Since time immemorial, Indians have contributed richly to the field of science and technology. The strong legacy has continued after Independence as well. The last 75 years have seen several big names dominate the field.

India@75: Top Indian scientists

Scientists have discovered the Earth’s oldest ice core, with some sections potentially preserving samples as old as 5 million years.

Scientists have recovered older ice samples elsewhere before, with the oldest dating back 2.7 million years. However, these were collected closer to the surface of the ice after being pushed upward by the natural flow of the glaciers.

But the new discovery could help scientists analyse the ice sediments that contain greenhouse gases from Earth's atmosphere at a time when the planet's cycles of glacial advance and retreat were just beginning. It could also potentially offer&nbsp;clues to what triggered the ice ages.

The nearly 10-metre-long sediment-filled ice core was found in Ong Valley in the Transantarctic Mountains, which separate eastern and western Antarctica.

The study was published in The Cryosphere journal on July 15.

The scientists were able to analyse the appropriate age of the ice while drilling through ice core measuring 9.5 m (31 ft) long during the Southern Hemisphere summer of 2017 and 2018, according to Nature.com.

They have recorded the age of material at different depths. According to them, the upper section is estimated to be around 3 million years old, while the lower section was dated to between 4.3 and 5.1 million years, which is almost twice as old as the previous record-holder, at 2.7 million years.

The ice sheets from Greenland and Antarctica are key to understanding modern climate science. Traditionally, scientists drill in places where ice layers accumulate year after year, undisturbed by glacial flows.

The discovery was made by the Beyond European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA). It was funded by the European Commission and being carried out by the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Cnr (National Research Council of Italy) and The British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists have discovered the Earth’s oldest ice core, with some sections potentially preserving samples as old as 5 million years. Scientists have recovered older ice samples elsewhere before, with the oldest dating back 2.

Scientists have discovered the Earth’s oldest ice core, with some sections potentially preserving samples as old as 5 million years. Scientists have recovered older ice samples elsewhere before, with the oldest dating back 2.7 million years. However, these were collected closer to the surface of the ice after being pushed upward by the natural flow of the glaciers. But the new discovery could help scientists analyse the ice sediments that contain greenhouse gases from Earth's atmosphere at a time when the planet's cycles of glacial advance and retreat were just beginning. It could also potentially offer clues to what triggered the ice ages. The nearly 10-metre-long sediment-filled ice core was found in Ong Valley in the Transantarctic Mountains, which separate eastern and western Antarctica. The study was published in The Cryosphere journal on July 15. The scientists were able to analyse the appropriate age of the ice while drilling through ice core measuring 9.5 m (31 ft) long during the Southern Hemisphere summer of 2017 and 2018, according to Nature.com. They have recorded the age of material at different depths. According to them, the upper section is estimated to be around 3 million years old, while the lower section was dated to between 4.3 and 5.1 million years, which is almost twice as old as the previous record-holder, at 2.7 million years. The ice sheets from Greenland and Antarctica are key to understanding modern climate science. Traditionally, scientists drill in places where ice layers accumulate year after year, undisturbed by glacial flows. The discovery was made by the Beyond European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA). It was funded by the European Commission and being carried out by the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Cnr (National Research Council of Italy) and The British Antarctic Survey (BAS). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists find oldest ice core dating back to 5 million years

Israeli scientists have created the world's first 'Artificial Embryos. These synthetic mouse embryos were made from stem cells. Structures with the beginnings of brains have been formed.

Israeli scientists create the world's first 'Artificial Embryos: Synthetic mouse embryos made from stem cells

Scientists have launched an undersea expedition to trace and collect the pieces of the first known&nbsp;interstellar object&nbsp;that hit Earth in 2014, reports Science Alert. The said object had crashed into the ocean just off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

Examples of Interstellar objects are asteroids,&nbsp;comets, or rogue planets that are not gravitationally bound to a star.

The data at the time revealed that the object was a meteorite. Dubbed CNEOS 2014-01-08, the object is believed to have measured about a half-meter wide, and its potentially interstellar origins were first recognised by then graduate student Amir Siraj and Harvard professor Avi Loeb.

The data they collected at the time indicated that it could be an interstellar object—the first known to hit Earth and the third ever recorded. &nbsp;The other two interstellar objects recorded are Oumuamua and Borisov.

Siraj and Loeb had concluded that CNEOS 2014-01-08 might be from beyond our Solar System due to its unusually high heliocentric velocity, meaning it was moving at speeds that suggest it may not be bound within the Sun's gravity.

However, the problem in 2014 was that the data used to measure the object's impact which would confirm whether it is an interstellar object came from a US Department of Defense spy satellite. As a result, the details of the object were carefully guarded.

Therefore, a paper by Siraj and Loeb has remained unpublished and not peer-reviewed.

But this year in March, US Space Force's Space Operations Command's chief scientist Joel Mozer reviewed the classified data and confirmed that the “velocity estimate reported to NASA&nbsp;is sufficiently accurate to indicate an interstellar trajectory”.

US Space Force lieutenant general&nbsp;John Shaw signed the letter confirming the interstellar object.

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5/ From the <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteroidWatch?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AsteroidWatch</a> tabletop exercise earlier this year, we learned that as long as the simulated asteroid was in the space domain, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USSPACECOM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USSPACECOM</a> was the supported combatant command within the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofDefense</a>.
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However, tracing the remnants of the meteorite is likely to throw up some challenges as it might burned up during its descent into Earth's atmosphere, likely leaving only fragments behind, scattered across the ocean floor.

Hence, the expedition team would be likely carrying a large magnet connected to a trawling ship to pick up the pieces.

In an interview for Universe Today last year, Loeb said that the expedition would give the scientific community the chance “to actually put our hands on the relic and figure out whether it’s natural, whether it’s a rock, or whether, you know, a small fraction of those [interstellar objects] might be artificial.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists have launched an undersea expedition to trace and collect the pieces of the first known interstellar object that hit Earth in 2014, reports Science Alert.

Scientists have launched an undersea expedition to trace and collect the pieces of the first known interstellar object that hit Earth in 2014, reports Science Alert. The said object had crashed into the ocean just off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Examples of Interstellar objects are asteroids, comets, or rogue planets that are not gravitationally bound to a star. The data at the time revealed that the object was a meteorite. Dubbed CNEOS 2014-01-08, the object is believed to have measured about a half-meter wide, and its potentially interstellar origins were first recognised by then graduate student Amir Siraj and Harvard professor Avi Loeb. The data they collected at the time indicated that it could be an interstellar object—the first known to hit Earth and the third ever recorded. The other two interstellar objects recorded are Oumuamua and Borisov. Siraj and Loeb had concluded that CNEOS 2014-01-08 might be from beyond our Solar System due to its unusually high heliocentric velocity, meaning it was moving at speeds that suggest it may not be bound within the Sun's gravity. However, the problem in 2014 was that the data used to measure the object's impact which would confirm whether it is an interstellar object came from a US Department of Defense spy satellite. As a result, the details of the object were carefully guarded. Therefore, a paper by Siraj and Loeb has remained unpublished and not peer-reviewed. But this year in March, US Space Force's Space Operations Command's chief scientist Joel Mozer reviewed the classified data and confirmed that the “velocity estimate reported to NASA is sufficiently accurate to indicate an interstellar trajectory”. US Space Force lieutenant general John Shaw signed the letter confirming the interstellar object. 5/ From the @AsteroidWatch tabletop exercise earlier this year, we learned that as long as the simulated asteroid was in the space domain, #USSPACECOM was the supported combatant command within the @DeptofDefense. — U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) April 6, 2022 × However, tracing the remnants of the meteorite is likely to throw up some challenges as it might burned up during its descent into Earth's atmosphere, likely leaving only fragments behind, scattered across the ocean floor. Hence, the expedition team would be likely carrying a large magnet connected to a trawling ship to pick up the pieces. In an interview for Universe Today last year, Loeb said that the expedition would give the scientific community the chance “to actually put our hands on the relic and figure out whether it’s natural, whether it’s a rock, or whether, you know, a small fraction of those [interstellar objects] might be artificial.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists to search ocean for interstellar object that hit Earth in 2014

The discovery of super rare “walking sharks” in Papua New Guinea has astounded scientists. Called epaulette shark—also known as Hemiscyllium Ocellatum— it is unique among shark species as it has the ability to walk on land. The creature was spotted on the coast of the island on May 3 this year.

Conservationist and biologist Forrest Galante recently shared the rare footage of this unusual species for Discovery Channel's new Shark Week episode called "Island of the Walking Sharks. He had travelled to the coral reefs of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to investigate rumors of a new species of walking shark.

"This is the first time in history one of the Papuan species of epaulettes has been documented walking," Galante said on the show.

"This is so incredible."

In the video, the tan-and-black-speckled shark was seen using its fins to drag itself across a tide pool that contained barely enough water, moving like a lumbering sea lion as it dragged its body across the shore.

Scientists believe that the epaulette sharks, which are found throughout the southern coast of New Guinea and the northern coast of Australia, evolved the ability to walk because it helped them search for food in environments which were inhabitable to other sharks.

"All traits are selected for when it allows [a species] to survive better and eke out an environment where they're safe and can get food," Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, told Live Science.

Epaulette sharks grow about 3.3 feet (1 metre) in length and swim in shallow coral reefs to hunt for their preferred food—crabs and other invertebrates.

When the tide recedes, they can be seen hanging out in tide pools and chomping off on these creatures.

"But once they're done, they're trapped. What epaulettes have learned to do is climb up in the reef and plop themselves in the next tide pool," Naylor was quoted as saying.

According to a 2020 study published in the journal Marine &amp; Freshwater Research, epaulette sharks are believed to have evolved the ability to walk in the past 9 million years, which the scientists claim is incredibly fast for sharks.

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The discovery of super rare “walking sharks” in Papua New Guinea has astounded scientists. Called epaulette shark—also known as Hemiscyllium Ocellatum— it is unique among shark species as it has the ability to walk on land.

The discovery of super rare “walking sharks” in Papua New Guinea has astounded scientists. Called epaulette shark—also known as Hemiscyllium Ocellatum— it is unique among shark species as it has the ability to walk on land. The creature was spotted on the coast of the island on May 3 this year. Conservationist and biologist Forrest Galante recently shared the rare footage of this unusual species for Discovery Channel's new Shark Week episode called "Island of the Walking Sharks. He had travelled to the coral reefs of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to investigate rumors of a new species of walking shark. "This is the first time in history one of the Papuan species of epaulettes has been documented walking," Galante said on the show. "This is so incredible." In the video, the tan-and-black-speckled shark was seen using its fins to drag itself across a tide pool that contained barely enough water, moving like a lumbering sea lion as it dragged its body across the shore. Scientists believe that the epaulette sharks, which are found throughout the southern coast of New Guinea and the northern coast of Australia, evolved the ability to walk because it helped them search for food in environments which were inhabitable to other sharks. "All traits are selected for when it allows [a species] to survive better and eke out an environment where they're safe and can get food," Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, told Live Science. Epaulette sharks grow about 3.3 feet (1 metre) in length and swim in shallow coral reefs to hunt for their preferred food—crabs and other invertebrates. When the tide recedes, they can be seen hanging out in tide pools and chomping off on these creatures. "But once they're done, they're trapped. What epaulettes have learned to do is climb up in the reef and plop themselves in the next tide pool," Naylor was quoted as saying. According to a 2020 study published in the journal Marine & Freshwater Research, epaulette sharks are believed to have evolved the ability to walk in the past 9 million years, which the scientists claim is incredibly fast for sharks. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Super rare ‘walking shark’ discovered in Papua New Guinea, scientists baffled

Scientists at Stanford University in California have created a robot that can dive down in deep ocean to locate shipwrecks and sunken planes which is impossible for humans to do. The humanoid, OceanOneK, is controlled remotely, and gives feedback to the user, who is dubbed as “virtual diver”, allowing the operator to feel like they're underwater explorers.

The machine has anthropomorphic hands, sensors and limbs, and is perfect for exploring the deep-sea with unprecedented versatility.

The robot has two eyes for stereoscopic vision, and with its nimble arms and hands, it can manoeuvre through difficult marine environments while providing realistic feedback to the operator. It is fitted with computers and eight multi-directional thrusters that allow&nbsp;it to carefully navigate through the sites of fragile sunken ships.

As it has force sensors in each wrist, the pilots can get a feel of the weight of any object whenever OceanOne is holding one. This feature is called haptic feedback.

The robot’s intelligence is furnished by the merbot's “brain”,&nbsp;which has tactile pressure sensors that can prevent it from crushing anything in its grasp.

The merbot's&nbsp;batteries are contained in its tail, along with computers and a set of underwater thrusters. Pairing that with its navigation system, it can keep itself steady even in turbulent waters.

