Conservationists have started using satellite imagery to count elephants from space. This technique, British experts hope, is expected to help protect threatened populations in Africa.&nbsp;

Satellite monitoring is an unobtrusive technique requiring no ground presence, thus eliminating the risk of disturbing species, or of concern for human safety during data collection.

The scientists first developed the techniques at South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park.&nbsp;

The images, from a satellite orbiting 600 kilometres (some 370 miles) above the Earth, could survey upward of 5,000 square kilometres (nearly 2,000 square miles) of land in one pass, captured in a matter of minutes.

The scientists trained the algorithm to recognise only adults among a dataset of 1,000 elephants in the park and then found it was also able to identify calves.

Researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Bath said the use of algorithms, machine learning and satellite technology could replace current techniques used to count elephants -- a critical aspect of conservation.&nbsp;

"The population of African elephants has plummeted over the last century due to poaching, retaliatory killing from crop raiding and habitat fragmentation," Oxford said in a statement.

"To conserve them requires knowledge of where they are, and how many there are: accurate monitoring is vital."

Currently, the most common technique for surveying elephant populations in savannah environments is aerial counts from manned aircraft.&nbsp;

The academics said aerial surveyors can get exhausted, and are sometimes hindered by poor visibility.

Conservationists have started using satellite imagery to count elephants from space. This technique, British experts hope, is expected to help protect threatened populations in Africa.

Conservationists have started using satellite imagery to count elephants from space. This technique, British experts hope, is expected to help protect threatened populations in Africa. Satellite monitoring is an unobtrusive technique requiring no ground presence, thus eliminating the risk of disturbing species, or of concern for human safety during data collection. The scientists first developed the techniques at South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park. The images, from a satellite orbiting 600 kilometres (some 370 miles) above the Earth, could survey upward of 5,000 square kilometres (nearly 2,000 square miles) of land in one pass, captured in a matter of minutes. The scientists trained the algorithm to recognise only adults among a dataset of 1,000 elephants in the park and then found it was also able to identify calves. Researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Bath said the use of algorithms, machine learning and satellite technology could replace current techniques used to count elephants -- a critical aspect of conservation. "The population of African elephants has plummeted over the last century due to poaching, retaliatory killing from crop raiding and habitat fragmentation," Oxford said in a statement. "To conserve them requires knowledge of where they are, and how many there are: accurate monitoring is vital." Currently, the most common technique for surveying elephant populations in savannah environments is aerial counts from manned aircraft. The academics said aerial surveyors can get exhausted, and are sometimes hindered by poor visibility.

Satellite imagery to aid elephant conservation from space

A video game creator came up with a quirky way to catch Elon Musk’s attention on Twitter - by reminding him everyday. But after 154 attempts, his efforts paid off.

He did not only receive a response from Elon Musk, but also a green light for the video game he’s working on. 
 
Lyubomir Vladimirov, an independent game developer wanted to develop a game inspired by SpaceX - using Tesla cars, and the aesthetic of their satellites.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dear Elon, 
I'm a game dev. and I am making a game about colonizing Mars with you and SpaceX in it. If you think it's cool, all I need is the "Go ahead" to use your name and Logos. 
 
I will post this every day for a year or until I get a Yes or a No! 
154 / 365
— Lyubomir Vladimirov (@lvladimirovBG) <a href="https://twitter.com/lvladimirovBG/status/1349129814628773888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

However, getting such permissions require time, and paperwork. He skipped through that step by reaching out to Musk on Twitter. To everyone’s surprise, Musk responded to the developer, and gave him the affirmation he needed, saying that “we probably won’t sue you”.

Vladimirov had promised to publish the same tweet everyday for 365 days, till he got Musk’s attention. 
 
This is what the developer’s tweet said - “Dear Elon. I am a game developer and I am making a game about the colonization of Mars with you and SpaceX. If you think it's cool, all I need is a 'go ahead' to use your name and logos. I will post this every day for a year or until I get a 'yes' or a 'no'. 154/365 ”.

He continued to tweet the same everyday for 154 days, and now he can rest easy.

Musk responded to him with the following -&nbsp; "You can steal our name / logos and we probably won't sue you”.

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You can steal our name/logos &amp; we probably won’t sue you
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1349265937392930816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Soon after finding out that he received the permission, the developer promised to give a major part of the game’s profits to SpaceX. 
 
“I want to give 80% of the profits from the game to SpaceX. In that way, the game will not only serve the important purpose of entertaining people and arousing their interest in Mars, but will also help Elon Musk and SpaceX to achieve this”, his tweet said.

While waiting for Musk’s green signal, Vladimirov continued to work on the game, the preview of which can be watched below.

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Btw it doesn't always go as planned :D 
I recorded in full screen for better quality of the fail. 
More fails coming soon :D <a href="https://t.co/0H4UdkC96e">pic.twitter.com/0H4UdkC96e</a>
— Lyubomir Vladimirov (@lvladimirovBG) <a href="https://twitter.com/lvladimirovBG/status/1350664213904154625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

A video game creator came up with a quirky way to catch Elon Musk’s attention on Twitter - by reminding him everyday. But after 154 attempts, his efforts paid off.

A video game creator came up with a quirky way to catch Elon Musk’s attention on Twitter - by reminding him everyday. But after 154 attempts, his efforts paid off. He did not only receive a response from Elon Musk, but also a green light for the video game he’s working on. Lyubomir Vladimirov, an independent game developer wanted to develop a game inspired by SpaceX - using Tesla cars, and the aesthetic of their satellites. Dear Elon, I'm a game dev. and I am making a game about colonizing Mars with you and SpaceX in it. If you think it's cool, all I need is the "Go ahead" to use your name and Logos. I will post this every day for a year or until I get a Yes or a No! 154 / 365 — Lyubomir Vladimirov (@lvladimirovBG) January 12, 2021 × However, getting such permissions require time, and paperwork. He skipped through that step by reaching out to Musk on Twitter. To everyone’s surprise, Musk responded to the developer, and gave him the affirmation he needed, saying that “we probably won’t sue you”. Vladimirov had promised to publish the same tweet everyday for 365 days, till he got Musk’s attention. This is what the developer’s tweet said - “Dear Elon. I am a game developer and I am making a game about the colonization of Mars with you and SpaceX. If you think it's cool, all I need is a 'go ahead' to use your name and logos. I will post this every day for a year or until I get a 'yes' or a 'no'. 154/365 ”. He continued to tweet the same everyday for 154 days, and now he can rest easy. Musk responded to him with the following - "You can steal our name / logos and we probably won't sue you”. You can steal our name/logos & we probably won’t sue you — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 13, 2021 × Soon after finding out that he received the permission, the developer promised to give a major part of the game’s profits to SpaceX. “I want to give 80% of the profits from the game to SpaceX. In that way, the game will not only serve the important purpose of entertaining people and arousing their interest in Mars, but will also help Elon Musk and SpaceX to achieve this”, his tweet said. While waiting for Musk’s green signal, Vladimirov continued to work on the game, the preview of which can be watched below. Btw it doesn't always go as planned :D I recorded in full screen for better quality of the fail. More fails coming soon :D pic.twitter.com/0H4UdkC96e — Lyubomir Vladimirov (@lvladimirovBG) January 17, 2021 ×

Elon Musk responds to game developer who prodded him with the same Tweet for 22 weeks

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

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

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

Scientists just witnessed dead stars munching on remains of planets

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

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

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

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

NASA recently shared a mesmerising image of the "Fireworks Galaxy". Officially known as the "NGC 6946", the galaxy has undergone 10 supernovae in just the last century, a characteristic on which its name is based.

For comparison, our galaxy - the Milky Way experiences one to two supernova every century.&nbsp;In the image, which was clicked by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, one can see the stars, the spiralling arms, and other celestial facets of the Fireworks Galaxy.

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The galaxy is situated 25.2 million light-years away from Earth, and lies along the border of the constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus, which are situated in the north.

"In the last century alone, the Fireworks Galaxy (or NGC 6946) has experienced 10 observed supernovae. For context, our Milky Way Galaxy averages just one to two supernova events per century! The Fireworks Galaxy resides 25.2 million light-years away from us, along the border of the northern constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus," said NASA Hubble's Instagram caption.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/scientists-discover-the-oldest-most-distant-galaxy-till-date-354750" hreflang="en">Scientists discover the oldest, most distant galaxy till date</a>

The galaxy is in the "face-on" position as opposed to the "edge-on" position, which means that the galaxy is facing us, as opposed to appearing from its side.

Officially, it is classified as an intermediate spiral galaxy as well as a starburst galaxy.

Another galaxy-related feat achieved&nbsp;

Earlier, astronomers peeked into what they considered the oldest and most distant galaxy to date.

Called GN-z11, the galaxy is 13.4 billion light-years or 134 nonillion kilometres away from us.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/nasa-captures-magnetic-fingerprint-of-a-galaxy-across-24000-light-years-353208" hreflang="en">NASA captures 'magnetic fingerprint' of a galaxy across 24,000 light years</a>

The galaxy has been discovered by an international team of astronomers led by Nobunari Kashikawa, a professor at the department of astronomy at the University of Tokyo.

Kashikawa said - “From previous studies, the galaxy GN-z11 seems to be the farthest detectable galaxy from us, at 13.4 billion light-years, or 134 nonillion kilometres (that’s 134 followed by 30 zeros). But measuring and verifying such a distance is not an easy task.”

NASA recently shared a mesmerising image of the "Fireworks Galaxy". Officially known as the "NGC 6946", the galaxy has undergone 10 supernovae in just the last century, a characteristic on which its name is based.

NASA recently shared a mesmerising image of the "Fireworks Galaxy". Officially known as the "NGC 6946", the galaxy has undergone 10 supernovae in just the last century, a characteristic on which its name is based. For comparison, our galaxy - the Milky Way experiences one to two supernova every century. In the image, which was clicked by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, one can see the stars, the spiralling arms, and other celestial facets of the Fireworks Galaxy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble) The galaxy is situated 25.2 million light-years away from Earth, and lies along the border of the constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus, which are situated in the north. "In the last century alone, the Fireworks Galaxy (or NGC 6946) has experienced 10 observed supernovae. For context, our Milky Way Galaxy averages just one to two supernova events per century! The Fireworks Galaxy resides 25.2 million light-years away from us, along the border of the northern constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus," said NASA Hubble's Instagram caption. Also read: Scientists discover the oldest, most distant galaxy till date The galaxy is in the "face-on" position as opposed to the "edge-on" position, which means that the galaxy is facing us, as opposed to appearing from its side. Officially, it is classified as an intermediate spiral galaxy as well as a starburst galaxy. Another galaxy-related feat achieved Earlier, astronomers peeked into what they considered the oldest and most distant galaxy to date. Called GN-z11, the galaxy is 13.4 billion light-years or 134 nonillion kilometres away from us. Also read: NASA captures 'magnetic fingerprint' of a galaxy across 24,000 light years The galaxy has been discovered by an international team of astronomers led by Nobunari Kashikawa, a professor at the department of astronomy at the University of Tokyo. Kashikawa said - “From previous studies, the galaxy GN-z11 seems to be the farthest detectable galaxy from us, at 13.4 billion light-years, or 134 nonillion kilometres (that’s 134 followed by 30 zeros). But measuring and verifying such a distance is not an easy task.”

