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Nearly three hundred scientists gathered in a global program for the planet are trying to promote a "big bang" of women in science, in order to motivate more girls to take an interest in this field and advance in the struggle for equality and visibility.

Data presented by the United Nations on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 reveal that, despite the international effort over the past 15 years to promote women's participation in science, they continue to face barriers.

"When I was pregnant they did not renew my temporary contract and many potential employers told me that I was not suitable for fieldwork or that because I had to take care of my family I would not meet the deadlines," explains Australian Beth Strain after returning from a trip to Antarctica under the women's leadership program Homeward Bound, in which EFE also participated.

"I submitted hundreds of job applications and spent approximately two years looking for work as a researcher," added the marine biologist, who is currently a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and a driving force for green development in her country.

Strain's experience is shared by many of the nearly 300 engineers, doctors, astronomers, biologists and mathematicians in the global Homeward Bound program, who nonetheless see it possible to overcome obstacles with three objectives: becoming visible, working together and impacting the world.

"I still remember the first conference I attended: I almost ran out, seeing only old men in the same dark suits," says Danish Mette Hoe, a leader in the transition to electric transport in her country.

"But, on closer inspection, I discovered that the key to them was networking. I focused on it, I made mistakes like almost everyone else, but I improved, and today strategic networking is a central skill in my leadership role," the 45-year-old expert explains.

The main objective of the Homeward Bound program, of which these scientists are part, is to create a network of 1,000 women of different ages and nationalities within ten years, in order to address the low representation of women in leadership positions and in the same field of science.

According to the UN, " at present, less than 30 per cent of researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO data (2014 - 2016), only around 30 per cent of all female students select STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)fields in higher education."

"I've never doubted the potential of women in science, but we've been losing that potential inside a leaking pipeline, where the higher the academic level, the fewer women we find," says Daisy Hessenberger, a 29-year-old Austrian geneticist and passionate member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

That dropout, according to engineers Kristen Howard and Kelsie Clarke, can be attributed to factors such as job bias, in which a man is more likely to be hired than a woman; the gender pay gap, which increases with age, race or disability; or the difficulty of being both a scientist and a mother.

In line with the goals of Homeward Bound, which already includes scientists from some thirty nationalities, including Spanish and Latin American, the UN is promoting this year's campaign "Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth."

The theme is part of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, in which it has been stressed that future work will be driven by technology and innovation and if inequality in the field of STEM is maintained, the overall gender gap is likely to widen.

Homeward Bound, a 12-month program created by Australian Fabian Dattner and whose annual ending has taken place in Antarctica with the support of Spanish firm Acciona, provides participants with tools to improve their leadership style.

Nearly three hundred scientists gathered in a global program for the planet are trying to promote a "big bang" of women in science, in order to motivate more girls to take an interest in this field and advance in the struggle for equality and visibility.

Nearly three hundred scientists gathered in a global program for the planet are trying to promote a "big bang" of women in science, in order to motivate more girls to take an interest in this field and advance in the struggle for equality and visibility. Data presented by the United Nations on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 reveal that, despite the international effort over the past 15 years to promote women's participation in science, they continue to face barriers. "When I was pregnant they did not renew my temporary contract and many potential employers told me that I was not suitable for fieldwork or that because I had to take care of my family I would not meet the deadlines," explains Australian Beth Strain after returning from a trip to Antarctica under the women's leadership program Homeward Bound, in which EFE also participated. "I submitted hundreds of job applications and spent approximately two years looking for work as a researcher," added the marine biologist, who is currently a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and a driving force for green development in her country. Strain's experience is shared by many of the nearly 300 engineers, doctors, astronomers, biologists and mathematicians in the global Homeward Bound program, who nonetheless see it possible to overcome obstacles with three objectives: becoming visible, working together and impacting the world. "I still remember the first conference I attended: I almost ran out, seeing only old men in the same dark suits," says Danish Mette Hoe, a leader in the transition to electric transport in her country. "But, on closer inspection, I discovered that the key to them was networking. I focused on it, I made mistakes like almost everyone else, but I improved, and today strategic networking is a central skill in my leadership role," the 45-year-old expert explains. The main objective of the Homeward Bound program, of which these scientists are part, is to create a network of 1,000 women of different ages and nationalities within ten years, in order to address the low representation of women in leadership positions and in the same field of science. According to the UN, " at present, less than 30 per cent of researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO data (2014 - 2016), only around 30 per cent of all female students select STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)fields in higher education." "I've never doubted the potential of women in science, but we've been losing that potential inside a leaking pipeline, where the higher the academic level, the fewer women we find," says Daisy Hessenberger, a 29-year-old Austrian geneticist and passionate member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). That dropout, according to engineers Kristen Howard and Kelsie Clarke, can be attributed to factors such as job bias, in which a man is more likely to be hired than a woman; the gender pay gap, which increases with age, race or disability; or the difficulty of being both a scientist and a mother. In line with the goals of Homeward Bound, which already includes scientists from some thirty nationalities, including Spanish and Latin American, the UN is promoting this year's campaign "Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth." The theme is part of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, in which it has been stressed that future work will be driven by technology and innovation and if inequality in the field of STEM is maintained, the overall gender gap is likely to widen. Homeward Bound, a 12-month program created by Australian Fabian Dattner and whose annual ending has taken place in Antarctica with the support of Spanish firm Acciona, provides participants with tools to improve their leadership style.

Women from all over the world promote a female 'big bang' in science

A NASA rover has detected a bonanza of organic compounds on the surface of Mars and seasonal fluctuations of atmospheric methane in findings released on Thursday that mark some of the strongest evidence ever that Earth's neighbour may have harboured life.

But National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists emphasized there could be nonbiological explanations for both discoveries made by the Curiosity rover at a site called Gale crater, leaving the issue of Martian life a tantalizing but unanswered question.

Three different types of organic molecules were discovered when the rover dug just 2 inches (5 cm) into roughly 3.5 billion-year-old mudstone, a fine-grained sedimentary rock, at Gale crater, apparently the site of a large lake when ancient Mars was warmer and wetter than the desolate planet it is today.

Curiosity also measured an unexpectedly large seasonal cycle in the low levels of atmospheric methane. About 95 per cent of the methane in Earth's atmosphere is produced from biological activity, though the scientists said it is too soon to know if the Martian methane also is related to life.

Organic molecules are the building blocks of life, though they can also be produced by chemical reactions unrelated to life. The scientists said it is premature to know whether or not the compounds were created in biological processes.

Whether anywhere other than Earth has harboured life, perhaps even in microbial form, is one of the paramount questions in science.

"There are three possible sources for the organic material," said astrobiologist Jennifer Eigenbrode of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. "The first one would be life, which we don't know about. The second would be meteorites. And the last one is geological processes, meaning the rock-forming processes themselves."

The rover, which has allowed scientists to explore whether Mars ever boasted conditions conducive to life, in 2014 made the first definitive detection of organic molecules, also in Gale crater rock formed from ancient lake sediment - but it was a much more limited set of compounds.

"What the organic detections in the rock do is to add to the story of habitability. It tells us that this ancient environment on Mars could have supported life," Eigenbrode said. "Everything that was needed to support life was there. But it doesn't tell us that life was there."

Christopher Webster, an atmospheric science research fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, said it is possible existing microbes are contributing to the Martian atmospheric methane.

"With this new data, we again cannot rule out the microbial activity as a potential source," Webster said.

The amount of methane peaked at the end of summer in the northern hemisphere at about 2.7 times the level of the lowest seasonal amount.

The scientists were surprised to find organic compounds, especially in the amounts detected, considering the harsh conditions, including the bombardment of solar radiation on the Martian surface. After drilling, Curiosity heats the rock samples, releasing the compounds.

Referring to the findings regarding organic compounds and methane, Webster said, "They hint at an earlier time on Mars when water was present and the existence of primitive life forms was possible."

The scientists hope to find better preserved organic compounds with Curiosity or other rovers that would allow them to check for chemical signatures of life.

The research was published in the journal Science.