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Scientists claim that OceanOne’s nimbleness is one of its impressive features that surpasses the recently deceased deep-ocean diving robot Nereus. They say that the humanoid can provide help in more dangerous sea environments, such as the Fukushima Daichi nuclear reactor site.

According to CNN, Stanford University roboticist Oussama Khatib and his students recently teamed up with deep-sea archaeologists and began sending the robot on dives in September last year. The team just finished another underwater expedition in July.

So far, the machine has been sent to explore a sunken Beechcraft Baron F-GDPV plane, Italian steamship Le Francesco Crispi, a second century Roman ship off Corsica, a World War II P-38 Lightning aircraft and a submarine called Le Protée.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/super-rare-walking-shark-discovered-in-papua-new-guinea-scientists-baffled-502153" hreflang="en">Super rare ‘walking shark’ discovered in Papua New Guinea, scientists baffled</a>

“You are moving very close to this amazing structure, and something incredible happens when you touch it: You actually feel it,” said Khatib, the Weichai Professor in Stanford's School of Engineering and director of the Stanford Robotics Lab, was quoted as saying.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/at-least-one-winner-from-illinois-set-to-win-128-billion-mega-millions-jackpot-502080" hreflang="en">At least one winner from Illinois set to win $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot</a>

“I’d never experienced anything like that in my life. I can say I’m the one who touched the Crispi at 500 (metres). And I did. I touched it, I felt it.”

Scientists believe that OceanOneK heralds a new revolution in deep sea exploration where robots take on underwater expedition that is considered dangerous for humans, and help see oceans in a completely different way.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists at Stanford University in California have created a robot that can dive down in deep ocean to locate shipwrecks and sunken planes which is impossible for humans to do.

Scientists at Stanford University in California have created a robot that can dive down in deep ocean to locate shipwrecks and sunken planes which is impossible for humans to do. The humanoid, OceanOneK, is controlled remotely, and gives feedback to the user, who is dubbed as “virtual diver”, allowing the operator to feel like they're underwater explorers. The machine has anthropomorphic hands, sensors and limbs, and is perfect for exploring the deep-sea with unprecedented versatility. The robot has two eyes for stereoscopic vision, and with its nimble arms and hands, it can manoeuvre through difficult marine environments while providing realistic feedback to the operator. It is fitted with computers and eight multi-directional thrusters that allow it to carefully navigate through the sites of fragile sunken ships. As it has force sensors in each wrist, the pilots can get a feel of the weight of any object whenever OceanOne is holding one. This feature is called haptic feedback. The robot’s intelligence is furnished by the merbot's “brain”, which has tactile pressure sensors that can prevent it from crushing anything in its grasp. The merbot's batteries are contained in its tail, along with computers and a set of underwater thrusters. Pairing that with its navigation system, it can keep itself steady even in turbulent waters. × Scientists claim that OceanOne’s nimbleness is one of its impressive features that surpasses the recently deceased deep-ocean diving robot Nereus. They say that the humanoid can provide help in more dangerous sea environments, such as the Fukushima Daichi nuclear reactor site. According to CNN, Stanford University roboticist Oussama Khatib and his students recently teamed up with deep-sea archaeologists and began sending the robot on dives in September last year. The team just finished another underwater expedition in July. So far, the machine has been sent to explore a sunken Beechcraft Baron F-GDPV plane, Italian steamship Le Francesco Crispi, a second century Roman ship off Corsica, a World War II P-38 Lightning aircraft and a submarine called Le Protée. Also read | Super rare ‘walking shark’ discovered in Papua New Guinea, scientists baffled “You are moving very close to this amazing structure, and something incredible happens when you touch it: You actually feel it,” said Khatib, the Weichai Professor in Stanford's School of Engineering and director of the Stanford Robotics Lab, was quoted as saying. Also read | At least one winner from Illinois set to win $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot “I’d never experienced anything like that in my life. I can say I’m the one who touched the Crispi at 500 (metres). And I did. I touched it, I felt it.” Scientists believe that OceanOneK heralds a new revolution in deep sea exploration where robots take on underwater expedition that is considered dangerous for humans, and help see oceans in a completely different way. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists create humanoid robot that can dive underwater to explore shipwrecks

NASA's James Webb space telescope has provided researchers with invaluable data in the recent past and the images taken by its deep infrared cameras left everyone in awe. However, controversy remains surrounding its name and the reason dates back to a dark period in US history.

James Webb space telescope: Why NASA is being pressured to change its name

A mystery rocket has crashed into moon creating two large craters. Scientists are baffled, they don't know where the rocket came from & why the impact was spread over two distinct areas. Palki Sharma reports.

Gravitas: Mysterious rocket crash on moon baffles scientists

There have been several space missions to study how Moon, Marth, Sun and our galaxy were formed, but seldom there are any that have unravelled the mysteries on the origin of the giant planet.

A recent study has found out that there is a reason why Jupiter is dubbed as the biggest planet in our solar system. Turns out it achieved this gigantic size (300 times bigger than Earth) by consuming other small planets.

By studying the gravitational data collected by NASA’s Juna space probe, and the makeup of the rocky material at the gas giant’s core, the scientists suggested that Jupiter ate baby planets—often called planetesimals—to fuel its growth.

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&nbsp;

This theory was propounded by an international team of astronomers led by Yamila Miguel from the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research. They published their article in the journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics last week.

"Jupiter was one of the first planets to form in our&nbsp;solar system. However, we know almost nothing for certain about how it formed," Yamila Miguel, an astrophysicist at Leiden University in The Netherlands, told Live Science.

"Juno provided very accurate gravity data that helped us to constrain the distribution of the material in Jupiter's interior... It is very unique data that we can only get with a spacecraft orbiting around the planet," she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shares-breathtaking-close-up-clip-of-jupiter-taken-from-juno-spacecraft-watch-484955">NASA shares breathtaking close-up clip of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft. Watch!</a>

Jupiter may predominantly be a ball of swirling gas today, but it started its life by accreting rocky material — just like every other planet in the solar system.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/whats-that-giant-black-spot-on-jupiter-473836">What's that giant black spot on Jupiter?</a>

As the planet's&nbsp;gravity&nbsp;pulled in more and more rocks, the rocky core became so dense that it started pulling in large amounts of gas from far distances — predominantly hydrogen and helium left over from the&nbsp;sun's birth — to form its enormous gas-filled atmosphere.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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There have been several space missions to study how Moon, Marth, Sun and our galaxy were formed, but seldom there are any that have unravelled the mysteries on the origin of the giant planet.

There have been several space missions to study how Moon, Marth, Sun and our galaxy were formed, but seldom there are any that have unravelled the mysteries on the origin of the giant planet. A recent study has found out that there is a reason why Jupiter is dubbed as the biggest planet in our solar system. Turns out it achieved this gigantic size (300 times bigger than Earth) by consuming other small planets. By studying the gravitational data collected by NASA’s Juna space probe, and the makeup of the rocky material at the gas giant’s core, the scientists suggested that Jupiter ate baby planets—often called planetesimals—to fuel its growth. × This theory was propounded by an international team of astronomers led by Yamila Miguel from the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research. They published their article in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics last week. "Jupiter was one of the first planets to form in our solar system. However, we know almost nothing for certain about how it formed," Yamila Miguel, an astrophysicist at Leiden University in The Netherlands, told Live Science. "Juno provided very accurate gravity data that helped us to constrain the distribution of the material in Jupiter's interior... It is very unique data that we can only get with a spacecraft orbiting around the planet," she added. Also read | NASA shares breathtaking close-up clip of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft. Watch! Jupiter may predominantly be a ball of swirling gas today, but it started its life by accreting rocky material — just like every other planet in the solar system. Also read | What's that giant black spot on Jupiter? As the planet's gravity pulled in more and more rocks, the rocky core became so dense that it started pulling in large amounts of gas from far distances — predominantly hydrogen and helium left over from the sun's birth — to form its enormous gas-filled atmosphere. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists claim Jupiter became big after eating small planets

A tiny robot-fish has been designed by scientists to remove microplastics from oceans. This 13-mm-long fish will swim around and adsorb the microplastics through its body. What is special about this fish is that its body is soft, flexible and self-healing. It is also a self-propelled fish. With the help of a light laser system in its tail, the fish can swim and flap around at almost 30 mm a second. It is similar to the speed at which plankton drifts in moving water.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/human-like-robots-in-making-slightly-sweaty-robotic-finger-with-living-skin-developed-by-experts-in-japan-486915" hreflang="en">Human-like robots in making? 'Slightly sweaty' robotic finger with living skin developed by experts in Japan</a>

The robo-fish has been created from materials inspired by elements, which are available in the sea, like mother-of-pearl or nacre. It has been used in the interior covering of clam shells. A material similar to nacre was created by layering various microscopic sheets of molecules, as per nacre’s specific chemical gradient. It is also stretchy, flexible to twist, and can pull a weight up to 5 kg, as per the study. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Amber Heard’s face most beautiful in the world. Find out how

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This fish will help in solving the worsening microplastics issue in the world. “It is of great significance to develop a robot to accurately collect and sample detrimental microplastic pollutants from the aquatic environment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of such soft robots,” said Yuyan Wang, researcher, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University. Wang was one of the lead authors of the study, which has been published in the journal ‘Nano Letters’.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

A tiny robot-fish has been designed by scientists to remove microplastics from oceans. This 13-mm-long fish will swim around and adsorb the microplastics through its body.

A tiny robot-fish has been designed by scientists to remove microplastics from oceans. This 13-mm-long fish will swim around and adsorb the microplastics through its body. What is special about this fish is that its body is soft, flexible and self-healing. It is also a self-propelled fish. With the help of a light laser system in its tail, the fish can swim and flap around at almost 30 mm a second. It is similar to the speed at which plankton drifts in moving water. Also Read: Human-like robots in making? 'Slightly sweaty' robotic finger with living skin developed by experts in Japan The robo-fish has been created from materials inspired by elements, which are available in the sea, like mother-of-pearl or nacre. It has been used in the interior covering of clam shells. A material similar to nacre was created by layering various microscopic sheets of molecules, as per nacre’s specific chemical gradient. It is also stretchy, flexible to twist, and can pull a weight up to 5 kg, as per the study. Watch: Amber Heard’s face most beautiful in the world. Find out how This fish will help in solving the worsening microplastics issue in the world. “It is of great significance to develop a robot to accurately collect and sample detrimental microplastic pollutants from the aquatic environment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of such soft robots,” said Yuyan Wang, researcher, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University. Wang was one of the lead authors of the study, which has been published in the journal ‘Nano Letters’. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

13-mm-long robot-fish designed by scientists to ‘eat’ microplastics in oceans

Chinese researchers caused a massive stir in the scientific community when they claimed that the “Sky Eye” telescope has picked up signals which they believed originated from aliens. However, that claim has now been questioned by an American researcher. Dan Werthimer, which works for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) at the University of Berkeley, California and a co-author on the research project which first spotted the signal, believes that the signals are actually from “human interference”. The news about the signals coming from aliens was reported by a lot of media outlets after it appeared on the official newspaper of China's Ministry of Science and Technology.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/three-word-resignation-frustrated-with-your-job-heres-how-you-can-draft-your-resignation-letter-489511" hreflang="en">Three-word resignation: Frustrated with your job? Here’s how you can draft your resignation letter</a>

The claim found more footing as the narrow-band radio signals found by the radio telescope are not found from natural sources, but Werthimer said they were most probably artificial signals.

"The big problem, and the problem in this particular case, is that we're looking for signals from extraterrestrials, but what we find is a zillion signals from terrestrials," Werthimer told Live Science.

"They're very weak signals, but the cryogenic receivers on the telescopes are super sensitive and can pick up signals from cell phones, television, radar and satellites — and there are more and more satellites in the sky every day. If you're kind of new in the game, and you don't know all these different ways that interference can get into your data and corrupt it, it's pretty easy to get excited."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ufo-expert-claims-to-have-spotted-weird-elephant-like-creature-on-mars-489595" hreflang="en">UFO expert claims to have spotted ‘weird elephant-like creature’ on Mars</a>

Despite the claims by the authorities, the team of scientists have remained quite cautious in their approach and have keep the possibility open of the signals not being from alien sources.

"These are several narrow-band electromagnetic signals different from the past, and the team is currently working on further investigation," Zhang Tongjie, head scientist at the China Extraterrestrial Civilization Research Group at Beijing Normal University, said in the report. "The possibility that the suspicious signal is some kind of radio interference is also very high, and it needs to be further confirmed and ruled out. This may be a long process."

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Chinese researchers caused a massive stir in the scientific community when they claimed that the “Sky Eye” telescope has picked up signals which they believed originated from aliens.

