<p>Scientists have discovered traces of the world’s oldest-known glaciers hiding near gold deposits in South Africa. The glacial sediments, according to the researchers, date back to 2.9 billion years. The study published in the journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters also suggests the presence of continental ice caps at the time or that the area was closer to the Earth's poles.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How was the study conducted?</strong></h2>

<p>The study was conducted by researchers, Professor Axel Hofmann of the University of Johannesburg and Professor Ilya Bindeman from the University of Oregon. The scientists unearthed shale deposits and analysed core samples from the rocks sitting under the world’s largest gold deposits in South Africa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The samples collected from the field sites from the Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa were said to be a part of the Pongola Supergroup which is known to be some of the most extensive and well-preserved volcano-sedimentary successions formed in the Mesoarchaean era (between 3.2 billion to 2.8 billion years ago).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researchers also analysed the core samples from the same region to determine the climatic conditions at the time when sediments were formed for which they used triple oxygen isotope analysis. This method measures three different forms of oxygen or isotopes present in the sediment. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About their findings</strong></h2>

<p>The scientists found that certain isotopes in their samples matched those common in icy temperatures, which suggests that the climate must have been cold when the rocks were deposited which indicates the presence of ice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They also discovered the world’s oldest known fossilised glacial moraines, which is “basically the debris left by a glacier as it gradually melts and contracts,” explained Bindeman, adding “These are the oldest moraine deposits ever found.”&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What else does the study suggest?</strong></h2>

<p>The presence of this glacial material could give us clues about Earth’s climate and geography during this period. One of the theories that the study’s authors present is that this area of South Africa may have been close to one of the poles 2.9 billion years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Another possibility is that the whole Earth was in a ‘snowball Earth’ period,” said Hofmann, adding that this period was marked by low atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane and led to a “reverse greenhouse effect,” causing much of the planet to freeze.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Scientists believe that this may have happened on a couple of occasions in the more recent past. If so, this would be the earliest much global cooling period recorded. Either possibility is scientifically interesting,” Hofmann added.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Scientists have discovered traces of the world’s oldest-known glaciers hiding near gold deposits in South Africa. The glacial sediments, according to the researchers, date back to 2.

Scientists have discovered traces of the world’s oldest-known glaciers hiding near gold deposits in South Africa. The glacial sediments, according to the researchers, date back to 2.9 billion years. The study published in the journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters also suggests the presence of continental ice caps at the time or that the area was closer to the Earth's poles. How was the study conducted? The study was conducted by researchers, Professor Axel Hofmann of the University of Johannesburg and Professor Ilya Bindeman from the University of Oregon. The scientists unearthed shale deposits and analysed core samples from the rocks sitting under the world’s largest gold deposits in South Africa. The samples collected from the field sites from the Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa were said to be a part of the Pongola Supergroup which is known to be some of the most extensive and well-preserved volcano-sedimentary successions formed in the Mesoarchaean era (between 3.2 billion to 2.8 billion years ago). The researchers also analysed the core samples from the same region to determine the climatic conditions at the time when sediments were formed for which they used triple oxygen isotope analysis. This method measures three different forms of oxygen or isotopes present in the sediment. About their findings The scientists found that certain isotopes in their samples matched those common in icy temperatures, which suggests that the climate must have been cold when the rocks were deposited which indicates the presence of ice. They also discovered the world’s oldest known fossilised glacial moraines, which is “basically the debris left by a glacier as it gradually melts and contracts,” explained Bindeman, adding “These are the oldest moraine deposits ever found.” What else does the study suggest? The presence of this glacial material could give us clues about Earth’s climate and geography during this period. One of the theories that the study’s authors present is that this area of South Africa may have been close to one of the poles 2.9 billion years ago. “Another possibility is that the whole Earth was in a ‘snowball Earth’ period,” said Hofmann, adding that this period was marked by low atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane and led to a “reverse greenhouse effect,” causing much of the planet to freeze. “Scientists believe that this may have happened on a couple of occasions in the more recent past. If so, this would be the earliest much global cooling period recorded. Either possibility is scientifically interesting,” Hofmann added. 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.

Scientists may have found world’s oldest glacier which dates back to 2.9 billion years

<p>Scientists have claimed that an alien spaceship may have crash-landed on the surface of Mars after they spotted strange pointy protrusions on its surface.</p>

<p>NASA's Curiosity Rover in April photographed what looked like rows of spikes, plates and wedges which protruded from rocks lying on the 96-mile (154 km) Gale Crater's floor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA Ames Research Centre and Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Seti) Institute's astrobiologist Dr Nathalie Cabrol said that it was “the most bizarre rock” which she had seen in her 20 years of studying Mars.</p>

<p>A new paper has now been published in the Journal of Astrobiology which concluded that the formations might be “sand spikes”, which are similar to those which get formed on Earth in water-logged sands when earthquakes of magnitude seven and greater hit the surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-rover-discovers-new-evidence-of-organic-molecules-on-mars-615591">NASA rover discovers new evidence of organic molecules on Mars</a></p>

<p>Similar kinds of rock formations have been seen in the north Alpine basin of south Germany, which is linked with the 15 million-year-old Nordlinger Reis asteroid impact basin.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>No absolute certainty over extraterrestrial spacecraft's landing</strong></h2>

<p>However, researchers caution that “a fragment from an extraterrestrial or terrestrial spacecraft cannot be discounted with absolute certainty” – pointing out what looks like wheels, an axle and a debris field photographed in a different part of the Gale Crater.</p>

<p>The authors said that over time a similar debris field connected to the spikes may have been eroded.</p>

<p>Prof Richard Armstrong, the first author of the paper who works at Aston University, Birmingham, speaking to The Telegraph, said, “There is no way of proving for certain what the spikes are but the balance of the evidence would suggest ‘sand spikes’ resulting from seismic activity on Mars. I suspect the enigmatic ‘wheels’ are a separate phenomenon. Mars images often show strange formations and features which ‘look like’ familiar objects.”</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;These pictures of Earth from Mars show there's no 'Planet B' for us</strong></p>

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<p>“Any debris field on Mars would certainly suffer erosion over time, especially from wind," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the journal, the authors have stated, “Given that possibly 10 or more craft have crashed upon the surface, coupled with the jettison of equipment associated with landing the rovers, it is possible the spikes and its substrate are human-made and consist of debris that fell onto the surface of Gale Crater. Nevertheless, no debris field is evident and no evidence of any additional debris that may have originated on Earth."</p>

<p>“Given its small size and that there are no known human-made analogues and no logical explanation as to what purpose these spikes may serve, it does not seem likely these specimens are the remnants of craft or equipment that fell into Gale Crater. One can only speculate about extraterrestrial origins," they added.&nbsp;</p>

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Scientists have claimed that an alien spaceship may have crash-landed on the surface of Mars after they spotted strange pointy protrusions on its surface. NASA's Curiosity Rover in April photographed what looked like rows of spikes, plates and wedges which protruded from rocks lying on the 96-mile (154 km) Gale Crater's floor.

Scientists have claimed that an alien spaceship may have crash-landed on the surface of Mars after they spotted strange pointy protrusions on its surface. NASA's Curiosity Rover in April photographed what looked like rows of spikes, plates and wedges which protruded from rocks lying on the 96-mile (154 km) Gale Crater's floor. NASA Ames Research Centre and Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Seti) Institute's astrobiologist Dr Nathalie Cabrol said that it was “the most bizarre rock” which she had seen in her 20 years of studying Mars. A new paper has now been published in the Journal of Astrobiology which concluded that the formations might be “sand spikes”, which are similar to those which get formed on Earth in water-logged sands when earthquakes of magnitude seven and greater hit the surface. ALSO READ | NASA rover discovers new evidence of organic molecules on Mars Similar kinds of rock formations have been seen in the north Alpine basin of south Germany, which is linked with the 15 million-year-old Nordlinger Reis asteroid impact basin. No absolute certainty over extraterrestrial spacecraft's landing However, researchers caution that “a fragment from an extraterrestrial or terrestrial spacecraft cannot be discounted with absolute certainty” – pointing out what looks like wheels, an axle and a debris field photographed in a different part of the Gale Crater. The authors said that over time a similar debris field connected to the spikes may have been eroded. Prof Richard Armstrong, the first author of the paper who works at Aston University, Birmingham, speaking to The Telegraph, said, “There is no way of proving for certain what the spikes are but the balance of the evidence would suggest ‘sand spikes’ resulting from seismic activity on Mars. I suspect the enigmatic ‘wheels’ are a separate phenomenon. Mars images often show strange formations and features which ‘look like’ familiar objects.” WATCH | These pictures of Earth from Mars show there's no 'Planet B' for us “Any debris field on Mars would certainly suffer erosion over time, especially from wind," he added. In the journal, the authors have stated, “Given that possibly 10 or more craft have crashed upon the surface, coupled with the jettison of equipment associated with landing the rovers, it is possible the spikes and its substrate are human-made and consist of debris that fell onto the surface of Gale Crater. Nevertheless, no debris field is evident and no evidence of any additional debris that may have originated on Earth." “Given its small size and that there are no known human-made analogues and no logical explanation as to what purpose these spikes may serve, it does not seem likely these specimens are the remnants of craft or equipment that fell into Gale Crater. One can only speculate about extraterrestrial origins," they added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists suggest alien spaceship 'may have crash-landed on Mars’

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<p>A row has erupted nearly a month after scientists claimed that the ancient human species <em>Homo naledi</em> displayed sophisticated behaviour, despite having much smaller brains than us, the <em>Homo sapiens</em>. The study, which was not peer-reviewed then, had opened a conversation about human evolution and whether we had got some aspects wrong. The tide, however, has turned now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Peer reviews of the <em>H. naledi</em> study are in and they are scathing in their assessment - accusing the researchers of overexaggerating the facts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“These claims are inadequate, incomplete and are largely assumption-based – rather than evidence-based,” said one, while another called the papers "imprudent and incomplete". Meanwhile, a third dismissed the finding saying the papers “do not present convincing evidence”.</p>

<p>“I have no issue with the idea that <em>non-Homo sapiens</em> species disposed of their dead, but I do have an expectation that there is robust scientific evidence to support such statements before scientists go on massive media campaigns regarding these ideas,” palaeoanthropologist Andy Herries of La Trobe University in Melbourne was quoted as saying by&nbsp;<em>The Guardian.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>Some displayed their displeasure saying the Netflix documentary, <em>Unknown: Cave of Bones</em>, based on the findings, screened last week, could detract from the study of the site in future.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Rising Star is such a great site and the&nbsp;<em>naledi</em>&nbsp;material is so wonderful that there was really no need to over-egg the pudding,” said Prof Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum, London, adding, “It’s going to cause problems of credibility in future, which may even affect funding for more work.”</p>

<p>“To push a notion that is so unsubstantiated that it has met with rejection by the scientific community is irresponsible,” added Paige Madison, a researcher at Arizona State University.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ancient-human-civilisation-needed-three-attempts-12000-years-to-colonise-europe-study-590004"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Ancient human civilisation needed three attempts &amp; 12,000 years to colonise Europe: Study</strong></a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/not-homo-sapiens-but-this-extinct-human-species-buried-their-dead-first-601963#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>What did the study claim?</strong></h2>

<p>Last month, three studies, published in the journal eLife claimed that H naledi not only buried their dead but made engravings deep within a cave system in southern Africa some 300,000 years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, who first reported the discovery of <em>Homo naledi</em> in 2013&nbsp;inside the Rising Star cave system 25 miles northwest of Johannesburg, was responsible for the new claims.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/not-homo-sapiens-but-this-extinct-human-species-buried-their-dead-first-601963" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Not homo sapiens but this extinct human species buried their dead first</strong></a></p>

<p>Berger and his team found more than 1,800 bone fragments deep in an underground chamber reachable only by a four-story vertical drop. The only plausible explanation for the situation seemed like a burial which may push the "body burials" timeline by at least 10,000 years, the research argued.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The position and intactness of some skeletal remains suggested that the dead may have been carefully laid out on the floor of the chamber rather than tossed down the Chute to collect as a jumble of bones at its base," read the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the negative reaction from the scientific community, Berger's book <em>Cave of Bones</em> will be published by <em>National Geographic</em> next month.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A row has erupted nearly a month after scientists claimed that the ancient human species Homo naledi displayed sophisticated behaviour, despite having much smaller brains than us, the Homo sapiens.

A row has erupted nearly a month after scientists claimed that the ancient human species Homo naledi displayed sophisticated behaviour, despite having much smaller brains than us, the Homo sapiens. The study, which was not peer-reviewed then, had opened a conversation about human evolution and whether we had got some aspects wrong. The tide, however, has turned now. Peer reviews of the H. naledi study are in and they are scathing in their assessment - accusing the researchers of overexaggerating the facts. “These claims are inadequate, incomplete and are largely assumption-based – rather than evidence-based,” said one, while another called the papers "imprudent and incomplete". Meanwhile, a third dismissed the finding saying the papers “do not present convincing evidence”. “I have no issue with the idea that non-Homo sapiens species disposed of their dead, but I do have an expectation that there is robust scientific evidence to support such statements before scientists go on massive media campaigns regarding these ideas,” palaeoanthropologist Andy Herries of La Trobe University in Melbourne was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Some displayed their displeasure saying the Netflix documentary, Unknown: Cave of Bones, based on the findings, screened last week, could detract from the study of the site in future. “Rising Star is such a great site and the naledi material is so wonderful that there was really no need to over-egg the pudding,” said Prof Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum, London, adding, “It’s going to cause problems of credibility in future, which may even affect funding for more work.” “To push a notion that is so unsubstantiated that it has met with rejection by the scientific community is irresponsible,” added Paige Madison, a researcher at Arizona State University. WATCH | Ancient human civilisation needed three attempts & 12,000 years to colonise Europe: Study × What did the study claim? Last month, three studies, published in the journal eLife claimed that H naledi not only buried their dead but made engravings deep within a cave system in southern Africa some 300,000 years ago. Paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, who first reported the discovery of Homo naledi in 2013 inside the Rising Star cave system 25 miles northwest of Johannesburg, was responsible for the new claims. Also read | Not homo sapiens but this extinct human species buried their dead first Berger and his team found more than 1,800 bone fragments deep in an underground chamber reachable only by a four-story vertical drop. The only plausible explanation for the situation seemed like a burial which may push the "body burials" timeline by at least 10,000 years, the research argued. "The position and intactness of some skeletal remains suggested that the dead may have been carefully laid out on the floor of the chamber rather than tossed down the Chute to collect as a jumble of bones at its base," read the report. Despite the negative reaction from the scientific community, Berger's book Cave of Bones will be published by National Geographic next month. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Furor in scientific community over claims that small-brained early humans were intelligent

<p>A new study has discovered that smaller and lighter-coloured butterflies are likely to face challenging times ahead as the climate of the Earth continues to warm.<br />
<br />
Small butterflies with paler hues, unlike their different species with darker colours and larger wings, may face trouble in regulating their body temperatures with the increase in the air temperature, as per the research. The problem may enhance especially for those belonging to the Lycaenidae family.<br />
<br />
Generally, size plays a significant role in heat tolerance for insects, however, the impact of colour is surprising and “may be a pattern specific to butterflies,” stated lead study author Esme Ashe-Jepson, who is a doctoral student of zoology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/butterflies-moths-share-ancient-blocks-of-dna-reveals-study-616104">Butterflies, moths share ancient ‘blocks’ of DNA, reveals study</a></p>

<p>The butterflies which have dark wings, regardless of wing size, consistently got better outcomes throughout the research.<br />
<br />
The findings, which were published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, provide more evidence of how bigger wings play an important role in keeping butterflies cool and how colour plays a significant role.</p>

<h2><strong>How butterflies maintain their temperature</strong></h2>

<p>Butterflies require warmth from the sun for proper functioning. However, when heat increases, the butterflies adjust their body temperature in accordance with the air temperature using strategies called thermal tolerance and thermal buffering.<br />
<br />
Thermal buffering refers to physical acts like slanting wings out of sunlight's direct path and moving to shadier and cooler areas. Butterflies, which have larger wings, use the surface area for absorbing heat when required, but they are also able to relocate faster to a cooler area compared to small-winged butterflies, as per the study.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;China's Yunnan sees butterfly boom</strong></p>

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<p>On the other hand, thermal tolerance involves physiological processes like the production of heat shock proteins. “These are molecules that many animals, butterflies and humans included, produce to protect themselves from high temperatures. They help to stabilise and repair proteins in your body that have been damaged by high heat,” Ashe-Jepson said.<br />
<br />
To carry out the thermal buffering test, 1,334 butterflies, which represented 54 species from six butterfly families, were caught and tested by the researchers and then released. “My team and I spent many long days running around the rainforest in Panama with butterfly nets. Our goal was to catch a butterfly without chasing it,” Ashe-Jepson said.<br />
<br />
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A new study has discovered that smaller and lighter-coloured butterflies are likely to face challenging times ahead as the climate of the Earth continues to warm.