Take a look at this newly released mesmerising image of 'Fireworks Galaxy'

The Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona may be huge, but it doesn’t stand a chance against the Martian counterpart. The Valles Marineris Canyon on Mars runs along the equator for over 4023 kilometres (2500 miles). NASA claims that it is so vast that it would reach from New York City to San Francisco had it existed on Earth.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-is-earth-spinning-faster-than-it-has-in-50-years-354845" hreflang="en">Why is Earth spinning faster than it has in 50 years?</a> 
 
Considered the largest canyon in the solar system, new images from NASA reinforce this claim.&nbsp;

<img alt="a" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bf7c0dd2-bf0c-42e9-9036-1c1c17f61686" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_86.jpg" />

<h6>Image courtesy: NASA/University of Arizona/JPL</h6>

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recently revealed more details about this mega canyon. Images of the canyon were taken using the HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) - which is the most powerful camera ever to be sent to another planet.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/aliens-in-our-galaxy-may-have-perished-due-to-too-much-progress-study-suggests-351849" hreflang="en">Aliens in our galaxy may have perished due to too much progress, study suggests</a> 
 
According to the University of Arizona, it’s one of six instruments onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Scientists still don’t understand how the huge canyon came into being.

<img alt="vv" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="890b9b5e-e6ee-4f11-8ff7-412181521842" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_67.jpg" />

<h6>Image courtesy: NASA/University of Arizona/JPL</h6>

"Unlike Earth's Grand Canyon, Valles Marineris probably wasn't carved out by billions of years of rushing water; the Red Planet is too hot and dry to have ever accommodated a river large enough to slash through the crust like that,"&nbsp;LiveScience claims.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/look-at-the-most-detailed-image-of-a-sunspot-ever-captured-349615" hreflang="en">Look at the most detailed image of a sunspot ever captured!</a>

It is also entirely possible that a large area of the canyon cracked open billions of years ago, as claimed by the European Space Agency.

They claim that volcanoes in the Tharsis region may be partially responsible for the formation of the canyon.

The Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona may be huge, but it doesn’t stand a chance against the Martian counterpart. The Valles Marineris Canyon on Mars runs along the equator for over 4023 kilometres (2500 miles).

The Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona may be huge, but it doesn’t stand a chance against the Martian counterpart. The Valles Marineris Canyon on Mars runs along the equator for over 4023 kilometres (2500 miles). NASA claims that it is so vast that it would reach from New York City to San Francisco had it existed on Earth. Also read: Why is Earth spinning faster than it has in 50 years? Considered the largest canyon in the solar system, new images from NASA reinforce this claim. Image courtesy: NASA/University of Arizona/JPL The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recently revealed more details about this mega canyon. Images of the canyon were taken using the HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) - which is the most powerful camera ever to be sent to another planet. Also read: Aliens in our galaxy may have perished due to too much progress, study suggests According to the University of Arizona, it’s one of six instruments onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Scientists still don’t understand how the huge canyon came into being. Image courtesy: NASA/University of Arizona/JPL "Unlike Earth's Grand Canyon, Valles Marineris probably wasn't carved out by billions of years of rushing water; the Red Planet is too hot and dry to have ever accommodated a river large enough to slash through the crust like that," LiveScience claims. Also read: Look at the most detailed image of a sunspot ever captured! It is also entirely possible that a large area of the canyon cracked open billions of years ago, as claimed by the European Space Agency. They claim that volcanoes in the Tharsis region may be partially responsible for the formation of the canyon.

Photos by NASA reveal stunning details of our solar system's largest canyon

As Space gets more and more cluttered with satellite debris, a Japanese firm has devised an ambitious solution - making satellites out of wood. Can timber satellites survive the harsh conditions of space? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Japanese firm designing wooden satellites

In a celestial phenomenon not seen in 397 years, the largest planets in our solar system Jupiter and Saturn, from the perspective of observers on Earth on Monday (December 21), will appear to be aligned so closely they will almost seem to be one single "star" in the sky.

Jupiter and Saturn set to align into 'Christmas Star' after 397 years

Ever wondered what the source of all energy on our planet - the Sun looks like close up?&nbsp;Scientists recently released a detailed image of a sunspot, making it the first such image ever.

The image was taken on January 28 by the Inouye Solar Telescope, and shows magnetic structures that are 20 kilometres long on the Sun’s surface. Think this is a big number? On the Sun, it is not!

Take a look below!

<img alt="sunspot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347efeb1-bdff-4c35-9bc1-de9c16bf4e58" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_85.jpg" />

Image courtesy: NSF/NSO/AURA

Thomas Rimmele, the associate director at NSF’s National Solar Observatory (NSO) announced earlier in a statement for the National Science Foundation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-material-can-store-solar-energy-for-months-and-even-years-349440" hreflang="en">New material can store solar energy for months... and even years!</a>

The image was released on December 3, and marks the first time any such image of a sunspot has been taken.

The telescope used to take the picture is the largest one dedicated to the study of the Sun, and is operated by the National Science Foundation.

The image of the sunspot captures a small part of the Sun - 16,100 kilometres to be exact (10,000 miles). But the Earth itself could easily fir into this part of the sun.

The sunspot has a dark centre, which then branches out into brightness.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-australian-state-now-runs-on-100-renewable-energy-349230" hreflang="en">This Australian state now runs on 100% renewable energy</a>

In the dark region lies heat - a lot of it. It also reflects a concentration of magnetic fields that are blocked from reaching the surface of the star.

And guess what? It’s not even the hottest part of the Sun, in fact it is relatively cooler than the brightest parts of this sunspot.

Even then, it’s 4,100 degree Celsius hot! That’s 7,500 degrees F!&nbsp;

The Inouye Solar Telescope caught the image before even completion. But the NSF says this image points to what it could capture once it’s completed in 2021. It has advanced optics and a 4 metre primary mirror.

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

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

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

In the year 2020, three separate Mars missions began their journey. Rewind & revisit this year from the prism of space exploration through WION's this report.

2020: The year of three separate Mars missions

Top 10 mind-bending space discoveries and observations from 2020

The universe is a shade too bright.

That might be the last news you expected to hear toward the darkening end of a dark year. But that is what a band of astronomers has discovered, using cameras on the New Horizons spacecraft that once visited Pluto to measure the darkness of interplanetary space.

“There’s something out there unknown,” said Tod Lauer, of the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona. “The universe is not completely dark, and we don’t yet completely know what it comprises.”

Four billion miles from the sun, far from bright planets and the light scattered by interplanetary dust, empty space was about twice as bright as would be expected Lauer and his colleagues found. The most likely explanation, he said, was that there were more very faint galaxies or star clusters contributing to the background light of the universe than their models indicated. Or even that black holes in the centers of otherwise undistinguished galaxies were pumping extra energy into the void.

A less exciting possibility, Lauer said in an email, was that “we messed up and missed a light source or camera artifact that we should have figured out. This is what I worry about the most.”

A more intriguing, if speculative, suggestion involves what might be called cold dim matter. The universe is thought to be filled with “dark matter,” its exact substance unknown but whose gravity shapes the visible cosmos. Some theories suggest that this matter could be clouds of exotic subatomic particles that decay radioactively or collide and annihilate themselves in flashes of energy that add to the universal glow.

Lauer and his colleagues prefer to leave such speculations to particle physicists. “Our work is solely concerned with measuring the flux level itself,” he said in an email. “As observers, we offer this up for those who can figure out what to do with it.”

Marc Postman, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and an author of the report, which was published online in November, said, “It is important to do this to get an estimate of the total energy content of the universe, which helps inform us about the overall cosmic history of star formation.”

For the record, the amount of extra light they found bouncing around the universe is about 10 nanowatts per square meter per steradian, a measure of solid angle on the sky. (It takes 4(PIE) steradians to cover the entire sky).

Lauer compared this measurement to the amount of light supplied by the star Sirius or an open refrigerator a mile away. “To make it a little closer to what we did, you can think of lying in bed with the curtains open on a dark moonless night,” he wrote in an email. “Perhaps you’re awake and are staring at the walls. When Sirius clears the mountains, or your neighbor raids his fridge, we would see the light in the room get a little brighter.”

However, he noted, “Your distant neighbor eating leftover turkey at three in the morning is not going to wake you up at night from the glare.”

He said the measurement had a 5% chance of being a fluke; that margin of error is known as 2 sigma, and is a far cry from the gold standard for a discovery of “5 sigma,” or 1 chance in 3.5 million of being wrong.

The team’s measurement included only light in the visible wavelengths and needed to be augmented by radio, X-ray and infrared background measurements, Postman said.

For centuries, the darkness of the night sky was the source of a paradox named after German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers. Presumably, in an infinite static universe, every line of sight ends at a star, so shouldn’t the sky appear as bright as the sun?

But astronomers now know that the universe is only 13.8 billion years old and expanding. As a result, most lines of sight do not end on stars but on the fading glow of the Big Bang, and the wavelengths of the glow are now so extended that they are invisible to the eye, making the sky look dark.

But how dark is dark?

It’s no small feat to add up all the light you cannot see. There are distant galaxies too faint to trip the most sensitive detectors on giant telescopes, but which pump energy into the dust and gas that is strewn about space.

The New Horizons spacecraft was launched on Jan. 19, 2006, and sped by Pluto on July 14, 2015. On Jan. 1, 2019, it zoomed past Arrokoth, formerly called Ultima Thule, one of untold numbers of cosmic icebergs that live in the Kuiper belt on the outskirts of the solar system. It is still going.

Lauer’s measurements were based on seven images from the Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager, a camera on New Horizons, and taken when the spacecraft was some 4 billion miles from Earth. At that distance the spacecraft was well beyond the distracting glow of planets or of interplanetary dust. Indeed, Postman said, going even 10 times farther out would not have produced a cleaner darkness.

“When you have a telescope on New Horizons way out at the edge of the solar system, you can ask, How dark does space get anyway,” Lauer wrote. “Use your camera just to measure the glow from the sky.” In this case, the images were of distant Kuiper belt objects. Subtract them, and any stars, and what remains is pure sky.

The camera, Postman said, is a “white light imager,” receiving light across a wide spectrum spanning visible and some ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths.

Once the team measured the level of light in the sky background, they then had to resort to mathematical models of how many faint galaxies were lurking under the normal limits of detection. When that amount was subtracted from their measurements, an equal amount of light remained of unknown origin.

“It’s as if you counted all the people on Earth but left out Asia,” Postman said. Lauer said this was the most accurate measurement of the background light yet.

The study follows on earlier work by Michael Zemcov of the Rochester Institute of Technology, who had a smaller set of images to analyze — four 10-second exposures instead of 195 30-second exposures.

He and his colleagues derived an upper limit of about 19 nanowatts per square meter per steradian — in the same ballpark as Lauer’s results.

“This kind of measurement really pushes our understanding of both the instrument and the brightness of the light from all the stuff between us and the distant universe,” Zemcov said in an email. “People have posited a variety of sources, but the jury is still out on what it could be.”

What we can’t see may yet change our understanding of the universe, but Dan Hooper, a physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, splashed cold water on the idea that the culprit was dark matter. In an email, he said that he and his colleagues, brainstorming, had not come up with any new physics that would explain this added light, “with the exception of a couple of really baroque and otherwise unappealing options.”

The universe is a shade too bright. That might be the last news you expected to hear toward the darkening end of a dark year. But that is what a band of astronomers has discovered, using cameras on the New Horizons spacecraft that once visited Pluto to measure the darkness of interplanetary space.

