SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.

He also expressed optimism about the SpaceX Starship, renowned as the largest and most potent launch vehicle ever constructed, indicating that it has a promising outlook for its upcoming flight. However, Musk's ambitious vision faces significant challenges and regulatory hurdles, and this article offers a detailed overview.

<h2>Musk's Mars landing ambition</h2>

Elon Musk's statement about the possibility of SpaceX landing a spacecraft on Mars within three to four years underscores his unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

SpaceX's Starship embarked on its maiden uncrewed test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica on April 20, 2023.

The mission faced a major setback when the upper stage of the launch vehicle failed to separate from the lower-stage Super Heavy, leading to a mid-air explosion.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-x-formerly-twitter-strips-headlines-from-news-story-links-for-esthetics-642986">Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, strips headlines from news story links for ‘aesthetics’</a>

Originally designed for a 90-minute debut flight, the mission was cut short in under four minutes, ending in failure.

Elon Musk acknowledged the importance of not setting overly optimistic expectations following the April explosion, emphasising SpaceX's commitment to learning from setbacks.

Despite the challenges, Musk continues to hold onto his long-standing aspiration of using the Starship rocket to facilitate human landings on Mars.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Starship in September due to the April incident.

The FAA's decision followed the conclusion of an investigation into the explosion, which identified numerous potential contributing factors and prompted the agency to stipulate 63 corrective actions to prevent similar incidents.

A Reuters report suggested that the FAA might expedite a launch license for the Starship, possibly as early as October, pending successful resolution of the identified issues.

SpaceX maintains that it has effectively addressed all concerns outlined by the FAA.

Also watch |&nbsp;Musk's Twitter takeover: Will Elon Musk testify in Twitter probe?

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The company has yet to secure the necessary launch license from the federal regulator.

In addition to regulatory hurdles, SpaceX must obtain further environmental approvals for its future launches.

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SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan. He also expressed optimism about the SpaceX Starship, renowned as the largest and most potent launch vehicle ever constructed, indicating that it has a promising outlook for its upcoming flight. However, Musk's ambitious vision faces significant challenges and regulatory hurdles, and this article offers a detailed overview. Musk's Mars landing ambition Elon Musk's statement about the possibility of SpaceX landing a spacecraft on Mars within three to four years underscores his unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. SpaceX's Starship embarked on its maiden uncrewed test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica on April 20, 2023. The mission faced a major setback when the upper stage of the launch vehicle failed to separate from the lower-stage Super Heavy, leading to a mid-air explosion. Also read | Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, strips headlines from news story links for ‘aesthetics’ Originally designed for a 90-minute debut flight, the mission was cut short in under four minutes, ending in failure. Elon Musk acknowledged the importance of not setting overly optimistic expectations following the April explosion, emphasising SpaceX's commitment to learning from setbacks. Despite the challenges, Musk continues to hold onto his long-standing aspiration of using the Starship rocket to facilitate human landings on Mars. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Starship in September due to the April incident. The FAA's decision followed the conclusion of an investigation into the explosion, which identified numerous potential contributing factors and prompted the agency to stipulate 63 corrective actions to prevent similar incidents. A Reuters report suggested that the FAA might expedite a launch license for the Starship, possibly as early as October, pending successful resolution of the identified issues. SpaceX maintains that it has effectively addressed all concerns outlined by the FAA. Also watch | Musk's Twitter takeover: Will Elon Musk testify in Twitter probe? The company has yet to secure the necessary launch license from the federal regulator. In addition to regulatory hurdles, SpaceX must obtain further environmental approvals for its future launches. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Elon Musk asserts SpaceX could achieve Mars landing in '3 to 4 years'

Taking a first glimpse of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu's sample, the scientists stumbled upon an abundance of dark, fine-grained material on the inside part of the container's base and lid. The unexpected debris is likely to reveal key information regarding the asteroid before they analyse the primary sample.&nbsp;

The historic landing of the sample on September 24 in the Utah desert marked the culmination of NASA’s 7-year OSIRIS-Rex mission which went to asteroid Bennu from Earth, touched down on the surface of the asteroid and collected samples and then dropped the sample back to the Earth.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-spacecraft-lands-successfully-with-largest-sample-collected-from-asteroid-639236">Watch | NASA spacecraft lands successfully in Utah with largest sample collected from asteroid Bennu</a>

The canister was whisked away by the mission team the day after it arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston which has a clean room built specially for analysing the cosmic sample.&nbsp;

<h2>What mysteries of the universe the Bennu sample can reveal?</h2>

The asteroids are remnants left out from the solar system's formation and offer insights into how those days when planets were formed and settled in an orbit. However, near-Earth asteroids always pose a threat to our planet so it is important to understand their orbits and composition. This is the best way to deflect space rocks when they are on a collision course with Earth.&nbsp;

When the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head was used by OSIRIS-REx briefly to disturb the surface of asteroid Bennu and collect a sample in October 2020, so many materials were gathered by it that particles were seen drifting off slowly into space before the head&nbsp;

When OSIRIS-REx briefly used its TAGSAM, or Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism head, to disturb the surface of Bennu and collect a sample in October 2020, it gathered so much material that particles could be seen slowly drifting off into space before the head was put inside the canister.

WATCH |&nbsp;Asteroid dust on its way to Utah

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Hence, the scientists decided to do a quick analysis of any material they discovered upon opening the canister and they discovered plenty of it before they could reach the bulk of the sample which is kept in the mechanism head and it will take time for scientists to collect all the material.&nbsp; 
“The very best ‘problem’ to have is that there is so much material, it’s taking longer than we expected to collect it,” stated Christopher Snead, deputy OSIRIS-REx curation lead, in a statement.

“There’s a lot of abundant material outside the TAGSAM head that’s interesting in its own right. It’s really spectacular to have all that material there," he added.&nbsp;

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Taking a first glimpse of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu's sample, the scientists stumbled upon an abundance of dark, fine-grained material on the inside part of the container's base and lid.

Taking a first glimpse of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu's sample, the scientists stumbled upon an abundance of dark, fine-grained material on the inside part of the container's base and lid. The unexpected debris is likely to reveal key information regarding the asteroid before they analyse the primary sample. The historic landing of the sample on September 24 in the Utah desert marked the culmination of NASA’s 7-year OSIRIS-Rex mission which went to asteroid Bennu from Earth, touched down on the surface of the asteroid and collected samples and then dropped the sample back to the Earth. ALSO READ | Watch | NASA spacecraft lands successfully in Utah with largest sample collected from asteroid Bennu The canister was whisked away by the mission team the day after it arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston which has a clean room built specially for analysing the cosmic sample. What mysteries of the universe the Bennu sample can reveal? The asteroids are remnants left out from the solar system's formation and offer insights into how those days when planets were formed and settled in an orbit. However, near-Earth asteroids always pose a threat to our planet so it is important to understand their orbits and composition. This is the best way to deflect space rocks when they are on a collision course with Earth. When the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head was used by OSIRIS-REx briefly to disturb the surface of asteroid Bennu and collect a sample in October 2020, so many materials were gathered by it that particles were seen drifting off slowly into space before the head When OSIRIS-REx briefly used its TAGSAM, or Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism head, to disturb the surface of Bennu and collect a sample in October 2020, it gathered so much material that particles could be seen slowly drifting off into space before the head was put inside the canister. WATCH | Asteroid dust on its way to Utah Hence, the scientists decided to do a quick analysis of any material they discovered upon opening the canister and they discovered plenty of it before they could reach the bulk of the sample which is kept in the mechanism head and it will take time for scientists to collect all the material. “The very best ‘problem’ to have is that there is so much material, it’s taking longer than we expected to collect it,” stated Christopher Snead, deputy OSIRIS-REx curation lead, in a statement. “There’s a lot of abundant material outside the TAGSAM head that’s interesting in its own right. It’s really spectacular to have all that material there," 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

Unexpected discovery: Scientists stumble upon dark material in asteroid sample dropped from space

Check the story to know how NASA, is planning to build houses on the moon by 2040 - and Mars could be next. The U.S. Space Agency recently granted a pioneering construction firm $60 million to build a house on the moon. These lunar homes can be used not just by astronauts but by ordinary civilians as well.

Homes for humans on the moon by 2040

India's Maiden Sun studying mission Aditya-L1 has completed one month of its four month voyage to in Space. The craft has traveled nearly a million kilometres away from the Earth.

India: Aditya-L1 craft heads to the sun; covers two-thirds of its journey

The researchers at European Space Agency (ESA) have found two Jupiter-sized objects in the most unlikely place in the Universe, a nebula. They use National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to spot the giants. Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System.

Finding giant planets in space is not that unique a thing but what's special about this discovery is that the objects have been found inside Orion Nebula. It is the closest star-forming region to us.

