Social media mongers can safely bet on NASA to release brilliant pictures of celestial bodies every now and then. The space agency has a robust presence in online world and they continue to post interesting bits of info and images that thrill.

NASA hasn't disappointed this time as well. It has tweeted a beautiful picture of a galaxy far far away. The name of the galaxy is NGC 2336 in scientist speak. The galaxy was discovered in 19th century. The image shows that the galaxy is a spiral, similar to our own Milky Way Galaxy.

"Check out NGC 2336, a galaxy about 100 million light-years away. Discovered in 1876, by astronomer William Tempel, the image captured by @NASAHubble &nbsp;shows the sheer size and beauty of this majestic galaxy," NASA tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Check out NGC 2336, a galaxy about 100 million light-years away.✨ 
 
Discovered in 1876, by astronomer William Tempel, the image captured by <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAHubble?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAHubble</a> shows the sheer size and beauty of this majestic galaxy. 
 
Find out how it gets its blue glow: <a href="https://t.co/2hLC3DajkO">https://t.co/2hLC3DajkO</a> <a href="https://t.co/XRh9MMNyy7">pic.twitter.com/XRh9MMNyy7</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1368687911600787457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The galaxy is 100 million light-years away! It means that even if we make a spaceship that travels at the speed of light, (~ 300 thousand kilometres per second) it will take us 100 million years to reach this galaxy.

This means an&nbsp;interesting thing.

The light from this galaxy that we see now, was emitted 100 million years ago! None of us or even our ancestors were alive when the light that reaches Earth today was emitted by the galaxy.

This leads to another interesting bit.

The galaxy NGC 2336 may have changed shape, collided with another galaxy, or may even have got obliterated. But we may only know that 100 million years after the event takes place. Because light from such an event will take that much time to reach us.

Space is super super huge. Feeling small yet?

Social media mongers can safely bet on NASA to release brilliant pictures of celestial bodies every now and then. The space agency has a robust presence in online world and they continue to post interesting bits of info and images that thrill.

Social media mongers can safely bet on NASA to release brilliant pictures of celestial bodies every now and then. The space agency has a robust presence in online world and they continue to post interesting bits of info and images that thrill. NASA hasn't disappointed this time as well. It has tweeted a beautiful picture of a galaxy far far away. The name of the galaxy is NGC 2336 in scientist speak. The galaxy was discovered in 19th century. The image shows that the galaxy is a spiral, similar to our own Milky Way Galaxy. "Check out NGC 2336, a galaxy about 100 million light-years away. Discovered in 1876, by astronomer William Tempel, the image captured by @NASAHubble shows the sheer size and beauty of this majestic galaxy," NASA tweeted. Check out NGC 2336, a galaxy about 100 million light-years away.✨ Discovered in 1876, by astronomer William Tempel, the image captured by @NASAHubble shows the sheer size and beauty of this majestic galaxy. Find out how it gets its blue glow: https://t.co/2hLC3DajkO pic.twitter.com/XRh9MMNyy7 — NASA (@NASA) March 7, 2021 × The galaxy is 100 million light-years away! It means that even if we make a spaceship that travels at the speed of light, (~ 300 thousand kilometres per second) it will take us 100 million years to reach this galaxy. This means an interesting thing. The light from this galaxy that we see now, was emitted 100 million years ago! None of us or even our ancestors were alive when the light that reaches Earth today was emitted by the galaxy. This leads to another interesting bit. The galaxy NGC 2336 may have changed shape, collided with another galaxy, or may even have got obliterated. But we may only know that 100 million years after the event takes place. Because light from such an event will take that much time to reach us. Space is super super huge. Feeling small yet?

NASA releases beautiful photo of a galaxy far far away

Ever wondered if you can travel faster than light? It may not be too far from reality, after all. How, you wonder? It's simple - a warp drive!

Scientists have historically discouraged others from taking the idea of warp drives too seriously, but a new study suggests that travelling faster than light may be possible by taking advantage of a "loophole" in general relativity, which refers to laws of gravitation posited by Albert Einstein.

Basic laws of physics make warp drives impossible, which is why its common depiction has remained restricted to science fiction films and series. 
 
What is a warp drive? 
A warp drive is a fairly simple concept. In space, everything falls secondary to the speed of light, and nothing can flourish over it except space-time. To achieve warp drive, scientists intend to warp spacetime surrounding an object.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/turns-out-mars-underwent-not-one-but-up-to-20-separate-ice-ages-367503" hreflang="en">Turns out Mars underwent not one, but up to 20 separate ice ages!</a> 
 
Essentially, to be able to travel faster than light, one needs to spiral the object into a contraption of negative energy. Due to this, space and time behind the ship would expand, while space and time ahead of the object would be compressed. This was first envisioned by Miguel Alcubierre, a Mexican scientist in 1994. 
 
But there's a catch - laws of physics don't make room for negative energy. Even then, it is not entirely impossible to conjure negative energy. Scientists believe that to achieve this, energy would need to be borrowed from a vacuum. In theory, this would open the gateway for negative mass and negative gravity - essentially the opposite of what we experience in our lives.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-scientists-believe-life-on-earth-will-perish-way-earlier-than-previously-thought-367457" hreflang="en">Why scientists believe life on Earth will perish way earlier than previously thought</a> 
 
Even then, the idea of successful warp drives remains fixated in theory. Many continue to believe that warp drives may never be physically possible.

“This, however, is no longer correct,” Alexey Bobrick, an astrophysicist at Lund University told ZME Science. Currently, a group of researchers in Sweden are working to make warp drives a reality! How, you say? By simply not requiring negative energy, and basing the science behind it "physical principles known to humanity today".

Ever wondered if you can travel faster than light? It may not be too far from reality, after all. How, you wonder? It's simple - a warp drive! Scientists have historically discouraged others from taking the idea of warp drives too seriously, but a new study suggests that travelling faster than light may be possible by taking advantage of a "loophole" in general relativity, which refers to laws of gravitation posited by Albert Einstein.

Ever wondered if you can travel faster than light? It may not be too far from reality, after all. How, you wonder? It's simple - a warp drive! Scientists have historically discouraged others from taking the idea of warp drives too seriously, but a new study suggests that travelling faster than light may be possible by taking advantage of a "loophole" in general relativity, which refers to laws of gravitation posited by Albert Einstein. Basic laws of physics make warp drives impossible, which is why its common depiction has remained restricted to science fiction films and series. What is a warp drive? A warp drive is a fairly simple concept. In space, everything falls secondary to the speed of light, and nothing can flourish over it except space-time. To achieve warp drive, scientists intend to warp spacetime surrounding an object. Also read: Turns out Mars underwent not one, but up to 20 separate ice ages! Essentially, to be able to travel faster than light, one needs to spiral the object into a contraption of negative energy. Due to this, space and time behind the ship would expand, while space and time ahead of the object would be compressed. This was first envisioned by Miguel Alcubierre, a Mexican scientist in 1994. But there's a catch - laws of physics don't make room for negative energy. Even then, it is not entirely impossible to conjure negative energy. Scientists believe that to achieve this, energy would need to be borrowed from a vacuum. In theory, this would open the gateway for negative mass and negative gravity - essentially the opposite of what we experience in our lives. Also read: Why scientists believe life on Earth will perish way earlier than previously thought Even then, the idea of successful warp drives remains fixated in theory. Many continue to believe that warp drives may never be physically possible. “This, however, is no longer correct,” Alexey Bobrick, an astrophysicist at Lund University told ZME Science. Currently, a group of researchers in Sweden are working to make warp drives a reality! How, you say? By simply not requiring negative energy, and basing the science behind it "physical principles known to humanity today".

Is it possible to travel faster than light? Scientists believe so!

Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C51 successfully placed Brazil's Amazonia-1 and 18 other satellites into orbit. The lift-off took place from &nbsp;Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The PSLV lifted off at around 10:24 am on Sunday (February 28).

"I am extremely happy to declare that PSLV-C51 successfully launched in precise orbit Amazonia-1 today... The satellite is in very good health and solar panels have been deployed," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan announced amid applause from the scientists.

<img alt="ISRO PSLV lift-off" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0f4c3817-c313-42f3-86f5-945bc09c9937" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/isro%20lift%20off.jpg" />

PSLV-C51 is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO's commercial arm, and the launch was watched among others by Brazilian government officials at the mission control centre here, over 100 kms from Chennai.

The 637-kg Amazonia-1 which became the first Brazilian satellite to be launched from India is an optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

The 18 co-passenger satellites onboard PSLV-C51 includes four from IN-SPACe and fourteen from NSIL.&nbsp;

The fourteen satellites from NSIL carried were the commercial satellites from India (1) and USA (13).

Of the 4 satellites from IN-SPACe, three were UNITYsats designed and built as a joint development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur, G.H.Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur and Sri Shakti Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore and one was Satish Dhawan Sat (SDSAT) from Space Kidz India.

Among the satellites put into orbit by Indian Space Research Organization’s PSLV C51 rocket, is a small satellite built by a team of Indian students. SDSat or Satish Dhawan Satellite, a 30x10x10cm cuboid, is an experimental communication satellite built by Chennai-based SpaceKidz India.

This indigenously designed and developed miniature spacecraft is meant to test the capabilities of LoRa(Long range) technology in Space, which could prove helpful for many applications in the future in short and M2M (machine-to-machine)communication. LoRa is a long-range, low-power wireless radio frequency technology that has become a common platform for Internet of Things (IoT) networks worldwide.

Besides its scientific payloads, the satellite carries the names of 25,000 common people and the Bhagwad Gita to space.&nbsp;

“People, irrespective of differences follow the principles of the Gita, like ‘do your duty and leave the rest to the Almighty’ and ‘oneness is the highest form of humanity’ among others. We wanted to give this scripture the highest honor and we have stored it on the flash drive that is on the satellite” said Dr Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India.&nbsp;

When asked about the idea of sending names of common people to space, she said it was an initiative to create awareness, generate curiosity and to get more people fascinated about space science, which many still perceive as inaccessible. Some schools had sent the entire name list of the students to be carried on-board, she added.

The satellite's panel also carries a small picture of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the make in India lion logo. Team Spacekidz has done this to recognise the support provided by India's government to private space entities, as part of the reforms rolled out in 2020.

With the success of this mission, India has put 342 foreign satellites of 34 countries in Orbit, on a commercial basis. &nbsp;

After the successful launch, chairman ISRO, Dr K Sivan said that ISRO has 14 missions lined up for the year 2021. It includes seven launch vehicles, six Satellites and the first unmanned trial of India's ambitious manned spaceflight programme Gaganyaan.

(With PTI inputs)

Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C51 successfully placed Brazil's Amazonia-1 and 18 other satellites into orbit. The lift-off took place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C51 successfully placed Brazil's Amazonia-1 and 18 other satellites into orbit. The lift-off took place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The PSLV lifted off at around 10:24 am on Sunday (February 28). "I am extremely happy to declare that PSLV-C51 successfully launched in precise orbit Amazonia-1 today... The satellite is in very good health and solar panels have been deployed," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan announced amid applause from the scientists. PSLV-C51 is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO's commercial arm, and the launch was watched among others by Brazilian government officials at the mission control centre here, over 100 kms from Chennai. The 637-kg Amazonia-1 which became the first Brazilian satellite to be launched from India is an optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The 18 co-passenger satellites onboard PSLV-C51 includes four from IN-SPACe and fourteen from NSIL. The fourteen satellites from NSIL carried were the commercial satellites from India (1) and USA (13). Of the 4 satellites from IN-SPACe, three were UNITYsats designed and built as a joint development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur, G.H.Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur and Sri Shakti Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore and one was Satish Dhawan Sat (SDSAT) from Space Kidz India. Among the satellites put into orbit by Indian Space Research Organization’s PSLV C51 rocket, is a small satellite built by a team of Indian students. SDSat or Satish Dhawan Satellite, a 30x10x10cm cuboid, is an experimental communication satellite built by Chennai-based SpaceKidz India. This indigenously designed and developed miniature spacecraft is meant to test the capabilities of LoRa(Long range) technology in Space, which could prove helpful for many applications in the future in short and M2M (machine-to-machine)communication. LoRa is a long-range, low-power wireless radio frequency technology that has become a common platform for Internet of Things (IoT) networks worldwide. Besides its scientific payloads, the satellite carries the names of 25,000 common people and the Bhagwad Gita to space. “People, irrespective of differences follow the principles of the Gita, like ‘do your duty and leave the rest to the Almighty’ and ‘oneness is the highest form of humanity’ among others. We wanted to give this scripture the highest honor and we have stored it on the flash drive that is on the satellite” said Dr Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India. When asked about the idea of sending names of common people to space, she said it was an initiative to create awareness, generate curiosity and to get more people fascinated about space science, which many still perceive as inaccessible. Some schools had sent the entire name list of the students to be carried on-board, she added. The satellite's panel also carries a small picture of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the make in India lion logo. Team Spacekidz has done this to recognise the support provided by India's government to private space entities, as part of the reforms rolled out in 2020. With the success of this mission, India has put 342 foreign satellites of 34 countries in Orbit, on a commercial basis. After the successful launch, chairman ISRO, Dr K Sivan said that ISRO has 14 missions lined up for the year 2021. It includes seven launch vehicles, six Satellites and the first unmanned trial of India's ambitious manned spaceflight programme Gaganyaan. (With PTI inputs)

ISRO's PSLV-C51 successfully places 19 satellites into orbit

The European Space Agency has announced its latest recruitment drive for its next generation of astronauts. Astronauts say that the program will push the boundaries of human endurance, engineering and science. WION brings you a report.

European Space Agency begins recruitment process for next generation of astronauts

Those in their 20s or early 30s today can be safely be said to have been part of the generation who grew up playing video games for hours. Quick advent in tech, smooth graphics and great game development 90s onwards has given everyone a reason to indulge in gaming for hours unashamedly. It didn't matter if parents yelled or the sky fell.