A new study has discovered that smaller and lighter-coloured butterflies are likely to face challenging times ahead as the climate of the Earth continues to warm. Small butterflies with paler hues, unlike their different species with darker colours and larger wings, may face trouble in regulating their body temperatures with the increase in the air temperature, as per the research. The problem may enhance especially for those belonging to the Lycaenidae family. Generally, size plays a significant role in heat tolerance for insects, however, the impact of colour is surprising and “may be a pattern specific to butterflies,” stated lead study author Esme Ashe-Jepson, who is a doctoral student of zoology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. ALSO READ | Butterflies, moths share ancient ‘blocks’ of DNA, reveals study The butterflies which have dark wings, regardless of wing size, consistently got better outcomes throughout the research. The findings, which were published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, provide more evidence of how bigger wings play an important role in keeping butterflies cool and how colour plays a significant role. How butterflies maintain their temperature Butterflies require warmth from the sun for proper functioning. However, when heat increases, the butterflies adjust their body temperature in accordance with the air temperature using strategies called thermal tolerance and thermal buffering. Thermal buffering refers to physical acts like slanting wings out of sunlight's direct path and moving to shadier and cooler areas. Butterflies, which have larger wings, use the surface area for absorbing heat when required, but they are also able to relocate faster to a cooler area compared to small-winged butterflies, as per the study. WATCH | China's Yunnan sees butterfly boom On the other hand, thermal tolerance involves physiological processes like the production of heat shock proteins. “These are molecules that many animals, butterflies and humans included, produce to protect themselves from high temperatures. They help to stabilise and repair proteins in your body that have been damaged by high heat,” Ashe-Jepson said. To carry out the thermal buffering test, 1,334 butterflies, which represented 54 species from six butterfly families, were caught and tested by the researchers and then released. “My team and I spent many long days running around the rainforest in Panama with butterfly nets. Our goal was to catch a butterfly without chasing it,” Ashe-Jepson said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Lighter-coloured butterflies at highest risk due to climate warming, say scientists

Older female killer whales protect their sons - but not their daughters – from fights with other orcas, according to new research.

Female killer whales protect their sons but not their daughters

<p>Thousands of sharks off Florida coast may have become addicted to cocaine, a new study has recently revealed.</p>

<p>According to the researchers, these marine animals have been feasting on large amounts of narcotics that are getting dumped into the ocean.</p>

<p>For decades, the drug peddlers have been using the Florida coast to smuggle huge bundles of cocaine from South to Central America.</p>

<p>These bales of narcotics—which are often dumped at sea as it helps smugglers avoid law enforcement—find their way to the shore aided by tides and currents.</p>

<p>In June, the US Coast Guard seized over 14,100 pounds (6,400kg) of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean,&nbsp;with an estimated value of $186 million.</p>

<h2><strong>Discovery's&nbsp;documentary on cocaine sharks</strong></h2>

<p>As so much cocaine was entering the waters, US marine biologist Tom Hird, who is also called ‘The Blowfish’, wanted to see whether sharks off the coast of Florida were ingesting the narcotics.</p>

<p>To find out, he made a documentary for Discovery's Shark Week called Cocaine Sharks. University of Florida environmental scientist&nbsp;Tracy Fanara&nbsp;also took part in the study, reported LiveScience.</p>

<p>For their experiment, they went to the Florida Keys archipelago to investigate reports that sharks are “high” on drugs.</p>

<p>During a dive, they found a hammerhead shark and a sandbar shark behaving awkwardly.</p>

<h2><strong>The experiment&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>To test the reports, they dropped packages that looked like bales of cocaine.&nbsp;They observed that sharks were swimming straight to the packages and biting into them.</p>

<p>"I think we have got a potential scenario of what it may look like if you gave sharks cocaine," Hird said in the film.</p>

<p>"We gave them what I think is the next best thing. [It] set [their] brains aflame. It was crazy."</p>

<p>Notably, the scientists said that they weren’t convinced whether the sharks are indeed consuming cocaine. They also don't know what the true effects of the substance on marine creatures would be.&nbsp;They said that these experiments need to be done repeatedly to draw full conclusions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have no idea what [cocaine] could do to the shark," Hird told Live Science, adding that of the limited research that's been done, different fish appear to react in different ways to the same chemical.</p>

<p>"So, we can't even say well this is a baseline and go from here," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He hoped that the show will lead to more research in the area, and that he'd like to carry out more tests.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Thousands of sharks off Florida coast may have become addicted to cocaine, a new study has recently revealed. According to the researchers, these marine animals have been feasting on large amounts of narcotics that are getting dumped into the ocean.

Thousands of sharks off Florida coast may have become addicted to cocaine, a new study has recently revealed. According to the researchers, these marine animals have been feasting on large amounts of narcotics that are getting dumped into the ocean. For decades, the drug peddlers have been using the Florida coast to smuggle huge bundles of cocaine from South to Central America. These bales of narcotics—which are often dumped at sea as it helps smugglers avoid law enforcement—find their way to the shore aided by tides and currents. In June, the US Coast Guard seized over 14,100 pounds (6,400kg) of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, with an estimated value of $186 million. Discovery's documentary on cocaine sharks As so much cocaine was entering the waters, US marine biologist Tom Hird, who is also called ‘The Blowfish’, wanted to see whether sharks off the coast of Florida were ingesting the narcotics. To find out, he made a documentary for Discovery's Shark Week called Cocaine Sharks. University of Florida environmental scientist Tracy Fanara also took part in the study, reported LiveScience. For their experiment, they went to the Florida Keys archipelago to investigate reports that sharks are “high” on drugs. During a dive, they found a hammerhead shark and a sandbar shark behaving awkwardly. The experiment To test the reports, they dropped packages that looked like bales of cocaine. They observed that sharks were swimming straight to the packages and biting into them. "I think we have got a potential scenario of what it may look like if you gave sharks cocaine," Hird said in the film. "We gave them what I think is the next best thing. [It] set [their] brains aflame. It was crazy." Notably, the scientists said that they weren’t convinced whether the sharks are indeed consuming cocaine. They also don't know what the true effects of the substance on marine creatures would be. They said that these experiments need to be done repeatedly to draw full conclusions. "We have no idea what [cocaine] could do to the shark," Hird told Live Science, adding that of the limited research that's been done, different fish appear to react in different ways to the same chemical. "So, we can't even say well this is a baseline and go from here," he said. He hoped that the show will lead to more research in the area, and that he'd like to carry out more tests. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Are sharks off Florida coast high on cocaine? Scientists find baffling results

<p>A new type of stellar object has been discovered by astronomers which may change their understanding of extreme celestial bodies in the universe.</p>

<p>Earlier, a spinning celestial space object was spotted by Curtin University doctoral student Tyrone O’Doherty in March 2018. Giant bursts of energy were released by that unfamiliar object and it beamed out radiation at a frequency of three times per hour.</p>

<p>The phenomenon was thought to be a remnant of a collapsed star by the researchers. After a study was released that described the observation in January 2022, O’Doherty and a team of astronomers at the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, or ICRAR, in Australia started hunting for another such example.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-telescope-spots-stunning-cloud-of-space-rocks-made-from-asteroid-smashing-dart-mission-618047">NASA's Hubble telescope spots stunning 'cloud of space rocks' made from asteroid-smashing DART mission</a></p>

<p>“We were stumped,” stated Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, senior lecturer at the Curtin University node of ICRAR. “So we started searching for similar objects to find out if it was an isolated event or just the tip of the iceberg," she added, in a statement</p>

<p>The sky was observed, between July and September 2022, by the team using the Murchison Widefield Array, which is a radio telescope on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While observing the sky, the scientists spotted an object in the Scutum constellation, 15,000 light-years from Earth. The object, which was named GPM J1839−10, releases radio waves every 22 minutes and the bursts of energy last till five minutes.</p>

<h2><strong>Rare type of magnetar?</strong></h2>

<p>Astronomers said that the object can be a rare type of star or magnetar which has extremely strong magnetic fields and is capable of releasing energetic and powerful bursts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A study which gave details about the discovery was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.</p>

<p>“This remarkable object challenges our understanding of neutron stars and magnetars, which are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the Universe,” stated Hurley-Walker, the lead author of the new report.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India's gateway to outer space at Satish Dhawan Space Centre</strong></p>

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<p>“It showed up in observations by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India and the Very Large Array in the USA had observations dating as far back as 1988. That was quite an incredible moment for me. I was five years old when our telescopes first recorded pulses from this object, but no one noticed it, and it stayed hidden in the data for 33 years. They missed it because they hadn’t expected to find anything like it," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Few magnetars are known to exist below what scientists call a “death line" which means that they have a weak magnetic field which fails to release energetic emissions of radio waves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The object we’ve discovered is spinning way too slowly to produce radio waves — it’s below the death line,” Hurley-Walker stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Assuming it’s a magnetar, it shouldn’t be possible for this object to produce radio waves. But we’re seeing them. And we’re not just talking about a little blip of radio emission. Every 22 minutes, it emits a five-minute pulse of radio wavelength energy, and it’s been doing that for at least 33 years. Whatever mechanism is behind this is extraordinary," he added.&nbsp;</p>

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A new type of stellar object has been discovered by astronomers which may change their understanding of extreme celestial bodies in the universe. Earlier, a spinning celestial space object was spotted by Curtin University doctoral student Tyrone O’Doherty in March 2018.

A new type of stellar object has been discovered by astronomers which may change their understanding of extreme celestial bodies in the universe. Earlier, a spinning celestial space object was spotted by Curtin University doctoral student Tyrone O’Doherty in March 2018. Giant bursts of energy were released by that unfamiliar object and it beamed out radiation at a frequency of three times per hour. The phenomenon was thought to be a remnant of a collapsed star by the researchers. After a study was released that described the observation in January 2022, O’Doherty and a team of astronomers at the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, or ICRAR, in Australia started hunting for another such example. ALSO READ | NASA's Hubble telescope spots stunning 'cloud of space rocks' made from asteroid-smashing DART mission “We were stumped,” stated Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, senior lecturer at the Curtin University node of ICRAR. “So we started searching for similar objects to find out if it was an isolated event or just the tip of the iceberg," she added, in a statement The sky was observed, between July and September 2022, by the team using the Murchison Widefield Array, which is a radio telescope on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia. While observing the sky, the scientists spotted an object in the Scutum constellation, 15,000 light-years from Earth. The object, which was named GPM J1839−10, releases radio waves every 22 minutes and the bursts of energy last till five minutes. Rare type of magnetar? Astronomers said that the object can be a rare type of star or magnetar which has extremely strong magnetic fields and is capable of releasing energetic and powerful bursts. A study which gave details about the discovery was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. “This remarkable object challenges our understanding of neutron stars and magnetars, which are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the Universe,” stated Hurley-Walker, the lead author of the new report. WATCH | India's gateway to outer space at Satish Dhawan Space Centre “It showed up in observations by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India and the Very Large Array in the USA had observations dating as far back as 1988. That was quite an incredible moment for me. I was five years old when our telescopes first recorded pulses from this object, but no one noticed it, and it stayed hidden in the data for 33 years. They missed it because they hadn’t expected to find anything like it," he added. Few magnetars are known to exist below what scientists call a “death line" which means that they have a weak magnetic field which fails to release energetic emissions of radio waves. “The object we’ve discovered is spinning way too slowly to produce radio waves — it’s below the death line,” Hurley-Walker stated. “Assuming it’s a magnetar, it shouldn’t be possible for this object to produce radio waves. But we’re seeing them. And we’re not just talking about a little blip of radio emission. Every 22 minutes, it emits a five-minute pulse of radio wavelength energy, and it’s been doing that for at least 33 years. Whatever mechanism is behind this is extraordinary," he added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mysterious stellar object emitting a five-minute pulse every 22 minutes leaves scientists puzzled

<p>The ground underneath the Chicago city is gradually deforming due to “underground climate change”, scientists are claiming.</p>

<p>According to the latest study, this phenomenon is called “subsurface heat islands” and is caused by heat released by buildings and subterranean transportation such as subway systems.</p>

<p>The research argues that rising temperatures are causing land to undergo massive changes in urban areas and that it could adversely affect buildings and infrastructure, threatening long-term durability.</p>

<p>“The denser the city, the more intense is underground climate change,” said lead study author Alessandro Rotta Loria, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, reports CNN.</p>

<p>He said that soil, rocks and construction materials are being impacted by temperature variations.</p>

<p>For example, the ground underneath buildings can contract when heated, causing unwanted settlement, Loria said.</p>

<p>“Deformations caused by underground climate change are relatively small in magnitude, but they continuously develop,” he said.</p>

<p>“Over time, they can become very significant for the operational performance of civil infrastructure like building foundations, water retaining walls, tunnels and so on.”</p>

<h2><strong>New York was also found to be sinking</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, it comes after scientists announced New York may be sinking under the weight of its own buildings back in May —with 1.68 trillion pounds pushing down on the ground beneath.</p>

<p>The study, which was published this month in the Communications Engineering journal, came to the conclusion after observing the land changes for the past 25 years.</p>

<p>The researchers installed 150 temperature sensors across the Chicago Loop district, both above and below ground, and in a variety of places such as basements, tunnels and parking garages.</p>

<p>Sensors were also placed in Grant Park along Lake Michigan to compare temperatures from an unbuilt area with no excess heat coming from construction or transportation.</p>

<p>The data that was collected for the last three years showed that the ground under the Loop was up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) warmer than the ground beneath the park.</p>

<p>“And the consequence of that is that at least a portion of the heat will diffuse towards the ground over time, and that’s the origin of the phenomenon,” Loria said.</p>

<p>Loria notes that underground climate change can cause issues such as groundwater contamination or problems with underground railways by making tracks prone to buckling or causing passengers to become ill due to excessive heat.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The ground underneath the Chicago city is gradually deforming due to “underground climate change”, scientists are claiming. According to the latest study, this phenomenon is called “subsurface heat islands” and is caused by heat released by buildings and subterranean transportation such as subway systems.