Chinese researchers caused a massive stir in the scientific community when they claimed that the “Sky Eye” telescope has picked up signals which they believed originated from aliens. However, that claim has now been questioned by an American researcher. Dan Werthimer, which works for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) at the University of Berkeley, California and a co-author on the research project which first spotted the signal, believes that the signals are actually from “human interference”. The news about the signals coming from aliens was reported by a lot of media outlets after it appeared on the official newspaper of China's Ministry of Science and Technology. Also read | Three-word resignation: Frustrated with your job? Here’s how you can draft your resignation letter The claim found more footing as the narrow-band radio signals found by the radio telescope are not found from natural sources, but Werthimer said they were most probably artificial signals. "The big problem, and the problem in this particular case, is that we're looking for signals from extraterrestrials, but what we find is a zillion signals from terrestrials," Werthimer told Live Science. "They're very weak signals, but the cryogenic receivers on the telescopes are super sensitive and can pick up signals from cell phones, television, radar and satellites — and there are more and more satellites in the sky every day. If you're kind of new in the game, and you don't know all these different ways that interference can get into your data and corrupt it, it's pretty easy to get excited." Also read | UFO expert claims to have spotted ‘weird elephant-like creature’ on Mars Despite the claims by the authorities, the team of scientists have remained quite cautious in their approach and have keep the possibility open of the signals not being from alien sources. "These are several narrow-band electromagnetic signals different from the past, and the team is currently working on further investigation," Zhang Tongjie, head scientist at the China Extraterrestrial Civilization Research Group at Beijing Normal University, said in the report. "The possibility that the suspicious signal is some kind of radio interference is also very high, and it needs to be further confirmed and ruled out. This may be a long process." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Alien signal or human interference? Researcher using 'Sky Eye' telescope explains

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has spotted a buzzing multiplanet system within our galactic neighbourhood about 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems to our own.

At the heart of the system lies a small and cool M-dwarf star, named HD 260655, and astronomers have found that it hosts at least two terrestrial, Earth-sized planets.

However, the planets are likely not habitable, as their orbits are relatively tight, exposing the planets to temperatures that are too high to sustain liquid surface water, the astronomers from MIT who made the discovery said.

The inner plant orbits its star every 2.8 Earth days and is about 1.2 times the size of Earth and twice as massive. The other orbits every 5.7 Earth days and is 1.5 times the size of Earth and three times as massive. They have both been described considered "rocky."

Nevertheless, the latest discovery has caused excitement among the scientific community as it will help them understand what this neighbourhood looks like.

It will also give them a closer look at the properties of the planets and signs of any atmosphere they might hold.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-rogue-black-hole-spotted-wandering-5000-light-years-from-earth-488363" hreflang="en">A rogue black hole spotted wandering 5,000 light-years from Earth</a>

“Both planets in this system are each considered among the best targets for atmospheric study because of the brightness of their star," said Michelle Kunimoto, a postdoc in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and one of the discovery's lead scientists.

"Is there a volatile-rich atmosphere around these planets? And are there signs of water or carbon-based species? These planets are fantastic test beds for those&nbsp;explorations."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/plants-can-break-biochemistry-rules-by-making-secret-decisions-about-our-future-study-488289" hreflang="en">Plants can break biochemistry rules and make 'secret decisions' about our future: Study</a>

The team will present its findings at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California.

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NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has spotted a buzzing multiplanet system within our galactic neighbourhood about 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems to our own.

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has spotted a buzzing multiplanet system within our galactic neighbourhood about 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems to our own. At the heart of the system lies a small and cool M-dwarf star, named HD 260655, and astronomers have found that it hosts at least two terrestrial, Earth-sized planets. However, the planets are likely not habitable, as their orbits are relatively tight, exposing the planets to temperatures that are too high to sustain liquid surface water, the astronomers from MIT who made the discovery said. The inner plant orbits its star every 2.8 Earth days and is about 1.2 times the size of Earth and twice as massive. The other orbits every 5.7 Earth days and is 1.5 times the size of Earth and three times as massive. They have both been described considered "rocky." Nevertheless, the latest discovery has caused excitement among the scientific community as it will help them understand what this neighbourhood looks like. It will also give them a closer look at the properties of the planets and signs of any atmosphere they might hold. Also read | A rogue black hole spotted wandering 5,000 light-years from Earth “Both planets in this system are each considered among the best targets for atmospheric study because of the brightness of their star," said Michelle Kunimoto, a postdoc in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and one of the discovery's lead scientists. "Is there a volatile-rich atmosphere around these planets? And are there signs of water or carbon-based species? These planets are fantastic test beds for those explorations." Also read | Plants can break biochemistry rules and make 'secret decisions' about our future: Study The team will present its findings at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists find multiplanet system that hosts two Earth-type planets just 33 light years away

Research suggests that about one in 500 men could be carrying an extra sex chromosome as previously thought, putting them at greater risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

The study further states that men who had an extra X or Y chromosome are less likely to be aware of their affliction.

In the study, published in Genetics in Medicine, the researchers analysed genetic data collected on over 200,000 UK men aged between 40 and 70 from UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource containing anonymised genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants.

The researchers at the University of Exeter&nbsp;examined DNA from 207,067 men of European ancestry aged from 40 to 70 years old. They identified 231 men with an extra X chromosome and 143 men with an extra Y chromosome.&nbsp;

Sex chromosomes determine our biological sex. Men typically have one X and one Y chromosome. while women have two Xs. However, the study found out that some men also carry an extra X or Y chromosome —XXY or XYY—putting them at increased risk of health issues ranging from type 2 diabetes, blocked blood vessels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a lung condition.

Yajie Zhao, a PhD student at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the study's first author, said in a statement, "Even though a significant number of men carry an extra sex chromosome, very few of them are likely to be aware of this. This extra chromosome means that they have substantially higher risks of a number of common metabolic, vascular, and respiratory diseases -- diseases that may be preventable”

Previous studies have found that around one in 1,000 females has an additional X chromosome, which can result in delayed language development and accelerated growth until puberty, as well as lower IQ levels compared to their peers.

"We'd need more research to assess whether there is additional value in wider screening for unusual chromosomes in the general population, but this could potentially lead to early interventions to help them avoid the related diseases,” Professor Ken Ong, also from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge and joint senior author,&nbsp;said in a statement.

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Research suggests that about one in 500 men could be carrying an extra sex chromosome as previously thought, putting them at greater risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

Research suggests that about one in 500 men could be carrying an extra sex chromosome as previously thought, putting them at greater risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The study further states that men who had an extra X or Y chromosome are less likely to be aware of their affliction. In the study, published in Genetics in Medicine, the researchers analysed genetic data collected on over 200,000 UK men aged between 40 and 70 from UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource containing anonymised genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants. The researchers at the University of Exeter examined DNA from 207,067 men of European ancestry aged from 40 to 70 years old. They identified 231 men with an extra X chromosome and 143 men with an extra Y chromosome. Sex chromosomes determine our biological sex. Men typically have one X and one Y chromosome. while women have two Xs. However, the study found out that some men also carry an extra X or Y chromosome —XXY or XYY—putting them at increased risk of health issues ranging from type 2 diabetes, blocked blood vessels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a lung condition. Yajie Zhao, a PhD student at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the study's first author, said in a statement, "Even though a significant number of men carry an extra sex chromosome, very few of them are likely to be aware of this. This extra chromosome means that they have substantially higher risks of a number of common metabolic, vascular, and respiratory diseases -- diseases that may be preventable” Previous studies have found that around one in 1,000 females has an additional X chromosome, which can result in delayed language development and accelerated growth until puberty, as well as lower IQ levels compared to their peers. "We'd need more research to assess whether there is additional value in wider screening for unusual chromosomes in the general population, but this could potentially lead to early interventions to help them avoid the related diseases,” Professor Ken Ong, also from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge and joint senior author, said in a statement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

1 in 500 men carry extra sex chromosome, putting them at great risk for diseases: Study

Scientists claimed to have discovered the exact reason how dogs became man’s best friend—the answer lies in the genes.

It has historically been argued that the domestication of dogs was an evolutionary process that started with the wolves about 33,000 years ago somewhere in Southeast Asia.

But a study suggests that dogs have a special gene that lowers their stress, making them more relaxed around people. The research says that this enabled a special relationship to develop between a man and a dog.

The Japanese researchers said that dogs carry two mutations of a gene known as MC2R (melanocortin 2 receptor), Newsweek reported.

This gene produces the hormone cortisol, nature's built-in alarm system which is released during fear or anxiety.

Co-author of the&nbsp;study, Professor Miho Nagasawa of Azabu University, was quoted as saying, "These findings imply MC2R played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans."

Nagasawa and colleagues investigated the interactions of 624 domestic dogs using two tasks.

In the first, the dog had to decide which bowl had food hidden under it based on cues, such as gazing, pointing and tapping. This experiment tested the animal’s understanding of human gestures and communication.

While the second looked at the social attachment to humans.

The dogs were given a problem-solving test, which involved them attempting to open a container in order to access food. The main of the study was to measure how often and long the dog spent looking at the researchers.

The dogs were separated into two groups depending on their breed – the ancient group (consisting of breeds considered genetically closer to wolves such as the Akita and Siberian Husky) and the general group (all other breeds which are more genetically distant from wolves).

The study found out that the dogs in the ancient group looked at the researchers less often than other dogs during the problem-solving task, suggesting that they were less attached to humans.

The researchers found there were no significant differences between the breeds in the first task.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/now-india-can-safeguard-animals-against-covid-with-its-own-jab-anocovax-read-details-here-486836" hreflang="en">Now, India can safeguard animals against Covid with its own jab, Anocovax. Read details here</a>

They then looked for differences in genes associated with human-related cognitive abilities between the groups.

According to the findings, two changes to the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) gene were associated with both correctly interpreting gestures in the first task and gazing at the scientists more often in the problem-solving task.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/giant-tortoise-believed-to-gone-extinct-century-ago-found-alive-on-galapagos-islands-486788" hreflang="en">Giant tortoise believed to be extinct 100 yrs ago found on Galapagos Islands</a>

The researchers say this suggests the gene may have played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists claimed to have discovered the exact reason how dogs became man’s best friend—the answer lies in the genes. It has historically been argued that the domestication of dogs was an evolutionary process that started with the wolves about 33,000 years ago somewhere in Southeast Asia.

Scientists claimed to have discovered the exact reason how dogs became man’s best friend—the answer lies in the genes. It has historically been argued that the domestication of dogs was an evolutionary process that started with the wolves about 33,000 years ago somewhere in Southeast Asia. But a study suggests that dogs have a special gene that lowers their stress, making them more relaxed around people. The research says that this enabled a special relationship to develop between a man and a dog. The Japanese researchers said that dogs carry two mutations of a gene known as MC2R (melanocortin 2 receptor), Newsweek reported. This gene produces the hormone cortisol, nature's built-in alarm system which is released during fear or anxiety. Co-author of the study, Professor Miho Nagasawa of Azabu University, was quoted as saying, "These findings imply MC2R played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans." Nagasawa and colleagues investigated the interactions of 624 domestic dogs using two tasks. In the first, the dog had to decide which bowl had food hidden under it based on cues, such as gazing, pointing and tapping. This experiment tested the animal’s understanding of human gestures and communication. While the second looked at the social attachment to humans. The dogs were given a problem-solving test, which involved them attempting to open a container in order to access food. The main of the study was to measure how often and long the dog spent looking at the researchers. The dogs were separated into two groups depending on their breed – the ancient group (consisting of breeds considered genetically closer to wolves such as the Akita and Siberian Husky) and the general group (all other breeds which are more genetically distant from wolves). The study found out that the dogs in the ancient group looked at the researchers less often than other dogs during the problem-solving task, suggesting that they were less attached to humans. The researchers found there were no significant differences between the breeds in the first task. Also read | Now, India can safeguard animals against Covid with its own jab, Anocovax. Read details here They then looked for differences in genes associated with human-related cognitive abilities between the groups. According to the findings, two changes to the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) gene were associated with both correctly interpreting gestures in the first task and gazing at the scientists more often in the problem-solving task. Also read | Giant tortoise believed to be extinct 100 yrs ago found on Galapagos Islands The researchers say this suggests the gene may have played a role in the domestication of dogs, perhaps by promoting lower levels of stress around humans. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists finally decode how dogs became man’s best friend

Scientists have discovered a hidden marine thriving 500 metres below the Antarctic ice shelf. The scientists from New Zealand found small shrimp-like creatures and discovered a river along the bottom of a cavernous space under the ice. The discovery was made hundreds of kilometres away from the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf and it’s believed that the river is an estuary from the sea.

The fascinating discovery was made by the researchers from universities in Wellington, Auckland and Otago, the National Institute of Water and Atmospherics (Niwa) and Geological and Nuclear Sciences who were investigating the role of the estuary in climate-induced ice-shelf melt.