The unparalleled joy of clearing that pesky level or beating that boss was something worth dying for (or not, if you had&nbsp;limited lives left in your game). Professional gamers literally earn millions and this gives everyone a shot at saying that this is not entirely a wasteful activity.

But pigs can play video games too.

This is not a snub to noobs (aka new gamers who.....are not that great in gaming) but a literal thing. A scientific study has found that with a little training, pigs can learn video games.

The research paper published by researchers from Purdue University and Comparitive Cognition Project has to do with these findings.

In the first half, the paper notes that earlier studies had already found that pigs "could solve multiple choice problems".&nbsp;

So what about video games?

Four pigs - Omlette, Hamlet, Ebony and Ivory were trained to play a game that could be played with&nbsp;an arcade-style joystick. The pigs were rewarded with food each time they completed a 'level'. &nbsp;

While the promise of food was&nbsp;a reward enough, it was found during the testing that the&nbsp;pigs started playing the game even when encouragement was just some kind words from the researchers. The food trays broke so reward could no longer be given, but the pigs continued to play the game.

Pigs kept on playing the game!

Researchers have been quoted as saying that it was no small feat that the pigs could link video game play with reward in the first place. The research paper has been published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

The competency level of video game playing pigs was different of course. One pig could play the game much better than other pigs.

The game wasn't exactly anything complex. The pigs were not asked to play Grand Theft Auto or CounterStrike. They just had to move on-screen cursor and make it hit a wall in the game.

But the bottomline? Even pigs can play video games.

Take heart gamers. Unless pigs can compete in professional gaming competitions, your dreams of making it big can still be a reality.

Go play now!

Those in their 20s or early 30s today can be safely be said to have been part of the generation who grew up playing video games for hours. Quick advent in tech, smooth graphics and great game development 90s onwards has given everyone a reason to indulge in gaming for hours unashamedly.

Those in their 20s or early 30s today can be safely be said to have been part of the generation who grew up playing video games for hours. Quick advent in tech, smooth graphics and great game development 90s onwards has given everyone a reason to indulge in gaming for hours unashamedly. It didn't matter if parents yelled or the sky fell. The unparalleled joy of clearing that pesky level or beating that boss was something worth dying for (or not, if you had limited lives left in your game). Professional gamers literally earn millions and this gives everyone a shot at saying that this is not entirely a wasteful activity. But pigs can play video games too. This is not a snub to noobs (aka new gamers who.....are not that great in gaming) but a literal thing. A scientific study has found that with a little training, pigs can learn video games. The research paper published by researchers from Purdue University and Comparitive Cognition Project has to do with these findings. In the first half, the paper notes that earlier studies had already found that pigs "could solve multiple choice problems". So what about video games? Four pigs - Omlette, Hamlet, Ebony and Ivory were trained to play a game that could be played with an arcade-style joystick. The pigs were rewarded with food each time they completed a 'level'. While the promise of food was a reward enough, it was found during the testing that the pigs started playing the game even when encouragement was just some kind words from the researchers. The food trays broke so reward could no longer be given, but the pigs continued to play the game. Pigs kept on playing the game! Researchers have been quoted as saying that it was no small feat that the pigs could link video game play with reward in the first place. The research paper has been published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. The competency level of video game playing pigs was different of course. One pig could play the game much better than other pigs. The game wasn't exactly anything complex. The pigs were not asked to play Grand Theft Auto or CounterStrike. They just had to move on-screen cursor and make it hit a wall in the game. But the bottomline? Even pigs can play video games. Take heart gamers. Unless pigs can compete in professional gaming competitions, your dreams of making it big can still be a reality. Go play now!

Gamers listen up! Even pigs can play video games, study has found

Smoking is injurious to health. There is no doubt about that and everyone should refrain from smoking. But other ailments connected with our lifestyle are increasingly giving competition to things that kill us. A new study has found that obesity and excess body fat may have contributed to more deaths than smoking in England and Scotland. The new research has been published in open-access journal BMC Public Health.

Between 2003 and 2017, the percentage of deaths attributable to smoking is calculated to have decreased from 23.1 per cent to 19.4 per cent while deaths attributable to obesity and excess body fat are calculated to have increased from 17.9 per cent to 23.1 per cent. The authors estimate that deaths attributable to obesity and excess body fat overtook those attributable to smoking in 2014.

"For several decades smoking has been a major target of public health interventions as it is a leading cause of avoidable deaths. As a result, the prevalence of smoking has fallen in the United Kingdom. At the same time the prevalence of obesity has increased. Our research indicates that, since 2014, obesity and excess body fat may have contributed to more deaths in England and Scotland than smoking," said Jim Pell (Glasgow University).

To examine changes in the prevalence of smoking, obesity and excess body fat in adults, the authors analysed data collected between 2003 and 2017 as part of the Health Surveys for England, and Scottish Health Surveys, on 192,239 adults across England and Scotland, who were 50 years old on average.

(With ANI inputs)

Smoking is injurious to health. There is no doubt about that and everyone should refrain from smoking. But other ailments connected with our lifestyle are increasingly giving competition to things that kill us.

Smoking is injurious to health. There is no doubt about that and everyone should refrain from smoking. But other ailments connected with our lifestyle are increasingly giving competition to things that kill us. A new study has found that obesity and excess body fat may have contributed to more deaths than smoking in England and Scotland. The new research has been published in open-access journal BMC Public Health. Between 2003 and 2017, the percentage of deaths attributable to smoking is calculated to have decreased from 23.1 per cent to 19.4 per cent while deaths attributable to obesity and excess body fat are calculated to have increased from 17.9 per cent to 23.1 per cent. The authors estimate that deaths attributable to obesity and excess body fat overtook those attributable to smoking in 2014. "For several decades smoking has been a major target of public health interventions as it is a leading cause of avoidable deaths. As a result, the prevalence of smoking has fallen in the United Kingdom. At the same time the prevalence of obesity has increased. Our research indicates that, since 2014, obesity and excess body fat may have contributed to more deaths in England and Scotland than smoking," said Jim Pell (Glasgow University). To examine changes in the prevalence of smoking, obesity and excess body fat in adults, the authors analysed data collected between 2003 and 2017 as part of the Health Surveys for England, and Scottish Health Surveys, on 192,239 adults across England and Scotland, who were 50 years old on average. (With ANI inputs)

Obesity killed more than smoking did: Study

If a study is to be believed, Artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making. The recent study shows AI is learning more about how to work with or on humans. &nbsp;

The truth is that AI is transforming every aspect of the way we live and work. From vaccine development, environmental management to office administration, various forms of AI are at work in diverse fields.&nbsp;

Although AI does not possess human-like intelligence and emotions, its capabilities are rapidly increasing. It is turning out to be very powerful.&nbsp;

The recent discovery highlights the power of AI and underscores the need for proper governance to prevent misuse. There is still no need to worry about a machine takeover just yet. &nbsp;

A researcher team of the data and digital arm of Australia's national science agency CSIRO's Data61, devised a systematic method of finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in the ways people make choices. It used a kind of AI system, which is called a recurrent neural network and deep reinforcement-learning. &nbsp;

To test their model, they organised three experiments in which human participants played games against a computer. &nbsp;

In every experiment, the machine learnt from the responses of the participants and identified and targeted vulnerabilities in people's decision-making. In the end, result was that the machine learnt to steer participants towards particular actions.

If a study is to be believed, Artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making.

If a study is to be believed, Artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making. The recent study shows AI is learning more about how to work with or on humans. The truth is that AI is transforming every aspect of the way we live and work. From vaccine development, environmental management to office administration, various forms of AI are at work in diverse fields. Although AI does not possess human-like intelligence and emotions, its capabilities are rapidly increasing. It is turning out to be very powerful. The recent discovery highlights the power of AI and underscores the need for proper governance to prevent misuse. There is still no need to worry about a machine takeover just yet. A researcher team of the data and digital arm of Australia's national science agency CSIRO's Data61, devised a systematic method of finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in the ways people make choices. It used a kind of AI system, which is called a recurrent neural network and deep reinforcement-learning. To test their model, they organised three experiments in which human participants played games against a computer. In every experiment, the machine learnt from the responses of the participants and identified and targeted vulnerabilities in people's decision-making. In the end, result was that the machine learnt to steer participants towards particular actions.

Artificial intelligence can manipulate human decision-making, influence behaviour: Study

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday. &nbsp;

Scientists believe the ancient conch, from a species of large sea snail still present in the Atlantic and North Sea, is the oldest wind instrument of its type yet found. &nbsp;

The shell was unearthed in 1931 at an archaeological dig in the Pyrenees near the mouth of the Marsoulas Cave, whose walls are painted with the artwork of Magdalenian people living there at the end of the last ice age. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists initially thought it bore no trace of human modification, assuming it was a type of ceremonial drinking cup. &nbsp;

It was taken to the Museum of Natural History in Toulouse and forgotten. &nbsp; &nbsp;

But a new examination using modern technology found not only that it had been altered, but that it could still hold a note.&nbsp;

Or three, as it turned out. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Played by a musician, it had tones close to C, C sharp and D. And it boomed at a resounding 100 decibels a metre from the conch. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"This sound is a link, a direct link with Magdalenian people," said Carole Fritz, lead author of the study and a senior scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. &nbsp;&nbsp;

She said it was "very important because you have the sea in the cave", adding the shell was from the Atlantic, some 200 kilometres from the cave. &nbsp;

Instruments older than the conch have been found -- flutes whittled from the bones of large birds like swans and eagles -- but the researchers said this was the oldest shell horn, symbolising the importance of the ocean to Magdalenian people. &nbsp;

The study, published in Science Advances, said radio-carbon dating of items at the cave suggest it was occupied around 18,000 years ago.&nbsp;

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday.

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday. Scientists believe the ancient conch, from a species of large sea snail still present in the Atlantic and North Sea, is the oldest wind instrument of its type yet found. The shell was unearthed in 1931 at an archaeological dig in the Pyrenees near the mouth of the Marsoulas Cave, whose walls are painted with the artwork of Magdalenian people living there at the end of the last ice age. Scientists initially thought it bore no trace of human modification, assuming it was a type of ceremonial drinking cup. It was taken to the Museum of Natural History in Toulouse and forgotten. But a new examination using modern technology found not only that it had been altered, but that it could still hold a note. Or three, as it turned out. Played by a musician, it had tones close to C, C sharp and D. And it boomed at a resounding 100 decibels a metre from the conch. "This sound is a link, a direct link with Magdalenian people," said Carole Fritz, lead author of the study and a senior scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. She said it was "very important because you have the sea in the cave", adding the shell was from the Atlantic, some 200 kilometres from the cave. Instruments older than the conch have been found -- flutes whittled from the bones of large birds like swans and eagles -- but the researchers said this was the oldest shell horn, symbolising the importance of the ocean to Magdalenian people. The study, published in Science Advances, said radio-carbon dating of items at the cave suggest it was occupied around 18,000 years ago.

Oldest shell horn played for first time after 17,000 years

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on brown over white bread. It is quite a common understanding that brown bread gives us more nutritional benefits. This has got a seal of approval as a study has found that white bread is not only less nutritious, but its excessive consumption along with other refined grain products can also increase the likelihood of heart disease. Even pasta made from refined material is extremely bad for health.

All this has got a seal of approval in a study published in British Medical Journal. The study was carried out by Canada's McMaster University. In this study, the health of about 137,000 individuals was carefully observed.&nbsp;

These individuals were classed in groups of those having a very high intake of refined grains daily (350 g) and those having low intake (50 g)

As per observations taken over 9 years, it was found that higher intake of refined grains was associated with 33 per cent more risk of death from cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

High intake of refined grains was also found to be connected with high blood pressure.

Rice is also considered a refined grain, but the study did not find a correlation between rice intake and increased risk of heart disease.

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on brown over white bread. It is quite a common understanding that brown bread gives us more nutritional benefits.

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on brown over white bread. It is quite a common understanding that brown bread gives us more nutritional benefits. This has got a seal of approval as a study has found that white bread is not only less nutritious, but its excessive consumption along with other refined grain products can also increase the likelihood of heart disease. Even pasta made from refined material is extremely bad for health. All this has got a seal of approval in a study published in British Medical Journal. The study was carried out by Canada's McMaster University. In this study, the health of about 137,000 individuals was carefully observed. These individuals were classed in groups of those having a very high intake of refined grains daily (350 g) and those having low intake (50 g) As per observations taken over 9 years, it was found that higher intake of refined grains was associated with 33 per cent more risk of death from cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure. High intake of refined grains was also found to be connected with high blood pressure. Rice is also considered a refined grain, but the study did not find a correlation between rice intake and increased risk of heart disease.

Overeating white bread, pasta may invite heart disease: Study

Scientists have thawed a woolly rhino who remained frozen in Siberian permafrost for at least 25,000-40,000 years.

The remains of the young wooly rhino were unveiled to Russian press on Tuesday after scientists from Yakutsk were able to successfully catalogue the beast.

The woolly rhino was reportedly 8-foot-long, and died between 25,000-40,000 years ago. It was a healthy young rhino, with the rough estimate of his age at 3 or 4 years old.

Dr Valery Plotnikov, the chief researcher at Mammoth Fauna Study Department, Academy of Science of the Republic of Sakha told East 2 West News that this level of preservation is “unique”.

Scientists claim that the rhino was very well fed at the moment of his death, implying that it was a healthy animal, whose hazel-coloured hair remained a guess based on ancient cave painting before being recently proven.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-of-smuggled-chameleons-discovered-in-suitcase-at-vienna-airport-359559" hreflang="en">Dozens of smuggled chameleons discovered in suitcase at Vienna airport</a>

Yakutia is one of the world’s coldest regions, and is home to a treasure trove of preserved specimens. Earlier, a giant wolf head was found in the area.