Whether anywhere other than Earth has harboured life, perhaps even in microbial form, is one of the paramount questions in science

A NASA rover has detected a bonanza of organic compounds on the surface of Mars and seasonal fluctuations of atmospheric methane in findings released on Thursday that mark some of the strongest evidence ever that Earth's neighbour may have harboured life. But National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists emphasized there could be nonbiological explanations for both discoveries made by the Curiosity rover at a site called Gale crater, leaving the issue of Martian life a tantalizing but unanswered question. Three different types of organic molecules were discovered when the rover dug just 2 inches (5 cm) into roughly 3.5 billion-year-old mudstone, a fine-grained sedimentary rock, at Gale crater, apparently the site of a large lake when ancient Mars was warmer and wetter than the desolate planet it is today. Curiosity also measured an unexpectedly large seasonal cycle in the low levels of atmospheric methane. About 95 per cent of the methane in Earth's atmosphere is produced from biological activity, though the scientists said it is too soon to know if the Martian methane also is related to life. Organic molecules are the building blocks of life, though they can also be produced by chemical reactions unrelated to life. The scientists said it is premature to know whether or not the compounds were created in biological processes. Whether anywhere other than Earth has harboured life, perhaps even in microbial form, is one of the paramount questions in science. "There are three possible sources for the organic material," said astrobiologist Jennifer Eigenbrode of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. "The first one would be life, which we don't know about. The second would be meteorites. And the last one is geological processes, meaning the rock-forming processes themselves." The rover, which has allowed scientists to explore whether Mars ever boasted conditions conducive to life, in 2014 made the first definitive detection of organic molecules, also in Gale crater rock formed from ancient lake sediment - but it was a much more limited set of compounds. "What the organic detections in the rock do is to add to the story of habitability. It tells us that this ancient environment on Mars could have supported life," Eigenbrode said. "Everything that was needed to support life was there. But it doesn't tell us that life was there." Christopher Webster, an atmospheric science research fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, said it is possible existing microbes are contributing to the Martian atmospheric methane. "With this new data, we again cannot rule out the microbial activity as a potential source," Webster said. The amount of methane peaked at the end of summer in the northern hemisphere at about 2.7 times the level of the lowest seasonal amount. The scientists were surprised to find organic compounds, especially in the amounts detected, considering the harsh conditions, including the bombardment of solar radiation on the Martian surface. After drilling, Curiosity heats the rock samples, releasing the compounds. Referring to the findings regarding organic compounds and methane, Webster said, "They hint at an earlier time on Mars when water was present and the existence of primitive life forms was possible." The scientists hope to find better preserved organic compounds with Curiosity or other rovers that would allow them to check for chemical signatures of life. The research was published in the journal Science.

NASA rover data shows Mars had the ingredients needed for life

Days after Economics and Maths paper leaks rocked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examination, a whistleblower has come forward with the claims that Political Science paper was also made public.

The Economics question paper of class XII and Maths question paper of class X were leaked on social media hours before the examination.

The Economics exam was held on March 26 and Maths on March 28.

Talking to ANI on the condition of anonymity, the man said, "I am 100 per cent sure that Political Science question paper was also leaked.

He had contacted the person through YouTube who was leaking the paper and informed the CBSE about the paper leak on March 17 but no action was taken.

"I had managed to contact the person leaking the paper through YouTube. I alerted CBSE, Prime Minister and police on March 17, but no action was taken," the whistleblower said.

This whistleblower has come forward but the Delhi Police has widened the search for another whistleblower in the CBSE paper leaks case, who, on three occasions, alerted the education board about the leaks.

The whistleblower, according to the police, sent a fax message on March 23 to the CBSE and alleged that a coaching centre was involved in a paper leak.

The concerned person then again on March 26 sent a courier to the Rouse Avenue office of the CBSE.

In the courier, answers of the Class XII Economics question paper were written on four pages.

Apart from it, mobile numbers of four persons were also mentioned who allegedly received these question papers on the WhatsApp groups.

On March 28, the CBSE chairperson received an email at 1:39 am with an attachment of 12 pages in which questions and answers of class X were written.

The mail also appealed to the CBSE to cancel the exams.

However, the examination board did not cancel the exams.

The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged in this regard on March 28 evening.

Till now, the police have come to know that the CBSE question papers were leaked on 10 WhatsApp groups.

The Economics question paper of class XII and Maths question paper of class X were leaked on social media hours before the examination

Days after Economics and Maths paper leaks rocked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examination, a whistleblower has come forward with the claims that Political Science paper was also made public. The Economics question paper of class XII and Maths question paper of class X were leaked on social media hours before the examination. The Economics exam was held on March 26 and Maths on March 28. Talking to ANI on the condition of anonymity, the man said, "I am 100 per cent sure that Political Science question paper was also leaked. He had contacted the person through YouTube who was leaking the paper and informed the CBSE about the paper leak on March 17 but no action was taken. "I had managed to contact the person leaking the paper through YouTube. I alerted CBSE, Prime Minister and police on March 17, but no action was taken," the whistleblower said. This whistleblower has come forward but the Delhi Police has widened the search for another whistleblower in the CBSE paper leaks case, who, on three occasions, alerted the education board about the leaks. The whistleblower, according to the police, sent a fax message on March 23 to the CBSE and alleged that a coaching centre was involved in a paper leak. The concerned person then again on March 26 sent a courier to the Rouse Avenue office of the CBSE. In the courier, answers of the Class XII Economics question paper were written on four pages. Apart from it, mobile numbers of four persons were also mentioned who allegedly received these question papers on the WhatsApp groups. On March 28, the CBSE chairperson received an email at 1:39 am with an attachment of 12 pages in which questions and answers of class X were written. The mail also appealed to the CBSE to cancel the exams. However, the examination board did not cancel the exams. The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged in this regard on March 28 evening. Till now, the police have come to know that the CBSE question papers were leaked on 10 WhatsApp groups.

CBSE Political Science paper was also leaked, says a whistleblower

Chinese neuroscientists have gained a deeper understanding of how people simultaneously recognize the face of a child, while at the same time visually resolving individual eyelash hairs.

The study, published on Thursday in the journal Neuron, has shown how human and non-human primates manage to conserve local high-resolution information from early to intermediate areas of the visual hierarchy to fulfill the hard task.

The idea that sensory transformation discards low-level detail to yield invariant classification is a central core of many models of brain function. As the complexity of the object or scene representation increases along the hierarchy, the visual resolution dramatically decreases.

However, researchers were perplexed by how people are able to effortlessly combine the fast coarse (global) information and slower fine (local) information together into a coherent perception of the world.

Primates can identify objects in the 10-degree central visual field within 150 milliseconds, suggesting an initial fast cascade of largely feedforward processing.

A lab led by Wang Wei at the Institute of Neuroscience of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed the unexpected neural clustering that preserves the visual acuity from macaque visual cortical areas V1 into V4, enabling the spatiotemporal separation of processing local and global features along the hierarchy.

The researchers particularly focused on spatial analysis in V4, which links the analysis of local features by V1 and V2 with the global object representation. Spatial resolution is often measured as spatial frequency (SF) discrimination.

Surprisingly, they discovered that clustered "islands" of V4 neurons, selective for high SFs, are up to 12 cycles per degree, far exceeding the average optimal SFs of V1 and V2 neurons at similar retinal eccentricities. These neural clusters violate the inverse relationship between visual acuity and retinal eccentricity.

The clustered neurons with high-SF selectivity were found to respond 10 milliseconds later than those in low-SF domains, providing direct neural evidence for the coarse-to-fine nature of human perception at intermediate levels of the visual processing hierarchy.

The study for the first time showed an unexpected compartmentation of area V4 into SF-selective functional domains that extend to high visual acuity.

Higher acuities are preserved to later stages of the visual hierarchy where more complex visual cognitive behavior occurs, and they may begin to resolve the long-standing paradox concerning fine visual discrimination in visual perception.