After scientists drilled down 500 metres beneath the ice and into the river in Antarctica, their camera was swarmed by amphipods, little creatures from the same lineage as lobsters, crabs and mites.

“For a while, we thought something was wrong with the camera, but when the focus improved, we noticed a swarm of arthropods around 5mm in size,” Craig Stevens from the Niwa organisation told the Guardian.
<img alt="Shrimp-like creatures filmed beneath the ice " data-caption="Shrimp-like creatures filmed beneath the ice&amp;nbsp;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="20d88459-eb1b-4fca-9c6a-bfbdfe3de393" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Marine.jpg" />
‘We’ve done experiments in other parts of the ice shelf and thought we had a handle on things, but this time big surprises were thrown up,” he said.

“We were jumping up and down because having all those animals swimming around our equipment means that there’s clearly an important ecosystem there,” he added.

Stevens said that they have taken some water samples to the lab to look at the DNA and other properties of the water “to see what makes it unique, as we were observing something not seen in other systems close by.”

Scientists have long believed that there might be hidden rivers and lakes under the Antarctic ice, but it has never been surveyed previously.

Antarctica is divided into East and West Antarctica, with the Transantarctic Mountain Range separating the two halves. In West Antarctica, the ice is more unstable than in the east, so melting ice and collapsing ice shelves are often observed.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists have discovered a hidden marine thriving 500 metres below the Antarctic ice shelf. The scientists from New Zealand found small shrimp-like creatures and discovered a river along the bottom of a cavernous space under the ice.

Scientists have discovered a hidden marine thriving 500 metres below the Antarctic ice shelf. The scientists from New Zealand found small shrimp-like creatures and discovered a river along the bottom of a cavernous space under the ice. The discovery was made hundreds of kilometres away from the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf and it’s believed that the river is an estuary from the sea. The fascinating discovery was made by the researchers from universities in Wellington, Auckland and Otago, the National Institute of Water and Atmospherics (Niwa) and Geological and Nuclear Sciences who were investigating the role of the estuary in climate-induced ice-shelf melt. After scientists drilled down 500 metres beneath the ice and into the river in Antarctica, their camera was swarmed by amphipods, little creatures from the same lineage as lobsters, crabs and mites. “For a while, we thought something was wrong with the camera, but when the focus improved, we noticed a swarm of arthropods around 5mm in size,” Craig Stevens from the Niwa organisation told the Guardian. ‘We’ve done experiments in other parts of the ice shelf and thought we had a handle on things, but this time big surprises were thrown up,” he said. “We were jumping up and down because having all those animals swimming around our equipment means that there’s clearly an important ecosystem there,” he added. Stevens said that they have taken some water samples to the lab to look at the DNA and other properties of the water “to see what makes it unique, as we were observing something not seen in other systems close by.” Scientists have long believed that there might be hidden rivers and lakes under the Antarctic ice, but it has never been surveyed previously. Antarctica is divided into East and West Antarctica, with the Transantarctic Mountain Range separating the two halves. In West Antarctica, the ice is more unstable than in the east, so melting ice and collapsing ice shelves are often observed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists discover hidden marine life thriving 500 metres below Antarctic ice

Scientists have spotted unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years from Earth. This strange “pulse” is being emitted from a neutron star, which rotates extremely slowly, completing one rotation every 76 seconds. The team went through old data from that region of space and found similar signals had been emitted before but had been missed by previous research. They say that this neutron star has the characteristics of a "pulsar" or even a "magnetar." Pulsars are very dense and the remains of a collapsed giant star. They emit radio waves from their poles and can be measured from Earth as the star rotates.

Manisha Caleb, a lecturer at the University of Sydney and MeerTRAP team traced the strange pulse to the distant Cela-X 1 region of the Milky Way. It lasted for around 300 milliseconds. When they went further from that region, they found records of more pulses.

Scientists are now calling it PSR J0941-4046. They think it’s a new type of radio-emitting galactic neutron star.

The team, led by members of The European Research Council-funded MeerTRAP (More Transients and Pulsars) group at The University of Manchester, say it is a unique discovery as it resides in the neutron star graveyard where they do not expect to see any radio emission at all.

The discovery was made using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa and published in the journal, Nature Astronomy.

Neutron stars are extremely dense remnants of a supernova explosion of a massive star. They can produce beams of radio waves which sweep around the sky as the neutron star spins, producing regular flashes like cosmic lighthouses.

Scientists have so far found 3000 of these in our own Galaxy. However, the new discovery is unlike anything seen so far. The team thinks that it could belong to the theorised class of ultra-long period magnetars with extremely strong magnetic fields.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-shares-breathtaking-close-up-clip-of-jupiter-taken-from-juno-spacecraft-watch-484955" hreflang="en">NASA shares breathtaking close-up clip of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft. Watch!</a>

“Amazingly we only detect radio emission from this source for 0.5% of its rotation period. This means that it is very fortuitous that the radio beam intersected with the Earth. It is therefore likely that there are many more of these very slowly spinning sources in the Galaxy which has important implications for how neutron stars are born and age,” Caleb said in a statement.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/dazzling-tau-herculid-meteor-shower-lights-up-sky-check-out-the-amazing-photos-484033" hreflang="en">Dazzling tau Herculids meteor shower lights up sky. Check out these amazing photos</a>

“The majority of pulsar surveys do not search for periods this long and so we have no idea how many of these sources there might be. In this case the source was bright enough that we could detect the single pulses with the MeerTRAP instrument at MeerKAT.”

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Scientists have spotted unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years from Earth. This strange “pulse” is being emitted from a neutron star, which rotates extremely slowly, completing one rotation every 76 seconds.

Scientists have spotted unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years from Earth. This strange “pulse” is being emitted from a neutron star, which rotates extremely slowly, completing one rotation every 76 seconds. The team went through old data from that region of space and found similar signals had been emitted before but had been missed by previous research. They say that this neutron star has the characteristics of a "pulsar" or even a "magnetar." Pulsars are very dense and the remains of a collapsed giant star. They emit radio waves from their poles and can be measured from Earth as the star rotates. Manisha Caleb, a lecturer at the University of Sydney and MeerTRAP team traced the strange pulse to the distant Cela-X 1 region of the Milky Way. It lasted for around 300 milliseconds. When they went further from that region, they found records of more pulses. Scientists are now calling it PSR J0941-4046. They think it’s a new type of radio-emitting galactic neutron star. The team, led by members of The European Research Council-funded MeerTRAP (More Transients and Pulsars) group at The University of Manchester, say it is a unique discovery as it resides in the neutron star graveyard where they do not expect to see any radio emission at all. The discovery was made using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa and published in the journal, Nature Astronomy. Neutron stars are extremely dense remnants of a supernova explosion of a massive star. They can produce beams of radio waves which sweep around the sky as the neutron star spins, producing regular flashes like cosmic lighthouses. Scientists have so far found 3000 of these in our own Galaxy. However, the new discovery is unlike anything seen so far. The team thinks that it could belong to the theorised class of ultra-long period magnetars with extremely strong magnetic fields. Also read | NASA shares breathtaking close-up clip of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft. Watch! “Amazingly we only detect radio emission from this source for 0.5% of its rotation period. This means that it is very fortuitous that the radio beam intersected with the Earth. It is therefore likely that there are many more of these very slowly spinning sources in the Galaxy which has important implications for how neutron stars are born and age,” Caleb said in a statement. Also see | Dazzling tau Herculids meteor shower lights up sky. Check out these amazing photos “The majority of pulsar surveys do not search for periods this long and so we have no idea how many of these sources there might be. In this case the source was bright enough that we could detect the single pulses with the MeerTRAP instrument at MeerKAT.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists discover unusual radio waves about 1,300 light-years away from Earth

&nbsp;"If we have to conduct a successful human spaceflight and sustain it in India, we need a strong pool of doctors to get involved in the Human Spaceflight mission. There are opportunities in not just emergency medicine, but also for doctors in other domains" said Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO). Addressing a gathering of Doctors from across medical domains and ISRO scientists, he touched upon how medical professionals could work together on Spacecraft design for India's highly-anticipated Gaganyaan(Human Spaceflight) mission.&nbsp;

Elaborating on this, Somanath said that scientists and engineers were building machines, but lacked the feel of human beings (those who were going to use the equipment). He was saying this in light of the Gaganyaan Spacecraft that is being built to carry and house the Indian astronauts in space and return them to earth. Regarding the interactions with the four Indian astronauts, he mentioned receiving their constant feedback on equipment placement, lighting, software, displays, etc. onboard the spacecraft (simulator).&nbsp;

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(3/3) Dr. T S Srinath Kumar, Head, Narayana Health would hold brainstorming sessions with the quality experts from ISRO. 
Details: <a href="https://t.co/dOGvKJGZdr">https://t.co/dOGvKJGZdr</a> 
Watch the deliberations LIVE from 11 am (IST) at<a href="https://t.co/Uiq1oqA2Yd">https://t.co/Uiq1oqA2Yd</a>
— ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1529135048342917120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Organised at the ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru, the event Health-Quality Upgradation Enabled through Space Technology (Health-QUEST) was aimed at percolating best practices in ISRO’s quality domain into emergency healthcare and critical healthcare departments for reducing mortality rates.

Notably, even the best healthcare systems in the world have an error rate of 8-10 per cent, whereas the aerospace industry and rocketry operate at zero per cent error, as even the most minor error can prove catastrophic. Speaking at the event, Dr Alexander Thomas, president, Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), emphasised the importance of absorbing and implementing the stringent safety standards of the aerospace industry in the healthcare sector (particularly in the hospital emergency wards, accident wards and critical care units).&nbsp;

Listing out the areas of cooperation between ISRO and the Indian healthcare sector, he touched upon geo-mapping of accident and emergency care centres across the country, in order to have accurate information on the type of services and level of care available in the healthcare facilities. He also added the need to geo-tag ambulances and ICUs, besides the need to study the impact of climate change and its threat on health.&nbsp;

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"If we have to conduct a successful human spaceflight and sustain it in India, we need a strong pool of doctors to get involved in the Human Spaceflight mission.

"If we have to conduct a successful human spaceflight and sustain it in India, we need a strong pool of doctors to get involved in the Human Spaceflight mission. There are opportunities in not just emergency medicine, but also for doctors in other domains" said Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO). Addressing a gathering of Doctors from across medical domains and ISRO scientists, he touched upon how medical professionals could work together on Spacecraft design for India's highly-anticipated Gaganyaan(Human Spaceflight) mission. Elaborating on this, Somanath said that scientists and engineers were building machines, but lacked the feel of human beings (those who were going to use the equipment). He was saying this in light of the Gaganyaan Spacecraft that is being built to carry and house the Indian astronauts in space and return them to earth. Regarding the interactions with the four Indian astronauts, he mentioned receiving their constant feedback on equipment placement, lighting, software, displays, etc. onboard the spacecraft (simulator). (3/3) Dr. T S Srinath Kumar, Head, Narayana Health would hold brainstorming sessions with the quality experts from ISRO. Details: https://t.co/dOGvKJGZdr Watch the deliberations LIVE from 11 am (IST) athttps://t.co/Uiq1oqA2Yd — ISRO (@isro) May 24, 2022 × Organised at the ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru, the event Health-Quality Upgradation Enabled through Space Technology (Health-QUEST) was aimed at percolating best practices in ISRO’s quality domain into emergency healthcare and critical healthcare departments for reducing mortality rates. Notably, even the best healthcare systems in the world have an error rate of 8-10 per cent, whereas the aerospace industry and rocketry operate at zero per cent error, as even the most minor error can prove catastrophic. Speaking at the event, Dr Alexander Thomas, president, Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), emphasised the importance of absorbing and implementing the stringent safety standards of the aerospace industry in the healthcare sector (particularly in the hospital emergency wards, accident wards and critical care units). Listing out the areas of cooperation between ISRO and the Indian healthcare sector, he touched upon geo-mapping of accident and emergency care centres across the country, in order to have accurate information on the type of services and level of care available in the healthcare facilities. He also added the need to geo-tag ambulances and ICUs, besides the need to study the impact of climate change and its threat on health. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Need a strong pool of doctors to collaborate with Human Spaceflight Programme: ISRO Chairman Somanath

In the hope of grabbing the attention of aliens,&nbsp; scientists are planning to send&nbsp;illustrations of human body parts&nbsp;to space.

According to Soch Fact Check,&nbsp;NASA is not working on a broadcast to launch images of naked humans into space. There have been misleading reports earlier which suggested that the experiment is being conducted at the behest of the US space agency.

Moreover, this experiment is not being funded by NASA. It appears to&nbsp;have stemmed from a study recently published in arXiv — an online database of non-peer-reviewed publications — about a hypothetical means to send a message to potential alien lifeforms somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy.&nbsp;

The proposal, "A Beacon in the Galaxy" (BITG), was presented by 11 researchers from a range of institutions, including NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.&nbsp;

The scientists believe that a proper contact can be established with another life form, which has been tried and failed for 150 years, by sending a pixelated illustration of a naked woman and man waving “hello”, in an attempt to look inviting.