It was previously believed that nebulas&nbsp;only formed stars and were not capable of spontaneously forming planet-sized objects. So the present discovery has the potential of upending our thinking about planet formation and the nebulas.&nbsp;

"There's something wrong with either our understanding of planet formation, star formation — or both," said Samuel Pearson, an ESA scientist who worked on the research, in an interview with The New York Times. "They shouldn't exist," he added.

Pearson was quoted by The New York Times.

These Jupiter-sized objects have been named Jupiter Mass Binary Objects, or JuMBOs. The objects are not large enough to be stars and aren't technically planets since they don't revolve around any star.

"Most of us don't have time to get wrapped up in this debate about what is a planet and what isn't a planet," Professor Mark McCaughrean, a senior adviser for science and exploration at the ESA, told The Guardian.

McCaughrean was quoted by The Guardian.

He has co-authored a research paper which is still to be peer-reviewed. In his paper, McCaughrean says that the JuMBOs are about a million years old. When compared to the age of the Universe, these objects are young.

It has been estimated that surface temperatures of JuMBOs is around 1000 degrees Celsius. The JuMBOs differ from planet in a way that they are not able to maintain steady temperature as they don't receive energy from their host stars.

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The researchers at European Space Agency (ESA) have found two Jupiter-sized objects in the most unlikely place in the Universe, a nebula. They use National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to spot the giants.

The researchers at European Space Agency (ESA) have found two Jupiter-sized objects in the most unlikely place in the Universe, a nebula. They use National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to spot the giants. Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System. Finding giant planets in space is not that unique a thing but what's special about this discovery is that the objects have been found inside Orion Nebula. It is the closest star-forming region to us. It was previously believed that nebulas only formed stars and were not capable of spontaneously forming planet-sized objects. So the present discovery has the potential of upending our thinking about planet formation and the nebulas. "There's something wrong with either our understanding of planet formation, star formation — or both," said Samuel Pearson, an ESA scientist who worked on the research, in an interview with The New York Times. "They shouldn't exist," he added. Pearson was quoted by The New York Times. These Jupiter-sized objects have been named Jupiter Mass Binary Objects, or JuMBOs. The objects are not large enough to be stars and aren't technically planets since they don't revolve around any star. "Most of us don't have time to get wrapped up in this debate about what is a planet and what isn't a planet," Professor Mark McCaughrean, a senior adviser for science and exploration at the ESA, told The Guardian. McCaughrean was quoted by The Guardian. He has co-authored a research paper which is still to be peer-reviewed. In his paper, McCaughrean says that the JuMBOs are about a million years old. When compared to the age of the Universe, these objects are young. It has been estimated that surface temperatures of JuMBOs is around 1000 degrees Celsius. The JuMBOs differ from planet in a way that they are not able to maintain steady temperature as they don't receive energy from their host stars. 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 ×

JWST spots Jupiter-like objects that can upend our understanding of nebulas

China is all set for its robotic lunar expedition. The Chang'e 6 mission. Reportedly, the mission will carry the ICUBE-Q cubesat satellite from Pakistan.

China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission: China to help Pakistan launch ICUBE-Q Cubesat satellite

Nine years after its wildly successful Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), aka Mangalyaan, India is preparing to send another spacecraft to the red planet.

This was reported by Hindustan Times (HT) citing officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

<h2>MOM-2</h2>

The Mars Orbiter Mission-2 or MOM-2 would reportedly carry four payloads. As per documents assessed by the news outlet, these payloads would contain scientific instruments that will study aspects of the barren planet, including interplanetary dust, the Martian atmosphere and the environment.

According to the mission document, payloads will include: a Mars Orbit Dust Experiment (MODEX), a Radio Occultation (RO) experiment, an Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS) and a Langmuir Probe and Electric Field Experiment (LPEX).

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an ISRO official told HT that "all of these payloads are in different stages of development."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-pslv-rocket-tech-led-to-missile-tech-former-isro-chairman-madhavan-nair-recalls-640555">How PSLV rocket research led to missile development: Former ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair recalls</a>

<h2>Functions of individual payloads</h2>

Of the payloads, MODEX will help understand the origin, abundance, distribution, and flux at high altitudes on Mars.

"There are no measurements of Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) at Mars. The instrument can detect particles of size from a few hundred nm to few µm, travelling at hypervelocity (&gt; 1 km/s). The outcomes can help explain the dust flux at Mars, whether there is any ring (as hypothesized) around Mars and also confirm whether the dust is interplanetary or coming from Phobos or Deimos (the two moons of Mars). The study of dust can help explain the RO experiment results," said the mission document.

Radio Occultation instrument will measure neutral and electron density profiles, reports HT. It will help understand the behaviour of the planet's atmosphere.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-moonshot-plans-involve-making-human-settlements-by-2040-641690">NASA's moonshot plans involve making human settlements by 2040</a>

Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS) will help the space agency characterise solar energy and supra-thermal solar wind particles in the Martian environment. This particular instrument will also aid in our understanding of the red planet's loss of its atmosphere&nbsp;aeons ago.

Finally, the Langmuir Probe and Electric Field Experiment (LPEX) will enable the measurement of electron number density, electron temperature and electric field waves — which will give a better picture of the plasma environment on Mars.

The previous Mangalyaan mission was India's first interplanetary mission, which made the nation only the fourth country to achieve Mars orbit, after Russia's ROSCOSMOS, the US's NASA and the European Space Agency.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Nine years after its wildly successful Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), aka Mangalyaan, India is preparing to send another spacecraft to the red planet. This was reported by Hindustan Times (HT) citing officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Nine years after its wildly successful Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), aka Mangalyaan, India is preparing to send another spacecraft to the red planet. This was reported by Hindustan Times (HT) citing officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). MOM-2 The Mars Orbiter Mission-2 or MOM-2 would reportedly carry four payloads. As per documents assessed by the news outlet, these payloads would contain scientific instruments that will study aspects of the barren planet, including interplanetary dust, the Martian atmosphere and the environment. According to the mission document, payloads will include: a Mars Orbit Dust Experiment (MODEX), a Radio Occultation (RO) experiment, an Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS) and a Langmuir Probe and Electric Field Experiment (LPEX). Speaking on condition of anonymity, an ISRO official told HT that "all of these payloads are in different stages of development." Also read | How PSLV rocket research led to missile development: Former ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair recalls Functions of individual payloads Of the payloads, MODEX will help understand the origin, abundance, distribution, and flux at high altitudes on Mars. "There are no measurements of Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) at Mars. The instrument can detect particles of size from a few hundred nm to few µm, travelling at hypervelocity (> 1 km/s). The outcomes can help explain the dust flux at Mars, whether there is any ring (as hypothesized) around Mars and also confirm whether the dust is interplanetary or coming from Phobos or Deimos (the two moons of Mars). The study of dust can help explain the RO experiment results," said the mission document. Radio Occultation instrument will measure neutral and electron density profiles, reports HT. It will help understand the behaviour of the planet's atmosphere. Also read | NASA's moonshot plans involve making human settlements by 2040 Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS) will help the space agency characterise solar energy and supra-thermal solar wind particles in the Martian environment. This particular instrument will also aid in our understanding of the red planet's loss of its atmosphere aeons ago. Finally, the Langmuir Probe and Electric Field Experiment (LPEX) will enable the measurement of electron number density, electron temperature and electric field waves — which will give a better picture of the plasma environment on Mars. The previous Mangalyaan mission was India's first interplanetary mission, which made the nation only the fourth country to achieve Mars orbit, after Russia's ROSCOSMOS, the US's NASA and the European Space Agency. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

India once again sets sights on Mars, readies to launch Mangalyaan-2

In a first, astronomers have discovered the first direct evidence which proves the spinning of a black hole.

Astronomers capture first direct evidence of black hole spinning

In the vast expanse of space, astronauts aboard the Russian space station Mir in 1988 encountered an unexpected and curious visitor.

Cosmonauts aboard the space station realised that something, maybe an alien intruder, was blanketing a station window from the outside.

This intruder turned to be fungi, something that is anything but alien to us, yet in space it was an unwanted stowaway that had hitched a ride to the cosmos. Its vehicle of choice: the cosmonauts themselves.&nbsp;

Here's why scientists don't hate this piggyback passenger:

<h2>Adaptation and survival</h2>

The fungi managed to adapt to the harsh space environment so well that not only did it survive, but it thrived on windows, control panels, air conditioners, and cable insulators.&nbsp;

It even managed to infiltrate the crew's food and water supply.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-rare-stunning-electric-blue-coloured-tarantula-species-in-thailands-lush-jungles-640279">Scientists discover rare, stunning electric blue coloured Tarantula species in Thailand's lush jungles</a>

While this incident marked the first time fungi were found causing significant damage to a space station, it wouldn't be the last.