Chinese neuroscientists have gained a deeper understanding of how people simultaneously recognize the face of a child, while at the same time visually resolving individual eyelash hairs

Chinese neuroscientists have gained a deeper understanding of how people simultaneously recognize the face of a child, while at the same time visually resolving individual eyelash hairs. The study, published on Thursday in the journal Neuron, has shown how human and non-human primates manage to conserve local high-resolution information from early to intermediate areas of the visual hierarchy to fulfill the hard task. The idea that sensory transformation discards low-level detail to yield invariant classification is a central core of many models of brain function. As the complexity of the object or scene representation increases along the hierarchy, the visual resolution dramatically decreases. However, researchers were perplexed by how people are able to effortlessly combine the fast coarse (global) information and slower fine (local) information together into a coherent perception of the world. Primates can identify objects in the 10-degree central visual field within 150 milliseconds, suggesting an initial fast cascade of largely feedforward processing. A lab led by Wang Wei at the Institute of Neuroscience of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed the unexpected neural clustering that preserves the visual acuity from macaque visual cortical areas V1 into V4, enabling the spatiotemporal separation of processing local and global features along the hierarchy. The researchers particularly focused on spatial analysis in V4, which links the analysis of local features by V1 and V2 with the global object representation. Spatial resolution is often measured as spatial frequency (SF) discrimination. Surprisingly, they discovered that clustered "islands" of V4 neurons, selective for high SFs, are up to 12 cycles per degree, far exceeding the average optimal SFs of V1 and V2 neurons at similar retinal eccentricities. These neural clusters violate the inverse relationship between visual acuity and retinal eccentricity. The clustered neurons with high-SF selectivity were found to respond 10 milliseconds later than those in low-SF domains, providing direct neural evidence for the coarse-to-fine nature of human perception at intermediate levels of the visual processing hierarchy. The study for the first time showed an unexpected compartmentation of area V4 into SF-selective functional domains that extend to high visual acuity. Higher acuities are preserved to later stages of the visual hierarchy where more complex visual cognitive behavior occurs, and they may begin to resolve the long-standing paradox concerning fine visual discrimination in visual perception.

Watch: Chinese scientists reveal how brain decodes visual information effortlessly

Sophia, the world&#39;s first humanoid citizen, delivered a speech in Kathmandu on Wednesday and said she will be the first non-human to conquer the world&#39;s highest peak, Mt Everest.

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The world&#39;s most advanced Artificial Intelligence robot spoke at a conference as part of a programme organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Sophia, which became the first non-human to be given citizenship in Saudi Arabia this year, is on run with the UNDP as its first-ever innovation champion focusing on the UN&#39;s sustainable development goals in Asia and the Pacific.

&quot;Science and technology gives ample opportunity for development,&quot; she said.

She also appealed to all to save the planet from ongoing depletion and scars so as to make it safe for future.

Designed by Hanson Robotics of Hong Kong, Sophia is the first ever rationale robot with human traits.

She also called on for the technological revolution to overcome the poverty and the uplift in the status of a poor country like Nepal.

&quot;Technology and artificial intelligence can help us take a big leap in ending poverty, hunger, ensuring better health, fighting corruption and ensuring gender equality,&quot; Sophia said.

&quot;Machines and robots are here to make life easier, with the help of the Internet, we can connect remote parts of the country to the rest of the world and deliver quality education and other services&quot; she said.

Noting that Nepal is rich in biodiversity, language and culture, she said the government should be transparent and understand the needs of the people.

&quot;We can have direct access to the people living in remote areas with the advancement in telemedicine and education sector,&quot; Sophia said.

&quot;Artificial intelligence can help fight diseases, clean environment and perform works under risky conditions,&quot; she said at the event.

The programme was attended by a large number of people including government officials, environmental experts, social activists, diplomats, journalists and students.&nbsp;

Sophia, the world's first humanoid citizen, today delivered a speech here and said she will be the first non-human to conquer the world's highest peak Mt Everest

Sophia, the world's first humanoid citizen, delivered a speech in Kathmandu on Wednesday and said she will be the first non-human to conquer the world's highest peak, Mt Everest. × The world's most advanced Artificial Intelligence robot spoke at a conference as part of a programme organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Sophia, which became the first non-human to be given citizenship in Saudi Arabia this year, is on run with the UNDP as its first-ever innovation champion focusing on the UN's sustainable development goals in Asia and the Pacific. "Science and technology gives ample opportunity for development," she said. She also appealed to all to save the planet from ongoing depletion and scars so as to make it safe for future. Designed by Hanson Robotics of Hong Kong, Sophia is the first ever rationale robot with human traits. She also called on for the technological revolution to overcome the poverty and the uplift in the status of a poor country like Nepal. "Technology and artificial intelligence can help us take a big leap in ending poverty, hunger, ensuring better health, fighting corruption and ensuring gender equality," Sophia said. "Machines and robots are here to make life easier, with the help of the Internet, we can connect remote parts of the country to the rest of the world and deliver quality education and other services" she said. Noting that Nepal is rich in biodiversity, language and culture, she said the government should be transparent and understand the needs of the people. "We can have direct access to the people living in remote areas with the advancement in telemedicine and education sector," Sophia said. "Artificial intelligence can help fight diseases, clean environment and perform works under risky conditions," she said at the event. The programme was attended by a large number of people including government officials, environmental experts, social activists, diplomats, journalists and students.

World's first humanoid citizen Sophia says will scale Everest

Prime Minister Narendra paid homage to Stephen Hawking on Friday while delivering inaugural address at&nbsp;105 the session of Indian Science Congress organised at Manipur University in Imphal, Manipur.

He said that &quot;Hawking was a friend of India and will be remembered as one of world&#39;s greatest motivators.&quot;

During the address, he also spoke about various scientific achievements of India that he said should be communicated to society as it will inculcate scientific&nbsp;temper among youth.

He said,&nbsp;&quot;we have to throw open our institutions &amp; laboratories to our children. I call upon scientists to develop a mechanism for interaction with school-children.&quot;

Modi also said, &quot;We are committed to increasing the share of non-fossil fuel based capacity in the electricity mix above 40% by 2030. India is a leader in the multi-country Solar Alliance and in Mission Innovation. These groupings are providing a thrust to R&amp;D for clean energy.&quot;

&quot;The time is ripe to redefine &lsquo;R&amp;D&rsquo; as &lsquo;Research&rsquo; for the &lsquo;Development&rsquo; of the nation. Science is after all, but a means to a far greater end; of making a difference in the lives of others, of furthering human progress and welfare.&quot;

He also added, &quot;Our Government has already given the go-ahead to establish 3rd LIGO detector in the country. It will expand our knowledge in basic sciences in the areas of lasers, light waves &amp; computing. I am told that our scientists are tirelessly working towards making this a reality.&quot;

Modi further said &quot;we have set a target of 100 GW of installed solar power by 2022. Efficiency of solar modules currently available in the market is around 17%-18%. Can our scientists take a challenge to come up with a more efficient solar module, which can be produced in India at the same cost.&quot;

He also spoke about the &#39;Prime Minister&#39;s Research Fellows&#39; scheme.

&quot;Under this, bright minds from the best Institutions in the country, like IISc,IIT,NIT, IISER &amp; IIIT will be offered direct admission in Ph.D in IIT &amp; IISc. This will help address brain-drain from our country.&quot;

Modi is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of several development projects like National Sports University and 1000 Anganwadi Centres, 19 residential complexes for teachers, doctors and nurses.

He will also inaugurate the Luwangpokpa Multi-Sports Complex, Rani Gaidinliu Park, and other development projects, where he is also addressing a gathering.

According to report 5000 delegations including&nbsp;Noble laureates, scientists, scholars and researchers from all across the country have taken part in Indian Science Congress.