Apart from the pixelated illustrations, the scientists have also included a portrayal of gravity and DNA.

The scientists believe a binary-coded message is most likely to be understood by aliens.

“Though the concept of mathematics in human terms is potentially unrecognizable to extra-terrestrial intelligence, binary is likely universal across all intelligence,” the scientists said in their official project document.

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“Binary is the simplest form of mathematics as it involves only two opposing states: zero and one, yes or no, black or white, mass or empty space.”

They added, “The proposed message includes basic mathematical and physical concepts to establish a universal means of communication followed by information on the biochemical composition of life on Earth, the Solar System’s time-stamped position in the Milky Way relative to known globular clusters, as well as digitized depictions of the Solar System, and Earth’s surface.

Notably, this isn’t the first that scientists have tried to beam naked pictures of humans into space.

The Pioneer 10 in 1972, and the Pioneer 11 in 1973—missions both contained illustrations of naked humans attached to their antennas, ready and waiting for any aliens that may like a little peep.

Note: The original version of the story 'NASA will launch naked pictures of humans to space to attract aliens'&nbsp;have been amended to rectify an erroneous impression which suggested that the US space agency was sending images of human body parts. Necessary changes have now been made to reflect the updated information.

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Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.&nbsp;

In the hope of grabbing the attention of aliens, scientists are planning to send illustrations of human body parts to space. According to Soch Fact Check, NASA is not working on a broadcast to launch images of naked humans into space.

In the hope of grabbing the attention of aliens, scientists are planning to send illustrations of human body parts to space. According to Soch Fact Check, NASA is not working on a broadcast to launch images of naked humans into space. There have been misleading reports earlier which suggested that the experiment is being conducted at the behest of the US space agency. Moreover, this experiment is not being funded by NASA. It appears to have stemmed from a study recently published in arXiv — an online database of non-peer-reviewed publications — about a hypothetical means to send a message to potential alien lifeforms somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy. The proposal, "A Beacon in the Galaxy" (BITG), was presented by 11 researchers from a range of institutions, including NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The scientists believe that a proper contact can be established with another life form, which has been tried and failed for 150 years, by sending a pixelated illustration of a naked woman and man waving “hello”, in an attempt to look inviting. Apart from the pixelated illustrations, the scientists have also included a portrayal of gravity and DNA. The scientists believe a binary-coded message is most likely to be understood by aliens. “Though the concept of mathematics in human terms is potentially unrecognizable to extra-terrestrial intelligence, binary is likely universal across all intelligence,” the scientists said in their official project document. “Binary is the simplest form of mathematics as it involves only two opposing states: zero and one, yes or no, black or white, mass or empty space.” They added, “The proposed message includes basic mathematical and physical concepts to establish a universal means of communication followed by information on the biochemical composition of life on Earth, the Solar System’s time-stamped position in the Milky Way relative to known globular clusters, as well as digitized depictions of the Solar System, and Earth’s surface. Notably, this isn’t the first that scientists have tried to beam naked pictures of humans into space. The Pioneer 10 in 1972, and the Pioneer 11 in 1973—missions both contained illustrations of naked humans attached to their antennas, ready and waiting for any aliens that may like a little peep. Note: The original version of the story 'NASA will launch naked pictures of humans to space to attract aliens' have been amended to rectify an erroneous impression which suggested that the US space agency was sending images of human body parts. Necessary changes have now been made to reflect the updated information. WATCH WION LIVE Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

Scientists to send illustrations of human body parts to space in hope of attracting aliens

The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) successfully completed the maiden static test fire of its 'HS200' rocket booster at 7:20am on Friday at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This booster is a modified, human-rated version of the existing "S200" booster that is used on the Indian space agency's heaviest rocket, the GSLV Mk3. Friday's test is in line with the human-rating process, where the agency modifies the GSLV Mk3 rocket and its components for carrying astronauts. Simply put, the GSLV Mk3 rocket is a cargo hauler, meant to take satellites to space. It is now being modified and tested to be safe and suitable for carrying humans to space as part of India's Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Video?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Video</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thread?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thread</a> : That's 200+tons of Hydroxyl-terminated Polybutadiene burning in a Rocket engine! 
Today, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> successfully completed test of human-rated S200 Solid-fuel Rocket booster 
2xS200 is the 1st stage of GSLVMk3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rocket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rocket</a> that will take <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/astronauts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#astronauts</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> <a href="https://t.co/POJuOtvDc2">pic.twitter.com/POJuOtvDc2</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1525020220632760320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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WION spoke to Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to understand the significance of the test. VSSC is the lead centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and pioneers in rocket research and launch vehicle projects for ISRO.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-plans-to-build-disha-lh-two-satellites-meant-for-studying-upper-atmosphere-477883">&nbsp;ISRO plans to build two satellites, DISHA-L&amp;H, to study upper atmosphere</a>

According to Dr Nair, their teams had been working on making changes to the S200 rocket booster since 2019 and had improvised on small components such as ignitors, digital control electronics, and even went on to develop ISRO's largest electro-mechanical actuators. In this case, the electro-mechanical actuator will be used to steer the S200 booster's thrust and eventually the rocket's travel by adjusting the nozzle's direction. Friday's ground test involved the static firing of one solid booster for a duration of 135 seconds.

"Reducing chamber pressure, ensuring it is proof-leak, robust, and achieve higher margins, etc., are some of the changes we made to the S200 to increase its reliability as part of the human-rating process," Dr Nair said when queried about the difference between the existing S200 and the human-rated version. He also added that nearly 700 parameters (such as chamber pressure, thrust, shock, vibration, etc.) were monitored during the test and that everything turned out perfect. However, he said that the entire set of data would have to be closely examined to determine if another test of the same booster would be required.

Watch |&nbsp;India: ISRO launches EOS-04 satellite

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The GSLV Mk3 is a three-stage rocket, where the first stage (S200) is powered by solid fuel, the second stage (L110) is powered by liquid fuel, and the third (C25 Cryogenic stage) is powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. In a rocket such as this, the stages function like runners in a relay race. The first stage performs its part and then hands over the task to the second, the second performs its part and then hands over the task to the third. Finally, the third stage performs its task and injects the payload (satellite or human-carrying capsule) into the desired orbit.

The HS200 booster test fired on Friday was loaded with 203 tonnes of solid propellant. The booster measures 20 metres in length and 3.2 metres in diameter. It is the world’s 2nd&nbsp;largest operational booster that is fuelled by solid propellant. With the successful completion of this test, ISRO marches one more step closer to the Gaganyaan Programme.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-venus-mission-plan-ready-chairman-urges-academia-scientists-to-work-on-specific-outcomes-476570">'Focus on how it will benefit India and the world' ISRO Chairman tells scientists, on upcoming Venus Mission</a>

ISRO has been working on the ambitious Gaganyaan mission that involves demonstrating the indigenous capability to undertake human space flight missions to low Earth orbit and will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme in the long run. As part of this programme, two unmanned missions and one manned mission have been approved by the government of India.

Notably, out of the three propulsion stages of GSLV Mk3, the human-rated versions of the second stage known as L110-G (loaded with liquid propellant) and the third stage C25-G (with cryogenic propellant) are in the final phase of qualification, including tests with static firing.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) successfully completed the maiden static test fire of its 'HS200' rocket booster at 7:20am on Friday at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) successfully completed the maiden static test fire of its 'HS200' rocket booster at 7:20am on Friday at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This booster is a modified, human-rated version of the existing "S200" booster that is used on the Indian space agency's heaviest rocket, the GSLV Mk3. Friday's test is in line with the human-rating process, where the agency modifies the GSLV Mk3 rocket and its components for carrying astronauts. Simply put, the GSLV Mk3 rocket is a cargo hauler, meant to take satellites to space. It is now being modified and tested to be safe and suitable for carrying humans to space as part of India's Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme. #Video #Thread : That's 200+tons of Hydroxyl-terminated Polybutadiene burning in a Rocket engine! Today, #isro successfully completed test of human-rated S200 Solid-fuel Rocket booster 2xS200 is the 1st stage of GSLVMk3 #rocket that will take #Indian #astronauts to #space @isro pic.twitter.com/POJuOtvDc2 — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) May 13, 2022 × WION spoke to Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to understand the significance of the test. VSSC is the lead centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and pioneers in rocket research and launch vehicle projects for ISRO. Also read | ISRO plans to build two satellites, DISHA-L&H, to study upper atmosphere According to Dr Nair, their teams had been working on making changes to the S200 rocket booster since 2019 and had improvised on small components such as ignitors, digital control electronics, and even went on to develop ISRO's largest electro-mechanical actuators. In this case, the electro-mechanical actuator will be used to steer the S200 booster's thrust and eventually the rocket's travel by adjusting the nozzle's direction. Friday's ground test involved the static firing of one solid booster for a duration of 135 seconds. "Reducing chamber pressure, ensuring it is proof-leak, robust, and achieve higher margins, etc., are some of the changes we made to the S200 to increase its reliability as part of the human-rating process," Dr Nair said when queried about the difference between the existing S200 and the human-rated version. He also added that nearly 700 parameters (such as chamber pressure, thrust, shock, vibration, etc.) were monitored during the test and that everything turned out perfect. However, he said that the entire set of data would have to be closely examined to determine if another test of the same booster would be required. Watch | India: ISRO launches EOS-04 satellite The GSLV Mk3 is a three-stage rocket, where the first stage (S200) is powered by solid fuel, the second stage (L110) is powered by liquid fuel, and the third (C25 Cryogenic stage) is powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. In a rocket such as this, the stages function like runners in a relay race. The first stage performs its part and then hands over the task to the second, the second performs its part and then hands over the task to the third. Finally, the third stage performs its task and injects the payload (satellite or human-carrying capsule) into the desired orbit. The HS200 booster test fired on Friday was loaded with 203 tonnes of solid propellant. The booster measures 20 metres in length and 3.2 metres in diameter. It is the world’s 2nd largest operational booster that is fuelled by solid propellant. With the successful completion of this test, ISRO marches one more step closer to the Gaganyaan Programme. Also read | 'Focus on how it will benefit India and the world' ISRO Chairman tells scientists, on upcoming Venus Mission ISRO has been working on the ambitious Gaganyaan mission that involves demonstrating the indigenous capability to undertake human space flight missions to low Earth orbit and will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme in the long run. As part of this programme, two unmanned missions and one manned mission have been approved by the government of India. Notably, out of the three propulsion stages of GSLV Mk3, the human-rated versions of the second stage known as L110-G (loaded with liquid propellant) and the third stage C25-G (with cryogenic propellant) are in the final phase of qualification, including tests with static firing. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch: ISRO tests rocket booster that is among the largest-of-its-kind in the world

There's a major breakthrough in the understanding of how ice flows in Antarctica. Research suggests that there is the largest reservoir of liquid water below the ice stream and it affects how the ice flows in Antarctica.

Antarctica: Scientists find ocean-floor like sediments under ice stream

Scientists have revived light-sensing neurons in eyeballs acquired from post-mortem organ donors and restored their ability to interact in a succession of findings that could alter brain and vision research.

Many human organs can be transplanted from deceased donors, but central nervous system tissues quickly lose viability when circulation is interrupted and oxygen is depleted. This limits their potential utility.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/big-revelation-chinese-rover-unearths-evidence-of-waters-presence-on-mars-read-details-here-478281">Big revelation: Chinese rover unearths evidence of water’s presence on Mars. Read details here</a>

The researchers utilised the retina as a model of the human central nervous system, which contains billions of neurons that carry sensory information as electrical signals, to investigate how neurons die and possible new treatments.

Lead author Fatima Abbas, a scientist at the John A. Moran Eye Centre at the University of Utah in the US, explains lead author Fatima Abbas, "We were able to wake up photoreceptor cells in the human macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for our central vision and our ability to see fine detail and colour." "In eyes obtained up to five hours after an organ donor’s death, these cells responded to bright light, coloured lights, and even very dim flashes of light."

Watch |&nbsp;Reaching out to the aliens: Astronomers to relay message in space

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The researchers were able to restore the photoreceptors in these early trials by restoring normal pH and oxygenation, but they appeared to have lost their ability to communicate with other retinal cells due to oxygen deprivation.

They devised a specific transportation unit to restore oxygenation and other nutrients to organ donor eyes in under 20 minutes after death, as well as another gadget that stimulates the retina and detects the electrical activity of its cells.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/biological-men-may-be-able-to-get-pregnant-soon-find-out-how-478121">Biological men may be able to get pregnant soon. Find out how</a>

The researchers was able to recover an unique electrical signal seen in living eyes, known as the "b wave," using this method, and this is the first b wave recording obtained from the central retina of post-mortem human eyes.