The ground underneath the Chicago city is gradually deforming due to “underground climate change”, scientists are claiming. According to the latest study, this phenomenon is called “subsurface heat islands” and is caused by heat released by buildings and subterranean transportation such as subway systems. The research argues that rising temperatures are causing land to undergo massive changes in urban areas and that it could adversely affect buildings and infrastructure, threatening long-term durability. “The denser the city, the more intense is underground climate change,” said lead study author Alessandro Rotta Loria, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, reports CNN. He said that soil, rocks and construction materials are being impacted by temperature variations. For example, the ground underneath buildings can contract when heated, causing unwanted settlement, Loria said. “Deformations caused by underground climate change are relatively small in magnitude, but they continuously develop,” he said. “Over time, they can become very significant for the operational performance of civil infrastructure like building foundations, water retaining walls, tunnels and so on.” New York was also found to be sinking Notably, it comes after scientists announced New York may be sinking under the weight of its own buildings back in May —with 1.68 trillion pounds pushing down on the ground beneath. The study, which was published this month in the Communications Engineering journal, came to the conclusion after observing the land changes for the past 25 years. The researchers installed 150 temperature sensors across the Chicago Loop district, both above and below ground, and in a variety of places such as basements, tunnels and parking garages. Sensors were also placed in Grant Park along Lake Michigan to compare temperatures from an unbuilt area with no excess heat coming from construction or transportation. The data that was collected for the last three years showed that the ground under the Loop was up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) warmer than the ground beneath the park. “And the consequence of that is that at least a portion of the heat will diffuse towards the ground over time, and that’s the origin of the phenomenon,” Loria said. Loria notes that underground climate change can cause issues such as groundwater contamination or problems with underground railways by making tracks prone to buckling or causing passengers to become ill due to excessive heat. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Is Chicago sinking? New study claims ‘underground climate change’ deforming ground underneath city

Pilot whales are known for their strong social bonds. Often, when one whale gets into difficulty and strands itself, the others follow, and this is what happened on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. A mass stranding of pilot whales. Initial reports suggested there were 55 animals, and later on, it was reported only 15 were still alive. They were euthanized on welfare grounds.

Pilot whales strand themselves on isle of Lewis, Euthanised

<p>In a twist to the saga of whether there is the possibility of life on Venus, Jane Greaves, who has been leading a team of scientists at Cardiff University in Wales, revealed that they have discovered the presence of phosphine the atmosphere of the planet, deeper than where they had spotted it before.<br />
<br />
Greaves made the statement while speaking at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2023 in Cardiff this week. In September 2020, his team of scientists had reported the detection of phosphine in the clouds of Venus, which can be a possible indicator of life.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-did-earth-like-venus-turn-inhospitable-nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-could-help-decipher-secret-609161">How did Earth-like Venus turn inhospitable? NASA's James Webb Space Telescope could help decipher secret</a></p>

<p>Greaves and her colleagues, with the use of the James Clark Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii, delved deeper into the planet's atmosphere, down to the top and even the middle of the clouds present on Venus.<br />
<br />
The team believed that phosphine could be emerging from the lower level of the atmosphere on the planet. Greaves said that microorganisms that live in a very low-oxygen environment on Earth generate phosphine.</p>

<h2><strong>‘When all hell broke loose’ after hint of life on Venus</strong></h2>

<p>She stated that phosphine is not created through any other process on our planet, because of their lack of abundance of "loose" hydrogen on Earth. This theory suggests that the presence of phosphine in other worlds is a potential biosignature.<br />
<br />
This is the reason why the discovery of phosphine on Venus caused a stir three years ago. However, just the presence of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus doesn't necessarily mean that the planet is hosting life.<br />
<br />
"There’s a big school of thought that you can make phosphine by lobbing phosphorus-bearing rocks up into the high atmosphere and kind of eroding them with water and acid and stuff and getting phosphine gas," said Greaves, during the meeting.<br />
<br />
The scientist talked about how the search for phosphine was prompted in the atmosphere of Venus and how that led to the first hint of life on the planet.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;First Saudi Arabian woman travels to space</strong></p>

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<p>She stated that the decision of investigating Venus was taken after a study of other planets like Saturn and improved telescope technology made way for the probing of the atmospheres of smaller planets.<br />
<br />
"I vaguely remembered Venus is supposed to have this potential habitat in the high clouds, which is anaerobic, and we eventually got telescope time, so I thought, 'Why don’t we have a very quick look and see if there are some phosphates in Venus clouds, an analogue to things living on the surface of the Earth?'" said Greaves, adding, "Astonishingly, we found it, and all hell broke loose!"</p>

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In a twist to the saga of whether there is the possibility of life on Venus, Jane Greaves, who has been leading a team of scientists at Cardiff University in Wales, revealed that they have discovered the presence of phosphine the atmosphere of the planet, deeper than where they had spotted it before.

In a twist to the saga of whether there is the possibility of life on Venus, Jane Greaves, who has been leading a team of scientists at Cardiff University in Wales, revealed that they have discovered the presence of phosphine the atmosphere of the planet, deeper than where they had spotted it before. Greaves made the statement while speaking at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2023 in Cardiff this week. In September 2020, his team of scientists had reported the detection of phosphine in the clouds of Venus, which can be a possible indicator of life. ALSO READ | How did Earth-like Venus turn inhospitable? NASA's James Webb Space Telescope could help decipher secret Greaves and her colleagues, with the use of the James Clark Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii, delved deeper into the planet's atmosphere, down to the top and even the middle of the clouds present on Venus. The team believed that phosphine could be emerging from the lower level of the atmosphere on the planet. Greaves said that microorganisms that live in a very low-oxygen environment on Earth generate phosphine. ‘When all hell broke loose’ after hint of life on Venus She stated that phosphine is not created through any other process on our planet, because of their lack of abundance of "loose" hydrogen on Earth. This theory suggests that the presence of phosphine in other worlds is a potential biosignature. This is the reason why the discovery of phosphine on Venus caused a stir three years ago. However, just the presence of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus doesn't necessarily mean that the planet is hosting life. "There’s a big school of thought that you can make phosphine by lobbing phosphorus-bearing rocks up into the high atmosphere and kind of eroding them with water and acid and stuff and getting phosphine gas," said Greaves, during the meeting. The scientist talked about how the search for phosphine was prompted in the atmosphere of Venus and how that led to the first hint of life on the planet. WATCH | First Saudi Arabian woman travels to space She stated that the decision of investigating Venus was taken after a study of other planets like Saturn and improved telescope technology made way for the probing of the atmospheres of smaller planets. "I vaguely remembered Venus is supposed to have this potential habitat in the high clouds, which is anaerobic, and we eventually got telescope time, so I thought, 'Why don’t we have a very quick look and see if there are some phosphates in Venus clouds, an analogue to things living on the surface of the Earth?'" said Greaves, adding, "Astonishingly, we found it, and all hell broke loose!" You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Alien life on Venus? Scientists spot intriguing molecule phosphine in planet’s clouds again

<p>An ancient shrimplike creature, which has an armoured mouth and appendages growing out of its head, was believed to be the quintessential apex predator of its time by scientists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sea creature gained a fearsome reputation after palaeontologists believed that it was responsible for crushing and scarring the fossilized skeletons of trilobites, which were early hard-shelled invertebrates that had skittered on the seafloor before they disappeared in a mass extinction, giving way to the dinosaurs.</p>

<p>The 2-foot-long (0.6-meter-long) Anomalocaris canadensis was among the largest marine animals, which survived 508 million years ago. During the Cambrian period, the underwater hunter was believed to have prowled the seas.</p>

<p>This period was considered as a critical juncture in the history of the planet when there was an explosion in the diversity of living creatures and when many major animal groups alive emerged.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/discovery-of-fossils-show-humongous-sea-creature-decapitated-by-dinosaur-predator-606851">Discovery of fossils shows humongous sea creature decapitated by dinosaur predator</a></p>

<p>“That didn’t sit right with me, because trilobites have a very strong exoskeleton, which they essentially make out of rock, while this animal would have mostly been soft and squishy,” stated lead author Russell Bicknell, a postdoctoral researcher in the American Museum of Natural History’s division of palaeontology, who carried out the work while working at the University of New England in Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bicknell and his collaborators in the United Kingdom, Germany, China and Switzerland have created the creature's new three-dimensional reconstruction, using computer modelling to get a better understanding of its biomechanics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The model was made on the basis of a well-preserved but flattened fossil discovered in the Burgess Shale formation in the Canadian Rockies.</p>

<h2><strong>Using long appendages to hunt&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, research had stated that the mouth parts of Anomalocaris were not able to process hard food. On the basis of this research, Bicknell and his colleagues focused on whether it can use its long and spiny appendages to chew up trilobite prey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the use of present-day whip spiders and whip scorpions as analogues, because they also have similar appendages which allow them to grasp prey, the team carrying out the study was able to show that the segmented appendages of the predator were able to grab prey and had the capacity to stretch out and flex.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Aliens: Are we looking in the wrong place?</strong></p>

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<p>However, the analysis of the team suggested that the marine animal was more of a weakling than it was assumed initially and was “incapable” of crushing hard-shelled prey with the two structures, as per the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Tuesday.</p>

<p>“Previous conceptions were that these animals would have seen the Burgess Shale fauna as a smorgasbord, going after anything they wanted to, but we’re finding that the dynamics of the Cambrian food webs were likely much more complex than we once thought,” said Bicknell, in a statement.</p>

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An ancient shrimplike creature, which has an armoured mouth and appendages growing out of its head, was believed to be the quintessential apex predator of its time by scientists.

An ancient shrimplike creature, which has an armoured mouth and appendages growing out of its head, was believed to be the quintessential apex predator of its time by scientists. The sea creature gained a fearsome reputation after palaeontologists believed that it was responsible for crushing and scarring the fossilized skeletons of trilobites, which were early hard-shelled invertebrates that had skittered on the seafloor before they disappeared in a mass extinction, giving way to the dinosaurs. The 2-foot-long (0.6-meter-long) Anomalocaris canadensis was among the largest marine animals, which survived 508 million years ago. During the Cambrian period, the underwater hunter was believed to have prowled the seas. This period was considered as a critical juncture in the history of the planet when there was an explosion in the diversity of living creatures and when many major animal groups alive emerged. ALSO READ | Discovery of fossils shows humongous sea creature decapitated by dinosaur predator “That didn’t sit right with me, because trilobites have a very strong exoskeleton, which they essentially make out of rock, while this animal would have mostly been soft and squishy,” stated lead author Russell Bicknell, a postdoctoral researcher in the American Museum of Natural History’s division of palaeontology, who carried out the work while working at the University of New England in Australia. Bicknell and his collaborators in the United Kingdom, Germany, China and Switzerland have created the creature's new three-dimensional reconstruction, using computer modelling to get a better understanding of its biomechanics. The model was made on the basis of a well-preserved but flattened fossil discovered in the Burgess Shale formation in the Canadian Rockies. Using long appendages to hunt Earlier, research had stated that the mouth parts of Anomalocaris were not able to process hard food. On the basis of this research, Bicknell and his colleagues focused on whether it can use its long and spiny appendages to chew up trilobite prey. With the use of present-day whip spiders and whip scorpions as analogues, because they also have similar appendages which allow them to grasp prey, the team carrying out the study was able to show that the segmented appendages of the predator were able to grab prey and had the capacity to stretch out and flex. WATCH | Aliens: Are we looking in the wrong place? However, the analysis of the team suggested that the marine animal was more of a weakling than it was assumed initially and was “incapable” of crushing hard-shelled prey with the two structures, as per the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Tuesday. “Previous conceptions were that these animals would have seen the Burgess Shale fauna as a smorgasbord, going after anything they wanted to, but we’re finding that the dynamics of the Cambrian food webs were likely much more complex than we once thought,” said Bicknell, in a statement. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists understood ancient shrimp like creature as 'predator', says new research

<p>In what has been described as a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have for the first time “heard” the sound of gravitational waves produced by the slow-motion mergers of supermassive black holes.</p>

<p>The international research consortium, including astrophysicists from India, on Wednesday, recorded the gravitational waves rippling through the fabric of space-time. It is said that they are by far the most powerful ever measured.</p>

<p>The discovery was made by scientists from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), who have been closely observing stars called pulsars that act as celestial metronomes.</p>

<h2><strong>Einsetin's theory proven</strong></h2>

<p>Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves a century ago, but it was proved only in 2016 when the US-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (Ligo) detected the merger of blackholes, effectively proving that space itself can be stretched and squeezed.</p>

<p>Until their detection in 2016, scientists had found only indirect evidence of their existence, beginning in the 1970s.</p>

<p>Also, the one discovered in 2023 is markedly different from the 2016 gravitational waves as the scientists at that time were able to capture only short “chirps” of gravitational waves linked to mergers of black holes or neutron stars only slightly larger than the sun.</p>

<p>"We’ve opened a new window of observation on the universe,” said Chiara Mingarelli, an astrophysicist and assistant professor at Yale University in the US, and a member of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) team.</p>

<h2><strong>Sound of 'choir'</strong></h2>

<p>Mingarelli likened the new class of gravitational waves to a “choir, with the pairs of supermassive black holes chiming in at different frequencies”. She also said the gravitational wave background was “about twice as loud as I’d expected”.</p>

<p>Objects called pulsars — extremely dense cores of exploded stars that spin at the speed of kitchen blenders — were crucial in the new research. Nearly 70 pulsars were used in gathering the evidence.</p>

<p>“As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then the times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later,” said Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens, a co-director of the NANOGrav.</p>

<p>The results released this week in ‘The Astrophysical Journal Letters’ included 15 years of data from NANOGrav, which has been using telescopes across North America to search for the waves.</p>

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In what has been described as a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have for the first time “heard” the sound of gravitational waves produced by the slow-motion mergers of supermassive black holes.

In what has been described as a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have for the first time “heard” the sound of gravitational waves produced by the slow-motion mergers of supermassive black holes. The international research consortium, including astrophysicists from India, on Wednesday, recorded the gravitational waves rippling through the fabric of space-time. It is said that they are by far the most powerful ever measured. The discovery was made by scientists from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), who have been closely observing stars called pulsars that act as celestial metronomes. Einsetin's theory proven Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves a century ago, but it was proved only in 2016 when the US-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (Ligo) detected the merger of blackholes, effectively proving that space itself can be stretched and squeezed. Until their detection in 2016, scientists had found only indirect evidence of their existence, beginning in the 1970s. Also, the one discovered in 2023 is markedly different from the 2016 gravitational waves as the scientists at that time were able to capture only short “chirps” of gravitational waves linked to mergers of black holes or neutron stars only slightly larger than the sun. "We’ve opened a new window of observation on the universe,” said Chiara Mingarelli, an astrophysicist and assistant professor at Yale University in the US, and a member of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) team. Sound of 'choir' Mingarelli likened the new class of gravitational waves to a “choir, with the pairs of supermassive black holes chiming in at different frequencies”. She also said the gravitational wave background was “about twice as loud as I’d expected”. Objects called pulsars — extremely dense cores of exploded stars that spin at the speed of kitchen blenders — were crucial in the new research. Nearly 70 pulsars were used in gathering the evidence. “As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then the times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later,” said Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens, a co-director of the NANOGrav. The results released this week in ‘The Astrophysical Journal Letters’ included 15 years of data from NANOGrav, which has been using telescopes across North America to search for the waves. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

For first time, scientists ‘hear’ and ‘record’ celestial hum of gravitational waves

<p>Researchers at Aberystwyth University's Department of Life Sciences have discovered that biting flies are strongly drawn to blue objects because they mistake the colour for potential hosts they can feed on.&nbsp;This finding could have significant implications for controlling diseases transmitted by flies, such as sleeping sickness, by enhancing the effectiveness of traps.</p>

<p>Dr. Roger Santer, the lead researcher, explained that entomological field studies have long observed flies' attraction to the colour blue, leading to the creation of traps in that particular hue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-dhruv-advanced-light-helicopter-safety-flaws-addressed-says-report-609658">India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report</a></p>

<p>However, the reason why biting flies are particularly attracted to blue has puzzled scientists. Previous theories suggested that flies were drawn to blue due to its resemblance to shady areas or animals, but these had not been conclusively proven.</p>

<h2><strong>Artificial neural networks shed light</strong></h2>

<p>To address the question, the research team developed artificial neural networks that mimicked the visual processing in the fly's brain, specifically those of tsetse, stable, and horse flies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-police-allow-quran-burning-protest-outside-stockholms-main-mosque-609615">Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque</a></p>

<p>The networks were trained to distinguish animals from leaf backgrounds and shaded from unshaded surfaces using the responses of the fly's five types of photoreceptor cells.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They were then tested to classify blue flytraps.</p>

<h2><strong>Surprising results</strong></h2>

<p>Published in the Proceedings of Royal Society B, the peer-reviewed study's results challenged the theory that flies perceive blue as shade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The neural networks successfully detected shade through brightness, without misclassifying blue objects as shade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, when it came to recognising animals, the networks compared the responses of blue and green-sensitive photoreceptors and frequently mistook blue traps for animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts</strong></p>

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<p>This led the researchers to conclude that blue objects, including traps, resemble potential hosts to flies.</p>

<h2><strong>Implications for disease control</strong></h2>

<p>Dr. Santer said that understanding the mechanisms behind flies' attraction to colored traps could lead to improved trap designs that more efficiently catch flies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is of utmost importance since different species of biting flies spread diseases among humans and animals. Fly control plays a crucial role in disease control efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Diseases like human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), which is fatal without treatment and prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, and the globally destructive stable fly could benefit from this research.</p>

<h2><strong>Field experiments support findings</strong></h2>

<p>Field experiments have further supported the team's conclusions. Tsetse flies captured in blue traps tend to show signs of not having recently fed, indicating their active search for hosts.</p>

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Researchers at Aberystwyth University's Department of Life Sciences have discovered that biting flies are strongly drawn to blue objects because they mistake the colour for potential hosts they can feed on.