As insidious as it may sound, in the grand cosmic journey, space travellers are never truly alone. Rather than fear this reality, scientists are embracing it.&nbsp;

A team affiliated with the European Space Agency (ESA) has, as per Space.com, now embarked on hypergravity experiments with fungi. They want to unlock the secrets of fungi's survival in space's unforgiving conditions.

<h2>Why are scientists excited about fungi?</h2>

Understanding how fungi thrived in harsh space environments could pave the way for using it in the construction of off-world settlements and potentially incorporating them into space medications.

As per the report, spacefaring fungal species are like interstellar sleuths, lying dormant during launch and space travel before they "activate" to form thick, living mats in various regions of the space station.&nbsp;

These mats pose threats to astronaut health and jeopardise vital station components, including electronics and plumbing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-to-work-with-nasa-and-manage-traffic-around-aditya-l1s-destination-640261">ISRO to work with NASA and manage traffic around Aditya-L1's destination&nbsp;</a>

Even though since the 1988 incident, diligent efforts have been made to establish robust cleaning routines for eradicating fungi from station walls and equipment before they wreak havoc, it survives.

Scientists realised that studying fungal growth and behaviour in microgravity, particularly their adaptability in repairing DNA damage caused by space radiation, can actually be really helpful for long-term space missions.&nbsp;

As André Antunes, a researcher at Macau University of Science and Technology in China, noted, "We are never going to be able to get rid of fungi entirely as we venture into space, so we need to understand them."&nbsp;

<h2>Research with fungi</h2>

In 2016, researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory conducted research by launching fungi, specifically Aspergillus nidulans, to the International Space Station (ISS).&nbsp;The experiment aimed to investigate how the ISS environment induced the fungus to produce molecules not typically found on Earth.&nbsp;

Similar investigations into fungal behaviour are currently underway on Earth, with the ESA studying fungal colony growth in "hypergravity" conditions, where artificially created gravity up to 20 times Earth's force was employed.&nbsp;

This two-week research effort, conducted at ESA's space technology and development centre in the Netherlands, sought to understand how fully grown fungal species respond to stress-inducing conditions.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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In the vast expanse of space, astronauts aboard the Russian space station Mir in 1988 encountered an unexpected and curious visitor. Cosmonauts aboard the space station realised that something, maybe an alien intruder, was blanketing a station window from the outside.

In the vast expanse of space, astronauts aboard the Russian space station Mir in 1988 encountered an unexpected and curious visitor. Cosmonauts aboard the space station realised that something, maybe an alien intruder, was blanketing a station window from the outside. This intruder turned to be fungi, something that is anything but alien to us, yet in space it was an unwanted stowaway that had hitched a ride to the cosmos. Its vehicle of choice: the cosmonauts themselves. Here's why scientists don't hate this piggyback passenger: Adaptation and survival The fungi managed to adapt to the harsh space environment so well that not only did it survive, but it thrived on windows, control panels, air conditioners, and cable insulators. It even managed to infiltrate the crew's food and water supply. Also read | Scientists discover rare, stunning electric blue coloured Tarantula species in Thailand's lush jungles While this incident marked the first time fungi were found causing significant damage to a space station, it wouldn't be the last. As insidious as it may sound, in the grand cosmic journey, space travellers are never truly alone. Rather than fear this reality, scientists are embracing it. A team affiliated with the European Space Agency (ESA) has, as per Space.com, now embarked on hypergravity experiments with fungi. They want to unlock the secrets of fungi's survival in space's unforgiving conditions. Why are scientists excited about fungi? Understanding how fungi thrived in harsh space environments could pave the way for using it in the construction of off-world settlements and potentially incorporating them into space medications. As per the report, spacefaring fungal species are like interstellar sleuths, lying dormant during launch and space travel before they "activate" to form thick, living mats in various regions of the space station. These mats pose threats to astronaut health and jeopardise vital station components, including electronics and plumbing. Also read | ISRO to work with NASA and manage traffic around Aditya-L1's destination Even though since the 1988 incident, diligent efforts have been made to establish robust cleaning routines for eradicating fungi from station walls and equipment before they wreak havoc, it survives. Scientists realised that studying fungal growth and behaviour in microgravity, particularly their adaptability in repairing DNA damage caused by space radiation, can actually be really helpful for long-term space missions. As André Antunes, a researcher at Macau University of Science and Technology in China, noted, "We are never going to be able to get rid of fungi entirely as we venture into space, so we need to understand them." Research with fungi In 2016, researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory conducted research by launching fungi, specifically Aspergillus nidulans, to the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment aimed to investigate how the ISS environment induced the fungus to produce molecules not typically found on Earth. Similar investigations into fungal behaviour are currently underway on Earth, with the ESA studying fungal colony growth in "hypergravity" conditions, where artificially created gravity up to 20 times Earth's force was employed. This two-week research effort, conducted at ESA's space technology and development centre in the Netherlands, sought to understand how fully grown fungal species respond to stress-inducing conditions. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Fungi's cosmic journey: From unwanted space stowaway to scientific fascination for its resilience

Movies like ET, shows like the X files, and countless books are a testament to humanity's long standing fascination with life out there. From the whistleblower in the US, to the alien corpses in Mexico. Recently aliens, UFOs or UAPs as they are now called have regularly made the headlines. The sudden influx of so many things extraterrestrial makes one wonder if amid turbulent times all this is merely a distraction tactic. To gain insights into this, WION's Moohita Garg connected with Harvard professor, Dr Avi Loeb. Here's what the celebrated international expert said.

Are governments using aliens to distract the public?

Humans are racing against time to develop a robust and substantial space program keeping that in mind the US Space Force is considering setting up a unit in Japan. Underscoring the importance of bilateral cooperation in the space domain where China is wrapping up its capabilities the US state Force founded in 2019 is now looking to establish a branch in Japan.

US eyes space force unit in Japan amid China's growing influence

Astronaut Lt. Col. Frank Rubio, M.D., from the US&nbsp;Army and NASA, is concluding his historic stint in space this Wednesday (Sept&nbsp;27). He will be departing from the International Space Station (ISS) alongside two Russian cosmonauts aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, scheduled to undock at 3:55 am,&nbsp;Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday and head back to Earth.

NASA TV will provide live coverage of the deorbit burn and landing, starting at 6:00 am&nbsp;EDT, with the spacecraft expected to touch down in Kazakhstan at 7:17 am&nbsp;EDT. Following the landing, Rubio will make his way to Houston, Texas.

<h2>Rubio's milestone&nbsp;</h2>

Rubio's mission on the ISS has lasted an impressive 371 days, surpassing NASA's previous record for the longest spaceflight by an American astronaut, previously held by Mark Vande Hei with 355 days.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-nasa-fetches-celestial-cargo-to-earth-heres-why-bennu-asteroid-samples-matter-639472">Explained | NASA sends Bennu asteroid samples to Earth. Here's why the celestial cargo matters</a>

Rubio, an active-duty Army physician and NASA astronaut, is part of the US&nbsp;Army Space and Missile Defence Command's Army Astronaut Detachment.

He was one of the ten people&nbsp;selected out of a pool of over 18,000 applicants for the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class.

Originally slated for a six-month mission on the ISS, Rubio's stay was extended due to the discovery and subsequent investigation of a coolant leak on the spacecraft.

He recently spoke with the media about his groundbreaking mission while aboard the International Space Station.&nbsp;

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NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio returns to Earth tomorrow after 371 days in space. 
 
Watch live coverage on <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> TV at 12 a.m. ET, landing targeted for 7:17 am. ET Sept. 27. <a href="https://t.co/MicojH1bxf">https://t.co/MicojH1bxf</a> <a href="https://t.co/vYI96f9kNE">pic.twitter.com/vYI96f9kNE</a>
— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1706683731786846371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Journey to space</h2>

Rubio's journey to the space station occurred through a collaborative arrangement between NASA and Roscosmos, which was established in the summer of 2022 as part of a crew-exchange agreement.

Under this agreement, NASA assigned Rubio to travel aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, while Roscosmos placed cosmonaut Anna Kikina on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that launched in October 2022 and returned on March 11.

Also watch |&nbsp;NASA's spacecraft lands successfully | First-ever poetry written by AI

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Despite the escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine, NASA has consistently emphasised the critical importance of its partnership with Roscosmos for the continued operation of the space station and the valuable scientific research conducted on board.

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Astronaut Lt. Col. Frank Rubio, M.D., from the US Army and NASA, is concluding his historic stint in space this Wednesday (Sept 27). He will be departing from the International Space Station (ISS) alongside two Russian cosmonauts aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, scheduled to undock at 3:55 am, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday and head back to Earth.