The universe is a shade too bright. That might be the last news you expected to hear toward the darkening end of a dark year. But that is what a band of astronomers has discovered, using cameras on the New Horizons spacecraft that once visited Pluto to measure the darkness of interplanetary space. “There’s something out there unknown,” said Tod Lauer, of the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona. “The universe is not completely dark, and we don’t yet completely know what it comprises.” Four billion miles from the sun, far from bright planets and the light scattered by interplanetary dust, empty space was about twice as bright as would be expected Lauer and his colleagues found. The most likely explanation, he said, was that there were more very faint galaxies or star clusters contributing to the background light of the universe than their models indicated. Or even that black holes in the centers of otherwise undistinguished galaxies were pumping extra energy into the void. A less exciting possibility, Lauer said in an email, was that “we messed up and missed a light source or camera artifact that we should have figured out. This is what I worry about the most.” A more intriguing, if speculative, suggestion involves what might be called cold dim matter. The universe is thought to be filled with “dark matter,” its exact substance unknown but whose gravity shapes the visible cosmos. Some theories suggest that this matter could be clouds of exotic subatomic particles that decay radioactively or collide and annihilate themselves in flashes of energy that add to the universal glow. Lauer and his colleagues prefer to leave such speculations to particle physicists. “Our work is solely concerned with measuring the flux level itself,” he said in an email. “As observers, we offer this up for those who can figure out what to do with it.” Marc Postman, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and an author of the report, which was published online in November, said, “It is important to do this to get an estimate of the total energy content of the universe, which helps inform us about the overall cosmic history of star formation.” For the record, the amount of extra light they found bouncing around the universe is about 10 nanowatts per square meter per steradian, a measure of solid angle on the sky. (It takes 4(PIE) steradians to cover the entire sky). Lauer compared this measurement to the amount of light supplied by the star Sirius or an open refrigerator a mile away. “To make it a little closer to what we did, you can think of lying in bed with the curtains open on a dark moonless night,” he wrote in an email. “Perhaps you’re awake and are staring at the walls. When Sirius clears the mountains, or your neighbor raids his fridge, we would see the light in the room get a little brighter.” However, he noted, “Your distant neighbor eating leftover turkey at three in the morning is not going to wake you up at night from the glare.” He said the measurement had a 5% chance of being a fluke; that margin of error is known as 2 sigma, and is a far cry from the gold standard for a discovery of “5 sigma,” or 1 chance in 3.5 million of being wrong. The team’s measurement included only light in the visible wavelengths and needed to be augmented by radio, X-ray and infrared background measurements, Postman said. For centuries, the darkness of the night sky was the source of a paradox named after German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers. Presumably, in an infinite static universe, every line of sight ends at a star, so shouldn’t the sky appear as bright as the sun? But astronomers now know that the universe is only 13.8 billion years old and expanding. As a result, most lines of sight do not end on stars but on the fading glow of the Big Bang, and the wavelengths of the glow are now so extended that they are invisible to the eye, making the sky look dark. But how dark is dark? It’s no small feat to add up all the light you cannot see. There are distant galaxies too faint to trip the most sensitive detectors on giant telescopes, but which pump energy into the dust and gas that is strewn about space. The New Horizons spacecraft was launched on Jan. 19, 2006, and sped by Pluto on July 14, 2015. On Jan. 1, 2019, it zoomed past Arrokoth, formerly called Ultima Thule, one of untold numbers of cosmic icebergs that live in the Kuiper belt on the outskirts of the solar system. It is still going. Lauer’s measurements were based on seven images from the Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager, a camera on New Horizons, and taken when the spacecraft was some 4 billion miles from Earth. At that distance the spacecraft was well beyond the distracting glow of planets or of interplanetary dust. Indeed, Postman said, going even 10 times farther out would not have produced a cleaner darkness. “When you have a telescope on New Horizons way out at the edge of the solar system, you can ask, How dark does space get anyway,” Lauer wrote. “Use your camera just to measure the glow from the sky.” In this case, the images were of distant Kuiper belt objects. Subtract them, and any stars, and what remains is pure sky. The camera, Postman said, is a “white light imager,” receiving light across a wide spectrum spanning visible and some ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. Once the team measured the level of light in the sky background, they then had to resort to mathematical models of how many faint galaxies were lurking under the normal limits of detection. When that amount was subtracted from their measurements, an equal amount of light remained of unknown origin. “It’s as if you counted all the people on Earth but left out Asia,” Postman said. Lauer said this was the most accurate measurement of the background light yet. The study follows on earlier work by Michael Zemcov of the Rochester Institute of Technology, who had a smaller set of images to analyze — four 10-second exposures instead of 195 30-second exposures. He and his colleagues derived an upper limit of about 19 nanowatts per square meter per steradian — in the same ballpark as Lauer’s results. “This kind of measurement really pushes our understanding of both the instrument and the brightness of the light from all the stuff between us and the distant universe,” Zemcov said in an email. “People have posited a variety of sources, but the jury is still out on what it could be.” What we can’t see may yet change our understanding of the universe, but Dan Hooper, a physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, splashed cold water on the idea that the culprit was dark matter. In an email, he said that he and his colleagues, brainstorming, had not come up with any new physics that would explain this added light, “with the exception of a couple of really baroque and otherwise unappealing options.”

Outer space just got a little brighter

Have you ever wondered what the centre of our solar system - the gigantic Sun looks like when observed for a long period of time?

Well, fret not because NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has released a time-lapse video to exhibit what has been up with our giant star lately, or 20 years to be exact.

Watch the clip below:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o-DHwNFDgOU" width="560"></iframe>

The time-lapse shows incredible visuals of the Sun, and how it has grown over the last two decades. The clip was released by NASA to mark the 25th anniversary of SOHO - the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory - a collaborative project between NASA and the European Space Agency.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-completes-its-first-ever-docking-in-lunar-orbit-347860" hreflang="en">China completes its first-ever docking in lunar orbit</a>

The dramatic 50-minute long lapse clip shows all sorts of solar flare ups emanating from the Sun in the last 20 years - between 1998 and 2020 - to be exact.

Additionally, one can see the bursts of solar energy in the clip. These bursts are called “Coronal Mass Ejections” or CMEs, and are categorised as fast moving solar materials.

Why&nbsp;should we care? For starters, these little flares that may seen insignificant are actually responsible for weather conditions on Earth, and for any changes that occur. We see auroras due to these flares. Additionally, such movement could cause communication problems, and even power outages across the globe. Yes, that’s how powerful our central star is!

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-turns-on-its-nuclear-powered-artificial-sun-347548" hreflang="en">China turns on its nuclear powered 'artificial Sun'</a>

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory has been designed to outline a deeper understanding of the Sun, and everything that flows from it towards the earth, including the flows of energy, and different kinds of material.

The specialised telescopes of the SOHO are able to block out the bright spots of the sun, enabling it to record and observe the fainter shades of light that emanate from the star.

Have you ever wondered what the centre of our solar system - the gigantic Sun looks like when observed for a long period of time? Well, fret not because NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has released a time-lapse video to exhibit what has been up with our giant star lately, or 20 years to be exact.

Have you ever wondered what the centre of our solar system - the gigantic Sun looks like when observed for a long period of time? Well, fret not because NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has released a time-lapse video to exhibit what has been up with our giant star lately, or 20 years to be exact. Watch the clip below: The time-lapse shows incredible visuals of the Sun, and how it has grown over the last two decades. The clip was released by NASA to mark the 25th anniversary of SOHO - the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory - a collaborative project between NASA and the European Space Agency. Also read: China completes its first-ever docking in lunar orbit The dramatic 50-minute long lapse clip shows all sorts of solar flare ups emanating from the Sun in the last 20 years - between 1998 and 2020 - to be exact. Additionally, one can see the bursts of solar energy in the clip. These bursts are called “Coronal Mass Ejections” or CMEs, and are categorised as fast moving solar materials. Why should we care? For starters, these little flares that may seen insignificant are actually responsible for weather conditions on Earth, and for any changes that occur. We see auroras due to these flares. Additionally, such movement could cause communication problems, and even power outages across the globe. Yes, that’s how powerful our central star is! Also read: China turns on its nuclear powered 'artificial Sun' The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory has been designed to outline a deeper understanding of the Sun, and everything that flows from it towards the earth, including the flows of energy, and different kinds of material. The specialised telescopes of the SOHO are able to block out the bright spots of the sun, enabling it to record and observe the fainter shades of light that emanate from the star.

Watch: Incredible time-lapse of our Sun recorded over the last 20 years

The claw that will clean space - no kidding!

Space clutter is now a hindrance in effective space exploration, and scientists are working on a quick fix. Over the last decade, new countries have entered the “Space war”, deploying satellites and technology of their own over time. However, this has clogged space, and filled it with debris.&nbsp;

According to DailyMail, there are around 160 million pieces of space debris around planet Earth. These have been captured by our gravity, and circling around the planet at speeds of 18,000 miles per hour.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/nasa-seeking-explorers-for-mining-on-the-moon-all-nationalities-welcome-326795" hreflang="en">NASA seeking explorers for mining on the moon, all nationalities welcome</a>

Additionally, out of these 160 million pieces, at least one million may be larger than 1 cm, posing risks of collision with satellites. Scientists worry that such debris is capable of setting a chain reaction of destruction, whereby a single damage to a single satellite could escalate into large scale global satellite technology damage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/scientists-recently-scanned-10-million-stars-for-alien-technology-what-did-they-find-326020">Scientists recently scanned 10 million stars for alien technology, what did they find?</a>

What does this mean, you wonder? For starters, good bye GPS! In case our satellite connections are seriously severed, we will lose access to the map technology which has made navigating around the world easier. Additionally, mobile communication would be heavily disrupted, and weather forecasting interrupted.

2,800 satellites are currently orbiting earth. 3,000 dead satellites also orbit the Earth. Scientists and engineers have come up with a plan: A claw in space which will get hold of defunct satellites and push them back into the earth’s atmosphere. Once they enter the earth’s atmosphere, they will burn out.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uk-is-planning-to-remove-debris-from-space-heres-why-every-country-should-be-doing-it-327976" hreflang="en">UK is planning to remove debris from space. Here's why every country should be doing it!</a>

The European Space Agency came up with the plan in 2019, but now the agency is signing a contract with ClearSpace SA to kick start the mission called ClearSpace-1. The claw will first target VESPA (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter) which has been orbiting Earth since 2013.&nbsp;

The ESA is expected to contribute €86 million to the mission cost, with the rest of the money expected to be raised by ClearSpace, which intends to venture into the business of junk removal. ClearSpace SA hopes to launch its first mission in 2025.

The claw that will clean space - no kidding! Space clutter is now a hindrance in effective space exploration, and scientists are working on a quick fix. Over the last decade, new countries have entered the “Space war”, deploying satellites and technology of their own over time.

The claw that will clean space - no kidding! Space clutter is now a hindrance in effective space exploration, and scientists are working on a quick fix. Over the last decade, new countries have entered the “Space war”, deploying satellites and technology of their own over time. However, this has clogged space, and filled it with debris. According to DailyMail, there are around 160 million pieces of space debris around planet Earth. These have been captured by our gravity, and circling around the planet at speeds of 18,000 miles per hour. Also read: NASA seeking explorers for mining on the moon, all nationalities welcome Additionally, out of these 160 million pieces, at least one million may be larger than 1 cm, posing risks of collision with satellites. Scientists worry that such debris is capable of setting a chain reaction of destruction, whereby a single damage to a single satellite could escalate into large scale global satellite technology damage. Also read: Scientists recently scanned 10 million stars for alien technology, what did they find? What does this mean, you wonder? For starters, good bye GPS! In case our satellite connections are seriously severed, we will lose access to the map technology which has made navigating around the world easier. Additionally, mobile communication would be heavily disrupted, and weather forecasting interrupted. 2,800 satellites are currently orbiting earth. 3,000 dead satellites also orbit the Earth. Scientists and engineers have come up with a plan: A claw in space which will get hold of defunct satellites and push them back into the earth’s atmosphere. Once they enter the earth’s atmosphere, they will burn out. Also read: UK is planning to remove debris from space. Here's why every country should be doing it! The European Space Agency came up with the plan in 2019, but now the agency is signing a contract with ClearSpace SA to kick start the mission called ClearSpace-1. The claw will first target VESPA (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter) which has been orbiting Earth since 2013. The ESA is expected to contribute €86 million to the mission cost, with the rest of the money expected to be raised by ClearSpace, which intends to venture into the business of junk removal. ClearSpace SA hopes to launch its first mission in 2025.