Researchers at Aberystwyth University's Department of Life Sciences have discovered that biting flies are strongly drawn to blue objects because they mistake the colour for potential hosts they can feed on. This finding could have significant implications for controlling diseases transmitted by flies, such as sleeping sickness, by enhancing the effectiveness of traps. Dr. Roger Santer, the lead researcher, explained that entomological field studies have long observed flies' attraction to the colour blue, leading to the creation of traps in that particular hue. Also Read | India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report However, the reason why biting flies are particularly attracted to blue has puzzled scientists. Previous theories suggested that flies were drawn to blue due to its resemblance to shady areas or animals, but these had not been conclusively proven. Artificial neural networks shed light To address the question, the research team developed artificial neural networks that mimicked the visual processing in the fly's brain, specifically those of tsetse, stable, and horse flies. Also Read | Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque The networks were trained to distinguish animals from leaf backgrounds and shaded from unshaded surfaces using the responses of the fly's five types of photoreceptor cells. They were then tested to classify blue flytraps. Surprising results Published in the Proceedings of Royal Society B, the peer-reviewed study's results challenged the theory that flies perceive blue as shade. The neural networks successfully detected shade through brightness, without misclassifying blue objects as shade. However, when it came to recognising animals, the networks compared the responses of blue and green-sensitive photoreceptors and frequently mistook blue traps for animals. Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts × This led the researchers to conclude that blue objects, including traps, resemble potential hosts to flies. Implications for disease control Dr. Santer said that understanding the mechanisms behind flies' attraction to colored traps could lead to improved trap designs that more efficiently catch flies. This is of utmost importance since different species of biting flies spread diseases among humans and animals. Fly control plays a crucial role in disease control efforts. Diseases like human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), which is fatal without treatment and prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, and the globally destructive stable fly could benefit from this research. Field experiments support findings Field experiments have further supported the team's conclusions. Tsetse flies captured in blue traps tend to show signs of not having recently fed, indicating their active search for hosts. 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. ×

Why biting flies are attracted to blue objects? Unraveling the mystery

<p lang="en-US">Scientists have expressed hope of finding more about the dark side of the cosmos after a European probe blasts off into space in a few weeks.<br />
<br />
The two most baffling components of the universe – dark matter and dark energy – will be investigated by the Euclid mission, worth €1 billion ($1.10bn).<br />
<br />
Both the dark matter and dark energy of the universe remain invisible to astronomers, hence they have been able to infer their existence only by estimating their influence on the behaviour of galaxies and stars.<br />
<br />
“We cannot say we understand the universe if the nature of these dark components remains a mystery,” stated astrophysicist Prof Andy Taylor of Edinburgh University, while speaking to The Guardian.&nbsp;“That is why Euclid is so important,” he added.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-grows-flower-in-space-shares-image-of-bloom-on-social-media-604097">NASA grows flower in space, shares image of bloom on social media</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The professor stated that the scientists in the UK had played an important role in building and designing the probe. “We thought what would be the biggest, most fundamentally important project we could do? The answer was Euclid, which has now been designed, built and is ready for launch,” Taylor said, as reported by&nbsp;The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Euclid mission to launch on July 1</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Last year, Euclid was planned to be launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket. However, after Russia invaded Ukraine, the European Space Agency called off its co-operation with the Russian space agency Roscosmos and then signed a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX company to use Falcon 9 rocket.<br />
<br />
Euclid, which will be launched on July 1, will need a moth to cross the solar system to reach its destination which is 150 million km from Earth, at a position called the second Lagrange point. From this point, the craft will be able to look into the deep space with the Earth, moon and sun behind it. Then, the two-tonne spacecraft will start its survey of the heavens.<br />
<br />
“Euclid has the resolving power of the Hubble space telescope but will be able to survey a third of the night sky at the same time, so it will give us an incredibly detailed map of the heavens,” said astronomer Stephen Wilkins, of Sussex University, speaking to&nbsp;The Guardian.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia's latest space agency mission: Raising a militia for the war in Ukraine?</strong></p>

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<p lang="en-US">“Gravitational lensing produced by dark matter will tell us a great deal about what it is made of,” stated Prof Mathilde Jouzac of Durham University, while speaking to The Guardian.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
“It may be that dark matter is made up of light particles. If so, they will produce one kind of lensing. On the other hand, if dark matter is made of very large particles, that will produce a different set of lensing. This information will then help direct the search for dark matter particles on Earth,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

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Scientists have expressed hope of finding more about the dark side of the cosmos after a European probe blasts off into space in a few weeks. The two most baffling components of the universe – dark matter and dark energy – will be investigated by the Euclid mission, worth €1 billion ($1.

Scientists have expressed hope of finding more about the dark side of the cosmos after a European probe blasts off into space in a few weeks. The two most baffling components of the universe – dark matter and dark energy – will be investigated by the Euclid mission, worth €1 billion ($1.10bn). Both the dark matter and dark energy of the universe remain invisible to astronomers, hence they have been able to infer their existence only by estimating their influence on the behaviour of galaxies and stars. “We cannot say we understand the universe if the nature of these dark components remains a mystery,” stated astrophysicist Prof Andy Taylor of Edinburgh University, while speaking to The Guardian. “That is why Euclid is so important,” he added. ALSO READ | NASA grows flower in space, shares image of bloom on social media The professor stated that the scientists in the UK had played an important role in building and designing the probe. “We thought what would be the biggest, most fundamentally important project we could do? The answer was Euclid, which has now been designed, built and is ready for launch,” Taylor said, as reported by The Guardian. Euclid mission to launch on July 1 Last year, Euclid was planned to be launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket. However, after Russia invaded Ukraine, the European Space Agency called off its co-operation with the Russian space agency Roscosmos and then signed a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX company to use Falcon 9 rocket. Euclid, which will be launched on July 1, will need a moth to cross the solar system to reach its destination which is 150 million km from Earth, at a position called the second Lagrange point. From this point, the craft will be able to look into the deep space with the Earth, moon and sun behind it. Then, the two-tonne spacecraft will start its survey of the heavens. “Euclid has the resolving power of the Hubble space telescope but will be able to survey a third of the night sky at the same time, so it will give us an incredibly detailed map of the heavens,” said astronomer Stephen Wilkins, of Sussex University, speaking to The Guardian. WATCH | Russia's latest space agency mission: Raising a militia for the war in Ukraine? “Gravitational lensing produced by dark matter will tell us a great deal about what it is made of,” stated Prof Mathilde Jouzac of Durham University, while speaking to The Guardian. “It may be that dark matter is made up of light particles. If so, they will produce one kind of lensing. On the other hand, if dark matter is made of very large particles, that will produce a different set of lensing. This information will then help direct the search for dark matter particles on Earth,” he added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mysteries of universe to be revealed by Euclid telescope, say scientists

<p>In a new study, the scientists claimed to have found the answer to one of the most baffling questions in the history of humankind - 'What came first: Chicken or&nbsp;the egg?'. The question has to date&nbsp;left everyone, from scholars to schoolchildren, stumped. However, scientists now claim&nbsp;to have discovered the answer.</p>

<p>As per the researchers from the University of Bristol, the early ancestors of reptiles and modern birds are likely to have given birth to live young and may have not laid eggs, according to The Times. The Journal Nature Ecology and Evolution published the study which detailed the discovery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists, along with researchers from Nanjing University, have challenged the belief which existed so far that hard-shelled eggs were the reason for the success of amniotes, which are animals whose foetuses are developed inside an amnion (membrane or sack) inside the egg.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-mutton-no-marriage-indian-bride-calls-off-wedding-as-grooms-family-fusses-over-mutton-shortage-604371">'No mutton, no marriage': Indian bride calls off wedding as groom's family fusses over mutton shortage</a></p>

<p>"The amniotic egg is very different from the anamniotic egg of extant amphibians, which lacks an eggshell and extraembryonic membranes. The amniotic egg consists of a suite of fetal membranes, including the amnion, chorion and allantois, as well as an external shell that can be either strongly mineralized (as in rigid-shelled eggs) or weakly mineralized (as in parchment-shelled eggs)," the study stated.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Retention of embryos&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The research, headed by the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, went through 51 fossil species and 29 living species which were categorised as viviparous, that give birth to live young, or oviparous, that lay hard or soft-shelled eggs, according to the outlet.</p>

<p>The study emphasised that all the branches of Amniota, which includes mammals, have shown signs of embryos retaining within their bodies for longer periods of time.</p>

<p>In the history of evolution, the hard-shelled egg has often been perceived as one of the greatest innovations, however, this research states that it was this extended embryo retention which provided the ultimate protection to this group of animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Eggs off Japan's menu as some 17 million chickens culled</strong></p>

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<p>Speaking about the study, Professor Michael Benton, from the University of Bristol, stated, "Our work, and that of many others in recent years, has consigned the classic 'reptile egg' model of the textbooks to the wastebasket. The first amniotes had evolved extended embryo retention rather than a hard-shelled egg to protect the developing embryo for a lesser or greater amount of time inside the mother, so birth could be delayed until environments become favourable."</p>

<p>"Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviours, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed," Project Leader Professor Baoyu Jiang stated.</p>

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In a new study, the scientists claimed to have found the answer to one of the most baffling questions in the history of humankind - 'What came first: Chicken or the egg?

In a new study, the scientists claimed to have found the answer to one of the most baffling questions in the history of humankind - 'What came first: Chicken or the egg?'. The question has to date left everyone, from scholars to schoolchildren, stumped. However, scientists now claim to have discovered the answer. As per the researchers from the University of Bristol, the early ancestors of reptiles and modern birds are likely to have given birth to live young and may have not laid eggs, according to The Times. The Journal Nature Ecology and Evolution published the study which detailed the discovery. Scientists, along with researchers from Nanjing University, have challenged the belief which existed so far that hard-shelled eggs were the reason for the success of amniotes, which are animals whose foetuses are developed inside an amnion (membrane or sack) inside the egg. ALSO READ | 'No mutton, no marriage': Indian bride calls off wedding as groom's family fusses over mutton shortage "The amniotic egg is very different from the anamniotic egg of extant amphibians, which lacks an eggshell and extraembryonic membranes. The amniotic egg consists of a suite of fetal membranes, including the amnion, chorion and allantois, as well as an external shell that can be either strongly mineralized (as in rigid-shelled eggs) or weakly mineralized (as in parchment-shelled eggs)," the study stated. Retention of embryos The research, headed by the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, went through 51 fossil species and 29 living species which were categorised as viviparous, that give birth to live young, or oviparous, that lay hard or soft-shelled eggs, according to the outlet. The study emphasised that all the branches of Amniota, which includes mammals, have shown signs of embryos retaining within their bodies for longer periods of time. In the history of evolution, the hard-shelled egg has often been perceived as one of the greatest innovations, however, this research states that it was this extended embryo retention which provided the ultimate protection to this group of animals. WATCH | Eggs off Japan's menu as some 17 million chickens culled Speaking about the study, Professor Michael Benton, from the University of Bristol, stated, "Our work, and that of many others in recent years, has consigned the classic 'reptile egg' model of the textbooks to the wastebasket. The first amniotes had evolved extended embryo retention rather than a hard-shelled egg to protect the developing embryo for a lesser or greater amount of time inside the mother, so birth could be delayed until environments become favourable." "Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviours, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed," Project Leader Professor Baoyu Jiang stated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Chicken or Egg? Scientists claim to have found answer to centuries-old puzzle

<p>Scientists in a study have found out that fruit flies who are raised in an environment surrounded by their dead fellow mates are more likely to have shorter spans of life than the others who were raised around living flies, reported Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The research could prove fruitful for humans too as the scientists explore ways how this study can be applied to people, who due to the nature of their&nbsp;jobs, are constantly surrounded by a mournful environment where they are close to the dead. Therefore, the conclusions of the study could be helpful for soldiers in conflict zones and healthcare workers.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the research include?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The research was headed by Christi Gendron and Scott Pletcher at the University of Michigan. For the study, the researchers brought up fruit flies in tiny containers filled with food.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-lg-reviews-amarnath-yatra-arrangements-in-pahalgam-over-60k-troops-to-be-deployed-for-security-604339">India: LG reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements in Pahalgam, over 60k troops to be deployed for security</a></p>

<p>To understand how the flies will behave around the dead carcasses, the researchers kept living flies and tasty nutrients in one of the boxes, while in another container, they put freshly dead fruit flies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They then observed the behavioural changes that took place while feeding insects. The research outcomes suggest that the flies who were raised with their dead comrades died several weeks early in comparison to those who were raised without the sight of dead carcasses.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The biological changes</strong></h2>

<p>The study further mentioned the biological changes that took place in the insects during the research. Not only did the flies age&nbsp;at a faster pace, they also exhibited other changes, like losing stored fat.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shark-that-ate-russian-tourist-on-camera-to-be-mummified-put-on-display-604333">Shark that ate Russian tourist on camera to be mummified, put on display</a></p>

<p>This was viewed by the scientists as flies going through "depression" leading to the changes in their life span. As per the study, the ageing process in fruit flies surrounded by dead flies resulted in shortening up the lives of the flies by about 30 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Brain neurons&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers also looked deep into the brain of the fruit flies to draw more substantial conclusions. As per their findings, there is a link between the neurons in the flies' brains and a protein secreted by them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As more and more neurons got active in the brain of the flies, there was more fluorescent protein these neurons produced. They found two types of neurons, namely R2 and R4. These neurons were seen to be activated in the brains of the flies who were surrounded by dead flies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch | UK Police seek motive for Nottingham murders, man arrested after police finds three dead</p>

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<p>Scientists did an interesting experiment to see what impact these neurons will have on the flies who were raised with living flies. When R2 and R4 were stimulated in healthy fruit flies it resulted in cutting short the life span of these flies.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Future research&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Authors in Plos Biology raised questions, “Could motivational therapy or pharmacologic intervention in reward systems, much like what is done for addiction, slow ageing?”</p>

<p>With the drugs which are already available and approved in the medical field, the research can be tested to see how can human beings benefit&nbsp;from these findings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In what sounds promising, this study can help find new treatments to slow ageing in humans. “Given our findings,” the authors write, “it seems plausible that the sight of dead conspecifics elucidates a “depressive-like” state that results in decreased longevity.”</p>

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Scientists in a study have found out that fruit flies who are raised in an environment surrounded by their dead fellow mates are more likely to have shorter spans of life than the others who were raised around living flies, reported Guardian.