Astronaut Lt. Col. Frank Rubio, M.D., from the US Army and NASA, is concluding his historic stint in space this Wednesday (Sept 27). He will be departing from the International Space Station (ISS) alongside two Russian cosmonauts aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, scheduled to undock at 3:55 am, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday and head back to Earth. NASA TV will provide live coverage of the deorbit burn and landing, starting at 6:00 am EDT, with the spacecraft expected to touch down in Kazakhstan at 7:17 am EDT. Following the landing, Rubio will make his way to Houston, Texas. Rubio's milestone Rubio's mission on the ISS has lasted an impressive 371 days, surpassing NASA's previous record for the longest spaceflight by an American astronaut, previously held by Mark Vande Hei with 355 days. Also read | Explained | NASA sends Bennu asteroid samples to Earth. Here's why the celestial cargo matters Rubio, an active-duty Army physician and NASA astronaut, is part of the US Army Space and Missile Defence Command's Army Astronaut Detachment. He was one of the ten people selected out of a pool of over 18,000 applicants for the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. Originally slated for a six-month mission on the ISS, Rubio's stay was extended due to the discovery and subsequent investigation of a coolant leak on the spacecraft. He recently spoke with the media about his groundbreaking mission while aboard the International Space Station. NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio returns to Earth tomorrow after 371 days in space. Watch live coverage on @NASA TV at 12 a.m. ET, landing targeted for 7:17 am. ET Sept. 27. https://t.co/MicojH1bxf pic.twitter.com/vYI96f9kNE — NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) September 26, 2023 × Journey to space Rubio's journey to the space station occurred through a collaborative arrangement between NASA and Roscosmos, which was established in the summer of 2022 as part of a crew-exchange agreement. Under this agreement, NASA assigned Rubio to travel aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, while Roscosmos placed cosmonaut Anna Kikina on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that launched in October 2022 and returned on March 11. Also watch | NASA's spacecraft lands successfully | First-ever poetry written by AI Despite the escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine, NASA has consistently emphasised the critical importance of its partnership with Roscosmos for the continued operation of the space station and the valuable scientific research conducted on board. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Astronaut returns to Earth after a record-breaking stay in space. Watch LIVE!

Those interested in astronomy are familiar with the fascinating concept of Dyson Sphere. The concept, described by Physicist Freeman Dyson in his research paper in 1960 put forth a fascinating thought experiment that advanced alien civilisations would build an enclosure (Dyson Sphere) around their host star in order to fulfil their energy needs. Building of such a megastructure would be necessary for that civilisation since its energy needs would surpass what their host planet is able to provide. Dyson had proposed that while searching for alien life in the Universe, we should keep an eye out for such megastructures as they can be indicative of the alien civilisation that built them.

But now a team of researchers from India has proposed an alternative approach to finding alien civilisations in a study.

As reported by ScienceAlert, the research was led by Raghav Narsimha, a physics graduate student from Christ University in Bengaluru. Narsimha was joined by Chandra Sivaram, professor at Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) and Margarita Safonova, a scientist from IIAP.

The megastructures, like Dyson Sphere, if they are built are likely to have some effect on the star when it is looked upon from distance. For example, the star may inexplicably dim when looked from Earth. Such possible endeavors by alien civilisations are also likely to leave 'technosignatures' or 'tell-tale' signed.

The team from India has suggested that instead of looking for tell-tale signs of as difficult an endeavour as Dyson Sphere, we should look for technosignatures of some other kind.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-life-search-gets-easier-as-scientists-develop-this-new-and-simple-test-639698">Hunt for alien life just got easier, thanks to this simple AI test</a>

The team proposes that pulling other planets into the habitable zone of the star to use the resources or to use them as planetary real estate would be less cumbersome than building full-fledged megastructures that encapsulate the entire star.

For this, says the team in its study, the alien civilisation would need immensely powerful lasers. We are talking about moving planets here. And the 'spill-over' energy signature from these lasers would be the technosignature we would need to look for while hunting aliens, says the team.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/atlas-show-hundreds-of-mysterious-fairy-circles-spread-across-continents-639655">Over 250 mysterious fairy circles spotted from space spread across 3 continents</a>

The pre-print of this study titled 'Making Habitable Worlds: Planets Versus Megastructures' is available on pre-print server Arxiv and it is being reviewed for publication in the journal Astrophysics and Space Science.

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Those interested in astronomy are familiar with the fascinating concept of Dyson Sphere. The concept, described by Physicist Freeman Dyson in his research paper in 1960 put forth a fascinating thought experiment that advanced alien civilisations would build an enclosure (Dyson Sphere) around their host star in order to fulfil their energy needs.

Those interested in astronomy are familiar with the fascinating concept of Dyson Sphere. The concept, described by Physicist Freeman Dyson in his research paper in 1960 put forth a fascinating thought experiment that advanced alien civilisations would build an enclosure (Dyson Sphere) around their host star in order to fulfil their energy needs. Building of such a megastructure would be necessary for that civilisation since its energy needs would surpass what their host planet is able to provide. Dyson had proposed that while searching for alien life in the Universe, we should keep an eye out for such megastructures as they can be indicative of the alien civilisation that built them. But now a team of researchers from India has proposed an alternative approach to finding alien civilisations in a study. As reported by ScienceAlert, the research was led by Raghav Narsimha, a physics graduate student from Christ University in Bengaluru. Narsimha was joined by Chandra Sivaram, professor at Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) and Margarita Safonova, a scientist from IIAP. The megastructures, like Dyson Sphere, if they are built are likely to have some effect on the star when it is looked upon from distance. For example, the star may inexplicably dim when looked from Earth. Such possible endeavors by alien civilisations are also likely to leave 'technosignatures' or 'tell-tale' signed. The team from India has suggested that instead of looking for tell-tale signs of as difficult an endeavour as Dyson Sphere, we should look for technosignatures of some other kind. Also Read | Hunt for alien life just got easier, thanks to this simple AI test The team proposes that pulling other planets into the habitable zone of the star to use the resources or to use them as planetary real estate would be less cumbersome than building full-fledged megastructures that encapsulate the entire star. For this, says the team in its study, the alien civilisation would need immensely powerful lasers. We are talking about moving planets here. And the 'spill-over' energy signature from these lasers would be the technosignature we would need to look for while hunting aliens, says the team. Also Read | Over 250 mysterious fairy circles spotted from space spread across 3 continents The pre-print of this study titled 'Making Habitable Worlds: Planets Versus Megastructures' is available on pre-print server Arxiv and it is being reviewed for publication in the journal Astrophysics and Space Science. 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 ×

Not Dyson Sphere, search other technosignatures to find aliens: Study

A mysterious structure of galaxies in a giant bubble found not too far from the Milky Way could be a relic from the Big Bang, said researchers who stumbled upon the weird cluster in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, earlier this month.&nbsp;

<h2>What is it?</h2>

The structure which consists of a group of galaxies clustered around a gigantic spherical void just 820 million light years from the Milky Way is believed to be a fossil-like remnant of the birth of the universe.&nbsp;

The mysterious finding has been named Ho’oleilana, inspired by the Hawaiian creation chant evoking the origin of the structure, Kumulipo.

Researchers stumbled upon the structure which they believe is baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and has been described as a fossilised acoustic wave frozen in time from the beginning of the cosmos and then stretched out to galactic scales by the universe’s expansion.

While researchers have previously found a number of such oscillations throughout the universe, it is the close proximity of this structure to our home galaxy that has left astronomers gobsmacked.&nbsp;

“We were not looking for it. It is so huge that it spills to the edges of the sector of the sky that we were analysing,” said Brent Tully, an astronomer at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, in a statement.&nbsp;

Tully also said that the finding could imply the universe is expanding more rapidly than we thought, adding that the “very large diameter of one billion light years is beyond theoretical expectations.”&nbsp;

<h2>How was it found?</h2>

The findings are based on a catalogue compiled by Tully and his colleagues called Cosmicflows-4 after measuring the distances to 55,877 galaxies in a specific sector of the sky, using eight distinct methodologies for the most accurate map yet.&nbsp;

It was after they mapped out the distance between galaxies that patterns and their density started to come together and the researchers discovered a ring which is 1 billion light-years wide, its circumference dotted with galaxies and connected to cosmic filaments.&nbsp;

While the structure’s interior was empty aside from a galaxy supercluster called the Bootes Supercluster in its centre.

“I am the cartographer of the group, and mapping Hoʻoleilana in three dimensions helps us understand its content and relationship with its surroundings,” said Daniel Pomarede, a cosmographer at CEA Paris-Saclay University in France.&nbsp;

He added, “It was an amazing process to construct this map and see how the giant shell structure of Hoʻoleilana is composed of elements that were identified in the past as being themselves some of the largest structures of the universe.”&nbsp;

Since Hoʻoleilana is bigger than most baryon acoustic oscillations, researchers believe that the universe may be expanding at a faster rate – at roughly 76.9 kilometres per second per megaparsec – than the standard range of 67 to 74.