Plotnikov also claimed that the animal’s under-skin fat was preserved in the form of a powder.

Earlier, the team had found a rhino’s horn. Now, they believe that the horn belonged to the recently thawed animal found on site. The horn was found by a local resident in August 2020.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/australian-man-who-went-missing-survived-on-mushrooms-for-18-days-359123" hreflang="en">Australian man who went missing survived on mushrooms for 18 days</a>

The sex of the animal is yet to be ascertained, but scientists have already named him on the place where he was found - Abyisky.

The hippo is suspected to have died by drowning. It may have been chased by predators into drowning, researchers believe.

Scientists have thawed a woolly rhino who remained frozen in Siberian permafrost for at least 25,000-40,000 years. The remains of the young wooly rhino were unveiled to Russian press on Tuesday after scientists from Yakutsk were able to successfully catalogue the beast.

Scientists have thawed a woolly rhino who remained frozen in Siberian permafrost for at least 25,000-40,000 years. The remains of the young wooly rhino were unveiled to Russian press on Tuesday after scientists from Yakutsk were able to successfully catalogue the beast. The woolly rhino was reportedly 8-foot-long, and died between 25,000-40,000 years ago. It was a healthy young rhino, with the rough estimate of his age at 3 or 4 years old. Dr Valery Plotnikov, the chief researcher at Mammoth Fauna Study Department, Academy of Science of the Republic of Sakha told East 2 West News that this level of preservation is “unique”. Scientists claim that the rhino was very well fed at the moment of his death, implying that it was a healthy animal, whose hazel-coloured hair remained a guess based on ancient cave painting before being recently proven. Also read: Dozens of smuggled chameleons discovered in suitcase at Vienna airport Yakutia is one of the world’s coldest regions, and is home to a treasure trove of preserved specimens. Earlier, a giant wolf head was found in the area. Plotnikov also claimed that the animal’s under-skin fat was preserved in the form of a powder. Earlier, the team had found a rhino’s horn. Now, they believe that the horn belonged to the recently thawed animal found on site. The horn was found by a local resident in August 2020. Also read: Australian man who went missing survived on mushrooms for 18 days The sex of the animal is yet to be ascertained, but scientists have already named him on the place where he was found - Abyisky. The hippo is suspected to have died by drowning. It may have been chased by predators into drowning, researchers believe.

Scientists defrost 25,000-year-old woolly rhino in world's coldest region

Elon Musk's SpaceX on Sunday set a new record for most number of spacecrafts launched in a single launch in its latest Falcon-9 mission. The launch included 143 satellites. SpaceX also launched 10 of its own Starlink satellites. These will add up to more than 1000 already sent to orbit as a part of SpaceX's own broadband network. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral.

Customers of SpaceX that took its help to launch their satellites on Sunday include PlanetLabs. It sent 48 SuperDove Earth-imaging satellites. Another customer company Swarm sent up 36 satellites. Kepler sent up 8 of its own communication spacecrafts.

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This launch sent Starlink satellites to a polar orbit for the first time. These satellites are important part of company's expansion of its broadband service. The mission also involved successful landing of Falcon-9 rocket's first stage booster.

Elon Musk's SpaceX on Sunday set a new record for most number of spacecrafts launched in a single launch in its latest Falcon-9 mission. The launch included 143 satellites.

Elon Musk's SpaceX on Sunday set a new record for most number of spacecrafts launched in a single launch in its latest Falcon-9 mission. The launch included 143 satellites. SpaceX also launched 10 of its own Starlink satellites. These will add up to more than 1000 already sent to orbit as a part of SpaceX's own broadband network. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral. Customers of SpaceX that took its help to launch their satellites on Sunday include PlanetLabs. It sent 48 SuperDove Earth-imaging satellites. Another customer company Swarm sent up 36 satellites. Kepler sent up 8 of its own communication spacecrafts. Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/js3zVM77rH — SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 24, 2021 × This launch sent Starlink satellites to a polar orbit for the first time. These satellites are important part of company's expansion of its broadband service. The mission also involved successful landing of Falcon-9 rocket's first stage booster.

SpaceX sets record for most satellites launched in single launch of Falcon-9

Nature is full of wonders and though we have studied it closely across millennia, it will be plain stupid for humans to claim the title of 'know-it-all' species. New discoveries amaze us each day. And this exactly what has happened yet again. Two female ray fish have given birth to pups without a male ray fish being present in their ranks. The news has created quite a stir in scientific community and beyond.&nbsp;

The female fish, named Nibble and Spot are at display at SEA Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium in Auckland, New Zealand. They of the Eagle Ray type.

Both of them delivered pups on New Year's Eve. Both Eagle rays had not been with a male for two years. And this is what is causing the amazement.

At present, theories are being raised but there appears to be no confirmation in this specific case. However, this may change later.

The curator of the museum thinks that the rays gave birth without a male as they had stored the sperms from their last encounter.

But there is another argument.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-glaciers-give-insights-on-the-planets-many-ice-ages-358330">Mars' glaciers give insights on the planet's many ice ages</a>

Adele Dutilloy, a fisheries modeller at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) was mentioned by the Guardian as saying that this was the case of Parthinongenesis.

A Parthinogenesis (virgin birth) is a natural process in which an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilised. Dutilloy said sperm storage was uncommon in rays.

This suggests that the case may be first instance of such a birth in Eagle rays being documented.

Nature is full of wonders and though we have studied it closely across millennia, it will be plain stupid for humans to claim the title of 'know-it-all' species.

Nature is full of wonders and though we have studied it closely across millennia, it will be plain stupid for humans to claim the title of 'know-it-all' species. New discoveries amaze us each day. And this exactly what has happened yet again. Two female ray fish have given birth to pups without a male ray fish being present in their ranks. The news has created quite a stir in scientific community and beyond. The female fish, named Nibble and Spot are at display at SEA Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium in Auckland, New Zealand. They of the Eagle Ray type. Both of them delivered pups on New Year's Eve. Both Eagle rays had not been with a male for two years. And this is what is causing the amazement. At present, theories are being raised but there appears to be no confirmation in this specific case. However, this may change later. The curator of the museum thinks that the rays gave birth without a male as they had stored the sperms from their last encounter. But there is another argument. Also Read | Mars' glaciers give insights on the planet's many ice ages Adele Dutilloy, a fisheries modeller at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) was mentioned by the Guardian as saying that this was the case of Parthinongenesis. A Parthinogenesis (virgin birth) is a natural process in which an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilised. Dutilloy said sperm storage was uncommon in rays. This suggests that the case may be first instance of such a birth in Eagle rays being documented.

Two female ray fish give birth without males, baffle scientists

With an average height of roughly 16 feet, giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. At about 6 feet long, their lanky legs and towering necks stand taller than most humans. Even the shortest giraffe is twice as tall as the average professional basketball player.

So when Michael Brown, a conservation science fellow with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and colleagues came across a Nubian giraffe in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park in 2015 that was just 9 feet, 4 inches tall, they did a double-take.

“The initial reaction was disbelief,” Brown said.

The neck on the giraffe — nicknamed Gimli — was characteristically long, but its legs were not. It looked like someone had put a giraffe’s head and neck on a horse’s body.

Then, just three years later, an 8-1/2-foot-tall Angolan giraffe — nicknamed Nigel — was found living on a private farm in central Namibia. After measuring and analyzing the dimensions of the two giraffes, the researchers could come up with only one explanation: dwarfism.

The condition, also known as skeletal dysplasia, affects bone growth, often resulting in short stature. Although it has been known to occur in humans and domestic animals like dogs, cows and pigs, dwarfism is rarely observed among wild animals, and this is the first time it has been found in giraffes.

The discovery, announced in an article published last month in the journal BMC Research Notes, has created a unique opportunity for scientists to study the effects of dwarfism on free-ranging wild animals.

When photos of the dwarves began circulating online, many people assumed the images had been manipulated.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” said David O’Connor, president of Save Giraffes Now and member of the IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group. “I thought it was photoshopped, to be honest.”

The researchers who discovered Gimli and Nigel photographed the creatures extensively and used digital photogrammetry techniques to measure the length of their appendages. After comparing the dimensions of the dwarf giraffes, both mature males, to those of similar age from the same populations, they found that the dwarves had much shorter legs; more specifically, they had much shorter radius and metacarpal bones.

More than half of wild giraffes die before reaching adulthood, so the fact that both Gimli and Nigel beat the odds suggests their dwarfism has not hindered their ability to survive. However, their height, or lack thereof, almost certainly makes many aspects of their lives difficult.

“It’s easy to imagine how this might make them more susceptible to predation since they lack the ability to effectively run and kick, which are two of the giraffe’s most effective anti-predator tactics,” Brown said. “Additionally, given the mechanics of giraffe mating, I’d speculate that for both of these giraffes, mating would be physically challenging.”

Even though female giraffes tend to be shorter than males, it would be nearly impossible for an 8- or 9-foot male to mount even the shortest female “unless they get a stepping stool,” O’Connor said.

The cause of this dwarfism remains a mystery. Although random mutations can give rise to the condition, dwarfism in captive animals has been associated with inbreeding and a lack of genetic diversity. Whether these factors influenced Gimli’s and Nigel’s dwarfism remains unclear.

The giraffe population that includes Gimli experienced a significant decline during the late 1980s that at one point diminished the total to just 78 animals. It now consists of more than 1,500 individuals. More research is needed to determine if a lack of genetic diversity caused Gimli’s condition.

Although scientists know very little about giraffes compared with other iconic animals, they do know that the towering mammals are in trouble. Habitat loss and poaching have reduced their numbers by an estimated 40% in the last 30 years, and some subspecies, including the Nubian giraffe, are now critically endangered. To combat this decline, Brown and other scientists have been surveying and monitoring as many wild giraffe populations as they can.

“Population surveys are a critical component of our mission to develop effective conservation strategies rooted in solid science,” Brown said.

Nigel was spotted during a foundation-led survey in July 2020, but Gimli has not been seen since March 2017. The researchers hope that both giraffes will show up again soon.

By monitoring them over the course of their lives, the scientists hope to “get some interesting stories and neat little wrinkles about how animals that have these types of conditions cope with changing environments,” Brown said.

With an average height of roughly 16 feet, giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. At about 6 feet long, their lanky legs and towering necks stand taller than most humans.

With an average height of roughly 16 feet, giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. At about 6 feet long, their lanky legs and towering necks stand taller than most humans. Even the shortest giraffe is twice as tall as the average professional basketball player. So when Michael Brown, a conservation science fellow with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and colleagues came across a Nubian giraffe in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park in 2015 that was just 9 feet, 4 inches tall, they did a double-take. “The initial reaction was disbelief,” Brown said. The neck on the giraffe — nicknamed Gimli — was characteristically long, but its legs were not. It looked like someone had put a giraffe’s head and neck on a horse’s body. Then, just three years later, an 8-1/2-foot-tall Angolan giraffe — nicknamed Nigel — was found living on a private farm in central Namibia. After measuring and analyzing the dimensions of the two giraffes, the researchers could come up with only one explanation: dwarfism. The condition, also known as skeletal dysplasia, affects bone growth, often resulting in short stature. Although it has been known to occur in humans and domestic animals like dogs, cows and pigs, dwarfism is rarely observed among wild animals, and this is the first time it has been found in giraffes. The discovery, announced in an article published last month in the journal BMC Research Notes, has created a unique opportunity for scientists to study the effects of dwarfism on free-ranging wild animals. When photos of the dwarves began circulating online, many people assumed the images had been manipulated. “I didn’t believe it at first,” said David O’Connor, president of Save Giraffes Now and member of the IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group. “I thought it was photoshopped, to be honest.” The researchers who discovered Gimli and Nigel photographed the creatures extensively and used digital photogrammetry techniques to measure the length of their appendages. After comparing the dimensions of the dwarf giraffes, both mature males, to those of similar age from the same populations, they found that the dwarves had much shorter legs; more specifically, they had much shorter radius and metacarpal bones. More than half of wild giraffes die before reaching adulthood, so the fact that both Gimli and Nigel beat the odds suggests their dwarfism has not hindered their ability to survive. However, their height, or lack thereof, almost certainly makes many aspects of their lives difficult. “It’s easy to imagine how this might make them more susceptible to predation since they lack the ability to effectively run and kick, which are two of the giraffe’s most effective anti-predator tactics,” Brown said. “Additionally, given the mechanics of giraffe mating, I’d speculate that for both of these giraffes, mating would be physically challenging.” Even though female giraffes tend to be shorter than males, it would be nearly impossible for an 8- or 9-foot male to mount even the shortest female “unless they get a stepping stool,” O’Connor said. The cause of this dwarfism remains a mystery. Although random mutations can give rise to the condition, dwarfism in captive animals has been associated with inbreeding and a lack of genetic diversity. Whether these factors influenced Gimli’s and Nigel’s dwarfism remains unclear. The giraffe population that includes Gimli experienced a significant decline during the late 1980s that at one point diminished the total to just 78 animals. It now consists of more than 1,500 individuals. More research is needed to determine if a lack of genetic diversity caused Gimli’s condition. Although scientists know very little about giraffes compared with other iconic animals, they do know that the towering mammals are in trouble. Habitat loss and poaching have reduced their numbers by an estimated 40% in the last 30 years, and some subspecies, including the Nubian giraffe, are now critically endangered. To combat this decline, Brown and other scientists have been surveying and monitoring as many wild giraffe populations as they can. “Population surveys are a critical component of our mission to develop effective conservation strategies rooted in solid science,” Brown said. Nigel was spotted during a foundation-led survey in July 2020, but Gimli has not been seen since March 2017. The researchers hope that both giraffes will show up again soon. By monitoring them over the course of their lives, the scientists hope to “get some interesting stories and neat little wrinkles about how animals that have these types of conditions cope with changing environments,” Brown said.