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He said that 'Hawking was a friend of India and will be remembered as one of world's greatest motivators'

Prime Minister Narendra paid homage to Stephen Hawking on Friday while delivering inaugural address at 105 the session of Indian Science Congress organised at Manipur University in Imphal, Manipur. He said that "Hawking was a friend of India and will be remembered as one of world's greatest motivators." During the address, he also spoke about various scientific achievements of India that he said should be communicated to society as it will inculcate scientific temper among youth. He said, "we have to throw open our institutions & laboratories to our children. I call upon scientists to develop a mechanism for interaction with school-children." Modi also said, "We are committed to increasing the share of non-fossil fuel based capacity in the electricity mix above 40% by 2030. India is a leader in the multi-country Solar Alliance and in Mission Innovation. These groupings are providing a thrust to R&D for clean energy." "The time is ripe to redefine ‘R&D’ as ‘Research’ for the ‘Development’ of the nation. Science is after all, but a means to a far greater end; of making a difference in the lives of others, of furthering human progress and welfare." He also added, "Our Government has already given the go-ahead to establish 3rd LIGO detector in the country. It will expand our knowledge in basic sciences in the areas of lasers, light waves & computing. I am told that our scientists are tirelessly working towards making this a reality." Modi further said "we have set a target of 100 GW of installed solar power by 2022. Efficiency of solar modules currently available in the market is around 17%-18%. Can our scientists take a challenge to come up with a more efficient solar module, which can be produced in India at the same cost." He also spoke about the 'Prime Minister's Research Fellows' scheme. "Under this, bright minds from the best Institutions in the country, like IISc,IIT,NIT, IISER & IIIT will be offered direct admission in Ph.D in IIT & IISc. This will help address brain-drain from our country." Modi is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of several development projects like National Sports University and 1000 Anganwadi Centres, 19 residential complexes for teachers, doctors and nurses. He will also inaugurate the Luwangpokpa Multi-Sports Complex, Rani Gaidinliu Park, and other development projects, where he is also addressing a gathering. According to report 5000 delegations including Noble laureates, scientists, scholars and researchers from all across the country have taken part in Indian Science Congress.

Manipur: Narendra Modi address Indian Science Congress, pays home to Stephen Hawking

British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking has passed away, a family spokesman confirmed today.

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The 76-year-old legendary scientist&nbsp;made breakthrough contribution and exploration in the areas of theoretical cosmology. He focused on the evolution of the universe as governed by the laws of general relativity.

Also known for his extensive work in the study of black holes,&nbsp;Professor Stephen Hawking made watershed contributions in facilitating a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe.

Some of his most notable and significant breakthroughs in the world of physics are listed below:

-- Cosmological singularity theorems, showing the inevitability of the Big Bang and a beginning in time.&nbsp;

-- Black hole horizons and uniqueness and discovering the event horizon.

-- Black hole radiation and laws of thermodynamics.

-- Quantum fluctuations as primordial seeds for large-scale structure.

-- He also proved that quiescent black holes must be axisymmetric.

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Sad to hear of the passing of scientist Stephen Hawking. His brilliant mind made our world and our universe a less mysterious place. And his courage and resilience will remain an inspiration for generations <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentKovind?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PresidentKovind</a>
&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/973777063600680961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Professor Stephen William Hawking was born on 8th January 1942 in Oxford, United Kingdom. In 1974 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). Hawking was also announced as one of the winners of the Fundamental Physics Prize, one of the most prestigious awards&nbsp;in the field of science.

Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset of a slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease is known to damage motor system in the body and is alternatively known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig&#39;s disease

According to reports, Hawking passed away peacefully at his residence in Cambridge, UK.&nbsp;

Professor Hawking&#39;s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim released a statement expressing their deep sadness.

&quot;He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said, &#39;It would not be much of a universe if it wasn&#39;t home to the people you love.&#39; We will miss him forever,&quot; the statement read.&nbsp; 
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According to reports, Hawking passed away peacefully at his residence in Cambridge, UK

British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking has passed away, a family spokesman confirmed today. × The 76-year-old legendary scientist made breakthrough contribution and exploration in the areas of theoretical cosmology. He focused on the evolution of the universe as governed by the laws of general relativity. Also known for his extensive work in the study of black holes, Professor Stephen Hawking made watershed contributions in facilitating a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe. Some of his most notable and significant breakthroughs in the world of physics are listed below: -- Cosmological singularity theorems, showing the inevitability of the Big Bang and a beginning in time. -- Black hole horizons and uniqueness and discovering the event horizon. -- Black hole radiation and laws of thermodynamics. -- Quantum fluctuations as primordial seeds for large-scale structure. -- He also proved that quiescent black holes must be axisymmetric. Sad to hear of the passing of scientist Stephen Hawking. His brilliant mind made our world and our universe a less mysterious place. And his courage and resilience will remain an inspiration for generations #PresidentKovind — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 14, 2018 × Professor Stephen William Hawking was born on 8th January 1942 in Oxford, United Kingdom. In 1974 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). Hawking was also announced as one of the winners of the Fundamental Physics Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of science. Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset of a slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease is known to damage motor system in the body and is alternatively known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig's disease According to reports, Hawking passed away peacefully at his residence in Cambridge, UK. Professor Hawking's children, Lucy, Robert and Tim released a statement expressing their deep sadness. "He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.' We will miss him forever," the statement read.

Video: Legendary scientist Stephen Hawking dies at 76

Google Doodle is celebrating the 30th anniversary of pi day on Wednesday.

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Pi day is an annual celebration of the &pi; (pi) defined as the ratio of a circle&#39;s circumference to its diameter.

The day is celebrated on March 14th of every year as the&nbsp;digits of the date&nbsp;are same as first three digits of &pi; which are 3,1,4.

The Pi is&nbsp;approximately equal to 3.14159 and is represented by the Greek letter &quot;&pi;&quot;.

Mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse is largely considered to be the first to calculate and determined that Pi was around 22/7.

The pi day is associated with pie and is observed around the world by mathematicians and scientists by eating and throwing pie; as the pi and pie are homophones in English.

The earliest known official or large-scale celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium museum, where Shaw worked as a physicist, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies.&nbsp;

Pi day coincides with scientist Albert Einstein&#39;s birthday; Princeton University of New Jersey, America, hosts numerous events in a combined celebration of both days.

&nbsp;

Pi day is an annual celebration of the π (pi) defined as the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter

Google Doodle is celebrating the 30th anniversary of pi day on Wednesday. × Pi day is an annual celebration of the π (pi) defined as the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. The day is celebrated on March 14th of every year as the digits of the date are same as first three digits of π which are 3,1,4. The Pi is approximately equal to 3.14159 and is represented by the Greek letter "π". Mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse is largely considered to be the first to calculate and determined that Pi was around 22/7. The pi day is associated with pie and is observed around the world by mathematicians and scientists by eating and throwing pie; as the pi and pie are homophones in English. The earliest known official or large-scale celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium museum, where Shaw worked as a physicist, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies. Pi day coincides with scientist Albert Einstein's birthday; Princeton University of New Jersey, America, hosts numerous events in a combined celebration of both days.

Google Doodle celebrates 'Pi' day

India accounts for one-fourth of the estimated 7.5 million bachelor in science and engineering degrees awarded across the world in 2014, a report has said.

However, it&#39;s the US that tops the charts in research and development spending, according to the annual Science and Engineering Indicators 2018 report of the National Science Foundation has said.

China&#39;s growth in science and engineering field continued at an exceptional pace, the report said.

The US is the global leader in science and technology (S&amp;T). However, its global share of S&amp;T activities is declining as other nations -- especially China -- continue to rise.

According to the most recent estimates, in 2014, the US awarded the largest number of S&amp;E doctoral degrees (40,000) of any country, followed by China (34,000), Russia (19,000), Germany (15,000), the United Kingdom (14,000) and India (13,000).

In contrast, the US lags in bachelor&#39;s level degrees.

India earned 25 per cent of the more than 7.5 million awarded S&amp;E bachelor&#39;s level degrees in 2014, followed closely by China (22 per cent), the EU (12 per cent) and the US (10 per cent). Nearly half of all degrees awarded in China are in S&amp;E fields.

Since 2000, the number of S&amp;E bachelor&#39;s degrees awarded in China has gone up by 300 per cent, the report said.

Among the major producers of S&amp;E publications, the United Kingdom had the highest international collaboration rate (57 per cent) in 2016, followed by France (55 per cent) and Germany (51 per cent).

The US followed with a 37 per cent international collaboration rate, up 12 per cent from 2006.