<h2>How was it created?</h2>

In the well-established Big Bang theory, when the universe was very new, it was filled with a hot, dense plasma that behaved like a fluid. During this time, regions with slightly higher density began to collapse under gravity while the intense bath of radiation attempted to push matter apart.&nbsp;

It was this struggle between gravity and radiation which produced spherical acoustic waves that travelled through the plasma and when the universe eventually cooled the outward rippling of the acoustic waves stopped and became frozen as regions of higher density in the matter that was forming.&nbsp; 
 
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A mysterious structure of galaxies in a giant bubble found not too far from the Milky Way could be a relic from the Big Bang, said researchers who stumbled upon the weird cluster in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, earlier this month.

A mysterious structure of galaxies in a giant bubble found not too far from the Milky Way could be a relic from the Big Bang, said researchers who stumbled upon the weird cluster in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, earlier this month. What is it? The structure which consists of a group of galaxies clustered around a gigantic spherical void just 820 million light years from the Milky Way is believed to be a fossil-like remnant of the birth of the universe. The mysterious finding has been named Ho’oleilana, inspired by the Hawaiian creation chant evoking the origin of the structure, Kumulipo. Researchers stumbled upon the structure which they believe is baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and has been described as a fossilised acoustic wave frozen in time from the beginning of the cosmos and then stretched out to galactic scales by the universe’s expansion. While researchers have previously found a number of such oscillations throughout the universe, it is the close proximity of this structure to our home galaxy that has left astronomers gobsmacked. “We were not looking for it. It is so huge that it spills to the edges of the sector of the sky that we were analysing,” said Brent Tully, an astronomer at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, in a statement. Tully also said that the finding could imply the universe is expanding more rapidly than we thought, adding that the “very large diameter of one billion light years is beyond theoretical expectations.” How was it found? The findings are based on a catalogue compiled by Tully and his colleagues called Cosmicflows-4 after measuring the distances to 55,877 galaxies in a specific sector of the sky, using eight distinct methodologies for the most accurate map yet. It was after they mapped out the distance between galaxies that patterns and their density started to come together and the researchers discovered a ring which is 1 billion light-years wide, its circumference dotted with galaxies and connected to cosmic filaments. While the structure’s interior was empty aside from a galaxy supercluster called the Bootes Supercluster in its centre. “I am the cartographer of the group, and mapping Hoʻoleilana in three dimensions helps us understand its content and relationship with its surroundings,” said Daniel Pomarede, a cosmographer at CEA Paris-Saclay University in France. He added, “It was an amazing process to construct this map and see how the giant shell structure of Hoʻoleilana is composed of elements that were identified in the past as being themselves some of the largest structures of the universe.” Since Hoʻoleilana is bigger than most baryon acoustic oscillations, researchers believe that the universe may be expanding at a faster rate – at roughly 76.9 kilometres per second per megaparsec – than the standard range of 67 to 74. How was it created? In the well-established Big Bang theory, when the universe was very new, it was filled with a hot, dense plasma that behaved like a fluid. During this time, regions with slightly higher density began to collapse under gravity while the intense bath of radiation attempted to push matter apart. It was this struggle between gravity and radiation which produced spherical acoustic waves that travelled through the plasma and when the universe eventually cooled the outward rippling of the acoustic waves stopped and became frozen as regions of higher density in the matter that was forming. 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.

Ginormous ‘fossilised’ bubble near Milky Way could be relic of the Big Bang

India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the Moon’s surface successfully on August 23. Since then, Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover conducted studies on the surface and revealed various findings.

Chandrayaan-3: ISRO awaits lander revival after two weeks of sleep mode

NASA has revealed that an asteroid will pass Earth at an extremely close distance on Friday, September 22. According to the details by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), Asteroid 2023 RQ6 will make its first-ever approach to Earth on Friday.

NASA has revealed that an asteroid will pass Earth at an extremely close distance on Friday, September 22. According to the details by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), Asteroid 2023 RQ6 will make its first-ever approach to Earth on Friday. Its orbit will bring the asteroid as close as 6.4 million kilometres near Earth. Although this distance might seem like a lot, it is short in astronomical sense. NASA has estimated its travelling speed as 33,912 kilometres per hour. NASA has not classified the Asteroid 2023 RQ6 as a Potentially Hazardous Object because it will not impact Earth's surface despite a close call. The asteroid is approximately 75 feet wide. Thus, it is not huge enough to be classified as a Potentially Hazardous Object. It is as big as an aircraft in terms of size. ALSO READ | Scientists find new virus at depths of Pacific Ocean Asteroid 2023 RQ6 belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, named after the giant 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Kerl Reinmuth in the 1930s. They are Earth-crossing space rocks with semi-major axes bigger than Earth's. Most asteroids found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter can be observed with the help of advanced ground and space-based telescopes. However, scientists at NASA have recently observed three elusive asteroids hiding behind the glare of the Sun. ALSO READ | What's the source of CO2 on Jupiter's moon Europa? Scientists finally have answers According to the latest discovery made by NASA, one of these asteroids is a large object which can be potentially hazardous to Earth. A team used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on Victor M. Blanco's 4-metre telescope in Chile to find and observe these asteroids. It is challenging to locate celestial objects in the region around the Sun, as astronomers have to deal with the Sun's glaze. Besides Asteroid 2023 RQ6, Asteroid 2023 SJ made its closest approach to Earth on September 21. It has a width between 52 feet and 118 feet. According to a recent report by the OSIRIS-REx science team, Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, could drift into the planet's orbit and hit the planet by September 2182. NASA has been tracking Bennu, first discovered in 1999, for 25 years. Bennu passes near Earth every six years and has had three close encounters with Earth in 1999, 2005, and 2011. (With input from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts

Chandrayaan-3: Will Vikram lander wake up on Sep 22 after lunar night?

UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) as they are now known, have for decades been a subject of curiosity for humans. Do aliens exist? Are the frequent alien vehicle "sightings" real or not? These questions have long been a head-scratcher.&nbsp;

On Thursday (September 14th), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may provide us with answers to these questions.

Here's all you need to know.

<h2>A report unveiled</h2>

Back in 2022, NASA commissioned a study team to investigate reports of UAPs.&nbsp;

As per the space agency's website, the study team was commissioned "to examine UAP from a scientific perspective and create a roadmap for how to use data and the tools of science to move our understanding of UAP forward."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chandrayaan-3-landing-site-shiv-shakti-captured-by-south-koreas-dnauri-lunar-orbiter-635725">Chandrayaan-3 landing site 'Shiv Shakti' captured by South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter</a>

In a statement released&nbsp;last year before the commencement of the study, NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen had stated: "We have the tools and team who can help us improve our understanding of the unknown. That's the very definition of what science is. That's what we do."

The highly anticipated findings of the team of 16 community experts with expertise in diverse areas on matters relevant to potential methods of study for unidentified anomalous phenomena will be unveiled on Thursday (September 14th) at 10 am EDT (14:00 pm GMT or 19:30 pm IST).

The report will be live-streamed across various NASA channels, including its official app, website, television and social media. You can join the telecast here:

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<h2>Why is this important?</h2>

Apart from the curiosity humanity maintains about life "out there," the importance of this report stems from the fact that UAPs aren't that well-documented.

This limited availability of well-documented observations of UAPs — which are usually defined as objects in the sky that do not align with known natural phenomena or conventional aircraft, and may or may not have extraterrestrial origins — makes it extremely challenging to draw scientific conclusions about their origin or nature.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologists-angry-over-ancient-human-relative-remains-sent-to-edge-of-outer-space-report-635530">Some fossils of ancient human relatives have been sent to outer space &amp; archaeologists are not happy</a>

With these report's&nbsp;findings that do not merely rely on "grainy footage of UAPs," humanity should have a better understanding that can help guide our future analysis of extraterrestrial objects.

In an update meeting held in May, Daniel Evans, the NASA official in charge of the study, said: "The primary objective of this incredible team of experts is not to go back and look at grainy footage of UAPs but rather to give us a roadmap to guide us for future analysis."

(With inputs from agencies)

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UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) as they are now known, have for decades been a subject of curiosity for humans. Do aliens exist?

UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) as they are now known, have for decades been a subject of curiosity for humans. Do aliens exist? Are the frequent alien vehicle "sightings" real or not? These questions have long been a head-scratcher. On Thursday (September 14th), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may provide us with answers to these questions. Here's all you need to know. A report unveiled Back in 2022, NASA commissioned a study team to investigate reports of UAPs. As per the space agency's website, the study team was commissioned "to examine UAP from a scientific perspective and create a roadmap for how to use data and the tools of science to move our understanding of UAP forward." Also read | Chandrayaan-3 landing site 'Shiv Shakti' captured by South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter In a statement released last year before the commencement of the study, NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen had stated: "We have the tools and team who can help us improve our understanding of the unknown. That's the very definition of what science is. That's what we do." The highly anticipated findings of the team of 16 community experts with expertise in diverse areas on matters relevant to potential methods of study for unidentified anomalous phenomena will be unveiled on Thursday (September 14th) at 10 am EDT (14:00 pm GMT or 19:30 pm IST). The report will be live-streamed across various NASA channels, including its official app, website, television and social media. You can join the telecast here: × Why is this important? Apart from the curiosity humanity maintains about life "out there," the importance of this report stems from the fact that UAPs aren't that well-documented. This limited availability of well-documented observations of UAPs — which are usually defined as objects in the sky that do not align with known natural phenomena or conventional aircraft, and may or may not have extraterrestrial origins — makes it extremely challenging to draw scientific conclusions about their origin or nature. Also read | Some fossils of ancient human relatives have been sent to outer space & archaeologists are not happy With these report's findings that do not merely rely on "grainy footage of UAPs," humanity should have a better understanding that can help guide our future analysis of extraterrestrial objects. In an update meeting held in May, Daniel Evans, the NASA official in charge of the study, said: "The primary objective of this incredible team of experts is not to go back and look at grainy footage of UAPs but rather to give us a roadmap to guide us for future analysis." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The truth about UFOs: NASA to unveil important report on UAPs. Here's how you can watch it live

Scientists have discovered potential signs of life on an exoplanet which they believe is covered with water and is currently orbiting a dim red star not too far from our solar system. The exoplanet in question is K2-18b which is some 120 light-years away and as scientists have previously predicted as an ocean planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, or Hycean world.&nbsp;

<h2>About the new finding</h2>

The research into K2-18b – the findings for which were accepted into The Astrophysical Journal Letters – reveals the presence of carbon dioxide and methane but it was the presence of a different chemical that drew the scientists'&nbsp;attention.&nbsp;

The exoplanet, as per the latest research, had hints of dimethyl sulphide, which is a signature of biology that the scientists have predicted may be detected on Hycean worlds. But here on Earth, dimethyl sulphide is only produced by life and a large part of it is attributed to marine phytoplankton.

“Our findings underscore the importance of considering diverse habitable environments in the search for life elsewhere,” said Nikku Madhusudhanan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and lead author of the paper, in a statement.&nbsp;

He added, “Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations.”

The recent findings were obtained after using the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) near-infrared NIRSpec and NIRISS instruments as it orbited between us and its host star, twice.&nbsp;

The researchers were trying to study several aspects, including the difference in the star’s light, the result of having travelled through and being changed by the composition of the exoplanet’s atmosphere.

It was after they analysed the data and dissected the changes that they found evidence of carbon molecules, carbon dioxide, and methane while the spectrum of light revealed hints of dimethyl sulphide.

“Upcoming Webb observations should be able to confirm if dimethyl sulphide is indeed present in the atmosphere of K2-18 b at significant levels,” said Madhusudhan. “Our findings are a promising step towards a deeper understanding of Hycean worlds in this quest,” he added.&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know about K2-18b?</h2>

It is worth noting that the exoplanet is not very different from Earth but it is significantly heftier, with K2-18b being 2.6 times the radius and 8.6 times the mass of Earth. It also orbits its star within the habitable zone, where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist, the researchers said.&nbsp;

K2-18b orbits the red cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and orbits it once every 33 days. It is also worth noting that it was Madhusudhan and his colleagues who found that habitability is possible on the K2-18b in 2020.&nbsp;

The year after that they also identified K2-18b as a potential Hycean. The planet was also the subject of significant media coverage in 2019, as two different teams reported the detection of water vapour in its hydrogen-rich atmosphere. 
 
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Scientists have discovered potential signs of life on an exoplanet which they believe is covered with water and is currently orbiting a dim red star not too far from our solar system.

Scientists have discovered potential signs of life on an exoplanet which they believe is covered with water and is currently orbiting a dim red star not too far from our solar system. The exoplanet in question is K2-18b which is some 120 light-years away and as scientists have previously predicted as an ocean planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, or Hycean world. About the new finding The research into K2-18b – the findings for which were accepted into The Astrophysical Journal Letters – reveals the presence of carbon dioxide and methane but it was the presence of a different chemical that drew the scientists' attention. The exoplanet, as per the latest research, had hints of dimethyl sulphide, which is a signature of biology that the scientists have predicted may be detected on Hycean worlds. But here on Earth, dimethyl sulphide is only produced by life and a large part of it is attributed to marine phytoplankton. “Our findings underscore the importance of considering diverse habitable environments in the search for life elsewhere,” said Nikku Madhusudhanan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and lead author of the paper, in a statement. He added, “Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations.” The recent findings were obtained after using the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) near-infrared NIRSpec and NIRISS instruments as it orbited between us and its host star, twice. The researchers were trying to study several aspects, including the difference in the star’s light, the result of having travelled through and being changed by the composition of the exoplanet’s atmosphere. It was after they analysed the data and dissected the changes that they found evidence of carbon molecules, carbon dioxide, and methane while the spectrum of light revealed hints of dimethyl sulphide. “Upcoming Webb observations should be able to confirm if dimethyl sulphide is indeed present in the atmosphere of K2-18 b at significant levels,” said Madhusudhan. “Our findings are a promising step towards a deeper understanding of Hycean worlds in this quest,” he added. What do we know about K2-18b? It is worth noting that the exoplanet is not very different from Earth but it is significantly heftier, with K2-18b being 2.6 times the radius and 8.6 times the mass of Earth. It also orbits its star within the habitable zone, where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist, the researchers said. K2-18b orbits the red cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone and orbits it once every 33 days. It is also worth noting that it was Madhusudhan and his colleagues who found that habitability is possible on the K2-18b in 2020. The year after that they also identified K2-18b as a potential Hycean. The planet was also the subject of significant media coverage in 2019, as two different teams reported the detection of water vapour in its hydrogen-rich atmosphere. 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 discover ‘hints of life’ on this distant alien planet: Study

On Monday, Canada’s Telesat said that it had reached a deal with SpaceX to begin launching its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, with the intention of offering international internet access from space by the end of 2027.

Since LEO satellites orbit 36 times closer to Earth than conventional ones, information is transmitted and received more quickly, improving broadband coverage even in remote locations.

The LEO constellation launched by Telesat is named Lightspeed.

“It is another big step forward on our path to get Lightspeed up there,” Reuters quoted Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg as saying.

The deal, which covers 14 launches, was not valued. According to the firm, the constellation will be deployed by the end of 2027, when Telesat intends to offer a global service. Each Falcon 9 rocket will be able to launch up to 18 satellites into orbit. This comes three years after the original deadline.

Telesat’s stock declined 5.3 per cent to Canadian $21.99 ($16.20), following an early trade gain of about 3.2 per cent.

Last month, Telesat said that by hiring Canada’s MDA Ltd to construct 198 satellites, it would save $2 billion. Thales Alenia Space received the contract in 2021.

Thales informed Telesat roughly two years ago that it could no longer match with the agreed price and timetable due to “COVID hit, and supply chain issues hit, and inflation hit,” Reuters cited Goldberg.

The 14 launches will be carried out by SpaceX, which “gives us scope to expand the constellation above and beyond the 198 (satellites) that we've committed to with MDA,” Goldberg told Reuters.

With the goal of serving corporate customers, such as mobile operators, governments, aircraft and shipping corporations, Telesat is entering the competitive new world of LEO networks.

The majority of the LEO competition, which also includes Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and its Project Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink network, is geared at the consumer market.

Large bulk launch contracts like Telesat’s SpaceX contract have significantly reduced the U.S. launch supply in recent years due to satellite constellations.

The largest commercial launch contract in history was won by Amazon in 2022 for 83 missions across different launch firms to deploy its Kuiper network. With the aid of its expanding Starlink constellation, SpaceX hopes to roughly double its current yearly launch rate by 2023.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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On Monday, Canada’s Telesat said that it had reached a deal with SpaceX to begin launching its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, with the intention of offering international internet access from space by the end of 2027.