Dwarf giraffes discovery surprises scientists

Scientists recently witnessed four distant white dwarfs consuming the crust of dead planets.

Most stars, after completing their life cycle simply become white dwarfs, which refers to the core of what once used to be a star. Astronomers claim that the core material is the key ingredient in all living forms.

This core contains carbon atoms, which are the key components of every living form. 90 per cent of all-stars in the universe turn into white dwarfs after finishing their life-cycle.

Mark Hollands from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, along with his colleagues witnessed white dwarfs munching on what resembled remains of dead planets. They found that the material which was being consumed by white dwarfs resembled Earth's crust.

This could further help shed light on the creation of planets, and the processes involved in the creation of such planets across our galaxy, and the universe.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-massive-star-in-a-far-off-galaxy-just-disappeared-leaving-behind-no-trace-310032" hreflang="en">A massive star in a far-off galaxy just disappeared, leaving behind no trace!</a>

The dwarfs have a very high temperature, running as high as 99,000 degree Celsius. Over billions of years, the stars cool down and become dimmer, until only the core remains. The other remains that are shed&nbsp;off by these bodies contain carbon, which is the fourth-most&nbsp;found chemical in the universe. No life can function without carbon!&nbsp;All of the carbon in the universe is released by stars.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-blazing-fireball-produced-a-sonic-boom-in-tokyo-skies-leaving-residents-confused-311108" hreflang="en">A blazing fireball produced a sonic boom in Tokyo skies, leaving residents confused!</a>

In a different study, scientists observed stars in the Milky Way, and analysed the data of a star before they became dwarfs and in the aftermath. The bigger the star, the bigger its dwarf, ie, the core! However, scientists realised the mass of the core was much bigger than previously thought.

Based on the study, the astronomers ascertained that stars bigger than 2 solar masses contributed in the universal dissemination of carbon, while stars smaller than 1.5 solar masses did not.

Their study points to a basic and imperative conclusion, that carbon has been trapped in the universe for more than 4.6 billion years, when our Solar System was formed.

Scientists recently witnessed four distant white dwarfs consuming the crust of dead planets. Most stars, after completing their life cycle simply become white dwarfs, which refers to the core of what once used to be a star.

Scientists recently witnessed four distant white dwarfs consuming the crust of dead planets. Most stars, after completing their life cycle simply become white dwarfs, which refers to the core of what once used to be a star. Astronomers claim that the core material is the key ingredient in all living forms. This core contains carbon atoms, which are the key components of every living form. 90 per cent of all-stars in the universe turn into white dwarfs after finishing their life-cycle. Mark Hollands from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, along with his colleagues witnessed white dwarfs munching on what resembled remains of dead planets. They found that the material which was being consumed by white dwarfs resembled Earth's crust. This could further help shed light on the creation of planets, and the processes involved in the creation of such planets across our galaxy, and the universe. Also read: A massive star in a far-off galaxy just disappeared, leaving behind no trace! The dwarfs have a very high temperature, running as high as 99,000 degree Celsius. Over billions of years, the stars cool down and become dimmer, until only the core remains. The other remains that are shed off by these bodies contain carbon, which is the fourth-most found chemical in the universe. No life can function without carbon! All of the carbon in the universe is released by stars. Also read: A blazing fireball produced a sonic boom in Tokyo skies, leaving residents confused! In a different study, scientists observed stars in the Milky Way, and analysed the data of a star before they became dwarfs and in the aftermath. The bigger the star, the bigger its dwarf, ie, the core! However, scientists realised the mass of the core was much bigger than previously thought. Based on the study, the astronomers ascertained that stars bigger than 2 solar masses contributed in the universal dissemination of carbon, while stars smaller than 1.5 solar masses did not. Their study points to a basic and imperative conclusion, that carbon has been trapped in the universe for more than 4.6 billion years, when our Solar System was formed.

Scientists just witnessed dead stars munching on remains of planets

Scientists recently created a series of “living materials” made out of… kombucha! The ingredients of the popular tea drink were fermented with a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria to create the materials.

“Kombucha mother”, as the fungus is sometimes called can do a lot more than just be used in beverages, scientists have found. 
 
Researchers successfully came up with engineered living materials (ELMs) by modifying the contents of the culture.&nbsp; Such materials may be used for an array of purposes in the future - including sensing light, and detecting contaminants.&nbsp; 
 
And scientists claim that these materials can be made easily at home, in one’s kitchen. 
 
The work is based on a 2014 MIT project whereby researchers&nbsp;engineered “Escherichia coli” cells to create biofilms containing non-living components.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-is-losing-2-bugs-every-year-scientists-call-it-insect-apocalypse-356251" hreflang="en">Earth is losing 2% bugs every year. Scientists call it 'insect apocalypse'.</a>

But the new materials in that case had no practical purposes, unlike this new kombucha flavoured project. Scientists wanted to achieve this at a much larger scale, which is why they imbibed kombucha, or rather its parental culture into the experiment. 
 
How did they do create ELMs? The researchers took up a strain of laboratory yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and combined it with the bacterium Komagataeibacter rhaeticus. This wasn’t easy for they had to get the ratio right. But they eventually found it and came up with the engineered culture, which they’re called Syn-SCOBY.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-supermassive-black-hole-suddenly-vanished-scientists-think-its-floating-through-space-356261" hreflang="en">A supermassive black hole suddenly vanished. Scientists think it’s floating through space.</a>

The bacteria can perform a number of functions, like sensing chemicals in pollutants, or creating a protein capable of glowing in the presence of blue light, among many, as reported by ScienceAlert. The study was published in Nature Materials.

Scientists recently created a series of “living materials” made out of… kombucha! The ingredients of the popular tea drink were fermented with a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria to create the materials.

Scientists recently created a series of “living materials” made out of… kombucha! The ingredients of the popular tea drink were fermented with a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria to create the materials. “Kombucha mother”, as the fungus is sometimes called can do a lot more than just be used in beverages, scientists have found. Researchers successfully came up with engineered living materials (ELMs) by modifying the contents of the culture. Such materials may be used for an array of purposes in the future - including sensing light, and detecting contaminants. And scientists claim that these materials can be made easily at home, in one’s kitchen. The work is based on a 2014 MIT project whereby researchers engineered “Escherichia coli” cells to create biofilms containing non-living components. Also read: Earth is losing 2% bugs every year. Scientists call it 'insect apocalypse'. But the new materials in that case had no practical purposes, unlike this new kombucha flavoured project. Scientists wanted to achieve this at a much larger scale, which is why they imbibed kombucha, or rather its parental culture into the experiment. How did they do create ELMs? The researchers took up a strain of laboratory yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and combined it with the bacterium Komagataeibacter rhaeticus. This wasn’t easy for they had to get the ratio right. But they eventually found it and came up with the engineered culture, which they’re called Syn-SCOBY. Also read: A supermassive black hole suddenly vanished. Scientists think it’s floating through space. The bacteria can perform a number of functions, like sensing chemicals in pollutants, or creating a protein capable of glowing in the presence of blue light, among many, as reported by ScienceAlert. The study was published in Nature Materials.

Scientists create living materials out of famous beverage ingredients

Black holes continue to elude scientists, with a lot about the celestial objects still&nbsp;shrouded in mystery. Now, a cosmic event has shaken astronomers!

A supermassive black hole earlier believed to be situated in the centre of a far off galaxy has suddenly vanished.

The galaxy officially called “A2261-BCG” seems to have lost its black hole. Scientists now believe that the black hole might be floating through space, marking the first such instance ever recorded.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/remarkable-image-of-black-hole-released-in-astrophysics-breakthrough-209311/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The first ever “recoiling” black hole may now be floating through the universe.

Scientists posit that this implies that a powerful force emanating from somewhere in the galaxy may be behind the ejection of this supermassive black hole. The power of the force would have been strong enough to push the black hole far away!

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-galaxy-caught-dying-astronomers-capture-distant-galaxy-losing-its-ability-to-form-stars-356205" hreflang="en">A galaxy caught dying? Astronomers capture distant galaxy losing its ability to form stars</a>

Researchers across universities in North America spotted the space event. 
 
According to scientists, every galaxy in the universe has at least one giant black hole at the centre. This includes our very own Milky Way. 
 
Recently, a team from the University of Michigan published a study about recoding black holes in the American Astronomical Society Journal. 
 
Lead by Dr Kayhan Gultekin, the team found that a black hole had suddenly went missing. He had had been studying A2261-BCG for quite some time when the unexpected event occurred.

In conversation with Motherboard, the doctor claimed that he was sceptical about seeing anything at the centre of the far-off galaxy, but found nothing.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/take-a-look-at-this-newly-released-mesmerising-image-of-fireworks-galaxy-355850" hreflang="en">Take a look at this newly released mesmerising image of 'Fireworks Galaxy'</a> 
 
The team of scientists observing it also believe that the black could be hiding somewhere in the galaxy where it cannot be detected.

A massive force is required to push a black hole from its position, and scientists claim that it could be owing to the collision of two supermassive black holes. 
 
Even then, proving this remains difficult, as we have never been able to observe the collision of two supermassive blackholes.

Black holes continue to elude scientists, with a lot about the celestial objects still shrouded in mystery. Now, a cosmic event has shaken astronomers! A supermassive black hole earlier believed to be situated in the centre of a far off galaxy has suddenly vanished.

Black holes continue to elude scientists, with a lot about the celestial objects still shrouded in mystery. Now, a cosmic event has shaken astronomers! A supermassive black hole earlier believed to be situated in the centre of a far off galaxy has suddenly vanished. The galaxy officially called “A2261-BCG” seems to have lost its black hole. Scientists now believe that the black hole might be floating through space, marking the first such instance ever recorded. The first ever “recoiling” black hole may now be floating through the universe. Scientists posit that this implies that a powerful force emanating from somewhere in the galaxy may be behind the ejection of this supermassive black hole. The power of the force would have been strong enough to push the black hole far away! Also read: A galaxy caught dying? Astronomers capture distant galaxy losing its ability to form stars Researchers across universities in North America spotted the space event. According to scientists, every galaxy in the universe has at least one giant black hole at the centre. This includes our very own Milky Way. Recently, a team from the University of Michigan published a study about recoding black holes in the American Astronomical Society Journal. Lead by Dr Kayhan Gultekin, the team found that a black hole had suddenly went missing. He had had been studying A2261-BCG for quite some time when the unexpected event occurred. In conversation with Motherboard, the doctor claimed that he was sceptical about seeing anything at the centre of the far-off galaxy, but found nothing. Also read: Take a look at this newly released mesmerising image of 'Fireworks Galaxy' The team of scientists observing it also believe that the black could be hiding somewhere in the galaxy where it cannot be detected. A massive force is required to push a black hole from its position, and scientists claim that it could be owing to the collision of two supermassive black holes. Even then, proving this remains difficult, as we have never been able to observe the collision of two supermassive blackholes.

A supermassive black hole suddenly vanished. Scientists think it’s floating through space.

Researchers from the University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Center recently came up with a way to better predict the survival rates of patients with gastric cancer.

According to the findings which were published in Nature Medicine, scientists were able to develop and validate a gene expression signature which was able to better predict survival rates of patients with gastric cancer.

In "peritoneal carcinomatosis", cancer cells breach and attack the abdominal cavity, which is around the stomach and other organs. Most common among patients with advanced gastric cancers, it can also appear with any kind of gastrointestinal cancers.&nbsp;

Among people with advanced cancers, it appears in at least 45 per cent of the patients.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-believe-bacteria-called-iron-man-can-help-in-protecting-the-environment-355534" hreflang="en">Scientists believe bacteria called 'Iron Man' can help in protecting the environment</a>

As part of this condition, fluid accumulation takes place in the abdominal cavity, and the patients with the condition live for less than six months.

During the process of this study, researchers took up cells from patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis and isolated them. Out of the participants of the study, ten were long-term survivors of the disease, and had survived over a year after a diagnosis. An additional 10 patients were short-term survivors who lived for less than six months after being diagnosed. 
 
To better understand the route of gastric cancer and to treat tumour cells, researchers created a "map" of cells which carried the disease, and focused on the type of cells found in one patient, and how the cells were performing.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-treatment-reduces-mortality-in-covid-patients-study-finds-355352" hreflang="en">New treatment reduces mortality in Covid patients, study finds</a> 
 
If different kinds of cells are present in a tumour, it is called "intratumour heterogeneity", and can cause failures of treatment. In addition, it could cause many cancer cells to reappear, which then respond differently to the therapy which was already stipulated for the treatment.

In the process of creation of this "map", researchers traced the origins of PC cells. This technique is called tumour cell lineage. They soon found that even though all cells under the radar carried cancer, some of them originated from the stomach, while many others seemed to originate from the intestine, ANI reported.

The scientists successfully created a gene signature which was able to predict survival rates much better than other ways available.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-new-state-of-matter-liquid-glass-355332" hreflang="en">Scientists discover new state of matter: Liquid Glass</a>

Researchers from the University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Center recently came up with a way to better predict the survival rates of patients with gastric cancer.