Scientists in a study have found out that fruit flies who are raised in an environment surrounded by their dead fellow mates are more likely to have shorter spans of life than the others who were raised around living flies, reported Guardian. The research could prove fruitful for humans too as the scientists explore ways how this study can be applied to people, who due to the nature of their jobs, are constantly surrounded by a mournful environment where they are close to the dead. Therefore, the conclusions of the study could be helpful for soldiers in conflict zones and healthcare workers. What did the research include? The research was headed by Christi Gendron and Scott Pletcher at the University of Michigan. For the study, the researchers brought up fruit flies in tiny containers filled with food. Also Read | India: LG reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements in Pahalgam, over 60k troops to be deployed for security To understand how the flies will behave around the dead carcasses, the researchers kept living flies and tasty nutrients in one of the boxes, while in another container, they put freshly dead fruit flies. They then observed the behavioural changes that took place while feeding insects. The research outcomes suggest that the flies who were raised with their dead comrades died several weeks early in comparison to those who were raised without the sight of dead carcasses. The biological changes The study further mentioned the biological changes that took place in the insects during the research. Not only did the flies age at a faster pace, they also exhibited other changes, like losing stored fat. Also Read | Shark that ate Russian tourist on camera to be mummified, put on display This was viewed by the scientists as flies going through "depression" leading to the changes in their life span. As per the study, the ageing process in fruit flies surrounded by dead flies resulted in shortening up the lives of the flies by about 30 per cent. Brain neurons The researchers also looked deep into the brain of the fruit flies to draw more substantial conclusions. As per their findings, there is a link between the neurons in the flies' brains and a protein secreted by them. As more and more neurons got active in the brain of the flies, there was more fluorescent protein these neurons produced. They found two types of neurons, namely R2 and R4. These neurons were seen to be activated in the brains of the flies who were surrounded by dead flies. Watch | UK Police seek motive for Nottingham murders, man arrested after police finds three dead × Scientists did an interesting experiment to see what impact these neurons will have on the flies who were raised with living flies. When R2 and R4 were stimulated in healthy fruit flies it resulted in cutting short the life span of these flies. Future research Authors in Plos Biology raised questions, “Could motivational therapy or pharmacologic intervention in reward systems, much like what is done for addiction, slow ageing?” With the drugs which are already available and approved in the medical field, the research can be tested to see how can human beings benefit from these findings. In what sounds promising, this study can help find new treatments to slow ageing in humans. “Given our findings,” the authors write, “it seems plausible that the sight of dead conspecifics elucidates a “depressive-like” state that results in decreased longevity.” 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. ×

Fruit flies age rapidly when they see their dead comrades: Study

<p>In the latest study, scientists have suggested that a newly discovered supernova, which is 21 million light-years from Earth, can turn into a beacon for aliens to communicate. The University of Washington's team of astronomers has set their sights&nbsp;on SN 2023ixf, which is placed in the Pinwheel galaxy. The supernova is the closest stellar explosion which has been seen by human eyes in a decade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest theory of the scientists has stemmed from the notion that at least 100 supernovas are 300 light years away from Earth and now they are investigating if inhabited planets are surrounding them.</p>

<p>If the supernova is observed by&nbsp;extraterrestrials, these alien civilisations are likely to use it as an attention grabber for communicating with other planets.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Type II supernova discovered</strong></h2>

<p>The National Astronomical Observatory in Gozo detected SN 2023ixf which allowed researchers to figure out that it was a Type II supernova which had been a star as big as eight times the size of our sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/aliens-saying-hello-through-signals-from-centre-of-milky-way-suggests-new-study-602234">Aliens saying 'hello' through signals from centre of Milky Way, suggests new study</a></p>

<p>The team, headed by James Davenport, used the 'SETI ellipsoid' for carrying out this research of an egg-shaped space zone where alien civilisations are likely to have enough time to observe an astronomical event.</p>

<p>In this research, the zone has a chance to include 100 nearby stars. The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is being used by astronomers in North Carolina and Robert C Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Virginia to study the stars and understand if habitable planets surround them.</p>

<p>"We intend to revisit the Ellipsoid once a month for the next few months as new stars enter the sample, and are open to synchronizing our observations with other multiwavelength facilities," stated the study published in arXiv.</p>

<p>Speaking to New Scientist, Davenport accepted that there is less chance of him and his team making contact with aliens but believes it is worth a shot.</p>

<p>"The worst thing to happen would be for a signal to come in and us not to notice because we didn't bother to look," he stated.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Astrophotographer captures supernova</strong></h2>

<p>Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, who is famous for capturing beautiful shots of space, was among the first civilians to capture the epic event.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Is America hiding Alien technology?</strong></p>

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<p>He uploaded an animation which included several images clicked of the Pinwheel Galaxy and showed a light blinking in the corner which was the explosion of the star.</p>

<p>"I used the colour data I already had on this galaxy and stacked about 10 minutes worth of exposures to create this animation," tweeted McCarthy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, "You can see how close the supernova is to some nebulae in the arm… imagine the view from there!"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to Daily Mail, McCarthy said that for months he had been shooting the Pinwheel Galaxy and the star exploded while he was busy doing the same.&nbsp;</p>

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In the latest study, scientists have suggested that a newly discovered supernova, which is 21 million light-years from Earth, can turn into a beacon for aliens to communicate.

In the latest study, scientists have suggested that a newly discovered supernova, which is 21 million light-years from Earth, can turn into a beacon for aliens to communicate. The University of Washington's team of astronomers has set their sights on SN 2023ixf, which is placed in the Pinwheel galaxy. The supernova is the closest stellar explosion which has been seen by human eyes in a decade. The latest theory of the scientists has stemmed from the notion that at least 100 supernovas are 300 light years away from Earth and now they are investigating if inhabited planets are surrounding them. If the supernova is observed by extraterrestrials, these alien civilisations are likely to use it as an attention grabber for communicating with other planets. Type II supernova discovered The National Astronomical Observatory in Gozo detected SN 2023ixf which allowed researchers to figure out that it was a Type II supernova which had been a star as big as eight times the size of our sun. ALSO READ | Aliens saying 'hello' through signals from centre of Milky Way, suggests new study The team, headed by James Davenport, used the 'SETI ellipsoid' for carrying out this research of an egg-shaped space zone where alien civilisations are likely to have enough time to observe an astronomical event. In this research, the zone has a chance to include 100 nearby stars. The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is being used by astronomers in North Carolina and Robert C Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Virginia to study the stars and understand if habitable planets surround them. "We intend to revisit the Ellipsoid once a month for the next few months as new stars enter the sample, and are open to synchronizing our observations with other multiwavelength facilities," stated the study published in arXiv. Speaking to New Scientist, Davenport accepted that there is less chance of him and his team making contact with aliens but believes it is worth a shot. "The worst thing to happen would be for a signal to come in and us not to notice because we didn't bother to look," he stated. Astrophotographer captures supernova Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, who is famous for capturing beautiful shots of space, was among the first civilians to capture the epic event. WATCH | Gravitas Plus: Is America hiding Alien technology? He uploaded an animation which included several images clicked of the Pinwheel Galaxy and showed a light blinking in the corner which was the explosion of the star. "I used the colour data I already had on this galaxy and stacked about 10 minutes worth of exposures to create this animation," tweeted McCarthy. He added, "You can see how close the supernova is to some nebulae in the arm… imagine the view from there!" Speaking to Daily Mail, McCarthy said that for months he had been shooting the Pinwheel Galaxy and the star exploded while he was busy doing the same. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Aliens likely to communicate through newly discovered supernova, claim scientists

<p>Scientists have claimed that if Earth ever fell into a black hole – the scariest feature of the universe which has such intense gravity that even light fails to get out – then the human body is likely to turn into the shape of a "long pasta".<br />
<br />
Black holes are known to gobble up the surrounding dust and gas, along with the planets and even other black holes nearby. They are often called "destructive monsters"&nbsp;as they have the capacity to tear apart stars and consume anything that comes close&nbsp;to it. With light being&nbsp;its captive, if Earth fall into the black hole, it would have little chance to escape either.<br />
<br />
Explaining the scary situation to the Daily Mail, Professor of Physics at the University of Sussex Xavier Calmet said that the black hole's gravitational force would become so strong that the humans will experience "spaghettification".</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-discover-supermassive-black-hole-at-heart-of-ancient-galaxy-597137"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>Astronomers discover supermassive black hole at the heart of ancient galaxy</a></p>

<p>“Your body will be stretched into a shape similar to that of a long pasta until it is reaped apart by the strong gravitational force,” said Professor Calmet. “I can't imagine that this would be pleasant – it would happen rather quickly, so if painful, it is unlikely to last long,” he added.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Imperial College London's senior lecturer Dr David L Clements said, “The end of the Earth would likely be quick if it fell into a black hole. It could come from asphyxiation if the atmosphere is stripped, or from the process called spaghettification where tidal forces stretch everything out into long strings – may be briefly painful.”<br />
<br />
He added that, thankfully, Earth's chances of getting swallowed by a black hole are almost “nearly zero”. “The fact that we’re still here shows that this hasn’t happened over the whole history of the Earth,” he said while speaking to Daily Mail.<br />
<br />
“So the chances are at least less than once every 4.5 billion years and likely much much less,” he added. The black hole nearest to the Earth is called Gaia BH1 and is around 1,600 light-years away. It is 10 times bigger than the size of our sun, stated experts.</p>

<h2><strong>JWST to observe black holes in Cycle-2</strong></h2>

<p>The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in Cycle-2 is set to uncover the secrets of black holes.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Aliens saying `hello` through signals from centre of Milky Way, suggests new study</strong></p>

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<p>The scientists will use the telescope to further study black holes as astronomers make efforts to find possible runaway supermassive black holes, understand AGN feedback's impact on star formation at cosmic noon, and find the Obscured Growth of Supermassive Black Holes in the Epoch of Reionisation.<br />
<br />
JWST will remain focused on the black hole present in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy Sgr A to observe&nbsp;its inner accretion flow in an effort to better understand the science behind a black hole's formation.</p>

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Scientists have claimed that if Earth ever fell into a black hole – the scariest feature of the universe which has such intense gravity that even light fails to get out – then the human body is likely to turn into the shape of a "long pasta".

Scientists have claimed that if Earth ever fell into a black hole – the scariest feature of the universe which has such intense gravity that even light fails to get out – then the human body is likely to turn into the shape of a "long pasta". Black holes are known to gobble up the surrounding dust and gas, along with the planets and even other black holes nearby. They are often called "destructive monsters" as they have the capacity to tear apart stars and consume anything that comes close to it. With light being its captive, if Earth fall into the black hole, it would have little chance to escape either. Explaining the scary situation to the Daily Mail, Professor of Physics at the University of Sussex Xavier Calmet said that the black hole's gravitational force would become so strong that the humans will experience "spaghettification". ALSO READ | Astronomers discover supermassive black hole at the heart of ancient galaxy “Your body will be stretched into a shape similar to that of a long pasta until it is reaped apart by the strong gravitational force,” said Professor Calmet. “I can't imagine that this would be pleasant – it would happen rather quickly, so if painful, it is unlikely to last long,” he added. Meanwhile, Imperial College London's senior lecturer Dr David L Clements said, “The end of the Earth would likely be quick if it fell into a black hole. It could come from asphyxiation if the atmosphere is stripped, or from the process called spaghettification where tidal forces stretch everything out into long strings – may be briefly painful.” He added that, thankfully, Earth's chances of getting swallowed by a black hole are almost “nearly zero”. “The fact that we’re still here shows that this hasn’t happened over the whole history of the Earth,” he said while speaking to Daily Mail. “So the chances are at least less than once every 4.5 billion years and likely much much less,” he added. The black hole nearest to the Earth is called Gaia BH1 and is around 1,600 light-years away. It is 10 times bigger than the size of our sun, stated experts. JWST to observe black holes in Cycle-2 The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in Cycle-2 is set to uncover the secrets of black holes. WATCH | Aliens saying `hello` through signals from centre of Milky Way, suggests new study The scientists will use the telescope to further study black holes as astronomers make efforts to find possible runaway supermassive black holes, understand AGN feedback's impact on star formation at cosmic noon, and find the Obscured Growth of Supermassive Black Holes in the Epoch of Reionisation. JWST will remain focused on the black hole present in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy Sgr A to observe its inner accretion flow in an effort to better understand the science behind a black hole's formation. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Human body will stretch 'like a long pasta' if Earth ever falls into black hole, claim scientists

<p>Extended space adventures are damaging astronauts' brains, according to experts. Astronauts&nbsp;who spend a lot of time in space should give their brains three years to recuperate from the alterations brought on by their missions.</p>

<p>These are the conclusions of a recent research that examined how the brain responds to gravity outside of Earth. It comes before what is anticipated to be a new age of protracted space travel, including the initial expeditions to Mars.</p>

<h2><strong>Long space mission leading to enlarged ventricles</strong></h2>

<p>As many as 30 astronauts' brain scans from both before and after their space missions were examined by researchers. They discovered that trips lasting more than six months resulted in considerably enlarged brain ventricles, which might take up to three years to recover from.</p>

<p>The ventricles are hollow spaces in the brain that are filled with a fluid that purifies, hydrates, and protects the brain. Normally, the fluid is helpfully dispersed throughout the body, but because there is no gravity in space, it is sometimes forced upward, which causes the brain to be pushed higher in the skull.</p>

<p>“We found that the more time people spent in space, the larger their ventricles became,” said Rachael Seidler, a professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida and an author of the study told the Independent.</p>

<p>“Many astronauts travel to space more than one time, and our study shows it takes about three years between flights for the ventricles to fully recover,” she said.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;WION exclusive: ISRO to launch joint Indo-US space mission in early 2024</strong></p>

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<p>Eight of the 30 astronauts in the research had spent two weeks in space, 18 had completed six-month missions, and four had spent a full year in orbit. The brain had not altered much after two weeks, and after six months the modifications seemed to have ceased.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/french-fries-in-space-astronaut-puff-up-menu-as-esa-learns-to-fry-food-602281">French fries in space: Astronauts puff up menu as ESA learns to fry food</a></p>

<p>That is advantageous for individuals taking part in quick excursions of the sort being promoted by tourist initiatives like those from SpaceX.</p>

<p>Additionally, it may be useful for astronauts embarking on lengthy missions, like those to Mars. The absence of alterations between six and twelve months may also be good news for those long excursions, but researchers have not yet looked at persons who have gone for more than a year.</p>

<p>“We were happy to see that the changes don’t increase exponentially, considering we will eventually have people in space for longer periods,” said Professor Seidler.&nbsp;</p>

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Extended space adventures are damaging astronauts' brains, according to experts. Astronauts who spend a lot of time in space should give their brains three years to recuperate from the alterations brought on by their missions.