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Scientists have revived light-sensing neurons in eyeballs acquired from post-mortem organ donors and restored their ability to interact in a succession of findings that could alter brain and vision research.

Scientists have revived light-sensing neurons in eyeballs acquired from post-mortem organ donors and restored their ability to interact in a succession of findings that could alter brain and vision research. Many human organs can be transplanted from deceased donors, but central nervous system tissues quickly lose viability when circulation is interrupted and oxygen is depleted. This limits their potential utility. Also read | Big revelation: Chinese rover unearths evidence of water’s presence on Mars. Read details here The researchers utilised the retina as a model of the human central nervous system, which contains billions of neurons that carry sensory information as electrical signals, to investigate how neurons die and possible new treatments. Lead author Fatima Abbas, a scientist at the John A. Moran Eye Centre at the University of Utah in the US, explains lead author Fatima Abbas, "We were able to wake up photoreceptor cells in the human macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for our central vision and our ability to see fine detail and colour." "In eyes obtained up to five hours after an organ donor’s death, these cells responded to bright light, coloured lights, and even very dim flashes of light." Watch | Reaching out to the aliens: Astronomers to relay message in space The researchers were able to restore the photoreceptors in these early trials by restoring normal pH and oxygenation, but they appeared to have lost their ability to communicate with other retinal cells due to oxygen deprivation. They devised a specific transportation unit to restore oxygenation and other nutrients to organ donor eyes in under 20 minutes after death, as well as another gadget that stimulates the retina and detects the electrical activity of its cells. Also read | Biological men may be able to get pregnant soon. Find out how The researchers was able to recover an unique electrical signal seen in living eyes, known as the "b wave," using this method, and this is the first b wave recording obtained from the central retina of post-mortem human eyes. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Are human eyes immortal? Scientists revive light-sensing cells in organ donor eyes

For several years, scientists have been left baffled by a strange phenomenon occurring on Google Maps.

A small strip of island located between Australia and New Caledonia in the South Pacific has been an enigma, as it keeps appearing and disappearing.

Mind you, this is not a technical fault, as this strange island had every indication of a landmass through satellite view.

Many called it the Sandy Island or ‘phantom island’ that was first found mentioned in British Explorer Captain James Cook's Chart of Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean all the way back in 1776, The Daily Express newspaper reports.

According to reports, it was spotted again 100 years later in 1895, with many believing that the island was 14.9 miles long and 3.1 miles wide.

The mystery was finally unravelled on November 22, 2012, when Australian scientists on the R/V Southern Surveyor found nothing but the sea.

Scientists recorded the ocean depths to be more than 4,300 feet, suggesting that there was no chance of anything lurking under the ocean that would previously have been visible.

And four days later, the island was removed from Google Maps.

Maria Seton, of the University of Sydney, told AFP: "We wanted to check it out because the navigation charts on board the ship showed a water depth of 1,400 metres (4,620 feet) in that area – very deep.

“It's on Google Earth and other maps so we went to check and there was no island.”

"We're really puzzled, it's quite bizarre.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/are-those-baby-dinosaurs-video-of-creature-scurrying-through-beach-goes-viral-netizens-confused-477224">Are those baby dinosaurs? Video of creature scurrying through beach goes viral, netizens confused</a>

However, if one were to search the island through the exact coordinates on any maps, a small lump could still be seen in the ocean.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-that-a-space-jellyfish-spacex-rocket-launch-illuminates-sky-gives-visual-treat-to-viewers-477189">Is that a space jellyfish? SpaceX rocket launch illuminates sky, gives visual treat to viewers</a>

So far, there is no official explanation as to why one could still sight the so-called Sandy Island, but there is a leading theory which suggest that the island may have been the floating remains of a submerged volcano or coastal subaerial eruption.

WATCH WION LIVE

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For several years, scientists have been left baffled by a strange phenomenon occurring on Google Maps. A small strip of island located between Australia and New Caledonia in the South Pacific has been an enigma, as it keeps appearing and disappearing.

For several years, scientists have been left baffled by a strange phenomenon occurring on Google Maps. A small strip of island located between Australia and New Caledonia in the South Pacific has been an enigma, as it keeps appearing and disappearing. Mind you, this is not a technical fault, as this strange island had every indication of a landmass through satellite view. Many called it the Sandy Island or ‘phantom island’ that was first found mentioned in British Explorer Captain James Cook's Chart of Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean all the way back in 1776, The Daily Express newspaper reports. According to reports, it was spotted again 100 years later in 1895, with many believing that the island was 14.9 miles long and 3.1 miles wide. The mystery was finally unravelled on November 22, 2012, when Australian scientists on the R/V Southern Surveyor found nothing but the sea. Scientists recorded the ocean depths to be more than 4,300 feet, suggesting that there was no chance of anything lurking under the ocean that would previously have been visible. And four days later, the island was removed from Google Maps. Maria Seton, of the University of Sydney, told AFP: "We wanted to check it out because the navigation charts on board the ship showed a water depth of 1,400 metres (4,620 feet) in that area – very deep. “It's on Google Earth and other maps so we went to check and there was no island.” "We're really puzzled, it's quite bizarre.” Also read | Are those baby dinosaurs? Video of creature scurrying through beach goes viral, netizens confused However, if one were to search the island through the exact coordinates on any maps, a small lump could still be seen in the ocean. Also read | Is that a space jellyfish? SpaceX rocket launch illuminates sky, gives visual treat to viewers So far, there is no official explanation as to why one could still sight the so-called Sandy Island, but there is a leading theory which suggest that the island may have been the floating remains of a submerged volcano or coastal subaerial eruption. WATCH WION LIVE

Mysterious ‘phantom island’ keeps appearing and disappearing on Google Maps, scientists stumped

A moving magnetic slime has been created by scientists. It is capable of self-healing, encircling smaller objects and “very large deformation” to be able to squeeze itself and travel through narrow spaces.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Controlled by magnets, slime is a good electrical conductor. It is a dark-coloured magnetic blob and can also be used to interconnect electrodes, said its creators.&nbsp; &nbsp;

It may be helpful in aiding human digestion.&nbsp;

The slime has also been compared to a similar substance created in the 1997 film ‘Flubber’ on social media.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/secondhand-cannabis-smoke-from-bongs-worse-than-cigarette-smoking-says-study-467601" hreflang="en">Cannabis smoke from bongs worse than cigarette for passive smokers, says study &nbsp;</a>

It has also been described as a “magnetic turd” and “amazing and a tiny bit terrifying”.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The slime has been co-created by Prof Li Zhang of Chinese University, Hong Kong. Zhang said the substance was real scientific research and not an April fool’s joke as it was released on April 1.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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A robot made of magnetic slime could be deployed inside the body to perform tasks such as retrieving objects swallowed by accident.<a href="https://t.co/EYpnx56vNO">https://t.co/EYpnx56vNO</a> <a href="https://t.co/zA3hMO80xQ">pic.twitter.com/zA3hMO80xQ</a>
— New Scientist (@newscientist) <a href="https://twitter.com/newscientist/status/1509599345255100417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The blob contains magnetic particles, which can be manipulated to rotate, travel, form O and C shapes when external magnets are also applied to it.

Watch:&nbsp;How exactly does Covid affect body? World's first 'human challenge study' offers clues

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It has also been described as a “magnetic slime robot”.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The study has been published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Advanced Functional Materials ‘.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The slime lacked autonomy for the time being, Zhang said.&nbsp; &nbsp;

“The ultimate goal is to deploy it like a robot. We still consider it as fundamental research – trying to understand its material properties,” Zhang added.&nbsp; &nbsp;

It also has “visco-elastic properties”, meaning that “sometimes it behaves like a solid, sometimes it behaves like a liquid,” Zhang said.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

It seems to have been made of a mixture of a polymer called polyvinyl alcohol, borax and particles of neodymium magnet.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A moving magnetic slime has been created by scientists. It is capable of self-healing, encircling smaller objects and “very large deformation” to be able to squeeze itself and travel through narrow spaces.

A moving magnetic slime has been created by scientists. It is capable of self-healing, encircling smaller objects and “very large deformation” to be able to squeeze itself and travel through narrow spaces. Controlled by magnets, slime is a good electrical conductor. It is a dark-coloured magnetic blob and can also be used to interconnect electrodes, said its creators. It may be helpful in aiding human digestion. The slime has also been compared to a similar substance created in the 1997 film ‘Flubber’ on social media. Also Read: Cannabis smoke from bongs worse than cigarette for passive smokers, says study It has also been described as a “magnetic turd” and “amazing and a tiny bit terrifying”. The slime has been co-created by Prof Li Zhang of Chinese University, Hong Kong. Zhang said the substance was real scientific research and not an April fool’s joke as it was released on April 1. A robot made of magnetic slime could be deployed inside the body to perform tasks such as retrieving objects swallowed by accident.https://t.co/EYpnx56vNO pic.twitter.com/zA3hMO80xQ — New Scientist (@newscientist) March 31, 2022 × The blob contains magnetic particles, which can be manipulated to rotate, travel, form O and C shapes when external magnets are also applied to it. Watch: How exactly does Covid affect body? World's first 'human challenge study' offers clues × It has also been described as a “magnetic slime robot”. The study has been published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Advanced Functional Materials ‘. The slime lacked autonomy for the time being, Zhang said. “The ultimate goal is to deploy it like a robot. We still consider it as fundamental research – trying to understand its material properties,” Zhang added. It also has “visco-elastic properties”, meaning that “sometimes it behaves like a solid, sometimes it behaves like a liquid,” Zhang said. It seems to have been made of a mixture of a polymer called polyvinyl alcohol, borax and particles of neodymium magnet. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Real Flubber? Scientists invent moving, shape changing magnetic slime

In Monterey Bay area of the US, a new rare species of crown jellyfish has been found by scientists. &nbsp;&nbsp;

What is special about it is that it looks like a scarlet alien saucer. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The new species, which has blood red colour, is called Atolla reynoldsi. It measures around 5 inches (13 centimeters) in diameter, reports said.

“This jellyfish can also have 26 to 39 tentacles," said researchers with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). This species has a deep groove around its central bell, which looks like a domed head with a frilly red crown. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-natures-miracle-thought-to-be-extinct-flower-bearing-plant-gasteranthus-extinctus-reemerges-471649" hreflang="en">Miracle of nature? ‘Gasteranthus extinctus’, plant once thought extinct, reemerges</a>

Atolla reynoldsi seems to be largest of the known species of the Atolla genus, the scientists said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It also lacks a single elongate tentacle, which is present in other species of crown jellyfish. &nbsp;

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Meet Atolla reynoldsi, a new species of deep-sea crown jelly discovered in Monterey Bay. 
 
This species honors Jeff Reynolds, <a href="https://twitter.com/MontereyAq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MontereyAq</a>’s first volunteer, and celebrates the contributions of Aquarium volunteers to inspiring ocean conservation. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/44zCYhNTCK">https://t.co/44zCYhNTCK</a> <a href="https://t.co/d2fc2AK6HF">pic.twitter.com/d2fc2AK6HF</a>
— MBARI (@MBARI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/MBARI_News/status/1516446470924234755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Researchers have identified this species in a new study, which was published in the journal ‘Animals’ last month. &nbsp;

It has been spotted in ‘sunless’ region of Monterey Bay at depths of 3,323 to 10,463 feet (1,013 to 3,189 m) till now. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Deadly coral disease grips Florida coast, efforts on to restore damaged reef

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In a statement, George Matsumoto, senior education and research specialist at MBARI and lead author of the study, said, "These remarkable new jellies underscore how much we still have to learn about the deep sea. On just about every dive into the depths of Monterey Bay, we learn something new." &nbsp;

This species was spotted while analysing thousands of hours of footage, which was taken in Monterey Bay's midnight zone from April 2006 to June 2021. &nbsp;

After much research, the scientists found that the species is "molecularly and morphologically distinct" from other species in the genus. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In Monterey Bay area of the US, a new rare species of crown jellyfish has been found by scientists. What is special about it is that it looks like a scarlet alien saucer.