European Space Agency has the perfect fix for space junk - a claw!

Finance, Space, Fintech will be top focus at the India&nbsp;Luxembourg virtual summit that will take place on Thursday. The summit will be&nbsp;held between Indian Prime Minister&nbsp;Narendra Modi and&nbsp;Luxembourg's&nbsp;Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Both PMs have met three&nbsp;times previously.

A release from Ministry of external affairs said, "The leaders will discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relationship, including strengthening of India-Luxembourg cooperation in the post-COVID world. They will also exchange views on international and global issues of mutual interest."

This is the sixth&nbsp;virtual summit India is holding amid the COVID pandemic, and&nbsp;the fourth&nbsp;one with European leadership. So far India has conducted&nbsp;virtual summits with Australia, EU, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Italy &amp; now Luxembourg.

This is also the first stand-alone Summit meeting between India and Luxembourg in the past two decades.&nbsp;

Finance, Space, Fintech will be top focus at the India Luxembourg virtual summit that will take place on Thursday. The summit will be held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.

Finance, Space, Fintech will be top focus at the India Luxembourg virtual summit that will take place on Thursday. The summit will be held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Both PMs have met three times previously. A release from Ministry of external affairs said, "The leaders will discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relationship, including strengthening of India-Luxembourg cooperation in the post-COVID world. They will also exchange views on international and global issues of mutual interest." This is the sixth virtual summit India is holding amid the COVID pandemic, and the fourth one with European leadership. So far India has conducted virtual summits with Australia, EU, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Italy & now Luxembourg. This is also the first stand-alone Summit meeting between India and Luxembourg in the past two decades.

Finance, Space, Fintech to be top focus at India-Luxembourg virtual summit

A European space rocket failed minutes after taking off with the loss of both satellites it was carrying. The launch's failure is the second in as many years.

The Vega light launcher, which would have placed Spain's first satellite into orbit, malfunctioned roughly eight minutes after launching from a space centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

Having taken off at around 11 pm local time (0200 GMT) Monday, the launcher slowed before it encountered an unidentified "anomaly," said Arianespace, the company overseeing the launch.

"The mission is lost," CEO Stephane Israel said in a livestream to track the rocket.

Vega was supposed to place two satellites -- both of which were lost during the mission -- around 700 kilometres (435 miles) from Earth.

The mission would have launched Spain's first Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency (ESA).

It would also have placed into orbit Taranis, a French satellite that would have observed extremely bright electrical phenomena in the planet's upper atmosphere.

 
&nbsp;

A European space rocket failed minutes after taking off with the loss of both satellites it was carrying. The launch's failure is the second in as many years. The Vega light launcher, which would have placed Spain's first satellite into orbit, malfunctioned roughly eight minutes after launching from a space centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

A European space rocket failed minutes after taking off with the loss of both satellites it was carrying. The launch's failure is the second in as many years. The Vega light launcher, which would have placed Spain's first satellite into orbit, malfunctioned roughly eight minutes after launching from a space centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Having taken off at around 11 pm local time (0200 GMT) Monday, the launcher slowed before it encountered an unidentified "anomaly," said Arianespace, the company overseeing the launch. "The mission is lost," CEO Stephane Israel said in a livestream to track the rocket. Vega was supposed to place two satellites -- both of which were lost during the mission -- around 700 kilometres (435 miles) from Earth. The mission would have launched Spain's first Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency (ESA). It would also have placed into orbit Taranis, a French satellite that would have observed extremely bright electrical phenomena in the planet's upper atmosphere.

European space rocket launch fails minutes after take-off

Did we just discover the Moon's sibling?

Scientists have reason to believe that the Earth’s Moon has a sibling. According to The Guardian, its official name is (101429) 1998 VF31, and it could be our Moon’s sibling. The celestial body is probably 4.5 billion years old, with a lunar appearance, and is twinned with the moon.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/water-more-widespread-on-moon-than-previously-thought-339296" hreflang="en">Water more widespread on Moon than previously thought</a>

Until now, scientists didn’t know our natural satellite even had a sibling. Turns out, it was too small to be noticed by astronomers. Considering how old it is, we are rather discovering it late.

Where is the Moon's sibling located?

Just because it may be the Moon’s siblings does not mean they’re aligned nearby. The asteroid ‘sibling’, with a diameter of 1 kilometres has been hiding behind the red planet, Mars for most of its life.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/scientists-found-unexpected-molecule-in-atmosphere-of-saturns-largest-moon-338725" hreflang="en">Scientists found unexpected molecule in atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-reveals-discovery-of-water-molecules-on-moon-338297/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

How is it Moon’s sibling?

Scientists posit that the moon is one of the largest natural satellites in the solar system, relative to the size of its planet - Earth. This is due to the fact that a large body had collided into the Earth, breaking apart the previous body, parts of which constitute our current moon, explaining its huge size.

According to scientists, the relatively small asteroid is made of the same stuff as our Moon, making them somehow related.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/nasa-discovers-water-on-sunlit-surface-of-the-moon-338137" hreflang="en">NASA discovers water on sunlit surface of the Moon</a>

This was ascertained by a spectroscopic observation, which was noticed by the Very Large Telescope (no pun intended) in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

The lead author of the study, which was undertaken by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) - Dr Apostolos Christou told The Guardian that it has the same colour as the moon.

Based on the analysis, the asteroid boasts pyroxene and iron, constituting a “dead-ringer” for moon’s parts.

Even though the relationship between the moon and this object was ascertained just recently, the object was discovered in 1998, and it is a “Trojan”, which are space bodies stationed between the gravitational fields of sun and Mars, and are called “Lagrange points”.

It is possible that this asteroid is part of the Moon which broke off and found its own way.

Did we just discover the Moon's sibling? Scientists have reason to believe that the Earth’s Moon has a sibling. According to The Guardian, its official name is (101429) 1998 VF31, and it could be our Moon’s sibling.

Did we just discover the Moon's sibling? Scientists have reason to believe that the Earth’s Moon has a sibling. According to The Guardian, its official name is (101429) 1998 VF31, and it could be our Moon’s sibling. The celestial body is probably 4.5 billion years old, with a lunar appearance, and is twinned with the moon. Also read: Water more widespread on Moon than previously thought Until now, scientists didn’t know our natural satellite even had a sibling. Turns out, it was too small to be noticed by astronomers. Considering how old it is, we are rather discovering it late. Where is the Moon's sibling located? Just because it may be the Moon’s siblings does not mean they’re aligned nearby. The asteroid ‘sibling’, with a diameter of 1 kilometres has been hiding behind the red planet, Mars for most of its life. Also read: Scientists found unexpected molecule in atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon How is it Moon’s sibling? Scientists posit that the moon is one of the largest natural satellites in the solar system, relative to the size of its planet - Earth. This is due to the fact that a large body had collided into the Earth, breaking apart the previous body, parts of which constitute our current moon, explaining its huge size. According to scientists, the relatively small asteroid is made of the same stuff as our Moon, making them somehow related. Also read: NASA discovers water on sunlit surface of the Moon This was ascertained by a spectroscopic observation, which was noticed by the Very Large Telescope (no pun intended) in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The lead author of the study, which was undertaken by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) - Dr Apostolos Christou told The Guardian that it has the same colour as the moon. Based on the analysis, the asteroid boasts pyroxene and iron, constituting a “dead-ringer” for moon’s parts. Even though the relationship between the moon and this object was ascertained just recently, the object was discovered in 1998, and it is a “Trojan”, which are space bodies stationed between the gravitational fields of sun and Mars, and are called “Lagrange points”. It is possible that this asteroid is part of the Moon which broke off and found its own way.

Did we just discover the Moon's long-lost sibling?

The fact that the Moon has water on its surface is widely known. But now, latest observations say that water may be more widespread on the lunar surface than previously thought. These water molecules are trapped within mineral grains on the lunar surface. And more water may be there in ice patches on the part of the Moon that is permanently in the shadow.

While research 11 years ago indicated the water was relatively widespread in small amounts on the moon, a team of scientists is now reporting the first unambiguous detection of water molecules on the lunar surface. At the same time, another team is reporting that the moon possesses roughly 15,000 square miles (40,000 square kilometers) of permanent shadows that potentially could harbor hidden pockets of water in the form of ice.

Water is a precious resource and a relatively plentiful lunar presence could prove important to future astronaut and robotic missions seeking to extract and utilize water for purposes such as a drinking supply or a fuel ingredient.

A team of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland has now detected molecular water on the Moon's surface. These molecules are trapped within natural glasses or between debris grains.

Previous observations have suffered from ambiguity between water and its molecular cousin hydroxyl, but the new detection used a method that yielded unambiguous findings.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-telescope-gives-closer-look-at-rare-asteroid-worth-70000-times-the-global-economy-338984">Hubble telescope gives closer look at rare asteroid worth 70,000 times the global economy</a> 
 
The only way for this water to survive on the sunlit lunar surfaces where it was observed was to be embedded within mineral grains, protecting it from the frigid and foreboding environment. The researchers used data from the SOFIA airborne observatory, a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a telescope.

“A lot of people think that the detection I’ve made is water ice, which is not true. It’s just the water molecules - because they’re so spread out they don’t interact with each other to form water ice or even liquid water,” Honniball said.

The second study, also published in the journal Nature Astronomy, focused upon so-called cold traps on the moon, regions of its surface that exist in a state of perpetual darkness where temperatures are below about negative 260 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 163 degrees Celsius). That is cold enough that frozen water can remain stable for billions of years.

Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, researchers led by planetary scientist Paul Hayne of the University of Colorado, Boulder detected what may be tens of billions of small shadows, many no bigger than a small coin. Most are located in the polar regions.

“Our research shows that a multitude of previously unknown regions of the moon could harbor water ice,” Hayne said. “Our results suggest that water could be much more widespread in the moon’s polar regions than previously thought, making it easier to access, extract and analyze.”

NASA is planning a return of astronauts to the moon, a mission envisioned as paving the way for a later journey carrying a crew to Mars. Accessible sources where water can be harvested on the moon would beneficial to those endeavors.

“Water is not just constrained to the polar region. It’s more spread out than we thought it was,” Honniball said.

Another mystery that remains unsolved is the source of the lunar water.

“The origin of water on the moon is one of the big-picture questions we are trying to answer through this and other research,” Hayne said. “Currently, the major contenders are comets, asteroids or small interplanetary dust particles, the solar wind, and the moon itself through outgassing from volcanic eruptions.”

Earth is a wet world, with vast salty oceans, large freshwater lakes and ice caps that serve as water reservoirs.

“As our closest planetary companion, understanding the origins of water on the moon can also shed light on the origins of Earth’s water - still an open question in planetary science,” Hayne added.

(With Reuters inputs)

The fact that the Moon has water on its surface is widely known. But now, latest observations say that water may be more widespread on the lunar surface than previously thought.