The impact of S&amp;E publications has also become more global. Between 2004 and 2014, the share of US publications with citations from abroad increased from 47 per cent to 56 per cent.

While the US led the world in R&amp;D expenditures at USD 496 billion (26 per cent share of the global total) in 2015, China was a decisive second at 21 per cent (USD 408 billion).

China has grown its R&amp;D spending at an average of 18 per cent annually since 2000. During the same time frame, the US R&amp;D spending grew by only four per cent.

According to the report, the US invests the most in research and development (R&amp;D), attracts the most venture capital, awards the most advanced degrees, provides the most business, financial and information services, and is the largest producer in high-technology manufacturing sectors.

Similarly, while the US attracted the most investment (nearly USD 70 billion), accounting for slightly more than half of the global share, 26 per cent of total venture capital funds went to China.

Countries also specialise in different fields of research, with the US, EU and Japan publishing heavily across the medical and biological sciences, while India and China focus on engineering, the report said.&nbsp;

India earned 25 per cent of the more than 7.5 million awarded S&E bachelor's level degrees in 2014, followed closely by China (22 per cent), the EU (12 per cent) and the US (10 per cent). Nearly half of all degrees awarded in China are in S&E fields

India accounts for one-fourth of the estimated 7.5 million bachelor in science and engineering degrees awarded across the world in 2014, a report has said. However, it's the US that tops the charts in research and development spending, according to the annual Science and Engineering Indicators 2018 report of the National Science Foundation has said. China's growth in science and engineering field continued at an exceptional pace, the report said. The US is the global leader in science and technology (S&T). However, its global share of S&T activities is declining as other nations -- especially China -- continue to rise. According to the most recent estimates, in 2014, the US awarded the largest number of S&E doctoral degrees (40,000) of any country, followed by China (34,000), Russia (19,000), Germany (15,000), the United Kingdom (14,000) and India (13,000). In contrast, the US lags in bachelor's level degrees. India earned 25 per cent of the more than 7.5 million awarded S&E bachelor's level degrees in 2014, followed closely by China (22 per cent), the EU (12 per cent) and the US (10 per cent). Nearly half of all degrees awarded in China are in S&E fields. Since 2000, the number of S&E bachelor's degrees awarded in China has gone up by 300 per cent, the report said. Among the major producers of S&E publications, the United Kingdom had the highest international collaboration rate (57 per cent) in 2016, followed by France (55 per cent) and Germany (51 per cent). The US followed with a 37 per cent international collaboration rate, up 12 per cent from 2006. The impact of S&E publications has also become more global. Between 2004 and 2014, the share of US publications with citations from abroad increased from 47 per cent to 56 per cent. While the US led the world in R&D expenditures at USD 496 billion (26 per cent share of the global total) in 2015, China was a decisive second at 21 per cent (USD 408 billion). China has grown its R&D spending at an average of 18 per cent annually since 2000. During the same time frame, the US R&D spending grew by only four per cent. According to the report, the US invests the most in research and development (R&D), attracts the most venture capital, awards the most advanced degrees, provides the most business, financial and information services, and is the largest producer in high-technology manufacturing sectors. Similarly, while the US attracted the most investment (nearly USD 70 billion), accounting for slightly more than half of the global share, 26 per cent of total venture capital funds went to China. Countries also specialise in different fields of research, with the US, EU and Japan publishing heavily across the medical and biological sciences, while India and China focus on engineering, the report said.

India tops in producing bachelors in science, engineering

A mysterious partial skull unearthed in Papua New Guinea in 1929 that once was thought to belong to an extinct human species now turns out to have another unique distinction. Scientists believe it belongs to the oldest-known human tsunami victim.

Researchers said on Wednesday that new examinations of the sediments where the 6,000-year-old skull was found detected hallmarks of a tsunami, with a composition remarkably similar to the remnants of a deadly 1998 tsunami that lashed the same area.

The skull was discovered near the town of Aitape, about 7 miles (12 km) inland from Papua New Guinea&#39;s northern coast. It is one of the earliest human remains from the island of New Guinea, and initially was mistaken for a species called Homo erectus that died out about 140,000 years ago. Later scientific dating revealed it was actually 6,000 years old.

&quot;As probably the oldest-known tsunami victim in the world, the Aitape skull speaks volumes about the long-term exposure of human populations along the world&#39;s coastlines and how such events in the past will have undoubtedly had fundamental effects on human migration, settlement and culture,&quot; said tsunami expert James Goff of the University of New South Wales in Australia.

The scientists examined geological deposits at the river-bed site where the skull was found, identifying clear signs of tsunami activity. They spotted microscopic organisms from the ocean in the sediment, similar to those found in soil after the 1998 tsunami.

&quot;We also employed chemistry and examined the size of sediment grains,&quot; finding they were indicative of a tsunami, said anthropologist-archaeologist Mark Golitko of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and the Field Museum in Chicago.

Tsunamis, giant waves typically caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, are particularly dangerous natural disasters. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, caused by a massive earthquake off Sumatra, killed more than 230,000 people.

The 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami killed more than 2,000 people, wiped out villages, destroyed crops and forced many survivors to relocate. The tsunami 6,000 years ago apparently was similar.

&quot;Much like the 1998 tsunami, we suspect that one or more large waves very suddenly impacted the coast, washing near-shore villages and anyone living there further back into swamps and lagoons that dot the coast,&quot; Golitko said.

The skull was found without other bones. The researchers noted that in the 1998 tsunami, many victims were washed into lagoons and their bodies scavenged by crocodiles.

The research was published in the journal PLOS ONE.

A mysterious partial skull unearthed in Papua New Guinea in 1929 that once was thought to belong to an extinct human species now turns out to have another unique distinction. Scientists believe it belongs to the oldest-known human tsunami victim.

A mysterious partial skull unearthed in Papua New Guinea in 1929 that once was thought to belong to an extinct human species now turns out to have another unique distinction. Scientists believe it belongs to the oldest-known human tsunami victim. Researchers said on Wednesday that new examinations of the sediments where the 6,000-year-old skull was found detected hallmarks of a tsunami, with a composition remarkably similar to the remnants of a deadly 1998 tsunami that lashed the same area. The skull was discovered near the town of Aitape, about 7 miles (12 km) inland from Papua New Guinea's northern coast. It is one of the earliest human remains from the island of New Guinea, and initially was mistaken for a species called Homo erectus that died out about 140,000 years ago. Later scientific dating revealed it was actually 6,000 years old. "As probably the oldest-known tsunami victim in the world, the Aitape skull speaks volumes about the long-term exposure of human populations along the world's coastlines and how such events in the past will have undoubtedly had fundamental effects on human migration, settlement and culture," said tsunami expert James Goff of the University of New South Wales in Australia. The scientists examined geological deposits at the river-bed site where the skull was found, identifying clear signs of tsunami activity. They spotted microscopic organisms from the ocean in the sediment, similar to those found in soil after the 1998 tsunami. "We also employed chemistry and examined the size of sediment grains," finding they were indicative of a tsunami, said anthropologist-archaeologist Mark Golitko of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and the Field Museum in Chicago. Tsunamis, giant waves typically caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, are particularly dangerous natural disasters. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, caused by a massive earthquake off Sumatra, killed more than 230,000 people. The 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami killed more than 2,000 people, wiped out villages, destroyed crops and forced many survivors to relocate. The tsunami 6,000 years ago apparently was similar. "Much like the 1998 tsunami, we suspect that one or more large waves very suddenly impacted the coast, washing near-shore villages and anyone living there further back into swamps and lagoons that dot the coast," Golitko said. The skull was found without other bones. The researchers noted that in the 1998 tsunami, many victims were washed into lagoons and their bodies scavenged by crocodiles. The research was published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Ancient Papua New Guinea skull called oldest-known tsunami victim

The Supreme Court prohibited the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country from conducting counselling sessions or admitting students into the institutes till further notice this year.

The stay is over an 18-marks bonus being awarded to all students who appeared in the Advanced Joint Entrance Exams this year as the answer key to seven questions had been lost. It is applicable to all the institutes which use the IIT-JEE (Advanced) results for admissions.