Extended space adventures are damaging astronauts' brains, according to experts. Astronauts who spend a lot of time in space should give their brains three years to recuperate from the alterations brought on by their missions. These are the conclusions of a recent research that examined how the brain responds to gravity outside of Earth. It comes before what is anticipated to be a new age of protracted space travel, including the initial expeditions to Mars. Long space mission leading to enlarged ventricles As many as 30 astronauts' brain scans from both before and after their space missions were examined by researchers. They discovered that trips lasting more than six months resulted in considerably enlarged brain ventricles, which might take up to three years to recover from. The ventricles are hollow spaces in the brain that are filled with a fluid that purifies, hydrates, and protects the brain. Normally, the fluid is helpfully dispersed throughout the body, but because there is no gravity in space, it is sometimes forced upward, which causes the brain to be pushed higher in the skull. “We found that the more time people spent in space, the larger their ventricles became,” said Rachael Seidler, a professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida and an author of the study told the Independent. “Many astronauts travel to space more than one time, and our study shows it takes about three years between flights for the ventricles to fully recover,” she said. Also watch | WION exclusive: ISRO to launch joint Indo-US space mission in early 2024 Eight of the 30 astronauts in the research had spent two weeks in space, 18 had completed six-month missions, and four had spent a full year in orbit. The brain had not altered much after two weeks, and after six months the modifications seemed to have ceased. Also read | French fries in space: Astronauts puff up menu as ESA learns to fry food That is advantageous for individuals taking part in quick excursions of the sort being promoted by tourist initiatives like those from SpaceX. Additionally, it may be useful for astronauts embarking on lengthy missions, like those to Mars. The absence of alterations between six and twelve months may also be good news for those long excursions, but researchers have not yet looked at persons who have gone for more than a year. “We were happy to see that the changes don’t increase exponentially, considering we will eventually have people in space for longer periods,” said Professor Seidler. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Prolonged space missions are damaging astronauts' brains, claims study

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms- Scientists have discovered 62 new species of plants that can potentially survive without water due to their capability to withstand extreme dehydration. These plants, Desiccation-Tolerant Vascular Species, are capable of surviving extreme water scarcity as they enter a state of dormancy when water is unavailable.

Indian scientists discover 62 plants that can live without water in Western Ghats

<p>A new study has suggested that the Milky Way Galaxy harbours one-third of planets that have water and as a consequence, are suitable for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">This study, based on recent telescope data provided by the Kepler Mission, states that there are billions of planets — which are smaller and cooler, with half the mass of the Sun — that revolve around M dwarfs (also knowns Red dwarf).</p>

<p dir="ltr">Of those, around two-thirds of the planets could be “roasted” by tidal extremes and sterilising them, leaving one-third of the planets across the galaxy in the Goldilocks zone possibly habitable.</p>

<p dir="ltr">“I think this result is really important for the next decade of exoplanet research, because eyes are shifting toward this population of stars. These stars are excellent targets to look for small planets in an orbit where it’s conceivable that water might be liquid and therefore the planet might be habitable,” said Sheila Sagear, lead author of the study, in a press statement. Sagear is a doctoral student at the University of Florida.</p>

<p dir="ltr">According to the study, this is possible because of a phenomenon called tidal heating. The planets that orbit around M dwarfs are elongated and have oval orbits, leaving them fried by the star if they're close enough.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The tidal heating is generated&nbsp;due to the planets orbiting in an oval shape, which leads to stretching and squeezing from the star's gravity.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The&nbsp;stretching and squeezing cause friction heat and as a result, a planet loses its water, along with the chances for life to evolve on its surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">If a planet around an M dwarf was further away, that distance may prevent torment by tidal heating — but, then the planet would be too cold, lacking the warmth needed for life. Therefore, exoplanets around M dwarfs must live close to their stars for even a chance of being warm enough for life, putting them at risk of tidal heating if their orbit isn’t a clean circle.</p>

<p dir="ltr">It's only for these small stars that the zone of habitability is close enough for these tidal forces to be relevant," Sarah Ballard said in the statement.</p>

<p dir="ltr">These findings were published on May 30 in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.<br />
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A new study has suggested that the Milky Way Galaxy harbours one-third of planets that have water and as a consequence, are suitable for life. This study, based on recent telescope data provided by the Kepler Mission, states that there are billions of planets — which are smaller and cooler, with half the mass of the Sun — that revolve around M dwarfs (also knowns Red dwarf).

A new study has suggested that the Milky Way Galaxy harbours one-third of planets that have water and as a consequence, are suitable for life. This study, based on recent telescope data provided by the Kepler Mission, states that there are billions of planets — which are smaller and cooler, with half the mass of the Sun — that revolve around M dwarfs (also knowns Red dwarf). Of those, around two-thirds of the planets could be “roasted” by tidal extremes and sterilising them, leaving one-third of the planets across the galaxy in the Goldilocks zone possibly habitable. “I think this result is really important for the next decade of exoplanet research, because eyes are shifting toward this population of stars. These stars are excellent targets to look for small planets in an orbit where it’s conceivable that water might be liquid and therefore the planet might be habitable,” said Sheila Sagear, lead author of the study, in a press statement. Sagear is a doctoral student at the University of Florida. According to the study, this is possible because of a phenomenon called tidal heating. The planets that orbit around M dwarfs are elongated and have oval orbits, leaving them fried by the star if they're close enough. The tidal heating is generated due to the planets orbiting in an oval shape, which leads to stretching and squeezing from the star's gravity. The stretching and squeezing cause friction heat and as a result, a planet loses its water, along with the chances for life to evolve on its surface. If a planet around an M dwarf was further away, that distance may prevent torment by tidal heating — but, then the planet would be too cold, lacking the warmth needed for life. Therefore, exoplanets around M dwarfs must live close to their stars for even a chance of being warm enough for life, putting them at risk of tidal heating if their orbit isn’t a clean circle. It's only for these small stars that the zone of habitability is close enough for these tidal forces to be relevant," Sarah Ballard said in the statement. These findings were published on May 30 in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Milky Way galaxy has hundreds of millions of potentially habitable planets, says new study

Killer Whales have been attacking ships in the Iberian Peninsula. Scientists say their coordinated actions are purpose-driven. They also speculate Orcas have been teaching each other to sink vessels. Is nature revolting against human disruptions?

Gravitas: Scientists suggest Killer Whales are teaching each other to sink ships

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidnT1uUpeijlHX" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Researchers at the University of Massachusetts claimed to have discovered a way to create energy out of thin air. They have developed a tiny device that generates electricity from air humidity, which could give a major boost to the clean energy aspirations of the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researchers are of the view that since air has humidity all the time - the device, using its harvest prowess, could generate energy 24x7 or in other words, present itself as a source of limitless energy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The science behind the discovery is fairly simple and innocuous. Air contains enormous amounts of electricity and clouds - which are masses of water droplets and each droplet contains a charge which can produce a lightning bolt. Up until now, we didn't know how to reliably capture that electricity from lightning. However, the study published in the journal&nbsp;<em>Advanced Materials</em>&nbsp;says we can use a broad range of inorganic, organic, and biological materials to capture it.</p>

<p>Essentially, the researchers have created a small-scale cloud that produces electricity. As long as the device includes holes smaller than&nbsp;100 nanometers, it can be used to generate electricity.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/energy-giants-turn-to-humble-tech-startups-to-remove-emission-wion-climate-tracker-596753"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Energy giants turn to humble tech startups to remove emission | WION Climate Tracker</strong></a></p>

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<p>“This is very exciting. We are opening up a wide door for harvesting clean electricity from thin air,” said Xiaomeng Liu, a graduate student and one of the paper's lead authors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The idea is simple, but it’s never been discovered before, and it opens all kinds of possibilities. You could image harvesters made of one kind of material for rainforest environments and another for more arid regions,” added Jun Yao, a co-author of the new paper.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Other scientific breakthroughs</h2>

<p>In the quest to generate electricity out of thin air, researchers at Monash University in Melbourne also made some remarkable breakthroughs. The scientists discovered a hydrogen-consuming enzyme from a common soil bacterium that uses the atmosphere as an energy source to generate electrical current.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The enzyme discovered is called Huc (pronounced “Huck”) and is made by Mycobacterium smegmatis bacteria, allowing it to survive in harsh conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/limitless-energy-scientists-discover-enzyme-to-make-electricity-out-of-thin-air-581791" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Limitless energy? Scientists discover enzyme to make electricity out of thin air</strong></a></p>

<p>The scientists said the early applications of Huc include powering small air-powered devices which could act as an alternative to solar-powered devices.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next step involved is to scale up the production so that Huc can be produced in sufficient quantities to be used at a meaningful scale.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Researchers at the University of Massachusetts claimed to have discovered a way to create energy out of thin air. They have developed a tiny device that generates electricity from air humidity, which could give a major boost to the clean energy aspirations of the planet.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts claimed to have discovered a way to create energy out of thin air. They have developed a tiny device that generates electricity from air humidity, which could give a major boost to the clean energy aspirations of the planet. The researchers are of the view that since air has humidity all the time - the device, using its harvest prowess, could generate energy 24x7 or in other words, present itself as a source of limitless energy. The science behind the discovery is fairly simple and innocuous. Air contains enormous amounts of electricity and clouds - which are masses of water droplets and each droplet contains a charge which can produce a lightning bolt. Up until now, we didn't know how to reliably capture that electricity from lightning. However, the study published in the journal Advanced Materials says we can use a broad range of inorganic, organic, and biological materials to capture it. Essentially, the researchers have created a small-scale cloud that produces electricity. As long as the device includes holes smaller than 100 nanometers, it can be used to generate electricity. WATCH | Energy giants turn to humble tech startups to remove emission | WION Climate Tracker × “This is very exciting. We are opening up a wide door for harvesting clean electricity from thin air,” said Xiaomeng Liu, a graduate student and one of the paper's lead authors. "The idea is simple, but it’s never been discovered before, and it opens all kinds of possibilities. You could image harvesters made of one kind of material for rainforest environments and another for more arid regions,” added Jun Yao, a co-author of the new paper. Other scientific breakthroughs In the quest to generate electricity out of thin air, researchers at Monash University in Melbourne also made some remarkable breakthroughs. The scientists discovered a hydrogen-consuming enzyme from a common soil bacterium that uses the atmosphere as an energy source to generate electrical current. The enzyme discovered is called Huc (pronounced “Huck”) and is made by Mycobacterium smegmatis bacteria, allowing it to survive in harsh conditions. ALSO READ | Limitless energy? Scientists discover enzyme to make electricity out of thin air The scientists said the early applications of Huc include powering small air-powered devices which could act as an alternative to solar-powered devices. The next step involved is to scale up the production so that Huc can be produced in sufficient quantities to be used at a meaningful scale. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Limitless energy? Scientists discover way to generate electricity out of thin air

<p>Scientists have warned that the ability of humans to see the cosmos in the night sky may vanish&nbsp;in just 20 years because of light pollution.<br />
<br />
“The night sky is part of our environment and it would be a major deprivation if the next generation never got to see it, just as it would be if they never saw a bird’s nest,” said Martin Rees, the British astronomer royal, while speaking to The Guardian.<br />
<br />
“You don’t need to be an astronomer to care about this. I am not an ornithologist but if there were no songbirds in my garden, I’d feel impoverished,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-spacecraft-discovers-how-jupiters-lightning-shares-similarity-with-earths-596297">NASA spacecraft discovers how Jupiter's lightning shares similarity with Earth's</a><br />
<br />
In the last few years, the issue of light pollution has rapidly worsened, especially since 2016 when it was reported by astronomers that the Milky Way is no longer visible to almost a third of the population, as per Rees.<br />
<br />
Scientists stated that the increasing light pollution is now brightening up the night sky at a rate of around 10 per cent per year.</p>

<h2><strong>No cosmos for future generations</strong></h2>

<p>A child who is born in a place where 250 stars are currently visible in the night sky would be able to see only 100 by the time they reach the age of 18, stated Christopher Kyba, of the German Centre for Geosciences.<br />
<br />
“A couple of generations ago, people would have been confronted regularly with this glittering vision of the cosmos – but what was formerly universal is now extremely rare. Only the world’s richest people, and some of the poorest, experience that anymore. For everybody else, it’s more or less gone,” Kyba added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;IIST: WION reports from Indian institute of space science and technology</strong></p>

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<p><br />
He further argued that the introduction of some changes to lighting can make a considerable improvement. These steps would include shielding outdoor lights and pointing them downwards, limiting the brightness of lights, and ensuring that they are not predominantly blue-white but have red and orange components. “Measures like that would have an enormous impact,” he stated.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Prof Robert Fosbury, of the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL) claimed that bluish emissions of LEDs entirely lack any red or near-infrared light. “We are becoming starved of red and infra-red light and that has serious implications,” he stated.<br />
<br />
“When reddish light shines on our bodies, it stimulates mechanisms including those that break down high levels of sugar in the blood or boost melatonin production. Since the introduction of fluorescent lighting and later LEDs, that part of the spectrum has been removed from artificial light and I think it is playing a part in the waves of obesity and the rise&nbsp;in diabetes cases we see today,” Fosbury added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Scientists have warned that the ability of humans to see the cosmos in the night sky may vanish in just 20 years because of light pollution. “The night sky is part of our environment and it would be a major deprivation if the next generation never got to see it, just as it would be if they never saw a bird’s nest,” said Martin Rees, the British astronomer royal, while speaking to The Guardian.

Scientists have warned that the ability of humans to see the cosmos in the night sky may vanish in just 20 years because of light pollution. “The night sky is part of our environment and it would be a major deprivation if the next generation never got to see it, just as it would be if they never saw a bird’s nest,” said Martin Rees, the British astronomer royal, while speaking to The Guardian. “You don’t need to be an astronomer to care about this. I am not an ornithologist but if there were no songbirds in my garden, I’d feel impoverished,” he added. ALSO READ | NASA spacecraft discovers how Jupiter's lightning shares similarity with Earth's In the last few years, the issue of light pollution has rapidly worsened, especially since 2016 when it was reported by astronomers that the Milky Way is no longer visible to almost a third of the population, as per Rees. Scientists stated that the increasing light pollution is now brightening up the night sky at a rate of around 10 per cent per year. No cosmos for future generations A child who is born in a place where 250 stars are currently visible in the night sky would be able to see only 100 by the time they reach the age of 18, stated Christopher Kyba, of the German Centre for Geosciences. “A couple of generations ago, people would have been confronted regularly with this glittering vision of the cosmos – but what was formerly universal is now extremely rare. Only the world’s richest people, and some of the poorest, experience that anymore. For everybody else, it’s more or less gone,” Kyba added. WATCH | IIST: WION reports from Indian institute of space science and technology He further argued that the introduction of some changes to lighting can make a considerable improvement. These steps would include shielding outdoor lights and pointing them downwards, limiting the brightness of lights, and ensuring that they are not predominantly blue-white but have red and orange components. “Measures like that would have an enormous impact,” he stated. Meanwhile, Prof Robert Fosbury, of the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL) claimed that bluish emissions of LEDs entirely lack any red or near-infrared light. “We are becoming starved of red and infra-red light and that has serious implications,” he stated. “When reddish light shines on our bodies, it stimulates mechanisms including those that break down high levels of sugar in the blood or boost melatonin production. Since the introduction of fluorescent lighting and later LEDs, that part of the spectrum has been removed from artificial light and I think it is playing a part in the waves of obesity and the rise in diabetes cases we see today,” Fosbury added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Stars to become invisible to our eyes in two decades due to light pollution, warn scientists

