<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidFL4Ns7ea2QOt" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Millions of asteroids are floating in our solar system in the massive asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and some of them are so close to our planet, that they are deemed to be "near-Earth asteroids".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The majority of these orbiting rocks don't attract any attention, but a handful of asteroids and their compositions have recently fascinated astrophysicists around the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That includes scientists at NASA, who have lately been rushing to obtain asteroid samples.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-to-delve-deep-into-mysterious-signals-from-hell-like-exoplanet-using-james-webb-telescope-649138" target="_blank">Scientists to delve deep into mysterious signals from 'hell-like' exoplanet using James Webb Telescope</a></strong></p>

<p>Now in the latest research, a team at the University of Arizona in Tucson while analysing an incredibly dense asteroid named 33 Polyhymnia has made a mystifying discovery. This asteroid is so dense that&nbsp;it may be made of naturally occurring "superheavy elements" beyond those listed in the periodic table, the research suggests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If asteroids do indeed contain superheavy elements, it would open numerous questions surrounding how these elements were formed and why we have not discovered them outside of asteroids yet," study co-author Johann Rafelski, a physics professor at the University of Arizona, told Live Science.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/eight-billion-years-old-mysterious-signals-from-a-distant-galaxy-detected-on-earth-649130" target="_blank">A radio signal took 8 billion years to reach Earth, but its source is a mystery</a></strong></p>

<p>In a study published in The European Physical Journal Plus in mid-September, researchers deduced that Polyhymnia has a measured density higher than all the elements that exist on Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team identified Polyhymnia as a compact ultradense object (CUDO), indicating that it might contain superheavy components that were previously unknown to humans. In other words, it comprises elements that are not listed in the periodic table.</p>

<p>These elements would be stable around an atomic number of 164, which is significantly more dense than osmium, the element with the most protons known to exist naturally.</p>

<p>The team's discoveries come as NASA&nbsp;plans to launch unmanned spacecraft to study and potentially return samples from far-off asteroids.</p>

<p>The space agency and the University of Arizona, with the help of Queen guitarist Brian May, recently recovered its first-ever asteroid sample that was successfully transported to Earth late last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Millions of asteroids are floating in our solar system in the massive asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and some of them are so close to our planet, that they are deemed to be "near-Earth asteroids".

Millions of asteroids are floating in our solar system in the massive asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and some of them are so close to our planet, that they are deemed to be "near-Earth asteroids". The majority of these orbiting rocks don't attract any attention, but a handful of asteroids and their compositions have recently fascinated astrophysicists around the world. That includes scientists at NASA, who have lately been rushing to obtain asteroid samples. Also read: Scientists to delve deep into mysterious signals from 'hell-like' exoplanet using James Webb Telescope Now in the latest research, a team at the University of Arizona in Tucson while analysing an incredibly dense asteroid named 33 Polyhymnia has made a mystifying discovery. This asteroid is so dense that it may be made of naturally occurring "superheavy elements" beyond those listed in the periodic table, the research suggests. "If asteroids do indeed contain superheavy elements, it would open numerous questions surrounding how these elements were formed and why we have not discovered them outside of asteroids yet," study co-author Johann Rafelski, a physics professor at the University of Arizona, told Live Science. Also read: A radio signal took 8 billion years to reach Earth, but its source is a mystery In a study published in The European Physical Journal Plus in mid-September, researchers deduced that Polyhymnia has a measured density higher than all the elements that exist on Earth. The team identified Polyhymnia as a compact ultradense object (CUDO), indicating that it might contain superheavy components that were previously unknown to humans. In other words, it comprises elements that are not listed in the periodic table. These elements would be stable around an atomic number of 164, which is significantly more dense than osmium, the element with the most protons known to exist naturally. The team's discoveries come as NASA plans to launch unmanned spacecraft to study and potentially return samples from far-off asteroids. The space agency and the University of Arizona, with the help of Queen guitarist Brian May, recently recovered its first-ever asteroid sample that was successfully transported to Earth late last month. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

This near-Earth asteroid possibly contains elements not found in the periodic table

<p>The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) grabbed headlines last year after reports emerged that it has dropped a few important chapters from the Class 10 syllabus.</p>

<p>Hence, those who have reached class 10th this year will find it a bit different to what their seniors read — a change that will impact some 134 million 11–18-year-olds in schools across the nation.</p>