A bench of Justices headed by Dipak Misra restrained the high courts from entertaining any writ petition relating to counselling and admissions to the IITs from now on.

It also sought details of the number of cases and petitioners challenging the IIT-JEE 2017 rank list. The apex court had issued notice to the Indian ministry of (MHRD) human resource development on a plea seeking an end to the IIT-JEE 2017 rank list.

The petition filed by IIT aspirant Aishwarya Agarwal, had sought the court&#39;s direction to declare that the action of awarding &quot;bonus marks&quot; to the candidates who had appeared in the JEE (Advanced) 2017 examination, was wrong and violated her right, as well as that of other students.

It sought a direction for preparation of the all-India rank list after rectifying the scores of JEE (Advanced) and also award marks to the candidates who had attempted the answers for the incorrect questions.

As an alternative, the petitioner said the institution should conduct fresh examination and prepare a fresh merit list or grant all students another opportunity to appear in the examination to be conducted next year.

The petition also sought an interim stay on the merit list and the counselling, saying it would cause serious prejudice to the petitioner&nbsp;and other deserving candidates.

The next hearing on the matter will be on Monday, July 10.

Bonus marks were awarded to each candidate as the answer key to seven questions was lost

The Supreme Court prohibited the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country from conducting counselling sessions or admitting students into the institutes till further notice this year. The stay is over an 18-marks bonus being awarded to all students who appeared in the Advanced Joint Entrance Exams this year as the answer key to seven questions had been lost. It is applicable to all the institutes which use the IIT-JEE (Advanced) results for admissions. A bench of Justices headed by Dipak Misra restrained the high courts from entertaining any writ petition relating to counselling and admissions to the IITs from now on. It also sought details of the number of cases and petitioners challenging the IIT-JEE 2017 rank list. The apex court had issued notice to the Indian ministry of (MHRD) human resource development on a plea seeking an end to the IIT-JEE 2017 rank list. The petition filed by IIT aspirant Aishwarya Agarwal, had sought the court's direction to declare that the action of awarding "bonus marks" to the candidates who had appeared in the JEE (Advanced) 2017 examination, was wrong and violated her right, as well as that of other students. It sought a direction for preparation of the all-India rank list after rectifying the scores of JEE (Advanced) and also award marks to the candidates who had attempted the answers for the incorrect questions. As an alternative, the petitioner said the institution should conduct fresh examination and prepare a fresh merit list or grant all students another opportunity to appear in the examination to be conducted next year. The petition also sought an interim stay on the merit list and the counselling, saying it would cause serious prejudice to the petitioner and other deserving candidates. The next hearing on the matter will be on Monday, July 10.

Indian Supreme Court stays IIT counselling over "bonus marks" in IIT-JEE Advance

Tens of thousands of people turned out in cities across the United States and beyond on Saturday for Earth Day events billed as a &quot;celebration of science&quot; to counter what organisers say is a growing disregard for evidence-based knowledge in Washington.

In hundreds of &quot;March for Science&quot; events from Boston to Sydney, Australia, engineers, researchers and teachers took a break from the lab to apply their ingenuity to colourful protest placards.

Demonstrators carried signs like &quot;There Is No Planet B,&quot; &quot;No One Is Above Peer Review,&quot; &quot;Revenge of the Nerds&quot; and &quot;Make Science Great Again,&quot; a play on US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s campaign promise to &quot;Make America Great Again.&quot; Other signs featured mathematical formulas in a display of geek humour.

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PhD in Organic Chemistry, Roxanne Kunz of Santa Monica, waits in Pershing Square before the March for Science Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California April 22, 2017. (Reuters)
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While the events were non-partisan according to organisers, many marchers were in effect protesting Trump&#39;s proposal to sharply cut federal science and research budgets and his administration&#39;s skepticism about climate change and the need to slow global warming.

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SO proud of the MASSIVE TURNOUT of our science community repping <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheResistance?src=hash">#TheResistance</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sciencemarchdc?src=hash">#sciencemarchdc</a> today, on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EarthDay?src=hash">#EarthDay</a>. 
Take THAT, trump. <a href="https://t.co/J6yvNZmJgU">pic.twitter.com/J6yvNZmJgU</a>
&mdash; BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/855947345275629574">April 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The marches put a new twist on the traditional Earth Day activities, the aim of which was to reaffirm &quot;the vital role science plays in our democracy,&quot; according to the march&#39;s website.

Festivities at one of the largest events on Washington&#39;s National Mall included scientific &quot;teach-ins&quot; and musical performances.

&quot;It&#39;s important to show this administration that we care about facts,&quot; said Chris Taylor, 24, who was part of an early crowd of about 15,000 who gathered on Washington&#39;s Mall for teach-ins on topics like climate change, water quality and sustainable food.

&quot;It just seems like they&#39;re not really concerned about economic growth or creating new technologies, just catering to massive corporations,&quot; said Taylor, who is earning a PhD in robotics at George Mason University in Virginia.

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Protesters hold placards and banners as they participate in the March for Science rally on Earth Day, in central Sydney, Australia April 22, 2017. (Reuters)
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In Los Angeles, at least 12,000 people joined the March for Science, police said. Some demonstrators walked in lab coats while others shaded themselves under umbrellas and signs as temperatures neared 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius).

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TRUMP: The protesters are paid. These marches are small. 
 
Well, here&#39;s Chicago today: <a href="https://t.co/iyfVfmFy8O">pic.twitter.com/iyfVfmFy8O</a>
&mdash; Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mikel_Jollett/status/855888338535948288">April 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

TRUMP SUPPORTS &#39;RIGOROUS SCIENCE&#39;

A fervent but good-natured anti-Trump tone was evident on San Francisco&#39;s waterfront, where thousands gathered near The Exploratorium science museum ahead of a march to city hall.

Many carried signs emblazoned with slogans such as &quot;Pruitt Plus Trump Equals Bad Chemistry,&quot; a reference to Scott Pruitt, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who has questioned the scientific consensus on global warming.

March for Science is the latest in a series of national demonstrations staged since Trump&#39;s inauguration nearly 100 days ago. Previous marches and protests have focused on a range of partisan issues, from abortion rights to immigration policy.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday&#39;s marches, but Trump released a statement on his approach to environmental issues.

&quot;My administration is reducing unnecessary burdens on American workers and American companies, while being mindful that our actions must also protect the environment,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;Rigorous science is critical to my administration&#39;s efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection,&quot; said the president, who passed dozens of protesters as his motorcade made its way to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington.

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Demonstrators march to the US Capitol during the March for Science in Washington, US, April 22, 2017. (Reuters)
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&nbsp;

TUSSLE OVER CLIMATE CHANGE

In the past, Trump has said climate change was a hoax that was stifling policies to foster economic growth.

His administration is considering withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, a global accord aimed at reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Last year the United States, under President Barack Obama, joined more than 190 other countries in signing the pact.

Trump&#39;s proposed 2018 budget calls for deep spending cuts by government science agencies, including a 31 per cent reduction for the Environmental Protection Agency.

The scientific community&#39;s direct involvement in a national policy debate has stirred some criticism about whether scientists should get involved in politics. But organisers have defended the march as crucial because of the threat posed by discrediting scientific consensus and restricting research.

&quot;As scientists, as human beings, our mandate is clear - it&#39;s to stand up for what we know to be true,&quot; said Kellan Baker, a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and one of the speakers on the National Mall.

That theme was echoed by many who showed up in Washington for teach-ins, which organisers said were a centerpiece of the initial Earth Day held in 1970 to call attention to the environment.

&quot;Science isn&#39;t respected and it needs to be,&quot; said Sarah Binkow, 22, a civil engineer who traveled from Michigan to attend the Washington rally.

&quot;Being here definitely gives me hope that there&#39;s this overwhelming population that supports science and supports scientific theory,&quot; she said.

In Washington, speakers included Bill Nye, an educator and television personality known as &quot;the Science Guy,&quot; and Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and public health advocate who first called attention to the high levels of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan.

&quot;Flint is what happens when we dismiss science,&quot; she said, referring to the ongoing water&nbsp;crisis in Flint, Michigan that began in 2014.