The fact that the Moon has water on its surface is widely known. But now, latest observations say that water may be more widespread on the lunar surface than previously thought. These water molecules are trapped within mineral grains on the lunar surface. And more water may be there in ice patches on the part of the Moon that is permanently in the shadow. While research 11 years ago indicated the water was relatively widespread in small amounts on the moon, a team of scientists is now reporting the first unambiguous detection of water molecules on the lunar surface. At the same time, another team is reporting that the moon possesses roughly 15,000 square miles (40,000 square kilometers) of permanent shadows that potentially could harbor hidden pockets of water in the form of ice. Water is a precious resource and a relatively plentiful lunar presence could prove important to future astronaut and robotic missions seeking to extract and utilize water for purposes such as a drinking supply or a fuel ingredient. A team of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland has now detected molecular water on the Moon's surface. These molecules are trapped within natural glasses or between debris grains. Previous observations have suffered from ambiguity between water and its molecular cousin hydroxyl, but the new detection used a method that yielded unambiguous findings. Also Read | Hubble telescope gives closer look at rare asteroid worth 70,000 times the global economy The only way for this water to survive on the sunlit lunar surfaces where it was observed was to be embedded within mineral grains, protecting it from the frigid and foreboding environment. The researchers used data from the SOFIA airborne observatory, a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a telescope. “A lot of people think that the detection I’ve made is water ice, which is not true. It’s just the water molecules - because they’re so spread out they don’t interact with each other to form water ice or even liquid water,” Honniball said. The second study, also published in the journal Nature Astronomy, focused upon so-called cold traps on the moon, regions of its surface that exist in a state of perpetual darkness where temperatures are below about negative 260 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 163 degrees Celsius). That is cold enough that frozen water can remain stable for billions of years. Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, researchers led by planetary scientist Paul Hayne of the University of Colorado, Boulder detected what may be tens of billions of small shadows, many no bigger than a small coin. Most are located in the polar regions. “Our research shows that a multitude of previously unknown regions of the moon could harbor water ice,” Hayne said. “Our results suggest that water could be much more widespread in the moon’s polar regions than previously thought, making it easier to access, extract and analyze.” NASA is planning a return of astronauts to the moon, a mission envisioned as paving the way for a later journey carrying a crew to Mars. Accessible sources where water can be harvested on the moon would beneficial to those endeavors. “Water is not just constrained to the polar region. It’s more spread out than we thought it was,” Honniball said. Another mystery that remains unsolved is the source of the lunar water. “The origin of water on the moon is one of the big-picture questions we are trying to answer through this and other research,” Hayne said. “Currently, the major contenders are comets, asteroids or small interplanetary dust particles, the solar wind, and the moon itself through outgassing from volcanic eruptions.” Earth is a wet world, with vast salty oceans, large freshwater lakes and ice caps that serve as water reservoirs. “As our closest planetary companion, understanding the origins of water on the moon can also shed light on the origins of Earth’s water - still an open question in planetary science,” Hayne added. (With Reuters inputs)

Water more widespread on Moon than previously thought

Microsoft Corp is partnering with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk-led SpaceX and others as it targets space customers, the software giant said on Tuesday.

The partnership with SpaceX Starlink will provide high-speed satellite broadband for Microsoft`s cloud computing data centers, the company said https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/10/20/azure-space-cloud-powered-innovation-on-and-off-the-planet in a blog post.

Cloud companies have seen a surge in demand this year as more businesses use their services for switching to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SpaceX, known for its reusable rockets and astronaut capsules, is ramping up satellite production for Starlink, a growing constellation of hundreds of internet-beaming satellites that Musk hopes will generate enough revenue to help fund SpaceX`s interplanetary goals.

Earlier this month, SpaceX won a $149 million contract to build missile-tracking satellites for the Pentagon, its first government contract to build satellites.

Microsoft Corp is partnering with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk-led SpaceX and others as it targets space customers, the software giant said on Tuesday. The partnership with SpaceX Starlink will provide high-speed satellite broadband for Microsoft`s cloud computing data centers, the company said https://blogs.

Microsoft Corp is partnering with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk-led SpaceX and others as it targets space customers, the software giant said on Tuesday. The partnership with SpaceX Starlink will provide high-speed satellite broadband for Microsoft`s cloud computing data centers, the company said https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/10/20/azure-space-cloud-powered-innovation-on-and-off-the-planet in a blog post. Cloud companies have seen a surge in demand this year as more businesses use their services for switching to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SpaceX, known for its reusable rockets and astronaut capsules, is ramping up satellite production for Starlink, a growing constellation of hundreds of internet-beaming satellites that Musk hopes will generate enough revenue to help fund SpaceX`s interplanetary goals. Earlier this month, SpaceX won a $149 million contract to build missile-tracking satellites for the Pentagon, its first government contract to build satellites.

Microsoft, Elon Musk's SpaceX tie up to woo space customers

Scientists and researchers have launched plenty of people and things into space, but a British supermarket has outdone every experiment that has so far been carried out.

Iceland Foods Ltd sent a chicken nugget into the cosmos in order to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

In a video released by the chain, viewers can watch the nugget's ascent into space.

The grocery store chain hired Sent Into Space -- a space marketing company, specialising in space-themed marketing campaigns and publicity stunts -- to launch the chicken nugget into space.

"From a site in rural Wales, the nugget traveled through the Earth's atmosphere to an altitude of 110,000 feet (= 33.5 km = 20.7 miles) where it floated in the region known as Near Space," Sent Into Space wrote in a statement on its website.

The nugget spent an hour "floating" in space in low pressure and temperatures that can drop to -65 degrees Celsius.

The nugget was launched near the company's headquarters in Wales in a gas-filled weather balloon with an auxiliary satellite tracking system and integrated camera support.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?t=0&amp;v=364101048366457">WATCH THE VIDEO HERE</a>

The Irish News reported that the nugget descended at 200 mph, with a parachute deploying around 62,000 feet for the nugget's protection.

Scientists and researchers have launched plenty of people and things into space, but a British supermarket has outdone every experiment that has so far been carried out.

Scientists and researchers have launched plenty of people and things into space, but a British supermarket has outdone every experiment that has so far been carried out. Iceland Foods Ltd sent a chicken nugget into the cosmos in order to celebrate its 50th anniversary. In a video released by the chain, viewers can watch the nugget's ascent into space. The grocery store chain hired Sent Into Space -- a space marketing company, specialising in space-themed marketing campaigns and publicity stunts -- to launch the chicken nugget into space. "From a site in rural Wales, the nugget traveled through the Earth's atmosphere to an altitude of 110,000 feet (= 33.5 km = 20.7 miles) where it floated in the region known as Near Space," Sent Into Space wrote in a statement on its website. The nugget spent an hour "floating" in space in low pressure and temperatures that can drop to -65 degrees Celsius. The nugget was launched near the company's headquarters in Wales in a gas-filled weather balloon with an auxiliary satellite tracking system and integrated camera support. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE The Irish News reported that the nugget descended at 200 mph, with a parachute deploying around 62,000 feet for the nugget's protection.

A British supermarket just launched a chicken nugget into space

NASA recently spent $23 million to come up with a new space toilet to improve the lives of astronauts on the International Space Station. The agency is launching the toilet on Thursday, October 1.&nbsp;

The toilet is designed to be efficient in space, and to specially cater to the needs of female astronauts onboard the ISS.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-65mBQ7s_Q" width="560"></iframe>

The UWMS

The new toilet is called the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS), and is reportedly 65 per cent lighter and 40 per cent smaller than the previous model.&nbsp; The original Waste Collection System is still used on the station, and was built in the 1990s.

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To Boldly Go 
What's more exciting than a new toilet? A new SPACE toilet.<a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> <a href="https://t.co/6sIh97TsNI">https://t.co/6sIh97TsNI</a> <a href="https://t.co/c1hHQxDtzw">pic.twitter.com/c1hHQxDtzw</a>
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/status/1309832925035278336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The primary rationale behind designing a new toilet was to account for women’s needs on the space station. The earlier model only had room for the user to urinate or defecate, but not both at once - the new system eliminates that, making it more comfortable for all.

The new design, even though might come off as small and weird looking, is best designed to meet the comfort standards of space defecation.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-election-2020-nasa-astronauts-on-spacexs-crew-dragon-will-vote-from-space-331336" hreflang="en">US election 2020: NASA astronauts on SpaceX's Crew Dragon will vote from space</a>

The new design will also require lesser maintenance and plumbing. Additionally, thigh restraints have been removed, and now footholds and handholds will be in place to ensure comfort.

Even though defecation may be getting easier, disposing it still remains a problem. Most of it is put into airtight bags, and then stored in a cargo ship which is sent back to Earth, but burns into the process of reentering.&nbsp; Urine, on the other hand, is filtered and reused&nbsp;on the station.

The earliest space missions did not have toilets on board. In fact, astronaut Alan Shepard had to urinate in his spacesuit in 1961.&nbsp;The earliest solution to peeing in space was to use plastic tubes, but it did not work out, especially for women, and also caused leakage.

Due to the lack of gravity on the ISS, the toilets are made keeping in mind airflow instead of gravity.&nbsp;

NASA is launching the new toilet on October 1, at 9.38 PM EDT / 7.08 AM IST.

NASA recently spent $23 million to come up with a new space toilet to improve the lives of astronauts on the International Space Station. The agency is launching the toilet on Thursday, October 1.

NASA recently spent $23 million to come up with a new space toilet to improve the lives of astronauts on the International Space Station. The agency is launching the toilet on Thursday, October 1. The toilet is designed to be efficient in space, and to specially cater to the needs of female astronauts onboard the ISS. The UWMS The new toilet is called the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS), and is reportedly 65 per cent lighter and 40 per cent smaller than the previous model. The original Waste Collection System is still used on the station, and was built in the 1990s. To Boldly Go What's more exciting than a new toilet? A new SPACE toilet.@NASA https://t.co/6sIh97TsNI pic.twitter.com/c1hHQxDtzw — Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) September 26, 2020 × The primary rationale behind designing a new toilet was to account for women’s needs on the space station. The earlier model only had room for the user to urinate or defecate, but not both at once - the new system eliminates that, making it more comfortable for all. The new design, even though might come off as small and weird looking, is best designed to meet the comfort standards of space defecation. Also read: US election 2020: NASA astronauts on SpaceX's Crew Dragon will vote from space The new design will also require lesser maintenance and plumbing. Additionally, thigh restraints have been removed, and now footholds and handholds will be in place to ensure comfort. Even though defecation may be getting easier, disposing it still remains a problem. Most of it is put into airtight bags, and then stored in a cargo ship which is sent back to Earth, but burns into the process of reentering. Urine, on the other hand, is filtered and reused on the station. The earliest space missions did not have toilets on board. In fact, astronaut Alan Shepard had to urinate in his spacesuit in 1961. The earliest solution to peeing in space was to use plastic tubes, but it did not work out, especially for women, and also caused leakage. Due to the lack of gravity on the ISS, the toilets are made keeping in mind airflow instead of gravity. NASA is launching the new toilet on October 1, at 9.38 PM EDT / 7.08 AM IST.

NASA to send its new $23 million toilet to International Space Station

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States. The launch from Alaska is expected to take place from 2022 onwards.&nbsp;

Under this agreement, Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul will work together to secure several regulatory approvals. They include US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch licensing, US export control, and will comply with export laws &amp; regulations in India to receive necessary clearances from the Indian authorities as well. The aim is to define launch vehicle-spaceport interfaces, related procedures and conduct at least one test launch from PSCA.

“We are thrilled AgniKul has partnered with Alaska Aerospace for high inclination flight testing,” said Mark Lester, President and CEO of Alaska Aerospace. “Agnikul has established itself as a leading rocket technology company, and we are pleased Alaska’s proven launch infrastructure and expertise continue to attract new space launch companies from around the world”, he added.&nbsp;

Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and Co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos said that this announcement was further evidence of their company’s steady progress towards launch. “Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul share a vision of providing rapid, agile, and low-cost access to space. This is a great platform for us to demonstrate our 'Made In India, for the world' launch services solution through our mobile vehicle Agnibaan” he elaborated.&nbsp;

When asked about the reason behind choosing the Alaskan launch port, Srinath said that for certain types of orbits which are preferred by customers, it was preferred to launch from a high latitude location. “In some cases we might have to launch closer from poles and Alaska offers that, when it comes to launches from close to the equator, Sriharikota is an option and we are working with India’s In-space for this” he told WION.&nbsp;

When WION asked about the complexities in the logistics of getting a rocket to a foreign land, he said that it would be similar to how flights land in foreign airports. “The rocket can be shipped to the destination and at the launch port we’ll be provided facilities like fuel and tracking and telemetry systems. This enables us to go where the customer is” he said.&nbsp;

He also feels that there isn’t much of a competition n the segment that his company is targeting - payload of upto 100 kg to low Earth orbits up to 700 km. “There are quite a lot of players making rockets, but very few in the less than 100kg segment” he said, adding that they were targeting a maiden test launch by end of 2021.