<p>Artificial intelligence has a plethora of use and one of the significant ways that it can serve humanity is by lending a helping hand in discovering treatments for various kinds of diseases. In a positive development, a group of scientists have&nbsp;discovered a new antibiotic that can kill a deadly superbug. How? With the use of AI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists involved in the research are from McMaster University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as per a new study published Thursday in the science journal Nature Chemical Biology, reported Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/more-than-5000-new-species-discovered-in-planned-mining-zone-of-pacific-ocean-596583">More than 5,000 new species discovered on seabed of Pacific Ocean</a></p>

<p>The superbug is Acinetobacter baumannii. According to the World Health Organization, this is a multidrug-resistant bacteria that poses a particular threat in hospitals, and among patients whose care requires devices such as ventilators and blood catheters.</p>

<p>The global health organisation has listed it under the most critical group and among priority pathogens listed for research and development of new antibiotics. WHO says that Acinetobacter can cause severe and often deadly infections such as bloodstream infections and pneumonia.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-neuralink-cleared-for-human-test-of-brain-implants-596576">Elon Musk's Neuralink cleared for human test of brain implants</a></p>

<p>"These bacteria have built-in abilities to find new ways to resist treatment and can pass along genetic material that allows other bacteria to become drug-resistant as well," said WHO.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Acinetobacter baumannii ways of transmission</strong></h2>

<p>Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant risk to patients who have open surgery wounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Acinetobacter, which is a group of bacteria (germs), are commonly found in the environment, like in soil and water.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Battleground Bakhmut: Russia vs Ukraine | WION Wideangle</strong></p>

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<p>CDC suggests that Acinetobacter baumannii can cause infections in the blood, urinary tract, and lungs (pneumonia), or in wounds in other parts of the body. It can also “colonize” or live in a patient without causing infections or symptoms, especially in respiratory secretions (sputum) or open wounds.</p>

<h2><strong>New antibacterial chemical discovered using AI</strong></h2>

<p>As per the Thursday study, scientists screened hundreds of antibacterial compounds using an AI system in an effort to identify new structural classes. Researchers discovered a brand-new antibacterial chemical they called abaucin as a result of the AI screening.</p>

<p>A graduate student from MacMaster University who worked on the research, Gary Liu said, “We had a whole bunch of data that was just telling us about which chemicals were able to kill a bunch of bacteria and which ones weren’t. My job was to train this model, and all that this model was going to be doing is telling us essentially if new molecules will have antibacterial properties or not."&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Then basically through that, we’re able to just increase the efficiency of the drug discovery pipeline and … hone in all the molecules that we really want to care about,” he added.</p>

<p>The AI model was then utilised to inspect 6,680 compounds which were not known earlier. The entire AI research took an hour and a half which resulted in producing 240 compounds. Later, these compounds were tested in a laboratory which finally revealed antibiotic abaucin, which was amoing the nine potential antibiotics discovered with the help of the AI model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>New antibiotic treated infection&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The newly discovered molecule was then put to test against A baumannii in a wound infection model in mice. It was found out that the new molecule effectively suppressed the infection. “This work validates the benefits of machine learning in the search for new antibiotics” said Jonathan Stokes, an assistant professor at McMaster University’s department of biomedicine and biochemistry who helped lead the study.</p>

<p>“Using AI, we can rapidly explore vast regions of chemical space, significantly increasing the chances of discovering fundamentally new antibacterial molecules,” he said adding, “We know broad-spectrum antibiotics are suboptimal and that pathogens have the ability to evolve and adjust to every trick we throw at them … AI methods afford us the opportunity to vastly increase the rate at which we discover new antibiotics, and we can do it at a reduced cost. This is an important avenue of exploration for new antibiotic drugs."&nbsp;</p>

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Artificial intelligence has a plethora of use and one of the significant ways that it can serve humanity is by lending a helping hand in discovering treatments for various kinds of diseases.

Artificial intelligence has a plethora of use and one of the significant ways that it can serve humanity is by lending a helping hand in discovering treatments for various kinds of diseases. In a positive development, a group of scientists have discovered a new antibiotic that can kill a deadly superbug. How? With the use of AI. The scientists involved in the research are from McMaster University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as per a new study published Thursday in the science journal Nature Chemical Biology, reported Guardian. Also Read | More than 5,000 new species discovered on seabed of Pacific Ocean The superbug is Acinetobacter baumannii. According to the World Health Organization, this is a multidrug-resistant bacteria that poses a particular threat in hospitals, and among patients whose care requires devices such as ventilators and blood catheters. The global health organisation has listed it under the most critical group and among priority pathogens listed for research and development of new antibiotics. WHO says that Acinetobacter can cause severe and often deadly infections such as bloodstream infections and pneumonia. Also Read | Elon Musk's Neuralink cleared for human test of brain implants "These bacteria have built-in abilities to find new ways to resist treatment and can pass along genetic material that allows other bacteria to become drug-resistant as well," said WHO. Acinetobacter baumannii ways of transmission Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant risk to patients who have open surgery wounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Acinetobacter, which is a group of bacteria (germs), are commonly found in the environment, like in soil and water. Watch | Battleground Bakhmut: Russia vs Ukraine | WION Wideangle × CDC suggests that Acinetobacter baumannii can cause infections in the blood, urinary tract, and lungs (pneumonia), or in wounds in other parts of the body. It can also “colonize” or live in a patient without causing infections or symptoms, especially in respiratory secretions (sputum) or open wounds. New antibacterial chemical discovered using AI As per the Thursday study, scientists screened hundreds of antibacterial compounds using an AI system in an effort to identify new structural classes. Researchers discovered a brand-new antibacterial chemical they called abaucin as a result of the AI screening. A graduate student from MacMaster University who worked on the research, Gary Liu said, “We had a whole bunch of data that was just telling us about which chemicals were able to kill a bunch of bacteria and which ones weren’t. My job was to train this model, and all that this model was going to be doing is telling us essentially if new molecules will have antibacterial properties or not." “Then basically through that, we’re able to just increase the efficiency of the drug discovery pipeline and … hone in all the molecules that we really want to care about,” he added. The AI model was then utilised to inspect 6,680 compounds which were not known earlier. The entire AI research took an hour and a half which resulted in producing 240 compounds. Later, these compounds were tested in a laboratory which finally revealed antibiotic abaucin, which was amoing the nine potential antibiotics discovered with the help of the AI model. New antibiotic treated infection The newly discovered molecule was then put to test against A baumannii in a wound infection model in mice. It was found out that the new molecule effectively suppressed the infection. “This work validates the benefits of machine learning in the search for new antibiotics” said Jonathan Stokes, an assistant professor at McMaster University’s department of biomedicine and biochemistry who helped lead the study. “Using AI, we can rapidly explore vast regions of chemical space, significantly increasing the chances of discovering fundamentally new antibacterial molecules,” he said adding, “We know broad-spectrum antibiotics are suboptimal and that pathogens have the ability to evolve and adjust to every trick we throw at them … AI methods afford us the opportunity to vastly increase the rate at which we discover new antibiotics, and we can do it at a reduced cost. This is an important avenue of exploration for new antibiotic drugs." 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. ×

AI discovers new antibiotic that can kill deadly hospital superbug

<p>Researchers have recently discovered that the earliest record of kissing in human civilisation dates back about 4,500 years, with evidence suggesting its existence in the ancient Middle East.<br />
<br />
The evidence has been highlighted by scientists which suggests that people in the earliest Mesopotamian societies practised kissing, which was documented in ancient texts dating back to 2500BC. The texts were earlier overlooked.<br />
<br />
The article, which was published in the journal Science, stated that evidence has been cited by the researchers which proves that kissing led to the spread of orally transmitted diseases like cold sores.<br />
<br />
Although it was suggested in the research that familial or friendly kissing was a common behaviour practised among humans hailing different periods and geographies, romantic-sexual kissing was not believed to be culturally universal.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/drunk-passenger-accused-of-forcibly-kissing-deltas-male-flight-attendant-585257">Drunk passenger accused of forcibly kissing Delta's male flight attendant</a></p>

<p><br />
As per the new findings, kissing is believed to be an ordinary part of romantic intimacy among humans in ancient times across various cultures and did not originate from any specific region, stated the researchers.<br />
<br />
According to ancient Mesopotamian texts, kissing was practised among married couples and was also seen as a part of the desires of an unmarried person when in love.<br />
<br />
Dr Troels Pank Arboll, an expert on the history of medicine in Mesopotamia at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said, “In ancient Mesopotamia, which is the name for the early human cultures that existed between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in present-day Iraq and Syria, people wrote in cuneiform script (wedge-shaped marks) on clay tablets."<br />
<br />
“Many thousands of these clay tablets have survived to this day, and they contain clear examples that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy in ancient times, just as kissing could be part of friendships and family members’ relations,” he added.<br />
<br />
“Therefore, kissing should not be regarded as a custom that originated exclusively in any single region and spread from there but rather appears to have been practised in multiple ancient cultures over several millennia,” the expert further stated.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;'Groped on flight' &amp; 'kissed without consent': Trump battles a string of sexual assault allegations</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Kissing led to the transmission of pathogens, suggest researchers</strong></h2>

<p>Researchers further suggested that kissing may unintentionally have led to the transmission of pathogens like herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which leads to cold sores and diphtheria.<br />
<br />
“There is a substantial corpus of medical texts from Mesopotamia, some of which mention a disease with symptoms reminiscent of the herpes simplex virus 1,” stated Dr Arboll.<br />
<br />
However, researchers added that the texts cannot be considered at face value because they may be influenced by different cultural and religious concepts of the time.&nbsp;</p>

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Researchers have recently discovered that the earliest record of kissing in human civilisation dates back about 4,500 years, with evidence suggesting its existence in the ancient Middle East.

Researchers have recently discovered that the earliest record of kissing in human civilisation dates back about 4,500 years, with evidence suggesting its existence in the ancient Middle East. The evidence has been highlighted by scientists which suggests that people in the earliest Mesopotamian societies practised kissing, which was documented in ancient texts dating back to 2500BC. The texts were earlier overlooked. The article, which was published in the journal Science, stated that evidence has been cited by the researchers which proves that kissing led to the spread of orally transmitted diseases like cold sores. Although it was suggested in the research that familial or friendly kissing was a common behaviour practised among humans hailing different periods and geographies, romantic-sexual kissing was not believed to be culturally universal. ALSO READ | Drunk passenger accused of forcibly kissing Delta's male flight attendant As per the new findings, kissing is believed to be an ordinary part of romantic intimacy among humans in ancient times across various cultures and did not originate from any specific region, stated the researchers. According to ancient Mesopotamian texts, kissing was practised among married couples and was also seen as a part of the desires of an unmarried person when in love. Dr Troels Pank Arboll, an expert on the history of medicine in Mesopotamia at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said, “In ancient Mesopotamia, which is the name for the early human cultures that existed between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in present-day Iraq and Syria, people wrote in cuneiform script (wedge-shaped marks) on clay tablets." “Many thousands of these clay tablets have survived to this day, and they contain clear examples that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy in ancient times, just as kissing could be part of friendships and family members’ relations,” he added. “Therefore, kissing should not be regarded as a custom that originated exclusively in any single region and spread from there but rather appears to have been practised in multiple ancient cultures over several millennia,” the expert further stated. WATCH | 'Groped on flight' & 'kissed without consent': Trump battles a string of sexual assault allegations Kissing led to the transmission of pathogens, suggest researchers Researchers further suggested that kissing may unintentionally have led to the transmission of pathogens like herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which leads to cold sores and diphtheria. “There is a substantial corpus of medical texts from Mesopotamia, some of which mention a disease with symptoms reminiscent of the herpes simplex virus 1,” stated Dr Arboll. However, researchers added that the texts cannot be considered at face value because they may be influenced by different cultural and religious concepts of the time. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists discover earliest record of human kissing, dating back to 4,500 years

<p>Three Russian hypersonic missile scientists have been arrested and are facing some 'very serious accusations' in connection to a treason investigation, reported Reuters citing a Wednesday statement by Kremlin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists who are under scrutiny are Anatoly Maslov, Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Zvegintsev. In response to the allegations, a few Siberian scientists stood in support of the detained scientists and issued an open letter on Monday. In defence of the trio, the scientists said that any sort of prosecution against the academics would give a blow to Russia's science community.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/montana-becomes-first-us-state-to-ban-tiktok-free-speech-supporters-call-move-unconstitutional-593492">Montana becomes first US state to ban TikTok, free speech supporters call move 'unconstitutional'</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We know each of them as a patriot and a decent person who is not capable of doing what the investigating authorities suspect them of," the open letter read.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Acknowledging the open letter by the scientists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the matter is concerning the security services.&nbsp;Peskov responding on the open letter said, "We have indeed seen this appeal, but Russian special services are working on this. They are doing their job. These are very serious accusations."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">&nbsp;</div>

<p>This key development comes after Ukraine on Wednesday refuted claims that Russia destroyed a US-made Patriot missile defence system using its hypersonic missile in an air strike on Kyiv. A day earlier on Tuesday, Kyiv said it had destroyed Russia's six hypersonic weapons. However, Moscow has denied any such claims. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Academic conferences and articles by Russian academics&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Russian academics are also in the spotlight due to the materials they presented at international forums. The arrested scientists had participated in many international conferences over the years. The open letter referring to these conferences said, "any article or report can lead to accusations of high treason."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In this situation, we are not only afraid for the fate of our colleagues. We just do not understand how to continue to do our job," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two of the arrested Russian academics, namely Anatoly Maslov and Alexander Shiplyuk, attended a seminar in Tours city in France. At the seminar, the duo presented the conclusions of an experiment on hypersonic missile design.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/small-banner-plane-crashes-near-shopping-plaza-in-hollywood-pilot-died-593480">Small banner plane crashes near shopping plaza in Hollywood, pilot dead</a></p>

<p>Four years later, in 2016, all three co-authored a book that had a chapter entitled "Hypersonic Short-Duration Facilities for Aerodynamic Research at ITAM, Russia".</p>

<p>The open letter from their colleagues at the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Novosibirsk claimed that the materials the scientists had presented in international forums had been thoroughly examined to make sure they did not contain restricted information.</p>

<p>The letter also mentioned the instance of Dmitry Kolker, another scientist from Siberia who was detained on treason charges last year despite having advanced pancreatic cancer and flown to Moscow. Two days later, laser expert Kolker passed away.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | US President Joe Biden to visit Japan's Hiroshima for G7 summit</strong></p>

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<p>The open letter also maintained that such investigations and arrests have a huge impact on young Russian scientists. "Even now, the best students refuse to come to work with us, and our best young employees are leaving science. A number of research areas that are critically important to laying the fundamental groundwork for the aerospace technology of the future are simply closing because employees are afraid to engage in such research."</p>

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Three Russian hypersonic missile scientists have been arrested and are facing some 'very serious accusations' in connection to a treason investigation, reported Reuters citing a Wednesday statement by Kremlin.