On Monday, Canada’s Telesat said that it had reached a deal with SpaceX to begin launching its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, with the intention of offering international internet access from space by the end of 2027. Since LEO satellites orbit 36 times closer to Earth than conventional ones, information is transmitted and received more quickly, improving broadband coverage even in remote locations. The LEO constellation launched by Telesat is named Lightspeed. “It is another big step forward on our path to get Lightspeed up there,” Reuters quoted Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg as saying. The deal, which covers 14 launches, was not valued. According to the firm, the constellation will be deployed by the end of 2027, when Telesat intends to offer a global service. Each Falcon 9 rocket will be able to launch up to 18 satellites into orbit. This comes three years after the original deadline. Telesat’s stock declined 5.3 per cent to Canadian $21.99 ($16.20), following an early trade gain of about 3.2 per cent. Last month, Telesat said that by hiring Canada’s MDA Ltd to construct 198 satellites, it would save $2 billion. Thales Alenia Space received the contract in 2021. Thales informed Telesat roughly two years ago that it could no longer match with the agreed price and timetable due to “COVID hit, and supply chain issues hit, and inflation hit,” Reuters cited Goldberg. The 14 launches will be carried out by SpaceX, which “gives us scope to expand the constellation above and beyond the 198 (satellites) that we've committed to with MDA,” Goldberg told Reuters. With the goal of serving corporate customers, such as mobile operators, governments, aircraft and shipping corporations, Telesat is entering the competitive new world of LEO networks. The majority of the LEO competition, which also includes Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and its Project Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink network, is geared at the consumer market. Large bulk launch contracts like Telesat’s SpaceX contract have significantly reduced the U.S. launch supply in recent years due to satellite constellations. The largest commercial launch contract in history was won by Amazon in 2022 for 83 missions across different launch firms to deploy its Kuiper network. With the aid of its expanding Starlink constellation, SpaceX hopes to roughly double its current yearly launch rate by 2023. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Canada’s Telesat joins hands with SpaceX to launch broadband satellites: Report

India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission has garnered global acclaim at the G20 summit. IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva praised India's space prowess, noting it achieved this feat with a budget less than that of the movie 'Interstellar.'

IMF director hails India's lunar mission budget at G20 Summit

A Parisian stray cat etched her name in&nbsp;the annals of space exploration nearly six decades ago. Félicette, a petite black-and-white "tuxedo" Persian cat, embarked on a remarkable adventure that would make her the first and only feline astronaut to ever grace space.&nbsp;The date was October 18, 1938, and the scientific community in France was abuzz.

A "Veronique" rocket was poised to launch, carrying a very special passenger. Félicette, who had once roamed the streets of Paris as a stray, was about to embark on a sub-orbital mission, soaring 96 miles above Earth's surface.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/can-astronauts-live-on-the-moon-scientists-reveal-how-its-possible-634363">Can astronauts live on the Moon? Scientists reveal how it's possible</a>

Felicette was not alone in this cosmic endeavor. She was one of several felines acquired by dedicated scientists for this groundbreaking mission.

To prevent emotional attachment, these cats were assigned numbers instead of names. Every cat, including Felicette, underwent astronaut training.

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Their preparations included enduring G-forces within a centrifuge and enduring extended periods of confinement within small containers. The scientists meticulously studied their reactions to these conditions, seeking to ensure the safety and well-being of their feline crew members.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/our-prehistoric-ancestors-turned-stones-into-spheres-for-a-reason-says-study-634046">Our prehistoric ancestors turned stones into spheres for a reason, says study</a>

<h2>Felicette's stellar ascent</h2>

Six cats stood out as the best candidates for the astronaut program. Ultimately, it was "C341" who emerged as the star of the show.

Surviving her out-of-this-world adventure, she was bestowed with the name "Felicette."

Her journey into the cosmos was a brief but pivotal 15-minute voyage to Earth’s sub-orbital space, during which her breathing and heart rate were carefully monitored through a series of implanted electrodes.

Watch | G20 Summit 2023: How India forged consensus on declaration

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Despite her historic achievement, Felicette's story took a bittersweet turn.

A few months after her space adventure, she was euthanised to enable scientists to examine her brain. Her noble sacrifice remained largely unnoticed for many years, overshadowed by the grandeur of human space exploration.

<h2>Honouring Felicette's legacy</h2>

In 2017, Felicette's contribution to science was finally acknowledged when over 1,100 individuals came together to donate $57,000 to a Kickstarter campaign. The goal?

To fund a memorial for the only cat ever sent into space. The result was a magnificent 5-foot-tall statue of Felicette, poised atop a globe, symbolising her pioneering journey beyond Earth's bounds.

In the world of space exploration, this feline will forever hold a special place as the beloved and unforgettable "Astrocat."

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A Parisian stray cat etched her name in the annals of space exploration nearly six decades ago. Félicette, a petite black-and-white "tuxedo" Persian cat, embarked on a remarkable adventure that would make her the first and only feline astronaut to ever grace space.

A Parisian stray cat etched her name in the annals of space exploration nearly six decades ago. Félicette, a petite black-and-white "tuxedo" Persian cat, embarked on a remarkable adventure that would make her the first and only feline astronaut to ever grace space. The date was October 18, 1938, and the scientific community in France was abuzz. A "Veronique" rocket was poised to launch, carrying a very special passenger. Félicette, who had once roamed the streets of Paris as a stray, was about to embark on a sub-orbital mission, soaring 96 miles above Earth's surface. Also Read | Can astronauts live on the Moon? Scientists reveal how it's possible Felicette was not alone in this cosmic endeavor. She was one of several felines acquired by dedicated scientists for this groundbreaking mission. To prevent emotional attachment, these cats were assigned numbers instead of names. Every cat, including Felicette, underwent astronaut training. × Their preparations included enduring G-forces within a centrifuge and enduring extended periods of confinement within small containers. The scientists meticulously studied their reactions to these conditions, seeking to ensure the safety and well-being of their feline crew members. Also Read | Our prehistoric ancestors turned stones into spheres for a reason, says study Felicette's stellar ascent Six cats stood out as the best candidates for the astronaut program. Ultimately, it was "C341" who emerged as the star of the show. Surviving her out-of-this-world adventure, she was bestowed with the name "Felicette." Her journey into the cosmos was a brief but pivotal 15-minute voyage to Earth’s sub-orbital space, during which her breathing and heart rate were carefully monitored through a series of implanted electrodes. Watch | G20 Summit 2023: How India forged consensus on declaration × Despite her historic achievement, Felicette's story took a bittersweet turn. A few months after her space adventure, she was euthanised to enable scientists to examine her brain. Her noble sacrifice remained largely unnoticed for many years, overshadowed by the grandeur of human space exploration. Honouring Felicette's legacy In 2017, Felicette's contribution to science was finally acknowledged when over 1,100 individuals came together to donate $57,000 to a Kickstarter campaign. The goal? To fund a memorial for the only cat ever sent into space. The result was a magnificent 5-foot-tall statue of Felicette, poised atop a globe, symbolising her pioneering journey beyond Earth's bounds. In the world of space exploration, this feline will forever hold a special place as the beloved and unforgettable "Astrocat." 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. ×

WATCH | World's first and only cat sent to space - 'Felicette'

Japan is poised to make a significant leap in its space endeavors by launching a low-cost lunar mission known as the "Moon Sniper" on Thursday (September 7). The $100-million mission is set to reach the moon by February, following a fuel-efficient trajectory from Earth to lunar orbits. The precision landing technology developed through this mission holds the potential to enhance future human space exploration missions and could extend to cost-effective reusable launch vehicle endeavors, said Sreeram Ananthasayanam, a partner at Deloitte India, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

If successful,&nbsp;Japan will become the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the surface of moon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This comes after Japan's launch of an H-IIA rocket, scheduled for August 28, was postponed due to unfavourable wind conditions in the upper atmosphere. Japan is seeking to successfully complete its lunar exploration mission. This also comes in the backdrop of India's recent achievement of becoming the first nation to successfully land on the moon's south pole.&nbsp;

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission is scheduled to take off the lunar from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries builds the H-IIA rocket carrying the lunar lander, reported Reuters news agency.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-uses-car-tyres-to-cover-military-aircraft-to-deter-ukrainian-drone-attacks-report-632902">Russia uses car tyres to cover military aircraft to deter Ukrainian drone attacks: Report</a>

Known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), it is aptly nicknamed the "moon sniper" by JAXA. It is slated to land on the moon's near side, close to the Mare Nectaris, a prominent lunar basin.

The primary mission objective is to showcase Japan's ability to position a lightweight, cost-effective spacecraft within 100 meters of a designated landing site using advanced visual navigation technology.

<h2>Challenges of landing</h2>

Kenji Kushiki, the sub-project manager of the SLIM mission, anticipates a tense 20 minutes during the landing, describing it as a "one-shot game that cannot be undone."