Researchers from the University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Center recently came up with a way to better predict the survival rates of patients with gastric cancer. According to the findings which were published in Nature Medicine, scientists were able to develop and validate a gene expression signature which was able to better predict survival rates of patients with gastric cancer. In "peritoneal carcinomatosis", cancer cells breach and attack the abdominal cavity, which is around the stomach and other organs. Most common among patients with advanced gastric cancers, it can also appear with any kind of gastrointestinal cancers. Among people with advanced cancers, it appears in at least 45 per cent of the patients. Also read: Scientists believe bacteria called 'Iron Man' can help in protecting the environment As part of this condition, fluid accumulation takes place in the abdominal cavity, and the patients with the condition live for less than six months. During the process of this study, researchers took up cells from patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis and isolated them. Out of the participants of the study, ten were long-term survivors of the disease, and had survived over a year after a diagnosis. An additional 10 patients were short-term survivors who lived for less than six months after being diagnosed. To better understand the route of gastric cancer and to treat tumour cells, researchers created a "map" of cells which carried the disease, and focused on the type of cells found in one patient, and how the cells were performing. Also read: New treatment reduces mortality in Covid patients, study finds If different kinds of cells are present in a tumour, it is called "intratumour heterogeneity", and can cause failures of treatment. In addition, it could cause many cancer cells to reappear, which then respond differently to the therapy which was already stipulated for the treatment. In the process of creation of this "map", researchers traced the origins of PC cells. This technique is called tumour cell lineage. They soon found that even though all cells under the radar carried cancer, some of them originated from the stomach, while many others seemed to originate from the intestine, ANI reported. The scientists successfully created a gene signature which was able to predict survival rates much better than other ways available. Also read: Scientists discover new state of matter: Liquid Glass

Scientists develop a way to better predict survival rates among patients with gastric cancer

Groundwater is a precious commodity. Although there abundance of water on Earth, a very very tiny fraction of its freshwater. This means that we have limited water to drink. Scarcity of water is an issue in itself but now a study has found that land is sinking world over due to excessive removal of groundwater.&nbsp;

The study has been carried out by American Association for the Advancement of Science nad has been published in the journal Eureka Alert! The study has been funded by the UNESCO.

As per the study, the majority of the 635 million inhabitants of subsistence-susceptible areas are located in Asia. Subsistence simply means that the ground is sinking. As per a Guardian report, countries like Mexico, India and China are rapidly draining groundwater to meet the food demand.

Economic growth has also been cited as one of the reasons for greater demand for groundwater.

The study has highlighted some scary facts.

It says that Jakarta has sunk by 2.5 metres in last decade. This is a huge thing considering changes in Earth's surface to the tune of mere centimetres are considered significant. The study notes that 25 per cent of the Netherlands is below sea level and more areas are under threat of subsidence.

The phenomenon mentioned in the study when coupled with rising sea levels due to global warming can prove to be horrible for global population in years to come.

The study has called for policy changes to tackle the situation.

Groundwater is a precious commodity. Although there abundance of water on Earth, a very very tiny fraction of its freshwater. This means that we have limited water to drink.

Groundwater is a precious commodity. Although there abundance of water on Earth, a very very tiny fraction of its freshwater. This means that we have limited water to drink. Scarcity of water is an issue in itself but now a study has found that land is sinking world over due to excessive removal of groundwater. The study has been carried out by American Association for the Advancement of Science nad has been published in the journal Eureka Alert! The study has been funded by the UNESCO. As per the study, the majority of the 635 million inhabitants of subsistence-susceptible areas are located in Asia. Subsistence simply means that the ground is sinking. As per a Guardian report, countries like Mexico, India and China are rapidly draining groundwater to meet the food demand. Economic growth has also been cited as one of the reasons for greater demand for groundwater. The study has highlighted some scary facts. It says that Jakarta has sunk by 2.5 metres in last decade. This is a huge thing considering changes in Earth's surface to the tune of mere centimetres are considered significant. The study notes that 25 per cent of the Netherlands is below sea level and more areas are under threat of subsidence. The phenomenon mentioned in the study when coupled with rising sea levels due to global warming can prove to be horrible for global population in years to come. The study has called for policy changes to tackle the situation.

Land is sinking fast world over because of excessive groundwater removal: Study

Intact fossils are something like a goldmine for Paleontologists. But fossils have limitations so to speak. This is because soft tissues are seldom preserved in a fossil. But remains preserved in permafrost? Well, that is another thing.

One such perfectly preserved wolf has been found in Canada. The animal was covered by permafrost and is 57,000 years old! Due to its preservation in ice, the wolf's soft tissues and even fur is intact and this has opened doors for scientists to study animals in that era in great detail.

It is a female wolf puppy and has been found in Yukon, Canada. It has been named Zhur. Researchers have been quoted to call it "the oldest, most complete wolf"

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rock-collected-220-years-ago-turns-out-to-be-an-entirely-new-mineral-351971">Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral</a>

The wolf was found in Klondike goldfields, near Dawson City by a gold miner who was blasting a wall of frozen mud.&nbsp;

X-ray technique analysis has revealed that the puppy was 6-7 weeks old. Researchers say that the puppy lived during times when ice sheets were receding. This means that there was a lot of freshwater around when it was alive.

Intact fossils are something like a goldmine for Paleontologists. But fossils have limitations so to speak. This is because soft tissues are seldom preserved in a fossil.

Intact fossils are something like a goldmine for Paleontologists. But fossils have limitations so to speak. This is because soft tissues are seldom preserved in a fossil. But remains preserved in permafrost? Well, that is another thing. One such perfectly preserved wolf has been found in Canada. The animal was covered by permafrost and is 57,000 years old! Due to its preservation in ice, the wolf's soft tissues and even fur is intact and this has opened doors for scientists to study animals in that era in great detail. It is a female wolf puppy and has been found in Yukon, Canada. It has been named Zhur. Researchers have been quoted to call it "the oldest, most complete wolf" Also Read | Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral The wolf was found in Klondike goldfields, near Dawson City by a gold miner who was blasting a wall of frozen mud. X-ray technique analysis has revealed that the puppy was 6-7 weeks old. Researchers say that the puppy lived during times when ice sheets were receding. This means that there was a lot of freshwater around when it was alive.

Goldminer finds perfectly preserved wolf in Canadian permafrost

Ever wondered during Chemistry class why there were almost no new elements discovered than those already in the periodic table? Well, it may have led you to believe that humans have found everything there is about nature. But just when we become comfortable in such a thought, nature spins out a surprise and we realise we are yet to grasp the full wonder.

A sample of rock was collected from a mine in Cornwall, England some 220 years ago. It was catalogued as something else and kept in London's Natural History Museum since 1964. But now it has been found that sample contained an entirely new species of minerals.

The new mineral has been named Kernowite, after the Cornish language word Kernow which means a county. The mineral was found by a team at Natural History Museum.

The county of Kernow is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. But a mine was active in St Day village in the county between 1790 and 1909.

The mine has now been demolished and there is a housing complex at the location.

This means that there is no way to go back and collect more rock samples.&nbsp;

Given all this, it amazes us to think that new minerals are still being discovered in year 2020 and nature has many secrets still to be discovered.

Ever wondered during Chemistry class why there were almost no new elements discovered than those already in the periodic table? Well, it may have led you to believe that humans have found everything there is about nature.

Ever wondered during Chemistry class why there were almost no new elements discovered than those already in the periodic table? Well, it may have led you to believe that humans have found everything there is about nature. But just when we become comfortable in such a thought, nature spins out a surprise and we realise we are yet to grasp the full wonder. A sample of rock was collected from a mine in Cornwall, England some 220 years ago. It was catalogued as something else and kept in London's Natural History Museum since 1964. But now it has been found that sample contained an entirely new species of minerals. The new mineral has been named Kernowite, after the Cornish language word Kernow which means a county. The mineral was found by a team at Natural History Museum. The county of Kernow is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. But a mine was active in St Day village in the county between 1790 and 1909. The mine has now been demolished and there is a housing complex at the location. This means that there is no way to go back and collect more rock samples. Given all this, it amazes us to think that new minerals are still being discovered in year 2020 and nature has many secrets still to be discovered.

Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral

Witnessing snowfall is not something all Indians can experience all time. And for some of us, snow and shape of snowflakes is something we see only in cartoons and fairy tales. But anyone who sees a picture of snowflake is sure to be transfixed for a while.

It's a unique design, perfect structure bearing resemblance to a hexagon. The pristine form makes us amazed at nature's craftsmanship.

But did you know snowflakes are like human fingerprints in a sense no two of them are alike? Yes they have a hexagonal structure but there is an exact science behind the shape of snowflakes.

A snowflake forms when an extremely cold water droplet freezes on dust particle or pollen. As it falls to the ground, each snowflake encounters different atmospheric conditions. It turns into a crystal.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rock-collected-220-years-ago-turns-out-to-be-an-entirely-new-mineral-351971">Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral</a>

As the crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes on the primary crystal. This gives rise to formation of new crystals. This is visible in the form of six arms of the snowflake. There is an actual classification system for snowflakes and crystal shapes.

The classes are: stellar dendrites, sectored plates, rimed crystals, hollow columns, needles, spatial dendrites, capped columns and irregular forms.

The temperature at which the crystal forms and humidity in the air determines the basic shape of the crystal.

Snowflake on its own is a delicate, beautiful structure but in large quantities, it can even bring a megacity to a halt. Beauty of nature indeed.

Witnessing snowfall is not something all Indians can experience all time. And for some of us, snow and shape of snowflakes is something we see only in cartoons and fairy tales.

Witnessing snowfall is not something all Indians can experience all time. And for some of us, snow and shape of snowflakes is something we see only in cartoons and fairy tales. But anyone who sees a picture of snowflake is sure to be transfixed for a while. It's a unique design, perfect structure bearing resemblance to a hexagon. The pristine form makes us amazed at nature's craftsmanship. But did you know snowflakes are like human fingerprints in a sense no two of them are alike? Yes they have a hexagonal structure but there is an exact science behind the shape of snowflakes. A snowflake forms when an extremely cold water droplet freezes on dust particle or pollen. As it falls to the ground, each snowflake encounters different atmospheric conditions. It turns into a crystal. Also Read | Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral As the crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes on the primary crystal. This gives rise to formation of new crystals. This is visible in the form of six arms of the snowflake. There is an actual classification system for snowflakes and crystal shapes. The classes are: stellar dendrites, sectored plates, rimed crystals, hollow columns, needles, spatial dendrites, capped columns and irregular forms. The temperature at which the crystal forms and humidity in the air determines the basic shape of the crystal. Snowflake on its own is a delicate, beautiful structure but in large quantities, it can even bring a megacity to a halt. Beauty of nature indeed.

Why snowflakes have their unique shape

Australia is land of creatures that may not always be as sweet lookimg as Kangaroos. Videos of scary spiders living inside Aussie houses do rounds on social media periodically. So its perhaps fitting that scientists would identify a giant crocodile or something there. This is exactly what has happened.

A new species of a crocodile, informally called the 'Swamp King' has been identified by the scientists in Australia. The crocodile lived in prehistoric times, about 5.33 and 2.58 million years ago.

The croc was&nbsp;more than 16 feet (five metres) long and was one of the top predators in Australia, as per press release from University of Queensland.

The creature has been named Paludirex vincenti. Paludirex means swamp kingt in Latin while 'vincenti' honours Geoff Vincent, who first found the fossiled skull of the crocodile.

Just to get a sense of how scary this crocodile was, it should be mentioned that it had more heavy-set skull than largest living crocodile today. This may also translate to greater bite force.

As per the university, Paludirex vincenti was one of top predators in Australia and was able to eat giant prehistoric marsupials.

However, the reason why this crocodile went extinct is not yet known.

Australia is land of creatures that may not always be as sweet lookimg as Kangaroos. Videos of scary spiders living inside Aussie houses do rounds on social media periodically.

Australia is land of creatures that may not always be as sweet lookimg as Kangaroos. Videos of scary spiders living inside Aussie houses do rounds on social media periodically. So its perhaps fitting that scientists would identify a giant crocodile or something there. This is exactly what has happened. A new species of a crocodile, informally called the 'Swamp King' has been identified by the scientists in Australia. The crocodile lived in prehistoric times, about 5.33 and 2.58 million years ago. The croc was more than 16 feet (five metres) long and was one of the top predators in Australia, as per press release from University of Queensland. The creature has been named Paludirex vincenti. Paludirex means swamp kingt in Latin while 'vincenti' honours Geoff Vincent, who first found the fossiled skull of the crocodile. Just to get a sense of how scary this crocodile was, it should be mentioned that it had more heavy-set skull than largest living crocodile today. This may also translate to greater bite force. As per the university, Paludirex vincenti was one of top predators in Australia and was able to eat giant prehistoric marsupials. However, the reason why this crocodile went extinct is not yet known.

'Swamp King' croc identified in Australia

Imagine you’re a pepper plant. You need water and nutrients. Luckily, you can grow roots that grab that stuff from the soil and pipe it back to you. So far, so good.

There’s just one problem. Your neighbor — also a pepper plant — needs the same things. There’s only so much to go around. What’s your move?

For years, researchers have looked into the tangled problem of root competition, coming up with diverse and sometimes conflicting findings about how plants strategically arrange their roots when the dirt gets crowded. A paper published this month in Science details a new model that appears to reconcile this confusion by accounting for the spatial distribution of roots along with their prevalence. In initial tests performed by the paper’s authors, real plants played by the rules the model laid out.

It takes energy and materials to grow and maintain a root. Ideally, a plant will get more resources out of its roots than it spends on their construction and upkeep. Plants can sense the concentration of water and nutrients in particular soil patches, and apportion roots accordingly, to maximize their yield.

For a solitary plant, this is simple enough. But when other plants are around, the calculus changes. Researchers have borrowed tools from game theory — a way to analyze and optimize decision making, used by everyone from financial analysts to actual gamers — to try to figure out exactly how.

One model, published in 2001, predicted that plants growing close together end up in a “tragedy of the commons,” with each individual in a shared space making more roots than a lone plant would, but also getting fewer rewards. Some real-world experiments matched this model, finding that plants with neighbors did create more root mass than those growing on their own.

But other studies have found the opposite: that competing plants invested less in roots. And others still found no appreciable difference.

“There was all this controversy,” said Ciro Cabal, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton University and the lead author of the new study.