In Monterey Bay area of the US, a new rare species of crown jellyfish has been found by scientists. What is special about it is that it looks like a scarlet alien saucer. The new species, which has blood red colour, is called Atolla reynoldsi. It measures around 5 inches (13 centimeters) in diameter, reports said. “This jellyfish can also have 26 to 39 tentacles," said researchers with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). This species has a deep groove around its central bell, which looks like a domed head with a frilly red crown. Also Read: Miracle of nature? ‘Gasteranthus extinctus’, plant once thought extinct, reemerges Atolla reynoldsi seems to be largest of the known species of the Atolla genus, the scientists said. It also lacks a single elongate tentacle, which is present in other species of crown jellyfish. Meet Atolla reynoldsi, a new species of deep-sea crown jelly discovered in Monterey Bay. This species honors Jeff Reynolds, @MontereyAq’s first volunteer, and celebrates the contributions of Aquarium volunteers to inspiring ocean conservation. Learn more: https://t.co/44zCYhNTCK pic.twitter.com/d2fc2AK6HF — MBARI (@MBARI_News) April 19, 2022 × Researchers have identified this species in a new study, which was published in the journal ‘Animals’ last month. It has been spotted in ‘sunless’ region of Monterey Bay at depths of 3,323 to 10,463 feet (1,013 to 3,189 m) till now. Watch: Deadly coral disease grips Florida coast, efforts on to restore damaged reef × In a statement, George Matsumoto, senior education and research specialist at MBARI and lead author of the study, said, "These remarkable new jellies underscore how much we still have to learn about the deep sea. On just about every dive into the depths of Monterey Bay, we learn something new." This species was spotted while analysing thousands of hours of footage, which was taken in Monterey Bay's midnight zone from April 2006 to June 2021. After much research, the scientists found that the species is "molecularly and morphologically distinct" from other species in the genus. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: New rare species of crown jellyfish found in Monterey Bay by scientists in US

Have you ever wondered why humans live a far longer life than the animals around us?

Surely, you must’ve thought about it at one time or another. Why is it that for our animal companions, our dogs or cats, a 20-year lifespan is quite long, but for us, a 50-60 years life is at times considered short?

Well, the simple reason behind that is that humans on average die at around 70-80 years of age. In 2017, the United Nations pegged the estimated global average life expectancy at 72.6 years.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-is-how-a-nasa-sample-of-lunar-dust-came-to-be-sold-at-a-public-auction-for-500000-470899" hreflang="en">This is how a NASA sample of lunar dust came to be sold at a public auction for $500,000</a>

But why do we have a longer lifespan?

Earlier scientists thought that this had something to do with our body size. Experts suggested that a smaller body size burns up energy quickly, which causes a speedier decline. For example, a mice has an average lifespan of 3.7 years while for a dog it can be anywhere from 10-13 years.

But then, how does a naked mole rat that is only five inches big have pretty much the same lifespan as a giraffe? While a giraffe typically lives for 24 years, the naked mole-rat lives for 25 years.&nbsp;

A new study by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, which was published in the journal Nature suggests that the key to the logic behind the high or low lifespans might be in the rate of genetic decay and DNA mutations.

Watch |&nbsp;Emerging trends in the world of Robotics

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The study reports that animals with longer lives successfully slow down their DNA mutations, which contributes to their lengthy lifespans.&nbsp;

Somatic mutations are genetic alterations that occur in all cells and are mostly inconsequential, but some of them can set a cell on the route to cancer or affect normal function.

A report by the Telegraph quotes the study’s lead author saying that: “To find a similar pattern of genetic changes in animals as different from one another as a mouse and a tiger was surprising.&nbsp;

“But the most exciting aspect of the study has to be finding that lifespan is inversely proportional to the somatic mutation rate. This suggests that somatic mutations may play a role in ageing.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scientists-find-sunscreen-lotion-chemical-accumulating-in-mediterranean-seagrass-470609" hreflang="en">Scientists find sunscreen lotion chemical accumulating in Mediterranean seagrass</a>

Going back to the giraffe and naked mole-rat example, the key to their almost similar lifespan lies in the number of genetic mutations; which is 99 for the former and 93 for the latter.

While we humans only face 47 mutations a year, mice which have a very short life span of 3.7 years experience suffer a massive number of 796 mutations every year.&nbsp;

The finding, according to the researchers, opens the door to a better knowledge of the ageing process, as well as the inevitability and timing of death.

(With inputs from agencies)

Have you ever wondered why humans live a far longer life than the animals around us? Surely, you must’ve thought about it at one time or another. Why is it that for our animal companions, our dogs or cats, a 20-year lifespan is quite long, but for us, a 50-60 years life is at times considered short?

Have you ever wondered why humans live a far longer life than the animals around us? Surely, you must’ve thought about it at one time or another. Why is it that for our animal companions, our dogs or cats, a 20-year lifespan is quite long, but for us, a 50-60 years life is at times considered short? Well, the simple reason behind that is that humans on average die at around 70-80 years of age. In 2017, the United Nations pegged the estimated global average life expectancy at 72.6 years. Also read | This is how a NASA sample of lunar dust came to be sold at a public auction for $500,000 But why do we have a longer lifespan? Earlier scientists thought that this had something to do with our body size. Experts suggested that a smaller body size burns up energy quickly, which causes a speedier decline. For example, a mice has an average lifespan of 3.7 years while for a dog it can be anywhere from 10-13 years. But then, how does a naked mole rat that is only five inches big have pretty much the same lifespan as a giraffe? While a giraffe typically lives for 24 years, the naked mole-rat lives for 25 years. A new study by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, which was published in the journal Nature suggests that the key to the logic behind the high or low lifespans might be in the rate of genetic decay and DNA mutations. Watch | Emerging trends in the world of Robotics The study reports that animals with longer lives successfully slow down their DNA mutations, which contributes to their lengthy lifespans. Somatic mutations are genetic alterations that occur in all cells and are mostly inconsequential, but some of them can set a cell on the route to cancer or affect normal function. A report by the Telegraph quotes the study’s lead author saying that: “To find a similar pattern of genetic changes in animals as different from one another as a mouse and a tiger was surprising. “But the most exciting aspect of the study has to be finding that lifespan is inversely proportional to the somatic mutation rate. This suggests that somatic mutations may play a role in ageing.” Also read | Scientists find sunscreen lotion chemical accumulating in Mediterranean seagrass Going back to the giraffe and naked mole-rat example, the key to their almost similar lifespan lies in the number of genetic mutations; which is 99 for the former and 93 for the latter. While we humans only face 47 mutations a year, mice which have a very short life span of 3.7 years experience suffer a massive number of 796 mutations every year. The finding, according to the researchers, opens the door to a better knowledge of the ageing process, as well as the inevitability and timing of death. (With inputs from agencies)

Why do humans have a longer life span than our furry companions? Scientists have the answer

An ancient super earthquake with a magnitude of 9.5 struck the Chilean coast around 3,800 years ago, triggering 9,000 kilometres wide tsunami that was felt all the way across New Zealand, a new study has discovered.

The scientists said that the quake, believed to have taken place in northern Chile, was so powerful that it actually uplifted the land structures and sent humans into hiding for 1,000 years, according to Science Alert.

Previously, it was believed that the 1960 earthquake in Southern Chile was the largest.&nbsp;That&nbsp;earthquake,&nbsp;with a magnitude of 9.5,&nbsp; left two million people homeless, injured at least 3,000, and killed&nbsp;<a title="approximately">approximately</a>&nbsp;1,655.

The study was conducted by Professor Diego Salazar at the University of Chile and was published in Science Advances last week.

“It had been thought that there could not be an event of that size in the north of the country simply because you could not get a long enough rupture,” explained Professor James Goff, Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton who co-authored the study, according to ScienceAlert.

“But we have now found evidence of a rupture that’s about one thousand kilometres long just off the Atacama Desert coast and that is massive,” he continued.

The scientists claimed that the enormous rupture of the plates due to the quake caused the coastline of northern Chile to lift up, generating a massive tsunami.

They based their hypothesis after finding marine sediments and insects in the Atacama Desert, which are usually discovered in the sea.

“The Atacama Desert is one of the driest, most hostile environments in the world and finding evidence of tsunamis there has always been difficult,” Goff was quoted as saying.

“However, we found evidence of marine sediments and a lot of beasties that would have been living quietly in the sea before being thrown inland. And we found all these very high up and a long way inland so it could not have been a storm that put them there,” he added.

The researchers believe that their findings will help in understanding the earthquake and tsunami hazards in the Pacific region, and how severe the effects will be next time such a super-earthquake happens.

“While this had a major impact on people in Chile, the South Pacific islands were uninhabited when they took a pummelling from the tsunami 3800 years ago. But they are all well-populated now, and many are popular tourist destinations, so when such an event occurs next time the consequences could be catastrophic unless we learn from these findings.” Goff concluded.

(With inputs from agencies)

An ancient super earthquake with a magnitude of 9.5 struck the Chilean coast around 3,800 years ago, triggering 9,000 kilometres wide tsunami that was felt all the way across New Zealand, a new study has discovered.

An ancient super earthquake with a magnitude of 9.5 struck the Chilean coast around 3,800 years ago, triggering 9,000 kilometres wide tsunami that was felt all the way across New Zealand, a new study has discovered. The scientists said that the quake, believed to have taken place in northern Chile, was so powerful that it actually uplifted the land structures and sent humans into hiding for 1,000 years, according to Science Alert. Previously, it was believed that the 1960 earthquake in Southern Chile was the largest. That earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.5, left two million people homeless, injured at least 3,000, and killed approximately 1,655. The study was conducted by Professor Diego Salazar at the University of Chile and was published in Science Advances last week. “It had been thought that there could not be an event of that size in the north of the country simply because you could not get a long enough rupture,” explained Professor James Goff, Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton who co-authored the study, according to ScienceAlert. “But we have now found evidence of a rupture that’s about one thousand kilometres long just off the Atacama Desert coast and that is massive,” he continued. The scientists claimed that the enormous rupture of the plates due to the quake caused the coastline of northern Chile to lift up, generating a massive tsunami. They based their hypothesis after finding marine sediments and insects in the Atacama Desert, which are usually discovered in the sea. “The Atacama Desert is one of the driest, most hostile environments in the world and finding evidence of tsunamis there has always been difficult,” Goff was quoted as saying. “However, we found evidence of marine sediments and a lot of beasties that would have been living quietly in the sea before being thrown inland. And we found all these very high up and a long way inland so it could not have been a storm that put them there,” he added. The researchers believe that their findings will help in understanding the earthquake and tsunami hazards in the Pacific region, and how severe the effects will be next time such a super-earthquake happens. “While this had a major impact on people in Chile, the South Pacific islands were uninhabited when they took a pummelling from the tsunami 3800 years ago. But they are all well-populated now, and many are popular tourist destinations, so when such an event occurs next time the consequences could be catastrophic unless we learn from these findings.” Goff concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Super quake struck Earth 3,800 yrs ago, triggered 9,000km wide tsunami, say scientists

In another glaring discovery, microplastics have been detected in human lungs by scientists. This has happened for the first time. &nbsp;

Earlier, microplastics were found in human blood in another research. &nbsp;

The new discovery was made by the experts of the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/believe-it-or-not-fungi-talk-to-each-other-like-humans-claims-study-468908" hreflang="en">Believe it or not: Fungi talk to each other like humans, claims study</a>

Microplastics were found in the deepest section of the lung. It was earlier thought to be impossible as the airways are very narrow. &nbsp;

This study showed microplastics are present in lungs of living people. &nbsp;

In this study, samples were taken from the tissues removed from 13 patients, who were undergoing surgery. In 11 cases, microplastics were found. &nbsp;

Watch | Study: Eating more Avocados improves heart health

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The particles, which were most commonly found, were polypropylene. It is used in plastic packaging, PET bottles, etc. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"We did not expect to find the highest number of particles in the lower regions of the lungs, or particles of the sizes we found. It is surprising as the airways are smaller in the lower parts of the lungs and we would have expected particles of these sizes to be filtered out or trapped before getting this deep," Laura Sadofsky of Hull York medical school in the UK, who was also a senior author of the study, told The Guardian. &nbsp;

"The characterisation of types and levels of microplastics we have found can now inform realistic conditions for laboratory exposure experiments with the aim of determining health impacts," Bloomberg quoted Sadofsky as saying. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The research has also been accepted for publication by ‘Science of the Total Environment’ journal. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In another glaring discovery, microplastics have been detected in human lungs by scientists. This has happened for the first time. Earlier, microplastics were found in human blood in another research.

In another glaring discovery, microplastics have been detected in human lungs by scientists. This has happened for the first time. Earlier, microplastics were found in human blood in another research. The new discovery was made by the experts of the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School. Also Read | Believe it or not: Fungi talk to each other like humans, claims study Microplastics were found in the deepest section of the lung. It was earlier thought to be impossible as the airways are very narrow. This study showed microplastics are present in lungs of living people. In this study, samples were taken from the tissues removed from 13 patients, who were undergoing surgery. In 11 cases, microplastics were found. Watch | Study: Eating more Avocados improves heart health × The particles, which were most commonly found, were polypropylene. It is used in plastic packaging, PET bottles, etc. "We did not expect to find the highest number of particles in the lower regions of the lungs, or particles of the sizes we found. It is surprising as the airways are smaller in the lower parts of the lungs and we would have expected particles of these sizes to be filtered out or trapped before getting this deep," Laura Sadofsky of Hull York medical school in the UK, who was also a senior author of the study, told The Guardian. "The characterisation of types and levels of microplastics we have found can now inform realistic conditions for laboratory exposure experiments with the aim of determining health impacts," Bloomberg quoted Sadofsky as saying. The research has also been accepted for publication by ‘Science of the Total Environment’ journal. (With inputs from agencies)

After blood, presence of microplastics detected in human lungs

Climate Change continues to wreak havoc and if things don’t change, it could get worse. Scientists have warned that New Zealand’s glaciers are getting small and skeletal due to climate change. It has been predicted that they might disappear within a decade.&nbsp;

An annual end-of-summer survey, that records the snowline of South Island glaciers has revealed continuous loss of snow and ice.