<p>A report, first published by Nature, stated that a chapter on evolution would be cut from the syllabus&nbsp;after people protested last month, but in addition to that the periodic table has also been dropped from the syllabus of class 10th. The report also mentioned that topics such as sources of energy and environmental sustainability have also been dropped.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In recent months, NCERT has focused on the rationalisation of syllabi&nbsp;to bring about necessary changes. The process means the board removes certain topics from its textbooks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In June 2022, NCERT deleted certain topics from Class 10 textbooks, saying, "In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to reduce the content load on students."&nbsp;Reports say&nbsp;that the changes were announced last year, but the books with updated chapters are only now circulating in the market.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Initially, it was meant for children studying online, but now&nbsp;NCERT has decided to continue with the deletions of topics. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why did NCERT remove those topics?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In a document, titled "List of Rationalised Content in Textbooks for Class X", the government organisation gave an explanation for the action.</p>

<p>On its website, NCERT also stated that it considered whether content overlapped with similar content covered elsewhere, or in the higher class. They also considered the difficulty of the content, and whether the content was irrelevant. The government organisation also noted that the change will help provide opportunities for experiential learning and creativity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The move means those who would opt for science as a subject in class 11, will study the periodic table in Chemistry in NCERT books.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Read the document here</strong></p>

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<p>The NCERT document mentioned that "it is imperative to reduce the content load on students" in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The National Education Policy 2020, also emphasises reducing the content load and providing opportunities for experiential learning with creative mindset," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In this background, NCERT has undertaken the exercise to rationalise the textbooks across all classes. Learning outcomes already developed by the NCERT across classes have been taken into consideration in this exercise," he further said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>NCERT drops references to Khalistan</strong></h2>

<p>The NCERT has dropped references to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the class 12 Political Science textbook following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), according to top education ministry officials.</p>

<p>The SGPC had last month alleged that the NCERT&nbsp;misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook.</p>

<p>The Sikh body's objection pertained to the mention of the Anandpur Sahib resolution in the book "Politics In India Since Independence".</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) grabbed headlines last year after reports emerged that it has dropped a few important chapters from the Class 10 syllabus.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) grabbed headlines last year after reports emerged that it has dropped a few important chapters from the Class 10 syllabus. Hence, those who have reached class 10th this year will find it a bit different to what their seniors read — a change that will impact some 134 million 11–18-year-olds in schools across the nation. A report, first published by Nature, stated that a chapter on evolution would be cut from the syllabus after people protested last month, but in addition to that the periodic table has also been dropped from the syllabus of class 10th. The report also mentioned that topics such as sources of energy and environmental sustainability have also been dropped. In recent months, NCERT has focused on the rationalisation of syllabi to bring about necessary changes. The process means the board removes certain topics from its textbooks. In June 2022, NCERT deleted certain topics from Class 10 textbooks, saying, "In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to reduce the content load on students." Reports say that the changes were announced last year, but the books with updated chapters are only now circulating in the market. Initially, it was meant for children studying online, but now NCERT has decided to continue with the deletions of topics. Why did NCERT remove those topics? In a document, titled "List of Rationalised Content in Textbooks for Class X", the government organisation gave an explanation for the action. On its website, NCERT also stated that it considered whether content overlapped with similar content covered elsewhere, or in the higher class. They also considered the difficulty of the content, and whether the content was irrelevant. The government organisation also noted that the change will help provide opportunities for experiential learning and creativity. The move means those who would opt for science as a subject in class 11, will study the periodic table in Chemistry in NCERT books. Read the document here × The NCERT document mentioned that "it is imperative to reduce the content load on students" in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The National Education Policy 2020, also emphasises reducing the content load and providing opportunities for experiential learning with creative mindset," it added. "In this background, NCERT has undertaken the exercise to rationalise the textbooks across all classes. Learning outcomes already developed by the NCERT across classes have been taken into consideration in this exercise," he further said. NCERT drops references to Khalistan The NCERT has dropped references to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the class 12 Political Science textbook following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), according to top education ministry officials. The SGPC had last month alleged that the NCERT misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook. The Sikh body's objection pertained to the mention of the Anandpur Sahib resolution in the book "Politics In India Since Independence". 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.

The fuss over evolution theory & periodic table: Know why NCERT dropped key chapters

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