Cabal wondered whether that model, and others like it, might be missing a component. They treated all roots the same, no matter their distance from the plant’s stem. But in reality, the farther a root grows from the plant, the more costly it is to produce and maintain.

So he and his co-authors built a new model to account for that. “We incorporated space,” he said. “And we found this new theory.”

In their model, a plant facing competition will underproduce those more expensive, wide-ranging roots that might otherwise overlap with a neighbor’s. But it will overproduce roots closer to home, effectively consolidating power and preventing any “I drink your milkshake” style plays.

Whether plants with neighbors over- or underproduce roots compared with solo plants depends on how far apart the two competing plants are, Cabal said. So those findings from previous studies that seemed to contradict each other are “all possible according to our model.”

Next, the researchers brought this hypothetical math down to earth. They planted sweet peppers in containers — some alone, and some in twos about four inches apart — and stained the roots of the rival peppers with dyes, to differentiate them. After a few months, they mapped out where and how densely each plant’s roots had grown, and found it matched the model. The paired peppers grew more roots that stayed close to home, and fewer that went farther away, compared with the peppers that had containers to themselves.

The new model “provides an excellent baseline prediction for how root systems might behave in the presence of neighbors,” and brings together hypotheses and findings that previously seemed contradictory, said Jochen Schenk, a professor of plant biology at California State University Fullerton who was not involved in the study.

But he cautions against overgeneralizing about its findings.

“I would not accept the claim that a single test with one plant species can tell us what plants will do in general,” he said.

Different species may respond to each other in different ways. Recent research also suggests that other life-forms, such as fungi and microbes, bear on how some plants interact underground.

Even Cabal did not expect that his model and experiment would correspond so neatly. While he expects real-world cases to challenge the particulars of the model, “I truly believe that the principle we present is true,” he said. Next, he plans to try his experiment in the wild, on a few species of Mediterranean shrub.

If this strategy does turn out to be widely used by plants, people could use it to incorporate more accurate estimates of plant biomass into climate models, Cabal said. And if it’s possible, breeding some of the competitiveness out of plants could also improve yields in agriculture. Farmers are often stymied by self-interested crops that put their energy into roots instead of fruits.

Cabal and his co-authors also modeled what he called a “cooperative solution” to the nutrient-sharing problem. In this scenario, “each plant is not being selfish — it’s not maximizing its own reward,” he said. Instead, the plants collectively position their roots to produce the most nutrient uptake for the least investment overall.

Alas, experimentally, “we didn’t find it in these plants,” he said.

For now, it’s every pepper for itself.

Imagine you’re a pepper plant. You need water and nutrients. Luckily, you can grow roots that grab that stuff from the soil and pipe it back to you. So far, so good.

Imagine you’re a pepper plant. You need water and nutrients. Luckily, you can grow roots that grab that stuff from the soil and pipe it back to you. So far, so good. There’s just one problem. Your neighbor — also a pepper plant — needs the same things. There’s only so much to go around. What’s your move? For years, researchers have looked into the tangled problem of root competition, coming up with diverse and sometimes conflicting findings about how plants strategically arrange their roots when the dirt gets crowded. A paper published this month in Science details a new model that appears to reconcile this confusion by accounting for the spatial distribution of roots along with their prevalence. In initial tests performed by the paper’s authors, real plants played by the rules the model laid out. It takes energy and materials to grow and maintain a root. Ideally, a plant will get more resources out of its roots than it spends on their construction and upkeep. Plants can sense the concentration of water and nutrients in particular soil patches, and apportion roots accordingly, to maximize their yield. For a solitary plant, this is simple enough. But when other plants are around, the calculus changes. Researchers have borrowed tools from game theory — a way to analyze and optimize decision making, used by everyone from financial analysts to actual gamers — to try to figure out exactly how. One model, published in 2001, predicted that plants growing close together end up in a “tragedy of the commons,” with each individual in a shared space making more roots than a lone plant would, but also getting fewer rewards. Some real-world experiments matched this model, finding that plants with neighbors did create more root mass than those growing on their own. But other studies have found the opposite: that competing plants invested less in roots. And others still found no appreciable difference. “There was all this controversy,” said Ciro Cabal, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton University and the lead author of the new study. Cabal wondered whether that model, and others like it, might be missing a component. They treated all roots the same, no matter their distance from the plant’s stem. But in reality, the farther a root grows from the plant, the more costly it is to produce and maintain. So he and his co-authors built a new model to account for that. “We incorporated space,” he said. “And we found this new theory.” In their model, a plant facing competition will underproduce those more expensive, wide-ranging roots that might otherwise overlap with a neighbor’s. But it will overproduce roots closer to home, effectively consolidating power and preventing any “I drink your milkshake” style plays. Whether plants with neighbors over- or underproduce roots compared with solo plants depends on how far apart the two competing plants are, Cabal said. So those findings from previous studies that seemed to contradict each other are “all possible according to our model.” Next, the researchers brought this hypothetical math down to earth. They planted sweet peppers in containers — some alone, and some in twos about four inches apart — and stained the roots of the rival peppers with dyes, to differentiate them. After a few months, they mapped out where and how densely each plant’s roots had grown, and found it matched the model. The paired peppers grew more roots that stayed close to home, and fewer that went farther away, compared with the peppers that had containers to themselves. The new model “provides an excellent baseline prediction for how root systems might behave in the presence of neighbors,” and brings together hypotheses and findings that previously seemed contradictory, said Jochen Schenk, a professor of plant biology at California State University Fullerton who was not involved in the study. But he cautions against overgeneralizing about its findings. “I would not accept the claim that a single test with one plant species can tell us what plants will do in general,” he said. Different species may respond to each other in different ways. Recent research also suggests that other life-forms, such as fungi and microbes, bear on how some plants interact underground. Even Cabal did not expect that his model and experiment would correspond so neatly. While he expects real-world cases to challenge the particulars of the model, “I truly believe that the principle we present is true,” he said. Next, he plans to try his experiment in the wild, on a few species of Mediterranean shrub. If this strategy does turn out to be widely used by plants, people could use it to incorporate more accurate estimates of plant biomass into climate models, Cabal said. And if it’s possible, breeding some of the competitiveness out of plants could also improve yields in agriculture. Farmers are often stymied by self-interested crops that put their energy into roots instead of fruits. Cabal and his co-authors also modeled what he called a “cooperative solution” to the nutrient-sharing problem. In this scenario, “each plant is not being selfish — it’s not maximizing its own reward,” he said. Instead, the plants collectively position their roots to produce the most nutrient uptake for the least investment overall. Alas, experimentally, “we didn’t find it in these plants,” he said. For now, it’s every pepper for itself.

How selfish are plants? Let’s do some root analysis

We know that animals like bears go into hibernation, or prolonged periods of sleep to survive unforgiving winters in polar regions and other cold places. But we humans don't feel the need to sleep for weeks or months at a time right? All we need to do is wear appropriate clothes?

That may be the reality for us in modern times but researchers have now said that early humans hibernated to survive through winter.

The research has been published in the scientific journal L’Anthropologie. In their research, Juan-Luis Arsuaga and Antonis Bartsiokas of Democritus University of Thrace in Greece have based their theory on study of bones found in &nbsp;Sima de los Huesos (The pit of bones), a cave in northern Spain that contains&nbsp;fossilised remains of bones of early humans that inhabited the region half a million years ago.

The cave is a mass grave, say researchers who have found large number of remains of bones and human teeth. These belonged to Neanderthal humans.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/will-ghost-sharks-vanish-before-scientists-can-study-them-350830">Will ghost sharks vanish before scientists can study them?</a>

The bones show a peculiarity. The bone show signs that their growth was disrupted. This shows seasonal variation, as per the researchers. This, say the researchers, shows that the bone growth was disrupted for several months in a year. This disruption was due to hibernation, they say.

These humans found themselves “in metabolic states that helped them to survive for long periods of time in frigid conditions with limited supplies of food and enough stores of body fat” say the researchers in their paper. In essence, the researcher say that these humans hibernated during winter months to cope with extreme cold and shortage of food.

The researchers admit that this may sound like science fiction but point out that mammals such as bushbabies and lemurs do this.

“This suggests that the genetic basis and physiology for such a hypometabolism could be preserved in many mammalian species including humans,” say the researchers.

We know that animals like bears go into hibernation, or prolonged periods of sleep to survive unforgiving winters in polar regions and other cold places. But we humans don't feel the need to sleep for weeks or months at a time right?

We know that animals like bears go into hibernation, or prolonged periods of sleep to survive unforgiving winters in polar regions and other cold places. But we humans don't feel the need to sleep for weeks or months at a time right? All we need to do is wear appropriate clothes? That may be the reality for us in modern times but researchers have now said that early humans hibernated to survive through winter. The research has been published in the scientific journal L’Anthropologie. In their research, Juan-Luis Arsuaga and Antonis Bartsiokas of Democritus University of Thrace in Greece have based their theory on study of bones found in Sima de los Huesos (The pit of bones), a cave in northern Spain that contains fossilised remains of bones of early humans that inhabited the region half a million years ago. The cave is a mass grave, say researchers who have found large number of remains of bones and human teeth. These belonged to Neanderthal humans. Also Read | Will ghost sharks vanish before scientists can study them? The bones show a peculiarity. The bone show signs that their growth was disrupted. This shows seasonal variation, as per the researchers. This, say the researchers, shows that the bone growth was disrupted for several months in a year. This disruption was due to hibernation, they say. These humans found themselves “in metabolic states that helped them to survive for long periods of time in frigid conditions with limited supplies of food and enough stores of body fat” say the researchers in their paper. In essence, the researcher say that these humans hibernated during winter months to cope with extreme cold and shortage of food. The researchers admit that this may sound like science fiction but point out that mammals such as bushbabies and lemurs do this. “This suggests that the genetic basis and physiology for such a hypometabolism could be preserved in many mammalian species including humans,” say the researchers.

Early humans may have hibernated to survive harsh winters

2020 has given us a lot to clutch our heads and scream. While coronavirus pandemic was the major reason, the year will live in infamy due to many horrible reasons. And just as when we thought we were slipping past its grip, the news has arrived that five asteroids are slated to make a close call to Earth in a single week. And two of them are going to flyby at a distance less than that between Earth and the Moon

Remember what happened last time an asteroid struck Earth? It wiped out 95 per cent of life on the planet including the dinosaurs who were the dominant species then.

No prize for guessing which dominant species on Earth will be wiped out now if a space rock is to strike our planet at a speed of thousands of kilometres per hour

So let's take a look

Asteroid 2020 XF4 is just 11 metres across but its superspeed gives it a deadly momentum. It's a good thing then it is going to miss the Earth. However, it will come closer to Earth than the Moon. It will fly past Earth at a distance of 343,047 km. Distance between Earth and the Moon is 386,000 km

Asteroid 2020 VY1 is slightly bigger. This 24-metre space-rock will fly by at a distance of 5 million kilometres.

Then there is asteroid 2020 XS5 which will hurtle past Earth at distance of 2 million km&nbsp;

Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-captures-himalayan-mountains-delhis-city-lights-from-space-350259">NASA captures Himalayan mountains, Delhi's city lights from space</a>

However, asteroid 2020 XX3 will come much much closer. It will give Earth a miss at only 57 thousand kilometres. This distance may appear to be a lot but considering measurements in Space, this is not much.

Finally, asteroid 2020 XF3 will pass by Earth. But it will cut a wide berth at 6.9 million kilometres.

Let's hope the year 2020 does not have any more surprises.

2020 has given us a lot to clutch our heads and scream. While coronavirus pandemic was the major reason, the year will live in infamy due to many horrible reasons.

2020 has given us a lot to clutch our heads and scream. While coronavirus pandemic was the major reason, the year will live in infamy due to many horrible reasons. And just as when we thought we were slipping past its grip, the news has arrived that five asteroids are slated to make a close call to Earth in a single week. And two of them are going to flyby at a distance less than that between Earth and the Moon Remember what happened last time an asteroid struck Earth? It wiped out 95 per cent of life on the planet including the dinosaurs who were the dominant species then. No prize for guessing which dominant species on Earth will be wiped out now if a space rock is to strike our planet at a speed of thousands of kilometres per hour So let's take a look Asteroid 2020 XF4 is just 11 metres across but its superspeed gives it a deadly momentum. It's a good thing then it is going to miss the Earth. However, it will come closer to Earth than the Moon. It will fly past Earth at a distance of 343,047 km. Distance between Earth and the Moon is 386,000 km Asteroid 2020 VY1 is slightly bigger. This 24-metre space-rock will fly by at a distance of 5 million kilometres. Then there is asteroid 2020 XS5 which will hurtle past Earth at distance of 2 million km Watch: NASA captures Himalayan mountains, Delhi's city lights from space However, asteroid 2020 XX3 will come much much closer. It will give Earth a miss at only 57 thousand kilometres. This distance may appear to be a lot but considering measurements in Space, this is not much. Finally, asteroid 2020 XF3 will pass by Earth. But it will cut a wide berth at 6.9 million kilometres. Let's hope the year 2020 does not have any more surprises.

Five asteroids to make close call to Earth this week

Ever wondered what the source of all energy on our planet - the Sun looks like close up?&nbsp;Scientists recently released a detailed image of a sunspot, making it the first such image ever.

The image was taken on January 28 by the Inouye Solar Telescope, and shows magnetic structures that are 20 kilometres long on the Sun’s surface. Think this is a big number? On the Sun, it is not!

Take a look below!

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Image courtesy: NSF/NSO/AURA

Thomas Rimmele, the associate director at NSF’s National Solar Observatory (NSO) announced earlier in a statement for the National Science Foundation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-material-can-store-solar-energy-for-months-and-even-years-349440" hreflang="en">New material can store solar energy for months... and even years!</a>

The image was released on December 3, and marks the first time any such image of a sunspot has been taken.