“By partnering with Alaska Aerospace, AgniKul engineers and staff can focus on the technical complexities of perfecting our rocket Agnibaan's launch operations from different environmental conditions across geographies,” said AgniKul Co-founder &amp; COO Moin SPM. "Having access to high latitude launch locations is an important aspect of our strategy for offering customer-centric launch services, and this partnership with Alaska Aerospace is going to be directly helpful” he added.&nbsp;

Under the agreement with the Alaska Aerospace Corporation additional tests and operational launches are also possible under. This is said to be an important step in moving the small satellite launch market towards a customer-centric business model as opposed to what it is today – a vehicle-centric model. This would mean faster, easier commercial space access, and ultimately will open up space for everyone.&nbsp;

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited is a Chennai, India-based start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the company is targeting commercial rocket launches from 2022 onwards.&nbsp;

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States.

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States. The launch from Alaska is expected to take place from 2022 onwards. Under this agreement, Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul will work together to secure several regulatory approvals. They include US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch licensing, US export control, and will comply with export laws & regulations in India to receive necessary clearances from the Indian authorities as well. The aim is to define launch vehicle-spaceport interfaces, related procedures and conduct at least one test launch from PSCA. “We are thrilled AgniKul has partnered with Alaska Aerospace for high inclination flight testing,” said Mark Lester, President and CEO of Alaska Aerospace. “Agnikul has established itself as a leading rocket technology company, and we are pleased Alaska’s proven launch infrastructure and expertise continue to attract new space launch companies from around the world”, he added. Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and Co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos said that this announcement was further evidence of their company’s steady progress towards launch. “Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul share a vision of providing rapid, agile, and low-cost access to space. This is a great platform for us to demonstrate our 'Made In India, for the world' launch services solution through our mobile vehicle Agnibaan” he elaborated. When asked about the reason behind choosing the Alaskan launch port, Srinath said that for certain types of orbits which are preferred by customers, it was preferred to launch from a high latitude location. “In some cases we might have to launch closer from poles and Alaska offers that, when it comes to launches from close to the equator, Sriharikota is an option and we are working with India’s In-space for this” he told WION. When WION asked about the complexities in the logistics of getting a rocket to a foreign land, he said that it would be similar to how flights land in foreign airports. “The rocket can be shipped to the destination and at the launch port we’ll be provided facilities like fuel and tracking and telemetry systems. This enables us to go where the customer is” he said. He also feels that there isn’t much of a competition n the segment that his company is targeting - payload of upto 100 kg to low Earth orbits up to 700 km. “There are quite a lot of players making rockets, but very few in the less than 100kg segment” he said, adding that they were targeting a maiden test launch by end of 2021. “By partnering with Alaska Aerospace, AgniKul engineers and staff can focus on the technical complexities of perfecting our rocket Agnibaan's launch operations from different environmental conditions across geographies,” said AgniKul Co-founder & COO Moin SPM. "Having access to high latitude launch locations is an important aspect of our strategy for offering customer-centric launch services, and this partnership with Alaska Aerospace is going to be directly helpful” he added. Under the agreement with the Alaska Aerospace Corporation additional tests and operational launches are also possible under. This is said to be an important step in moving the small satellite launch market towards a customer-centric business model as opposed to what it is today – a vehicle-centric model. This would mean faster, easier commercial space access, and ultimately will open up space for everyone. AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited is a Chennai, India-based start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the company is targeting commercial rocket launches from 2022 onwards.

Agnibaan rocket by Indian start-up to be test launched from Alaska, USA

Looks like we might be getting closer to discovering life on mars. Two years ago, scientists discovered a large reservoir under Mars icy surface. Now, they have found three such more lakes!

On Monday, a paper in Nature Astronomy claimed that researchers have found three lakes burrowed under the red planet’s surface, in addition to the saltwater lake discovered earlier. Radar data from the European Space Agency (ESA) was used to discover the water bodies.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-plans-mission-to-moon-by-2024-to-cost-28-billion-329344" hreflang="en">NASA plans mission to moon by 2024, to cost $28 billion</a>

The report quoted one of the paper’s authors - Elena Pettinelli from the University Rome, who called the discovery mechanism ‘complex’ - "We identified the same body of water, but we also found three other bodies of water around the main one...It's a complex system."

The lakes are spread across 75,000 square kilometres. The largest lake, which lies in the centre of all three is 30 kilometres long, while the three smaller lakes are a “few kilometres wide”.

This discovery could lay the groundwork for finding more life-sustaining characteristics on our neighbour, which has been under the watchful eye of the top brass, given the severity of climate change, which experts fear is nearing a point of no return for Earth.

Scientists believe that such lakes could point to existence of life on Mars!

The detection of three lakes is an extrapolation of the previous findings in the previous region which pointed to what’s being dubbed as the central lake. It was found in 2018, making the first liquid water body ever detected on Mars, which could also mean there is potential scope of life on the planet.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-images-of-jupiter-show-new-storm-moving-at-350-mph-328571" hreflang="en">New images of Jupiter show new storm moving at 350 mph</a>

The report, however added that the “finding was based on just 29 observations made from 2012 to 2015." As opposed to that, the new study took into account broader data signifiers - taking into account 134 observations between 2012 and 2019.

Scientists also believe that the salt content in any Martian lake will be over the roof! According to Pettinelli, “from a thermal point of view it has to be salty."

Water bodies with salt content five times over seawater can sustain life. But if the salt content is 20 times over Earth seawater levels, life cannot exist in such water bodies, the report added, while quoting John Priscu, an environmental scientist from the Montana State University.

Looks like we might be getting closer to discovering life on mars. Two years ago, scientists discovered a large reservoir under Mars icy surface. Now, they have found three such more lakes!

Looks like we might be getting closer to discovering life on mars. Two years ago, scientists discovered a large reservoir under Mars icy surface. Now, they have found three such more lakes! On Monday, a paper in Nature Astronomy claimed that researchers have found three lakes burrowed under the red planet’s surface, in addition to the saltwater lake discovered earlier. Radar data from the European Space Agency (ESA) was used to discover the water bodies. Also read: NASA plans mission to moon by 2024, to cost $28 billion The report quoted one of the paper’s authors - Elena Pettinelli from the University Rome, who called the discovery mechanism ‘complex’ - "We identified the same body of water, but we also found three other bodies of water around the main one...It's a complex system." The lakes are spread across 75,000 square kilometres. The largest lake, which lies in the centre of all three is 30 kilometres long, while the three smaller lakes are a “few kilometres wide”. This discovery could lay the groundwork for finding more life-sustaining characteristics on our neighbour, which has been under the watchful eye of the top brass, given the severity of climate change, which experts fear is nearing a point of no return for Earth. Scientists believe that such lakes could point to existence of life on Mars! The detection of three lakes is an extrapolation of the previous findings in the previous region which pointed to what’s being dubbed as the central lake. It was found in 2018, making the first liquid water body ever detected on Mars, which could also mean there is potential scope of life on the planet. Also read: New images of Jupiter show new storm moving at 350 mph The report, however added that the “finding was based on just 29 observations made from 2012 to 2015." As opposed to that, the new study took into account broader data signifiers - taking into account 134 observations between 2012 and 2019. Scientists also believe that the salt content in any Martian lake will be over the roof! According to Pettinelli, “from a thermal point of view it has to be salty." Water bodies with salt content five times over seawater can sustain life. But if the salt content is 20 times over Earth seawater levels, life cannot exist in such water bodies, the report added, while quoting John Priscu, an environmental scientist from the Montana State University.

Hints of life on Mars? Scientists find three lakes buried under the red planet's surface!

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) marked five years of the lunch of AstroSat, which is India’s first multi-wavelength mission, which was launched from Sriharikota spaceport on 28th September 2018. The satellite is being operated as a proposal-based observatory, covering a wide band ranging from Ultraviolet(UV) to high energy X-rays.&nbsp;

While a vast majority of ISRO’s satellites are meant to serve purposes like communication, surveillance, imagery, remote sensing etc. A handful of missions/satellites are purely for exploring and helping understand unexplored sciences. Such missions are Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and AstroSat.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/with-isro-assistance-indias-skyroot-aerospace-aims-maiden-rocket-launch-by-dec-2021-320835" hreflang="en">With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021</a>

ISRO says that the unique observation capability of AstroSat in this wide band makes it one of the major space science observatories in the world. According to the Indian Space agency, AstroSat was also the mission which led to the discovery of one of the earliest galaxies in extreme Ultraviolet light, marking a major breakthrough. Called AUDFs01, this galaxy is said to be 9.3 billion light years away from earth.&nbsp;

The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Kanak Saha, at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune. This team was comprised of scientists from India, Switzerland, France, USA, Japan and Netherlands.&nbsp;

Speaking at a virtual event, to mark five years of AstroSat, R. Umamaheswaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO said that the data generated from the AstroSat mission has been shared with over 1500 users across 43 countries, hailing the mission as an ‘international success’. “AstroSat was launched into a unique circular orbit, with low incline of 6 degrees and five of its payloads can function simultaneously” he said.&nbsp;

Chairman ISRO, DR. K.Sivan said that, the study of the universe played a major role in defining research of ISRO and AstroSat has brought us into the big league of space astronomy and provided excellent results. He added that the satellite had served its mission life of five years, with all five on-board equipment in ‘very fine’ condition and that it would continue to serve for years to come.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/chandrayaan-2-mapping-lunar-surface-as-per-mission-plan-isro-315205" hreflang="en">Chandrayaan-2 mapping lunar surface as per mission plan: ISRO</a>

Referring to AstroSat as a multi-agency mission, Dr.Sivan elaborated that academia and R&amp;D institutions had worked in the engineering and testing phase of this project.&nbsp;

Speaking of ISRO’s ‘big future plans’ in space exploration and science, he said, that Exposat and Aditya L-1 were upcoming missions which would open exciting possibilities. While Exposat was meant to study X-ray polarisation from cosmic sources, it would also be the first polarimetric mission after half a century, Sivan added. Aditya L-1 is a mission that was slated for launch by mid-2020, the scientific objective of the mission was to study the Sun.&nbsp;

“There are exciting possibilities - missions to detect Eletromagnetic counterparts of gravitational events, to study atmospheric composition of rocky planets and discovery of all life forms outside our solar system” he said. He urged the scientific community to use the scientific data and research to the maximum extent and also indicate the importance of generating future Human Resources by involving school students.&nbsp;

Thus far, in 2020 ISRO has not had any launches owing to the pandemic-induced lockdowns and logistical challenges etc. ISRO officials have said that 4 satellites are ready for launch, namely -&nbsp;&nbsp;GISAT-1, Microsat 2-A, GSAT-12R and RISAT-2BR2.&nbsp;