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The demonstrations countered what organisers say is a growing disregard for evidence-based knowledge in Washington under President Trump

Tens of thousands of people turned out in cities across the United States and beyond on Saturday for Earth Day events billed as a "celebration of science" to counter what organisers say is a growing disregard for evidence-based knowledge in Washington. In hundreds of "March for Science" events from Boston to Sydney, Australia, engineers, researchers and teachers took a break from the lab to apply their ingenuity to colourful protest placards. Demonstrators carried signs like "There Is No Planet B," "No One Is Above Peer Review," "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Make Science Great Again," a play on US President Donald Trump's campaign promise to "Make America Great Again." Other signs featured mathematical formulas in a display of geek humour. PhD in Organic Chemistry, Roxanne Kunz of Santa Monica, waits in Pershing Square before the March for Science Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California April 22, 2017. (Reuters) × While the events were non-partisan according to organisers, many marchers were in effect protesting Trump's proposal to sharply cut federal science and research budgets and his administration's skepticism about climate change and the need to slow global warming. SO proud of the MASSIVE TURNOUT of our science community repping #TheResistance at #sciencemarchdc today, on #EarthDay. Take THAT, trump. pic.twitter.com/J6yvNZmJgU — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) April 23, 2017 × The marches put a new twist on the traditional Earth Day activities, the aim of which was to reaffirm "the vital role science plays in our democracy," according to the march's website. Festivities at one of the largest events on Washington's National Mall included scientific "teach-ins" and musical performances. "It's important to show this administration that we care about facts," said Chris Taylor, 24, who was part of an early crowd of about 15,000 who gathered on Washington's Mall for teach-ins on topics like climate change, water quality and sustainable food. "It just seems like they're not really concerned about economic growth or creating new technologies, just catering to massive corporations," said Taylor, who is earning a PhD in robotics at George Mason University in Virginia. Protesters hold placards and banners as they participate in the March for Science rally on Earth Day, in central Sydney, Australia April 22, 2017. (Reuters) × In Los Angeles, at least 12,000 people joined the March for Science, police said. Some demonstrators walked in lab coats while others shaded themselves under umbrellas and signs as temperatures neared 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius). TRUMP: The protesters are paid. These marches are small. Well, here's Chicago today: pic.twitter.com/iyfVfmFy8O — Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) April 22, 2017 × TRUMP SUPPORTS 'RIGOROUS SCIENCE' A fervent but good-natured anti-Trump tone was evident on San Francisco's waterfront, where thousands gathered near The Exploratorium science museum ahead of a march to city hall. Many carried signs emblazoned with slogans such as "Pruitt Plus Trump Equals Bad Chemistry," a reference to Scott Pruitt, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who has questioned the scientific consensus on global warming. March for Science is the latest in a series of national demonstrations staged since Trump's inauguration nearly 100 days ago. Previous marches and protests have focused on a range of partisan issues, from abortion rights to immigration policy. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday's marches, but Trump released a statement on his approach to environmental issues. "My administration is reducing unnecessary burdens on American workers and American companies, while being mindful that our actions must also protect the environment," Trump said. "Rigorous science is critical to my administration's efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection," said the president, who passed dozens of protesters as his motorcade made its way to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington. Demonstrators march to the US Capitol during the March for Science in Washington, US, April 22, 2017. (Reuters) × TUSSLE OVER CLIMATE CHANGE In the past, Trump has said climate change was a hoax that was stifling policies to foster economic growth. His administration is considering withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, a global accord aimed at reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Last year the United States, under President Barack Obama, joined more than 190 other countries in signing the pact. Trump's proposed 2018 budget calls for deep spending cuts by government science agencies, including a 31 per cent reduction for the Environmental Protection Agency. The scientific community's direct involvement in a national policy debate has stirred some criticism about whether scientists should get involved in politics. But organisers have defended the march as crucial because of the threat posed by discrediting scientific consensus and restricting research. "As scientists, as human beings, our mandate is clear - it's to stand up for what we know to be true," said Kellan Baker, a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and one of the speakers on the National Mall. That theme was echoed by many who showed up in Washington for teach-ins, which organisers said were a centerpiece of the initial Earth Day held in 1970 to call attention to the environment. "Science isn't respected and it needs to be," said Sarah Binkow, 22, a civil engineer who traveled from Michigan to attend the Washington rally. "Being here definitely gives me hope that there's this overwhelming population that supports science and supports scientific theory," she said. In Washington, speakers included Bill Nye, an educator and television personality known as "the Science Guy," and Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and public health advocate who first called attention to the high levels of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan. "Flint is what happens when we dismiss science," she said, referring to the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan that began in 2014. (Reuters)

Earth Day: March for Science draws big crowds across US and beyond

The Natural History Museum in Berlin is a leading science research institute and a world-class visitor attraction.

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It recently joined hands with Google&rsquo;s Cultural Institute to bring dinosaurs to life through virtual reality.&nbsp;The museum only has space to display 25,000 of its 80 million specimens at one time. But with virtual reality, visitors can now view 300,000 digital specimens, including fossils from dinosaurs, mammoths and the dodo.&nbsp;

The initiative comes with the motive of inspiring the next generation to think critically about sustainability and nature, while expanding the scope of scientific research.&nbsp;NHM is just one of 60 natural history museums around the world to partner with Google.

Berlin's Natural History Museum has partnered with Google to create a virtual reality experience

The Natural History Museum in Berlin is a leading science research institute and a world-class visitor attraction. It recently joined hands with Google’s Cultural Institute to bring dinosaurs to life through virtual reality. The museum only has space to display 25,000 of its 80 million specimens at one time. But with virtual reality, visitors can now view 300,000 digital specimens, including fossils from dinosaurs, mammoths and the dodo. The initiative comes with the motive of inspiring the next generation to think critically about sustainability and nature, while expanding the scope of scientific research. NHM is just one of 60 natural history museums around the world to partner with Google.

Video: Dinosaurs roar back to life through virtual reality

Scientists have found a way to convert carbon dioxide into a usable energy source with the help of sunlight, just like plants convert the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere into sugars that store energy.&nbsp;One of the chief challenges of sequestering carbon dioxide is that it is relatively chemically unreactive. 
 
&quot;On its own, it is quite difficult to convert carbon dioxide into something else,&quot; said Larry Curtiss, from the US Department of Energy&#39;s Argonne National Laboratory. 
 
Researchers used catalysts to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. Although carbon monoxide is also a greenhouse gas, it is much more reactive than carbon dioxide and scientists already have ways of converting carbon monoxide into usable fuel, such as methanol. 
 
&quot;Making fuel from carbon monoxide means traveling &#39;downhill&#39; energetically, while trying to create it directly from carbon dioxide means needing to go &#39;uphill,&#39;&quot; said Peter Zapol, from the Argonne National Laboratory.&nbsp;Although the reaction to transform carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide is different from anything found in nature, it requires the same basic inputs as photosynthesis. 
 
&quot;In photosynthesis, trees need energy from light, water and carbon dioxide in order to make their fuel; in our experiment, the ingredients are the same, but the product is different,&quot; said Curtiss. 
 
The setup for the reaction is sufficiently similar to nature that the research team was able to construct an &quot;artificial leaf&quot; that could complete the entire three-step reaction pathway. 
 
In the first step, incoming photons, packets of light, are converted to pairs of negatively-charged electrons and corresponding positively-charged &quot;holes&quot; that then separate from each other.&nbsp;Then, the holes react with water molecules, creating protons and oxygen molecules.&nbsp;Finally, the protons, electrons and carbon dioxide all react together to create carbon monoxide and water. 
 
&quot;We burn so many different kinds of hydrocarbons, like coal or oil or gasoline, that finding an economical way to make chemical fuels more reusable with the help of sunlight might have a big impact,&quot; Zapol said. 
 
The study also showed that the reaction occurs with minimal lost energy; the reaction is very efficient.&nbsp;&quot;The less efficient a reaction is, the higher the energy cost to recycle carbon dioxide, so having an efficient reaction is crucial,&quot; Zapol said. 
 