The telescope used to take the picture is the largest one dedicated to the study of the Sun, and is operated by the National Science Foundation.

The image of the sunspot captures a small part of the Sun - 16,100 kilometres to be exact (10,000 miles). But the Earth itself could easily fir into this part of the sun.

The sunspot has a dark centre, which then branches out into brightness.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-australian-state-now-runs-on-100-renewable-energy-349230" hreflang="en">This Australian state now runs on 100% renewable energy</a>

In the dark region lies heat - a lot of it. It also reflects a concentration of magnetic fields that are blocked from reaching the surface of the star.

And guess what? It’s not even the hottest part of the Sun, in fact it is relatively cooler than the brightest parts of this sunspot.

Even then, it’s 4,100 degree Celsius hot! That’s 7,500 degrees F!&nbsp;

The Inouye Solar Telescope caught the image before even completion. But the NSF says this image points to what it could capture once it’s completed in 2021. It has advanced optics and a 4 metre primary mirror.

Ever wondered what the source of all energy on our planet - the Sun looks like close up? Scientists recently released a detailed image of a sunspot, making it the first such image ever.

Ever wondered what the source of all energy on our planet - the Sun looks like close up? Scientists recently released a detailed image of a sunspot, making it the first such image ever. The image was taken on January 28 by the Inouye Solar Telescope, and shows magnetic structures that are 20 kilometres long on the Sun’s surface. Think this is a big number? On the Sun, it is not! Take a look below! Image courtesy: NSF/NSO/AURA Thomas Rimmele, the associate director at NSF’s National Solar Observatory (NSO) announced earlier in a statement for the National Science Foundation. Also read: New material can store solar energy for months... and even years! The image was released on December 3, and marks the first time any such image of a sunspot has been taken. The telescope used to take the picture is the largest one dedicated to the study of the Sun, and is operated by the National Science Foundation. The image of the sunspot captures a small part of the Sun - 16,100 kilometres to be exact (10,000 miles). But the Earth itself could easily fir into this part of the sun. The sunspot has a dark centre, which then branches out into brightness. Also read: This Australian state now runs on 100% renewable energy In the dark region lies heat - a lot of it. It also reflects a concentration of magnetic fields that are blocked from reaching the surface of the star. And guess what? It’s not even the hottest part of the Sun, in fact it is relatively cooler than the brightest parts of this sunspot. Even then, it’s 4,100 degree Celsius hot! That’s 7,500 degrees F! The Inouye Solar Telescope caught the image before even completion. But the NSF says this image points to what it could capture once it’s completed in 2021. It has advanced optics and a 4 metre primary mirror.

Look at the most detailed image of a sunspot ever captured!

Renewable energy is the need of the hour, as global warming continues to ravage the planet. Just yesterday, United Nations chief urged every country to declare a “climate emergency”. Now, sustainable ways of using resources at hand, and employing new technologies are the only ways to save planet Earth.

Energy is the source of all life on the planet, and scientists may have just figured out a way to store energy for months, or even years.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ufo-sightings-in-new-york-city-jumped-by-over-283-this-year-compared-to-2018-349410" hreflang="en">UFO sightings in New York City jumped by over 283% this year compared to 2018</a>

The material that would allow such a momentous feat to become reality is called “metal-organic framework” or MOF. In this, carbon-based molecules form structures and link themselves to metal ions.

MOFs are highly porous, which means that they attack and create composite material in collaboration with other small molecules.

Scientists added the molecules of the compound - azobenzene, which is capable of absorbing light.

On average, the composite material was able to store energy emanating from ultraviolet light for at least four months at room temperature. After this, it was able to release it again.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/black-holes-can-grow-hair-when-spinning-fast-348763" hreflang="en">Black holes can grow ‘hair’ when spinning fast</a>

This marks a big improvement over days and weeks which many light-responsive materials can manage.&nbsp;

ScienceAlert spoke to a materials chemist from Lancaster University in the UK - John Griffins who said that the material functions like a “phase change materials”, that are used to provide heat in hand warmers. However, hand warmers require to be recharged, but this material captures energy directly from the Sun.

The material still requires a lot of work before it comes universally viable. But it may eventually be used to remove ice from car windscreens, and to provide heating to homes and offices.

Additionally, a “photoswitch” like this could have applications in data storage and drug delivery.

Renewable energy is the need of the hour, as global warming continues to ravage the planet. Just yesterday, United Nations chief urged every country to declare a “climate emergency”.

Renewable energy is the need of the hour, as global warming continues to ravage the planet. Just yesterday, United Nations chief urged every country to declare a “climate emergency”. Now, sustainable ways of using resources at hand, and employing new technologies are the only ways to save planet Earth. Energy is the source of all life on the planet, and scientists may have just figured out a way to store energy for months, or even years. Also read: UFO sightings in New York City jumped by over 283% this year compared to 2018 The material that would allow such a momentous feat to become reality is called “metal-organic framework” or MOF. In this, carbon-based molecules form structures and link themselves to metal ions. MOFs are highly porous, which means that they attack and create composite material in collaboration with other small molecules. Scientists added the molecules of the compound - azobenzene, which is capable of absorbing light. On average, the composite material was able to store energy emanating from ultraviolet light for at least four months at room temperature. After this, it was able to release it again. Also read: Black holes can grow ‘hair’ when spinning fast This marks a big improvement over days and weeks which many light-responsive materials can manage. ScienceAlert spoke to a materials chemist from Lancaster University in the UK - John Griffins who said that the material functions like a “phase change materials”, that are used to provide heat in hand warmers. However, hand warmers require to be recharged, but this material captures energy directly from the Sun. The material still requires a lot of work before it comes universally viable. But it may eventually be used to remove ice from car windscreens, and to provide heating to homes and offices. Additionally, a “photoswitch” like this could have applications in data storage and drug delivery.

New material can store solar energy for months... and even years!

It's a well-established fact that humans take a heavy toll on nature. This has been especially true in the 20th century and ahead. But now there are signs that we may truly be stretching limits of the planet we call home. A study published in Nature magazine says that Human-made materials outweigh Earth's entire biomass.

The meaning of this inference is scary. It means that our plastics, our concrete, electronic waste materials etc along with other things weigh more than plants, animals and other biomass.

The study has examined changes in global biomass and human-made mass from 1900 to present day. The researchers found that at the beginning of the 20th century, the mass of man-made objects was just 3 per cent of world's total biomass.

But now the human-made mass has reached a whopping 1.1 teratonnes.&nbsp;

1 teratonne is 1,000,000,000,000 tonnes.

The amount of plastic alone is more than the mass of land animals and marine creatures combined, said the study.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/outer-space-just-got-a-little-brighter-348678">Outer space just got a little brighter</a>

The study mainly focussed on man-made materials such as concrete, metal, plastic, bricks and asphalt among other things and does not include man-made waste.

However, the reasearchers say that each person in the world is responsible for creation of human-made matter equal to more than his or her body-weight.

The study has been carried out by Ron Milo and his colleagues from Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

It's a well-established fact that humans take a heavy toll on nature. This has been especially true in the 20th century and ahead. But now there are signs that we may truly be stretching limits of the planet we call home.

It's a well-established fact that humans take a heavy toll on nature. This has been especially true in the 20th century and ahead. But now there are signs that we may truly be stretching limits of the planet we call home. A study published in Nature magazine says that Human-made materials outweigh Earth's entire biomass. The meaning of this inference is scary. It means that our plastics, our concrete, electronic waste materials etc along with other things weigh more than plants, animals and other biomass. The study has examined changes in global biomass and human-made mass from 1900 to present day. The researchers found that at the beginning of the 20th century, the mass of man-made objects was just 3 per cent of world's total biomass. But now the human-made mass has reached a whopping 1.1 teratonnes. 1 teratonne is 1,000,000,000,000 tonnes. The amount of plastic alone is more than the mass of land animals and marine creatures combined, said the study. Also Read: Outer space just got a little brighter The study mainly focussed on man-made materials such as concrete, metal, plastic, bricks and asphalt among other things and does not include man-made waste. However, the reasearchers say that each person in the world is responsible for creation of human-made matter equal to more than his or her body-weight. The study has been carried out by Ron Milo and his colleagues from Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Human-made materials outweigh Earth's entire biomass now, says study

Are the signs of natural ageing rattling your self-confidence? Worry not - If Israeli scientists are to be believed, you may soon be able to reverse ageing processes.

And how - by simply using oxygen!

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-if-you-could-defy-ageing-315254/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Scientists at the Tel Aviv University and the Shamir Medical Center claimed to have not only stop ageing, but to reverse it by administering oxygen at high pressure levels in a chamber.&nbsp; According to Al Jazeera, it reversed two processes associated with ageing and illness.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/regular-intake-of-junk-food-can-affect-chromosomes-related-to-ageing-study-324492" hreflang="en">Regular intake of junk food can affect chromosomes related to ageing: Study</a>

One of the scientists involved in the study - Shai Efrati from the Tel Aviv University told The Jerusalem Post that the cellular basis for ageing could possible be reversed.

He referred to his as the “Holy Grail”. “Today telomere shortening is considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of the biology of ageing,” he told The Jerusalem Post.

The scientists were able to achieve “telomere elongation”, which was able to reverse ageing at the cellular level.

Efrati hopes that the mind blowing results could inspire young scientists to view ageing as a treatable disease, instead of a fatal flaw.

Another scientist involved in the study - Amir Hadanny from the Shamir Medical Center claimed that&nbsp; changes in lifestyle and exercise do help in limiting ageing, but that the oxygen based treatment was more effective.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/scientists-successfully-delay-ageing-in-cells-to-be-tried-on-humans-soon-315083" hreflang="en">Scientists successfully delay ageing in cells; to be tried on humans soon</a>

“In our study, only three months of HBOT were able to elongate telomeres at rates far beyond any currently available interventions or lifestyle modifications,” Hadanny said.

The study added that the changes in their physical selves reflected a reversal of 25 years of ageing, at least on cellular basis.

Efrati claimed that they are not simply slowing the decline, but rather going backwards in time.

Are the signs of natural ageing rattling your self-confidence? Worry not - If Israeli scientists are to be believed, you may soon be able to reverse ageing processes.

Are the signs of natural ageing rattling your self-confidence? Worry not - If Israeli scientists are to be believed, you may soon be able to reverse ageing processes. And how - by simply using oxygen! Scientists at the Tel Aviv University and the Shamir Medical Center claimed to have not only stop ageing, but to reverse it by administering oxygen at high pressure levels in a chamber. According to Al Jazeera, it reversed two processes associated with ageing and illness. Also read: Regular intake of junk food can affect chromosomes related to ageing: Study One of the scientists involved in the study - Shai Efrati from the Tel Aviv University told The Jerusalem Post that the cellular basis for ageing could possible be reversed. He referred to his as the “Holy Grail”. “Today telomere shortening is considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of the biology of ageing,” he told The Jerusalem Post. The scientists were able to achieve “telomere elongation”, which was able to reverse ageing at the cellular level. Efrati hopes that the mind blowing results could inspire young scientists to view ageing as a treatable disease, instead of a fatal flaw. Another scientist involved in the study - Amir Hadanny from the Shamir Medical Center claimed that changes in lifestyle and exercise do help in limiting ageing, but that the oxygen based treatment was more effective. Also read: Scientists successfully delay ageing in cells; to be tried on humans soon “In our study, only three months of HBOT were able to elongate telomeres at rates far beyond any currently available interventions or lifestyle modifications,” Hadanny said. The study added that the changes in their physical selves reflected a reversal of 25 years of ageing, at least on cellular basis. Efrati claimed that they are not simply slowing the decline, but rather going backwards in time.

Israeli scientists go 'backward in time' by successfully reversing ageing by 25 years

Scientists have been warning for years that climate change is a very real threat that mankind faces. But many, including prominent world leaders have ignored this. This&nbsp;may have resulted in inadequate response to the problem and we may be at a point of no return. These fears may be true according to researchers who say that global warming will continue even if greenhouse gas emissions responsible for it are reduced to zero.

"According to our models, humanity is beyond the point-of-no-return when it comes to halting the melting of permafrost using greenhouse gas cuts as the single tool," lead author Jorgen Randers, a professor emeritus of climate strategy at the BI Norwegian Business School, told AFP.

The researchers have published their finding in the journal Scientific Reports.

So what's the way to stop global warming?

According to the researchers, the only way to do it is to extract greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them so that they do not go back into it.

Using a stripped-down climate model, Randers and colleague Ulrich Goluke projected changes out to the year 2500 under two scenarios: the instant cessation of emissions, and the gradual reduction of planet warming gases to zero by 2100.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uk-firm-plans-to-turn-moon-rock-into-oxygen-building-materials-341869">UK firm plans to turn moon rock into oxygen, building materials</a> 
 
In an imaginary world where carbon pollution stops with a flip of the switch, the planet warms over the next 50 years to about 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- roughly half-a-degree above the target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement -- and cools slightly after that.

Earth's surface today is 1.2C hotter than it was in the mid-19th century, when temperatures began to rise.

The findings of the researcher if absolutely accurate, does not sound well for the future of humanity as it means that we do not have any way to stop a process that may lead to melting of polar ice-caps and increasing sea levels that may see many megacities around the world going underwater.

But many scientists are contesting the claims made in the study and also the method by which the study was conducted.

Mark Maslin, a professor of climatology at University College London, also pointed to shortcomings in the model, known as ESCIMO, describing the study as a "thought experiment."

"What the study does draw attention to is that reducing global carbon emissions to zero by 2050" -- a goal championed by the UN and embraced by a growing number of countries -- "is just the start of our actions to deal with climate change."

(With AFP inputs)

Scientists have been warning for years that climate change is a very real threat that mankind faces. But many, including prominent world leaders have ignored this.