Three Russian hypersonic missile scientists have been arrested and are facing some 'very serious accusations' in connection to a treason investigation, reported Reuters citing a Wednesday statement by Kremlin. The scientists who are under scrutiny are Anatoly Maslov, Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Zvegintsev. In response to the allegations, a few Siberian scientists stood in support of the detained scientists and issued an open letter on Monday. In defence of the trio, the scientists said that any sort of prosecution against the academics would give a blow to Russia's science community. Also Read | Montana becomes first US state to ban TikTok, free speech supporters call move 'unconstitutional' "We know each of them as a patriot and a decent person who is not capable of doing what the investigating authorities suspect them of," the open letter read. Acknowledging the open letter by the scientists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the matter is concerning the security services. Peskov responding on the open letter said, "We have indeed seen this appeal, but Russian special services are working on this. They are doing their job. These are very serious accusations." This key development comes after Ukraine on Wednesday refuted claims that Russia destroyed a US-made Patriot missile defence system using its hypersonic missile in an air strike on Kyiv. A day earlier on Tuesday, Kyiv said it had destroyed Russia's six hypersonic weapons. However, Moscow has denied any such claims. Academic conferences and articles by Russian academics Russian academics are also in the spotlight due to the materials they presented at international forums. The arrested scientists had participated in many international conferences over the years. The open letter referring to these conferences said, "any article or report can lead to accusations of high treason." "In this situation, we are not only afraid for the fate of our colleagues. We just do not understand how to continue to do our job," it added. Two of the arrested Russian academics, namely Anatoly Maslov and Alexander Shiplyuk, attended a seminar in Tours city in France. At the seminar, the duo presented the conclusions of an experiment on hypersonic missile design. Also Read | Small banner plane crashes near shopping plaza in Hollywood, pilot dead Four years later, in 2016, all three co-authored a book that had a chapter entitled "Hypersonic Short-Duration Facilities for Aerodynamic Research at ITAM, Russia". The open letter from their colleagues at the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Novosibirsk claimed that the materials the scientists had presented in international forums had been thoroughly examined to make sure they did not contain restricted information. The letter also mentioned the instance of Dmitry Kolker, another scientist from Siberia who was detained on treason charges last year despite having advanced pancreatic cancer and flown to Moscow. Two days later, laser expert Kolker passed away. Watch | US President Joe Biden to visit Japan's Hiroshima for G7 summit × The open letter also maintained that such investigations and arrests have a huge impact on young Russian scientists. "Even now, the best students refuse to come to work with us, and our best young employees are leaving science. A number of research areas that are critically important to laying the fundamental groundwork for the aerospace technology of the future are simply closing because employees are afraid to engage in such research." 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. ×

Russia arrests three hypersonic missile scientists on charges of 'very serious treason'

<p>According to scientists, the next deadly pandemic of the world can start in the depths of the Amazon rainforest from caves like the Planaltina cave, which is more than 1.5 kilometres deep and houses thousands of bats.<br />
<br />
More such caves exist throughout the rainforest increasing the chances of an outbreak of a pandemic like coronavirus. A countless number of bat species and their habitats remain undiscovered and unexplored.<br />
<br />
Brazil has been ranked in third place in hosting the highest number of bat species across the world. Some of the most devastating viruses in the world have emerged from bats.<br />
<br />
Scientists are studying the emergence of such viruses to prevent any future pandemics like COVID-19. However, because of limited funding, scientists fear that they will fail to unravel these pathogenic mysteries in the near time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-covid-like-deadly-pandemic-might-resurface-in-10-years-says-study-582386">Another Covid-like deadly pandemic might grip the world in 10 years, says study</a></p>

<p><br />
Researchers claim that humans have been lucky in avoiding any major virus getting spread from the rainforest.<br />
<br />
“If you don't do this now, there may be other outbreaks in the future and end up in the situation we are in today of not knowing where this outbreak comes from, where SARS-CoV-2 comes from. And that's a big problem, because if we don't know how to identify the path that this virus took, the evolutionary question and how it got to man, we can't fight it," said Sebastien Charneau, a professor at the Biology Institute at the University of Brasilia, while speaking to Reuters.</p>

<h2><strong>Rampant deforestation cause of another pandemic?</strong><br />
&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As per the Brazilian ecologist David Lapola, the next pandemic can emerge from the Amazon rainforest because of “rampant deforestation” which has resulted because of human encroachment on animal habitats.<br />
<br />
According to World Health Organisation's expert in zoonotic diseases, Peter Ben Embarek, the novel coronavirus emerges from a group of viruses which originate or spread in bats, although it remains unclear which animal transmitted the infection to humans.<br />
<br />
Lapola, speaking to the news agency AFP, said that the same processes are taking place in the Amazon.<br />
<br />
“The Amazon is a huge reservoir of viruses,” Lapola said, who studies how human activity will shape the future of tropical forests' ecosystems. “We’d better not try our luck,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Is Brazil the next pandemic hot-spot? | Why do bats have so many viruses? | World DNA</strong></p>

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<p><br />
The risk of another pandemic keeps on increasing with the Amazon rainforest's rapid deforestation. Scientists explain that deforestation leads to stress in bats and studies suggest that stressed bats can carry more viruses and release more germs through their saliva, urine and feces.<br />
<br />
“It is very sad to know that we have great potential to discover and prevent new epidemics, new pandemics and this is not being taken into account, nobody is thinking about it. On the contrary, we are currently having a very large investment in dismantling the environment," said Ludmilla Aguiar, who works as a biologist at the University of Brasilia.</p>

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According to scientists, the next deadly pandemic of the world can start in the depths of the Amazon rainforest from caves like the Planaltina cave, which is more than 1.

According to scientists, the next deadly pandemic of the world can start in the depths of the Amazon rainforest from caves like the Planaltina cave, which is more than 1.5 kilometres deep and houses thousands of bats. More such caves exist throughout the rainforest increasing the chances of an outbreak of a pandemic like coronavirus. A countless number of bat species and their habitats remain undiscovered and unexplored. Brazil has been ranked in third place in hosting the highest number of bat species across the world. Some of the most devastating viruses in the world have emerged from bats. Scientists are studying the emergence of such viruses to prevent any future pandemics like COVID-19. However, because of limited funding, scientists fear that they will fail to unravel these pathogenic mysteries in the near time. ALSO READ | Another Covid-like deadly pandemic might grip the world in 10 years, says study Researchers claim that humans have been lucky in avoiding any major virus getting spread from the rainforest. “If you don't do this now, there may be other outbreaks in the future and end up in the situation we are in today of not knowing where this outbreak comes from, where SARS-CoV-2 comes from. And that's a big problem, because if we don't know how to identify the path that this virus took, the evolutionary question and how it got to man, we can't fight it," said Sebastien Charneau, a professor at the Biology Institute at the University of Brasilia, while speaking to Reuters. Rampant deforestation cause of another pandemic? As per the Brazilian ecologist David Lapola, the next pandemic can emerge from the Amazon rainforest because of “rampant deforestation” which has resulted because of human encroachment on animal habitats. According to World Health Organisation's expert in zoonotic diseases, Peter Ben Embarek, the novel coronavirus emerges from a group of viruses which originate or spread in bats, although it remains unclear which animal transmitted the infection to humans. Lapola, speaking to the news agency AFP, said that the same processes are taking place in the Amazon. “The Amazon is a huge reservoir of viruses,” Lapola said, who studies how human activity will shape the future of tropical forests' ecosystems. “We’d better not try our luck,” he added. WATCH | Is Brazil the next pandemic hot-spot? | Why do bats have so many viruses? | World DNA The risk of another pandemic keeps on increasing with the Amazon rainforest's rapid deforestation. Scientists explain that deforestation leads to stress in bats and studies suggest that stressed bats can carry more viruses and release more germs through their saliva, urine and feces. “It is very sad to know that we have great potential to discover and prevent new epidemics, new pandemics and this is not being taken into account, nobody is thinking about it. On the contrary, we are currently having a very large investment in dismantling the environment," said Ludmilla Aguiar, who works as a biologist at the University of Brasilia. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Amazon rainforest can gift world its next deadly pandemic, warn scientists

<p>Scientists in Denmark are puzzled by a series of tremors from the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm who have claimed that it is being caused by "acoustic pressure waves from the atmosphere”, and added that they are unable to ascertain the source of this mysterious geological phenomenon.</p>

<p>These tremors were first recorded on Saturday, after the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GUES)—the official body that monitors the underground—received "more than 60" tips from people in Bornholm about "earthquake-like tremors" reported in the afternoon.</p>

<p>They described the tremors as deep rumbling, shaking and rattling, and changing pressure in the ear.</p>

<p>Initially, many falsely believed that they may have been caused by earthquakes. Seismologists had theorised that they may have originated from controlled explosions in Poland, more than nearly 90 miles (145 km) to the south.</p>

<p>However, on Monday, the GUES clarified that the tremors were "not caused by earthquakes, but by pressure waves from an event in the atmosphere." However, they came from "an unknown source."</p>

<p>"The seismologists can report that it is unlikely that the tremors originate from a controlled explosion in Poland, which was carried out shortly before the first reports of tremors on Bornholm," the body known as GEUS said in a statement.</p>

<h2><strong>Scientists develop fabric made of 'Fungi' which needs no stitching</strong></h2>

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<p>Danish media reported that police had received complaints from the public about the tremor on the eastern part of the island. The tremors also caused a crack in the wall of some of the houses. But no one was injured.</p>

<p>The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland said that seismic tremors were measured at a magnitude of 2.3.</p>

<p>Polish authorities have said that there was intensive activity during the Anakonda23 exercise in Ustka, northern Poland, involving jet fighters and live firing of artillery munitions.</p>

<p>GEUS, an independent research and advisory institution within Denmark’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, said that it had two seismographs on Bornholm that collect data around the clock.</p>

<p>Bornholm is home to nearly 40,000 people. It is a rocky island in the Baltic Sea, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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Scientists in Denmark are puzzled by a series of tremors from the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm who have claimed that it is being caused by "acoustic pressure waves from the atmosphere”, and added that they are unable to ascertain the source of this mysterious geological phenomenon.

Scientists in Denmark are puzzled by a series of tremors from the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm who have claimed that it is being caused by "acoustic pressure waves from the atmosphere”, and added that they are unable to ascertain the source of this mysterious geological phenomenon. These tremors were first recorded on Saturday, after the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GUES)—the official body that monitors the underground—received "more than 60" tips from people in Bornholm about "earthquake-like tremors" reported in the afternoon. They described the tremors as deep rumbling, shaking and rattling, and changing pressure in the ear. Initially, many falsely believed that they may have been caused by earthquakes. Seismologists had theorised that they may have originated from controlled explosions in Poland, more than nearly 90 miles (145 km) to the south. However, on Monday, the GUES clarified that the tremors were "not caused by earthquakes, but by pressure waves from an event in the atmosphere." However, they came from "an unknown source." "The seismologists can report that it is unlikely that the tremors originate from a controlled explosion in Poland, which was carried out shortly before the first reports of tremors on Bornholm," the body known as GEUS said in a statement. Scientists develop fabric made of 'Fungi' which needs no stitching Danish media reported that police had received complaints from the public about the tremor on the eastern part of the island. The tremors also caused a crack in the wall of some of the houses. But no one was injured. The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland said that seismic tremors were measured at a magnitude of 2.3. Polish authorities have said that there was intensive activity during the Anakonda23 exercise in Ustka, northern Poland, involving jet fighters and live firing of artillery munitions. GEUS, an independent research and advisory institution within Denmark’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, said that it had two seismographs on Bornholm that collect data around the clock. Bornholm is home to nearly 40,000 people. It is a rocky island in the Baltic Sea, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists baffled over ‘mysterious tremors’ recorded in Denmark

<p>The Laboratory of Statistical Biophysics at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) recently carried out research which hinted at the possibility of getting a hit on alien transmission in the next 60 years.</p>

<p>The research, which has been published in the Astronomical Journal, came up with a new explanation for why scientists have till now failed to detect aliens.</p>

<p>"We've only been looking for 60 years," said biophysicist Claudio Grimaldi while speaking to Science Alert. "Earth could simply be in a bubble that just happens to be devoid of radio waves emitted by extraterrestrial life,” he added.</p>

<p>The scientist further stated that too much space remains to be scanned and that there is a possibility that not many alien transmissions have crossed paths with researchers.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/research-reveals-how-artificial-intelligence-can-help-look-for-alien-lifeforms-on-mars-and-other-planets-582992">Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets</a></p>

<p>The scientist, however, emphasised that people need to remain patient. The biophysicist stated that more time, money and effort are required to scan and spot the traces of communications with the aliens out in the Universe.</p>

<p>He added that there is some debate over whether or not extraterrestrial intelligence's (SETI) search is worth the time, money and effort.</p>

<p>The research model has revealed an assumption about the existence of at least one electromagnetic signal of technological origin in the Milky Way and the Earth is considered as a quiet bubble (or sponge pore) for at least six decades.</p>

<p>The scientist stated that if that is the situation, then according to the statistics, there are lesser than five electromagnetic emissions per century, which take place anywhere across our galaxy.</p>

<p>To explain it in another way, electromagnetic emissions are as common as supernovas inside the Milky Way, reported Science Alert. The scientist stated it may take us at least 60 years to get a hit on an alien transmission.</p>

<p>"We may have been unlucky in that we discovered how to use radio telescopes just as we were crossing a portion of space in which electromagnetic signals from other civilisations were absent," Claudio Grimaldi said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: Alien spaceship lurking in our solar system?</strong></p>

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<p>"To me, this hypothesis seems less extreme than assuming that we are constantly bombarded by signals from all sides but are, for some reason, unable to detect them,” he added.</p>

<p>He further stated that a lot of space remains to be covered in the search. Grimaldi suggested that the best way forward is to carry out commensal investigations which are finding signals in the data which is collected by the telescopes that are focused on different missions, and not use telescopes specifically to hunt for alien communications.</p>

<p>"The best strategy might be to adopt the SETI community's past approach of using data from other astrophysical studies - detecting radio emissions from other stars or galaxies - to see if they contain any technosignals and make that the standard practice," Grimaldi stated.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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The Laboratory of Statistical Biophysics at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) recently carried out research which hinted at the possibility of getting a hit on alien transmission in the next 60 years.

The Laboratory of Statistical Biophysics at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) recently carried out research which hinted at the possibility of getting a hit on alien transmission in the next 60 years. The research, which has been published in the Astronomical Journal, came up with a new explanation for why scientists have till now failed to detect aliens. "We've only been looking for 60 years," said biophysicist Claudio Grimaldi while speaking to Science Alert. "Earth could simply be in a bubble that just happens to be devoid of radio waves emitted by extraterrestrial life,” he added. The scientist further stated that too much space remains to be scanned and that there is a possibility that not many alien transmissions have crossed paths with researchers. ALSO READ | Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets The scientist, however, emphasised that people need to remain patient. The biophysicist stated that more time, money and effort are required to scan and spot the traces of communications with the aliens out in the Universe. He added that there is some debate over whether or not extraterrestrial intelligence's (SETI) search is worth the time, money and effort. The research model has revealed an assumption about the existence of at least one electromagnetic signal of technological origin in the Milky Way and the Earth is considered as a quiet bubble (or sponge pore) for at least six decades. The scientist stated that if that is the situation, then according to the statistics, there are lesser than five electromagnetic emissions per century, which take place anywhere across our galaxy. To explain it in another way, electromagnetic emissions are as common as supernovas inside the Milky Way, reported Science Alert. The scientist stated it may take us at least 60 years to get a hit on an alien transmission. "We may have been unlucky in that we discovered how to use radio telescopes just as we were crossing a portion of space in which electromagnetic signals from other civilisations were absent," Claudio Grimaldi said. WATCH | Gravitas: Alien spaceship lurking in our solar system? "To me, this hypothesis seems less extreme than assuming that we are constantly bombarded by signals from all sides but are, for some reason, unable to detect them,” he added. He further stated that a lot of space remains to be covered in the search. Grimaldi suggested that the best way forward is to carry out commensal investigations which are finding signals in the data which is collected by the telescopes that are focused on different missions, and not use telescopes specifically to hunt for alien communications. "The best strategy might be to adopt the SETI community's past approach of using data from other astrophysical studies - detecting radio emissions from other stars or galaxies - to see if they contain any technosignals and make that the standard practice," Grimaldi stated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Alien transmission likely to happen in next 60 years, claim scientists

Scientists have found a way to decode a stream of words in the brain using MRI scans and artificial intelligence but could also raise privacy concerns. Watch this to know more.

Scientists can now use AI to convert brain scans into words

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