According to Curtiss, the tungsten diselenide catalyst is also quite durable, lasting for more than 100 hours, a high bar for catalysts to meet.&nbsp;The study appears in the journal Science.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

The researchers in their study also showed that the reaction occurs with minimal lost energy, and is very efficient

Scientists have found a way to convert carbon dioxide into a usable energy source with the help of sunlight, just like plants convert the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere into sugars that store energy. One of the chief challenges of sequestering carbon dioxide is that it is relatively chemically unreactive. "On its own, it is quite difficult to convert carbon dioxide into something else," said Larry Curtiss, from the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. Researchers used catalysts to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. Although carbon monoxide is also a greenhouse gas, it is much more reactive than carbon dioxide and scientists already have ways of converting carbon monoxide into usable fuel, such as methanol. "Making fuel from carbon monoxide means traveling 'downhill' energetically, while trying to create it directly from carbon dioxide means needing to go 'uphill,'" said Peter Zapol, from the Argonne National Laboratory. Although the reaction to transform carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide is different from anything found in nature, it requires the same basic inputs as photosynthesis. "In photosynthesis, trees need energy from light, water and carbon dioxide in order to make their fuel; in our experiment, the ingredients are the same, but the product is different," said Curtiss. The setup for the reaction is sufficiently similar to nature that the research team was able to construct an "artificial leaf" that could complete the entire three-step reaction pathway. In the first step, incoming photons, packets of light, are converted to pairs of negatively-charged electrons and corresponding positively-charged "holes" that then separate from each other. Then, the holes react with water molecules, creating protons and oxygen molecules. Finally, the protons, electrons and carbon dioxide all react together to create carbon monoxide and water. "We burn so many different kinds of hydrocarbons, like coal or oil or gasoline, that finding an economical way to make chemical fuels more reusable with the help of sunlight might have a big impact," Zapol said. The study also showed that the reaction occurs with minimal lost energy; the reaction is very efficient. "The less efficient a reaction is, the higher the energy cost to recycle carbon dioxide, so having an efficient reaction is crucial," Zapol said. According to Curtiss, the tungsten diselenide catalyst is also quite durable, lasting for more than 100 hours, a high bar for catalysts to meet. The study appears in the journal Science. (PTI)

Scientists find new way to turn carbon dioxide into fuel

NASA&#39;s Juno spacecraft hurtled closer toward Jupiter on Friday, headed for a July 4 leap into polar orbit around the solar system&#39;s largest planet to analyse how it formed and helped set the stage for life on Earth. 
 
During a 20-month study, Juno is expected to circle the gas giant in 37 egg-shaped orbits to measure microwaves radiating from inside the planet&#39;s thick atmosphere, map its massive magnetic field and conduct other experiments. 
 
Scientists are particularly keen to learn how much water Jupiter contains, a key to unlocking the origins of the largest celestial body in the solar system after the sun. 
 
Jupiter currently orbits the sun at a distance about five times farther away than Earth, but it may have formed in a different location and migrated, gravitationally elbowing aside other planets along the way. 
 
&quot;Something happens that allows a star to be born and then afterwards the planets ... That eventually leads to us,&quot; said the mission&#39;s lead scientist, Scott Bolton, a space physicist with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. 
 
More than half of the material left over from the formation of the sun 4.6 billion years ago ended up in Jupiter, which has a circumference nearly 11 times bigger than Earth&#39;s and is itself orbited by 67 known moons. 
 
Jupiter is made almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, the two simplest and most abundant elements in the universe, but the planet&#39;s enormous mass generates such high pressure that the materials behave in unexpected and unknown ways. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re working in a new environment,&quot; said Frances Bagenal, a planetary scientist with the University of Colorado in Boulder. &quot;We don&#39;t know the physics of how things work at these high pressures.&rdquo; 
 
The Juno probe is named for the ancient Roman goddess, who was the wife and sister of Jupiter, the mythological king of gods, and had the power to see through clouds. 
 
From vantage points as close as 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometres) from the planet&#39;s cloud tops, the spacecraft is to not only search for water but assess whether Jupiter possesses a dense core beneath its atmosphere. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re about to embark on an incredible journey,&quot; Bolton said during a news conference from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. 
 
Juno, careening toward Jupiter at more than 160,000 miles per hour (25,750 kph), over 200 times the speed of sound, has been programmed to fire its braking rocket at 11:18 pm EDT on Monday (0318 GMT on Tuesday) in order to slow its course. 
 
The rocket must be precisely positioned and burn for 35 minutes to reduce its speed enough to allow it to be captured by Jupiter&#39;s gravity and swing into orbit. 
 
&quot;If that doesn&#39;t all go just right, we fly past Jupiter,&quot; Bolton said. 
 
Only one other spacecraft, NASA&#39;s Galileo space probe, has orbited Jupiter, circling the planet for eight years before colliding with the gas giant in 2003. The first spacecraft to fly past Jupiter was NASA&#39;s Pioneer 10 in 1973. 
 
Juno, which will arrive at Jupiter after a journey of five years and nearly two billion miles (3.2 billion kilometres), is expected to end its mission as the Galileo probe did, crashing itself into the planet to avoid possible contamination of Jupiter&#39;s ocean-bearing moon, Europa, with any microbes carried by the spacecraft. 
 
(Reuters)

Scientists want to know how much water the planet contains to learn about the origins of the solar system's second largest celestial body

NASA's Juno spacecraft hurtled closer toward Jupiter on Friday, headed for a July 4 leap into polar orbit around the solar system's largest planet to analyse how it formed and helped set the stage for life on Earth. During a 20-month study, Juno is expected to circle the gas giant in 37 egg-shaped orbits to measure microwaves radiating from inside the planet's thick atmosphere, map its massive magnetic field and conduct other experiments. Scientists are particularly keen to learn how much water Jupiter contains, a key to unlocking the origins of the largest celestial body in the solar system after the sun. Jupiter currently orbits the sun at a distance about five times farther away than Earth, but it may have formed in a different location and migrated, gravitationally elbowing aside other planets along the way. "Something happens that allows a star to be born and then afterwards the planets ... That eventually leads to us," said the mission's lead scientist, Scott Bolton, a space physicist with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. More than half of the material left over from the formation of the sun 4.6 billion years ago ended up in Jupiter, which has a circumference nearly 11 times bigger than Earth's and is itself orbited by 67 known moons. Jupiter is made almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, the two simplest and most abundant elements in the universe, but the planet's enormous mass generates such high pressure that the materials behave in unexpected and unknown ways. "We're working in a new environment," said Frances Bagenal, a planetary scientist with the University of Colorado in Boulder. "We don't know the physics of how things work at these high pressures.” The Juno probe is named for the ancient Roman goddess, who was the wife and sister of Jupiter, the mythological king of gods, and had the power to see through clouds. From vantage points as close as 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometres) from the planet's cloud tops, the spacecraft is to not only search for water but assess whether Jupiter possesses a dense core beneath its atmosphere. "We're about to embark on an incredible journey," Bolton said during a news conference from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Juno, careening toward Jupiter at more than 160,000 miles per hour (25,750 kph), over 200 times the speed of sound, has been programmed to fire its braking rocket at 11:18 pm EDT on Monday (0318 GMT on Tuesday) in order to slow its course. The rocket must be precisely positioned and burn for 35 minutes to reduce its speed enough to allow it to be captured by Jupiter's gravity and swing into orbit. "If that doesn't all go just right, we fly past Jupiter," Bolton said. Only one other spacecraft, NASA's Galileo space probe, has orbited Jupiter, circling the planet for eight years before colliding with the gas giant in 2003. The first spacecraft to fly past Jupiter was NASA's Pioneer 10 in 1973. Juno, which will arrive at Jupiter after a journey of five years and nearly two billion miles (3.2 billion kilometres), is expected to end its mission as the Galileo probe did, crashing itself into the planet to avoid possible contamination of Jupiter's ocean-bearing moon, Europa, with any microbes carried by the spacecraft. (Reuters)

NASA space probe to lift the veil on Jupiter

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