Scientists have been warning for years that climate change is a very real threat that mankind faces. But many, including prominent world leaders have ignored this. This may have resulted in inadequate response to the problem and we may be at a point of no return. These fears may be true according to researchers who say that global warming will continue even if greenhouse gas emissions responsible for it are reduced to zero. "According to our models, humanity is beyond the point-of-no-return when it comes to halting the melting of permafrost using greenhouse gas cuts as the single tool," lead author Jorgen Randers, a professor emeritus of climate strategy at the BI Norwegian Business School, told AFP. The researchers have published their finding in the journal Scientific Reports. So what's the way to stop global warming? According to the researchers, the only way to do it is to extract greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them so that they do not go back into it. Using a stripped-down climate model, Randers and colleague Ulrich Goluke projected changes out to the year 2500 under two scenarios: the instant cessation of emissions, and the gradual reduction of planet warming gases to zero by 2100. Also Read | UK firm plans to turn moon rock into oxygen, building materials In an imaginary world where carbon pollution stops with a flip of the switch, the planet warms over the next 50 years to about 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- roughly half-a-degree above the target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement -- and cools slightly after that. Earth's surface today is 1.2C hotter than it was in the mid-19th century, when temperatures began to rise. The findings of the researcher if absolutely accurate, does not sound well for the future of humanity as it means that we do not have any way to stop a process that may lead to melting of polar ice-caps and increasing sea levels that may see many megacities around the world going underwater. But many scientists are contesting the claims made in the study and also the method by which the study was conducted. Mark Maslin, a professor of climatology at University College London, also pointed to shortcomings in the model, known as ESCIMO, describing the study as a "thought experiment." "What the study does draw attention to is that reducing global carbon emissions to zero by 2050" -- a goal championed by the UN and embraced by a growing number of countries -- "is just the start of our actions to deal with climate change." (With AFP inputs)

Reducing greenhouse gas emission even to zero won't stop global warming: Study

A decade ago, a band of astronomers set out to investigate one of the oldest questions taunting philosophers, scientists, priests, astronomers, mystics and the rest of the human race: How many more Earths are out there, if any? How many far-flung planets exist that could harbor life as we know it?

Their tool was the Kepler spacecraft, which was launched in March 2009 on a 3-1/2-year mission to monitor 150,000 stars in a patch of sky in the Milky Way. It looked for tiny dips in starlight caused by an exoplanet passing in front of its home star.

“It’s not E.T., but it’s E.T.’s home,” said William Borucki when the mission was launched in March 2009. It was Borucki, an astronomer now retired from NASA’s Ames Research Center, who dreamed up the project and spent two decades convincing NASA to do it.

Before the spacecraft finally gave out in 2018, it had discovered more than 4,000 candidate worlds among those stars. So far, none have shown any sign of life or habitation. (Granted, they are very far away and hard to study.) Extrapolated, that figure suggests that there are billions of exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. But how many of those are potentially habitable?

After crunching Kepler’s data for two years, a team of 44 astronomers led by Steve Bryson of NASA Ames has landed on what they say is the definitive answer, at least for now. Their paper has been accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-uncover-oldest-evidence-of-slingshot-tongue-341109">Scientists uncover oldest evidence of 'slingshot' tongue</a> 
 
Kepler’s formal goal was to measure a number called eta-Earth: the fraction of sunlike stars that have an Earth-size object orbiting them in the “goldilocks” or habitable zone, where it is warm enough for the surface to retain liquid water.

The team calculated that at least one-third, and perhaps as many as 90%, of stars similar in mass and brightness to our sun have rocks like Earth in their habitable zones, with the range reflecting the researchers’ confidence in their various methods and assumptions. That is no small bonanza, however you look at it.

According to NASA estimates there are at least 100 billion stars in the Milky Way, of which about 4 billion are sunlike. If only 7% of those stars have habitable planets — a seriously conservative estimate — there could be as many as 300 million potentially habitable Earths out there in the whole Milky Way alone.

“We want to be very conservative in case nature has any surprises regarding habitability,” said Ravi Kumar Kopparapu, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and one of the authors of the report. “So we are lowballing the estimates intentionally.”

On average, the astronomers calculated, the nearest such planet should be about 20 light-years away, and there should be four of them within 30 light-years or so of the sun.

“It took 11 years from launch to publication, but this is it,” said Natalie Batalha, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who directed the Kepler mission during most of its life and was one of the authors of the new paper, in a triumphant email. “This is the science result we’ve all been waiting for — the reason that Kepler was selected for flight in December 2001.”

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/did-we-just-discover-the-moons-long-lost-sibling-340734">Did we just discover the Moon's long-lost sibling?</a>

The new result means that the galaxy is at least twice as fertile as estimated in one of the first analyses of Kepler data, in 2013. That finding, by Andrew Howard, Erik Petigura and Geoffrey Marcy, who were not part of the Kepler team, concluded that about one-fifth of sunlike stars harbored planets in their habitable zones.

Batalha said that one improvement this time around was the addition of data from the European GAIA satellite, which has measured the position and brightness of 1 billion stars. That knowledge allowed the Kepler scientists to more precisely chart the habitable zones of their stars.

Another improvement was better handling of the statistics, although, as Batalha noted, “surveys are inherently incomplete. You can’t call up every citizen; you can’t observe every star.”

In the case of Kepler, that limitation was serious. The spacecraft’s orientation system failed before Kepler could complete its prime survey, which limited it to detecting planets that had orbital periods of less than about 700 days — about twice the duration of an Earth year.

In an email, David Charbonneau, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said he was slightly skeptical of the results: “The Kepler Mission didn’t detect many (arguably, any) true Earth analogues, i.e. planets with the same radius as Earth AND orbiting at the same period, and hence receiving the same amount of light, AND orbiting sun-like stars.”

As Batalha said at the time, “We don’t yet have any planet candidates that are exact analogues of the Earth in terms of size, orbit or star type.” We still don’t. As a result, the astronomers had to extrapolate data from the planets they did see.

Although these Kepler planets are Earth-size — one-half to 1 1/2 the radius of Earth — and are presumably rocky, nobody knows what they are like in any detail, nor whether anything does, or could, live on them. They are too far away for further study. So far we know of only one planet, our own, that harbors life.

But there are plenty of opportunities yet to find one. The Kepler measurement of eta-Earth only pertains to stars like the sun, but in the galaxy those stars are vastly outnumbered by smaller, dimmer stars known as red dwarfs. One-quarter to one-half of red dwarfs also harbor habitable-zone planets, according to work by Courtney Dressing, now at the University of California, Berkeley, although some astronomers worry that radiation flares from such stars would doom any life trying to get started there. Red dwarf planets were not included in the new analysis of eta-Earth.

The red dwarf planets are relevant to the search for life because Kepler has passed the torch to a spacecraft called the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, which was launched in 2018 to scour the entire sky for exoplanets within a few hundred light years of Earth — the local neighborhood. So far TESS has discovered 66 new exoplanets and has cataloged more than 2,000 candidates.

Most of those planets were expected to be found circling red dwarfs, said George Ricker, an astrophysicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and principal investigator for the mission, in an email: “Since about three-fourths of the stars in the solar neighborhood are M dwarfs, that leaves open a very large discovery space for TESS in the decade ahead!”

Batalha said that young scientists in the future might yet find a way to improve the value of eta-Earth; “until then, this will be the de facto standard.”

The value of eta-Earth is an important and hitherto unknown factor in a mathematical expression known as the Drake equation. It is used by astronomers to estimate how many technological civilizations might exist in the galaxy — and that we might be able to contact by radio or other means some cosmic day.

It’s time to move on the next factor in the Drake equation for extraterrestrial civilizations: the fraction of these worlds on which life emerges. The search for even a single slime mold on some alien rock would revolutionize biology, and it is a worthy agenda for the next half-century as humans continue the climb out of ourselves and into the universe in the endless quest to end our cosmic loneliness.

A decade ago, a band of astronomers set out to investigate one of the oldest questions taunting philosophers, scientists, priests, astronomers, mystics and the rest of the human race: How many more Earths are out there, if any?

A decade ago, a band of astronomers set out to investigate one of the oldest questions taunting philosophers, scientists, priests, astronomers, mystics and the rest of the human race: How many more Earths are out there, if any? How many far-flung planets exist that could harbor life as we know it? Their tool was the Kepler spacecraft, which was launched in March 2009 on a 3-1/2-year mission to monitor 150,000 stars in a patch of sky in the Milky Way. It looked for tiny dips in starlight caused by an exoplanet passing in front of its home star. “It’s not E.T., but it’s E.T.’s home,” said William Borucki when the mission was launched in March 2009. It was Borucki, an astronomer now retired from NASA’s Ames Research Center, who dreamed up the project and spent two decades convincing NASA to do it. Before the spacecraft finally gave out in 2018, it had discovered more than 4,000 candidate worlds among those stars. So far, none have shown any sign of life or habitation. (Granted, they are very far away and hard to study.) Extrapolated, that figure suggests that there are billions of exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. But how many of those are potentially habitable? After crunching Kepler’s data for two years, a team of 44 astronomers led by Steve Bryson of NASA Ames has landed on what they say is the definitive answer, at least for now. Their paper has been accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. Also Read | Scientists uncover oldest evidence of 'slingshot' tongue Kepler’s formal goal was to measure a number called eta-Earth: the fraction of sunlike stars that have an Earth-size object orbiting them in the “goldilocks” or habitable zone, where it is warm enough for the surface to retain liquid water. The team calculated that at least one-third, and perhaps as many as 90%, of stars similar in mass and brightness to our sun have rocks like Earth in their habitable zones, with the range reflecting the researchers’ confidence in their various methods and assumptions. That is no small bonanza, however you look at it. According to NASA estimates there are at least 100 billion stars in the Milky Way, of which about 4 billion are sunlike. If only 7% of those stars have habitable planets — a seriously conservative estimate — there could be as many as 300 million potentially habitable Earths out there in the whole Milky Way alone. “We want to be very conservative in case nature has any surprises regarding habitability,” said Ravi Kumar Kopparapu, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and one of the authors of the report. “So we are lowballing the estimates intentionally.” On average, the astronomers calculated, the nearest such planet should be about 20 light-years away, and there should be four of them within 30 light-years or so of the sun. “It took 11 years from launch to publication, but this is it,” said Natalie Batalha, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who directed the Kepler mission during most of its life and was one of the authors of the new paper, in a triumphant email. “This is the science result we’ve all been waiting for — the reason that Kepler was selected for flight in December 2001.” Also Read | Did we just discover the Moon's long-lost sibling? The new result means that the galaxy is at least twice as fertile as estimated in one of the first analyses of Kepler data, in 2013. That finding, by Andrew Howard, Erik Petigura and Geoffrey Marcy, who were not part of the Kepler team, concluded that about one-fifth of sunlike stars harbored planets in their habitable zones. Batalha said that one improvement this time around was the addition of data from the European GAIA satellite, which has measured the position and brightness of 1 billion stars. That knowledge allowed the Kepler scientists to more precisely chart the habitable zones of their stars. Another improvement was better handling of the statistics, although, as Batalha noted, “surveys are inherently incomplete. You can’t call up every citizen; you can’t observe every star.” In the case of Kepler, that limitation was serious. The spacecraft’s orientation system failed before Kepler could complete its prime survey, which limited it to detecting planets that had orbital periods of less than about 700 days — about twice the duration of an Earth year. In an email, David Charbonneau, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said he was slightly skeptical of the results: “The Kepler Mission didn’t detect many (arguably, any) true Earth analogues, i.e. planets with the same radius as Earth AND orbiting at the same period, and hence receiving the same amount of light, AND orbiting sun-like stars.” As Batalha said at the time, “We don’t yet have any planet candidates that are exact analogues of the Earth in terms of size, orbit or star type.” We still don’t. As a result, the astronomers had to extrapolate data from the planets they did see. Although these Kepler planets are Earth-size — one-half to 1 1/2 the radius of Earth — and are presumably rocky, nobody knows what they are like in any detail, nor whether anything does, or could, live on them. They are too far away for further study. So far we know of only one planet, our own, that harbors life. But there are plenty of opportunities yet to find one. The Kepler measurement of eta-Earth only pertains to stars like the sun, but in the galaxy those stars are vastly outnumbered by smaller, dimmer stars known as red dwarfs. One-quarter to one-half of red dwarfs also harbor habitable-zone planets, according to work by Courtney Dressing, now at the University of California, Berkeley, although some astronomers worry that radiation flares from such stars would doom any life trying to get started there. Red dwarf planets were not included in the new analysis of eta-Earth. The red dwarf planets are relevant to the search for life because Kepler has passed the torch to a spacecraft called the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, which was launched in 2018 to scour the entire sky for exoplanets within a few hundred light years of Earth — the local neighborhood. So far TESS has discovered 66 new exoplanets and has cataloged more than 2,000 candidates. Most of those planets were expected to be found circling red dwarfs, said George Ricker, an astrophysicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and principal investigator for the mission, in an email: “Since about three-fourths of the stars in the solar neighborhood are M dwarfs, that leaves open a very large discovery space for TESS in the decade ahead!” Batalha said that young scientists in the future might yet find a way to improve the value of eta-Earth; “until then, this will be the de facto standard.” The value of eta-Earth is an important and hitherto unknown factor in a mathematical expression known as the Drake equation. It is used by astronomers to estimate how many technological civilizations might exist in the galaxy — and that we might be able to contact by radio or other means some cosmic day. It’s time to move on the next factor in the Drake equation for extraterrestrial civilizations: the fraction of these worlds on which life emerges. The search for even a single slime mold on some alien rock would revolutionize biology, and it is a worthy agenda for the next half-century as humans continue the climb out of ourselves and into the universe in the endless quest to end our cosmic loneliness.

Looking for another Earth? Here are 300 million, maybe

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