Each year, the Victoria University of Wellington, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) and the conversation department gather thousands of aerial pictures of these glaciers to measure the altitude of the snowline and to see how much of the previous winter’s snow has remained covering the glacier.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-pm-deuba-calls-for-bold-climate-action-at-bimstec-summit-466839">&nbsp;Nepal PM Deuba calls for ‘bold climate action’ at BIMSTEC Summit</a>

This snowline, also known as the equilibrium line altitude (ELA), allows scientists to evaluate a glacier’s health. If the glacier's size has decreased, then the line will be higher, because less snow remains.&nbsp;

According to a principal scientist at Niwa, they expect these snowlines to be high because of the warm weather they’ve had and their instincts are confirmed. Dr Lauren Vargo from Victoria University said that the glaciers in New Zealand had lost mass over the past decade.&nbsp;

New Zealand is experiencing more frequent extreme temperature, which is four to five times more extreme than what they expected in a climate with no long-term warming. In January, Niwa reported 2021 as New Zealand’s hottest year on records.&nbsp;

Antarctica, last year week recorded its temperatures more than 40C warmer than the seasonal norms.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hundreds-of-mammal-species-still-waiting-to-be-discovered-says-study-466637">Hundreds of mammal species still waiting to be discovered, says study</a>

A Niwa climate scientist said this year’s survey showed a noticeable difference from the previous years. The scientist further added that the snowline elevations this year were high, which means much of the winter's snow has melted, leaving a lot of glacial ice exposed.

The long-term aerial survey started in 1977, giving a visual timeline of how much glaciers have retreated. Since this survey began, the global climate had warmed about 1.1C and Niwa estimated, that more than a third of the ice volume has been lost from the Southern Alps.&nbsp;

Dr Andrew Lorrey, a principal scientist at Niwa said that the current scenario is a clear retreat, and is all because of this climate change. Within a decade, they predict many of their beloved glaciers will be gone.&nbsp;

These implications are enormous. Glaciers are an important source of freshwater, and their periodic melting into rivers helps to irrigate farms and hydropower schemes but acting as a drought buffer. The melting ice contributes to the rising sea levels as well.&nbsp;

“This will have far reaching impacts, such as altering our beautiful landscape, affecting the livelihoods of people who rely on these natural wonders for tourism, and flow on effects from decreased meltwater during periods of drought,” Lorrey said.&nbsp; &nbsp;

This also emphasises the urgency of slowing the climate change because later the impacts are going to be costly and hard to avoid.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Wion Climate Summit: Why ignoring Climate change is not an option

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&nbsp;

Climate Change continues to wreak havoc and if things don’t change, it could get worse. Scientists have warned that New Zealand’s glaciers are getting small and skeletal due to climate change.

Climate Change continues to wreak havoc and if things don’t change, it could get worse. Scientists have warned that New Zealand’s glaciers are getting small and skeletal due to climate change. It has been predicted that they might disappear within a decade. An annual end-of-summer survey, that records the snowline of South Island glaciers has revealed continuous loss of snow and ice. Each year, the Victoria University of Wellington, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) and the conversation department gather thousands of aerial pictures of these glaciers to measure the altitude of the snowline and to see how much of the previous winter’s snow has remained covering the glacier. Also read | Nepal PM Deuba calls for ‘bold climate action’ at BIMSTEC Summit This snowline, also known as the equilibrium line altitude (ELA), allows scientists to evaluate a glacier’s health. If the glacier's size has decreased, then the line will be higher, because less snow remains. According to a principal scientist at Niwa, they expect these snowlines to be high because of the warm weather they’ve had and their instincts are confirmed. Dr Lauren Vargo from Victoria University said that the glaciers in New Zealand had lost mass over the past decade. New Zealand is experiencing more frequent extreme temperature, which is four to five times more extreme than what they expected in a climate with no long-term warming. In January, Niwa reported 2021 as New Zealand’s hottest year on records. Antarctica, last year week recorded its temperatures more than 40C warmer than the seasonal norms. Also read | Hundreds of mammal species still waiting to be discovered, says study A Niwa climate scientist said this year’s survey showed a noticeable difference from the previous years. The scientist further added that the snowline elevations this year were high, which means much of the winter's snow has melted, leaving a lot of glacial ice exposed. The long-term aerial survey started in 1977, giving a visual timeline of how much glaciers have retreated. Since this survey began, the global climate had warmed about 1.1C and Niwa estimated, that more than a third of the ice volume has been lost from the Southern Alps. Dr Andrew Lorrey, a principal scientist at Niwa said that the current scenario is a clear retreat, and is all because of this climate change. Within a decade, they predict many of their beloved glaciers will be gone. These implications are enormous. Glaciers are an important source of freshwater, and their periodic melting into rivers helps to irrigate farms and hydropower schemes but acting as a drought buffer. The melting ice contributes to the rising sea levels as well. “This will have far reaching impacts, such as altering our beautiful landscape, affecting the livelihoods of people who rely on these natural wonders for tourism, and flow on effects from decreased meltwater during periods of drought,” Lorrey said. This also emphasises the urgency of slowing the climate change because later the impacts are going to be costly and hard to avoid. Watch | Wion Climate Summit: Why ignoring Climate change is not an option

Scientists warn that many of New Zealand’s glaciers might vanish within a decade

In order to detect the environment around them, spiders rely heavily on touch.

Their bodies and legs are coated in microscopic hairs and slits that allow them to differentiate between different vibrations.

Prey stumbling into a web produces a completely different vibratory cacophony than, say, another spider wooing or the stirring of a breeze.

A web's strands emit varied tones.

Scientists collaborated with artist Tomás Saraceno to create Spider's Canvas, an interactive musical instrument that translates the three-dimensional structure of a spider's web into music.

Later, the team improved and expanded on their prior work, including the addition of an interactive virtual reality component that allows users to access and engage with the web.&nbsp; 
 
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According to the researchers, this research will not only help them better grasp the three-dimensional construction of a spider's web, but it may also help humans learn spiders' vibrational language.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In order to detect the environment around them, spiders rely heavily on touch. Their bodies and legs are coated in microscopic hairs and slits that allow them to differentiate between different vibrations.

In order to detect the environment around them, spiders rely heavily on touch. Their bodies and legs are coated in microscopic hairs and slits that allow them to differentiate between different vibrations. Prey stumbling into a web produces a completely different vibratory cacophony than, say, another spider wooing or the stirring of a breeze. A web's strands emit varied tones. Scientists collaborated with artist Tomás Saraceno to create Spider's Canvas, an interactive musical instrument that translates the three-dimensional structure of a spider's web into music. Later, the team improved and expanded on their prior work, including the addition of an interactive virtual reality component that allows users to access and engage with the web. × According to the researchers, this research will not only help them better grasp the three-dimensional construction of a spider's web, but it may also help humans learn spiders' vibrational language. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Scientists create music out of spider web structure

A new type of rocket engine, which is powered by explosions, seems to have been developed by a research team in Beijing. &nbsp;

The continuous rotating detonation combustion engine has been developed by Professor Wang Bing and colleagues of the School of Aerospace Engineering at Tsinghua University in Beijing. &nbsp;

This engine can be more efficient than a normal rocket engine. It is driven by explosive shock waves, which help it spin like a tornado, even faster than the speed of sound. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/cutting-back-on-final-drink-of-day-can-help-improve-brain-health-says-study-459177" hreflang="en">Cutting back on final drink of day can help improve brain health, says study</a>

In the 1950s, the idea of an engine, which could be powered by explosions, was proposed by Soviet scientists to launch rockets into orbit. &nbsp;

Over the years, several prototypes have been built. But most had a cylindrical combustion chamber, which made the engine too heavy for real-life applications. &nbsp;

By reducing the cylinder to a disk, Wang’s team said that they solved the issue. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-new-evidence-to-prove-women-more-susceptible-to-alzheimers-disease-458520" hreflang="en">Study finds new evidence to prove women more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease</a>

In a conference paper published on cnki.net, which is the China’s largest online research platform, Wang and his colleagues wrote last month that the new layout was earlier considered difficult to be built as it required a complete redesign of almost all components. But the tests have proved that the technology worked. &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Wang’s team, fuel burns much more efficiently when detonated. But the detonations can risk damaging components. So, it needs to be controlled. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A new type of rocket engine, which is powered by explosions, seems to have been developed by a research team in Beijing. The continuous rotating detonation combustion engine has been developed by Professor Wang Bing and colleagues of the School of Aerospace Engineering at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

A new type of rocket engine, which is powered by explosions, seems to have been developed by a research team in Beijing. The continuous rotating detonation combustion engine has been developed by Professor Wang Bing and colleagues of the School of Aerospace Engineering at Tsinghua University in Beijing. This engine can be more efficient than a normal rocket engine. It is driven by explosive shock waves, which help it spin like a tornado, even faster than the speed of sound. Also Read: Cutting back on final drink of day can help improve brain health, says study In the 1950s, the idea of an engine, which could be powered by explosions, was proposed by Soviet scientists to launch rockets into orbit. Over the years, several prototypes have been built. But most had a cylindrical combustion chamber, which made the engine too heavy for real-life applications. By reducing the cylinder to a disk, Wang’s team said that they solved the issue. Also Read: Study finds new evidence to prove women more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease In a conference paper published on cnki.net, which is the China’s largest online research platform, Wang and his colleagues wrote last month that the new layout was earlier considered difficult to be built as it required a complete redesign of almost all components. But the tests have proved that the technology worked. According to Wang’s team, fuel burns much more efficiently when detonated. But the detonations can risk damaging components. So, it needs to be controlled. (With inputs from agencies)

New explosive shock waves-driven rocket engine developed, say scientists

Scientists will examine a mummified "mermaid" purported to confer immortality on anyone who eats its flesh in order to discover its actual nature.

The enigmatic 12-inch monster was purportedly caught in the Pacific Ocean between 1736 and 1741 off the coast of Shikoku, Japan, and is presently housed in a shrine in Asakuchi.

It has an eerie human aspect, except for its fish-like bottom half, which has a grimacing face, pointed teeth, two hands, and hair on its head and brow.

Researchers from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts have now scanned the mummy in an attempt to decipher its secrets.&nbsp;

The project's creator, Hiroshi Kinoshita of the Okayama Folklore Society, believes the mummy may have religious significance.

"Japanese mermaids have a legend of immortality. It is said that if you eat the flesh of a mermaid, you will never die.There is a legend in many parts of Japan that a woman accidentally ate the flesh of a mermaid and lived for 800 years.This ‘Yao-Bikuni’ legend is also preserved near the temple where the mermaid mummy was found. I heard that some people, believing in the legend, used to eat the scales of mermaid mummies, "he said.

Folklore argues that a mermaid could be a bad portent in the age of COVID-19.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists will examine a mummified "mermaid" purported to confer immortality on anyone who eats its flesh in order to discover its actual nature. The enigmatic 12-inch monster was purportedly caught in the Pacific Ocean between 1736 and 1741 off the coast of Shikoku, Japan, and is presently housed in a shrine in Asakuchi.

Scientists will examine a mummified "mermaid" purported to confer immortality on anyone who eats its flesh in order to discover its actual nature. The enigmatic 12-inch monster was purportedly caught in the Pacific Ocean between 1736 and 1741 off the coast of Shikoku, Japan, and is presently housed in a shrine in Asakuchi. It has an eerie human aspect, except for its fish-like bottom half, which has a grimacing face, pointed teeth, two hands, and hair on its head and brow. Researchers from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts have now scanned the mummy in an attempt to decipher its secrets. The project's creator, Hiroshi Kinoshita of the Okayama Folklore Society, believes the mummy may have religious significance. "Japanese mermaids have a legend of immortality. It is said that if you eat the flesh of a mermaid, you will never die.There is a legend in many parts of Japan that a woman accidentally ate the flesh of a mermaid and lived for 800 years.This ‘Yao-Bikuni’ legend is also preserved near the temple where the mermaid mummy was found. I heard that some people, believing in the legend, used to eat the scales of mermaid mummies, "he said. Folklore argues that a mermaid could be a bad portent in the age of COVID-19. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists work on mystery of 300-year-old mummified ‘mermaid’ with ‘human face’ and tail

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