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) marked five years of the lunch of AstroSat, which is India’s first multi-wavelength mission, which was launched from Sriharikota spaceport on 28th September 2018.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) marked five years of the lunch of AstroSat, which is India’s first multi-wavelength mission, which was launched from Sriharikota spaceport on 28th September 2018. The satellite is being operated as a proposal-based observatory, covering a wide band ranging from Ultraviolet(UV) to high energy X-rays. While a vast majority of ISRO’s satellites are meant to serve purposes like communication, surveillance, imagery, remote sensing etc. A handful of missions/satellites are purely for exploring and helping understand unexplored sciences. Such missions are Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and AstroSat. Also read: With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021 ISRO says that the unique observation capability of AstroSat in this wide band makes it one of the major space science observatories in the world. According to the Indian Space agency, AstroSat was also the mission which led to the discovery of one of the earliest galaxies in extreme Ultraviolet light, marking a major breakthrough. Called AUDFs01, this galaxy is said to be 9.3 billion light years away from earth. The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Kanak Saha, at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune. This team was comprised of scientists from India, Switzerland, France, USA, Japan and Netherlands. Speaking at a virtual event, to mark five years of AstroSat, R. Umamaheswaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO said that the data generated from the AstroSat mission has been shared with over 1500 users across 43 countries, hailing the mission as an ‘international success’. “AstroSat was launched into a unique circular orbit, with low incline of 6 degrees and five of its payloads can function simultaneously” he said. Chairman ISRO, DR. K.Sivan said that, the study of the universe played a major role in defining research of ISRO and AstroSat has brought us into the big league of space astronomy and provided excellent results. He added that the satellite had served its mission life of five years, with all five on-board equipment in ‘very fine’ condition and that it would continue to serve for years to come. Also read: Chandrayaan-2 mapping lunar surface as per mission plan: ISRO Referring to AstroSat as a multi-agency mission, Dr.Sivan elaborated that academia and R&D institutions had worked in the engineering and testing phase of this project. Speaking of ISRO’s ‘big future plans’ in space exploration and science, he said, that Exposat and Aditya L-1 were upcoming missions which would open exciting possibilities. While Exposat was meant to study X-ray polarisation from cosmic sources, it would also be the first polarimetric mission after half a century, Sivan added. Aditya L-1 is a mission that was slated for launch by mid-2020, the scientific objective of the mission was to study the Sun. “There are exciting possibilities - missions to detect Eletromagnetic counterparts of gravitational events, to study atmospheric composition of rocky planets and discovery of all life forms outside our solar system” he said. He urged the scientific community to use the scientific data and research to the maximum extent and also indicate the importance of generating future Human Resources by involving school students. Thus far, in 2020 ISRO has not had any launches owing to the pandemic-induced lockdowns and logistical challenges etc. ISRO officials have said that 4 satellites are ready for launch, namely - GISAT-1, Microsat 2-A, GSAT-12R and RISAT-2BR2.

ISRO marks 5 years of Space Observatory - AstroSat; More science missions in anvil

As the privately built Space-X Falcon 9 rocket took off in triumph, US President Donald Trump made this declaration to the world - “The United States has regained our place of prestige as the world leader. As has often been stated, you can't be number one on Earth if you are number two in space”.

Four months on, and the race for number one has more contenders, with more countries looking to establish their hegemony in space. But they are all united in achieving one goal - isolating Beijing in space exploration projects.

Sweden

Sweden's state-owned space agency has halted its operations with China. The Swedish Space Corporation was contracted to help Chinese satellites operate from its ground stations across the world. It has now decided to not renew the contract.

China has been forbidden from accessing the ground stations of this space agency in Australia, including the Yathragga and Dongara satellite stations in Western Australia.

The space agency fears that China could use its antennas at these stations for military purposes.

United States

In West Asia, the US Space Force has begun its first mission. A squadron of 20 space operators have been stationed at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar.

Their mission is to track enemy manoeuvres and avert conflicts in space. They have been given the power to jam,&nbsp;hack and blind satellites that pose a heavy security risk. The targets will quite possibly be Iran and China's satellite programmes.

NASA is planning to return to the moon. It has unveiled a new exploration project - the 27 billion dollar Artemis programme, the first such plan in 50 years. The space agency plans to put a man &amp; woman on its lunar lander by 2024.

NASA’s announcement comes on the heels of China's next lunar mission. The Chinese regime is quietly preparing for a November launch of the Chang'e 5 mission. The Pentagon fears that China is trying to militarise the moon, and that it could use its satellites to target America's space-based assets.

India

India too is working to thwart any Chinese misadventures in space.

ISRO is gearing up for a Chandrayaan-3 mission in early 2021. It is also readying its first manned space mission - Gaganyaan - expected to launch in two years.

Space warfare is soon set to be a reality, with satellites and data set to be the new weapons.

As the privately built Space-X Falcon 9 rocket took off in triumph, US President Donald Trump made this declaration to the world - “The United States has regained our place of prestige as the world leader.

As the privately built Space-X Falcon 9 rocket took off in triumph, US President Donald Trump made this declaration to the world - “The United States has regained our place of prestige as the world leader. As has often been stated, you can't be number one on Earth if you are number two in space”. Four months on, and the race for number one has more contenders, with more countries looking to establish their hegemony in space. But they are all united in achieving one goal - isolating Beijing in space exploration projects. Sweden Sweden's state-owned space agency has halted its operations with China. The Swedish Space Corporation was contracted to help Chinese satellites operate from its ground stations across the world. It has now decided to not renew the contract. China has been forbidden from accessing the ground stations of this space agency in Australia, including the Yathragga and Dongara satellite stations in Western Australia. The space agency fears that China could use its antennas at these stations for military purposes. United States In West Asia, the US Space Force has begun its first mission. A squadron of 20 space operators have been stationed at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar. Their mission is to track enemy manoeuvres and avert conflicts in space. They have been given the power to jam, hack and blind satellites that pose a heavy security risk. The targets will quite possibly be Iran and China's satellite programmes. NASA is planning to return to the moon. It has unveiled a new exploration project - the 27 billion dollar Artemis programme, the first such plan in 50 years. The space agency plans to put a man & woman on its lunar lander by 2024. NASA’s announcement comes on the heels of China's next lunar mission. The Chinese regime is quietly preparing for a November launch of the Chang'e 5 mission. The Pentagon fears that China is trying to militarise the moon, and that it could use its satellites to target America's space-based assets. India India too is working to thwart any Chinese misadventures in space. ISRO is gearing up for a Chandrayaan-3 mission in early 2021. It is also readying its first manned space mission - Gaganyaan - expected to launch in two years. Space warfare is soon set to be a reality, with satellites and data set to be the new weapons.

Beijing is slowly being isolated, even in space!

It’s no surprise that the space around our home, planet Earth is becoming increasingly crowded. Over the last decade, new countries have entered the “Space war”, deploying satellites and technology of their own over time. However, this has clogged space, and filled it with debris.&nbsp;

The overcrowding around Earth could become a hindrance in space exploration.

UK takes the stage

Looks like the United Kingdom is&nbsp;attempting to clean up space a little bit. The country’s Business Secretary Alok Sharma recently announced a funding for the clean up routed through the country’s space agency - UKSA.

The £1 million funding (around $12,96,880) will be used to clear space debris, even though no concrete way to remove it has been formulated yet.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/nasa-seeking-explorers-for-mining-on-the-moon-all-nationalities-welcome-326795" hreflang="en">NASA seeking explorers for mining on the moon, all nationalities welcome</a>

Many scientists are worried about debris in Earth’s low orbit, which could threaten the International Space Station (ISS).

Size is an important factor for everything in space - small pieces of debris that could prove to be fatal are difficult to spot in space, and there is no way of accurately pinning them down.

160 million pieces of debris!

According to DailyMail, there are around 160 million pieces of space debris around planet Earth. These have been captured by our gravity, and circling around the planet at speeds of 18,000 miles per hour.

Additionally, out of these 160 million pieces, at least one million may be larger than 1 cm, posing risks of collision with satellites.

Scientists worry that such debris is capable of setting a chain reaction of destruction, whereby a single damage to a single satellite could escalate into large scale global satellite technology damage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/scientists-recently-scanned-10-million-stars-for-alien-technology-what-did-they-find-326020" hreflang="en">Scientists recently scanned 10 million stars for alien technology, what did they find?</a>

What does this mean, you wonder? For starters, good bye GPS! In case our satellite connections are seriously severed, we will lose access to the map technology which has made navigating around the world easier. Additionally, mobile communication would be heavily disrupted, and weather forecasting interrupted.

According to Sharma, the UK’s Business Secretary, millions of pieces of space debris are orbiting the Earth, and this presents a “significant threat to UK satellite systems“ which are responsible for providing essential services mentioned above.

This allocation of funds might make spotting smaller objects in space a reality. One of the projects, called “Life Me Off”, will come up with an AI algorithm to differentiate debris from useful satellites. It is one of seven proposals that the UKSA is currently considering.

It’s no surprise that the space around our home, planet Earth is becoming increasingly crowded. Over the last decade, new countries have entered the “Space war”, deploying satellites and technology of their own over time.

It’s no surprise that the space around our home, planet Earth is becoming increasingly crowded. Over the last decade, new countries have entered the “Space war”, deploying satellites and technology of their own over time. However, this has clogged space, and filled it with debris. The overcrowding around Earth could become a hindrance in space exploration. UK takes the stage Looks like the United Kingdom is attempting to clean up space a little bit. The country’s Business Secretary Alok Sharma recently announced a funding for the clean up routed through the country’s space agency - UKSA. The £1 million funding (around $12,96,880) will be used to clear space debris, even though no concrete way to remove it has been formulated yet. Also read: NASA seeking explorers for mining on the moon, all nationalities welcome Many scientists are worried about debris in Earth’s low orbit, which could threaten the International Space Station (ISS). Size is an important factor for everything in space - small pieces of debris that could prove to be fatal are difficult to spot in space, and there is no way of accurately pinning them down. 160 million pieces of debris! According to DailyMail, there are around 160 million pieces of space debris around planet Earth. These have been captured by our gravity, and circling around the planet at speeds of 18,000 miles per hour. Additionally, out of these 160 million pieces, at least one million may be larger than 1 cm, posing risks of collision with satellites. Scientists worry that such debris is capable of setting a chain reaction of destruction, whereby a single damage to a single satellite could escalate into large scale global satellite technology damage. Also read: Scientists recently scanned 10 million stars for alien technology, what did they find? What does this mean, you wonder? For starters, good bye GPS! In case our satellite connections are seriously severed, we will lose access to the map technology which has made navigating around the world easier. Additionally, mobile communication would be heavily disrupted, and weather forecasting interrupted. According to Sharma, the UK’s Business Secretary, millions of pieces of space debris are orbiting the Earth, and this presents a “significant threat to UK satellite systems“ which are responsible for providing essential services mentioned above. This allocation of funds might make spotting smaller objects in space a reality. One of the projects, called “Life Me Off”, will come up with an AI algorithm to differentiate debris from useful satellites. It is one of seven proposals that the UKSA is currently considering.

UK is planning to remove debris from space. Here's why every country should be doing it!

The universe is dictated by the principle of fatality: The moment something comes into existence is the same moment it starts inching closer to death.

Just like the creatures and objects it harbours, the universe too has an expiry date. Humans die, animals, stars die too.

Soon?

A group of scientists claim to know when the universe will perish, and it is not sometime soon. The research was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and claims that the universe will collapse sometime in the “next few trillion years”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-rare-event-astronomers-discover-saturn-like-planet-orbiting-small-cool-star-318644" hreflang="en">In a rare event, astronomers discover Saturn-like planet orbiting small cool star</a>

As opposed to mainstream depictions of the apocalypse, it will not be a one-off event. No giant asteroids will come swooping in and decimate all life in the universe. Instead, stars will explode and fizzle out over time.

One after the another, stars will “very, very slowly fizzle” out.

The death of the universe is different from how we perceive it. It will not be the end of all matter. Instead, this “heat death” will cause black holes to form and dead stars to linger in space.

