan, who is the co-founder of Indian IT services giant Infosys. <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus Shri Kris Gopalakrishnan, Shrimati Sudha Gopalakrishnan, and Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam of IIT Madras, who will be heading this Centre. This state-of-the-art Centre aims to become a world-renowned research centre, generating unprecedented human brain data, scientific output and technology tools.<o:p></o:p></p>


The better we know how a machine works, the more likely we are to understand the ways and means of fixing any troubles that it may cause. What if that machine happens to be the human brain?

The better we know how a machine works, the more likely we are to understand the ways and means of fixing any troubles that it may cause. What if that machine happens to be the human brain? That's where the complexity begins. To study almost any organ in the human body, there are both invasive and non-invasive techniques that doctors employ. But, when it comes to the human brain, studies aren't available in as much detail as doctors would require. It is to bridge this gap that experts from various domains have come together and established a 'Brain Centre' at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras in Chennai. WION spoke to the key resource persons at this newly inaugurated centre, to understand their work and its applications. According to those working on this project, the work being performed at the 'Brain Centre', is an intersection of Neuroscience, Engineering, Medicine and advanced computing. It involves mapping the human brain (post mortem) in incredibly high resolution, at the cellular level. Simply put, it is like a mapping company taking billions of photographs of various places, streets, buildings, terrain on earth and combining them to make a digital world map. Also read | Gulmarg hosts national snowshoe championship When queried about the purpose of such research, Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, explained to WION that scientific understanding of the human brain (in terms of diseases) has been largely gained by looking at it from the outside and by testing certain drugs. "To understand the human brain better, we need to look at it from inside" he added on how the new facility would perform anatomy at high-resolution. Approved in February 2020, the new facility at IIT Madras was brought to fruition amid the pandemic and is now at a fully functional level. Over the last eight months, the facility has performed high-resolution imagery on three human brains (from cadavers), while mapping is to be commenced shortly. Over the next one year, they are expected to perform imaging of ten human brains. Experts associated with the lab tell me , their work is an intersection of of #neuroscience, #computing and #medicine.. They aim to make high-res images of human brain, Map it (like an earth map) to help better understand the #brain , associated ailments etc. #BrainAwarenessWeek pic.twitter.com/jPOJCMvaae — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 19, 2022 × "High-resolution imaging of the brain is a complex procedure that requires the highest amount of technical precision, takes months of work and also consumes hundreds of thousands of gigabytes of storage space" said Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, and Head, Brain Centre. While imaging and mapping are half the battle, medical studies from the rest. "Rabies, Encephalitis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's are all conditions that affect the brain. Unlike other organs, it is unusual to perform a biopsy (removal of tissue for analysis) on the brain. But, with a high-resolution digital reconstruction of the entire brain, we can identify how the diseases manifest and affect different regions, even at a cellular level" Dr. George Varghese, Professor, CMC Vellore told WION. At the intial level, the researchers have been working on imaging the brains of stillborns. Later, they will move to complex projects that involve brains from adult cadavers. As they progress, IIT Madras plans to train hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate students at this Centre in neuroscience and computing, machine learning techniques on cutting-edge brain data. Thread: In my hand is the #3dprint model of the human brain(seen in vessel)..this brain will undergo high-res imaging, detailed mapping over next few months at @iitmadras newly-inaugurated ‘Brain Centre’ , which is also the first-of-it’s-kind in #india #research #tech #science pic.twitter.com/POPNYmBC09 — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 19, 2022 × Inaugurated on Saturday, the 'Brain Centre' at IIT Madras is supported by Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan and Mrs. Sudha Gopalakrishnan. Known as the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, it is named after the wife of IIT Madras Alumnus Kris Gopalakrishnan, who is the co-founder of Indian IT services giant Infosys. The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus Shri Kris Gopalakrishnan, Shrimati Sudha Gopalakrishnan, and Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam of IIT Madras, who will be heading this Centre. This state-of-the-art Centre aims to become a world-renowned research centre, generating unprecedented human brain data, scientific output and technology tools.

Map the human brain, unravel its mysteries- that's the mission of this Indian Lab

<p>In an effort to understand the dynamics of the sun and the constantly changing space environment, NASA has announced two new science missions. This comes just a day after the space agency announced the latest observations done by the Parker Solar probe on its way to the sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Named as Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and HelioSwarm, the missions aim at studying the sun’s corona and also measuring the magnetic field of the solar wind.</p>

<p>Thomas Zurbuchen, Nasa's associate administrator for science, in a statement, said, "MUSE and HelioSwarm will provide new and deeper insight into the solar atmosphere and space weather. These missions not only extend the science of our other heliophysics missions — but they also provide a unique perspective and a novel approach to understanding the mysteries of our star."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-releases-pictures-of-venuss-surface-taken-by-parker-solar-probe-in-new-light-452308"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;NASA releases pictures of Venus’s surface taken by Parker Solar Probe in new light</strong></a></p>

<p>The MUSE mission will be led by Bart DePontieu of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (LMATC) in California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The HelioSwarm mission, on the other hand, will be conducted under the banner of Harlan Spence from the University of New Hampshire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Peg Luce, deputy director of the Heliophysics Division, in a statement, said, "The technical innovation of HelioSwarm’s small satellites operating together as a constellation provides the unique ability to investigate turbulence and its evolution in the solar wind."</p>

<p>Both the missions have combined funding of $442 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In an effort to understand the dynamics of the sun and the constantly changing space environment, NASA has announced two new science missions. This comes just a day after the space agency announced the latest observations done by the Parker Solar probe on its way to the sun.

In an effort to understand the dynamics of the sun and the constantly changing space environment, NASA has announced two new science missions. This comes just a day after the space agency announced the latest observations done by the Parker Solar probe on its way to the sun. Named as Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and HelioSwarm, the missions aim at studying the sun’s corona and also measuring the magnetic field of the solar wind. Thomas Zurbuchen, Nasa's associate administrator for science, in a statement, said, "MUSE and HelioSwarm will provide new and deeper insight into the solar atmosphere and space weather. These missions not only extend the science of our other heliophysics missions — but they also provide a unique perspective and a novel approach to understanding the mysteries of our star." Also read | NASA releases pictures of Venus’s surface taken by Parker Solar Probe in new light The MUSE mission will be led by Bart DePontieu of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (LMATC) in California. The HelioSwarm mission, on the other hand, will be conducted under the banner of Harlan Spence from the University of New Hampshire. Peg Luce, deputy director of the Heliophysics Division, in a statement, said, "The technical innovation of HelioSwarm’s small satellites operating together as a constellation provides the unique ability to investigate turbulence and its evolution in the solar wind." Both the missions have combined funding of $442 million. (With inputs from agencies)

To unfold solar mysteries, NASA announces two new missions

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