This mission also serves as a showcase for Japan's burgeoning space industry. Mitsubishi Electric played a significant role in assembling the lander, providing landing radars, computers, and a transponder. Sharp Corp supplied solar cells, while Meisei Electric contributed navigation cameras.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/why-wont-he-musk-questions-zuckerberg-regarding-cage-fight-632907">'Why won't he...': Musk questions Zuckerberg regarding cage fight</a>

<h2>Chandrayaan-3 and lunar landing attempts</h2>

India's Chandrayaan-3 rover lander recently touched down near the moon's south pole in a $75 million mission, making India the fourth country to achieve a lunar landing, following the United States, Russia, and China.

Watch | Kenya hosts maiden climate summit in Africa

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Japan is collaborating with the United States on a moon-orbiting space station, which will serve as a pivotal platform for lunar and Martian missions.&nbsp;

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Japan is poised to make a significant leap in its space endeavors by launching a low-cost lunar mission known as the "Moon Sniper" on Thursday (September 7). The $100-million mission is set to reach the moon by February, following a fuel-efficient trajectory from Earth to lunar orbits.

Japan is poised to make a significant leap in its space endeavors by launching a low-cost lunar mission known as the "Moon Sniper" on Thursday (September 7). The $100-million mission is set to reach the moon by February, following a fuel-efficient trajectory from Earth to lunar orbits. The precision landing technology developed through this mission holds the potential to enhance future human space exploration missions and could extend to cost-effective reusable launch vehicle endeavors, said Sreeram Ananthasayanam, a partner at Deloitte India, reported Reuters. If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the surface of moon. This comes after Japan's launch of an H-IIA rocket, scheduled for August 28, was postponed due to unfavourable wind conditions in the upper atmosphere. Japan is seeking to successfully complete its lunar exploration mission. This also comes in the backdrop of India's recent achievement of becoming the first nation to successfully land on the moon's south pole. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission is scheduled to take off the lunar from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries builds the H-IIA rocket carrying the lunar lander, reported Reuters news agency. Also Read | Russia uses car tyres to cover military aircraft to deter Ukrainian drone attacks: Report Known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), it is aptly nicknamed the "moon sniper" by JAXA. It is slated to land on the moon's near side, close to the Mare Nectaris, a prominent lunar basin. The primary mission objective is to showcase Japan's ability to position a lightweight, cost-effective spacecraft within 100 meters of a designated landing site using advanced visual navigation technology. Challenges of landing Kenji Kushiki, the sub-project manager of the SLIM mission, anticipates a tense 20 minutes during the landing, describing it as a "one-shot game that cannot be undone." This mission also serves as a showcase for Japan's burgeoning space industry. Mitsubishi Electric played a significant role in assembling the lander, providing landing radars, computers, and a transponder. Sharp Corp supplied solar cells, while Meisei Electric contributed navigation cameras. Also Read | 'Why won't he...': Musk questions Zuckerberg regarding cage fight Chandrayaan-3 and lunar landing attempts India's Chandrayaan-3 rover lander recently touched down near the moon's south pole in a $75 million mission, making India the fourth country to achieve a lunar landing, following the United States, Russia, and China. Watch | Kenya hosts maiden climate summit in Africa × Japan is collaborating with the United States on a moon-orbiting space station, which will serve as a pivotal platform for lunar and Martian missions. 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. ×

Japan poised to make giant leap in its space endeavours, to launch 'moon sniper' on Sept 7

Days after Chandrayaan-3's successful moon landing, the Vikram Lander has "soft-landed" on the lunar surface again.

Chandrayaan 3:  Vikram lander exceeds Chandrayaan-3 mission goals, with a hop

The ambitious first mission to study the Sun has been launched by the Indian Space Research Organization. The Aditya L1 mission was due to launch on Saturday from Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Center and travel for four months to Lagrange Point 1.

Aditya-L1: After lunar landing, India eyes for the sun

Days after becoming the first nation to land a craft near the moon's largely unexplored South Pole, India is all set to achieve another space exploration milestone. The Aditya L1 is the first Indian space mission to study the sun.

PSLV - Taking India to the moon, mars and sun

Aditya-L1, India's first solar mission names after the rising sun

Aditya L1 shall be the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun. The spacecraft shall be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses. This will provide a greater advantage of observing solar activities and their effect on space weather in real-time.

Aditya L1: First Indian space mission to study sun

Aditya-L1 spacecraft: India launches its first-ever mission to the Sun

New research has shown that America's rapid adoption of LED lighting might be saving money by using less electricity but it's making it harder to see the stars, due to increased light pollution.&nbsp;

The study published in the journal Science states that the night sky is getting 10 per cent brighter every year. The experts said the light pollution is being driven by the growth of cheaper, cleaner and brighter LED lighting.&nbsp;

Notably, it was in 2007 that the US Congress mandated that&nbsp;all lightbulbs be three times more efficient. Last month, the policy finally kicked into effect, effectively banning incandescent&nbsp;light bulbs in favour of LEDs and other compact fluorescents.&nbsp;

"Artificial lighting that escapes into the sky causes it to glow, preventing humans and animals from seeing the stars. Satellites can measure the light emitted upward, but they are not sensitive to all wavelengths produced by LED lighting or to light emitted horizontally," the study noted.&nbsp;

Consequently, the Milky Way is gradually disappearing from our view and so are the other fainter stars. For researchers, the absence of a dark sky means they are unable to peer deep into space and conduct their research.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/life-fun/global-light-pollution-blurs-starry-nights-348">Global light pollution blurs starry nights</a>

Stephen Hummel, the dark skies senior outreach coordinator at the University of Texas' McDonald Observatory told CBS News:&nbsp;"The most common kinds you see, the sort of bright white ones, are absolutely making the problem much worse."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/life-fun/global-light-pollution-blurs-starry-nights-348">&nbsp;</a>

According to the American Lighting Association, a body that represents lighting manufacturers,&nbsp;the problem of light pollution is "more extensive than originally thought". On being quizzed by about what was being done to alter the status quo, the body said&nbsp;many of its manufacturers now make shielded outdoor light fixtures to direct light away from the sky.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-nasa-spacecraft-to-visit-most-volcanic-world-in-solar-system-543521">WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: NASA spacecraft to visit most volcanic world in solar system</a>

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Not only is light pollution hazardous for scientists looking into space and stars but it is also linked to disrupted sleeping patterns and bad health -&nbsp;in humans and animals both. One study even linked excessive lighting to the local insect decline while birds often killed themselves by hitting the brightly illuminated buildings.&nbsp;

Scientists argue that solving the light pollution problem is not really about money or infrastructure, albeit awareness. Light pollution is one of the few kinds of pollution that can be solved and is completely reversible - all it requires is a&nbsp;single flip of a switch.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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New research has shown that America's rapid adoption of LED lighting might be saving money by using less electricity but it's making it harder to see the stars, due to increased light pollution.

New research has shown that America's rapid adoption of LED lighting might be saving money by using less electricity but it's making it harder to see the stars, due to increased light pollution. The study published in the journal Science states that the night sky is getting 10 per cent brighter every year. The experts said the light pollution is being driven by the growth of cheaper, cleaner and brighter LED lighting. Notably, it was in 2007 that the US Congress mandated that all lightbulbs be three times more efficient. Last month, the policy finally kicked into effect, effectively banning incandescent light bulbs in favour of LEDs and other compact fluorescents. "Artificial lighting that escapes into the sky causes it to glow, preventing humans and animals from seeing the stars. Satellites can measure the light emitted upward, but they are not sensitive to all wavelengths produced by LED lighting or to light emitted horizontally," the study noted. Consequently, the Milky Way is gradually disappearing from our view and so are the other fainter stars. For researchers, the absence of a dark sky means they are unable to peer deep into space and conduct their research. Also Read | Global light pollution blurs starry nights Stephen Hummel, the dark skies senior outreach coordinator at the University of Texas' McDonald Observatory told CBS News: "The most common kinds you see, the sort of bright white ones, are absolutely making the problem much worse." According to the American Lighting Association, a body that represents lighting manufacturers, the problem of light pollution is "more extensive than originally thought". On being quizzed by about what was being done to alter the status quo, the body said many of its manufacturers now make shielded outdoor light fixtures to direct light away from the sky. WATCH | Gravitas: NASA spacecraft to visit most volcanic world in solar system × Not only is light pollution hazardous for scientists looking into space and stars but it is also linked to disrupted sleeping patterns and bad health - in humans and animals both. One study even linked excessive lighting to the local insect decline while birds often killed themselves by hitting the brightly illuminated buildings. Scientists argue that solving the light pollution problem is not really about money or infrastructure, albeit awareness. Light pollution is one of the few kinds of pollution that can be solved and is completely reversible - all it requires is a single flip of a switch. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

LEDs are contributing to light pollution and erasing our view of stars

Aditya-L1 injected into orbit: ISRO Chief | Sun Mission

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