“It will be a bit of a sad, lonely, cold place,” Matt Caplan, the study's lead author, said in a statement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/black-holes-may-be-repositories-of-all-of-universes-history-317780" hreflang="en">Black holes may be repositories of all of universe's history!</a>

When stars die out, they produce a supernova, after which they become white dwarves. This new research posits that there will be another stage after this whereby stars would become “black dwarfs”, will get denser, and host iron in their cores.

White dwarfs will cool over the next few trillion years, and then become black dwarfs, after which they will no longer shine. This grim picture of a cold desolate space might come true, but in a few trillion years.

How long?

Caplan said that it will the first explosion at least 10 to the power of 1100 years to happen.&nbsp; Once iron accumulates, it will trigger the collapse of stars, which will set off explosions across the universe. "It’s mindbogglingly far in the future”, Caplan said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-capture-space-butterfly-from-thousands-of-light-years-away-317627" hreflang="en">Astronomers capture 'space butterfly' from thousands of light years away</a>

However, only 1 per cent of the black dwarfs will end up exploding. These will be the ones that grow bigger than 1.2-1..4 times the mass of sun.

The rest 99 per cent will remain black dwarfs. It’s not a rosy picture, for they will linger in the universe as dead bodies, quite literally.

“It’s hard to imagine anything coming after that, black dwarf supernova might be the last interesting thing to happen in the universe," Caplain said.

The universe is dictated by the principle of fatality: The moment something comes into existence is the same moment it starts inching closer to death. Just like the creatures and objects it harbours, the universe too has an expiry date.

The universe is dictated by the principle of fatality: The moment something comes into existence is the same moment it starts inching closer to death. Just like the creatures and objects it harbours, the universe too has an expiry date. Humans die, animals, stars die too. Soon? A group of scientists claim to know when the universe will perish, and it is not sometime soon. The research was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and claims that the universe will collapse sometime in the “next few trillion years”. Also read: In a rare event, astronomers discover Saturn-like planet orbiting small cool star As opposed to mainstream depictions of the apocalypse, it will not be a one-off event. No giant asteroids will come swooping in and decimate all life in the universe. Instead, stars will explode and fizzle out over time. One after the another, stars will “very, very slowly fizzle” out. The death of the universe is different from how we perceive it. It will not be the end of all matter. Instead, this “heat death” will cause black holes to form and dead stars to linger in space. “It will be a bit of a sad, lonely, cold place,” Matt Caplan, the study's lead author, said in a statement. Also read: Black holes may be repositories of all of universe's history! When stars die out, they produce a supernova, after which they become white dwarves. This new research posits that there will be another stage after this whereby stars would become “black dwarfs”, will get denser, and host iron in their cores. White dwarfs will cool over the next few trillion years, and then become black dwarfs, after which they will no longer shine. This grim picture of a cold desolate space might come true, but in a few trillion years. How long? Caplan said that it will the first explosion at least 10 to the power of 1100 years to happen. Once iron accumulates, it will trigger the collapse of stars, which will set off explosions across the universe. "It’s mindbogglingly far in the future”, Caplan said. Also read: Astronomers capture 'space butterfly' from thousands of light years away However, only 1 per cent of the black dwarfs will end up exploding. These will be the ones that grow bigger than 1.2-1..4 times the mass of sun. The rest 99 per cent will remain black dwarfs. It’s not a rosy picture, for they will linger in the universe as dead bodies, quite literally. “It’s hard to imagine anything coming after that, black dwarf supernova might be the last interesting thing to happen in the universe," Caplain said.

This is when the universe will end!

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is an "ocean world" with a big reservoir of salty water under its frigid surface, scientists said in findings that raise interest in this dwarf planet as a possible outpost for life.

Research published on Monday based on data obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which flew as close as 22 miles (35 km) from the surface in 2018, provides a new understanding of Ceres, including evidence indicating it remains geologically active with cryovolcanism - volcanoes oozing icy material.

The findings confirm the presence of a subsurface reservoir of brine - salt-enriched water - remnants of a vast subsurface ocean that has been gradually freezing.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-rare-event-astronomers-discover-saturn-like-planet-orbiting-small-cool-star-318644" hreflang="en">In a rare event, astronomers discover Saturn-like planet orbiting small cool star</a>

"This elevates Ceres to 'ocean world' status, noting that this category does not require the ocean to be global," said planetary scientist and Dawn principal investigator Carol Raymond. "In the case of Ceres, we know the liquid reservoir is regional scale but we cannot tell for sure that it is global. However, what matters most is that there is liquid on a large scale."

Ceres has a diameter of about 590 miles (950 km). The scientists focused on the 57-mile-wide (92-km-wide) Occator Crater, formed by an impact about 22 million years ago in Ceres' northern hemisphere. It has two bright areas - salt crusts left by liquid that percolated up to the surface and evaporated.&nbsp;

The liquid, they concluded, originated in a brine reservoir hundreds of miles (km) wide lurking about 25 miles (40 km) below the surface, with the impact creating fractures allowing the salty water to escape.

The research was published in the journals Nature Astronomy, Nature Geoscience and Nature Communications.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-drops-racially-charged-nicknames-of-celestial-bodies-319130" hreflang="en">NASA drops racially charged nicknames of celestial bodies</a>

Other solar system bodies beyond Earth where subsurface oceans are known or appear to exist include Jupiter's moon Europa,&nbsp;Saturn's moon Enceladus, Neptune's moon Triton and the dwarf planet Pluto.&nbsp;

Water is considered a key ingredient for life. Scientists want to assess whether Ceres was ever habitable by microbial life.

"There is major interest at this stage," said planetary scientist Julie Castillo of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, "in quantifying the habitability potential of the deep brine reservoir, especially considering it is cold and getting quite rich in salts."

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is an "ocean world" with a big reservoir of salty water under its frigid surface, scientists said in findings that raise interest in this dwarf planet as a possible outpost for life.

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is an "ocean world" with a big reservoir of salty water under its frigid surface, scientists said in findings that raise interest in this dwarf planet as a possible outpost for life. Research published on Monday based on data obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which flew as close as 22 miles (35 km) from the surface in 2018, provides a new understanding of Ceres, including evidence indicating it remains geologically active with cryovolcanism - volcanoes oozing icy material. The findings confirm the presence of a subsurface reservoir of brine - salt-enriched water - remnants of a vast subsurface ocean that has been gradually freezing. Also read: In a rare event, astronomers discover Saturn-like planet orbiting small cool star "This elevates Ceres to 'ocean world' status, noting that this category does not require the ocean to be global," said planetary scientist and Dawn principal investigator Carol Raymond. "In the case of Ceres, we know the liquid reservoir is regional scale but we cannot tell for sure that it is global. However, what matters most is that there is liquid on a large scale." Ceres has a diameter of about 590 miles (950 km). The scientists focused on the 57-mile-wide (92-km-wide) Occator Crater, formed by an impact about 22 million years ago in Ceres' northern hemisphere. It has two bright areas - salt crusts left by liquid that percolated up to the surface and evaporated. The liquid, they concluded, originated in a brine reservoir hundreds of miles (km) wide lurking about 25 miles (40 km) below the surface, with the impact creating fractures allowing the salty water to escape. The research was published in the journals Nature Astronomy, Nature Geoscience and Nature Communications. Also read: NASA drops racially charged nicknames of celestial bodies Other solar system bodies beyond Earth where subsurface oceans are known or appear to exist include Jupiter's moon Europa, Saturn's moon Enceladus, Neptune's moon Triton and the dwarf planet Pluto. Water is considered a key ingredient for life. Scientists want to assess whether Ceres was ever habitable by microbial life. "There is major interest at this stage," said planetary scientist Julie Castillo of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, "in quantifying the habitability potential of the deep brine reservoir, especially considering it is cold and getting quite rich in salts."

Dwarf planet Ceres is an 'ocean world' with salty water deep underground

What if the universe’s secrets were hiding in the innards of a black hole? Scientists seem to think so.

For long, black holes existed in Hollywood films and science fiction books. But when the first-ever image of one was released last year, the interest in black holes and their anatomy has increased.

Pōwehi

One of such black holes - Pōwehi is allegedly a repository of all of universe’s history. According to a report in New Scientist, the rings of light trapped in the hole’s orbit may be a historical record of its kind.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dinosaur-era-microbes-lying-dormant-in-ocean-resuscitated-by-scientists-316620" hreflang="en">Dinosaur-era microbes lying dormant in ocean resuscitated by scientists</a>

Comparing the rings of light or photons to a tree, or frames that constitute a film, scientists believe it’s where the history of all universe is stored. In essence, this would make black holes a constituent yet small piece of the puzzle we call the universe, and know very little about.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-capture-space-butterfly-from-thousands-of-light-years-away-317627" hreflang="en">Astronomers capture 'space butterfly' from thousands of light years away</a>

Most knowledge about black holes is extrapolatory, based on juxtapositions and far-off observations, and perhaps we will never know what lies inside one of the holes, as&nbsp;the gravitational pull in the holes is strong enough to swallow everything that crosses its path! What scientists do know is that black holes are created in the aftermath of a star’s death, or a supernova.

Photon rings are important

The series of photon rings in the black hole can help scientists study its properties, much like studying branches of a tree to understand its structure.

“Together, the set of subrings are akin to the frames of a movie, capturing the history of the visible universe as seen from the black hole,” the paper asserted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-dead-star-in-our-galaxy-is-emitting-radiation-never-witnessed-before-316671" hreflang="en">A dead star in our galaxy is emitting radiation never witnessed before!</a>

However, black holes are complex entities. Even if we were to somehow access photon rings, we would need to do it on time.

New rings are formed every six days, and they last no longer than this time period, after which the hole swallows them.

So, we may not be able to peek into the past, or perhaps the future, just yet!

What if the universe’s secrets were hiding in the innards of a black hole? Scientists seem to think so. For long, black holes existed in Hollywood films and science fiction books.

What if the universe’s secrets were hiding in the innards of a black hole? Scientists seem to think so. For long, black holes existed in Hollywood films and science fiction books. But when the first-ever image of one was released last year, the interest in black holes and their anatomy has increased. Pōwehi One of such black holes - Pōwehi is allegedly a repository of all of universe’s history. According to a report in New Scientist, the rings of light trapped in the hole’s orbit may be a historical record of its kind. Also read: Dinosaur-era microbes lying dormant in ocean resuscitated by scientists Comparing the rings of light or photons to a tree, or frames that constitute a film, scientists believe it’s where the history of all universe is stored. In essence, this would make black holes a constituent yet small piece of the puzzle we call the universe, and know very little about. Also read: Astronomers capture 'space butterfly' from thousands of light years away Most knowledge about black holes is extrapolatory, based on juxtapositions and far-off observations, and perhaps we will never know what lies inside one of the holes, as the gravitational pull in the holes is strong enough to swallow everything that crosses its path! What scientists do know is that black holes are created in the aftermath of a star’s death, or a supernova. Photon rings are important The series of photon rings in the black hole can help scientists study its properties, much like studying branches of a tree to understand its structure. “Together, the set of subrings are akin to the frames of a movie, capturing the history of the visible universe as seen from the black hole,” the paper asserted. Also read: A dead star in our galaxy is emitting radiation never witnessed before! However, black holes are complex entities. Even if we were to somehow access photon rings, we would need to do it on time. New rings are formed every six days, and they last no longer than this time period, after which the hole swallows them. So, we may not be able to peek into the past, or perhaps the future, just yet!

Black holes may be repositories of all of universe's history!

Spaceflight for the common man is still a long time away. But, Virgin Galactic has given a sneak peek into how the trip to earth's orbit could feel like. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Inside Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo

NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover lifted off successfully on July 30 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The rover will take about seven months to travel to Mars and will search for signs of life, explore the planet's geology, and much more.

WION Dispatch: NASA's Helicopter to fly to Mars, NASA Mars Rover 2020

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